Rotary District 6080

India Close to Eradicating Polio, But Challenges Still Remain

Michael Wehrenberg — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:56:45 +0000

Transcript

JEFFREY BROWN: And next to India, a poor and populous country long plagued by polio, but now health officials have come close to wiping out the disease.

Special correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro explains how that was accomplished.

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FRED DE SAM LAZARO: In India, the battle against polio is being fought one mouthful at a time. Vaccinators have fanned out with coolers containing vials of the oral vaccine on a scale befitting a nation of 1.2 billion, says Lieven Desomer, a campaign strategist for the U.N.

LIEVEN DESOMER, UNICEF: One national round, we reach almost 75 million children, 150,000 supervisors, 1.2 million vaccinated.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: They look for families especially at bus and train stations in the populous northern states, where polio is most endemic.

They look for young children, making sure first to check their pinkie fingers, where an indelible ink is placed once a child is immunized. Thousands of times, with little fuss, each vaccinator has administered the two-drop dose of vaccine. As a result, India, one of four countries where polio is still endemic, may soon become free of it.

It’s easier to see how India can be a breeding ground for polio. Hundreds of millions of people lack proper sanitation, conditions that allow the virus to spread, usually attacking children, causing paralysis in some victims and in a few cases death.

In addition, it’s difficult for public health workers to track the movements of India’s huge nomadic and migrant populations. On any given day, 19 million people are on a train somewhere in India. That’s why experts say the huge drop in polio cases — they were up to 150,000 a year in the ’80s — is remarkable.

As recently as 2009, there were 741 cases of polio in India, more than any other nation. By last year, 2011, the number had dwindled to one solitary case, what campaigners hope will be the last one they will ever find in India.

LIEVEN DESOMER: I have to pinch myself once in a while to really realize that we actually — we’re almost there. And, for me, it’s amazing being here, because it’s part of history. We are making history here.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: Desomer is with UNICEF, with, along the World Health Organizations, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Rotary International, partnered with the Indian government in the multi-year $2 billion-plus campaign.

He says a few years ago, many impoverished communities resisted the vaccine.

LIEVEN DESOMER: These were communities which have not benefited from all the progress in India. And they have no roads, no clean sanitation. And they would usually campaign to say, you can reach us with a drop of vaccine. Why can’t you reach us with education and health and good water and sanitation? So, that is one thing.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: So they were suspicious?

LIEVEN DESOMER: They were quite suspicious.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: Suspicion that the vaccine wasn’t what was claimed was particularly high among India’s Muslim minority.

Mufti Mukarram Ahmed, imam of the Fatehpuri Mosque in substantially Muslim Old Delhi, says memories are still vivid of coercive attempts by the government in the ’70s to sterilize people here.

MUFTI MUKARRAM AHMED, Imam (through translator): People thought that in the polio vaccine, they placed some medicine to sterilize people. They think that just like in the time of Sanjay Gandhi, when sterilization operations were going on, they think now, instead of doing operations, they can just give this medicine to the Muslim community and our men and women will not be able to have children.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: He was among many religious leaders who were approached by doctors and the U.N. agencies, reassured of their intentions, and brought on board to endorse the polio campaign.

Also coaxed in were Bollywood megastars like Amitabh Bachchan. In this TV spot, he angrily tell parents to put aside excuses like the fear of caste or religious discrimination and immunize their children.

AMITABH BACHCHAN, actor (through translator): Have you lost your mind?

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: His co-star in the ad, Shahrukh Khan, is Muslim.

SHAHRUKH KHAN, actor (through translator): His anger is justified. What’s the connection between caste or religion and polio? Any child can get this disease. That’s why I too have vaccinated my kids against polio. Now you please go and do the same.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: Perhaps the most significant buy-in that helped the polio campaign came from the government at all levels, according to this Dr. Hamid Jafari with the World Health Organization.

