Anonymous memorial gift to Polio Plus honors three members, amazes club
There were some gasps and some tears at Thursday's meeting as members reacted to this message to our club from Rotary International:
Dear President David Evans,
Greetings from the Rotary Foundation! I wanted to alert you of a recent donation from a member of your club to the PolioPlus Fund. While the donor wishes to remain anonymous, the gift has been made in honor of late Rotarians Jim “J.R.” Robertson, Ron Kuhns, and Rob Ludlum.
Because of the generous support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, this gift will translate into $75,000 for polio eradication activities, including immunization and surveillance around the world.
In light of the upcoming World Polio Day fundraising festivities, the donor would like an announcement to be made close to October 24th to acknowledge the impact Rotarians can have towards eradicating polio worldwide.
On behalf the Rotary Foundation, we thank your club for its continued support of Rotary.
Kindly,
Christena Swartz, Major Donor Coordinator | Donor Services and Support, Rotary International
The announcement came just days before observance of Wold Polio Day on Wednesday, Oct. 24. In addition to this incredibly generous donation by one club members, we can all make a difference in our own ways.
Place dollars, change, checks into one of the two dozen donation jars in local businesses. Karen Thompson and her committee have placed with the End Polio Now logo in businesses across town. Please help fill them! Encourage your friends to give between now and Oct. 24.
Go to endpolio.org and make a tax-deductible donation.
“Our club wanted to raise awareness of the worldwide campaign to eradicate this horrible disease, said Karen Thompson, Fund Development Chair. “With the 2:1 match, every $1 contributed becomes $3, thanks to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It’s awesome to think that polio can be eradicated in our lifetime, but it will still take millions of dollars and many years to make it a reality.”
Background facts on Rotary’s work to end polio
From the launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988, more than 17.4 million people, mainly in the developing world, who would otherwise have been paralyzed, are walking because they have been immunized against polio. More than 650,000 paralytic cases of polio are now prevented every year.
If polio is not eradicated, within 10 years, as many as 200,000 children could be paralyzed by it each year. A polio-free world will be a safer world for children everywhere.
The number of polio cases has declined by more than 99.9 percent from over 350,000 in 1985 to 22 in 2017.
Since 1988, the number of polio endemic countries declined from over 125 countries to three in 2017 (Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan).
Rotary is the leader of a coalitionto advocate for increased contributions by the US Government to global polio eradication. The other members include the United Nations Foundation, Task Force for Global Health, US Fund for UNICEF, American Academy of Pediatrics and March of Dimes.
There are three types of wild poliovirus. Type 2 wild poliovirus last occurred in October 1999 and was certified eradicated in September 2015. Type 3 wild poliovirus has not been found since November 2012, suggesting that only Type 1 wild poliovirus continues to circulate.
By the time the world is certified polio-free, Rotary’s contributions to the global polio eradication effort will exceed $2.2 billion, including $985 million in matching funds from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Rotary’s contribution to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative since 1988 accounts for nearly 14 percent of all contributions through June 2017 and represents approximately 42 percent of private sector contributions.
Donate at endpolio.org
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will match Rotary’s commitment 2:1.
No meeting this week!
Our next meeting is Thursday, Nov. 1
Will YOUbe there?
Members planning to attend the Thursday, Nov. 1 meeting need to contact Club Administrator Karol Rinehart by 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 26 to let her know the following:
You plan to attend and have lunch
You plan to attend and have beverage service only
You will be there and will be bringing a guest.
New place (Ridgeline Hotel), new rules. Let's all get into the habit of contacting Karol.
kj.rinehart@centurylink.net
Oct. 18, 2018 meeting highlights
President-elect Doug Mann opened the meeting at noon, noting that in President Dave Evans’ absence, the B Team was called in. Dana Fritz offered an invocation on choosing to live in joy and gratitude, Pete Sumey led us in singing "This Land is Your Land" and reciting the Pledge. Bruce Brown handled guest introductions, which included Rotarian Pam Cannell of Fort Worth, TX and her three fly fishing guests. Claudine Perrault introduced her guests, library employees Mark Riffle and Kieran Rowser. Scott Thompson welcomed two guests, Matt Comstock and Mikaela Fundaun. We were so lucky as to have two comedians sharing a joke today, Scott and one of our guests from Texas.
