Allan Jagger President of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland, and Member of the Rotary $100 Million  Challenge Committee, met Bill Gates at the IoD World Leaders Lunch in London. Accompanied by Past Rotary International Director and Member of the Rotary $100 Million Challenge Committee Keith Barnard Jones and Judith Diment, Rotary's Public Relations Consultant, Allan took the opportunity to  thank Mr Gates on behalf of Rotarians in Great Britain and Ireland for the donations from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the Rotary Polio Eradication programme.

The Rotary Foundation received a $100-million Gates Foundation grant in November 2007, which Rotary will raise funds to match, dollar-for-dollar, over three years. The Evanston-based volunteer service organization will spend the initial $100 million within one year in direct support of immunization activities carried out by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), a partnership spearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and UNICEF.

"The extraordinary dedication of Rotary members has played a critical role in bringing polio to the brink of eradication," says Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "Eradicating polio will be one of the most significant public health accomplishments in history, and we are committed to helping reach that goal."

The polio eradication grant is one of the largest challenge grants ever given by the Gates Foundation and the largest grant received by Rotary in its 102-year history. Polio eradication has been Rotary's top priority since 1985. Since then, Rotary has contributed $633 million to the eradication effort.

At the World Leaders Lunch Bill Gates was interviewed about his leadership style, his rise at Microsoft from humble beginnings to the creation of one of the world's most successful organisations. He outlined his vision for future IT innovations   and also participated in a questions from the floor session with more than 1000 business people attending the event. He discussed his other passions such as his global health and education work and the relationship of philanthropy and business. 

 Photo caption:

Left to right  Keith Barnard- Jones, Bill Gates, Judith Diment, Allan Jagger

For more information contact Judith Diment Judith@thediments.co.uk Tel 07860 162313

“Rotarians continue to be the heart and soul of the polio eradication effort,” said Ann M. Veneman, Executive Director of UNICEF. “In addition to their own record-breaking financial contribution for polio eradication and countless volunteer hours, Rotarians have helped leverage a further US$1.7 billion from governments for the cause.”

Rotary International is the world's first volunteer service organization with 1.2 million members in 200 countries and geographical areas. To date, over one million Rotary members have volunteered their time and personal resources to help immunize more than two billion children in 122 countries against polio. By the time the world is certified polio-free, Rotary’s contributions to the global polio eradication effort will exceed US$600 million.

In addition to raising and contributing funds, Rotary has provided an army of volunteers to promote and assist during national immunization campaigns. Rotary members assist with vaccine delivery, social mobilization, and administration of the oral polio vaccine to children.

The Sleigh was originally conceived and developed by Rotarian Arthur Walker of Stainland during 2005.  He bought a redundant caravan chassis, and enlisted the help of Rotarian Chris Marshall of Marshall’s Construction in Elland to build the superstructure.  The skills of other Rotarians were harnessed to install lighting and sound systems.

Arthur received a special award from the Rotary Club in recognition of his pioneering efforts, and the time he gave to collecting.

The completed Sleigh was first used during the build up to Christmas 2005, being stationed at Halifax and Brighouse Supermarkets during the day, and touring the streets of Elland in the early evenings.

With the generosity of the public, a total of £5,000 was raised at these Sleigh events.  This sum was supplemented by other fund raising efforts by the Rotary Club, resulting in a cheque for £ 6,600 being presented to Yorkshire Cancer Research in January 2006.

ONGOING PROJECTS

 British Legion Poppy Distribution - Organiser: Arthur Walker 

 Bag Packing at Co-Op  - Organiser: Ivan Dorr 

 Christmas Live Alone Lunch  - Organiser: Malcolm Walker 

Blood Pressure Checking  - Organiser: Bob Heys 

 ( A.E.Walker to provide 2 Caravans ) 

Collection of 534 pairs of glasses for 'Vision aid'.

Collection of used Printer Cartridges for resale

Medicaid - collecting medical equipment for Medicaid

Shoe box Scheme - 8 schools to help - plus all members

Rotary runs the biggest non-government scholarship scheme -

In the World.!!!