MEDINA, OHIO PROCLAMATION OF WORLD POLIO DAY
Rotary International Proclamation
WHEREAS, Rotary is a global network of neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who unite and take action to create lasting change in communities across the globe; and
WHEREAS, the Rotary motto, Service Above Self, inspires members to provide humanitarian service, follow high ethical standards, and promote goodwill and peace in the world; and
WHEREAS, Rotary in 1985 launched PolioPlus and in 1988 helped establish the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, which today includes the World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to immunize the children of the world against polio; and
WHEREAS, polio cases have dropped by 99.9 percent since 1988 and the world stands on the threshold of eradicating the disease; and
WHEREAS, to date, Rotary has contributed more than US$2.2 billion and countless volunteer hours to protecting nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries; and
WHEREAS, Rotary is working to raise an additional $50 million per year, which would be leveraged for maximum impact by an additional $100 million annually from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; and
WHEREAS, these efforts are providing much-needed operational support, medical staff, laboratory equipment, and educational materials for health workers and parents; and
WHEREAS, in addition, Rotary has played a major role in decisions by donor governments to contribute more than $10 billion to the effort; and
WHEREAS, there are over 1.2 million Rotary members in 36,000 clubs throughout the world that sponsor service projects to address such critical issues as poverty, disease, hunger, illiteracy, and the environment in their local communities and abroad;
Therefore, I, Mayor Dennis Hanwell, Mayor of the City of Medina, Ohio, do hereby proclaim 24 October "World Polio Day" in Medina, Ohio, and encourage all citizens to join me, Medina Sunrise Rotary and Rotary International in the fight for a polio-free world. WWW.ENDPOLIO.ORG
PHOTO (L to R):
Front - David Lariviere, Toby Butt, Kent Morgan, Kerry Gregoire, Frank Festi, Mayor Dennis Hanwell, Kevin Lauterjung, Drs. Shail & Than Jain, Don Spickler
Back - Bill Lamb, Paul Rose, Jim Shields, John Coyne, Dennie Simpson, Regie Haire, Jessica Hazeltine