Stories
New Rotarians David McAllister Romo and Eveline Eaton (2nd & 3rd from the right) are sworn in by PDG Julie Reppenhagen with their sponsors, Joyce Finkelstein (r.) and Katie Carter looking on. The event was conducted by Past President Paul Loomans at the club’s last meeting at the Green Valley Hospital, which is now closed. |
Civil War General Impersonator To SpeakClub member Steve Harris will be introducing General Jackson, who just turned 198 in January. The General will be contrasting life in the 19th century with life in the 21st century. “I have asked him to address his struggles with 'supply chain' shortages, labor shortages, and the shortage of healthcare professionals,“ Steve says. ![]() |
Club Member Scott Lamb Returns From UkraineClub member Scott Lamb related to the club at its July 5, 2022 meeting his experiences in volunteering in Ukraine for the past 2 1/2 months. Scott hooked up with the English-speaking Rotary Club of Lviv, Ukraine and worked distributing medical supplies to troops fighting on the Eastern Front of that war with Russia. Scott met several dedicated Rotarians there during his time and forged friendships that he will retain. His talk pointed out one of the most important aspects of Rotary membership--the international network of Rotarians in almost every country of the world who any Rotarian can turn to in time of need. Scott previously served in Uganda on a Rotary project in that African nation. He lives the motto, "Service Above Self." ![]() |
Polio Is Making A Comeback!Poliomyelitis is making a comeback. Israel reported in March that a 3-year-old child was paralyzed. Ukraine had two cases in late 2021. Health experts warn that interruption in vaccination of children could lead to outbreaks of polio within the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic has slackened our immunization of children with childhood polio vaccinations. It takes only one traveler with polio to bring the disease to the United States. People most at risk are those who never had polio vaccine and those who never received all the recommended doses. The best way to keep the United States polio-free is to maintain high immunity (protection) against polio in the population through vaccination. Support organizations making a difference. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative began in 1988, when about 350,000 children were paralyzed by the virus each year. This work produced astounding results and by 2016 the number of polio cases in the world was 42. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is a public-private partnership led by national partners with the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. (https://polioeradication.org/financing/donate/). Spread the word that polio is a global disease that has to be fought on our own shores. Some people who have only stomach flu-like/fever symptoms may not be aware they are infected with polio and transfer the virus to others. Combat the mistruths fostering dangerous health futures for children of the world. Mistrust of vaccination leads to lower rates of vaccination. Friends and family can assist parents to understand the polio vaccination schedule and get kids to appointments. People who have lived through polio epidemics and speak about how polio crippled kids are in the best position to educate vaccine-hesitant parents. Susan L. Schoenbeck, MSN, RN is a nurse educator for Walla Walla University. She is the author of “Polio Girl” (June 2022).)Marny Eulberg, M.D., is a family physician and educator serving on the board of directors of Post-Polio Health International. Both writers contracted polio as children before the polio vaccination was available. |
Club salutes veterans![]() |
Pima County Government Update![]() |
Rotary Peace Pole Project Progressing![]() A Peace Pole is an internationally-recognized symbol of the hopes and dreams of the entire human family, standing vigil in silent prayer for peace on earth. Each Peace Pole bears the message May Peace Prevail on Earth in different languages on each of its four or six sides. There tens of thousands of Peace Poles in nearly every country in the world dedicated as monuments to peace. The Rotary Club of Green Valley is working to put a peace pole in our community in the near future.
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Judge Warns of Distracted Driving Dangers![]() Judge Ray Carroll, who majored in philosophy at Regis University in Colorado, became a Pima County District 4 Supervisor in 1997, serving (as a Republican in spite of being from Chicago) until retiring in 2017. Later that same year he became Presiding Judge in the County’s District 7 and was certified by the AZ Supreme Court in April 2018. He’s had 100’s of hours of training in not letting politics interfere with the job of judging. Judge Carroll told us distracted driving is the #1 killer of teens with over 4000 deaths in the last year. Distractions include alcohol, of course, along with texting. He highly recommended the GVC Safety Briefing Forum coming up Monday, March 2, from 1:30 PM to 3 PM at the GVR West Center. Part of the presentation is a movie made for just $15,000 with a phone. There was quite a lot of discussion with the Club, tales of horrible driving from the senior citizens in Green Valley (none of us, of course) on La Cañada, and we all remember drivers missing the brake and going through the walls of local buildings. In speaking of penalties, he said the only thing (fine) under $100 these days is a parking ticket. Last September, acting as Justice of the Peace, Judge Carroll performed the marriage ceremony for Pat and Michael’s grandson. |
Club members show science to students![]() Makerspace Presentation (Rotary Club of Green Valley and Rotary District 5500 Matching Grant Project) Jerry Kriebel volunteered to share his career with the Makerspace Club at a local school. The presentation included quite a bit of science, with details like the electron beam used to sterilize medical equipment can punch a hole in ¼ inch stainless steel in a fraction of a second. He described other methods -- gas and gamma rays – and the advantages and drawbacks of each. Pat Pease used a chemical dye and UV light to show how easily contagion can spread, and Michael modeled an epidemic with the MIT Scratch program. |