The University Sunrise Rotary Club was selected for the 2019-2020 Rotary Silver Presidential Citation as an elite Rotary 5030 District Club. Congratulations to Past President Steve Barton for his leadership in achieving this accomplishment. Fewer than a quarter of the clubs in District 5030, the greater Seattle region, achieved this distinction.
This award signifies the dedication of the members of the University Sunrise Rotary Club to support the strategic priorities of Rotary International by being people of action changing the lives of families and communities across the world.
Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves. Rotary’s people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects.
Clubs that are strong and making a positive difference in our communities achieve goals related to Rotary’s three strategic priorities: to support and strengthen clubs, focus and increase humanitarian service, and enhance Rotary’s public image and awareness.
Rotary members have played an invaluable role in the effort to rid the African region of wild polio. We should be proud of all the hard work that we’ve done to eliminate the wild poliovirus throughout Africa and in nearly every country in the world.
This progress is the result of a decades-long effort across the 47 countries of the African region. It has involved millions of health workers traveling by foot, boat, bike and bus, innovative strategies to vaccinate children amid conflict and insecurity, and a huge disease surveillance network to test cases of paralysis and check sewage for the virus.
Over the last two decades, countless Rotary members in countries across the African region and around the world have worked together to raise funds, immunize children, advocate with local and national leaders, and raise awareness about the importance of vaccination, enabling the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) to effectively respond to and stop polio outbreaks.
This milestone is an incredible public health achievement for Rotary members, the African region, and our GPEI partners, and a huge step forward on the road to global polio eradication. But we still have important work to do in order to eradicate wild polio in the last two endemic countries.
We have faced many challenges in our journey to eradicate polio. But we’ve made remarkable progress, and the polio infrastructure that Rotarians helped build will serve as a lasting legacy that will continue to help protect vulnerable children against other diseases for decades to come.
We are calling on you today to recommit yourselves to ending polio. We need each and every one of you to help finish this fight and continue raising $50 million each year for PolioPlus. The eradication of wild polio in the African region shows us that polio eradication is achievable, and shows how our hard work, partnerships and financial commitment continue to propel us forward, even during a global pandemic.
Thank you for your continued efforts, for achieving a wild polio-free African region, and for remaining committed to fulfilling our promise of a polio-free world.
Sincerely, Holger Knaack K.R. Ravindran President, Rotary International Chair, The Rotary Foundation
Rotary International President Holger Knaack and Nigeria National PolioPlus Chair Dr. Tunji Funsho congratulate Rotarians on eradicating wild polio in the African Region. Watch here.
At Rotary, we have no tolerance for racism. Promoting respect, celebrating diversity, demanding ethical leadership, and working tirelessly to advance peace are central tenets of our work.
We have more work to do to create more just, open and welcoming communities for all people.
We know there are no easy fixes and that challenging conversations and work lie before all of us. Rotary’s strength has long been our ability and commitment to bringing people together. We will tap into that strength now as we stand with those who are working for peace and justice.
Rotary will do our part to listen, learn and take action to ensure that we continue to contribute to making positive change.
Rotary District 5030 has offered the following statement to Rotary Clubs in our District. Our Club has agreed to lend our name in support.
As Rotarians of Greater Seattle, we engage in solidarity with Americans across our community and the nation. We acknowledge the pain and suffering that systemic injustice and oppression inflict. We stand in unity with all Black Americans and other communities of color throughout our country.
We salute the millions who have marched peaceably in our streets. We embrace demand for change—in law enforcement, policing tactics, the criminal justice system, healthcare system, public and private education, employment opportunity and housing. We stand in solidarity against injustice and inequity. As Rotarians, we pledge our support for long-term, fundamental change in anti-racist policies and practices to stamp out oppression and discrimination in our communities.
Rotary is committed to playing a positive role in educating, engaging in healing dialogue and finding ways to collaborate with business, government, academia and the non- profit sectors. We will explore ways to root out systemic racism and seek greater equality, justice and inclusion. In doing so, we will use the Rotary Four Way Test as our guide in the things we think, say or do:
“Failed plans should not be interpreted as a failed vision. Visions don’t change, they are only refined. Plans rarely stay the same and are scrapped or adjusted as needed. Be stubborn about the vision, but flexible with your plan.
John C. Maxwell
We cannot always control everything that happens to us in this life, but we can control how we respond and keep our vision in focus. As Rotarians, we do what only Rotarians do, we walk the talk: Service About Self!
No one will remember how we responded day-to-day, week-to-week, or month-to-month about the decisions during this time. But we do know that what we did what was right, and there are thousands of our fellow Washingtonians and people around the world that have benefited from the work that we do.
As District Governor, it was a privilege to sign approximately 180 global and community grant requests which includes 110 Covid-19 related grants that benefited our local community directly. From food banks, PPE’s, supporting first responders, children in need or Seniors, the list is quite extensive. Club and District funds have donated over $350,000 in the last 3 months alone.
We should all be proud of the work that we do, but it would never have happened without your contributions to the Rotary Foundation.
Good news, as the year ends, the District is #1 in the Zone for Foundation giving and #24 in the world. We are #1 in per capita in the Zone for Foundation giving and #19 in the world. We are #2 in the Zone for giving to Polio Plus (just $1,500 behind). I would like to have us be #1!
To ensure our future efforts in community and global activities, we need to be consistent in our giving to the Foundation. This will allow us to continue to do the work that we do so well. Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY)!
I have so many people to thank but instead of having a long list of names, we are having the Peace and District Awards Ceremony on June 17th at 6:30. It’s another Zoom meeting. Grab your favorite adult beverage and tune in. Look for the link in this newsletter.
It has been an honor and a privilege to be your District Governor this past year and I look forward in seeing everyone in person.
