Stories

New District Website Has Launched!

We are very excited to announce that the new, modern, external-facing website is live and ready to go! We have added a great welcoming message for non-Rotarian visitors, and now we can start to drive traffic to Rotary5400.org through advertising & social media channels such as Facebook, & LinkedIn. It was important to the team to meet our deadline in August in honor of Membership Month - so thank you and great job!

Rotarians, we are getting ready to GROW!

Thank You for Representing at the July 4th Parade!

Hello, Friends! Thanks for showing up at the Idaho 4th of July parade! I love events that bring our clubs together. Hopefully, if you weren't able to walk with us, you were cheering us on. We handed out at least 10 large packages of candy and a whole roll of stickers.

New Beginnings

Another Rotary year has come to an end and a new one is beginning. Each year the incoming Rotary International (RI) President choose a new theme for the Rotary year. This year our RI President, Stephanie Urchick, has chosen the theme ‘The Magic of Rotary.’

Magic is one of those words that can conger up many thoughts. One can think of a famous magician like David Copperfield who performs feats of ‘magic.’ However, in the end these acts are just well rehearsed acts of illusions. The magic that we as Rotarians create are not illusions but are acts that make positive changes in our communities. This magic is not created by a simple waving of a magic wand. The Magic of Rotary is created by local Rotarians, people of action, coming together and taken the actions needed to create the magic. Each of us needs to bring an ingredient to create the magic potion. These ingredients are made up from our time, talent and / or treasure.

The other change with a new Rotary year is a change of leadership. These changes are from the club level, district level, the zone level and at the RI level. Some of us embrace change and others not so much. Whether we embrace change or not it happens. Your incoming club president has been encouraged to work with the club and the board to develop goals that the club would like to achieve during the 24/25 Rotary year. These goals include but are not limited to, adding new members while engaging existing members, the number and types of service projects, donations to the Rotary Foundation including Polio Plus, and other goals.

At the district level we have developed some initiatives and we have invited our clubs to join us in achieving. These ten initiatives include things like finding ways for the district to help clubs be successful, planting a tree for each club member, helping clubs tell their story through the efforts of our Public Image committees at all levels, working on methods to help curb human trafficking, continue with alliance with mental health efforts, supporting efforts to ensure no child goes hungry, becoming a peace district and others. These initiatives will be posted on our district website.

The Magic of Rotary is created at the club level through the actions of our members. The district is here to provide support for our clubs and their members. One thing we do ask is ‘Helps us help you.’ That is to let us know what we can do to better serve your clubs. We know we may not be able to do everything we want to do or even set out to do. Through our collective actions we are still making positive changes.

Life's Kitchen Collaboration!

The Rotary Club of Boise Sunrise has worked with Life’s Kitchen for many years. This impressive organization has a talented and committed executive director in Tammy Johnson. Their mission is to teach food services skills to at risk young adults and get them ready for a possible career in this consistently growing market segment. This is a market-based solution that also provides guidance to their students in helping them to obtain their GED and holding classes on critical life skills like budgeting and time management.

Polio Stats as of Jan 5th

Quote of the Day - "Remember to celebrate the milestones as you prepare for the road ahead." Nelson Mandela

Polio Update 2023

Calendar Year or “Rotary Year” - it can be confusing, especially when reporting statistics related to polio. GPEI, the CDC, and WHO report Polio case numbers using the calendar year; yet in Rotary we report dollars raised to End Polio using the Rotary year (July 1 through June 30). It is useful to periodically assess where we are with both.

Do I Really Need to Listen to Others?

The world is in a very conflicted state. Some say the cause is greed, ego, evilness, bigotry, or a variety of terms to describe “bad people.” While those may be legitimate factors, my thirty years of resolving disputes among individuals has shown me that each side always attributes those traits to the other side. There must be more to it. Misunderstandings caused by our failure to listen, our propensity to make assumptions, and a failure to apply critical thinking skills are the real culprits.

Community Health and Fitness Week Proclamation

As the representative of Ketchum Rotary, I sponsored a proclamation by all local governmental agencies to declare the first week of January “Community Health and Fitness Week". Perfect timing for such an announcement since New Year’s resolutions will be uppermost in residents’ minds.

The Shoe That Fits is Finding New Homes in Mozambique

Recently, a trip to Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique by a team from Zoo Boise afforded the Rotary Club of Boise Sunrise an opportunity to deliver over 250 pairs of The Shoe That Grows made by Because International based in Nampa, Idaho. Because International has partnered with Boise Sunrise to serve a number of schools in central Mozambique with these shoes.

