PRESENTATION OF PAUL HARRIS FELLOW AWARDS: TRF chairman Phil Hall presented Paul Harris Fellow Awards to Greg Basso (his PHF+1) and to Gil Trujillo (his PHF+1). (Donors of US$1,000 or more to the Annual Programs Fund, PolioPlus, or the Humanitarian Grants Program, or people who have that amount contributed in their name, can be recognized as Paul Harris Fellows. Each new Paul Harris Fellow receives a commemorative certificate and a pin).
PROGRAM: Fred Berthrong, district chairman of TRF, spoke of the beginnings of Polio Plus in 1985 when a doctor in the Manila, Philippines Rotary Club suggested this dreaded disease should and could be eradicated from the earth, but “finishing the job is the hardest part because Rotary works through ‘boots on the ground.’” Noting the amazing accomplishment of inoculating 175 million children around the world in just one week, Berthrong shared recent (as of this morning) statistics on the progress being made by this, “the largest public health campaign in the history of mankind.” The last countries which are still reporting new cases of polio are Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. To reach the Bill and Melinda Gates Challenge goal of $200 million raised by members of Rotary, Berthrong estimated District 5420 needs to raise $264,000 in the next four years. That would mean every one of the district’s approximately 1815 members would need to donate only $145.45 each!!!The new Future Vision Plan (District 5420 is one of only 300 Rotary districts involved in this pilot program worldwide) includes local and international needs (i.e., literacy, water, youth and the aged, health, shelter, disaster recover and peace and conflict resolution).
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