The trip to The Guerrero Eye Clinic in Mexico is fast approaching as it will be October 20-23. In next week's Bulletin - and on the website - we'll share the story of the Guerrero Clinic.
For now, know that the trip is less expensive than you might think, the food and accommodations are better than you might think, and these people are truly in need. People will walk several miles to this clinic in order that their children, spouses, or parents may see again. Quite literally, your financial gifts and your gift of volunteer time will allow the blind to see again. Read that again and let it sink in. You have the power to change lives and to see the results up close and personal.
If you'd like more information on traveling to the clinic with several members of the Memorial-Spring Branch Rotary, or if you'd like to give a donation to assist, please contact Gwen Corolla at gwen@cometogetherpromotions.com. We do accept donations via credit and debit card as well.
MSB Rotary will have two nights at Tully Stadium to support SBISD schools. We will be announced at halftime and there will be no charge for the games.
On Friday, October 23rd we will sit on home side in support of Spring Woods HS at 7:00 p.m.
The address for Tully Stadium is 1050 N Dairy Ashford Rd, Houston, TX 77079 . Please wear rotary shirt or pin to designate you are with rotary. Bring raffle tickets as well for the Rolex Watch fundraiser.
The District is in process of forming an Educators Fellowship, and if you are an educator or have interest or passion for education, this is your opportunity to get in on ground floor. Plus the cost is nominal, $20.00/year.
You do not have to be an educator to become a member of this fellowship. Rotarians, their spouses, and Rotaractors may be members.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is a Rotary Fellowship and who may join?
Rotarian Fellowships are independent groups of Rotarians, their spouses, and Rotaractors who have a similar interest or passion and are organized around a specific vocational or recreational interest. Being part of a fellowship is a fun way to make new friends around the world.
What is the purpose of this proposed fellowship?
The International Fellowship of Rotarian Educators would be a group dedicated to promoting quality education (both public and private) as well as other types of training and development such as Continuing Education (CE), Further Education, Adult Education, Lifelong Learning and other forms of instruction as an opportunity for fellowship.
What would be the dues for this new fellowship?
Nominal dues are to offset administrative cost. Dues for this fellowship would be assessed at $20.00 annually, $50.00 for three years, or $100.00 for a life time membership.
What do I need to do?
Forward these two attachments to those you think may have an interest in becoming a charter member of this proposed fellowship. As mentioned above, send to Rotarians, their spouses, and Rotaractors. Also, please forward to Rotary and Rotaract Clubs around the world* as well as to District Fellowship Chairs. Please remember to send to e-clubs too!
What if you want to become a member?
Please send your name, country name, Rotary club name, Rotary district number and email address you want to use for this fellowship to Dr. Charles Grant, Rotary Club of North Shore at charles1grant@aol.com.
Quote of the day - "Happiness is not to be found in possessions. That truth has been borne home to us time and again. Happiness is a state of mind, it comes unsought and it is the by-product of wholesome, sensible and unselfish living and thinking." Paul Harris - 1943 RI Convention
Pakistan - One new Polio case reported in Pakistan this week. Thirty Polio cases have been reported in 2015 compared to 137 at this time last year. Two new polio positive environmental samples were reported this week
Afghanistan - One new Polio case reported in Afghanistan this week. Subnational Immunization Days will take place in the South & East of the country on Sept. 20-22 using bivalent OPV and National Immunization Days will take place Oct. 18-20 using trivalent OPV.
Ukraine - 2 cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1) have been confirmed, with dates of onset of paralysis of 30 June and 7 July 2015. Both are from the Zakarpatskaya oblast, in south-western Ukraine, bordering Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland. One child was 4 years old and the other 10 months old at the time of onset of paralysis. . In 2014, only 50% of children were fully immunized against polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases. Discussions are currently ongoing with national health authorities to plan and implement an urgent outbreak response.
Mali - a case of circulating Vaccine derived polio has also been reported in Mali. More information to follow.
The Final Three Endemic Countries:
Pakistan - Thirty Polio cases reported in 2015 with 306 cases recorded in 2014 The most recent case was reported on 08/17/15 in Quetta district.
Afghanistan - Nine Polio cases reported in 2015 with 28 cases recorded in 2014. The most recent case was reported on 08/07/15 from the Zaranj District.
Nigeria - Zero Polio cases reported in 2015 with 6 cases recorded in 2014. The most recent case was reported on 7/24/14.
Importation Countries: Ethiopia (1 case in 2014), Cameroon (5 cases in 2014), Somalia (5 cases in 2014), Iraq (2 cases in 2014), Syria (1 case in 2014), & Equatorial Guinea (5 cases in 2014) - all report no Polio cases in 2015.
