Of course, Rotary's flagship project in this area is the work to eradicate polio, and this project has now entered its final phase with the Countdown to History underway. Since 1985 we have led the polio campaign and worked with foundations, international health organizations and governments to rid the world of 99.9% of polio cases. We can't let up on our efforts, but the end is in sight!
The Rotary Foundation is changing the world by providing grants for projects and activities near and far, and we have granted $65 million to fight disease. Rotarians are leading efforts, large and small, to set up temporary clinics, blood donation centers, and training facilities in underserved communities struggling with outbreaks and health care access. We are designing and building infrastructure that allows doctors, patients, and governments to work together more effectively.
We are not only fighting diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and polio, we are preventing them through health education and treating people with hearing, vision, and dental care. That means Rotary members have hundreds of health projects underway around the world at any given time.
As some examples, Rotary members are helping bring health care to rural Nigeria, a country with only one physician for every 2,500 people, through telemedicine, allowing doctors to reach people who cannot access any health care, with virtual appointments. And, with our help, Muslim and Christian women in Indonesia are working together to prevent dengue fever.
Rotarians have worked with partners to provide more than 80 percent of Ghana’s people with clean water to fight Guinea worm disease. In Liberia we are helping women get tested for HIV early in their pregnancies and use prenatal care to reduce new HIV infections in children by 95 percent over two years.
As we all know, Rotary members have played a leading role in not only ending polio in 122 countries, with only three to go, and saved billions of children worldwide from the crippling disease, they have also created a system that can be used in tackling other health priorities, such as it was with Ebola.
This important area of focus sees Rotarians Making a Difference in the health of people all over the world.
Metro Vancouver Foundation Dinner November 18
Thanks to the Rotary Club of Vancouver for an outstanding Foundation Dinner on November 18. The event sold out and was awesome, with a gala setting, great sponsors, wonderful and unique entertainment, and fine food and wine. The audience was diverse in every regard and drew many new to Rotary as well. Results are still being tallied but all indications are for a great contribution to The Rotary Foundation.
Dave Hamilton Named District Governor for 2020- 2021
Congratulations to Dave Hamilton from the Rotary Club of Tsawwassen on being named District Governor for Rotary 5040 for the year 2020 - 2021. Dave has been a Rotarian for over 34 years and is well known around our District. He now starts his training journey as part of our Governor Team.
District Conference 2018 - Register Now Before Price Increases
Make sure that you register now for the District Conference 2018, as the registration price goes up on January 1, 2018. The conference is Peacing It Together and will be held May 31 to June 3 in Squamish, BC. Great learning and sharing, great speakers, and great fun are all promised! You need to be there!
Rotary 5040 Business Networking
A reminder that our Rotary 5040 Business Networking site is now live and you can list your business on line. It's easy to find, just go to rotary5040.org and click on the blue Rotary 5040 Business icon. There is a onetime only $10 fee when you create your listing, and then you can edit and update as often as you wish.
District Governor Club Visits
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Our round of official District Governor club visits is almost complete; thanks to everyone for the warm Rotary welcome we have received everywhere we have gone. Now we are off to visit many of you again over the coming months as we attend club events, fundraisers and other activities around the District. Please let us know when your club is having something special, and we will try to be there to participate. We are also good helpers and are delighted when we can pitch in to help clubs with activities and events.
Don't forget to visit Don's Diary on rotary5040.org and see the many and varied activities that go on all over our District at our 49 Rotary Clubs. It's truly amazing what Rotarians do all over Western BC!
First Hippo Rollers Deployed
The Rotary Club of Benoni Van Ryn in South Africa has enthusiastically deployed 148 Hippo Rollers throughout the village of Vingerkraal, one for every two households in the village. Each roller handles 90 litres of water compared to carrying 20 litres in a bucket (as used before) greatly reducing the amount of time villagers have to spend getting water. The project is funded by the Rotary Club of Gibsons.
Holiday Wishes
It seems hard to believe that we are rapidly approaching the holiday season.....but it is almost upon us. Please accept very best wishes to you and your families for a wonderful holiday season, and for happy celebration in whatever way you do it in your family. For us, we offer you our best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2018 and our thanks for all you do in the name of Rotary - best to you all. Don & Deb
Thanks to all our amazing Rotary Clubs and Rotarians in District 5040.
Last chance to register for this Membership Seminar om December 9th. At $20 it will be the best Rotary investment you will make all year. So far we have 33 members registered from 21 clubs. Is your club going? Are you going? Hurry and register as there are only 18 spots left. You can register from the District website (
On November 19th, we held a successful Rotaract District 5040 Training Day at the Burnaby Neighborhood House. 40 Rotaractors and Rotarians gathered for a day of learning, sharing, and fun! Our day included inspiring speeches from District Rotaract Chair (DRC) Joan Posivy and DG Don Evans; a team-building challenge making stools out of only newspaper and masking tape; an "Ask a Rotarian" panel; breakout sessions on projects, membership, marketing & PR, and club positions; and also a presentation on all the opportunities available via Rotaract and Rotary!
Eduardo da Costa
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