R Steve shared some observations and thoughts from the February 23, 2022 Rotary Zone 28 and 32 Foundation Gala.
February 23 is Rotary's birthday - 117!
There was a Pre-Gala warm up from 7:30pm to 8pm
Pre-Gala focused on Polio review then a tour of Zone 28 and 32 from Bermuda to Alaska.
Polio in about 1937 to ‘50’s surged in US and around the world. In the 1950’s Polio was so bad in North America that schools closed, theaters went dark. Sound familiar. Until vaccine was produced and distributed.
Rotary launched PolioPlus in 1985 and was a founding member of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988. Through decades of commitment and work by Rotary and our partners, more than 2.5 billion children have received the oral polio vaccine.
1979 was the first time Rotary involved in giving vaccine to kids (Phillipines). The potential was recognized and the Polio Eradication Campaign was launched. Estimated 350,000 new cases annually in mid 1980's. In 2021 – in January 1 in Pakistan, 4 in Afghanistan. This close. Pakistan Polio free one year.
RI say Afghanistan opening up and they hope to be able to get Afghanistan Polio free next year and all certified free in 2026.
Our District 7070 gave $165,000 to Polio Plus campaign last year – with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation matching turned our $165,000 into $500,000. The annual cost of the polio campaign is about $9M annually.
Gala started at 8pm to about 9:30. It was a chance to bid on a select number of items and donate to the Foundation. A little over $250,000 US was raised.
One of the auction items was donated by Alex Lifeson of Rush. A video of ‘The Garden’ by Rush, pre-pandemic with people in attendance, then interview with Alex. Alex donated an Epiphone Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess Guitar.
For a feel good You-tube to watch. look for 'One Voice Children's Choir'. Formed for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Sault Lake City, kids age 4 to 18 perform. We recommend that you check it out.