Announcements
Tara Moenning said the scholarship committee raised $2,500 at Saturday’s shred, while saving 3.5 tons of recyclable material from a trip to the landfill. She thanked volunteers and sponsors. Wow!
Kathy Groesbeck, Big Duck ’19, invited all to the first Estes Park Rotary Duck Race Festival planning meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25 at Nicky’s. Mark your calendars: the 31st Estes Park Rotary Duck Race Festival is set for Saturday, May 4, 2019.
No club meeting on Oct. 25 due to a room scheduling conflict.
Karen Thompson asked club members to look for the 24 End Polio Now donation jars placed around town by volunteers and to be generous. World Polio Day is Wednesday, Oct. 24.
Larry Williams, keeper of the golf tournament books, said the June event raised $16,636.28 for scholarships. Wowza!
Tom Maher reminded us to volunteer at the elementary school at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 25 to help hand out pumpkins.
Presentation Mikaela Fundaun, Estes Park Museum curator of interpretation, thanked the club for donating $1,000 toward the collection and research facility campaign and presented the brick paver that included the club logo and the Rotary wheel. It will be installed on a walkway to the new facility.
Major Announcement
Doug read a letter from the Rotary Foundation recognizing a member of our club for a $25,000 donation to Polio Plus, which will be matched by the Gates Foundation resulting in a total contribution of $75,000.
Happy Money
Bob Brunson is still happy, and he asked that we don’t do anything to spoil it.
Bill Smith said six club members attended the Legion dinner last Friday, and he encouraged everyone to vote in the upcoming election, quoting Mark Twain.
Guy Van der Werf was very happy to announce that his son Ben married Valerie Wasson, grand-daughter of a former club member Al Wasson, on Oct. 8.
Madison Casey noted that his wife Marty and club member Tara Moenning were participating in a museum fundraiser, Table Settings 101.
Kathy Groesbeck was happy that she sat next to Jack Overly at lunch and learned of his fondness for today’s song and also that Jack and a fellow Rotarian put together the song book we use every week.
Tom Maher was happy to sit with our visiting Rotarians from Texas, who reminded him of his college days.
Program
Tara Moenning introduced our speaker, Erle Collum, Paramedic Supervisor from the Estes Park Medical Services, who updated the club on use of automated external defibrillators to save lives during cardiac arrest. He demonstrated chest compressions on a cooperative mannequin and answered questions from club members and guests.
The meeting was adjourned with the 4-Way Test.
Submitted by Rita DuChateau, scribe/ photos by Scott Thompson, Rita DuChateau
Oct. 25 is Pumpkin Distribution Day
at the elementary school!
Helpers are needed on Thursday morning, Oct. 25 at the Estes Park Elementary School. Sue Fereday is leading the effort. Contact her for details - or just show up at 8:30 a.m. at the school. Remember, there is NO Rotary on the 25th, so come on out to the elementary school and have some pumpkin fun
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Nominating group looking for leaders
The Nominating Committee to slate officers, directors and trustees for the next club year, July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020, has been appointed by President Dave Evans, in accordance with our club's bylaws. The Nominating Committee members are: Chairman Doug Mann, Scott Thompson, Kathy Groesbeck, Brad Rosenbaum and Tara Moenning.
The Committee will continue to meet in the next several weeks and will submit to the cub board the names of qualified members. The nominees will be announced at three club meetings prior to election by the membership. Officers, directors and trustees will be slated.
Officers (one-year terms):
President-Elect Nominee
Secretary
Treasurer
Sergeant-at-Arms.
Directors (two-year terms):
International Service
Fund Development
Youth/New Generation.
Trustees (three-year terms):
Foundation trustee
Foundation trustee.
Rotary Quote of the Week
"World Polio Day is a tremendous opportunity for clubs to highlight Rotary, and our historic work to eradicate polio, in their own communities. It is also a great way to take advantage of the challenge from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. For every dollar that Rotary raises for polio eradication, the Gates Foundation will give two more. Join me, and Rotarians everywhere, on Oct. 24 for World Polio Day- and Be the Inspiration for a polio-free world."
- Barry Rassin, Rotary International President, 2018-19
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