Humble Mayor Merle Aaron presented a proclamation to The Rotary Club of Humble recognizing World Polio Day that is being observed around the world.
Mayor Aaron recognized that Rotary International initiated PolioPlus in 1985 and spearheaded the Global Polio Eradication with the World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and UNICEF to immunize children of the world against polio.
He recognized that polio cases have dropped by 99 percent since 1988 and the world is very close to eradicating polio. It would be the second disease to be eradicated. Rotary International has contributed more than US$1 billion and countless volunteer hours for the protection of more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries. Members of the Rotary Club of Humble have personally donated more than $36,000 for this initiative. The cost of the vaccine, which was developed by Dr Jonas Salk, is as low as $0.60 per child for a lifetime of protection.
Mayor Aaron recognized that Rotary is currently working to raise an additional $200 million toward a $355 million challenge grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; and that these efforts are providing much needed operational support, medical personnel, laboratory equipment and educational materials for health workers and parents.
The Mayor recognized that Rotary clubs around the world sponsor service projects to address such critical issues as poverty, health, hunger, illiteracy, and the environment in their local communities, and abroad.
Mayor Aaron concluded by proclaiming that October 24 was recognized as World Polio Day and encouraged citizens to support Rotary International in the fight for a polio-free world.
World Polio Day, October 24 is recognized each year to honor Dr. Jonas Salk, developer of the polio vaccine. He refused to patent the vaccine as merely wished to see the vaccine disseminated as widely as possible.
The community can participate in helping to eradicate polio, which is endemic in only three countries, by going to the web site endpolio.org and making a donation.
Andy Kahan, head of Houston's Office for Crime Victims Assistance, presented a very informative program about what is being done to assist crime victims. He has a high level of recognition across the country, having appeared on numerous TV shows to include Ophra, Bill O'Reilly and others. A very informative article appears below.
A VOICE FOR VIOLENCE VICTIMS
By Melanie Lawson
HOUSTON -- He's a man you hope you will never need, but if tragedy strikes your family, Andy Kahan is the person most victims turn to. Kahan runs the city's crime victim's assistance office. He may be the only city official of his kind in the country, and he's outlasted three mayors.
This could be just another holiday party until you look closer. There's the permanent pain on many faces here and the prominent pictures of lives lost. This party is for Parents of Murdered Children -- a club no one chooses to join. However, when you're struggling with the worst thing that can happen, this man can make all the difference.
"Andy's help has kept me sane for 11 years," said Carolyn Hardin.
Another mother, Carrie Ruiz, said, "He's always been there for victims, always been there for us when we needed him. You can call him any time, day or night."
The City's Victim's Assistance Office is small, with a staff of one. Before his current job, Kahan spent eight years as a parole officer.
"And I saw stuff that actually made me so sick and so disheartened," said Kahan.
He fought back his frustrations, until 13 Undercover Investigative Reporter Wayne Dolcefino looked into the number of violent felons being put back on the streets because of prison overcrowding.
"Then Wayne did a piece, a whole week-long series called Parolee's Paradise and I was actually part of that. And I like to say that I let loose, and then they let me loose," said Kahan.
He started meeting with victim's groups. They asked then Mayor Bob Lanier, who'd won election by promising to fight crime, to give them an advocate. When Kahan met with the mayor's chief of staff, he was told not to bring the problems to the table.
"Bring me the damn solutions. From then on, that's how I molded what I would do. It's very rare in life that you get to craft something from the ground floor," said Kahan.
Those solutions include legislation making it harder for violent criminals to get early release, allowing victims' families to address their loved one's killer in court, and to witness their executions.
"I have no business ever being in Houston, Texas," Kahan said.
Kahan's difficult duties have not dampened his sense of humor. Whether he's talking about moving to Houston at 19, knowing no one and getting a job as a singing telegram.
"I drove around Houston for three years in a chicken suit, a gorilla suit, a hula, I had a grass skirt with coconuts. I was a sight to see," said Kahan.
Or his love for movies. He's collected hundreds of original posters and a few small roles. If you don't blink, you can catch a glimpse of him in 'Robocop 2.'
"I've actually been fortunate to appear in several mostly nameless movies that were filmed here," said Kahan.
He says he's already doing the role he was born to do.
"It's been an honor and a blessing to be able to do what I do, and to help people under the worst possible scenarios and to make things better," he said.
This is the first 4 Way Test Essay Contest ever done in Colombia, and this contest has created a relationship between the CRI and the school which they are using to promote Rotary. The CRI used the opportunity to talk to the school about Polio and on Polio Day they did a fund raising at the school. Pictured below in the blue pants isJuliana, President of CRCI and students.
Chocolate and strawberry macarons edged out Nutella and banana crepes and a lemon berry savarin to nab first place in the French Club’s annual cooking contest.
The winning entry was prepared by junior foreign exchange student Charlotte Rekers, who won two $10 Starbucks gift cards.
In addition to Rekers, the competitors were senior Tristan Torrey, who prepared the savarin, and freshman Molly Crockett, who presented the crepes.
Torrey submitted a lemon berry savarin; Crockett submitted Nutella and banana crepes.
Crockett came in second and Torrey followed in third. Crockett received one Starbucks gift card.
The theme for 2016 was “la cuisine populaire,” everyday dishes and comfort food.
The French Club holds the contest every year in honor of France’s annual cuisine festival, “Fête de la Gastronomie.”
Students entering the competition were required to prepare the dish on their own and present it to the judges. The dishes had to have origins in a French-speaking country or region.
The dishes, judged this year by teachers HazelAnne Prescott, Lori Lero, and Abby Ausburn, were ranked in seven categories, including presentation, taste and quality of cultural information in the entry form.
Crockett’s family is currently hosting Rekers and said that they will be sharing the gift cards.
Prepare to watch a video about the initiative to End Polio. Rotary has played a significant role in reducing the incidence of Polio to only 74 cases in 2015. We are very close to eradicating this devastating disease. Only three countries till have an incidence of Polio.
As you peruse the aisles of your favorite department store, you start to notice a trend: pink scarves, pink socks, pink shirts, and pink coffee mugs. Then pink blenders, pink vacuums, and is that a pink microwave?!? Ahh yes, the pink explosion is everywhere, and that can only mean one thing: October is upon us, and everyone is preparing for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is a reminder that there is a gruesome disease that is out to get second base. These sweet, pink pastels are there to nudge us, saying “hey, don’t forget to examine your breasts, get your doctor to check them out too, and schedule your mammogram.” After all, about 1 in 8 U.S. women, and 1 in 1000 U.S. men will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetime, and being proactive in this fight is crucial.
My friend Isis Mejias is visiting Uganda this week to assess the progress of our $301,000 Rotary water, sanitation and education project. Today the Rotary Clubs of Kalisizo and Lukaya presented her with her portrait made with banana fiber.
Last year Rotary invited Isis to lead a team of six to Uganda to identify a large water project and that visit led to the current project.
Thank you once again to the 21 Rotary Clubs and 17 Rotary Districts from 8 countries around the world that contributed to this project.
Isis presented a report on the Uganda Water Project In February of this year.
This $301,000 global grant, which included funds from 21 clubs, 17 districts, and 8 countries around the world, will be a long-term approach to the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) crisis in 30 primary schools in this region of Uganda. The improvements of the rainwater harvesting system in the schools as well as the water quality and sanitation facilities are a focus of the grant. The largest... focus, however, is the capacity development of the main beneficiaries to improve their sanitation and hygiene practices. It is the training and education, which will ensure sustainable results as a long term solution to WaSH issues.
At the invitation of the Rotary Foundation Isis led a team of six Rotarians to Uganda to identify this project and wrote the 115 page report to WASRAG ( Water & Sanitation Rotarian Action Group) and TRF (The Rotary Foundation) that formed the basis of the application.
