Saturday, October 20, 2007

Commitment to End Polio - Week of October 22, 2007

ROTARY’S COMMITMENT TO END POLIO

Rotary and its spearheading partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative remain committed to reaching all children with the oral polio vaccine (OPV).

Nigeria is one of only four countries where the spread of the wild poliovirus has not been stopped. Since the outbreak was identified in August 2006, four mass immunization campaigns have been completed, and more are scheduled.

More than 70 Rotarians from the United States and Canada volunteered this past weekend with fellow Rotarians, volunteers, and health workers to administer the oral polio vaccine to children as part of a nationwide immunization campaign in Ethiopia 18-20 October.

Significant progress has been made toward ending polio in Ethiopia, which has not reported a single case of the disease this year. The country recorded 22 cases in 2005 and 17 in 2006 after an outbreak in the Horn of Africa. Vigilant surveillance remains critical, especially during the upcoming season of traditional pilgrimages that bring many travelers to the region.

For as little as 60 cents worth of vaccine, a child can be protected against this crippling disease for life. To date, the annual number of polio cases worldwide has been reduced from 350,000 in the mid-1980s to approximately 2,000 cases in 2006. Only four countries – Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan – are still polio endemic.

Rotary’s commitment to end polio represents the largest-ever private sector support of a global health initiative. In 1985, Rotary members worldwide vowed to immunize all the world’s children against polio. Since then, Rotary has contributed US$620 million to polio eradication, of which $7.7 million has supported immunization campaigns in Ethiopia.

In addition to raising and contributing funds, over one million Rotarians have volunteered their time and personal resources to help immunize more than two billion children in 122 countries during national immunization campaigns.

For more information about Rotary, check our local website http://www.rotaryanguilla.org or speak to any local Rotarian. The Rotary Club of Anguilla meets every Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. upstairs at the English Rose. You, too, can become part of this excellent organization.

(source: Rotary International news)

Monday, October 15, 2007

Rotary around the World highlights Vocational Service Month - Week of October 15, 2007

ROTARY AROUND THE WORLD HIGHLIGHTS VOCATIONAL SERVICE MONTH.

Rotary International reports that teenaged students in a troubled neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, are being given a chance at a promising future. Teenagers are learning to bake bread with the idea of preparing them for the job market as they pursue their regular studies.

Three Rotary Clubs from Rio de Janeiro joined forced with clubs in Germany and India to put together this exciting program. Together, they were able to gather club and Rotary District funding of US $33,000 with which they purchased industrial baking equipment, including an oven, a kneading machine, and a mixer to set up shop just a few doors away from the school.

Brazilian Rotarians have been partnering for the past decade with clubs from Germany and elsewhere on a series of 17 Matching Grant projects to help young people from the community, which struggles with unemployment, drugs, and prostitution. Projects have included providing nutritious lunches and offering shop and graphic arts courses.

“Today, more than 5,000 children are safe, off the streets, and have a future because Rotarians care,” said Past District 4570 Governor Adélia Villas, a longtime Rotarian volunteer at the site.

In May, students baked their first product: French rolls. “I am really happy,” said 16-year-old Nayara Araújo de Oliveira. “I never thought the bread would turn out so tasty. Now this is my favorite class. I like being able to see the results of our work so fast.”

Noting how the students shared their first bread with the kindergarten children, District Governor Villas, said: “Here you can feel the love that exists in this school. You see how different this school is from others.”

Through Rotary, a better world is possible.

For more information about Rotary, check the website http://www.rotaryanguilla.org or speak to any local Rotarian. The Rotary Club of Anguilla meets every Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. upstairs at the English Rose. You too can be part of this exceptional organization.

October is Vocational Service Month

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DESIGNATES OCTOBER AS
VOCATIONAL SERVICE MONTH - October 8, 2007


The second of the four Avenues of Service, Vocational Service, fosters and supports the application of the Ideal of Service in pursuit of all vocations. Inherent in the Vocational Service Ideal are :

1. Adherence to, and promotion of, the highest ethical standards in all occupations, including loyalty to employers, employees, and associates, and fair treatment of those with whom one has business or professional relations;

2. The recognition of the worthiness to society of all useful occupations; and

3. The contribution of one's vocational talents to the problems and needs of society.

Vocational Service is the responsibility of both a Rotary club and its members. The role of the club is to develop projects that help members contribute their vocational talents. The role of members is to conduct their professional lives in accordance with Rotary principles and to share in projects which the club has developed.

Vocational Service evolved from the classifications principle - a feature originally unique to Rotary that limited active membership to one representative from each business or profession. This classification system remains the basis for each Rotarian's personal obligation in Vocational Service - to serve as a representative of that classification within the club. This knowledge and experience gives each club the resources to complete projects that address all aspects of the second Avenue of Vocational Service.


THE FOUR-WAY TEST

Rotarians are concerned with promoting high ethical standards in their professional lives. They embrace the philosophy of "The Four-Way Test," written in 1932 by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor after he took over a company that faced bankruptcy.

It asks the following four questions:

"Of the things we think, say or do:

1. Is it the TRUTH?

2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?

3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"

For more information about Rotary, check the website http://www.rotaryanguilla.org or speak to any local Rotarian. The Rotary Club of Anguilla meets every Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. upstairs at the English Rose.