Presidents' Announcements:

President Angela Campbell presented Gary and Cindy Nolte, guest speakers with an Ely Rotary Club Welcome Flag. 

Craig introduced Gary and Cindy Nolte members of Rotary International and Moorhead Rotary Club. They have extensive and impressive service records in Rotary and other humanitarian organizations. The presentation focused on “Rotary’s Historical Involvement in Polio Eradication and Where Eradication Efforts Stand Today”.

 

Highlights: 

• Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 years.
• First efforts involved finding a cure before a vaccine. There is no cure but it can be prevented with a vaccine.
• Polio remains endemic only in Pakistan and Afghanistan
• The goal is for an area to be free of polio three years for an area to be certified free of polio. The most recent area certified polio-free was the African region. 

• Rotary has been involved in: 
  • National immunization day that allows for millions of children to be vaccinated
  • Surveillance to monitor for symptoms of polio and conducting testing
  • Donating ongoing funding and untold volunteer hours to protect 3 billion children in 122 countries

Thank you to Gary and Cindy for their presentation and strong efforts to eradicate polio in their service over the years.