RI President Nominee R. Gordon R. McInally: “Over thirty years ago, Rotary made
a promise to the children of the world to eradicate one of its most deadly diseases
- polio. Today, we stand on the threshold of doing exactly that. During those
thirty-plus years of the polio eradication campaign, women have been at the
the forefront of our efforts on every level, always showing the care and compassion
that only they can - never doubting, never giving up, often despite working in
some extremely challenging situations. Today, I pay tribute to each and every one
of these strong women. Whether Rotarian or not, each is an integral part of the
family of Rotary and their contribution will be writ large when we make history by
eradicating this heinous disease.”

RI President Shekhar Mehta: “In the historic fight against polio by Rotary, Women have played such an important role. Creating awareness, raising funds, vaccinating children, house to house vaccination in unreachable areas, braving not only the most arduous terrains but even attacks on them. They have been true Polio warriors. We salute all these women on this day and commit to them that our battles against Polio will continue with their support, till the war against polio is won”.

TRF Chair John Germ:     The eradication of polio continues to be Rotary’s highest priority. Since Rotary started this program in the Philippines in 1979, it has continued spearheading efforts to see a world free of polio. Women continue to play a critical role by serving as health care workers, numerous leadership positions, committee members, and on fundraisers at all levels. Sadly, women, young and old, have lost their lives while delivering the vaccine to protect the children of the world. Without women, it would not be possible to fulfill our dream of a polio-free world.

March-International Women’s Month -supporting the Empowerment of Girls

Equality is a fundamental human right that’s necessary for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world. Still, girls and women worldwide face inequities in areas including health and education, and they experience violence and poverty at higher rates than men.
As one of his key initiatives, President-elect Shekhar Mehta is prioritizing projects that focus on improving the health, education, well-being, and economic security of girls across the globe. He is encouraging clubs and districts to empower girls in all of the service initiatives they undertake during the 2021-22 Rotary year.

Empowering girls means supporting them to ensure that their basic needs are met while working to transform the structures and institutions that reinforce and perpetuate gender discrimination and inequality. It includes helping girls develop self-confidence and make their voices heard.