Soundings (10/20/09)

Bucks in the Bay

• Tonja is excited that her coworker, Heather Lewis, was selected by Rotary International to be a part of the next Group Study Exchange (GSE) to Brazil early next year - she was our club's nominee - Congratulations, Heather!
• Stephanie Sadler had a birthday this week!
• Bill Boyd update on his family situation:  Wife recovering from foot surgery, son recovering from swine flu (plus pneumonia and staph infection - a very close call); thank you for everyone's concern;
• Mayor Dan sent the proposed 2010 City budget off to council - It will be another very tough year with big cuts;
• Chip 21st wedding anniversary in Las Vegas last weekend;
• Tim McEvoy with wife and friends weekend in AZ;
• Joel Hile said our club's next Fireside gathering for new members will be on the 12th of November - please mark your calendars;
• Barry K celebrated 31st wedding wedding anniversary with a two-week trip to Italy!  Harte Bressler update:  Recovering from his major ice skating injury very, very slowly;
• Christine Palmerton went to Las Vegas last week and had a great time;
• Brent W gave a report on Ed Zech who was in town recently - he is teaching at a couple medical schools in Washington DC.

Sergeant at Arms by Lynn Templeton
Plug for upcoming "Breakfast of Champions" fundraiser for B&G Club, plus fines for Dan Pike, Stan Dyer, attorneys trivia about 1973 "Saturday Night Massacre", Donna re. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Lesa Boxx, Husky fans, Couger fans, Brent for his sweater.

Program
Anna Williams introduced Dr. Lee Harmon, a Rotarian from the Arlington club and current Asst. District Governor.  Dr. Harmon talked about the Rotary Polio Eradication effort and his involvement.  He said now that he is retired he has more time to devote to Rotary, to "give back", and in particular to work with the Polio Program.  He attended a trip to India earlier this year with a Rotary polio team.

About polio:  There is no cure, only immunization.  It is an itestinal virus that is spread by fecal ingestion.  From 1900-1950 there were 500,000 cases in countries all over the world. By 2007 there were only 4 countries (Pakistan, Afganistan, India and Nigeria) and 1,000 new infections every year.  BUT, polio seems to be spreading by "viral carriers" (people who don't develope polio but do spread the virus) and now has been detected in 14 countries.

If you can beat polio in India, you will beat the virus.  Why India?  Poor sanitation, highly dense population, illiteracy and highly "vaccine-resistant" people.  The program for India?  600,000 booths are set up around the polio-infected parts of the country (mostly northeastof Dehli) to put on one-day "National Immunization Day" events.  Each event is heavily advertised with posters, and they give the kids little toys as an incentive.  The goal is to give the vaccines (by mouth drop) to 6 million children under the age of 5.  Each dose costs $0.50.   

The Gates Foundation has offered a $250M match that will bring the total combined amount committed to $900M to eradicate polio.  Can polio be eradicated?  We must, we can and we will!  Take-away points:
1) consider a Paul Harris fellowship;
2) actively fundraise for your club, and participate in District 5050's annual "Golffun" tournament;
3) talk to friends and family about polio.

Respectfully submitted,
Stowe Talbot