RI Vice-President & Director Valarie Wafer's May 2022 Newsletter

My term is ending in a flurry of in person events and meetings and it feels fantastic! Two weeks in Chicago in April were very busy and productive with RI Board meetings and the Council on Legislation 2022.  This was a historic Council as many delegates (approx. 33%) were unable to travel due to the pandemic.  With the hard work and flexibility of our incredible Rotary International staff this event was held as a hybrid event, and it went quite seamlessly. We reviewed many enactments, each moving our organization forward. Three key themes, in my observation, were evident: Innovation, Flexibility and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. It was a forward-thinking Council with the representatives willing to set a path for the future of Rotary. Thank you to all our Zones 28 and 32 delegates you served your district well!

 

As I write this second-to-last Beyond Borders chapter I am looking over the skyline of Manila during my first visit to the Philippines.  What an incredible welcome from Rotarians in D3830 who are so dedicated to Serve to Change Lives.  Here to attend a district conference, Mark and I have been visiting project sites every day and yesterday saw where it is all began. The very first drops of the oral polio vaccine were delivered right here in Makati as part of a 3H (Health, Hunger and Humanity) Grant. I actually got chills, which is hard to do when it is 32 degrees Celsius, as I felt I was at ground zero. Here, where RI and the Government of the Philippines joined together for a 5-year project to immunize Filipino children which resulted in us making a promise to the children of the world. 

 

After nearly 15 months without any reported cases of wild polio in Pakistan, a 15-month-old boy in North Waziristan was paralyzed by the wild poliovirus. This case underscores that our work is not over, and it is critical for Rotary members to continue our strong advocacy and fundraising to ensure no other child or parent receives this devastating news.

 

May and June will round out the Rotary year with many celebratory events.  There will be District conferences with many of you, and our RI Convention in Houston.   Join us at the Beyond Borders Rotary Roundup event, we are expecting over 300 attendees for a chance to connect while at the convention and a chance to share experiences.  It is a wonderful tradition and I look forward to seeing each of you there.

 

Let’s look to May and June as a chance to revisit goals set with a final push to achievement.  Each One Bring One, Do More Grow More, Rotary Days of Service and Foundation Giving.   How have we done?  Let’s celebrate on June 30th that this Rotary year has been one of the best ever!