World Polio Day recognized by Meadowbrook Interact Club

Pictured: Meadowbrook Interact students celebrate World Polio Day with Purple Pinkie event.

  

Byesville Rotary and Meadowbrook Interact (a Rotary service club for young people) recognized World Polio Day by raising money to help to end polio—a crippling disease that still threatens children in parts of the world today.

For over 30 years, Rotary has worked to make polio the second human disease to be eradicated. Smallpox was the first disease eradicated. Ten years ago, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation joined Rotary in the fight against polio. The money raised by Meadowbrook Interact and Byesville Rotary will be tripled by a 2 to 1 match from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The Interact club raised $50 dollars—that equals a $150 donation. Rotary club members were encouraged to write checks to PolioPlus—the Rotary committee leading the fight against polio. Club members added $300 to fight polio effort.

To date Rotary has donated $49.5 million to the fight against polio. The result is that worldwide polio has ended in 122 countries. So far in 2017, only 12 polio cases have been reported in 3 countries—Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria.

Why should we worry about polio in countries so far away? Until polio is completely eradicated, the disease could return to countries that are now polio free. No unvaccinated child or adult is safe from an infectious disease like polio. Dangerous, infectious diseases are just 1 airline flight away.

Meadowbrook Interact students hosted a Purple Pinkie Day to raise money. Each person making a donation had his or her pinkie finger painted purple. The purple pinkie has special significance in countries where vaccinations are being given. In order to keep track of which children have been vaccinated, the vaccinator paints indelible purple ink on the little finger nail of the child’s left hand. Before giving a child the polio vaccine, this finger is checked to see if the child has recently been vaccinated. If the child’s pinkie is not purple, the child gets the vaccine.

Connect with #ByesvilleRotary at: www.Byesvillerotary.blogspot.com , Twitter Byesville_Club, or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Byesville-Rotary/256548047818283. The club meets 7:30 am, Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Walk-ins are welcome at the club’s meeting. #6690

Community members take action against drugs

Pictured: Jerry Lister, Cumberland Neighborhood Watch, and Melinda Yerian, speaker host.

 

Byesville Rotary learned how one person can make a big difference in the fight against drugs. Jerry Lister, guest speaker at the club meeting, stated that he, “…wanted to do something about the drug problem in the local community.” His response was to establish a neighborhood watch group in Cumberland.

Cumberland now has 60 people involved in the neighborhood watch group. They serve as the eyes and ears of the police. Lister explained that each neighborhood group is private; each is recognized by the federal government; and each member of the group is exempt from prosecution.

The Cumberland neighborhood watch was established in 2016. Lister said that the because of the efforts of friends and neighbors, there has been, “…a big change in Cumberland.” Drug dealers have changed their attitude from “What are you going to do to me,” to “We’re leaving. It’s too much trouble to do business here.” Lister reported that the neighborhood watch actions have reduced the number of drug houses in Cumberland from 9 down to 2.

Lister explained that notices for meetings are delivered to members’ homes. Community members are provided with codes for the sheriff’s department, an observation sheet to record their observations of illegal activity, and a phone number. The organization is set up so that people reporting illegal activities remain anonymous. Some members also put decals in their window indicating that they are will provide a “safe house” to people escaping abusers.

Lister’s motto is “Take back our community. See something; tell someone.” His goal is to get 500 community members involved in neighborhood watch organizations throughout the county. He has recently started organizing in Buffalo. Derwent, Pleasant City, Valley Township are taking steps toward organizing groups. Lister stated he has requests from Byesville and Cambridge who are interested in his efforts.

Shana Fair, chair of the Stuff Santa’s Stocking activity announced that the club will be holding a fundraiser at the main intersection in Byesville on Saturday, October 7. Funds raised will be used to support the club’s annual Christmas basket program which serves 150-200 families in the Rolling Hills School District. Volunteers are needed to help collect donations.

Fair also announced that sing-ups for the Christmas food baskets will be held October 17 and 18 from 9:00-am-12N and October 19, 4:00pm—7:00pm at the Main Avenue United Methodist activity center in Byesville.