Submitted by Denis Pepin 

President Garry Gast brought the meeting to order at 12:20 P.M.  Suggested he was lucky to make it back from skiing (won’t get much sympathy here). 

Pledge by Bob Kane and Invocation by Reverend Stan Warner…Word of the day is COMPASSION. 

Visiting Rotarians

Roland Fuette introduced the visiting Rotarians, Tom Coxon from Fisherman’s Wharf and Burt Hoffman from Novato. 

Guests of Rotarians

Rob Sundberg’s guest was John Tanko  

Our newest Member, Melissa Rinck, provided us with a spirited profile of herself.  Even supplied a few pictures of important people in her life.  She runs a success dentistry practice in Terra Linda; has an active family life with a husband and three daughters and is active in a number of dental related organizations.  Welcome to our club, Melissa! 

Announcements

President Garry pointed out the District Funds for the Tsunami disaster are being channeled to home building in Sri Lanka and providing clean water wells. 

Pauline Stuber talked about the May/June GSE Exchange group arrival.  Need homes to put up attendees and someone to host a trip to Yosemite in late May. 

Don Wichman announced the Mackey Terrace (Senior Housing) BBQ & Social on April 16^th, starting at noon.  All invited…see Don for details. 

Dean Moser presented a plaque recognizing our $500 scholarship contribution to the Miss Marin Pageant. 

Michael Fish will arrange a group outing to Meshuggah-Nuns, a comedy coming to The Belrose Theatre in San Rafael…more news to come! 

Daryl Weinroth got five volunteers for the Very Absolute Final work party at Scottsdale Park…thanks for all of your efforts!  If you want to join them, it is this Saturday, March 26^th, from 9:00 A.M. to noon. 

Note - Reverend Stan needs a car…tax deductible. 

Recognition

Daryl capably dealt with a few Recognition issues, including the recalcitrant Greg Chidlaw. 

Speaker

Don Wichman introduced our guest speaker, Jason Headley, who recounted life stories from growing up in a small town environment.  He is a writer/author and recently had his first book published Small Town Odds; it was recognized as one of the Best Books in 2004.  

Upcoming Meetings:

March 31        

April 7            

April 14          

April 21            

All Rotarians are encouraged to think about speakers for meetings. If you have a suggestion, please contact Dave Pitchford at 382-8150. 

Mark your Calendars Now! 

Events:

April 2                        District Assembly, College of San Mateo

April 16                        Mackey Terrace BBQ lunch, 12:00 noon

June 10, 11, 12                        District 5150 Conference, Asilomar 

Upcoming Firesides: 

Upcoming Socials:

May 27 – location tbd 

Upcoming Community Service Projects:

April 9                     Median strip work party, 9:00 a.m. 

Upcoming Board Meetings:

(every 2^nd Wednesday of the Month, 4:00 pm at Circle Bank in Novato

April 13 

District 5150 Newsletter and Information

For more information all you need to do is log on to the District Web Site at:

http://www.rotary5150.org/newsletter.htm 

International

MJF StationerySynchronized immunization targets 100 million African children

4 March 2005 

The first round of a synchronized polio immunization campaign across 22 African countries targeted 100 million children. Launched on 25 February, the effort came on the heels of reports that a child contracted polio in Ethiopia, the country's first case in four years. 

In the past year, the continent saw a fierce resurgence of polio, endangering global eradication efforts. The 2005 series of joint National Immunization Days are aimed at halting the spread of the disease. With polio now in its low-transmission season, the next few months are critical to stopping the virus. 

The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, and Ethiopia joined the synchronized NIDs for the first time. Côte d'Ivoire rejoined the effort since civil unrest halted antipolio activities last November, causing months of concern after the country was reinfected in a regional outbreak originating in Nigeria. 

Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Central African Republic, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Togo are repeat participants. 

"By reaching children cut off from the eradication effort by insecurity and the threat of violence, African leaders have a real opportunity to halt polio's advance," said Dr. Ezio Murzi, UNICEF regional director for West and Central Africa. 

In the wake of the Nairobi peace accord by warring parties in Sudan, health officials in the country are cooperating to immunize children in both the north and south. Earlier in February, Sudan convened nine neighboring countries to discuss cross-border immunization coordination. Next door, Ethiopia is concentrating on activities along its northern and western borders, where the new case was found. 

"Eradication in Africa requires not only reaching all children in the newly infected areas but, most importantly, immunizing every child in those countries which have never interrupted transmission _ Nigeria and Niger," said WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Luis Sambo. "It is gratifying to note that both countries are fully committed to the polio eradication drive." 

In a reminder of the ease with which the virus travels, two recent cases in Saudi Arabia appear to be related to virus originating in Nigeria and entering via Sudan. Nigeria accounts for more than 60 percent of cases worldwide. 

Health officials said that progress made since the first response to the outbreak in Africa — massive coordinated immunization campaigns in October and November 2004 — has been positive but fragile. Success in the second phase of this intensified eradication effort, coupled with improved access to routine immunization, is critical to stopping the epidemic, they said. 

To finance the 2005 immunization rounds, US$75 million is needed by July; some $200 million will be required in 2006. 

African leaders have redoubled their commitment in the face of the epidemic, as evidenced in recent declarations at the African Union summit by the AU's top leadership. "Polio eradication has the unswerving commitment of all Africans, from leaders to parents and children themselves," said Marie-Irène Richmond-Ahoua, National PolioPlus Committee chair for Côte d'Ivoire. 

The mass immunization drive also was an opportunity to address other health concerns of African children. Vaccinators delivered vitamin A drops with the polio vaccine in many places. The vitamin doses are an immunity-boosting strategy that has saved an estimated 1.2 million lives on the continent over the last 12 years. 

Further mass polio vaccination campaigns in Africa are scheduled for April and May and again late in the year. 

Need to make up a missed meeting?  Now you know where and when: