President's Column
By President Joyce Mak

Rotary Foundation Month

ROTARY FOUNDATION, I PLEDGE!

November is Rotary Foundation Month. To bring your attention to some of the programs carried out by Rotary Foundation, I would like to share with you all an article on this month's Rotarian magazine - Polio Plus Program. By a drop of polio vaccine in a child's mouth, it makes a difference in a child's life.

Rotarians, other volunteers and many health officials have been working very hard over the years to organize National Immunization Day at polio-endemic countries, such as Nepal, India, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan. Transporting the vaccine to these countries was only the first step, more important was to reach out to some remote areas and tell the women about where and when to go to immunize their children. Local government officials and media helped to publicize these polio campaigns and where a lot of funding were given out by Polio Plus Fund.

Immunization booths were being set up along the roadside, dirt pathways where Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interact volunteers gathered to help dropping vaccines to children. Once these children have been immunized, a purple pinky nail would be painted for identification. With high efficiency, Rotarians could vaccinate children about 6,000 children per second at a typical National Immunization Day in India.

By reading so much information about NID, it has always been one of my goals to participate in one of them, at least once in a lifetime. Without the actual participation in these events, I would doubt anybody could feel the urgency in getting these countries to become polio free. Children are our future leaders; we are lucky to be healthy, happy and got enrolled in good schools where there are millions of children who have too little to eat, dirty water to drink, nowhere safe to stay etc. By giving a small amount of money, you could save many lives in these Polio-affected countries, let's lend our hands to continue our support to Rotary Foundation.

You could provide your generous support to the Annual Program Fund through the Every Rotarian, Every Year (EREY) initiative where this funding provides the primary source for all Foundation programs which cover more than 160 countries and geographical areas on seven continents.

EVERY ROTARIAN , EVERY YEAR

Through the Every Rotarian, Every Year initiative, every Rotarian is encouraged to participate in a Foundation humanitarian or educational project that truly makes a difference in the world, Every Year. According to the latest unaudited statistics for the Rotary Foundation's worldwide programs for 2006-07, the total contributions to the Foundation's Annual Program Fund represents about 78% which translates to US$103 million.

With a better understanding on Rotary Foundation and the Every Rotarian, Every Year initiative, there is no doubt that YOU will contribute US$100 or more to the Annual Program Fund. As mentioned in one of the emails sent by IPP Marvin Lai, our Rotary Foundation Chair, we need to collect members' contribution in an effective way to ensure all your funding will be given to RI.

If you wish to know more about the Rotary Foundation, please come to our luncheon on 20 November where we have cordially invited PP Kenneth Chow, Deputy Chair of District TRF (The Rotary Foundation) Committee to give us more updated information about TRF.

WHAT'S ON THIS MONTH

23 November 2008 : Hiking & BBQ Session - 1st Session: Hiking with Rotaractors

Venue: Sai Kung
Gathering pt: Diamond Hill MTR Hang Seng at 10:45am (around 3 hours long)
Run Down:

11:00pm Æp¥ÛÆs­¼·f96RÆÚÆhÛÛÆjÅy
12:00pm ÆjÅy·Ü®ÚÆU
16:00pm ®ÚÆUÆpÆÚ¯Ú·Æ°^
17:00pm BBQ (BBQ King ®N¯NÆjÆÛ)

Address: ·Æ°^ÆjÜ°¥JÚ°SX164.DD221

2nd Session: BBQ

Our PP Anwer and his better half Lily are going to host a BBQ session at BBQ King ®N¯NÆjÆÛ for Kingsparicans and our family members. If you only want to join the BBQ, please go there at around 5 p.m.

I hope to see you all and enjoy the fellowship!