The Wheel for January 17, 2019

by Jan 17, 2019The Wheel0 comments

The Wheel


John Chase – District Governor

John and his wife Elizabeth were born and raised in the Midwest prior to relocating to Las Vegas in 1990. They have two amazing children, Ashley and Meghan. John joined Rotary in 2001 as an opportunity to further serve his community.

His most memorable Rotary moments are from experiences when he was able to incorporate service to others with his children.

Ashley who was working on her Girl Scout Gold Award went with John to India for an NID (National Immunization Day). Meghan, while working on her Girl Scout Gold Award went with John to Xpujil, Mexico where they built water cisterns.

Both trips were amazing opportunities for John and his daughters to experience Rotary on an International scale while having a meaningful impact on the lives of others.

He has witnessed firsthand the importance of the Family of Rotary. John is serving as your District Governor for one simple reason….he was asked.

Message From The President

Dear Rotarians,

Last week we learned about the polio virus. This week I would like to share some information about the first part of the history of Rotary International’s (“RI”) efforts to eradicate this scourge from the wild. In 1979 RI began its fight against polio with a multi-year project to immunize 6 million children in the Philippines. In 1985 RI launched PolioPlus, the first and largest internationally coordinated private-sector support of a public health initiative, with an initial fundraising target of $120,000,000.

In 1988 RI and the World Health Organization (“WHO”) launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. At that time there were an estimated 350,000 cases of polio in 125 countries. Six years later, in 1994 The International Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication announced that polio has been eliminated from the Americas. Thereafter, RI launched the PolioPlus Partners program, enabling Rotary members in polio-free countries to provide support to fellow members in polio-affected countries for polio eradication activities.

In 2000 A record 550 million children – almost 10% of the world’s population – receive the oral polio vaccine. As a result, the Western Pacific region, spanning from Australia to China, is declared polio-free. In 2003 Six countries remain polio-endemic – Afghanistan, Egypt, India, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan. In 2004 RI helped synchronize National Immunization Days in 23 countries targeting 80 million children. In 2006, the number of polio-endemic countries drops to 4 – Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, Pakistan. In 2009 RI’s overall contribution to the eradication effort nears $800 million.

RI’s efforts continued after 2009 and are ongoing. We will learn about those efforts next week. Wild polio still exists and we need to keep working until we eradicate it. Please donate to the Polio Pig as it makes its rounds through the club this month.

 

Jim Kohl
95th President
Rotary Club of Las Vegas

Member Highlights

Scribe – January 10, 2019

Las Vegas Rotary Club Meeting: January 10, 2019

President Jim Kohl called the meeting to order. Glenn Meier gave the first invocation. Jerry Engel gave the second invocation. Jamie Goldsmith led the club in singing the National Anthem, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The Sergeant at Arms was Carey Grohs.
  • There were (2) International Rotarians, (2) visiting Rotarians and (2) Guests of Rotarians introduced. Also, Michael Cudiamat introduced our international exchange student from France, Pierre;
  • There were 2 banner exchanges: 1 from RC Carmel (Haifa Israel) that PP Michael Gordon received, and 1 from RC Richland (Washington) from visiting Rotarian Linda Gustafson.
  • President Jim encouraged members to share the live stream of our meeting on social media to share our message and our Club with others;
  • At the Birthday Table announcing their birthdays for this month: Carolyn Sparks, Kirk Alexander, Bill Houghton, Kathy Mahon, Diane Clary and Jerry Engels; Sidra Kain lead us in singing Happy Birthday;
  • President Jim played the “Polio Surveillance” presentation video and discussed our key roles in immunizations and actively monitoring polio;
  • Rosalee Hedrick and Janet Linder inducted our newest members: Seiko Miyamon, Miyuki Miyamon and Kathy Mahon;
  • Marie Walsh announced the upcoming BWB on 1/15 and introduced Beckley Elementary School counselor Barbara Grogan who invited Rotarians to speak at the school’s Career Day on 2/8;
  • PP Karen Whisenhut announced that host families are needed for the German team for the Mayors Cup 2/14-2/19; Michael Williams discussed our successful participation volunteering at Magical Forest 12/20/18; Toni Kern encouraged involvement in this season’s Book & Buddies program; Jimmelle Siarot discussed her club representation at the CAM Eduardo Huet school for the dear in Mexicali in the international joint project of Rotary District 5300, 5330 and 4100; President Jim called on Erik Astramecki to report on raising almost $6,800 in the 2017 Canned Food Drive but being outdone by his fiancé Luci Parodi who raised almost $7,800 (helping us outraise Kiwanis Club for the 11th year in a row), President Jim then fined Erik $100; Janice Lencke announced some of the major sponsors for the new fundraiser 4/27 Cuisine & Octane and seeking additional sponsorships; Jim Tucker discussed the $2,500 in prizes for this season’s Football Pool;
  • The weekly drawing began at $4,613 plus this week’s donations. The Ticket Winner was Steve Kwon, who received a prize of $10, and the Lawry’s Bucks Winner was Bob Barnard.
  • Bill Stieren introduced our program speaker Ron Fraass, Retired Director of the EPA – National Center for Radiation Field Operations, who presented on Nuclear Power and Recycling;
  • President Jim presented our speaker with a “Share What You Can” award to benefit a veteran in need and adjourned the meeting.


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