There were 22 Everett Rotarians attending today’s meeting and 1 visiting Rotarian from the Arlington Club, Lee Harman (Our guest speaker).

 

Today is National “All is Ours Day” which is all about enjoying what we have and extending

kindness and help to others and promoting a sense of community and collective well-being.  This sounds a lot like what Rotary strives to provide and a good example for this day is the message our speaker Lee Harman gave about what Rotary has and continues to do in the world to help eradicate Polio. See PROGRAM below.

 

President Michael Kvistad opened the 39^th meeting of the year and the 5,589^th meeting

of the Rotary Club of Everett with the Pledge of Allegiance. 

 

Ashley Bolden’s Thought of The Day comes from A book written by Candace Simpson-Giles titled How to be a Lady.  “When faced with life’s minor setbacks, a lady does not act like a victim.”

 

President Michael introduced Lee Harman from the Arlington Club.  There were no other visiting Rotarians or guests.

 

President Michael gave a synopsis of what was playing on the monitor as we were settling into our seats prior to the start of the meeting. We heard songs by Sam Cooke, Bob Dylan, and Peter, Paul, and Mary and saw a talented Japanese woodworker.

 

President Michael also reminded us of the Rotary District 5050 conference that will be held at the Tulalip Resort and running from May 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th.

 

President Elect Kelli Thode and Ryan Willis gave us an update on their recent trip to the District Assembly in Surrey, BC. The theme of the conference was “Rotarians in Action” which focused on Membership, Public Image, and The Rotary Foundation.  Ryan was

a presenter focusing on Public Image.  Past President Greg Tisdale was also at the District Assembly.  The three of them, I’m sure, represented our Club very well.

 

President Elect Kelli had more announcements:

 

Kari Quaas was happy that her dad’s 30 year old CPAP machine was replaced with a newer model.  She was also happy to promote the annual Wendt & Mayor’s Arts Awards

which will be presented on April 10^th at the Everett Performing Arts Center.  The admission is free with a social hour starting at 6:00 pm and the program starting at 7:00 pm.

 

Mary Toews gave a $100.00 bell ringer, as she was happy to be at Rotary, happy for a European vacation she had taken, and happy for more important things in her life that I

unfortunately, didn’t catch.

 

Betsy Baker-Bold gave some dollars as she found her name tag in her car and will soon be leaving on a spring skiing vacation to Sun Valley.

 

Past President Greg T. was $20.00 happy to see Mary along with Tara Eckstrom at Rotary today.

 

Past President Tammy Dunn donated two sets of AquaSox tickets for auctioning off.  The box seats are right behind home plate.  President Michael started the bidding process and when it was all through the winners were:

- Past President Neil Angst won the Saturday April 12^th seats with a bid of $100.00.

- Scott Casselman won the Sunday April 13^th seats with a bid of $30.00.

 

Winner number 1 - Past President Steve Juntwait selected the Washington Huskies blanket and tumbler.

 

Winner number 2 - Past President Andy Hall chose the candle and box of almonds.

 

Winner number 3 - Betsy Baker-Bold took home a bottle of wine and more.

 

Ryan Willis introduced Lee Harman, past Assistant District Governor, Past President of the Rotary Club of Arlington, and a member of the Arch Klumph Society (a monetary gift to the Rotary Foundation with a minimum $250,000.00 contribution). Lee’s topic today was Polio Plus.

 

After Rotary undertook a series of Polio immunization campaigns throughout Southeast Asia and Latin America in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s they decided to “up their game” and made their first effort to immunize every child in the world with the Polio vaccine.  Rotary introduced Polio Plus in 1985 with a goal to raise $120 million.  At the 1988 Rotary convention in Philadelphia, it was announced that $247 million had been raised.  Later that year Rotary spearheaded the global resolution to eradicate Polio

at the World Health Assembly in Geneva which lead to similar initiatives with the World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and UNICEF. IN 1984 there were an estimated 350,000 cases of Polio in 125 nations.

 

In 2002-2003 Rotary launched the Polio Eradication Fundraising Campaign with a goal of $80 million.  The campaign, netting over$135 million, eclipsed that goal.  The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation contributed $1 million when it honored Rotary with its

Gates Award for Global Health.

 

The Gates Foundation, in 2007, announced its first major grant to Polio eradication with a $100 million challenge to Rotary, promising to match funds raised by Rotarians.  At the time there were 784 cases of Polio in 4 nations.

 

In 2009 Bill Gates pledges an additional $255 million at Rotary’s International Assembly.  Rotary increases its fundraising goal to $200 million.

 

By 2012 Rotary raises over $228 million, and the Gates Foundation provided another $50 million contribution.

 

The International Convention in Lisbon, in 2013, set the stage for a new partnership between the Gates Foundation and Rotary. The Gates Foundation agreed to match 2-to-1 every dollar committed by Rotary, up to $35 million per year through 2018. Rotary exceeds its annual goal.

 

In 2017 the Gates Foundation increased its pledge to $450 million. Rotary’s new goal was to contribute $50 million annually over the next three years.  With the 2-to-1 match, the Gates Foundation contribution over those three years was $300 million.

 

At present there are estimated to be 7 cases of Polio in 2 Nations (Afghanistan and Pakistan).

 

Lee gave us details on how the Polio virous only lives for 14 days and it needs a human host to reproduce.  Kids tend to pick up the virous from the ground. 1 in 200 kids who have the virous becomes paralyzed with Polio.  Bad sanitary conditions “septic systems” perpetuate the spreading of the virous from these other 199 affected kids back into the ground.  This is why it is so important to keep vaccinating as many kids as possible.

 

What is needed to eradicate Polio is:

- Courage

- Commitment

- Cash

 

Lee also passed out a flyer that had a challenge to raise more money for Polio Plus.  A generous donor has offered $25,000.00 which will be donated to Polio Plus once another $25,000.00 has been raised.  Lee is leading this effort under the theme “Unlock the Miss Vicky $25,000.00 Challenge Donation” (Miss Vicky is a retired Model A Ford that Lee and

a friend drove in 2 previous Rotary fund raisers in Asia/Europe and from Alaska/Baja.

 

The flyer had a QR code that could be scanned to donate.  If you do not have a copy of the Flyer, then please email Lee at: rleeharmanmd@gmail.com to get instructions on alternative ways to donate.

 

President Michael thanked Lee and presented him with our token of appreciation.

 

Karen Erickson, Everett Farmers Market

 

President Michael adjourned the meeting at 1:03 pm

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Photography Submitted by.