16

2011-2012 SERVICE COMMITTEES & SPECIAL PROJECTS

CLUB SERVICE …………...……… Sue Gardner, Director Attendance ………………………………...Kam Breitenbach Change of Command Party Sue Gardner, Cathy Groves, Jo Stone Club History …………………………………...…..Paul Elder Club Photographer ……………………….………..Jim Boyd Dinner for 8 …………………………….……...Cathy Groves Holiday Party ……………………....Sue Gardner, Jo Stone Inspiration/Invocations, Pledge, 4-Way Test, Greeters Ken Claiborne Liaison to Cherry Creek Valley Club ….Kam Breitenbach Music Jim Muir, Doug Young, Steve Gilbert, Steve Brown Newsletter Editarian ………………………..…...Bill Fernow Newsletter Editarian Assistant ……………..Steve Gilbert Programs ……………….………...Ken Claiborne, John Gile Summer Picnic Sue Gardner, Michele Duncan, Cathy Groves Webmaster ……………………………………….Bob Forbes COMMUNITY SERVICE …….......Carl Finamore, Director American Indian Center Andy Becher, Pius Schenker, Mike Oldham, Carl Finamore Castlewood Canyon State Park Carl Finamore, Jim Boyd, Bill Kelly, Santa’s Clothes ……………………...…………..Al Johnson Continental Divide Trail ………………….....Ken Claiborne Firefly Autism Center ………………..Kevin Roth, Irv Buck Flower Power ………………………………...Larree Morgan Freedom Dogs ………………...Larry Brutlag, Sue Gardner MS 150 ………Bill Shriver, Ken Claiborne, Michele Duncan Parker Task Force Jim Boyd, Carol Hein, Bob Kramer, Bill Gripman, Dean Weaver, Nancy Gripman Praying Hands Ranch ………………..Jim Muir, Jim Pettett Project Sanctuary …..Jane Johnson, Bill Shriver, Bill Kelly Rotary Community Corps Kam Breitenbach, Michele Duncan Rotary Reads Dick Gordon, Ted Sweeney, Bob Kramer, Bill Gripman, Nancy Gripman Second Wind Fund of DC ….Jane Johnson, Larry Brutlag Women’s Crisis and Family Outreach Center Sharon Nemechek, Jim Pettett Douglas County Rotarians Wounded Veterans Project Lindy Blackburn, Andy Becher, Carl Finamore, Al Johnson, Jane Johnson, Jim Pettett VOCATIONAL SERVICE …………... Jack Braly, Director Four Way Test David Selden, Doug Young, All Johnson, Jane Johnson Vocational Talks ……………………………..Ken Claiborne District Club Ethics Award …...Cathy Groves, Bill Shriver Ethics in Business ……………..…………..Dan Rodriguez

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE …... Steve Brown, Director Ambassadorial & World Peace Scholars Bob Forbes, Mike Oldham Ghana ………………………………Jo Stone, Amy Erickson Global Children’s Organization…...Irv Buck, Bill Gripman Group Study Exchange …………………………....Irv Buck India Water & Related Irv Buck, Frank Gibbs Mongolia (Commerce City Rotary Club) ……...Rick Laub Open World ..Tony Barnard, Irv Buck, John Gile, Al Johnson Polio Plus………………………….Lew Million, Tom Duncan Project C.U.R.E. ………………..Bob Haeflein, Don Clasen Nigeria Project C.U.R.E. (Fort Collins Rotary Club) Larry Brutlag ShelterBox ………………………..Al Johnson, Bob Kramer Socially Conscious Coffee (Westminster 7:10) .Irv Buck Toys for God’s Kids ……………………….…..Don Clasen Wayne Wagener, Bob Kramer Walk for Life …………………….…....Bob Forbes, Irv Buck Zimbabwe …………………………………………....Irv Buck NEW GENERATIONS ……..... Michele Duncan , Director Interact, Ponderosa Bill Fernow, Dave Selden Rotaract Dave Gurule, Dave Selden, Dan Rodriguez Rotary Youth Exchange Liz Volz, Michele Duncan RYLA/Young RYLA Mike Oldham, Cathy Groves Scholarships, Chaparral Tom VanderHeiden, Tom Duncan, Lindy Blackburn Scholarships, Ponderosa Larree Morgan, Bill Kelly, Gene Felgenhauer Student of the Month, Chaparral ………….Ken Claiborne Student of the Month, Ponderosa ……………...John Gile FUND RAISING ……………....…..… Cathy Groves, Chair Annual Golf Tournament

