In 1979, James Bomar Jr., the president of Rotary at the time, traveled to the Philippines as part of Rotary’s earliest work to immunize children against polio. After he had put drops of vaccine into one baby’s mouth, he felt a child’s hand tugging on his trouser leg to get his attention. Bomar looked down and saw the baby’s brother looking up at him, saying earnestly, “Thank you, thank you, Rotary.”
Before Rotary took on the task of polio e...radication, 350,000 people – nearly all of them children – were paralyzed by polio every year. That child in the Philippines knew exactly what polio was and understood exactly what Rotary had just done for his baby brother. Today, 31 years after the launch of PolioPlus, the children of the Philippines – and of nearly every other country in the world – are growing up without that knowledge, and that fear, of polio. Instead of 1,000 new cases of polio every day, we are averaging less than one per week. But as the fear of polio wanes, so does awareness of the disease. Now more than ever, it is vitally important to keep that awareness high and to push polio eradication to the top of the public agenda and our governments’ priorities. We need to make sure the world knows that our work to eradicate polio isn’t over yet, but that Rotary is in it to end it.
On 24 October, Rotary will mark World Polio Day to help raise the awareness and the funding we need to reach full eradication. I ask all of you to take part by holding an event in your club, in your community, or online. Ideas and materials are available for download in all Rotary languages at endpolio.org/worldpolioday, and you can register your event with Rotary at the same link. You can also join me and tens of thousands of your fellow Rotarians for a live-streamed global status update at 6 p.m. Eastern time at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. I’ll be there along with CDC Director Tom Frieden, other experts, and inspirational presenters, sharing an inside look at the science, partnerships, and human stories of polio eradication.
It is an incredibly exciting time to be a Rotarian. We are gathering momentum for the final race to the finish: to the end of PolioPlus and the beginning of a polio-free world. It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime chance to End Polio Now, through Rotary Serving Humanity.
District Governor Eric Lui discusses the importance of membership, Foundation and public image to grow Rotary. He also discussed Rotary's efforts to eradicate Polio. More than 15 billion immunizations have been provided from the funds raised.
District Governor Eric Lui recognized Sylvia Whitlock's importance in making it possible for women to join other service clubs in addition to Rotary. A significant individual in the history of Rotary.
Humble Rotary president, Pam McNair presents "Top Banana" award to District Governor Eric Lui, whose theme for the year is "Monkey Business". Eric, don't nibble on the trophy.
Kingwood High School language classes gather to hear about applying for Rotary Youth Exchange for 2017-2018! Don't forget we will have Parent / Student meetings for all interested Humble ISD students on Oct 20 or 24th at Kingwood Homewood Suites ....contact Susan.brodbeck@gmail.com if interested.
Rachel Guilfoyle presenting her club banner from her short term exchange in the Cannery Islands last summer.
Celebrate 100 years of The Rotary Foundation by learning the history of our impact around the world. Check out "Doing Good in the World: The Inspiring Story of The Rotary Foundation's First 100 Years" in our new ebook and Kindle formats. Buy: http://on.rotary.org/Centennial_Book
Huffman HandBags of Hope helped by Humble Rotarians. Article about Rotarians having fun helping others.
Humble Rotary helps fill handbags with hope to benefit FamilyTime
By Melanie Feuk | Posted Yesterday
The living room of Humble Rotarians Gloria and Oran Bain was filled with a colorful assortment of hundreds of various items; not to mention the dozens of fellow Rotarians who gathered at the Huffman residence to partake in an evening of fellowship and service Thursday, Sept. 29.
The set-up was reminiscent of marketplace vendor tables stacked with purses, toiletries, cosmetics, jewelry, notebooks, hair accessories, brushes, combs, socks, nail polish, wallets, flashlights and other useful products.
However, the evening was not about sales or profits; it was about donating time, effort and resources to improve the lives of others by assembling Handbags of Hope; an initiative started by Lake Houston resident Lana Walker.
