Polio Plus

Rotary Clubs urged to plan events for World Polio Day
 

World Polio Day is only 7 weeks away; What kind of fundraising/awareness event might your club do? Does “Pints for Polio” or “Pumpkins for Polio” or “Pancakes for Polio” turn on a lightbulb in your head?  How about “Roast Pig for Polio”, or “Pinot for Polio”, or “Pajamas for Polio”?
 

Here is a fun way to raise funds. Team M & M (Mike and Marny) has asked Rick Barry, a former NBA Hall of Fame basketball player for the Golden State Warriors (known for his underhanded free throws), to sign 24 basketballs, which will then be sold to Districts or Clubs at cost to be used for fundraisers for PolioPlus. Rick Barry’s jersey number was “24” and World Polio Day is October 24! Rick is also a Paul Harris Fellow. And now, he is joining us to help end polio.

Rotary has created several End Polio Now videos that are easy to download and show at a club meeting or public event:

World Polio Day Videos: Four short videos in English and Spanish to promote World Polio Day are now available at the following links:

Folder containing all four videos: https://vimeo.com/user/2108859/folder/17692488
Links to each individual video:
30 second Female English:          https://vimeo.com/863283520?share=copy
30 second Male English:              https://vimeo.com/863283433?share=copy
30 second Male Spanish:             https://vimeo.com/863283337?share=copy
60 second Male English:              https://vimeo.com/863283209?share=copy


Zone 27 End Polio Now Coordinator Mike Crosby will soon be sharing how Districts and their clubs can participate.  

Questions? Please contact us:

Mike Crosby at epnczone27@zone2627.org 

Marny Eulberg at epnczone26@zone2627.org 
 
 
 
Rotary Club of Mesa West named 'End Polio Now Champion' for 2022-23
The Rotary Club of Mesa West was named the district's End Polio Now Champions for 2023. The club earned the distinction by having the highest amount of contributions of any club in District 5495 (per capita) to Rotary's End Polio Now campaign. Pam Cohen, club president, accepted the Paul Harris trophy at the district conference from PDG Bret McKeand (representing last year's champion, Peoria North), DG Larry Horton and PDG Jim Erickson, who serves as the district's polio chair. At right is Ramesh Ferris, a polio survivor who spoke at the conference on May 6.
D5495 End Polio Now Champions Award Update
As of March 24, 2023 the top eight clubs in the End Polio Now Champions Award competition are, in order, Mesa West, Sedona, Sedona Village, Gilbert, Sun Lakes, Sedona Red Rocks, Scottsdale North, and Sun City West. Any of these clubs could wind up as the overall winner.
 
For that matter any club could wind up the winner with a large enough contribution.
 
The District Conference this year opens on May 5th. District Governor Larry will be presenting the End Polio Now Champions Award at the conference. Keeping in mind that there is always a delay with Rotary International getting donations posted on their website, clubs have about 5 weeks to make contributions to polio if they wish their contributions to be counted in the competition this year.
 
There is still time to make a difference in the battle against polio. As of today (March 24, 2023) one (1) confirmed case of wild polio virus infection resulting in paralysis has been confirmed worldwide, in Pakistan. Onset of paralysis was February 20th so the clock has been reset to that date.
End Polio Now Champions Award standings
 
Competition is underway for the End Polio Now Champions Award. 
 
As of January 10, 2023, the top seven district clubs in the competition are in order: Mesa West, Sedona Village, Sun Lakes, Sedona, Gilbert, Scottsdale North, and E Club of the Southwest.
 
The competition will run through the end of April, 2023 so that the award may be presented at this year’s District Conference which is scheduled to begin on May 5, 2023. Last year's champion was the Peoria North Rotary Club.
 
As an aside, only 33 of our District's clubs and/or their membership have contributed to End Polio Now as of January 10, 2023.