Chairman: Carl Finamore Site: Steve Small Tom VanderHeiden, Bill Kelly, Gene Felgenhauer Peaches Dave Gurule, Bill Shriver, Carl Finamore, Jane Johnson, Cathy Groves State of the Town ……………..………...…..Cathy Groves Finance: Dick Gordon Logistics: Public Relations: Kevin Roth Parker Impact Award: Lindy Blackburn Sponsorship: Larry Brutlag, Dan Rodriguez Registrations: Bill Shriver Publications: Bob Forbes, Irv Buck, PUBLIC RELATIONS ……….……....Kevin Roth, Director

THE ROTARY CLUB OF PARKER Chartered August 18, 1993

World Rotaract Week

March 8, 2012

TODAY’S PROGRAM

PDG Mike Hayes, Central America Microcredit Project

Tuesday, Mar 13—Board Meeting, War Horse Inn, 6:45 am

Thursday, Mar 15—Congressman Mike Coffman

Thursday, Mar 22—Ken Jaeger, Morningstar Development Project

Thursday, Mar 29—Eddie Ellington, Every School is a Star Program

Thursday, Apr 5—Heather Amen, Junior Achievement

DISTRICT 5450

Jim Halderman

Governor

2011-2012 Theme

Kalyan Banerjee

RI President

The Lamplighter A Multiple Bemis Award Winning Publication of

The Rotary Club of Parker P.O. Box #473, Parker, CO 80134

Breakfast Meeting each Thursday 6:45-8:15 a.m.

The Club at Pradera 5225 Raintree Drive

The Parker Rotary Centennial Gift to

the Town of Parker - 2005

Member of

2

March 8, 2012 VOLUME 19, NUMBER 30

Bill Fernow, Editarian (303) 805-5039

FAX: (303) 805-5039 wfernow@comcast.net

In the absence of our scheduled speaker, PDG Mike Old-

ham presented a video of Queen Noor of Jordan addressing

attendees of the 2010 RI Convention in Montréal, Québec,

Canada, on 22 June during the third plenary session, high-

lighting the importance of building sustainable communi-

ties through the work of The Rotary Foundation and of col-

laborating with like-minded organizations.

While conflicts and other global challenges make achiev-

ing stability seem like a daunting task, Queen Noor said

Rotary can make a significant contribution through its in-

ternational network of dedicated clubs and its strategic alli-

ances with other organizations, moving the world in the

direction of progress and peace.

"For the first time in human history, as our world becomes

ever more connected, [we have] the capacity to truly unite

peoples and cultures in the pursuit of prosperity, sustainabil-

ity, and peace," she said. "I want to thank you for pioneering

the path of great partnerships and alliances. Rotary Interna-

tional has shown for the past 100 years that the most power-

ful agent of change is people, united. In this next century,

may we find a way through coalitions of peace and justice to convince the world to join Ro-

tary’s chorus of hope."

She praised the Rotary Peace Centers as well as the polio eradication effort, which she re-

called promoting in Jordan in the late 1980s.

"I remember going into rural areas and giving oral vaccines to small children while their

mothers looked on," Queen Noor said. "The real gift of polio [eradication] is peace. Eradicat-

ing polio will be one of the great building blocks of peace for decades to come."

Queen Noor also discussed her work, which focuses on saving the environment and eliminat-

ing nuclear weapons with the Global Zero program as part of a holistic approach to building

stability

Queen Noor of Jordan is

thanked by RI President

John Kenny during the

third plenary session on 22

June at the 2010 RI Conven-

tion in Montréal.

