District polio committee goals for 2018-19 are: 1) to raise at least $150,000, 2) attendance at the RI President’s Dinner in late January 2019 to be at least 350 people, 3) 50% of clubs will donate an amount equal to $50/member and 4) at least one-fourth of clubs will sponsor an event for World Polio Day (October 24, 2018).Obviously the goal continues to “Get to Zero” children being paralyzed by polio in an upcoming calendar year, but to get there requires active participation by all Rotarians and all clubs to raise the money needed for vaccines, environmental surveillance, and the infra-structure for identifying cases, tracking possible contacts, and organizing vaccination teams. We cannot declare the world polio free until three years have gone by with no cases of polio anywhere in the world, there are no positive environmental samples, and there is secure storage/containment of all live poliovirus in laboratories.
Our memberships, especially new members, need to be educated and frequently given updated information about the polio eradication effort. The polio committee is eager to help you with speakers, vetting of videos and other educational materials, and fund-raising ideas. We’d love to hear from you!!! Contact Marny Eulberg at marnyeul@me.com or 303-829-1538.