23rd February is Rotary International's Birthday
The one hundred and eighteenth birthday of Rotary International is a great opportunity to publicise the success of Rotary's PolioPlus programme, our 38 year long campaign to eradicate polio from the face of the earth.
Rotarians across the globe have contributed more than 2.1 billion US dollars for polio eradication. That figure becomes 2.6 billion with matching funds from The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). however, we still need to immunise 400 million children over the next three years. Every dollar we raise will help and continues to be matched 2:1 by the BMGF.
Today we face our biggest and most expensive challenge, the final 0.1% of polio eradication. While we hope that each case that comes along will be the final one, we know we still have several years of fund raising ahead to ensure it stays that way - the final one.
Across Zone 8 many individuals, clubs and districts are strong supporters of PolioPlus and in District 9930 we regularly contribute significant amounts of your District Designated Funds to the programme. But we can always do more. What can you do?
- Talk to your club's leadership team about what your club is doing to support PolioPlus. Is it time for a club polio fund-raiser (your District Polio Committee can help)?
- If you are a Club Board member discuss timely club contributions to PolioPlus. Now is a good time to make a contribution (by mid-May at the latest for this year's recognition).
- Consider joining the District's PolioPlus Society, by personally donating US$100 (about NZ$165) and committing to do this every year, until polio is eradicated (we estimate about three years).
- Show short promotional videos at club meetings.
- Contact us to arrange a speaker to update members on the polio eradication programme.
Let's all use Rotary's birthday to reflect on what we can do to be part of our Countdown to History.
District 9930 Polio Committee
d9930polioplus@gmail.com I 0277225599