Rotary at a Glance

Established: February 23, 1905, in Chicago, Ill., USA

Founder: Chicago lawyer Paul P. Harris

Clubs: 32,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical regions

Membership: 1.2 million men and women

Global aid: Rotary has given $1.5 billion to humanitarian programs that promote literacy, alleviate hunger, provide safe water, and advance world peace.

Education: Every year, Rotary offers 1,000 international college-level scholarships and sponsors 8,000 international exchanges for high school students.  The Orchard Park Club offers four year scholarships to college for local applications through their local Foundation.

Rotary membership gives men and women a rewarding opportunity to help communities locally and internationally.

Rotary clubs are autonomous and meet weekly for fellowship and to determine their own service projects based on community needs and the talents and interests of their members. Clubs often team up with clubs in other countries to carry out international service projects, enhancing members’ personal and professional development and advancing world peace.

Rotary clubs are non-religious, nonpolitical, and open to men and women of every race, culture, and creed. To learn more about the Rotary experience, visit www.rotary.org or contact a Rotary club in your community.

Rotary and Polio

Global Polio Eradication Initiative

• Unique international public health initiative, spearheaded in 1988 by Rotary International, World Health Organization, UNICEF, and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Orchard Park Rotary was the first in District 7090 to complete the initial subscription of funds solicited by Rotary International.

Rotary

• Launched PolioPlus program in 1985

• Has contributed more than $600 million to fight polio worldwide

• Provides armies of volunteers to assist in immunizations, vaccine delivery, and social mobilization

• Has played a major role in decisions by donor governments to contribute more than $2.6 billion to polio eradication

Results

• 2 billion children immunized in 122 countries

• Polio cases slashed by 99 percent

• Five million cases of paralysis prevented; 250,000 pediatric deaths averted

• Polio-endemic countries now down to four

Take a look at the Oscar nominated film that documents the field work and workers trying to bring closure to this project.  It is the worlds largest non military movement:

http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/thefinalinch/video.html