Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Although Sarah Oliver admits that she isn’t a big fan of themes, this year’s club theme “Engage Rotary, Change Lives,” is perfect. Rotary’s impact over the world isn’t driven by Rotary International, or the district, or even the club presidents. It’s all about the members, and if the members aren’t active, then we can’t fulfill our mission. As the club transitions from the old Rotary to the new, the makeup of our membership is continuing to evolve. As women and minorities gain representation in our club in ever-growing numbers, it is our job to educate people of all walks of life on our club’s mission.

Sarah went on to talk about Polio eradication, and while we are close to the finish line, outbreaks continue to cause setbacks. There are rapid response teams to combat this, but we have to continue to raise awareness because polio is no longer a first-hand experience for many Americans. Rotarians are not alone in the fight. The Gates Foundation is offering $2 for every $1 Rotarians raise for polio up to $35 million a year for the next five years. Sarah urged the club to continue our hard work because we are helping so many people.