Biography: Dr. Isis E. Mejias spent 2 years in Brazil as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, after working as a Chemical Engineer for 6 years. She completed a joint Environmental Engineering PhD from the University of Houston and the University of São Paulo, where she developed new technologies for heavy metal removal from water with bacteria and nanomaterials. Her humanitarian work has taken her to Africa where she led rural water projects in Kenya and Uganda. As an engineer with heart she has discovered a talent for bringing Rotary members together to do good in the world. She is determined to address some of the world’s most challenging WaSH problems. Through a Wasrag (Water & Sanitation Rotarian Action Group) initiative, she led a needs assessment in Kalisizo, Uganda to develop GG 1525222 named “Water is Life- Sanitation is Health”, which received financial participation from the Humble Rotary Club. Her leadership, knowledge and friendships with Rotarians are already creating change in the world.
We need to spotlight our new members. Reach out to make them welcome. Extend the right hand of Rotary fellowship. Look for Red Badges and introduce yourself. Look for Rotarians that you don't know as we have several new members that are new to our club but have been members at other clubs. Look for these new member Pete Baczynski Richard Baker, Monique Bennett, Mac Garza, Michael Kelley, Paul Kern, Thomas McWhorter, Nancy Morrison , Jennifer Mutchler, Chelsea Robbins McGhinnis,Cole Robbins, Jackie Younger, Chris Elliott, Jana Watson
Harry Ruggles was the fifth man to join Paul Harris in the conversations that led to the formation of the first Rotary club in Chicago in 1905. Harry was a fellow who enjoyed singing, and this was a popular activity at the turn of the century. At an early meeting of the fledgling group, Harry jumped on a chair and urged everyone to join him in a song.
Group singing soon became a tra...ditional part of each Rotary meeting. The custom spread to many of the clubs in the United States and is still a popular fellowship activity in the Rotary meetings of such diverse countries as Australia, Japan, Nigeria, New Zealand and Canada. Some clubs sing a national song as the formal opening of the meeting. Social singing, however, is seldom found in the Rotary clubs in Europe, South America and Asia.
In 1922, U.S. Rotarians organized an attendance contest; the challenge was that the losing clubs would join in giving the winning club a prize. The Rotary Club of New York City was declared the winner and to them was awarded as a prize a bell from a popular patrol boat, which was placed on wood that came from HMS "Victory", Admiral Nelson's vessel at the battle of Trafalgar.
Since then, the bell used in Rotary meetings started to represent, as o...n the ships, order, discipline and the time to guide us through the weekly hour and a half meetings. The bell informs us with its sound the beginning of the Rotary meeting, at which time people present should stand, same as at the end, in order to salute the national and Rotary flags. The gavel symbolizes the authority invested in the Rotarian elected to the highest position in Rotary, and through him, reminds those present of his authority. When presidents transmit their positions to their successors at the end of their mandate, they give the bell their last hit turning the gavel over to their successor, symbolizing the transfer of authority.
By Stephanie Witkowski, Rotary Club of Honolulu Pau Hana At 28 years old, I decided to become a Rotarian, because Rotary changed my life. I grew up in a small town in Oregon, USA, and was a young leader in … Continue reading →
Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 35,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work impacts lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit www.humblerotary.com or www.Rotary.org or e-mail info@humblerotary.com. Like us at www.facebook.com/humblerotary
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We need to spotlight our new members. Reach out to make them welcome. Extend the right hand of Rotary fellowship. Look for Red Badges and introduce yourself. Look for Rotarians that you don't know as we have several new members that are new to our club but have been members at other clubs. Look for these new member Pete Baczynski Richard Baker, Monique Bennett, Mac Garza, Michael Kelley, Paul Kern, Thomas McWhorter, Nancy Morrison , Jennifer Mutchler, Chelsea Robbins McGhinnis,Cole Robbins, Jackie Younger, Chris Elliott, Jana Watson