DR. HAMID JAFARI, World Health Organization: The government of India has funded the largest chunk of this program, you know, up to $250 million each year, which is unprecedented compared to other countries.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: The government declared that any polio virus citing must be treated as a public health emergency. Jafari says that allowed for vigorous surveillance and response. Old reports of paralysis in children were investigated.

DR. HAMID JAFARI: In 2011, nearly 60,000 cases of acute flaccid paralysis were reported and investigated. And only one of those cases, the one that had onset on Jan 13., we were able to isolate polio viruses — virus. The other cases were due to non-polio causes of acute flaccid paralysis. So that tells you how sensitive the civilian system is.

And there are international standards. And those standards are now being exceeded.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: He says the big lesson from India for Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan, three other countries where the virus is endemic, is that polio here became a huge, widely publicized national cause, much more than a public health campaign.

DR. HAMID JAFARI: You’re talking about community leaders, religious leaders, academic leaders, opinion leaders, so just getting — really turning it into sort of a national movement, so that everybody feels that they are part of this movement.

It’s not only just the health department that has to deliver on this. And I think that’s the kind of tipping point for Nigeria and Pakistan. I mean, these two countries have done a lot of good work and have made a lot of progress. It’s what it is going to take to bring them to the tipping point where India is now.

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: For India, the challenge is to remain vigilant and polio free for two more years to officially fall off the list of endemic countries.

Government officials say they next want to use the polio system and teams to tackle other relatively neglected diseases, like measles. Longer-term, the challenge is to build basic sanitation and education systems, things that can prevent disease in the first place.

Fred’s reporting is a partnership with the Under-Told Stories Project at Saint Mary’s University in Minnesota.

On our website, Hari Sreenivasan talks with two doctors from the Centers for Disease Control about curable and preventable illnesses.

Watch India Close to Being Polio-free, But Challenges Still Remain on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

Rotaract and Interact Club Member Training, March 24, 2012 During PETs

Rita Esterly — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:56:07 +0000

The New Generations Committee of the Show-Me Rotary (PETS) Planning Council has been contacting Rotaract and Interact sponsoring clubs, sponsors and advisors, district coordinators, and club members to advise them of training planned during PETS, March 24, 2012. The information that has been distributed is below. If you have questions, contact Cassy Venters, D6040, cdventers@me.com.

TO: Rotaract and Interact Club Members

Your sponsoring Rotary Club is participating in a statewide conference, Show Me Rotary, which provides training for all incoming Rotary Club Presidents and Secretaries. This year we have a special training session for Interact (high school) and Rotaract (college and young professionals) club members. We hope you can be a part of this great experience which includes nationally recognized Rotary speakers.

Training:

Rotaract and Interact Training
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Jefferson City – Capitol Plaza Hotel, 415 West McCarthy St., Jefferson City, MO 65101 573-635-1234
Begins with breakfast at 7:00 a.m. and ends after lunch 1:45 p.m.
Registration at www.showmerotary.org, registrations can be made after March 8 without a late registration fee.

Rotaractors and Interactors will be able to:

Meet other club members from across the state
Get tips for developing service projects
Discover international connections your club can make
Find out how to increase the visibility of your club and your projects
Understand the importance of leadership within your club

We hope you will attend and learn how to help your club become even better! Here is what you need to do if you are interested in participating in the Interact and Rotaract Club Training:

Call your sponsoring Rotary Club and let them know you are interested. Feel free to ask for their assistance in paying the fee of $30/Rotaractor or Interactor (includes registration, materials, breakfast and lunch) and assisting with travel. Clarify with them whether they will register you or if you will register yourself (#3 below).
If you need lodging for Friday night, March 23, rooms are available to the Capitol Plaza Hotel at a discounted rate of $95 plus tax. Or if you would like to be home-hosted for Friday night, call or email Justin Roberts, Columbia Rotary Club, robertsju@umsystem.edu, 573/846-2297.
You may register at http://showmerotary.org. Your parent(s) or a friend may also register for the training at the special $30 rate. Click on the link that says Rotaract and Interact and when you get to the page where you select the sessions you will be attending, select New Generations – Rotaract, Interact, Youth Exchange, RYLA in the drop-down menu.
If you have questions, feel free to contact me at cdventers@me.com or 816-896-8248

Please note:

The http://showmerotary.org registration site gives a deadline of March 8. This doesn’t apply to Rotaract and Interact.

