Rotarians gearing up for World Polio Day

By Dan Nixon and Arnold Grahl
Rotary International News -- 19 October 2011

The Global Poverty Project is sponsoring The End of Polio Concert 28 October in Perth, Australia. See the video clip above featuring actor Hugh Jackman.

Rotarians around the globe are planning events to raise polio eradication awareness and funding for World Polio Day on 24 October.

Rotarians are getting ready to spread the word about World Polio Day, 24 October, and the need to finish the job of eradicating the disease. Photo courtesy of Pakistan PolioPlus Committee.

Australian club members are working with the Global Poverty Project on a petition drive aimed at persuading world leaders to fully fund the critical work of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Supporters can sign the petition online.

The Global Poverty Project has scheduled an End of Polio Concert on 28 October to coincide with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Australia. Rotarians have joined with the group to lobby leaders to put polio eradication on the meeting agenda. Hugh Evans, cofounder and CEO of the Global Poverty Project, is a scheduled speaker at the 2012 RI Convention in Bangkok, Thailand, in May.

"Global collaboration has ensured that eradication is within reach," says Michael Sheldrick, the group's polio campaign manager and a member of the Rotary Club of Crawley, Western Australia. "Our generation has a chance to realize a historic opportunity and ensure that no one else ever has to fear this disease. That’s why it’s vital we commit to finish the job."

Among other events planned around World Polio Day are these:

Rotarians in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, are organizing a Walk to End Polio Now, aimed at drawing 4,000 participants and raising money for Rotary's US$200 Million Challenge to match $355 million in grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in support of polio eradication.
The Rotary Club of Venezia-Riviera del Brenta, Italy, has organized a Run to End Polio fundraiser as part of the 23 October Venice Marathon.
Rotary, Rotaract, and Interact clubs in Canada and the United States are coordinating a Wake Up Across the Continent polio awareness initiative during the week of 24-28 October. Each club is encouraged to participate and to publicize its activities, share ideas, and post images on Facebook.
Rotarians in Finland will conduct a "This Close" campaign with ads in print, on television, and online 24-28 October, and they plan a fundraiser on World Polio Day.
Rotarians in Canada have arranged for the "This Close" TV public service announcement and other polio-related programming to air on CBC nationally throughout October.
Rotarians in Africa have started a "This Close" page on Facebook for World Polio Day, encouraging fellow Rotarians to replace their Facebook profile photo that day with their "This Close" photo from www.thisclose.net.
The Rotary Club of Linlithgow Grange, Lothian, Scotland, is sponsoring a Scotch Hop dance fundraiser on 29 October to benefit Rotary's challenge.
Rotary clubs in Boston will present A Festival of Voices: Singing Out to End Polio Now on 23 October, with all proceeds to benefit the challenge.
The Nepal PolioPlus Committee will host a one-day seminar on polio in conjunction with the local UNICEF office.

Inspired by these plans? Here are a few ways you and your club can help observe World Polio Day:

Create your own "This Close" ad and make it your Facebook profile photo.
Host a walk, run, or bikeathon. Be sure to send out a press release about the event. Download a sample release.
Download a World Polio Day Proclamation and ask your town to commemorate World Polio Day on 24 October.
Place an op-ed about polio in your local newspaper. See a sample.
Use "This Close" resources from the Rotary Media Center.
Earn double recognition points by making a contribution to help End Polio Now online 24-28 October.
Begin planning for an End Polio Now lighting to celebrate Rotary's anniversary on 23 February.

If your club is planning a fundraiser or project for World Polio Day, let us know at pr@rotary.org.

14 Comments:

At 3:12PM on 27 October 2011, lydia de jesus lubaton wrote: This is related to my comment last Oct 14, 2011 at 1:27 P.M. regarding our plans for the "World Polio Day". Fortunately, our club's request to the city mayor to declare Oct 24, 2011 and thereafter was granted! Glory to God!. Our city mayor issued an Executive Order No. CL 422-2011 on October 12, 2011 declaring October 24, 2011 and every year thereafter as "World Polio Day" in the City of Zamboanga. An excerpt of the Declaration reads as follows: NOW THEREFORE, I, CELSO L. LOBREGAT, City Mayor of Zamboanga, by virtue of of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare October 24, 2011 and every year thereafter as World Polio Day in the City of Zamboanga> This Executive Order shall take effect on the date above mentioned and every year on said date thereafter.. It is directed that copies of this order be furnished to all the Rotary Clubs in the City of Zamboanga, for their information and the City Public Information Officer, Office of the City Mayor, is hereby tasked to see to the widest dissemination to all media outlets of this directive. SO ORDERED. Done in the City of Zamboanga, this 12th day of October in the Year of our Lord, 2011.". With this city declaration, last Oct 24, 2011, our club together with our sponsored STI Rotaract Club and Interact Club of Ferndale International School Zamboanga, some members of RC Metro Zamboanga, RCZC East, gov't officials, the 530th Wing Air Base PAF, had amotorcade which culminated at the intersection of four streets. The"End Polio Now" logo painting on the Edwin Andrews Air Base fence was inaugurated with a ribbon cutting. Culminating this week's celebration is the presentation of Plaque of Recognition to deserving polio victim/s who despite physical defects rose up to be a successful person in his/her field of profession. This recognition will be given to one of our local Zamboangueno and one recipient in our District 3850 level. Fundraising for the Polio Plus is in the process. To God be the glory!

