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Have an opinion on something you’ve seen in the magazine? Or do you have suggestions for future issues? Check out Hot Topics on the next page. And write us at The Rotarian, One Rotary Center, 1560 Sherman Ave., Evanston, IL 60201 USA; fax 847-866-9732; or e-mail us.

Rotary in pictures

This issue [June] has surpassed all others in giving visual proof of what Rotarians do. If a picture is worth [a thousand] words, there must be billions of words here! The kaleidoscope of photos shows every human emotion in people benefiting from the selfless work of Rotarians the world over. The [photo contest] first-place winner is certainly first-class. There are many truly moving and heart-rending pictures, like the woman with a bucket of water balanced on her head; the precious [polio vaccine] dropping into a child’s mouth; job training in Chennai, India; and many, many more. This is pictorial proof of the revolution started by Paul Harris. Hats off to Paul, and to the millions who have followed in his footsteps.

Lochan Bakshi
Athabasca, Alta., Canada

Bright ideas

I always enjoy reading The Rotarian from cover to cover. I find it very interesting, informative, and a great tool to learn more about Rotary and Rotarians everywhere leading the way. The April issue salutes the earth and brings a series of challenges and easy things that everybody could do to try to save our planet. The eight simple steps to get started are applicable not only to ecofriendly Rotary clubs but to every household in the world.

However, I am not in agreement with item no. 7 about the tip of the week. The scientific community is concerned with the idea of replacing the classical incandescent light bulb, which has been around for many years, with compact fluorescent bulbs, which can last longer and consume less energy. These new bulbs contain mercury, a highly neurotoxic heavy metal that, if not properly handled and recycled, can contaminate the ground and end up in the water supply with long-lasting effects for humans and animals alike. These bulbs are not the magic solution. The solution is to save energy, turn off lamps  if you don’t need them, reduce the wattage of the classic incandescent bulbs to reduce heat, and have appropriate recycling procedures for these new compact fluorescent bulbs.

James A. Herrera
Fredericksburg, Va., USA

You’re correct – we should all be conserving energy by turning off lights. Compact fluorescent bulbs do contain mercury, and care should be taken to recycle them. However, they can be considered the greener choice if you live in an area that generates electricity by burning fossil fuels such as coal, which releases mercury pollution. In that case, using incandescent bulbs can lead to more mercury pollution in the long run. Thanks for the opportunity to clarify. - Ed.

Clean water

April’s issue grabbed my attention right away. The cover, with the eye-catching water salute to the earth, was timely. Writing cheers in several languages highlighted Rotary’s international viewpoint. In addition, the simple words ecofriendly = business savvy and sustainable projects at the top of the cover were a good entrée to the articles inside. The photo of the Tajik family on page 44 was inspirational [“Greening Tajikistan”]. It spoke a thousand words. Could clean water for all be the mission of Rotary for the 21st century?

Pat Taylor
San Diego, Calif., USA

Rotary and diabetes

I’ve been living with diabetes for 24 years and was pleased by the article “Tackling Diabetes” [Health, April]. The United Nations has recognized diabetes as a global pandemic. The Canadian Diabetes Association is taking steps to improve the health of all people with the disease. Could Rotary make this a win-win by becoming more proactive, especially in the developing countries?

Nel Peach
Salmon Arm, B.C., Canada

UN and diabetes

I’ve had the pleasure to work with the head of the International Diabetes Federation, Dr. Martin Silink, a Rotarian. Through his efforts, the UN General Assembly voted in December to make 14 November World Diabetes Day. This is the first time the UN has recognized the threat of a noncommunicable disease in this way. Worldwide, diabetes has become one of the greatest killers and cripplers, now even among children. This disease has tremendous economic impact on all nations and their health ministries.

Sylvan Barnet
New York, N.Y., USA

Sylvan Barnet is an alternate Rotary representative to the United Nations. - Ed.

More Rotary news

I have been a Rotarian for 37 years and get more excited every year about who we are and what we do as Rotarians. I am totally not interested in Reader’s Digest-type articles that have nothing to do with our work. It is a disservice to our members to take up precious space when there are so many other worthy and interesting stories about our work that go unreported. I humbly suggest that you rethink printing any article that does not pertain directly to Rotary.

