By Rotary International From the September 2015 issue of The Rotarian
Eradicating polio is a complex job. Since 1988, we’ve collaborated with the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and UNICEF to tackle the disease through our Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Here’s how our roles break down.
The Strategist: WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) coordinates the management and administration of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and provides technical and operational support to ministries of health in countries around the world. WHO is responsible for monitoring… …read more

Source:: Rotary.org

By Rotary International From the September 2015 issue of The Rotarian
Chances are, you’ve heard of Psy and his signature song, “Gangnam Style.” He’s the Korean pop star with dark sunglasses and a distinctive galloping horse dance who was everywhere a few years ago, including on a This Close ad for End Polio Now.
But what you might not know is that Psy is merely the tip of the colossal iceberg known as K-pop, short for Korean pop. If you plan to attend the 2016 Rotary International Convention in Seoul from 28 May to 1 June, you won’t have to search for K-pop – you’ll hear it in the streets, in cafes, in taxis, and on… …read more

Source:: Rotary.org

By Rotary International Jennifer Jacobson, a police constable in Chatham-Kent, Ontario, Canada, took part in a Rotary-sponsored Group Study Exchange (GSE) to Japan in 2009 after reading a post by a colleague and former participant.
“It was a life-changing experience, absolutely fantastic,” says Jacobson, who joined a physical therapist, a music therapist, and a retail manager on the trip. “Because they had limited translators, we went everywhere together and learned about each other’s professions. Our Japanese hosts made sure we experienced everything.
“What really hooked me on Rotary, though, was the experience I… …read more

Source:: Rotary.org

By Rotary International From the August 2015 issue of The Rotarian
Patricia Shafer founded the nonprofit Mothering Across Continents, based in Charlotte, N.C., after a trip to Uganda with Save the Children. “I wrote an opinion piece in the Charlotte Observer and pointed out that if we took all the Ugandan children who were orphaned by AIDS and put them in Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium, we could fill it twice,” she says. “People came out of the woodwork and proposed that I do something to help the children of the world.” Later, a Rotary Peace Fellowship inspired her to create a program that would deliver peace-… …read more

Source:: Rotary.org

By Rotary International From the September 2015 issue of The Rotarian
Last month, as virtually anyone with a television knows, Jon Stewart retired after 16 years as host of “The Daily Show.” Stewart was technically a comedian. But he was also, in the judgment of the New York Times and about half the country, “the most trusted man in America.”
I spent many years watching Stewart and his evil twin Stephen Colbert, who played a conservative pundit so convincingly that it was hard to believe he wouldn’t have had a shot at the GOP presidential nomination. Like many Americans distressed by the corruption of our political… …read more

Source:: Rotary.org

By Rotary International Today marks a significant milestone for Africa in its effort to eradicate polio from the continent. A full year has passed since Africa’s last reported case caused by the wild poliovirus.
Somalia was the last country to identify a new case, which occurred on 11 August 2014. While Africa has achieved an important public health milestone, the job is not yet finished. To end polio forever, all countries – both endemic and non-endemic – must strengthen routine immunization, address gaps in disease surveillance and do more to reach children who are still being missed by vaccinators.
“We cannot… …read more

Source:: Rotary.org

By Rotary International Share your Rotary story during a Twitter chat with Rotary International President K.R. Ravindran on 19 August at 13:00 Chicago time (UTC-5). Relate the reasons you joined, hear President Ravindran’s Rotary story, and find out what it means to Be a Gift to the World. Discuss tips on increasing interest in Rotary and bringing new members into your club. Use #RotaryChat to participate and follow @Rotary and @KRRavindran105. …read more

Source:: Rotary.org