Last Saturday afternoon, I went to Turning Point Center to participate in a joint service project between our club and Heights Rotary Club. I went because I am the President and I thought it was my duty. Sometimes duty is all we have to pull us out of our self-involvement. What we do every 3rd Saturday at 4:45 is to help Heights Club serve dinner to 40-50 elderly homeless people. Through our club 501c3 charitable foundation (Memorial-Spring Branch Rotary Charities, Inc.) we also donate $150/month to help buy the food that we serve.
Stephen Monson, Sergeant-at-Arms of the Heights Club, is the driving force behind this project. He commands a crew of Heights volunteers who shop and cook the food. When I arrived, there were 2 giant pots of milky, buttery water coming to a boil in the kitchen, just about ready to mix with the instant mashed potatoes. A big pot of green beans was keeping warm and we were waiting for the friend chicken to arrive. Bill Haglund and Sheila Franklin, from our club, were setting up ranks of solo cups filled with ice and sodas. 4 watermelons were chilling in a tub of ice and I volunteered to be the slicer. Other people had set places around the 2 parallel rows of tables, and put out rolls. When the chicken arrived…we were ready!
As I moved among the diners, bringing extra chicken and second helpings, I didn’t have time to think about why they were there. I didn’t feel pity for them. They didn’t show up as needy people that I was there to “help”. They were there to enjoy a good meal and I was there to serve it! I loved it!
Bill and Sheila told me that the next 2 third Saturdays are big-time Aggie football weekends, so they won’t be there. I won’t be there in September, because I am representing our club at the Indian-American Chamber of Commerce Gala. So I need some other folks to step up. Stephen Monson will be at our Health Fair Service Project on Saturday. If you have a chance, get him to tell you about Turning Point Center and how he got involved.
Pakistan has become the second polio-endemic country to introduce the inactivated polio vaccine into the country’s routine immunization schedule, a move which will benefit more than four million children per year across the country.
Pakistan is one of only three countries in the world where polio remains endemic. Nigeria, which recently marked one year without a case of wild polio, introduced the vaccine in February of this year, and Afghanistan is due to begin using IPV in the coming weeks. While every country in the world is set to introduce IPV, endemic countries will greatly benefit from the boost in immunity that new evidence has clearly demonstrated that adding one dose of IPV to OPV offers to children as they fight to end transmission of the virus. Aziz Memon from Rotary International emphasized that “… adding at least one dose of IPV to the routine immunization schedule is the best possible way to protect your children from life-long polio paralysis, while the disease is being eradicated from the remaining endemic hotspots.”
Could 2015-16 be the year of the final Polio case?
Quote of the day - "They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel." Carl W. Buechner
Pakistan -No new Polio cases reported in Pakistan this week. Twenty-nine Polio cases have been reported in 2015 compared to 117 at this time last year. Three new polio positive environmental samples were reported this week
Afghanistan - Subnational Immunization Days will take place in the South & East of the country on Sept. 20-22 using bivalent OPV and National Immunization Days will take place Oct. 18-20 using trivalent OPV.
The Final Three Endemic Countries:
Pakistan - Twenty Nine Polio cases reported in 2015 with 306 cases recorded in 2014 The most recent case was reported on 06/30/15 in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Afghanistan - Eight Polio cases reported in 2015 with 28 cases recorded in 2014. The most recent case was reported on 08/01/15 from the Achin District of Nangarhar.
Nigeria -Zero Polio cases reported in 2015 with 6 cases recorded in 2014. The most recent case was reported on 7/24/14.
Importation Countries:
Ethiopia (1 case in 2014), Cameroon (5 cases in 2014), Somalia (5 cases in 2014), Iraq (2 cases in 2014), Syria (1 case in 2014), & Equatorial Guinea (5 cases in 2014) - all report no Polio cases in 2015.
The District Foundation Dinner has been scheduled for Friday, Sep 25 2015 at Maggiano’s Little Italy, 2019 Post Oak Blvd., Houston, TX 77056 Cocktails (Cash Bar) and Fellowship 6:00pm, Dinner 7:00pm. Cost: $75 per person. Featured Guest - PDG Aziz Memon - Pakistan’s National PolioPlus Chair Please RSVP with your payment (made payable to Rotary District 5890) to 4903 Pine St, Bellaire, TX 77401 or on-line at Rotary5890.org ASAP
The Foundation Dinner is limited to Arch Klumph Society Members, Major Donors, Bequest Society Members, Paul Harris Society Members, and their spouse/guest Not a member of one of these exclusive groups? Contact Terry Ziegler to learn about joining one - email bigzlumber@aol.com or 713-825-1176
Please respond promptly – Event is limited to 100 guests. Dress: business attire. Questions? Please contact Terry Ziegler at 713-825-1176 or BigZlumber@aol.com
To get on the club website, go to: http://portal.clubrunner.ca/3941 Click on the Member Area button, and enter your user id which consists of your first name, a period, your last name, a period and 3941. (gwen.corolla.3941)