More information giving you details about the speakers and topics will be sent to individuals on the training mailing list and district Rotaract and Interact coordinators as possible. It may also be requested from:

Cassy Venters
cdventers@me.com

Springfield Metro Club President David Bixler has agreed to serve as Friendship Exchange chair in District 6080 for the 2012-13 year.

Mark Pearce — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:07:41 +0000

Rotarians –

I am pleased to announce that Springfield Metro Club President David Bixler has agreed to serve as Friendship Exchange chair in District 6080 for the 2012-13 year.

For several years David and his wife, Julie, have worked on humanitarian missions in Mexico. Over that time they have developed many close friends – some of whom return the favor by traveling to Missouri to assist in Springfield’s annual Rock ‘N’ Ribs event. I know David is anxious to translate his affection for international cooperation into an active and vibrant Friendship Exchange program in District 6080.

David is President of Bixler Corporation, a firm specializing in disaster restoration and cleaning services. Over the past three years, he has served as District Communication Officer and has helped to incorporate DACdb into regular club and district operations.

David was a member of the Springfield Southeast Rotary club for eight years, and moved to the new Springfield Metro Club in March of 2011, where he serves as the club’s inaugural President. He is a major donor and member of the Bequest Society, the Paul Harris Society, and has been named District Rotarian of the Year.

David and his wife, Julie, have been married for thirty years and they have three daughters – Meredith, Amanda and Whitney.

Please welcome David to the post of Friendship Exchange Chair.

Mark Pearce
Governor 2012-13
Rotary District 6080

Andy Bonderer Appointed To Serve As International Service Chair for FY 2012-2013

Mark Pearce — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:11:42 +0000

Rotarians –

Rotary International has asked that each district to create a new International Service Chair position. I am pleased to announce that Columbia Rotarian Andy Bonderer has agreed to accept that position for the 2012-13 year.

As International Service Chair, Bonderer will work closely with Rotary Friendship Exchange committees to support service connections between Rotary clubs and Rotarians, focusing on international projects and volunteering, twin clubs, service-related exchanges, ProjectLINK registration, and disaster relief and recovery.

Bonderer is a civil engineer for Professional Contractors and Engineers, a general contractor in Columbia, MO. He is a past president of the Columbia Rotary Club, a past ADG, and he has severed on various other committees at the club and district levels. His wife, Stacey, is a teacher at Rock Bridge High School in Columbia. they have has two daughters Emmy and Annie. Andy’s other interests include scuba diving, chasing waterfowl and spending time on the farm.

Help me to welcome Andy Bonderer to this position of International Service Chair for the 2012-13 year.

Mark Pearce
Governor 2012-13
Rotary District 6080

Pulaski County Rotarian Jacqueline “Jackie” Howard has accepted the position of Rotary Foundation Permanent Fund Chair for District 6080 beginning in FY 2012-13

Mark Pearce — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:52:16 +0000

I am pleased to announce that Pulaski County Rotarian Jacqueline “Jackie” Howard has accepted the position of Rotary Foundation Permanent Fund Chair for District 6080 beginning in FY 2012-13.

Through the position, Jackie will promote the Rotary Foundation’s Permanent Fund and its never-ending ability to generate funds for humanitarian projects. Many people make donations to the Permanent Fund through planned gifts or bequests, and Jackie will be able to provide information about the Permanent Fund to anyone considering such an option.

