Our heartfelt thanks to Suzi Howe and Scott Rainey for being our guest speakers during October and for reminding us of the incredible role Rotarians have played in the worldwide fight against polio.

What began with a Rotary immunization project in the Philippines in 1979 grew into PolioPlus in 1985 and helped lead to the creation of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988.

Today, after decades of vaccinations, advocacy, fundraising, partnerships, and countless volunteer hours, polio cases worldwide have been reduced by 99.9%. 

But the final fraction may be the most important.

As long as polio exists anywhere, the possibility of its spread remains. Rotary states that if eradication efforts were abandoned, within 10 years the disease could once again paralyze as many as 200,000 children every year. 

We owe it to the generations of Rotarians who began this mission, to the Rotarians carrying it forward today, and most importantly, to the children of tomorrow, to finish what we started.

Thank you, Suzi and Scott, for your service, leadership, and for reminding us that we are not finished until polio is gone for good.

End Polio Now.

Sometimes, making a difference does not require a large project, a big budget, or months of planning. Sometimes, service is simply seeing a need and choosing to do something about it.

Rotarian Scott Hughes, a member of the Rotary E-Club of Central Texas who lives in Vicksburg, Mississippi, recently demonstrated that spirit of service alongside his daughter. Together, they spent time cleaning up their neighborhood playground, picking up the trash they could find and helping make the area cleaner and more welcoming for the families and children who use it.

It may seem like a small act, but small acts of service matter.

Every piece of litter picked up made their neighborhood a little better. More importantly, Scott gave his daughter an opportunity to experience firsthand what it means to serve others. Children learn from what they see us do. When we invite them to serve alongside us, we teach them that caring for their community is not simply someone else's responsibility. It is something each of us can take part in.

That lesson is at the heart of Rotary's ideal of Service Above Self.

As Rotarians, we have a wonderful opportunity to pass the spirit of service to the next generation. Whether it is cleaning a playground, helping a neighbor, volunteering at a food pantry, supporting a community project, or simply lending a hand when one is needed, we can show young people that service can become a way of life.

We often think about the impact our service has on the people and communities around us, but there is another impact that is just as important: the example we set for those who come after us.

Scott and his daughter remind us that we do not have to travel far to make a difference. Sometimes the opportunity to serve is right outside our front door.

And when we bring our children and grandchildren along, we are doing more than serving our communities today. We are helping create the servant leaders of tomorrow.

That is how Service Above Self continues from one generation to the next.

When we last shared the story of Rotarian Faith David, she was preparing to return to Liberia with a mission close to her heart: helping children begin the school year with the supplies, confidence, and hope they deserve. Her ongoing initiative had already reached more than 800 children, with a goal of continuing to expand that impact each year. 

Now, Faith David has returned from her trip, and she has shared an inspiring update.

Though her time in Liberia was short, Faith says it was well worth the journey. During her visit, she personally visited an orphanage and a feeding center and was able to reach more than 200 children with back-to-school and hygiene supplies. Additional distributions are also taking place, with more photos still to come.

Reflecting on the experience, Faith shared her gratitude:

“My heartfelt thanks and appreciation to each and everyone for your support and contributions towards the back-to-school and hygiene supplies for less fortunate children in Liberia. Though my trip was very short, it was worth it. I visited one orphanage and a feeding center. I was able to reach over 200 children.”

She added that additional photos from the distribution are still coming and closed with a simple but heartfelt message:

“Again, from the bottom of my heart, I say Thank You!”

Faith’s trip is a wonderful reminder of what can happen when compassion is transformed into action. The donations and support she received became something tangible for children in Liberia: needed school and hygiene supplies and encouragement as they move forward.

The original effort grew from Faith’s belief that education matters and that children should approach school with anticipation, confidence, and hope, regardless of their circumstances.

To everyone who donated, contributed, encouraged, and supported this effort, thank you. You helped make this mission possible.

And to Faith, thank you for demonstrating Rotary’s spirit of Service Above Self and for carrying the generosity of supporters all the way to children in Liberia.