Navigating the Global Network

January 2009

Rotary success prompts expansion of Gates Foundation challenge

In recognition of Rotary's impressive success and steadfast commitment to polio eradication, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced today a US$255 million increase in its challenge grant -- for a total of $355 million. To date, Rotary members have committed more than $60 million toward the original $100 million Gates Foundation grant awarded in November 2007.

By accepting the increase, Rotary also accepted the challenge to raise an additional $100 million in matching funds by 30 June 2012, raising the Rotary-Gates Foundation commitment to a total of $555 million for polio eradication.

In another welcome development, the United Kingdom's Department of International Development pledged an additional $150 million (£100 million) and the German government awarded an additional $130 million (€100 million) to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. The announcements, made at Rotary's International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA, resulted in $630 million in new funds to fight polio, a crippling and sometimes fatal disease that still paralyzes children in parts of Africa and Asia and threatens children everywhere. Read more

Eradicating polio:
What it takes

Each year during National and Subnational Immunization Days, volunteers help immunize millions of children with the oral polio vaccine. Eradicating Polio: What It Takes is a six-minute video that follows the course of the vaccine from factory to immunization booth. The video offers viewers the opportunity to experience the challenges facing aid agencies, doctors and volunteers as they work to distribute the vaccine in the remaining polio-endemic countries. What it takes

Follow Rotary's efforts to get a drop of vaccine in every child's mouth. Click to view video

Polio HIM

End Polio Now online

Rotary's online home for the End Polio Now campaign, www.rotary.org/endpolio, allows everyone to become part of history by donating to the global effort to eradicate polio. The site also explains the Gates Foundation challenge grant, describes funding needs, and provides an overview of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. If your organization is interested in partnering with Rotary to help eradicate polio, please contact ers@rotary.org.

Representatives to the UN and Other Organizations

Rotary representatives are appointed by the Rotary International president to increase awareness and recognition of Rotary's programs, policies, and activities within the international community. Rotary representatives work with NGOs and intergovernmental organizations to lay the groundwork for future collaboration at regional and community levels.

UNITED NATIONS - NEW YORK
Brad Jenkins, Primary Representative
Sylvan M. Barnet, Jr., Alternate
Robert A. Coultas, Alternate
William A. "Bill" Miller, Alternate
Helen B. Reisler, Alternate

UNITED NATIONS - GENEVA
Gilbert Coutau, Primary Representative
Peter Eichenberger, Alternate

UNITED NATIONS - VIENNA
Karl-Heinz Wolff, Primary Representative
Franz Zeidler, Alternate

UNITED NATIONS
ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA (ECA)

AFRICAN UNION

UNITED NATIONS
ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE (ECE)
Gilbert Coutau, Primary Representative

UNITED NATIONS
ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN (ECLAC)
Eric Krumm, Primary Representative

UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR WESTERN ASIA (ESCWA)
Michel Jazzar, Primary Representative

UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (ESCAP)
Som Indra-Payoong, Primary Representative

UNITED NATIONS
EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND CULTURAL
ORGANIZATION (UNESCO)
Bernard Dervaux, Primary Representative
Cyril Noirtin, Alternate

COUNCIL OF EUROPE
Gérard Caen, Primary Representative
François Goettelmann, Alternate

UNITED NATIONS
ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (UNEP)
Henry Kyemba, Primary Representative

UNITED NATIONS
HUMAN SETTLEMENT PROGRAMME (UN-HABITAT)
Samuel F. Owori, Primary Representative

UN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO)/ WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME (WFP)
Marco Randone, Primary Representative
Antonio Lico, Alternate

WORLD BANK
Doris Margolis, Primary Representative

ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES/WASHINGTON, D.C.
Richard S. Carson, Primary Representative

Contact Information

Rotary International
External Relations (PR 210)
One Rotary Center
1560 Sherman Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201-3698 USA
ER Fax: +1 847 866 8237
ers@rotary.org

Christine Sanders
External Relations Specialist
Tel: +1 847 866 3254

Bryant Brownlee

External Relations Specialist

Tel: +1 847 866 3023

About Rotary

AN ORGANIZATION OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL LEADERS· UNITED WORLDWIDE · 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE · MORE THAN 200 COUNTRIES AND GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS · PROVIDING HUMANITARIAN SERVICE · BUILDING GOODWILL AND PEACE IN THE WORLD