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Ethiopia in Pictures, Rotary at Work

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Friday Potpourri

The Paint is Dry

Rotary Foundation Wrap-Up

Student of the Month: Madison Overton

To Tell the Truth ­ A Family Affair

Steve Goodier: Mad Dash

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Ethiopia in Pictures, Rotary at Work

After two false starts, local TV news personality Penny LeGate finally was able to clear her schedule for a very stirring presentation on what Rotary’s doing to eradicate polio. In December, she was thwarted from her engagement when a storm knocked out power to Glendale; and again in February when she her work schedule suddenly was changed which put her on the air for the morning shift. Friday, Penny was successful in clearing all the hurdles and gave a wonderful presentation — well worth waiting for.

Ms. LeGate is a new anchor for Seattle’s KIRO-TV Channel 7 with 25-years in the broadcasting business. She’s received Emmy awards for writing and production. She’s involved in many local charities and told her audience that “volunteering for community activities is very important.”

A Nebraska native, Penny was introduced to Rotary early in life. “My Dad was a Rotarian in the Ogallala Rotary Club. I love Rotary! I’m amazed how few people know what Rotary is and does. We really need to get the word out!”

Penny became interested in Rotary’s effort to eradicate polio, especially when District 5030 mounted a campaign to send a team from the Seattle area to Ethiopia in 2002. The purpose was to help vaccinate millions of children during an ‘NID’, a National Immunization Day. “Not since the early 1960’s has America had to worry about this disease. The realization that polio is still striking people today makes the need to eradicate it that much more important.”

So what’s Ethiopia like? Penny described the people as being “lovely to match the beautiful countryside. They have incredible natural resourcesÉ.the people are absolutely stunning, both inside and out. Ethiopians love Americans.” The video shots of the people bears out the beauty of the country and the people.

Penny accompanied the last two NIDs to Ethiopia, first in 2002 and then again late last year. “Our job was to help vaccinate as many children as possible. Two drops in the mouth with the polio vaccine, and we also administered Vitamin A. With a mobile public address system mounted on a truck, people throughout the country were notified of an immunization day and were told when and where to gather. Our job was to take the vaccine in coolers to the outback and administer to the children.”

In 2003, a larger group of Rotarians from Seattle and surrounding cities such as Portland and Vancouver B.C. were sent door-to-door and hut-to-hut to make sure every child was covered. Each trip, Penny was accompanied by her photography crew, documenting Rotary’s commitment to eradicating polio.

“When Rotary decided to tackle this challenge, in 1988, there were 350,000 active polio cases in 125 countries. With the focus on eradication, that number dropped to 1900 cases in 10 countries in 2002; 677 cases in six countries in 2003. This year, the disease still strikes the population in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. Unfortunately, we may be on the edge of failure. The culprit is Nigeria, where Muslins have been led to believe the vaccine will sterilize their children. Recently, new cases of polio have resurfaced in previously “clean” Botswana and other neighboring countries to Nigeria. The wild virus still exists in Nigeria, but meetings at the highest levels of the UN have mounted a new offensive to re-enter Nigeria and stamp out the disease. It’s the best and perhaps last chance to stop polio this year.”

If vaccine teams are not allowed into Nigeria, more and more cases will spread out from there. Hundreds of millions of dollars will be needed to support the teams that will try to stop this break. Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the UN has been putting the pressure on the leaders of Nigeria. Muslim leaders have declared a ‘fatwah,’ which must be followed by the faithful. “Maybe we can catch this in time to reach our goal of eradication in 2005.”

Penny showed a video with the theme ‘My Own True Love,’ by the Carpenters. It was a great video and expressed in pictures and music the commitment Rotary has had to this project. “And here’s my message today: don’t give up now, Rotary. Continue to support the Rotary Foundation. Continue to send teams to vaccine children. We know it works and we’re so close to victory.”

Penny LeGate has taken the challenge of polio eradication as if she were a Rotarian. And, for her efforts the past two years in showing the face of Ethiopia and the struggle of those who’ve lived with polio, she’s has received an honorary membership in Rotary International. That’s why she can embrace what polioplus has done and to urge us all to finish the job.

Margie Burnett, Jim Owens, Kim Shrader were BBRC’s representatives on the 2002 NID. They were recognized for their commitment to eradicating polio.

And, in Penny’s name, a book is being presented to a 4-year-old blind child on the Eastside, a gift from the BBRC to its speaker.

Thanks to Brian Evison for his introduction.

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