Reminder: Rotary will not meet the Tuesday after Labor Day. Our next noon meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 10.
Planting Dreams on Dream Street
Rotarians were much in evidence at NeighborWorks "Dream Street" event last week, celebration the completion of 10 owner-built on 39th Avenue NE. There were many reasons for that. Rotarian Sherrie Arey, as the Executive Director of NeighborWorks, emceed the event. Rotarian Sheila Rice, Sherrie's predecessor, was also on hand for the celebration. Rotarian Bob Holter, whose "Rotary trees" project has resulted in the planting of a tree along the boulevard in front of every home in the project, was on hand to celebrate that part of the project.
And because the evening meeting and the end-of-the-month Rotary social also centered on the event, another dozen or so Rotarians were on hand to celebrate with the proud owners the completion of homes they built themselves, with the help and support of NeighborWorks.
Remember the thrill of owning your first home? You could see the excitement in the new homeowners at the event and join in their delight as their children cartwheel across the lawn - their lawn in their new neighborhood.
As Rotarians gathered for the ceremonial planting of the Rotary trees on a scorching hot late afternoon in August, it was pleasant to think of the shade and breezes these trees will generate in future summers. It may be true, as Shakespeare said, that the good men do is oft interred with their bones. But not if the good deed is the planting of a tree. These trees add little to the neighborhood now, but think of how beautiful they will be long after all of us are gone!
Service above self.
Out of Africa!
Nigeria recently announced that three years have passed since it last recorded a case of polio, a key step towards eradicating the notorious disease in Africa, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Now, the WHO need to make sure there is a robust surveillance system in Nigeria to be certain that there are no further cases of the wild poliovirus, the chairman of Nigeria’s polio committee, Dr Tunji Funsho, said.
“We are confident that very soon we will be back here trumpeting the certification that countries have, once and for all, kicked polio out of Africa,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa.
Nigeria is the last country in Africa to have witnessed a case of polio — in Borno state, in the northeast. Outside of Nigeria, the last case on the continent was in the Puntland region of Somalia, in 2014. Insecurity in the north-east of Nigeria had hindered the polio vaccination program, but success in fighting the Boko Haram militant group has been cited as one of the reasons behind the recent success. In addition, officials have said that political support and an injection of funds have also helped.
In 2018, there were a total of 33 polio cases confined to just two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan. Matshidiso Moeti said the continent is “on the verge of an extraordinary public health achievement; one which will be our legacy to our children and children’s children”.
But health experts urge caution. They must first be sure that every part of the continent has been reached and no cases have been missed. For now, there are renewed calls to vaccinate children against polio. It has taken the effort of thousands of volunteers to deliver the much-needed vaccines to all parts of the continent. Rotary has played a leadership role in that effort.
Last Week at Rotary
Last week Kellie Pierce, Director of the Downtown Association, brought Rotarians up to speed on the evolution of craft beer festivities in downtown Great Falls in recent years.
In the beginning, Rural Dynamics, Inc. (RDI) partnered with the Great Falls Tribune to host a gear and beer event at the Civic Center. The event began with a gear festival on Friday and continued into the weekend with a beer festival on Saturday and a Bloody Mary breakfast at the Sip 'n Dip on Sunday morning.
This year the Downtown Association hosted an entire week dedicated to craft beer, called the Montana Brewfest. Using passport-like booklets, they encouraged participants to collect stickers for their passports by attending a variety of entertainment and education events, along with tastings and dinner pairings, judged by nationally certified beer judges. (Who knew?)
The event was a great success, bringing numerous people to town, which boosts local lodging, and bringing locals downtown to enjoy the art, the entertainment ... and, of course, the beer. The Downtown Association is already planning for next year's event.
Milestones
The next two weeks are full of Rotary birthdays:
Today - Rebecca Bodgen-Richards
Sept. 7 - Danielle Grebe
Sept. 9 - Alisa Peterson
Sept. 10 - Rachel Pahut
Sept. 12 - Kelley Aline
Women born under this astronomical sign, Virgo, are impatient with all talk; they make stuff happen. With Passionately intellectual minds and a deep creative streak, they thrive on creating tangible good from their inspirations. Best wishes to all you Virgo women!
Weekly Wonder: How Lucky Are We?
“I’m in love with Montana.
For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection.
But with Montana it is love.”
John Steinbeck
Photo of Shields River Valley by Kalispell Rotarian Mick Sullivan