Robert Dirks
Crookston, Minn., USA

Family planning

The April issue highlighted some of the ways in which Rotarians can contribute, or have been contributing, to preserving our environment. For decades, we have saved and prolonged many human lives and improved the quality of life for millions. I’m proud of Rotarian good deeds. However, the more people there are, the longer we live, and the more we achieve a middle-class level of consumption, the more the health of our planet is threatened. I think family values are essential for the earth’s survival. Family values begin when parents-to-be plan the number of children they can support in a responsible way. I wish the magazine would dedicate an issue to ways in which Rotarians have helped, or might help, with family planning that would respect the beliefs of the people involved.

Rafael Canton
Ventura, Calif., USA

Ouch!

In making my initial leaf-through of the April issue, I recoiled in horror when I saw the picture on page 34. As a young lad on my father’s Ohio farm, one of the first things I was taught was to never, never, never lay down a fork with the tines pointed up.

Ed Brubaker
Punta Gorda, Fla., USA

Women in Rotary

I was very disappointed in The Rotarian’s [May] coverage of 20 years of women in Rotary. To relegate this momentous event to a single column on page 12 does a severe injustice to the myriad challenges that occurred before the Supreme Court decision and to the magnanimous spirit and contributions women have made to Rotary since that historic occasion. Yes, not all of our Rotary world embraces the leadership and caring qualities of women, but for The Rotarian to give short shrift to this event is inexcusable and an insult to the thousands of women in Rotary who have, are, and will make a difference in our world.

Carl Kruse
Poway, Calif., USA

You can look forward to more coverage of women’s contributions to RI, starting with this month’s interview with Catherine Noyer-Riveau, Rotary’s first female director-elect. - Ed.

Eradicating polio

I was pleased to see the article on the polio vaccinations sponsored by Rotary in Indonesia [“Success Story,” February]. The results of this effort will be amazing. My experience with the poliovirus and vaccine dates back to Chicago’s near epidemic back in the late 1960s. At the time, I was a health education officer with the Chicago Board of Health. After a small outbreak of polio in the city, the late Mayor Richard J. Daley ordered a program to distribute and administer the vaccine on Sunday. The result of the Sabin on Sunday program was just over 250,000 doses of vaccine administered in nine hours from 31 clinics. Chicago has been virtually polio-free since the vaccine distribution program. Rotary’s continued effort will help keep the world polio-free.

Jerry J. Field
Chicago, Ill., USA

Three Rs for the earth

The example of the Braswells’ lifestyle in “Entrusting Rotary” [May] was inspiring. The world and Rotary is grateful for the Braswells’ and the other couples’ philanthropy. As for commitment to the environment, the steps in environmental conservation are best followed in the correct order: First, reduce; second, reuse; third, recycle. It helps the economy to have more materials made, marketed, and purchased. But it’s better for the earth’s life when people reduce their want for materials, reuse whatever can be reused, and recycle those things that cannot be reused.

Esther B. Hanviriyapunt
Chicago, Ill., USA

Got game?

As a committed Rotarian, I enjoy reading the magazine. So let’s make a good thing better by adding a Sudoku puzzle to each issue. Sudoku will be another challenge for the sharp minds of Rotarians.

Chestene Coverdale
Bayport, N.Y., USA

Informative and clear

You do a great job with your articles. The “Relief in a Box” [January] and “Microcredit 101” [May] articles were fantastic and very clear and thorough. “The Organized Officer” [April] and “Speak Easy” [April] are examples of some of the great information The Rotarian provides. Thank you!

Danny Schnautz
Pasadena, Texas, USA

Correction

Two captions were inadvertently switched in the June issue. Below, the top photo depicts the Rotary Club of Istanbul. The bottom photo features Connie Al Ramahi, who serves on the social committee of the Mosque Foundation, based in Bridgeview, Ill., USA. Al Ramahi was attending a special meeting of the Rotary Club of Orland Park, Ill., to honor partners in a Gift of Life project providing heart surgery for two Iraqi children. The Rotarian deeply regrets the error and apologizes for any problems it may have caused for the featured individuals and clubs.