At Ladner Rotary's first in person meeting after several months of virtual ones, it was a happy reunion for some, but many are still missed. Protocols for health and safety were followed. The members were reminded about some of our recent achievements as a club, as a District of 50 clubs and as a global people of action group of 35,000 clubs and 1.2 million members.
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Education and LiteracyEducation and Literacy is the Rotary theme for September
775 million+ people over the age of 15 in the world are illiterate (17% world’s adults)
People of Action in Rotary aim to:
• strengthen communities, support basic education;
• reduce gender disparity in education;
• educate all children; increase adult literacy;
• free people from slavery and oppression;
• train teachers;
• provide scholarships.
Ladner Rotarians contribute to education through their international service, of the Adopt-A-Village Laos program, to build and supply schools, and provide potable drinking water so children can attend school. We also have contributed to the African Rugged Education System – worldwide web education in a box where no internet exists – brought to three schools in the Philippines for the first time in February 2020.
The Rotary FoundationCongratulations and thank you to Ladner Rotarians for our contribution to The Rotary Foundation, as part of District 5040, which ranked second among the 21 Rotary Districts across Canada for per member giving at US$170.
Better vision for children in third worldOur District 5040 had to cancel our late April annual conference in Vancouver because of pandemic restrictions. But we continued with our pledge to raise 2,020 used eyeglasses for the Third World Eye Care Society. The Society was founded by fellow Rotarian, Optometrist Dr. Marina Roma-March. Our 50 Rotary clubs and eight Rotaract clubs rallied and far exceeded our goal in collecting 5,294 eyeglasses. Thank you, Ladner Rotarians, for playing a role in this great achievement in international service.
Transmission of wild poliovirus finally stopped throughout AfricaAugust 25, 2020 World Health Organization reported transmission of the wild poliovirus stopped in all 47 countries of its African region. This was an historic step toward global eradication of polio. A video clip from CTV National News on August 28, 2020, with this polio story, featuring comments by Rotary International President Nominee Jennifer Jones, was viewed by members.