Tag Archives: United States

Rockin’ in a Polio-Free World!

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Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, Canadian Rotarian Ramesh Ferris, and RI General Secretary John Hewko make the “This Close” sign before the concert begins. Photo by Marga Hewko

By RI General Secretary John Hewko

What a momentous week it has been for Rotary and polio eradication in the Big Apple.

As you know, on 27 September Rotary participated in a historic session on polio eradication convened by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during the 67th UN General Assembly. You can watch the entire session here, and view additional photos here. Continue reading →

Progress in the war against polio continues

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Salvatore Alesci

By Salvatore Alesci, MD, PHD, vice president of scientific affairs for Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)

Earlier this year, India reported that it had gone a full year without seeing a new case of polio. India’s success represents a significant and important step forward in the battle to eradicate polio. Continue reading →

UN event inspires: We are committed to ending polio

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Tom Rudy, president of the Rotary Club of Wall Street New York; John Germ, Vice Chair of the International PolioPlus Committee; and Joe Clark, past governor of District 7230, at the UN General Assembly side event.

By Joe Clark, past governor of District 7230 (Bermuda, part of New York, USA)

Yesterday, two Rotarians who are polio survivors, a past district governor who had just returned from a Subnational Immunization Day in Pakistan, and I attended the United Nations General Assembly side event where world leaders, Rotarians, and global polio eradication partners met to voice their commitment to ending polio.

I have been a Rotarian for over 34 years, but this was one of those “wow” moments. Continue reading →

Promoting Rotary through Facebook ads

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One of the top performing Facebook ads for Rotary District 6440.

Rich Lalley, Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield, Rotary District 6440 Club Service Advisor and Webmaster, for social media week

Whether or not you’re active on social media you understand that the nature of communication is undergoing a revolution. If they were a country, Facebook’s 955 million active users would be the world’s third largest, only behind China and India.

For this reason alone, Facebook offers Rotarians a terrific platform to promote Rotary and spread the word about our great service organization. Continue reading →

Ride to end polio

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Rotary International General Secretary John Hewko and his wife, Marga, are training to take part in the El Tour de Tucson to raise money for PolioPlus. Rotary Images/Monika Lozinska

By Rotary International General Secretary John Hewko

For more than 20 years, Rotarians and their friends have worked tirelessly to keep our promise to the world’s children to eradicate polio. We’re almost there, but as in any race, the last mile is the hardest.

On 17 November — to honor those who strive to reach the historic goal of eradicating a human disease for only the second time in history — my wife, Marga, and I will join Rotarians in the Tucson, Arizona, area to raise money for Rotary’s PolioPlus Program at El Tour de Tucson. Continue reading →

We must all take action-oriented steps for peace

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Al Jubitz

By Al Jubitz, a member of the Arch C. Klumph Society and major supporter of the Rotary Peace Program

Every year, Rotary clubs around the world are asked to support peace-related activities leading up to 21 September, International Day of Peace (Peace Day). By engaging in practical acts of peace, we show our desire that there be peace among all the people of the world. Continue reading →

Running 10 half marathons to help End Polio Now

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Jenna Steiner at the Rock ‘n’ Roll half marathon in Arizona, USA.

By Jenna Steiner, a major gifts officer for The Rotary Foundation

Rotary keeps me going when that little voice in my head says “Stop, stop! Please STOP!”

While attempting 10 half marathons in 2012 to promote Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign, I have focused on two things: People who have no choice but to struggle, day after day, because they were paralyzed by a virus; and the people who have fought, day after day, to eradicate polio so that no child would ever have to suffer from the disease again. Continue reading →

Promoting world peace through air guitar

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Justin Howard performs as Nordic Thunder during the Air Guitar World Championships in Finland.

By Justin Howard, a video editor for RI’s Broadcast Media Department

I’ve been competing in air guitar competitions for seven years now, and I have finally obtained the ultimate title —  2012 Air Guitar World Champion. 

Believe it or not, the purpose of competitive air guitar is to promote world peace. There is a saying that goes “You cannot hold a gun if you’re holding an air guitar.” As absurd as that sounds, it’s true. I have seen first hand the positive influence that air guitar has on people, and the joy it brings. I have traveled the world spreading this message of peace and love. Continue reading →

Less meeting, more doing

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Members meet at the Brooklyn Brewery for a social event. Photo courtesy Stephen To

By Stephen To, a member of the Rotary Club of Metro New York City, New York, USA

It’s a Wednesday night at Dopo Teatro Trattoria, as theater goers around Times Square dine at the restaurant before taking in a show. Amid the bustle of activity, a group of young professionals arrive for a totally different reason, to attend a meeting of the Rotary Club of Metro New York City. Continue reading →