International Service Project Fair Ecuador April 11 - 13 2024

Interested in learning about international service opportunities? A Rotary Project Fair is a great way to travel, learn about interesting projects, and get to know the Rotarians you can partner with to make these life-changing projects a reality. Over the years, Rotarians from District 5400 have attended the Project Fair in Ecuador.

The Story Of Wilborn Chuvala

Rotarians love to tell stories. They are usually touching and inspirational. They tell of needs and hardships worldwide, experiences Rotarians and others have had, and the wonderful things we have done or plan to do.

Polio Statistics As Of November 29, 2023

Wild Polio Virus	Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Virus
Calendar year to date: 11	Calendar Year to Date: 380
Total for 2022: 30	Total for 2022: 912
Total for 2021: 6
Total for 2020: 140

Visit India For An Experience Of A Lifetime

PDG Nancy Barbee from District 7700 in North Carolina is leading a group of 25 on a nine-day trip to India from January 29-February 9, 2024.

POLIO UPDATE

Posted by Terry Ziegler, Dist 5890 on Aug 15, 2014

Dear Polio Eradication Warriors,

What is that Polio Picture? In today's picture, we focus on the Polio Survivors. These from Sierra Leone are just a few of the thousands who are suffering and will suffer the effects of Polio and Post Polio Syndrome for a lifetime. We were too late for those in this picture, but the sooner we can reach Worldwide Polio Eradication, the fewer children will be known as Polio Survivors. Let's END POLIO NOW.

One More + of PolioPlus - In West Africa, polio staff are supporting efforts to curb the Ebola outbreak affecting the region. Staff are actively engaged in helping preparedness planning, social mobilization, surveillance of suspected cases, contact tracing and assisting with outbreak logistics - See more at: http://www.polioeradication.org/Dataandmonitoring/Poliothisweek.aspx#sthash.fvAaRwvT.dpuf

IRAQ - Iraq was free of polio for nearly 14 years – until March, when the crippling disease paralyzed two children and set alarm bells ringing. Now, a massive immunization campaign is underway in the war-torn country. The effort – spearheaded by the Iraq Ministry of Health, with support from Rotary International, the WHO and UNICEF – aims to reach more than 4 million children under age 5.

WHO - Polio Public Health Emergency Measures Confirmed 7/31/14 - On May 5, 2014, the Director General of the WHO declared the international spread of Wild Poliovirus to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. These concerns were confirmed as continuing on 7/31/14. Countries which are currently exporting Wild Poliovirus (Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Pakistan, & Syria) are required to ensure all residents & visitors (of over 4 weeks) receive a dose of Polio Vaccine 4 to 12 weeks before leaving the country and to ensure that each international traveler receives proof of vaccination. In addition, the countries of Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Iraq, Israel, Nigeria, & Somalia are also encouraged to make sure their residents & long term visitors are vaccinated before international travel.

The Final Three Endemic Countries

Pakistan - 108 Polio cases have been reported in 2014 with the most recent on 7/16/14 in North Waziristan. Pakistan National Immunization Days have been announced for 9/29-10/1/14 and 12/8-12/10/14 and Sub-National Immunization Days for 8/18-8/20/14, 9/1-9/3/14, 10/13-10/15/14, 11/10-11/12/14, & 12/22-12/24/14.

Afghanistan - 8 Polio cases reported in 2014 with the most recent on 06/16/14 from the Khost Province. Over 35,000 children of recently displaced families have recently been vaccinated. 14 cases recorded in 2013. National Immunization Days are planned for August 18-20.

Nigeria - 5 Polio cases reported in 2014 - the most recent on 05/27/14 in Kano state. 53 cases recorded in 2013. Sub-National Immunization + Days are scheduled for Northern Nigeria again in August.

Importation Countries:

Syria - 1 Polio case reported in 2014 - 35 cases recorded in 2013.
Somalia - 4 Polio cases reported in 2014 - 194 cases recorded in 2013.
Kenya - Zero Polio cases reported in 2014 - 14 cases recorded in 2013.
Ethiopia - 1 Polio cases reported in 2014 - 9 Cases recorded in 2013.
Cameroon - 5 Polio cases reported in 2014 (most recent on 7/09/14 at a Refugee Camp for families from the Central African Republic) - 4 Cases reported in 2013.
Equatorial Guinea - 5 Polio cases reported (most recent on 5/28/14). Zero cases reported in 2013.
Iraq - 2 Polio cases reported on 4/07/14 in Baghdad - 0 cases reported in 2013.

Our Goal is Global Polio Eradication!

Terry Ziegler, District 5890 Rotary Foundation Committee Chair, Email BigZLumber@aol.com