DG Margie Kersey's Message For October (from the District 6900 October Newsletter)

When Rotary launched its push to end polio in the 1980s, the wild poliovirus crippled nearly 1,000 people every day. Since then, Rotary and its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative have reduced the incidence of polio by 99percent. And the push continues: This year, India has had only one case of polio (Jan13). We are indeed "this close" to ending polio once and for all.

Over the past 26 years, Rotary’s 1.2 million members in 200 countries and regions have contributed more than $1 billion and countless volunteer hours to help immunize more than two billion children in 122 countries. Rotary also reaches out to governments worldwide to obtain vital financial and technical support. Since 1995, donor governments have contributed in excess of $8 billion to polio eradication, due in part to Rotary’s advocacy efforts. I will be wearing the End Polio Now scarf during all of my October club visits. You too can get an End Polio Now scarf or tie for a $200 donation. Contact District Polio Plus chair, Steve Stanfield or Zone Polio chair, Robert Hall today.

Vocational Service

The Second Object of Rotary is: High ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society.

In a business round table at the 1916 convention in Cincinnati, Paul Harris made a very important statement – that Rotary is primarily business people and if we focus our energies on ethics, productivity and ingenuity in business, we create a world where everyonebenefits. Many of you have heard me talk about Vocational Service during my visits and know that I feel we have lost some of our vocational focus over the years. Rotary is indeed a service organization, but we were created on a vocational foundation. This distinguishes us from other service groups around the world. From the very beginning, Rotarians have been expected to set the standard for ethical business practices.

Today is no different. Vocational service can be so much more than awards and career days at the local school. We can offer mentoring services to entrepreneurs, mastermind sessions for club members, publish member to member directories or have monthly outings at local businesses. Be creative! In a tough economy, we can make the difference in our communities by being great business leaders.