Rotary Helps to Eradicate Polio

The Rotary International world headquarters in Evanston hosted a ceremonial lighting of the “Rotary Flame” to celebrate the group’s role in the near-eradication of polio. That flame reached the Rotary Club of Skokie Valley where club President Ralph E. Czerwinski celebrated its arrival in Skokie at the club’s weekly meeting at McCormick & Schmick’s in Skokie at Old Orchard Shopping Center.

Rotary International began a PolioPlus campaign in 1985 with a global initiative to eradication Polio worldwide. The Rotary Club of Skokie Valley has been very active throughout the years in fundraising for polio. Members have traveled to worldwide to participate as vaccination campaigns. Over the years club members have raised thousands of dollars earmarked for polio vaccines.

At the upcoming Skokie Festival of Cultures, scheduled for May 16 and 17, the Rotary Club of Skokie Valley will celebrate its success and share its experience and expertise with those from countries where polio still exists.

As part of an effort to celebrate the decades long battle and the ultimate victory over polio in India, a Rotary Club in Madras launched a Rotary Flame, lit by Rotary International President Gary Huang. It has traveled around the world to commemorate India becoming a polio-free nation and to share its experience and expertise with countries where polio still exists.. The flame’s journey will end this June at Rotary’s international convention in São Paulo, Brazil.

(pictured holding the torch left to right, Ellen Young, Rotary District Governor, Ralph E. Czerwinski, Rotary Club of Skokie Valley President and Ramon Grover)

The Rotary Club of Skokie Valley helps charities like, THE ARC, A Just Harvest Soup Kitchen, Niles Township Food Pantry, American Cancer Society, USO of Illinois, Metropolitan Family Service, Honor Ride Chicago, End Polio Now, Orchard Village, Golf Marine Park District, Chicago Honor Ride and Run, Summer Foundation, Building Together, DECA, Skokie NorthShore Hospital, VITA and more locally and internationally.

The Rotary meets every Tuesday at 12:15 at McCormick & Schmick’s Restaurant at Old Orchard Shopping Center. The meetings are short and productive often including a guest speaker with topics pertaining to members’ primary business or their Rotary involvement. For information on joining Rotary, visit the Rotary website at http://www.skokierotary.org or on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/SkokieValleyRotary