An Important Message from Bryn Styles

An Important Message from Bryn Styles Rotary International Director 2012-2014:

Government of Canada & The Gates Foundation Match Donations to PolioPlus by Canadian Rotarians 3 to 1

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL

27 Sep 2012

To: District Governors, and Rotarians in all Canadian Rotary Districts

Re: 3 for 1 for Polio

I am very pleased to announce that after several months of negotiations between the Canadian government and senior Canadian Rotary leaders, the Canadian government has agreed to match Canadian Rotarian and Canadian Rotary Club donations to Polio through the Rotary Foundation. I would like to thank all Rotarians who took the time to contact their respective members of parliament to expedite this matter. The match from the Canadian government is 1:1 but the other exciting news is that the Gates Foundation will also match 1:1 on the Rotarian donations to make it a 3:1 donation on behalf of Canadian Rotarians. There is a $1 million limit on both the government and Gates donations which I am sure that Canadian Rotarians will have no problem reaching. The match is for donations made between 1 June 2012 and 31 March 2013. $1 million = $3 million! What else can we do? Talk about polio! Make the public aware and encourage their donations through Rotary clubs. Attend district information events to share ideas. We must become advocates to finally end this dreaded disease. We also have an opportunity this year to honour Trustee Chair Wilf Wilkinson. Each year Districts are encouraged to donate at least 20% of their DDF towards polio. Many do this and I thank you. It would truly be an honour for Wilf if ALL Canadian districts were able to donate at least 20% of their DDF or more. What a statement of support for our own senior Rotary leader! These DDF donations will be matched in the 3:1 campaign. Over the coming weeks you will be contacted by your RRFC and End Polio Now Coordinator. Please allow them to work with your districts as we take this initiative to every Canadian Rotarian. Thank you and good luck. Please share all of your success stories with me! Bryn Be sure to watch the UN Special Session on Polio has now been archived for viewing here: http://webtv.un.org/search/ban-ki-moon-our-commitment-to-the-next-generation:-the-legacy-of-a- polio-free-world/1864699123001?term=polioin case you were not able to view the broadcast that was shown live on Sept 27, 2012 . On Sept 27, 2012, the UN Secretary-General is hosting a high-level event from 12:30-1:30pm (Eastern)/5:30-6:30 GMT highlighting progress and challenges in the effort to achieve global eradication of polio. It will include statements of global solidarity from both polio affected countries and new and longstanding champions for polio and announcements of new commitments to support polio eradication. Speakers include UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Mr. Wilfrid J. Wilkinson (Rotary Foundation), President Hamid Karzai (Afghanistan), President Good luck Jonathan (Nigeria), President Asif Ali Zardari (Pakistan), Prime Minister Julia Gillard (Australia), Mr. Bill Gates (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), Secretary Kathleen Sebelius (USA), Koichiro Gemba (Japan), Julian Fantino (Canada), Rt. Hon. Alan Duncan (UK), Dr. Ahmad Mohamed AliAl- Madani (Islamic Development Bank), , Sandro Rosell i Filiu (FC Barcelona), Ms. Aseefa Bhutto Zardari (Pakistan), Tony Lake (UNICEF), and Dr. Margaret Chan (WHO). The moderator will be Senator Timothy E. Wirth, President of the UN Foundation. Rotary will announce new funding of US$75million over three years.