15

2011-2012 CLUB OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jane Johnson ..…………..….…….President Jo Stone ……...……………..President-Elect Kam Breitenbach ……..........…….Secretary Bob Satrom ..…….….……………..Treasurer Frank Gibbs ………....…..Sergeant-at-Arms Larry Brutlag …..Immediate Past President Tony Barnard ………………….Foundations

Carl Finamore ….....…..Community Service Joel Engelstad …....…International Service Sue Gardner …….….....……….Club Service Jack Braly ……………....Vocational Service Michele Duncan .New Generations Service Cathy Groves …….…..……....Fund Raising Kevin Roth ...……….……...Public Relations

PARKER ROTARIANS WITH DISTRICT RESPONSIBILITIES PDG Mike Oldham - Executive Committee, Strategic Planning, Literacy and Education,

American Indian Committee Chair, Rotary Peace Corps Alliance, Ambassadorial Scholar-

ships; Nominating Committee, PDG Advisory Group, Extension Committee, Health &

Hunger Concerns, Polio Eradication, World Peace Fellowship; Bill Fernow - Executive

Committee, Rotary Awareness Chair; Al Johnson - Assistant Governor Area 12; Doug

Young - 4-Way Test Chair; Dave Gurule - Rotaract; Irv Buck - Water Management and

Sanitation; Larry Brutlag - Grants Area 4&5; Bob Forbes - Ambassadorial Scholar-

ships; Carl Finamore – American Indian

MEMBERSHIP …………………........... Jo Stone, Director Past Chair ………………………………….….Jane Johnson Classifications ………………………………..….Bill Shriver Club Roster …………………………..…...Kam Breitenbach Fireside Chats …………………………….…...Mike Oldham Inductions ………………………………………..….Jo Stone Internal Communications ……………………...Al Johnson Mentor Program …………………………….....Bob Haeflein New Member Information ………..…..Jo Stone, Jim Boyd Recruitment Program Jim Boyd, Tom Hankenson, Joel Engelstad Red Badge, Blue Badge ……………………...Bob Haeflein Remembrance, Rewards, Recognition …... Retention Program ………………..……….…..Bill Gripman

FOUNDATIONS Tony Barnard, Director

Trustees Steve Small, Jane Johnson, Bob Martin, Dean Weaver, Hank Coll, Tom Duncan, Lew Million, Bob Satrom, Harold McCloud

The Rotary Club of Parker Foundation

PO Box 1472 Parker, Colorado 80134

2012 RI Convention

14

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 13 Douglas County Rotarians Summit, Cielo at Castle Pines

March 14 Aurora Southlands Provisional Rotary Club Membership Night,

McCabes, Southlands Mall

March 17 Rotary Foundation Future Vision Training

March 20 Work evening at Project C.U.R.E., 7:00 - 9:00 pm

April 7 Rotary Leadership Institute

April 7 Playground Installation, Denver Indian Center

April 14 9Health Fair, Denver Indian Center, 7:00 am to Noon

April 17 Work evening at Project C.U.R.E., 7:00 - 9:00 pm

April 27-29 District Conference, Ameristar Casino, Black Hawk

May 6-9 RI Convention, Bangkok, Thailand

May 23 Work evening at Project C.U.R.E., 7:00 - 9:00 pm

June 2 District Training Assembly

June 19 Work evening at Project C.U.R.E., 7:00 - 9:00 pm

July 19 Work evening at Project C.U.R.E., 7:00 - 9:00 pm

July 22-27 RYLA, YMCA of the Rockies

YRYLA, Ponderosa Retreat & Convention Center

July 29—Aug 3 YRLYA, Ponderosa Retreat & Convention Center

3

LAST WEEK’S GUESTS

AND VISITORS

Daisy Forbes - pseudo member

Queen Noor of Jordan (Arabic: جلالة الملكة نور ) (born Lisa Najeeb Halaby; 23 August

1951) is the last wife and widow of King Hussein of Jordan. She was queen consort of Jor-

dan between 1978 and 1999. Since her husband's death in 1999, she has been queen dowager

of Jordan.

A United States citizen by birth, and of Syrian, English, and Swedish descent, she acquired

Jordanian citizenship and renounced her American citizenship at the time of her marriage.

As of 2011, she is president of the United World Colleges movement and an advocate of the

anti-nuclear weapons proliferation campaign, Global Zero.

New Member Craig Fidler with Presi-

dent Jane and President Elect Jo.

Craig Fidler received his Red Badge during

an Induction Ceremony conducted by Presi-

dent Elect and Membership Chair Jo Stone at

our last meeting.

