With Polio, Our Determination Must Not Waiver On 24 October, we mark World Polio Day. It is a time to reflect on the progress we have made and to strengthen our resolve for the work ahead. It is a time to raise awareness of our efforts to eradicate polio, and to help meet Rotary’s US$200 Million Challenge. We have come a long way. We have reduced the number of polio cases by over 99 percent, from more than 350,000 a year in the 1980’s to about 1,650 in 2008. We have brought the number of endemic countries from 125 to 4. And we have vaccinated over two billion children. We are proud of these accomplishments, and we are closer than ever to achieving our goal of worldwide eradication. But we must recognize that our greatest enemy is complacency. We cannot slacken our efforts now, because as long as there is wild poliovirus anywhere, the disease can easily spread again. The number of cases in endemic countries is down this year, but the number of cases in countries where polio has been reintroduced has increased significantly a reminder of how polio knows no borders, and how vigilant we must remain. Polio is still endemic in Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Difficult terrain, civil unrest, remote settlements, poor sanitation, and terrible poverty are just some of the obstacles to immunization. But we, and our partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, are determined to continue our work with persistence and creativity. I have been inspired by the incredible strides already made this year. In one 10-day period, a total of 222,270,331 children in 22 countries were immunized against polio. The effort and the commitment are phenomenal. This is a testament to the resolve that has brought us this far and that will soon bring us to our goal of complete eradication. --Glenn E. Estess, Sr. Rotary Foundation Chair “The Rotarian” October 2009
The
Vinitian
Vinita, Oklahoma
District 6110
Club #2502
OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS
President Dr. Bob Green
President-Elect Marsha Emerson
Secretary Amy DeVore
Treasurer Linda Scott
Sergeant at Arms Bob Young
Past-President Rod Couch
Foundation Bud Ronsse
Club Service Joe Gardner
Public Relations Angela Martin
Club Administration Jim Sellers
Membership Dr. Jimmie Ownbey
October 21, 2009
Catered by
Clanton’s Café
Rotarian of the Day…O.B. Johnston
O.B. was raised in Tulsa and graduated from Baylor University and University of Tulsa School of Law. From 1966 to 1970, he was on active duty as a Captain in the Army JAG Corps. From 1970 to 1976, O.B. was Assistant U.S. Attorney in Oklahoma City. O. B. and his wife, Ruthie, moved to Vinita in 1976, and he joined the law firm of Logan & Lowry, LLP where he is now Senior partner of the firm which has 15 attorneys and offices in both Vinita and Grove. O.B. is past President of the Oklahoma Bar Foundation and past State Chair of the Oklahoma Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, having received the national Outstanding State Chair award in 2007 at the American Bar Association convention in Los Angeles.
O. B.’s son, Eric, is an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma in Tulsa. His son, David, is a tax attorney in Dallas, Texas, and is the father of O. B.’s only grandchild, Olivia, who will be 2 years old in November.
Eddie Wyant
District Attorney, Ottawa & Delaware Co.
Welcome October Senior Rotarians
Chin-Yee Chew
Dakota Whitworth
Shotgun Raffle Tickets…
Just a reminder that ticket sales for the Shotgun Raffle are in full-swing. Each Rotarian needs to sell (or buy) at LEAST $20 in tickets. The more tickets sold, the better…ALL proceeds will benefit the Salvation Army’s Backpack Program!!
Don’t Forget Your Food Items…
During the entire month of October, we are having a Food Drive every Wednesday at our Rotary meetings to benefit the Salvation Army’s Food Pantry. Don’t forget to bring your canned or non-perishable food items to contribute!
Thursday, October 22
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Family Praise Center
Sponsored by Craig Co. Health Dept.
Rotary District Conference
Friday &/or Saturday, October 23-24
Rogers, AR
See Bob or Amy if you’d like to attend!
Mark your calendar
Vinita Rotary Christmas Party
Tentatively scheduled for Thursday, December 17
at the Crystal Ballroom in Vinita
Details will be forthcoming…
Rotarian of the Day Schedule
October
28 Dennis Jones
November
4 Russell Kohl
11 Angela Martin
18 Gary Maxey
25 Jack Nichols
Peggy Bailey October 21
Please Email Comments/Suggestions to: