Bruce Aylward, the director of the WHO's Polio Eradication Initiative, spoke at the 2010 Rotary International Convention in Montreal. He discussed the near-eradication of polio and the critical importance of fully eliminating the disease. The cost of the global polio eradication program is 24 cents per child vaccinated, and for just 10 more cents, each child is also receiving immunizations against measles and other diseases. Failing to eradicate polio could lead to over 1 million more children being infected by the disease. The convention also featured discussions on Rotary's goals and programs, as well as networking opportunities for Rotarians from around the world.

1. 2010 Rotary International
Convention, Montreal, Canada
Sophie Penney
State College Sunrise Rotary
July 14, 2010

2. Convention Highlights
• Plenary Sessions
• Bruce Aylward, WHO, Polio Eradication
• Breakouts/President-Elect Sessions
• Women in Rotary Focus Group
• House of Friendship
• 18,000 attendees from around the world

3. Plenary Sessions
• Opening session
– Welcome
– Flag ceremony
– Introduction of Rotary leadership
• Monday session
– Jo Luck, CEO Heifer International
– Bruce Aylward, WHO
– Queen Noor of Jordan

4. Bruce Aylward
Director Polio Eradication Initiative
WHO

5. Bruce Aylward
Director Global Polio Eradication Initiative, WHO
Polio Plus
• 2004 Polio on the rise - 92 health ministers meet in
Geneva, empower WHO to finish job of eradication.
• Three types of polio, one fully eradicated. Exceptionally
quick lab work led to vaccine to prevent other two
forms.
• Cost of program 24 cents per child.
• For 10 cents more each child also immunized against
measles and other diseases.
• Eradication “the great equalizer” -- true social justice
because you must reach every child despite conditions
in countries.

6. Consequence of Failing to Eradicate Polio
( for those under the age of 40 – this is an iron/artificial lung)
1 million more children will be infected

7. President-Elect Session I
• Rotary goals 2010-2011
– Rotary history – Easter Seals given birth by Rotary,
eradicating polio idea of Rotary club from the
Philippines, shelter boxes and more – all ideas of
Rotarians.
– Support clubs
– Enhance awareness of Rotary
– Reverse decline in membership
– Added youth as a fifth area of service

8. President-Elect Session II
• Foundation Update
– Polio #1 priority – collaborative project with WHO,
Unicef, UN, CDC and others.
– U.S. government largest funding source; others
include Gates Foundation and Rotarians.
– Revising mission and focus to pursue more
collaborative projects. Piloting water project with
USAID in Philippines, Ghana and Dominican Republic.
– Giving more control to districts to distribute $
– 25% of Rotarians are donors, goal increase percent
participation – EREY.

9. Women in Rotary Focus Group
• Nine participants from Philippines, Russia,
British Columbia, Barbados, Quebec/Maine,
and U.S.
• Rotary experience differs from country to
country.
• Reasons for joining vary, but almost all
continue to participate because of
international service focus.
• Challenges to retaining women.

10. House of Friendship
• Club service projects
Clubs addressing: infant brain development, malaria, sight
loss, palliative care for indigent in India, Polio, Post-Polio
Syndrome, diabetes, water, and much, much more.
http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/News/Pages/conv10june22_projects.aspx
• Rotary Global Networking – Fellowship Groups
Flying, music, travel, golf, Internet users (social and
information sharing), wine appreciation, fitness, etc.
http://www.rotary.org/en/ServiceAndFellowship/Fellowship/GlobalNetworkingGroups/Pages/
ridefault.aspx
• Rotary International Resources/Foundation
• Met Rotarians from India, Africa, England, Canada,
Poland, U.S., and even State College.

11. Speaking of Friendship
State College Rotarians
Sophie Penney and Lefty McIntyre
Rotary International Convention 2010

12. Take aways
• Like other service groups Rotary facing
membership challenge
• Rotary reviewing direction and programs.
• Rotary focus -- clubs and members.
• We are part of something much bigger than
ourselves --1.2 million Rotarians Doing Good
in the World
• Yet projects and programs start with Rotarians
like you, and you and you. . .

13. Last but not least
• Rotary 2011 Convention
– New Orleans
– May 21-25, 2011
– Registration fee $300 prior to December 15, 2010
(then $340 until March 31, 2011 then $380)
– Members can make conference and hotel
reservations now
– If you go be sure to sign up for home host event
– Conventionhttp://rotary.org/en/Members/Events/Convention/Pages/ridefault.aspx?housead

14. See you in the Big Easy!