Jackson (TN) Rotary - D6760 Rotary BLAST!

In an impressive but simple ceremony, the flag-off took place with RPPN Vice - Chair Salifou Bouraima giving the traditional addresss on behalf of Rotary International, after the welcome addresss by the Governor of the State & the Mayor of Bohicon (a Rotarian) the director of USAID, Rudy Thomas (also a Rotarian of Cotonou-Centre) who spoke on behalf of USAID, as well as the US government(CDC). Salifou Bouraima traced the role Rotary has played in the eradication of Polio in 99% of the world and reiterated our determination on pushing ahead till the world is rid of Polio.

The speeches by the UNICEF Representive Philippe Duamelle, the WHO Representative, Dr Lazare Loko, the new Minister of Health, Dr Flore Gangbo and President Boni, all spoke on the progress that the world has made towards eradication of Polio and made a fervant plea to all actors to ensure that no child remains unvaccinated. They renewed the pledge of their respective Agencies as well as that of the government to ensure that Benin will not falter from its goal of eradication!

Rotary left no stone unturned to mark its presence during the flag-off ceremony. Thousands of Mothers with babies in their arms were all dressed in our yellow Tshirts, as were all the health workers present!
The human sea of yellow, and white made sure that the new government recognise the role Rotary plays in the eradication of Polio.

Extreme presidential security made it difficult for adequate photo opportunities or easy distribution of Social Mobilisation materials, but after the departure of the Presidential cortege, Local Rotarians helped distribute T-shirts and caps, biscuits, sweets, & bumber stickers to the population present, while other officials proceeded in vaccinating the hundreds of children who were still present.

Vaccination started next day in every part of the country and for three days teams of vaccinators and some Rotarian supervisors ensured that 97% coverage registered were a realistic figure, inspite of certain pockets of resistance. Mop-up rounds have since been organised and the exact figures will be communicated after they have been validated by the officials delegated by the ICC.

I was personally in Accra (Indian Heads of Mission in West Africa Meet
with our foreign Minsiter) on the day of the flag-off and the vice Chair and the team of dedicated Rotarians did a wonderful job. I was back for the actual three days of vaccination and took part in the independant supervision.

Ashok R Mirchandani
Chair, National PolioPlus Campaign - Benin"

It’s time to get ready for District 6760’s first ever Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) experience. It will be held July 9, 10, & 11 at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee.

This is a three-day experiential leadership course that is only available to incoming (Fall 2006) high school sophomores and juniors(10th and 11th grades). It is indeed an honor to be selected for this award and it should be promoted in that manner. Participants should be screened competitively and selected based on merit and leadership potential. Each club can set their own parameters in this regard.

Award winners will stay in APSU dorms and eat in their food service courts during their stay. A variety of exciting activities directed at this age group to enhance leadership traits and provide team-building experiences will be undertaken. The scheduled events for the program are being developed by a Vanderbilt University professor who teaches leadership full-time. He is a District 6760 Rotarian, as well. There is a banquet at the end of the program for the award recipients and their families on Tuesday evening. At that time they will be formally presented their awards. Those selected for the program need only agree to stay for the entire period of time to be accepted. The program will be more than adequately chaperoned and staffed by Rotarians from our District.

Each award winner selected by the club attends the program for a fee of $300.00. That fee is to be paid by the sponsoring club. There is no expense to the participants other than transportation to and from the event and whatever spending money they elect to bring along for incidentals.

So where do you go to find qualified applicants for RYLA consideration? Your local high schools are the obvious place. Current members of an Interact club may make great candidates. I have found that hoping to have guidance counselors take up your cause and spread the word may be wishful thinking. This is a busy time of the year for them and this may look like a lower priority item. If you can find a “crusader” in the school to assist in the form of a principle, teacher, or staff person, more power to you. Otherwise, you need to take charge of this yourself and seek out the interested and qualified folks personally.

Get the flyers out and look around your own club first. There is no restriction regarding relationship to a Rotarian for this event. Qualified children and grandchildren of Rotarians are eligible. Planning demands you get going soon as there is not much time left in the school year. Your RYLA selections need to be accomplished by June 1st and forwarded to me to allow us to prepare as great an event as possible for these young people.

You may be reinforcing or even creating the core for a new or existing Interact Club in your community. Youth with a better understanding of Rotary may tend to seek it out later on as a way to serve their communities. Interest and participation in the Youth Scholarship Ambassadorial program may be generated in this group and further the Rotary goal of world peace through understanding. And, finally, this may be the definitive moment for a developing young person. They may choose to get involved in service to others through all the good things Rotary promotes worldwide. The message of “Service Above Self” is vital for this next generation.

It takes numbers of participants for an event such as this to be successful. Please commit to making as many RYLA awards as your budget will permit. Stretch a little and you will see a tremendous payoff in the end.

Questions/Forms? Call me at 931-552-1414 (Work) or 931-216-7010 (Cell) or email at drdueker@hotmail.com. Thanks for your commitment to the next generation!

Disaster Relief Project Builds Momentum

and Gains Additional Sponsors

Brentwood Breakfast Rotary
Clarksville Rotary Club
Clarksville Sunrise Rotary Club
Columbia Breakfast Rotary Club

Dickson Good Morning
Dickson High Noon Rotary Club

Dickson Morning Rotary Club
Franklin Breakfast Rotary Club

Franklin Noon Rotary Club
Halls-Gates Rotary Club
Hendersonville Rotary Club
Jackson Old Hickory Rotary Club
Milan Rotary Club
Mt. Pleasant Rotary Club
Murfreesboro Breakfast Rotary

Murfreesboro Rotary Club
Pulaski Rotary Club
Smyrna Rotary Club

Waynesboro Rotary Club

Over $7,000.00 has been raised through donations from these Rotary Clubs. Join these clubs in planning for future needs both within and outside our District. A suggested contribution of $3.00 per capita from each D6760 Rotary Club is requested, but please consider contributing what you can, wheter it be financially or through supplies and/or equipment.

Contact DG Glen Vanderford at gv6760@bellsouth.net for more information or to arrange for the Disaster Relief Trailer to visit your area for a festival, parade event or other public relations opporunity. The trailer is not only a resource in time of crisis, but also movable billboard for Rotary International. Thank you.