A resident of Waynesville, Missouri, Jackie is Director for Psychiatric Services at Phelps County Regional Medical Center. She has served in the psychiatric nursing and leadership development field for over 30 years.

Within the district, Jackie has served as an Assistant Governor, and for the past three years has been chair of the district’s GSE program. Prior to that, she was a member of the GSE team to the Philippines (1994) and the GSE team leader to Germany (2006). Jackie is a Paul Harris Fellow and is also proud to have made a bequest gift to the Rotary Foundation.

Join me in welcoming Jackie Howard to her pending position as Permanent Fund Chair – where I know her efforts will have an important and lasting impact on many, many others.

Mark Pearce
Governor 2012-13
Rotary District 6080

Peace Through Service

Mark Pearce — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:43:05 +0000

Rotarians and Friends –

My wife, Ann, and I have just returned from San Diego, California, and the Rotary International Assembly, and I am fresh with excitement and vigor about the tremendous things that Rotary is doing in the world. What’s especially exciting is that Rotary is positioning itself to do even more. Undoubtedly, you are a big part of that.

Here is an outline of important things presented to the 2012-13 Governor class:

Rotary International President-elect Sakuji Tanaka announced that next year’s theme is “Peace through Service.” Tanaka took great pains to clarify that the word “peace” is not only an antonym to the word “war,” but is also descriptive of a community of understanding, interaction, cooperation and trust. It’s in this way that even our local service projects can be seen as building toward a more peaceful world.
Rotary International General Secretary John Hewko announced that Rotary International would begin surveying and assessing the scope and value of LOCAL projects that clubs perform. Rotary is acknowledged as one of the top 75 philanthropic organizations in the world, but it is Hewko’s assessment that if Rotary had a verifiable means of quantifying all the work – including local projects performed by all 33,000 clubs – the organization would be in the top 10, and much more likely to draw the attention and support of resourceful partners. I see RI’s renewed attention to our local projects as a very welcomed development.
India has now gone over one year without a new incidence of Polio being reported. For those of us who’ve been following the Polio Plus campaign throughout its various iterations, this seems nigh a miracle. Due to India’s pervasive poverty, poor sanitation infrastructure and fast growing population, the country was seen as the “toughest nut to crack” in the fight against the killing and crippling disease. To paraphrase the old Frank Sinatra song – if Rotary can wipe out Polio there, we can “do it anywhere.”
During the conference, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced another $50-million contribution toward the campaign to eliminate Polio. While Rotary is nearing the end of Bill Gates’ $200-million challenge (which we have exceeded, six months early) it will still be important for us to remain vigilant and continue to support the cause until the new incidences of Polio have been reduced to zero for a period of two years or more. But here’s the payback: once Polio is eliminated, it will save the world billions of dollars that would have been used to contain the virus and to treat victims over the succeeding decades. Another step toward “peace.”
The Rotary Foundation’s new administrative structure – New Visions – will continue to roll-out to non-pilot clubs over the next year and a half. One of the primary purposes for this new way of doing things is to drive the administrative costs of overseeing projects down to the volunteer level so that Rotary will continue to be one of the most efficient processors of philanthropic funds in the world. It’s quite a challenge since, cumulatively, Rotary is enmeshed in so many thousands of projects. Two other objectives of New Visions: to encourage clubs to work together on bigger, more substantive projects; and, projects should leave a continuing and replenishing benefit for those who are assisted. (The RI vernacular for this characteristic is “project sustainability.”)

There is much more detail and many interesting observations that I could get into – and probably will in later missives – but I want you to know that things are moving in Rotary, and we want you to be shoulder to shoulder with Rotarians from around the world in helping to build understanding, interaction, cooperation and trust.

In a word – Peace.

