[D9640general] [eFlash_Rotary] Digest Number 783

[Garry Krischock]

 Messages In This Digest (2 Messages) 
  1. 1485: New UN-Rotary collaboration set to share global information From: Sunil K Zachariah 

  2    1486: Rotary disburses first US$40 million from Gates Foundation gra From: Sunil K Zachariah 
Messages 
  1. 1485: New UN-Rotary collaboration set to share global information 
Posted by: "Sunil K Zachariah" sunilkzach at yahoo.co.uk   sunilkzach 
Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:29 pm (PDT) 
New UN-Rotary collaboration set to share global information 

To strengthen Rotary's longstanding relationship with the United 
Nations, the two organizations have developed a new, specialized 
speakers bureau. The United Nations-Rotary Outreach Programme enables 
Rotary members to receive the latest information on key humanitarian 
and global issues through UN briefings to Rotary groups on a wide 
range of topics, including: 

Overview of the United Nations 
UN Millennium Development Goals 
Peacekeeping issues 
Security Council and sanctions issues 
Economic development 
Sustainable development and environmental issues 
The UN and civil society/nongovernmental organizations 
Disarmament issues 
Humanitarian affairs 
Women's issues 
Human trafficking 
Refugee issues 
Human rights 

Available as a pilot project for Rotary clubs and districts in the 
United States, the outreach program makes available UN specialists in 
various fields to speak at Rotary club, district, and zone events. 
The UN's Department of Public Information (UNDPI) will send up to two 
UN speakers with different areas of expertise to Rotary events. An 
audience of more than 100 attendees is required; sessions, moderated 
by a Rotary leader, should be open to non-Rotary members, including 
business leaders, government officials, academics, media 
representatives, and professionals. 

While UNDPI handles logistical arrangements related to the UN 
official's participation, the host club or district is responsible 
for the speaker's travel and overnight accommodations. To optimize 
the speaker's visit to the area, Rotary clubs and districts could 
arrange interviews with local media and lectures at high schools or 
colleges in addition to the main speaking event. UN officials cannot 
accept any gratuity. 

Interested clubs and districts should contact UNDPI with the 
following information: 

Name and address of group requesting the UN speaker 
Name, phone number, and e-mail address of contact person 
UN-related topics of interest, in order of preference 
Date and time of event and alternate date, if available 
Date(s) of the night(s) the speaker would spend in the area 
Forward this information to: 

Group Programmes Unit 
UN Department of Public Information 
Attn: Vivian Bernstein and Lilli Schindler 
Room GA-62 
United Nations Secretariat 
New York, NY 10017 

Fax: 212-963-0071 
Tel: 212-963-7710 
E-mail: unitg at un.org and bernsteinv at un.org and schindler at un.org 

Source:Rotary International News
Courtesy: eFlash_Rotary
 2. 1486: Rotary disburses first US$40 million from Gates Foundation gra 
Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:33 pm (PDT) 
Rotary disburses first US$40 million from Gates Foundation grant 
By Dan Nixon 

Nine countries and two World Health Organization regions have 
received The Rotary Foundation's first distribution from the Bill & 
Melinda Gates Foundation's $100 million challenge grant for polio 
eradication. Made in January, the US$40 million disbursement is being 
used by WHO and UNICEF to carry out immunization activities in the 
four remaining polio-endemic countries - Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, 
and Pakistan - plus five others where "imported" polio cases have 
been reported. Surveillance and technical support are also being 
funded in WHO's African and Eastern Mediterranean regions.

Salim Habayeb, WHO's representative in India, calls Rotary 
International "a cherished partner" and says the funding "will ensure 
the continuation of high-quality surveillance and the sustainability 
of technical assistance."

"This tremendous support comes at a crucial time for the polio 
eradication effort," says Gianni Murzi, UNICEF's representative in 
India.

Since the grant distribution, Rotarians have continued their hands-on 
support to maximize the push to end polio. A team of 54 Rotarians and 
friends from Australia, Canada, France, Sweden, the United Kingdom, 
and the United States helped promote and carry out India's National 
Immunization Days (NIDs) in February, which reached more than 170 
million children. 

Joined by members of the Rotary Club of Delhi-West and nearly 100 
students from a local Rotary club-sponsored school, the team took 
part in a rally in Sohna to promote the NIDs. Among the students, who 
all wore PolioPlus caps, were many polio victims, as was one of the 
Delhi-West Rotarians.

The team worked hand in hand with community members throughout the 
NIDs. "Along with us was a young girl, a Muslim, of about 17 years," 
Elias Thomas, of the Rotary Club of Sanford-Springvale, Maine, USA, 
reports on the team's blog (http://rotarydreamteam-
india2008.blogspot.com). "She was a member of the Interact club in 
her town and served as our translator. There were always local 
volunteers who were dispensing the vaccine, but they were so pleased 
to have us assist them."

"It is the most amazingly exhilarating and dramatically humbling 
experience," reports Mark Brown, of the Rotary Club of St. John's 
Northwest, Newfoundland, Canada. "Immediately, we were poured on by 
people wanting their children vaccinated. No time to ponder. Just two 
drops in each child's mouth and a permanent marker on the finger to 
show they'd been done. The mothers were so happy their child was 
treated..We met some amazing Indian Rotarians today."

"Now is the time to step up the momentum to get polio out of India 
forever," says Deepak Kapur, chair of India's PolioPlus 
committee. "Communication is necessary in getting families to 
understand the benefits of immunization, and is a critical piece of 
the overall strategy to make that happen."

Source:Rotary International News
Courtesy: eFlash_Rotary
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