If you aren't comfortable using Zoom and you have a smartphone or tablet, please contact the Rotary office for help! Zoom on these devices is easy to use, and club leadership hopes that you will join us for this event!

In an effort to follow COVID-19 response guidelines from health and governmental organizations, modifications have been made to the schedule of upcoming Rotary gatherings and events. Club leadership continues to review guidelines and is working to do what seems best for our members and the community.

 

It is with sadness that we share news of the death of Rotarian Cynthia Daube's husband. Jasper R. Daube, 84, of Rochester, died Saturday in Rochester. No additional information has yet been provided. Please keep Cynthia and family in your thoughts. 

Although STRIVE mentors, students and families haven't learned yet if they will be gathering for the end of year celebration in May, the STRIVE Team is preparing to honor the students whether or not the event takes place. The team is requesting contributions of small items to be placed in student gift bags which are distributed to every student. 50 of each item are requested. Ideas include:  pens, notepads, flash drives, candy, etc. Please contact the Rotary office by April 30 for item pick up. If you haven't made the time to be a mentor or made a financial contribution to the program, this is an easy and inexpensive way to support STRIVE!

As scientists work to find a vaccine for the new coronavirus, we can do our part to keep our communities healthy by helping Rotary spread the word about the importance of vaccinations during World Immunization Week, 24-30 April.

Immunizations save millions of lives every year and are widely recognized as one of our most successful and cost-effective health interventions. Yet outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases continue to put children’s health at risk around the world. 

Rotary knows firsthand that #VaccinesWork. Since 1985, we’ve contributed more than $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children from polio. When children receive the polio vaccine, their pinkie fingers are marked with purple ink so health workers will know which children received the vaccine. Today, only two countries continue to report cases of polio caused by the wild poliovirus: Afghanistan and Pakistan. 

Take action in three easy ways: 

1. Raise awareness of vaccination and polio eradication efforts by painting your nails — or pinkie — purple, or customize our new End Polio Now artwork with your signature and words of support. Post your pictures on social media using the hashtags #EndPolio and #VaccinesWork. 
2. Download Rotary’s World Immunization Week Toolkit to get graphics and sample social media posts. 
3. Donate to Rotary’s PolioPlus Fund. Your contribution will be tripled, thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. 

In the ever-connected world of global health, the polio infrastructure that Rotarians helped build is being used to address and stop the spread of the coronavirus. This means that some aspects of the polio eradication program will be affected. Read the full statement for more information.

While addressing the new challenges of today, the most important thing that Rotary members can do to continue the fight to end polio is to sustain our commitment. We are aiming to reach our fundraising goal of $50 million this year so we can work to safely reach all children with the polio vaccine.

Learn more about how our work fighting polio is supporting the COVID-19 response and consider making a contribution to PolioPlus.

Scrip cards to Apollo Liquor, Kwik Trip, and Menards are still available for purchase to support The Rotary Club of Rochester. Remember, you purchase and spend the cards at face value, and the club receives 5% back from Apollo Liquor and Kwik Trip, and 4% back from Menards. The club gets an additional 5% on purchases at Kwik Trip, other than gas, inside the store. 

 

If you would like to make a scrip purchase, please email the Rotary office with your request. Apollo is sold in $10 increments, and no change is given in store. Kwik Trip may be purchased in increments of $5 up to $25, increments of $25 up to $100, and then $200, $250, and $500. Credit remains on the card until the full value is spent. Menards cards may be purchased in any denomination between $10 and $2000 with the credit remaining on the card, as well. Apollo and Kwik Trip cards will be delivered within a few days, and Menards cards may take up to two weeks. Scrip cards make especially great gifts for celebrations, including birthdays and graduations!

 

Separate from the Scrip program but another way to support Rotary is Amazon Smile. If you are already shopping on Amazon, please consider shopping Amazon Smile instead. Same items are available, but if you designate The Rotary Club of Rochester Foundation as your organization of choice, Amazon donates a portion of your purchase to RCRF. Thank you for your support!