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CITY OF SARATOGA
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING
“ROTARY CLUB OF SARATOGA – END OF POLIO DAY”
OCTOBER 23, 2009
WHEREAS, the Rotary Club of Saratoga’s “End of Polio Day, October 23, 2009”, is
a positive initiative to raise awareness and educate the citizens of Saratoga about the vital
importance to eradicate Polio worldwide. Rotary brings 104 years of history to this
initiative. Rotary Club members are professional community leaders who provide
humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards and help build goodwill and peace in
the world. Saratoga’s Rotary Club is one of 32,000 Rotary clubs located in more than 200
countries and geographical areas, that initiate service projects to address today’s challenges,
including illiteracy, disease, hunger, poverty, lack of clean water, and environmental
concerns; and
WHEREAS, in 1985, Rotary launched PolioPlus, a program to immunize the world’s
children against polio. Rotary’s grassroots leadership volunteer support and initial funding
for vaccine provided the catalyst for the World Health Assembly’s resolution in 1988 to
eradicate polio worldwide. Spearheading partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative
are the World Health Organization, Rotary International, U.S. Center for disease Control and
Prevention and UNICEF; and
WHEREAS, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded $355 million to
Rotary International in the global effort to eradicate polio. $200 million is a challenge grant
to Rotary and is one of the largest challenge grants ever given by the Gates Foundation and
the largest received by Rotary in its 104-year history. Rotary will spend the grant in direct
support of immunization activities carried out by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative;
which is spearheaded by RI and its partners, the World Health Organization, the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and UNICEF. Rotary will distribute the funds
through grants to WHO and UNICEF; and
WHEREAS, Polio eradication has been Rotary’s top priority since 1985, with more
than $1.2 billion contributed to the effort. At the Rotary District Conference in San Diego,
California in February 2009, Bill Gates praised Rotary for providing the volunteers,
advocates, and donors who have helped bring about a 99 percent decline in the number of
polio cases. “The world would not be where it is without Rotary, and it won’t get where it
needs to go without Rotary,” Gates said; and
WHEREAS, the initiative demonstrated by the Rotary Club of Saratoga is one more
community effort to invite the citizens of Saratoga to support Rotary’s goal. The world
stands firmly on the threshold of victory thanks to the achievements of the last 20 years. A
polio-free world will be Rotary’s ultimate gift to children everywhere. “End Polio Day,
October 23, 2009” is one small step in helping Rotary achieve its goal.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Saratoga
does hereby proclaim “End of Polio Day” October 23, 2009.
WITNESS MY HAND AND THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA on this
21st day of October 2009.
_________________________
Chuck Page, Mayor
City of Saratoga