Volume 2, Issue 11 – May 2013 1. Millions Avoid Paralysis 2. Governor’s Letter 3. Membership Matters 4. Celebrate Rotary 5. District Council Photo Gallery 6. New Plan for Polio Eradication 7. Membership Matters Continued 8. Governor’s Message continued Rotary District 5340 Monthly Newsletter Millions Avoid Paralysis
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Volume 2, Issue 11 – May 2013
1. Millions Avoid
Paralysis
2. Governor’s Letter
3. Membership Matters
4. Celebrate Rotary
5. District Council Photo
Gallery
6. New Plan for Polio
Eradication
7. Membership Matters Continued
8. Governor’s Message continued
Rotary District 5340
Monthly Newsletter
Millions Avoid Paralysis
Page 2
Governor’s Message
“See you at the CELEBRATE ROTARY picnic on May 18!” Dick
Stevens, District Governor
This month has no official RI theme, so I wanted to take this opportunity to write about the
eight new clubs we have chartered in the past 24 months. Like all Rotary clubs, each of our
new clubs has its own identity and also shares some common traits. Each one wants to grow
and stabilize membership. Most have moved at least once from their original meeting place
and are hoping their current location will become permanent. Because many of the members
are new to Rotary, there is not much collective Rotary memory. The one exception to some of
these observations is the Escondido After Five Club. It has a Past District Governor and
several past club presidents as members, so the common Rotary practices are well
understood.
Each of these new clubs want to succeed and make a difference in their communities. Most are
transitioning on July 1 from their charter president to a member he/she recruited when they
were starting the club.
Past District Governor, Larry Sundram played a role in all these clubs by helping them get
started. I think it’s fair to say that Larry is the Godfather of new clubs. He has a passion for
identifying underserved communities and then finding the right people to start the clubs that
serve those unmet needs. He’ll be continuing in this role for District Governor Elect, Carl Kruse
in 2013-14.
For these new clubs the excitement of just getting started has worn off. The business of
becoming a regularly functioning club is at hand and these eight clubs welcome your support.
They have a few experience Rotarians, but many things we take for granted - like signing up
for district events, the value of the Rotary Foundation, taking advantage of the Leadership
Development Academy and becoming a Lead or RYLA counselor - are all new. Many
members may have questions you can answer. They are eager to become part of our district
and the larger Rotary world.
The majority of these new clubs meet at times more convenient for people on the go. In fact,
the United Services e-Club meets online and members come from around the world. Try a
makeup with them just to see what it’s like. If you are planning a visit to one of these clubs,
check the district directory to be sure you have the correct meeting location and time. It
won’t hurt to call to the contact person shown on our website to be sure you have the most
current information.
Continued on Page 8
Page 3
When Paul Harris started Rotary in 1905, little did
he realize that one day the membership would grow
up to 1.2 million across the world. Looking back he
would be an extremely happy man. So are all the
Rotarians about the tremendous growth that we
achieved in our organization.
This euphoria over growth lasted until 1996 when
we touched the 1.2 million mark. It has now been
more than 16 years that we are hovering at 1.2
million Rotarians. So why are we not growing?
What are the challenges faced by the Rotary world
in its stagnated member base?
The reasons are manifold and action needs to be
taken for each of them - today, rather than later.
Membership growth seems to have come to
saturation in many countries where the people in
general no longer find Rotary very attractive. We
need to revitalize our brand to attract more people
and, in fact, younger people.
The story of Rotary needs to be told in a better way.
No other organization in the world can boast the
success that we are about to achieve by eradicating
polio from the face of this earth. In the history of
mankind, this will be done for the second time only.
This one single story is good enough for
membership to grow. But we have not been able to
take benefit from this achievement. Our public
relation efforts need to be far more aggressive.
Continued on Page 7
Shekhar Mehta
Director, Rotary International, 2011-2013
Membership Matters
Page 4
Oldies but goodies will be on display at "Celebrate Rotary". You won't want to miss the
classic car show at the District Picnic on May 18 at San Diego's Liberty Station. Remember
that Corvette to die for? Or the 55 Chevy you learned to drive with? See cars like this &
many more on display on Saturday, May 18, 12 noon to 6 p.m.
Celebrate Rotary
Page 5
.
District Council Photo Gallery Hosted by the Southeast Rotary Club, the District Council, held on April 2, focused on the many
youth programs in Rotary District 5340. Attendees heard presentations from the camp
participants on: Model UN, Music camp, RYLA, Lead, Youth exchange, Short-term Summer
Camp, Interact, Rotaract, and Global Grants scholars. Members had a chance to meet new
Rotarians and old friends, have fun, and celebrate the great youth programs of Rotary District
5340.
The event was held at Market Creek Events.
Cheryl Bode, CSE Team Elizabeth Harmata, LEAD participant.
Rotar-Kidz, Oliver & Roxie Wolff with
parents, Tadd & Shannon - La Mesa
Sunrise Rotary Club
Victor Rojo, LEAD participant
John Amarillas, RYLA Alumnus
Lucas Hitch, 4-Way Test Speech Contest with
father, Neal Hitch from El Centro Rotary Club
Detect and interrupt all poliovirus transmission
Strengthen immunization systems and withdraw oral polio vaccine
Contain poliovirus and certify interruption of transmission
Plan polio's legacy
Page 6
New Plan for Polio Eradication
The 2013-18 Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan, developed by the Global Polio
Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is expected to be finalized this month. Rotary International, along with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, are global partners in the GPEI.
In 2012, the World Health Assembly declared polio eradication a “programmatic emergency
for global public health: and called for the development of a comprehensive polio eradication and endgame strategy. The plan is designed to interrupt transmission of the wild poliovirus
by the end of 2014, strengthen routine immunization, lay the groundwork for securing a lasting polio-free world, and transfer the eradication initiative’s assets to other public health efforts. It is estimated that polio eradication could save the world US$40-50 billion by 2035.
The new plan will cost about $5.5 billion. Therefore, increased support is needed from
governments of donor and polio affected countries, non-governmental organizations, corporations, and the public, to ensure implementation. Every Rotarian can become an advocate by contacting elected officials, business leaders, friends, and the press to encourage
support for eradicating polio. To learn more about this initiative, go to: http://www.polioeradication.org/Resourcelibrary/Strategyandwork.aspx