Steve Brown gets his Blue Badge

Teach a child to be polite and courteous

in the home and, when he grows up, he’ll

never be able to merge his car onto the

freeway.

4

KIDS-OUR FUTURE

It RYLA and YRYLA time again. Registration is open! What

seventh grader, tenth grader or eleventh grader do you know

who would benefit from our District RYLA program? Leader,

Character, Teamwork and Fellowship development are some of

what RYLA is about. Get students you know in the Parker area

to apply on line at Rocky Mountain RYLA. Our club will be sending three to Senior RYLA

and three to YRYLA this year. Give kids this life changing opportunity. Questions? Please

contact Mike Oldham.

RYLA will be held at the YMCA of the Rockies on Sunday, July 22 to Friday, July 27,

2012.

There will be two Young RYLA Camps for 120 participants each at the Ponderosa Retreat

& Conference Center in Larkspur, Colorado.

Young RYLA Camp 1 will be from Sunday, July 22 to Friday, July 27, 2012.

Young RYLA Camp 2 will be from Sunday, July 29 to Friday, August 3, 2012.

Formerly know as the MS-150, The 2012 Newmont Bike MS, presented by Great-West Life will take

place from June 30 to July 1. The ride will leave Front Range Community College in West-

minster, ride to CSU in Fort Collins, stay in Fort Collins Saturday evening, returning to Front

Range Community College on Sunday. The registration fee goes is $75. Participants must

also raise a minimum of $400 in donations outside of the registration fee. Multiple sclerosis

(or MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system (CNS),

which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Symptoms may be mild, such as

numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The progress, severity,

and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another. Today,

new treatments and advances in research are giving new hope to people affected by the dis-

ease.

13

THE FOUR-WAY TEST

Of the things we think, say or do:

Is it the TRUTH?

Is it FAIR to all concerned?

Will it build GOODWILL and

BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

Will it be BENEFICIAL to all con-

cerned?

ROTARY INFO ON THE WEB

Rotary International www.rotary.org

District 5450

www.rotary5450.org

District Polio www.endpolio.com

CLUB WEBSITE -

www.parkerrotary.org

CLUB LINKED-IN SITE http://www.linkedin.com/

groups?gid=1813524

Eclub One Meeting on the web www.rotaryeclubone.org

Rotary on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/

rotaryinternational

Rotary on Twitter http://twitter.com/rotary

Rotary on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/

Rotary-International/7268844551

Rotary on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/groups?

gid=858557&trk=hb_side_g

MAKE-UP OPPORTUNITIES

Thursday—Castle Rock High Noon Club

Noon

Philip S. Miller Library

100 South Wilcox Street

Thursday—Castle Pines

7:00 am

Grill at the Pines

872 Happy Canyon Road

Castle Rock,

Friday – University Hills

12:10 pm

Glenmoor Country Club

110 Glenmoor Drive

(just off Belleview)

Don’t forget that you can make-up meet-

ings by attending a Board of Directors

meeting (2nd Tuesday of each month)

12

GREETER PLEDGE INSPIRATION/ 4-WAY TEST

INVOCATION

Mar 8 Liz Volz Dave Selden Al Johnson Bob Satrom

Mar 15 Pius Schenker Tom Duncan Ben Martin Larree Morgan

Mar 22 Jim Pettett Dick Gordon Mike Oldham

Mar 29 Bill Kelly Bill Gripman Lindy Blackburn Pius Schenker

ROTARY MINUTE

Mar 8

Mar 15

Mar 22

Mar 29

ROTARIANS FROM COLORADO November 17 – 30, 2012

Exotic 13-day Tour in INDIA, featuring: THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE:

12 nights (4- and 5-star hotels) plus one overnight on the train

HIGHLIGHTS:

Delhi

Agra (TAJ MAHAL)

Fatehpur Sikri (magnificent abandoned city)

Jaipur (world famous 17thh century Astronomy Observatory)

Sawai Madhopur, (Ranthambore National Park – 2 jeep ‘safaris’ in this

tiger preserve)

Mumbai (Rudyard Kipling home site)

Victoria Terminus Station, Gateway to India

Noon Rotary meeting of Rotary club of Bombay Mid-town

Visit and tour our first ROTARY WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PRO-

JECT at Potkhal/Baste villages)

Tour initiated by: Janet Greiner, Rotary Club of Denver LoDo and Rod

Greiner, Rotary Club of Denver

For complete itinerary, very competitive pricing, and other details,

contact Irv Buck

Protons have mass? I didn’t even know

they were Catholic. ► One nice thing

about egotists: they don’t talk about oth-

er people. ▼ If swimming is so good for

your figure, how do you explain whales?

