Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I am so blessed to be a Rotarian and have many friends like you. As we enter into the holiday season, please be safe and share the opportunity of service through Rotary Give Thanks Day. Our Polio Plus “Ride So They Can Walk” Bike ride is ending November 18th and I know we can reach our goal. Many are looking to raise a $100 and stop. I say, don’t stop, continue and add another “0” zero at the end. Ask family and friends to join our team to End Polio Now.
I have been hearing about the many different activities clubs are working on to raise awareness of this disease. The Rotary Club of Poipu Beach held a Raise a Glass to End Polio event on October 18th where they donated 100% of the sales from two beer taps at Merriman’s Kauai during the culinary market at the Shops at Kukui’ula to The Rotary Foundation Polio Plus fund. The Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunrise held a casual One Day, One Focus, Ending Polio evening under the stars at Bakery and Table for World Polio Day on October 24th. Palettes for Polio will be hosted by the Rotary Club of Kona Mauka at which 40 artists’ palettes will be painted and offered at a silent auction at the Rumley Gallery at the King Kamehameha Hotel on November 18th. The Rotary Club of Downtown Honolulu held a Strike Out Polio bowling event, while another club is collecting Pennies for Polio. Share your story with our District Polio Plus Chair Charlene Meyers to post on the website. Let her know how you celebrated World Polio Day.
I received an email from my classmate DG Claudette McWilliams (District 5110) and I quote, “As long as we are bragging, my DRFCC tells me that with the second check for $536,000 to TRF (the first was $500K), District 5110 was Number One in the world for giving. Whether that lasted beyond the date that it was reported is unknown, but Number One in the world for even one day is something that I will gladly accept.” She reminded me that November is Rotary Foundation Month. I thank the many Rotarians in District 5000 for stepping forward to share their resources in “Making a Difference.” Without your generosity, the books we ship, the eye clinics we support, the clean water wells we build would not happen. This is my favorite quote when an individual is recognized for donating $1,000 or more to Rotary Foundation:
You will build houses in which you will never live
You will feed hungry people of every race creed and political philosophy
You will make crawlers into walkers.
You will educate children you will never know
You will vaccinate children you will never meet
You will dig wells from which you will never drink
You will plant trees under which you will never sit
You will restore eyesight to those who will never see you.
When you donate to do these things, not only will you be IN the Rotary Family, but you will have the Rotary Family in you.