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Dear Fellow Rotarians,
Imagine if we could take a snapshot capturing all
of the work Rotary does on a given day. No one – except Rotarians
– would believe that a single organization was capable of
accomplishing so much. In that snapshot you would see dedicated
volunteers working to eradicate polio, setting up microloans, providing
clean water, mentoring youth, and countless other actions.
We can do all this thanks both to our geographic reach
and to the fact that our clubs are made up of people who are engaged
in their communities. As a part of the community that you serve,
you know the needs, you have the connections, and you're able to
take immediate action. That's why every Rotary club's membership
should reflect the diversity of its community.
We've made great strides in this. In Egypt, Indonesia,
and Kenya, Rotary is approaching 50 percent female membership. We're
also expanding the age diversity of our clubs. In each of our communities,
young professionals are eager to contribute their talents, give
back, and learn from mentors. Let's share with them what Rotary
is all about. The Engaging Younger Professionals Toolkit at Rotary.org
has an action plan to help you reach young leaders and Rotary alumni
in your area.
Another resource that can help us better reflect our
communities – one that is global like us, is a quarter-million
members strong, and already shares our values of service and leadership
– is Rotaract. Rotaractors are our partners: Team up with
them on projects, ask them to speak at your events, and invite them
to join your club. Dedicated Rotaractors worldwide are becoming
members of Rotary and even starting new Rotary clubs while still
serving as members of Rotaract.
The world needs Rotary, and Rotary needs strong clubs
and engaged members in order to do more good. It is our responsibility
– yours and mine – to make sure everyone who shows an
interest in joining Rotary gets an invitation. Make use of the Membership
Leads tool at Rotary.org, which helps people who are interested
in joining Rotary connect with a club that's right for them. And
let's ensure that every member has a reason to stay. By building
strong clubs that engage in meaningful projects and have fun along
the way, we provide value to our club members that they cannot find
anywhere else.
Let's not keep Rotary's story – the story captured
in those snapshots of service – to ourselves. I challenge
you to invite leaders of all ages, men and women, who are looking
for a way to give back. By doing so, you will Be the Inspiration
in your community and help Rotary continue to do good in the world.
Barry Rassin
President 2018-19
Trustee Chair's Message - Sep.
2018
Ron D. Burton, Trustee Chair
2018-19
I was a district governor in 1987-88, the year that Charles
C. Keller was the RI president. (You can read a tribute
to Keller, who died in May, on the facing page.) As district
governor, I attended the 1988 Rotary International Convention
in Philadelphia. There, I heard that there were an estimated
350,000 cases of polio in 125 countries. But I also heard
some exciting news: We had surpassed our goal of raising
$120 million for the eradication of polio. We had raised
$219,350,449 (and later, after the accounting was done,
that figure was revised to $247 million). What a celebration
we had. We proved to ourselves and the world the strength
of Rotary and that we could take on a global health challenge.
In the ensuing 30 years, we, along with our
partners – the World Health Organization, the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, and
the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – have raised
even more funds, organized National Immunization Days, and
advocated with world governments. Our goal has always been
to keep our promise to give children a polio-free world,
and in 2017, there were only 22 cases.
We've done incredible work, but we know the
job isn't over. Once we reduce the number of cases to zero
and no viruses are detected in the environment, we must
wait for WHO to certify the world officially polio free.
That requires at least a three-year period without a single
detection of the wild poliovirus in a person or the environment.
During that three years, we will still have to vaccinate
children and ensure through surveillance that the virus
never regains a foothold.
Rotarians have always been on the front lines of this effort
– we still are. So, what can you do? Tell everyone
you know about Rotary and polio. Make a donation. Update
your club and explore how together you could participate
directly in the fight.
On 24 October, we'll celebrate the 30th anniversary
of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative's formation at
our sixth annual World Polio Day event, in Philadelphia,
the city where it all started. Host a World Polio Day fundraiser
or watch party, and tell us about it at endpolio.org/promote-your-event.
For more inspiration, check out endpolio.org.
I need your help. I'm depending on you to
help us keep our promise.
Ron D. Burton
Trustee Chair 2018-19
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