5

CORPORATE

DIRECTOR COMCAST ∙ IREA ∙ SEARCH PARKER (Media Sponsor)

DOUGLAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

PARKER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

WEAVER GENERAL CONSTRUCTION

Patricia Jo Stone, PC Sky Ridge Medical Center

Parker Rehabilitation & Living Center Bellco Credit Union

Spradlin Printing (Media Sponsor)

Benefactor

Capital Approval Reverse Mortgage ∙ Martin & Harman Family Dentistry

1st Asset LLC Parker Station ∙ Douglas County Libraries

Redstone Bank ∙ Shaw Construction ∙ VanderHeiden Financial

Wells Fargo Bank ∙ Xcel Energy

Parker Chronicle (Media Sponsor)

Investor The Attic Genealogy Research ∙ Brown Law ∙ Shriver Investments

Aspen Creek Family Medicine ∙ Warhorse Inn ∙ Home Depot

Innovest Portfolio Solutions ∙ Land Title Guarantee Company

6

SAVE THE DATE - As many club members are aware, Future Vision is RI’s future pro-

cess for supporting project by the Rotary Foundation. Several districts are currently con-

ducting pilot trials of the new process. After the trial period, all districts will be operating

under Future Vision. Experienced, dynamic and knowledgeable Rotarian leaders will pre-

sent Foundation Future Vision Training, soup to nuts, to all interested District 5450 Rotari-

ans on March 17, 2012. These are Rotarians from Pilot Districts that are now operating un-

der Future Vision. More information soon!

Editarian - Bill Fernow

Asst. Editarian - Steve Gilbert (on leave)

Head Photographer - Jim Boyd

Backup Photographer - Michele Duncan

Feature Editor - Jo Stone

Special Features -Steve Gilbert (on

leave)

Circulation Manager - Jim Pettett (on

medical furlough)

Lamplighter Staff

ROTARY UNIQUE AFRICAN SAFARI

The Rotary Club of Polokwane, South

Africa invites Rotarians or friends to

enjoy a once in a life time experience by

participating in their safari. Experience

close encounters with wildlife and Rota-

ry fellowship. The cost of the safari is

$3250 per person, all inclusive (does not

include airfare to Johannesburg. Al and

Jane can tell you about their experience.

Political success is the ability,

when the inevitable occurs, to get

credit for it.

Lawrence J. Peter

AURORA SOUTHLANDS ROTARY CLUB The Aurora Southlands club has recently been named as a provisional Rotary club. This rap-

idly forming club will be holding a Membership Night on Wednesday, March 14th at

McCabes in the Southland’s Shopping Area. Aurora Southland members are out asking for

prizes and auction items to raise money at the event. They are also asking district clubs to

promote the event and invite members to attend their Membership Night. The club is work-

ing to attract additional members to add to their present fifteen in order to achieve Full Club

Status during the current Rotary year.

Two can live as cheaply as one, for half

as long.

11

WHAT PAUL HARRIS SAID

Small Town Connections Paul Harris was well aware that the men (remember, women were only recently admitted to membership) who were most drawn to Rotary were often from the same kind of small town or rural setting that he himself experienced. They were ambi-tious people, who came to bigger cities because that is where the opportunities were. However, many found the large cities cold. Their ambition had taken them away from their boyhood friends, and they longed to recreate meaningful relationships with people who shared their values. “Several of the members had been raised on farms, and the majority were of the class of country and small town boy who in search of fortune had gravi-tated to the city. While not self-made men, they were in the process of mak-ing, and most of them had made sufficient progress to justify the assumption that success in considerable degree was to be realized in the future. Some had received the benefits of college education; more had not.”

This Rotarian Age, page 54

Reprinted by permission of the Rotary Global History from the Newsletter Nuggets Section of “What Paul Harris Wrote” (www.whatpaulharriswrote.org).