Mark Pearce
Governor 2012-13
Rotary District 6080

Rotary Clubs of West Plains were recognized as the Civic/Nonprofit Organization of the Year 2011

Michael Wehrenberg — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:13:11 +0000

At the Annual Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet, the Rotary Clubs of West Plains were recognized as the Civic/Nonprofit Organization of the Year 2011. The two club presidents, Reid Grigsby and Susan Courter, accepted the award “in recognition of contributions, service and support of the West Plains area.” This speaks highly of our Rotarian members and the work that we as Rotarians do.

Panama Project Smiles

Rita Esterly — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:41:38 +0000

Good evening to all…

Today was a great day. We flew to one of the San Blas islands on the Atlantic coast of Panama, about 50 minutes by twin-prop plane. We brought with us one of the PET cars and a few baby well kits, as this was also a the site of another Rotary project in progress.

Our first PET beneficiary was named Demetio, he is 63 and had suffered Polio as a young man. He makes his living making straw hats and bowls. His mobility was restricted by an old wheelchair and the pebble/sand street of his home island narrow streets. Words are not enough to describe the joy and happiness of this man ( therefore I’m attaching some photos ) as he transit the streets of Playon Chico island. Dozens of children, women and men came out of their houses to find out what was all the commotion on the street, only to find Demetio going back and forward with his new mobility and freedom. This was simple wonderful.

We also delivered a few baby well kits, all of them received with much gratitude, as these items are very scarce and expensive in these inaccessible areas of Panama. We are very happy to have had the opportunity to serve today…..more to come soon.

Yours in Rotary,
Vicente

Richard “Dick” Mazanec Appointed To Serve As District Secretary for A Three-Year Term

Mark Pearce — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:26:26 +0000

Rotarian Friends –

I am pleased to announce another addition to the 2012-13 Leadership Team for District 6080.

Charter member of the Rotary Breakfast Club of Rolla, Richard “Dick” Mazanec, has agreed to serve as District Secretary for a three-year term. In that position, Dick will be responsible for recording the minutes and decisions stemming from official meetings of the District, and to make those records accessible for later access and as reference for future boards.

Dick served as Secretary of the Rolla club for 10 years and is finishing his term as Assistant Governor this year. He has amassed a 21-year perfect attendance record and has served as chair of his club’s Foundation Committee for 18 years.

And, should you think he has more to prove his constancy, he has worked as a pharmacist for 52 years, he has been married to his wife, Fran for 52 years and he has been a St. Louis blues season ticket holder since 1967.

Once more, I am extremely pleased to be working with such a wonderful team of leaders for the 2012-13 Rotary year. A hearty thanks to Dick for his consideration and acceptance of the position.

Mark Pearce
Governor 2012-134
Rotary District 6080

Duane R. Sterling Appointed To Serve As The Rotary Foundation Awards Chair for FY 2012-2013

Mark Pearce — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:58:12 +0000

Rotarian Friends –

I am pleased to announce that Duane R. Sterling from Warrensburg has agreed to accept the position of The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Awards Chair for District 6080 beginning in FY 2012-13. In that position, Duane will be looking for Rotarians within the District who have performed exceptional, long-term service on behalf of the Rotary Foundation, and he will make recommendations for special TRF commendations for those found worthy of consideration.

In writing down Duane’s Rotary vitae I wore three pencils down to their nubs. Suffice to say, he has had an extensive Rotary career, both professionally (as Rotary Foundation General Manager 1997-2003) and personally, in which among other things, he has served as Aide to RI President Ray Klinginsmith (2010-11), was on the Peace and Conflict Resolution Fellows Executive Committee and was the first chair of the Rotary Peace Symposium. (This is a much abridged version of Duane’s long and distinguished Rotary career.)

I know Duane as a community member and family man who always includes his family in his thoughts and decisions. He and his wife Pat have made an exceptional Rotary team over the years, and I am proud to have him join the District 6080 leadership team.

And if the past is prologue, we get Pat in the deal too.

Mark Pearce
Governor 2012-13
Rotary District 6080