Huffman Handbags of Hope is a ministry that collects useful items to put into gently used purses. These product-packed purses are then donated to women who are homeless.
“I attend Lake Houston United Methodist Church,” Walker said. “The youth at our church were making care packages for homeless people to keep in our cars so we would always have something to give.
“I was on Facebook and a person posted that they had been giving used handbags with little things in them to homeless women. I approached the youth director at the church and asked if the youth could do that too. She said that they could not take on this project, but suggested that I do it.”
Walker did not know where to begin. After discussing it more with the youth director, they decided she should run her idea by the nonprofit organization, FamilyTime Crisis and Counseling Center located in Humble. FamilyTime’s staff embraced the idea and Walker began the Handbags for Hope initiative in January.
“I started taking 10 purses to FamilyTime a week,” Walker said. “That was in January. This week, it will be 410 purses we’ve taken there.”
Walker has received positive feedback from FamilyTime about the positive effect the donated handbags and items have on women in the shelter.
Handbags for Hope continue to grow; drawing contributions from an expanding network of individuals and organizations. The Humble Rotary Club was happy to jump on board.
“Service above self is what we do,” Gloria Bain said. “The more hands-on things we do, I think the better we are being service-oriented people. This is a good hands-on thing to do and it supports FamilyTime. I think it’s a great connect for us because we support FamilyTime as well.
“Our Humble Rotary donated $320 to this cause. Lana and I went shopping for items to fill the handbags. By what we bought, I figured out that it costs her approximately $300 to put 10 bags together and she does that every week. Volunteering our time and resources to put these together for Lana means this is one week she doesn’t have to do it herself.”
Gloria has nominated Walker for FamilyTime’s 2016 Woman of the Achievement. The 2016 Women of Achievement will be announced Nov. 13 and the honorees will be recognized at FamilyTime’s Hearts of Gold Gala Saturday, Jan. 21.
When asked if assembling Handbags of Hope week after week becomes tiring, Walker responded with a cheery, “No, it’s too fun and I love doing this.”
She appreciates the support she receives from friends, family and the community that allows her to continue her mission.
“I really love it and I can’t see it stopping,” Walker said. “It’s great. I wouldn’t be able to do it without all the people who have been donating and helping me. It’s really been a blessing and I feel so honored to be able to help these ladies.”
For more information or to find out how to help, contact Lana Walker at 832-934-4264.
Donations may be dropped off at Lake Houston United Methodist Church located at 23606 FM 2100 in Huffman.
Bonjour!! I have had an amazing first month in Angoulême, France. When I stepped off the plane I was greeted by signs and warm hugs from my amazing host family, and was immediately introduced to the famous cuisine in France when we stopped to get croissants before heading home. My family is really great, and I have grown very close to my three younger siblings. My family doesn't speak that much English, so my French has really progressed well. It's the same situation with my school. There are three other exchange students in my city and they all attend the private catholic school in the city, while I attend the a public arts school a little outside the city. I really love my school! The students are very interesting and friendly, and there is always something going on. school is pretty long here, it starts at 8:15 and ends at 6 pm. But this is really good because I hear a lot of French throughout the day.
We also have lots of breaks in between classes (up to four hours long!) and in these breaks I attend a beginners French class for migrants and people who just moved to France at the local middle school. I really enjoy the classes, and it is really helping to improve my French! I also attended a weekend in Royan with the other exchange students in my district, there are about 50! They are all so lovely and I've already made good friends with so many people from all around the world! It amazes me that I've only met these kids once but we understand each other completely, and I have a home all over the world!! Also my host club is the best! All the members are so kind and funny, and have welcomed me with open arms. Especially my youth exchange officer, who treats me with nothing except kindness and understanding! I really like my life here and I've learned so much about the different customs and cultures here, and I can't wait to see what the next month will bring me!!
P.S. Thank you for all the support, it means a lot to me!😊
By Rotary staff On 9 September, we received a visitor at Rotary International World Headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, USA, who reminded us just how important the fight to eradicate polio is. Every year, fewer and fewer cases of polio are … 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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