Rotary Log: October 17, 2013 (Polio Plus)

What a beautiful, sunny Fall day!  Our meeting began with our steady Rev. Gordon Allen giving the good Lord thanks for all we have.  I met new member Susan Labrie at our table and got to sign her book before I get a fine!

There were a number of announcements.  Aileen Dugan let us know that our commercial wreathes will have antique gold ribbons as well as red.  Order up!!  Thank you to the Scamman family for a great Behind the Business event at their Farm.  Operation Warm, under the direction of the Basic Needs Committee, is in full swing with coats and mittens.  Andy Chase has volunteered to run the Rotary Golf Tournament.  Wow!  Thanks Andy!  Bill Hurley is looking for a few more Day Captains and Unloading Folks for our Christmas Tree sales. 

We are looking for volunteers for the Thanksgiving Dinner.  Email rotarythanksgiving@gmail.com to volunteer. This is a great opportunity to serve and to fellowship with fellow Rotarians. 

Ann Lee Hussey, our speaker, is not only our past District Governor, she is a survivor of Polio, and she is on the warpath against this easily preventable disease.  She has lost people she has worked with against Polio.  Unfortunately, those trying to battle polio cannot get into war-torn countries.

Good news:  2012 was the lowest recorded year of new cases.  The bad news:  Somalia is seeing an increase in cases and there are 500,000 children at risk because war has limited the ability to get in and immunize.  The disease is spreading to other countries in Africa.  When Polio Plus was first started by Rotary, the plan was to immunize against other infectious diseases while immunizing against Polio.  Unfortunately, if we cannot get into the countries to immunize against polio, we cannot fight the other diseases either. 

How many lives can be impacted by just two drops of the vaccines:  thousands!  There is no question that when polio is eradicated from this world, Rotary will have attained a monumental legacy!

Thank you Ann Lee, for all you have done and continue to do, not only for Rotary, but for all mankind!

$10,515 has been raised by our club by 82 members and 100% of our Board of Directors and that amount, when matched by the Gates Foundation, will total $31,545!!  Congratulations Portsmouth Rotary Club.