MORE TODAY IN HISTORY

1796 The U.S. Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of a congressional act for

the first time when it upholds a carriage tax in Hylton v. United States.

1817 The New York Stock Exchange is formally chartered.

1965 The first U.S. combat troops arrive in South Vietnam when Marines land near

Da Nang to secure an air base.

1983 In a speech in Florida, President Ronald Reagan refers to the Soviet Union as an

“evil empire,” signaling that he is determined to stand fast against Communist totali-

tarianism.

10

THE DISTRICT CONFERENCE

Most Rotarians have never attended a Rotary district conference. They have not ex-

perienced one of the most enjoyable and rewarding privileges of Rotary membership.

A district conference is for all club members and their spouses, not just for club offic-

ers and committee members. The purpose of a district conference is for fellowship,

good fun, inspirational speakers and discussion of matters which make one's Rotary

membership more meaningful. Every person who attends a district conference finds

that being a Rotarian becomes even more rewarding because of the new experienc-

es, insights and acquaintances developed at the conference. Those who attend a

conference enjoy going back, year after year.

Every one of Rotary's more than 500 districts has a conference annually. These

meetings are considered so important that the Rotary International president selects

a knowledgeable Rotarian as his personal representative to attend and address each

conference. The program always includes several outstanding entertainment fea-

tures, interesting discussions and inspirational programs.

One of the unexpected benefits of attending a district

conference is the opportunity to become better ac-

quainted with members of one's own club in an infor-

mal setting. Lasting friendships grow from the fellow-

ship hours at the district conference.

Randy Hill March 6

Amy Erickson March 9

Bob Haeflein March 13

Doug Young March 19

Jim Muir March 31

Jim & Karen Muir March 24

Ben & Susan Zimmerman March 24

Jim & Li Pettett March 27

You are encouraged to bring your spouse to

breakfast as a guest of the club anytime dur-

ing the month of your anniversary.

7

DOUGLAS COUNTY ROTARIANS SUMMIT

The Douglas County Rotarians at Work Committee is holding the first Douglas County Ro-

tarians Summit on Tuesday, March 13th at 6:00 PM at Cielo at Castle Pines, 485 West Hap-

py Canyon Road, Castle Rock, CO 80108. The cost is $25.

The first event will kick off the Homes For Our Troops project that is scheduled to begin in

late March and will feature special guest Army Corporal Nick Orchowski who will be the

recipient of the home. This event is open to all Douglas County Rotarians, spouses, family

and significant others.

Please note that space is limited to 350 people. So please, RSVP to ADG Steve Baroch as

soon as possible at either Steve@Baroch.net or phone 303-909-7563. If you would prefer

to bring a check to this week's meeting rather than mail it, please see Carl Finamore either

before or after this week's meeting and he will handle delivery for you.

Reducing Poverty in Guatemala According to the World Bank, some three billion people in the world live on less than $2

per day and close to half live on less than $1.25 perday. One of the most powerful tools we

have to address this terrible situation is microcredit, a system of providing small loans to

poor people, mostly women, to help them start or improve a small business.

In May of this year, funds from a Matching Grant, supported by eleven Rotary clubs (ten in

District 5450 and one in District 5470) and supported by our district’s DDF, started to flow

to poor women in the Sumpango area of Guatemala. Total funding was $50,842 and at an

average loan of $300 this will help some 170 women start, or expand, their businesses.

Our partners in this initiative are the Rotary Club of Guatemala Metropoli and Friendship

Bridge, a Microfinance Institution (MFI) with offices both in Guatemala and Denver. Anna

Raymundo is a typical Friendship Bridge borrower. Anna is dreadfully poor. She has two

children. Her husband has left her. She lives in a concrete block building in Nebaj with dirt

floors and huge gaps between the walls and the roof. Using a backstrap loom she weaves

and sells “huipiles” a form of traditional Mayan blouse. Cash flow is a continuous problem

and she does not make enough to pay for electricity. With a loan from Friendship Bridge

she hopes to even out her cash flow and increase the amount of huipiles she can weave and

so increase her income.

Rotarians interested in finding out more about how they can support microcredit are en-

couraged to contact members of the District Microcredit Committee, Mike Hayes, Chair, at

303-460-8571 or hmichaelhayes@comcast.net.

