Elaine spoke of the need for the committee to develop a clearer definition of the work to be done and the projects to be undertaken in the name of vocational service. This effort will lead to greater linkages to other club committees, but especially the Young Leaders committee.
She began by presenting information on the “Object of Rotary":
The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service. 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. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal business and community life. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
The concept of Vocational Service grew out of the original ideals of Paul Harris and his colleagues, who believed in high ethical standards in business and the professions, recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society.
Elaine then identified several ways in which club members could put these ideals into practice, including the opportunity to join the Rotary Means Business Fellowship, which Zbig Skiba and Yves Lassere are helping to promote.
The next fellowship event will take place on Thursday, Sept. 29, at the Firehouse Grill on Chicago Avenue between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. The event is open to all, Rotarians and non-Rotarians.
A highlight of Elaine’s presentation was an activity in which club members took a quiz to see how much each of us knows about the occupations of others in the club. There were many surprises among the answers.
October is Vocational Service Month in Rotary. Elaine called for more members to join the committee and Zbig called for more members to mentor students in our Interact and Rotaract clubs.
Elaine Clemens
Program for Sept. 13
Speaker: Carol Pandak on Polio Eradication in the Developing World
John Osterlund introduced Carol and said she is one of the world’s foremost authorities on polio eradication.
Carol spoke of polio eradication efforts spearheaded by Rotary International. In 1988 RI joined forces with UNICEF and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the goal of making every corner of the world polio free.
At that time, approximately 350,000 cases of polio a year were being reported.
Carol became director of that effort at RI in 2000, and she spoke of her experiences since then.
In 2000, there were 719 cases of polio in 20 countries. Carol spoke movingly of personally administering her first vaccine to a small child in India who was brought to the vaccination site by her 5-year old sister. She remembered how she felt, having removed a real risk in that child’s life, despite the fact that the child would face many other challenges growing up in her environment.
In 2003-04, Nigeria stopped vaccinating children against polio, leading to a massive outbreak. In 2005-06, some 2,000 cases of polio were reported. At that time, Carol was traveling to more than a dozen countries in the developing world as part of her work, including conflict zones such as Pakistan, where vaccinators risk their lives to administer the vaccine.
Carol said that in 2015, only 74 cases of polio were reported. She mentioned Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Borneo as countries where the virus still exists. In order for the world to be declared polio-free, two years have to pass without a reported case. Each Rotary club is expected to give at least $2,650 towards eradication efforts each year.
At the close of the presentation, Brad honored Carol with the club's donation to the Evanston Public Library of “Selling Science: Polio and the Promise of Gamma Globulin,” by Stephen E. Mawdsley.
Carol Pandak with Brad Weiss
Guests and Milestones
