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Rotary District 5360 Newsroom 
$2.1 Million Polio Eradication Grant
Media
This is a big deal! Alberta Rotarians raised $350,000 which was matched by the Alberta Government. That amount is being matched 2:1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to make a donation of $2.1 million for polio eradication.
Unimark Creative, Rotary District 5360 spokespersons, and Rotary International Media Relations professionals are eager to answer questions and help you in any way we can.
Global Leader in Fight against Polio
Dr. Bob Scott (below) will deliver his keynote address at 1:30 on Friday, April 11th. The cheque presentation will occur following his address at approximatley 2:15-2:30.
Other Stories
However, the conference schedule includes other fascinating stories like the Malawi Girls School. Cofounder Christie Johnson will share the inspirational story of how girls were given choices and a way out from the oppression of poverty. Graduate Atsikana Pa Ulendo will also be in Lethbridge to share the story of her journey.
All events are at the Lethbridge Lodge. Please call or email me or Doris Fleck for info about speaking with a requested spokesperson. We are here to serve you.
–Robyn Braley
Features & Side Stories
- News Alert - April 7, 2014 - Alberta Rotarians play role in generating $2.1 MM dollars for Rotary International’s polio eradication campaign.
- News Release - March 27, 2014 - South-East Asia Region of 1.8 Billion People Declared Polio-Free
- News Release - Feb 14, 2014, Rotary Internaional releases US$35.9 million to fight polio in Africa and Asia
- Quick Facts - Statistics and background informaiton about the fight against Polio
- Polio Facts - Definitions and background
- Rotary Conference Schedule - April 11-15, 2014, Lethbridge Lodge
For Media Info
Unimark Creative
Tel: (403) 280-1093 Cell: (403) 829-3340
Email: robyn@unimarkcreative.com
www.unimarkcreative.com
Doris Fleck, Media Specialist, Writer
Unimark Creative
Tel: (403) 396 7417
Email: doris@unimarkcreative.com
Peter Fleck, Photojournalist, Writer
Tel: (403) 590-1574
Email: pcf1@telus.net
Rotary District Conference Info
Patrick Killoran, District Governor
Rotary District 5360
Tel: 403 - 328 7600 Cell: 403 - 393 0506
Email: killoran.rotary@shaw.ca
Conference Website: www.discon.rotary5360.ca
Rotary International (Evanston, Illinois)
.
Petina Dixon-Jenkins; Media Relations Specialist, Rotary PolioPlus
Tel 1.847.866.3386
Email: Petina.Dixon-Jenkins@rotary.org
Wayne Hearn; Vice President, Sr. Media Relations
Specialist, Rotary Public Relations Group,
Tel 1.847.866.3386
Email: wayne.hearn@rotary.org
Spokespeople
Dr. Bob Scott; Conference keynote speaker Dr. Robert Scott is the Chair of the Rotary International PolioPlus Committee. Until Thursday, he is available by phone, email or skype. He will be in Lethbridge Friday.
Dr. Scott represents Rotary with the World Health Organization and Unicef. Since Christmas he has visited North Africa, Kenya, Pakistan, India and Brussels where he participated in polio discussions with European Union officials.
Two weeks ago the Canadian spoke at the Rotary Conclave held to celebrate the Certification of SEAR (news release below) and 11 countries that make up that region.
Pat Killoran; District Governor of Rotary District 5360, shared key roles in raising Alberta portion of the $2.1 donation.
Gail Williams; The Calgarian just completed her third polio immunization trip in Nov 2013. From a base in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 6 Canadians and 26 Americans participated in emergency immunization of 800 vulnerable children over 2 days. In 2013 she joined 45 Rotarians in Africa who immunized 1,600 in 2 ½ days.
Online Media Kit and Resources
Photo Ops/”B” Roll
We will have a professional photojournalist onsite shooting. Submit a shot list and we’ll upload photos from the convention.
Field Action Polio Vaccination Photos, Video “B” Role
Contact Kimberly.Dunbar@rotary.org or Petina.Dixon-Jenkins@rotary.org or Wayne.Hearn@rotary.org for codes to access broadcast quality video and photos at http://www.thenewsmarket.com/rotaryinternational
Polio Iron Lung; There will be an original Iron Lung at the Conference. Alberta Rotarians sourced the unit many years ago and made it the centerpiece for fund raising initiatives. Thousands of Alberta children living with polio spent months and years in an iron lung in the early 1950’s. The pioneer technology kept them alive.
Aboriginal Naming and Face-Painting; Dr. Bob Scott will be given an honorary name by Blood First Nations elders in a special ceremony at the conference.
Websites
Rotary International — www.rotary.org, go to media centre.
World Health Organization; South-East Asia Region (SEARO) polio-free certification — http://www.searo.who.int/entity/campaigns/polio-certification/en/
Rotary District 5360 (Southern Alberta) — http://portal.clubrunner.ca/50011
Rotary District 5360 Lethbridge Conference Info — www.discon.rotary5360.ca
Rotary District 5370 (Northern Alberta) — http://www.clubrunner.ca/Portal/Home.aspx?did=5370
Onsite Writers and Photojournalist
Peter Fleck, Doris Fleck and Robyn Braley have been published by dailies, trade magazines, and human service periodicals. If you don’t have a writer to assign, don’t let that stop you from informing your readers about the polio or other inspirational story about Rotary.