8

India is no longer polio endemic

The World Health Organization has officially removed India

from the list of polio-endemic countries. Ghulam Nabi Azad,

India's minister of Health and Family Welfare, made the an-

nouncement at the Polio Summit 2012 in New Delhi on 25

February. Azad said that he had been informed of WHO’s ac-

tion by its director-general, Dr. Margaret Chan.

"It is a matter of satisfaction that we have completed one year without any single new case of

polio being reported from anywhere in the country," said Indian Prime Minister Manmohan

Singh at the summit, which was organized by the government of India and Rotary Internation-

al. "This gives us hope that we can finally eradicate polio not only from India but from the

face of the entire mother earth. The success of our efforts shows that teamwork pays."

India's last reported case was a two-year-old girl in West Bengal State on 13 January 2011.

Before polio eradication can be certified in India, it must go two more years without another

case of the disease. Polio remains endemic in only three countries: Afghanistan, Nigeria, and

Pakistan.

Bivalent oral vaccine Until 2009, India accounted for nearly half the number of the world’s polio cases. A chief fac-

tor in the country’s success has been the widespread use of the bivalent oral polio vaccine,

which is effective against both remaining types of the poliovirus. Another has been rigorous

monitoring, which has helped reduce the number of children missed by health workers during

National Immunization Days to less than 1 percent, according to WHO.

Rotary International has played a major role in helping to stop the transmission of polio in In-

dia. Rotary has been a spearheading partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative since

1988, along with WHO, UNICEF, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is also a key supporter of the initiative.

Sporting their signature yellow vests and caps, the nearly 119,000 Rotarians in India have

helped administer vaccine to children, organize free health camps and polio awareness rallies,

and distribute banners, caps, comic books, and other items.

Global support from Rotarians "With the support of their Rotary brothers and sisters around the world, Indian Rotarians have

worked diligently month after month, year after year, to help organize and carry out the Na-

tional Immunization Days that reach millions of children with the oral polio vaccine," says RI

President Kalyan Banerjee, of the Rotary Club of Vapi, Gujarat. "As an Indian, I am immense-

ly proud of what Rotary has accomplished. However, we know this is not the end of our work.

Rotary and our partners must continue to immunize children in India and in other countries

until the goal of a polio-free world is finally achieved."

9

A GARY MERAZ TRUE STORY Chris was assigned a paper on childbirth and asked his parents, “How was I

born?”

“Well, honey,” his mother said, “the stork brought

you to us.”

“Oh,” he said. “So how were you and Daddy born?”

“The stork brought us.”

“What about Grandpa and Grandma?” Chris persisted.

“The stork brought them too!” Mom replied, squirming in

her recliner.

A few days later Chris handed his paper to the teacher with an opening sentence that

read, “This report has been very difficult to write due to the fact that there hasn’t been

a natural childbirth in my family for three generations.”

TODAY IN HISTORY

In 1887, six-year-old Helen Keller spent this day getting to know her new teacher,

Anne Sullivan, who had arrived at the Keller household in Alabama less than a week

before.

Helen was not two years old when she came down with an illness that robbed her

of sight and hearing for the rest of her life. For the next few years she grew up, as she

later wrote, “wild and unruly, giggling and chuckling to express pleasure; kicking,

scratching, uttering the choked screams of the deaf-mute to indicate the opposite.”

Then Anne Sullivan arrived from Boston and moved in with Helen’s family, deter-

mined to help the girl break out of her lonely world of darkness and silence. With

painstaking determination and love, Anne taught Helen to spell words with her fin-

gers, then to read and write braille. Eventually, Helen learned to speak. Anne devot-

ed much of the rest of her life to her student. With her help, Helen grew up to:

Graduate from prestigious Radcliff College with honors;

Give lectures around the globe and write books that sold the world over;

Star in a movie about her own life;

Meet with every president from Grove Cleveland to Lyndon Johnson;

Receive countless awards, from France’s Legion of Honor to the U.S. Presidential

Medal of Freedom; and

Swim, ride horses and bicycles, play chess, go camping and ride in an open-

cockpit airplane.

American loved Helen Keller for her unconquerable spirit. “Life,” she once wrote,

“is either a daring adventure or nothing.”