In August, I was proud to visit Pakistan and highlight Rotary’s top goal, eradicating polio. It was also a tremendous opportunity to spotlight female health workers who are playing a critical role in protecting children from this vaccine-preventable disease.
This month, as we celebrate World Polio Day, we are shining a spotlight on our more than 30-year effort to lead the first global polio eradication campaign and our success in forming partnerships capable of completing this massive goal. We all know that this is one of the most ambitious global health initiatives in history and that we’ve reduced polio cases by more than 99.9 percent worldwide.
Submitted by: PDG Robert L McLean, Region 36/Zone 29 End Polio Now Co-Coordinator
The recent detections of the poliovirus in New York and the United Kingdom made big headlines and has helped increase the awareness that Polio continues to be a global threat. Earlier this year, an unvaccinated man in New York was paralyzed and poliovirus was detected in sewage in London. It is an important reminder that until the entire world is certified Polio Free - the return of polio is just a plane ride away. The unfortunate event in New York actually helps amplify how important vaccinations are AND that there is still much work to be done to end polio once and for all.
Quoting Rotary International's coordinator of communications for End Polio Now (Reg Ling from the UK):
" So, as we move into 2022-2023, the recent outbreaks demonstrate we must not be lulled into any sense of complacency. Infectious diseases can bounce back so eradication must continue"
The media coverage can serve our clubs as a helpful seque to promoting World Polio Day and World Immunization week! Through a review of some excellent resources available through Rotary International and the global team of Rotary volunteers, are are some things to consider:
Submitted By: Jill Baum and the Environment Committee (which is seeking additional members! Please contact any of us if interested in helping to get this group off and running)
It's harvest time! Support your local farmers market and positively impact both your community and the planet by doing so. Enjoy the bounty of the season and meet your neighbors while you're at it. Happy fall from the Environment Committee!
"Farmers markets are regular, recurring gatherings at a common facility or area where farmers and ranchers directly sell a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other locally grown farm products to consumers. Markets rebuild and maintain local and regional food systems, leading to an outsized impact on the food system relative to their share of produce sales. Previous research has demonstrated the multifaceted impacts that farmers markets have on the communities, particularly economically. Recent scholarship in the United States has expanded inquiry into social impacts that markets have on communities, including improving access to fresh food products and increasing awareness of the sustainable agricultural practices adopted by producers, as well developing tools for producers and market stakeholders to measure their impact on both producers and communities."
Excerpt from The Economic, Social, and Environmental Impacts of Farmers Markets: Recent Evidence from the US (published 2021; read full article at https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/6/3423)
Submitted by District 5580 Youth Services Team Leader – Jean Hannig
I have recently been asked by DG Kay Biga to be the Team Leader for District 5580 Youth Services. I accepted this position because I am passionate about Rotary Youth programs. Rotary believes in developing the next generation of leaders. Rotary Youth programs help younger leaders build leadership skills, expand education, and learn the value of service.
Our Rotary District history has many fun moments in its past. Those of us who are old Rotarians remember the ‘90’s when the Duluth Harbortown club entertained attendees at District Conferences.
With their famous synchronized swimming routines. The swimmers had matching speedos, swim caps and goggles, and dived into the hotel pool in unison only to swim to the shallow end of the pool where they performed their routine safely standing or kneeling to an announcer’s serious patter.
7 million Ukrainians – most of them women, children and the elderly – have fled Ukraine since February in the wake of Russia’s invasion. Through the Uniting for Ukraine program, the U.S. joins European countries as a safe haven for Ukrainians.
Uniting for Ukraine offers a pathway for 100,000 Ukrainians to come to the U.S. for an initial two-year period. Under this program, a Ukrainian family must have a sponsor in the U.S. who agrees to help them get on their feet.
Alight is working to make Minnesota, Wisconsin, & North Dakota be the standard for welcoming new communities. Our goal is to mobilize 100 sponsors by December and Rotary is being called to action to help us accomplish this across the states.
WE CAN ONLY SHARE YOUR CLUB'S NEWS, IF WE KNOW ABOUT YOUR CLUB'S NEWS!
The number one thing most clubs want to know is what is happening around the District, but we can't help spread the word if we don't know what your club is up to.
Please submit a summary of your club events, news and projects to Renae Ronquist and Gloria Mink by the 10th of each month. We can include information in our Monday Minutes and in our newsletter.