Back Row Left to Right: Dr. Jim Halverson, John Haag, Paul Thomas, Mike Caldwell, Michelle Henson, Beverly Schuberth, Kathy Doubleday, Angela May, Scott McArthur, Phil Adams, Steve Frank, Jane McClenahan and Dist. 5240 Head Cheerleader for Polio Eradication James Lewis
Front Row Left to Right: Marsha Fonteyn, Linda Taylor, Linda Burr, Rick Gould, Lillian Tally
At a January meeting District 5240 Head Cheerleader for Polio Eradication Jim Lewis spoke to us about the history of Rotary and the Polio Eradication campaign started in 1985. Over $1.7 billion dollars have been raised by Rotary International in the 34 years of this project. In 1985 there were 350,000 cases of polio world wide. Today 33 cases have been recorded in Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan. Over the last 34 years Rotarians spent countless volunteer hours traveling around the world to administer polio vaccines to 2.5 billion children in 122 countries. Today the fight continues with Rotary International pledging to raise $50,000,000 over the next 3 years with the Gates Foundation matching every dollar 2 to 1.
Jim Lewis honored Rotary Club of Ojai West members who have contributed $100 or more in 2018 to help eradicate the disease with a pin and words of congratulations.