At 3:56PM on 24 October 2011, John Kirkwood wrote: On Friday I was privileged to attend the launching of the House to House Polio Plus Immunisation Program at Busia, Uganda. It is still an incredible feeling when one puts 2 drops of pin vaccine into the child's mouth and one then knows that the child will be spared that dreadful disease. MANY, MANY THANKS TO ALL THE ROTARIANS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD WHO CONTINUE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THIS SO VALUABLE PROGRAM

At 3:57PM on 24 October 2011, James Martin wrote: Rotarians across the world are working day-in, day-out to raise awareness of this disease as well as trying do as much fundraising to assist in eradicating this dreadful disease. Please support Rotarians across UK, Irel...and and the rest of the world on World Polio Day by posting something with the hashtag #rotaryendpolio on or around Monday 24 October 2011. Let's bring awareness of this disease to everyone's attention." Just need some more to take part! #rotaryendpolio Thanks to all of those who have already taken part

At 2:51PM on 24 October 2011, John Kirkwood wrote: I was privileged to be able to attend the official launching of the Polio Plus House to House Immunisation Program at Busia, Uganda. This is to try to mop up some 2 cases of polio in the last few months - one in Uganda and one in Kenya - not far from each other. Many, many thanks to all those Rotarians who so kindly continue supporting this amazing program. It is so rewarding to see those 2 pink drops of vaccine dropping into the child's mount and then knowing that that child will be safe from this dreadful disease. MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THIS POLIO PLUS PROGRAM!

At 11:40AM on 24 October 2011, David Bryant wrote: To draw attention to World Polio Day, Rotarians in Britain and Ireland are using the hashtag #rotaryendpolio all over social netwroking sites and in comments on news articles about polio. See our Facebook page for details http://www.facebook.com/ribisocialmedia and our website http://www.ribi.org/foundation/polio/world-polio-day-24th-october . Please join in, wherever you are in the world and let's make some noise about Rotary's involvement with polio eradication. Thanks.

At 11:39AM on 24 October 2011, Rebecca Warner wrote: Rotarians in Great Britain & Ireland are doing many activities, including an online campaign to get polio on the agenda. We are tweeing, posting, facebooking and generally commenting in as many places as possible with polio messages, including the all important phrase #rotaryendpolio. Join in and lets get the world talking about Rotary and polio. Rebecca Warner, RIBI PR Officer.

At 11:25AM on 21 October 2011, PP Colette FREGE wrote: RC Alexandria Cosmopolitan & RC Alexandria West produced the Arabic version of "This is Rotary" DVD which will be sold to Arabic speaking countries of Zone 20B. Proceeds will be donated to End Polio Now!

At 9:35AM on 20 October 2011, Onen, Eni wrote: As a Rotaractor, i plan to get people inform by organizing a mini awareness programe in my area. 'POLIO MUST STOP'.

At 9:25AM on 20 October 2011, Sue Coates wrote: Debbe--Thank you for your generous offer. I am passing your comment onto the District Governor of District 5100, Mike Caruso. I am not sure how to contact you but he may be reached through our District website at www.rotaryd5100.org. Our District PolioPlus Chair is Past District Governor Norb Murray. Thanks again, Sue Coates, Asst Gov, D5100.

At 10:51AM on 18 October 2011, SUSAN DEFINA wrote: My club is Rotary Club of Noosa Heads Daybreak. We are up with the sun to view the Australiian tropical dawn and to have our meetings. We will be participating in the end Polio Now program with a mini-walk along the best beach in Queensland. Susan

At 10:51AM on 18 October 2011, Intr. Uche Okolie wrote: Though am not a rotarian,i still feel i can contribute my quater. Thats why as the ZONAL INTERACT REPRESENTATIVE OF DELTA ZONE 1,DISTRICT 9140,NIGERIA,I plan on having an awareness talk on POLIO in all the schools in my zone.

At 9:50AM on 17 October 2011, Badri R Pande wrote: Nepal National PolioPlus Committee is also organizing a Walkathon on 22 October 2011 as part of World Polio Day celebrations besides hosting South East Asia Regional Workshop on End Polio Now on 24 October.

At 1:27PM on 14 October 2011, lydia de jesus lubaton wrote: Our club, Rotary Club of Zamboanga City Central, Philippines, under RI District 3850 have initiated in Zamboanga City (Zones 10& 11) the letter request to our city Mayor Celso Lobregat in commemorating Oct 24 as World Polio Day. To highlight said event, there will be a walk for "End Polio Now" to be joined by all government & private entities, public & private schools & universities, professionals, religious and civic clubs/or groups. This walk will raise funds to meet the US$200 Million Challenge. Also the long stretch of airbase fence will be painted with "End Polio Now", RI theme 2011-2012, the club's sponsored Interact and Rotaract logos and unveiling & blessing of said painting will be done on October 24. Available spans of the fence would also be shared to other Rotary Clubs in the our city as full authority to utilize said airbase was given to our club.

At 2:35PM on 11 October 2011, Debbe Sabin wrote: As daughter of oral polio vaccine developer, Albert Sabin, I applaud Rotary's persistence in eradicating this nasty disease. If there are any Rotary clubs in the Portland, OR area planning an event I would be happy to help out.

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