After taking on the role of End Polio Now Coordinator in July 2022, PDG Murray Verso has campaigned tirelessly to encourage every club and individual Rotarian in Zone 8 to contribute to the End Polio Now campaign.
“With the eradication of poliomyelitis now in sight, I want every club and Rotarian to contribute so they can take genuine pride in being part of this historic milestone,” Murray says.
Throughout his term so far, Murray says that the relationships he has built with District PolioPlus Chairs and District Rotary Foundation Chairs have been invaluable.
“Getting to know each other enables us to learn from each other and to share ideas.”
Despite the challenges of an unfavourable exchange rate and club contributions declining, Murray is delighted that fundraising for End Polio Now in 2022-23 was better than expected.
“The total raised was US$1.2 million, consisting of cash and District Designated Funds. With World Fund and the Gates Foundation matching funds this became US$3.9 million from our zone. The goal in 2023-24 is to raise more than $4 million.”
However, despite the eradication of polio being Rotary’s number one humanitarian priority, only 62 per cent of our clubs contributed to the cause. Seventeen of our 21 districts donated designated funds.
“It would be wonderful if the level of clubs and districts contributing was closer to 100 per cent,” says Murray.
“The term ‘polio fatigue’ is often bandied around in Rotary circles, but I have been pleasantly surprised that this does not seem to be the case in practice. The vast majority of Rotary members are still committed to the cause of complete eradication globally and want to play a part in reaching this historic milestone.”
“Four hundred enthusiastic End Polio Now supporters did the walk, and it was fabulous to walk with happy, like-minded people from all around the world
Murray points out the PolioPlus Society program as a way for clubs and districts to increase their contributions to polio eradication. In October 2022, the RI Trustees endorsed PolioPlus Societies as a club and district led program. Each society can develop its own donor recognition program, but most districts use US$100 per year as their membership requirement.
“Since then, the uptake of the PPS in Zone 8 has steadily increased,” says Murray.
“Approximately one third of our districts now have one or are planning to launch one. The largest is in District 9800, with 70 members and still growing. This means that this district has raised US$7,000 that it would not have raised without a PPS.”
Murray says the highlight of his term to date was working with D9810 Foundation Chair David Alexander on the End Polio Walk, held in conjunction with the Rotary International Convention in Melbourne in May.
“Four hundred enthusiastic End Polio Now supporters did the walk, and it was fabulous to walk with happy, like-minded people from all around the world, including then RI President-elect Gordon McInally and International PolioPlus Committee Chair Mike McGovern.”
Following a few inspirational words of encouragement from then RI President Jennifer Jones, the walkers, many wearing red End Polio Now shirts, travelled 2.5kms from Federation Square along St Kilda Road to the Rotary Peace Park next to the Royal Botanical Gardens.
Looking to the future, Murray says he would like to see more clubs embracing World Polio Day in October 2024 with special dinners or other events, using polio experts or survivors as guest speakers, and promoting Rotary’s polio eradication story through local media outlets.
“If clubs don’t have anything planned, I would urge them to take part in one of the excellent WPD district events.” RDU