2019-2020 President Josh Sprague and our newest club member, Sarah Line, were happy to be here.
President Josh Sprague opened the meeting with a video welcome and announcements. Fireside chats are commencing this Monday, October 21st and each weekday night through Friday at various members’ homes. Details are on our website and letters have gone out to our members, so sign up now.
Delta Airlines tickets auction winner, Scott MacDonald and Edina Country Club, Allie, are all smiles.
Our club has received two round trip continental US airplane tickets with a combined worth of about $1,000 from Delta Airlines. Josh held a lively auction and Scott MacDonald was the winner with a contribution to our Foundation of $1,300.
Josh displayed some of the recent membership anniversaries which included the longest one of 46 years for Ed Bather.
The City of Edina is considering a local option sales tax and Jennifer Bennerotte announced an information meeting about this immediately following our meeting.
Sam Thompson said that volunteers are still needed for the Rotary Ethics Seminar on October 22nd at St. Patrick’s Church.
Mike Sitek announced a need for volunteers which can include members, family and friends including children 7 and up, for a Feed Our Starving Children meal-packing event, October 26th 9-11 AM.
Other functions were announced for Cornerstone, One Village Partners and Jennifer Hendrickson reported on Public Relations.
Our next meeting is Vocational Day at Edina High School and begins at 11:45 AM, October 24th. Please register in advance. Our annual Veterans’ Day meeting on Monday November 11th at ECC and begins at 11:15 AM.
Today’s Volunteers:
We were greeted by Joe Arends and Paul Mooty
The Front Desk was handled by Fred Sylvester and Becci Michalski
David Clynes did the Invocation, Pledge and Four-way Test.
Royce Pavelka did Guest Introductions.
John Flynn did the photography
Dave Hatzung thanked our speaker
Doug Johnson introduced our speaker District Polio Chair, Tim Mulcrone (pictured).
Tim Mulcrone is a three-time Club President and 32 year Rotarian from Chanhassen. He has been our District Polio Chair since 2012. Tasked with keeping our Polio Eradication at the forefront, he has a busy schedule of speeches. Today, he traced the history of polio and described the huge epidemic in the US in 1946. He related a story about his mother breaking down crying years later during talk of a tractor the family bought immediately following the Second World War. So why the tears for what was a special acquisition when few tractors were yet being built? Sadly, she remembered vividly that the day of delivery had coincided with her own brother’s sudden death from polio; not a happy anniversary to remember.
In 1955, the first polio vaccine was developed and by 1979 polio was entirely eliminated in the US. However, in 1985 there were still 387,000 cases in 125 countries elsewhere in the world. Rotary International decided that was ridiculous and launched PolioPlus, the first and largest internationally coordinated private-sector support of a public health initiative, with an initial fundraising target of $120 million. In January 2009, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pledged $355 million and issued Rotary a challenge grant of $200 million.
Today, the latest annual report is 88 cases in two countries. Tim states Rotary’s role is a catalyst in the fight against polio. It’s why he gives so many speeches. There are enemies to the fight, one of the biggest being fatigue. Others include warring factions such as the Taliban. If eradication efforts were discontinued today, polio would return in big numbers in a matter of a very few years. We must keep up our support and make strong efforts to continue the fight. The Gates family and support of celebrities and many others is aiding the cause. Rotary has contributed a total of more than $1.7 billion — including matching funds from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The Rotary Foundation has matching funds that magnify our giving by as much 6 to 1, so there are great opportunities for us to give..
Dave Hatzung thanked our speaker and President Josh ended the meeting promptly at 1:30 PM.
"We must keep up our support and make strong efforts to keep up the fight." Tim Mulcrone.
Woodrow "Wooj" Byun, Past President 2011-12.
Dr. Hannelore Brucker who was recently recognized by the American College of Physicians - Minnesota Chapter as a pioneer in the internal medicine field.
David Clynes, Past Rotary Foundation Chair
Dan, Ann and Sam
Dan Hallberg, 26th President 1980-81, Ann Platt 62nd President, 2016-17 and Sam Cote. It's a numbers game.
Jennifer Hendrickson, Current Public Image Chair and Shelly Loberg, Current International Grants Chair