Seattle Mariners have designated their July 3rd game night against the St. Louis Cardinals as “End Polio Night”! Special blocks of seats have been set aside and a portion of the ticket proceeds and additional funding will go towards the fight to end polio…estimated proceeds for the evening are over $30,000! And, this will be matched 2:1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation!
Some other fun things about the evening:
Our own and Rotary International’s Vice President, John Matthews, will be throwing out the first ball!
Following the game, there will be fireworks presented by T-Mobile!
A lot of work has gone into this by our own district PolioPlus
Committee Chair, Steve Crane, and a host of others. I encourage you to get the
word out to your club members, families and friends and support this great
event and the fight to end polio. Tickets are $25 each for View Level and
$45 each for Main Level seating and are only available on line at Mariners.com/Polio<http://Mariners.com/Polio>.
Please share the link.
The Christy Goff Health Express made another stop at our station, this time bearing tidings about some fall-winter assaults upon the erstwhile immune system. To encapsulate:
The Cold, aka (military) Nasopharyngitis, acute, severe, catarrhal, cause undetermined. It is difficult to treat, except for symptoms of runny nose and dry or productive cough. It is of gradual onset, with little or no fever or aching. It is caused by one of several viruses.
Flu. It is caused by the influenza virus and is contagious before the onset of symptoms. It reigns mainly between November and April and attacks the most vulnerable, namely infants and the aged. Involvement of the throat and lungs is a threat. Contrasted to viral colds, it is of sudden onset and features fatigue, fever, aching, and a dry cough. It is treated with Tamiflu and antiviral Rxs. General treatment (and this is also appropriate for colds): rest, fluids, avoidance of alcohol and tobacco.
Seasonal Affective Disorder. This occurs in the fall and winter and is typified by excess sleeping, anxiety, depressed mood, lower energy, and irritability. Treatment consists of regular exercise, exposure to the outdoors light, or even use of a light box. Vitamin D levels should be checked. These are normally highest at the end of summer and lowest by March or April. Vitamin D and calcium aid the immune system.
In general, whole foods (vegetables, grains, fruits) are beneficial. One should limit sugar, alcohol, and smoking, which abet inflammation and compromise the immune system. Fermented foods, i.e., yogurt, sauerkraut, have a probiotic effect. Adding “zing” in the form of herbs and spices is of anti-inflammatory value.
For the holidays, choose only one sugar and savor it. Garlic and onions are antibacterial and antifungal. Supplements and herbs: Echinacea vs. colds; Elderberry vs. flu. Zinc, Vitamins C & D mitigate vs. flu and cold
The immune system ages. In the elderly, consider as serious shortness of breath and fever of over 100 that persists
Last week, we heard from Erin Kershaw of Concierge Care Advisors. This is a group that concerns itself with the inevitabilities that beset the aging. The two main issues concern housing and the management of one’s personal affairs. She stated the sobering fact that. sooner or later, a person will need help. Dementia, illness, or injuries will bring a person to this point. Dementia is extremely prevalent and at times may afflict even the relatively young. This said, what are the options, both for physical care and for the setting of legal and financial matters in order?
The domiciliary levels of care, tailored to the individual situation, are these:
–The home. If it is elected to keep a person at home, it may be feasible if private duty nursing care is in place and if medical care is gotten from the outside. It is to be noted that this is an expensive way to go, probably more so than another type of residence.
–Retirement and assisted living. This has the advantage of community, a social life, a common dining room, a bus for transportation, and a feeling of security. One must, however, bring about one’s medical care independently. Medicaid is generally not accepted.
–Adult family home. In such a facility, occupancy is limited to six. State guidelines prevail. If money runs out, transition to Medicaid occurs and the resident is not forced to move. These facilities do not accept Medicaid on a person’s arrival.
–Memory care. This is a type of facility that is attached to assisted living. It will not do Medicaid.
–Skilled nursing facility. This is more clinical and has similarities to a hospital. Physical therapy and short-term rehabilitation are offered here. While people rarely would choose such a place in which to spend the rest of their days, some have to. The cost is high. Medicare will not cover this when physical therapy and other modalities can no longer result in progress.
The financial aspects involve methods of paying for these levels of care. Such as–
Savings and other assets
Pensions
Medicaid
Veteran benefits. This is geared to one’s income and whether one has been in actual combat. One who is married to a veteran may receive assistance under certain circumstances.
It is well to make one’s plans, prior to any crisis. These include–
Will
Advance Directive
Power of attorney, given to one who can make decisions.
The speaker concluded with the matter of “tough conversation” with one needing help or one who makes the decisions for such a person. It entails wishes versus reality. A person’s wishes may be to remain at home, pass assets on to family, and maintain independence. Quite often the reality is that the individual and family are in denial about health care needs. The family cannot provide it. The home is not adequate for safe living. There will be social isolation.
And, she finished, correctly, with, “The TV is not your friend.”
Comment: ‘Tis always the other guy, till ’tis oneself.
Saturday, September 8, 2018. We organized an excellent event at the Nickelsville Tiny Home Project which is just across the street from Ivar’s Salmon House. The objective of the project was to provide a good walking surface for residents in the village. The ground surface was unimproved making it difficult to walk between the houses and kitchen and bathroom. When we approached the Nickelsville residents several months ago inquiring how we could assist, they identified this as the most important improvement. They were very excited to make this project a success.
This was a team project intended to bring neighbors together. The University Sunrise Rotary Club worked side-by-side with Nickelsville residents and the Wallingford Community Council to get the job done. It was be a great time to work hard and make new friends.
The Christy Goff Health Express made another stop at our station, this time bearing tidings about some fall-winter assaults upon the erstwhile immune system. To encapsulate:
Saturday, September 8, 2018. We organized an excellent event at the 
