Club meeting of April 3, the Rotary Foundation

The meeting was called to order by club president Todd Wallace. Happy Dollars were collected. Todd reminded club members door prizes will be needed for our June 6th golf outing. Hole sponsorships will again be offered for $50. Forms for the outing will be available at next weeks meeting. 

Our speaker was Stew Buchanan. Stew is a past Rotary District 6630 Governor and Akron Rotary Club member. Stew came today to share about the Rotary Foundation and polio eradication. He advised India is now declared Polio free having been without a case for 3 years. However the disease is still active in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria. 

The Rotary Foundation has helped Rotary Clubs launch sustainable projects around the world. Our own club has used the power of matching funds the foundation brings to purchase pediatric wheelchairs to be delivered in Mexico, to start a Microfinance bank in Togo, Aftrica. A clubs $12000 can be matched at the district level and by the Foundation to result in $42000 for a project. However clubs and club members need to donate every year to replenish the fund. Donations can be made online at the Rotary International website, or at the club level. Our club needs to average $25 or more per member per year to remain eligible to qualify for a project grant.