Hello District 7070:
September, or as I like to call it, Super September, witnessed many District 7070 Rotary clubs hold successful community events. I was honoured and privileged to attend several of these events, including 13 bottle and food drives, eWaste collections and Ribfest Drivethroughs held by 16 clubs on September 26/27. Other clubs have started COVID responsible outdoor hikes/walks and community waste cleanups. We have pivoted and demonstrated resiliency in the face of COVID finding new ways to engage in the community and raise funds.
Rotary Superheroes and Champions are everywhere!
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As we turn to the beautiful fall colours of October, we now turn our focus to World Polio Day on October 24 and our annual Rotary Foundation Walk.
World Polio Day
Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 30 years and has been a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative helping to reduce polio cases by 99.9 percent since Rotary’s first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979.
In addition, did you know:
18 million people are walking today who would have otherwise been paralyzed by polio.
Rotary has helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries
If polio isn't eradicated, within 10 years, as many as 200,000 children could be paralyzed by it each year
Polio surveillance networks and vaccination programs also monitor children for other health problems like vitamin deficiency and measles
Once the final case of polio is recorded, it will take three years to ensure that the last case is, in fact, the final one. These programs will continue to need funding.
Recently on Aug. 25, 2020, Nigeria was declared polio-free, clearing the virus from the entire continent of Africa. Each and every Rotarian should be extremely proud of this remarkable achievement and inspired to continue the battle.
In late September I was proud to stand with the Durham Regional Chair, the City/Town Mayors and Rotary Club Presidents within Durham Region to proclaim October 24 as World Polio Day. Many other clubs are holding similar flag raising events in their communities to recognize this important date. We also plan a flag raising celebration at Toronto City Hall on October 22.
Another exciting event on the calendar is World Polio Day 2020 on October 22. The Rotary Clubs of Oshawa and Oshawa-Parkwood, partnering with Durham College of Applied Arts and Technology are co-hosting a livestream “World Polio Day 2020 in Durham Region” on Thursday, October 22, 2020 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm (Toronto time). Dr. Bob Scott, our immediate past Chair of the Rotary International PolioPlus Committee, will update our livestream audience, with Rotary’s efforts to End Polio Now and our challenge ahead. He will be joined by Ian Riseley, RI Past President, live from Australia.
Tune in here on October 22 at 7pm to join: https://durhamcollege.ca/globalclass/class/rotary-international-world-polio-day-2/
Rotary Foundation Walk
The Rotary Foundation is recognized as one of the most effective and well-managed charitable organizations in the world, with 12 consecutive four-star ratings from Charity Navigator and an A-plus rating from CharityWatch. Since it was founded more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects.
Each October our District holds a Foundation Walk. Sadly, with the recent provincial government announcement to restrict outdoor gatherings in Toronto to 25 people we are having to replan this event and look at other options.
However, we can’t forget that the Walk is our major fundraiser for the Foundation and each year District 7070 members donate over $100K from the Walk!
Year after year, District 7070 is a North American leader in support of the Foundation with many clubs accessing Foundation grants. Recognizing this, clubs such as Quinte Sunrise and Whitby Sunrise (to name a few) are holding their own Rotary Foundation Walks. Perhaps your club can run their own walk in your community in October to raise funds and have a fun outside club gathering!
Thanks for all you do to make a positive difference!
Mark Chipman
District 7070 Governor, 2020-21
DGChip7070@gmail.com