Today is World Polio Day - a day of celebration for all that Rotary International has achieved in the past thirty seven years to help eradicate polio worldwide. As our current RI President John F. Germ wrote: "it is an exciting time to be a Rotarian. We are gathering momentum for the final race to the finish: to the end of PolioPlus and the beginning of a polio-free world. It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime chance to End Polio Now, through Rotary Serving Humanity."

The last case of polio in the United States was in 1979. And now, the end is near globally - eradication of polio in the last remaining countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria. 

 As we partner with organizations such as WHO, UNICEF, CDC and the Gates Foundation, we are determined to eradicate polio worldwide. October 24th is designated as World Polio Day and was established by Rotary International to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, who led the first team to develop a vaccine against polio. The purpose of this day of remembrance is to help raise the awareness and the funding needed to reach full eradication.

When journalist Devon Thorpe recently travelled to Pakistan to observe polio vaccinators on the move there he wrote at the end of his article: "I am humbled by the people of Pakistan who work so hard to end polio. I am in awe of the massive coordination necessary to organize the efforts of 225,000 people. And I am proud to belong to Rotary, for while it is clear that Rotary could no more eradicate polio alone than we could build an elevator to the moon, this work would not be happening now if Rotary were not leading the way." 

You can tune in and join thousands of  fellow Rotarians on October 24th for the global status update event  at 6 p.m. Eastern time held for the first time at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Rotary’s 4^th annual World Polio Day event with health officials and celebrity polio ambassadors on stage will be streamed live and then will be available for viewing any time at endpolio.org. And remember, we’re closer than ever to a polio-free world, but we’re not done yet.

The month of October of every year is set aside by our Country as National Disability Employment Awareness Month.  The purpose is to recognize the significant progress our Country has made for those living with disabilities and to honor the lasting contributions and diverse skills they bring to our/your workforce.  This year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month focuses on the importance of inclusion, specifically when it comes to business opportunities and innovations.  When we diversify our workforce, we create opportunities for growth and improvement not just for those with disabilities but for everyone.

Americans with disabilities are entitled to the same rights and freedoms as any other citizen, including the right to dignity and respect in the workplace.  Too often even in our city, our state and our nation, individuals with disabilities have been eager to work but could not find a job, facing red tape, discrimination, or employers who assumed that “disabled” meant “unable” and refused to hire them.

Today, the labor force participation rate for Americans with disabilities is less than one-third the rate of those without a disability and the unemployment rate is more than twice as high for individuals with disabilities.

To breakdown more of these barriers, we must expand access to the resources and training necessary for Americans with disabilities to succeed. 

Finally, please embrace the talents and skills that individuals with disabilities bring to our community and to promote the right to equal employment opportunities for all people.