Chagrin Highlands Rotary on World Polio Day, October 24, 2014. A Polio-Free World – Almost T he Chagrin Highlands Rotary is teaming with Rotary International to eradicate polio worldwide by 2018. At this time, only 293 cases exist. Polio is a debilitating and deadly disease. With the Salk and Sabin vaccines, polio was ended in the United States long ago. In 1979, Rotary International decided to try to end polio throughout the rest of the world. At that time it was an epidemic in 125 countries with 450,000 cases; with 45,000 people paralyzed and 4,500 dying each year. Rotary International decided to raise money from its 1.2 million members in order to vaccinate children throughout the world. By 1988, the Polio Plus campaign was born and Rotary raised $247 million, of which $11 million came from this area. Chagrin Highlands club member Don Kwait (pictured left, front row) helped initiate the campaign worldwide. At that time, he was a trustee of the Rotary Foundation, headquartered in Chicago, and has been a Rotary member for more than 50 years. In 1993, the 500 millionth child was immunized as a result of this program and by the year 2000, Europe and the Western Pacific were polio free. There are now still 293 cases worldwide, with 220 in Pakistan, which authorities blame on attacks by insurgents targeting the vaccination teams. Most of these cases are in NW Pakistan where the Taliban have fought to prevent immunizations because they accuse the workers of acting as spies for the U.S. and say that the vaccine makes the children sterile. In June 2014, Pakistan launched a sweeping military offensive in the NW, a tribal region along the Afghan border. The religious and government officials have now asked that arms be laid down so that vaccinations can continue. Rotary International will spend another $2.7 million in Pakistan to continue vaccinations to end this disabling viral disease worldwide by 2018. 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood, Ohio “Propaganda is a truly terrible weapon in the hands of an expert,” wrote Adolf Hitler in 1924. This thought-provoking exploration of Nazi propaganda challenges us all to think critically about the messages we receive today. This exhibition was underwritten in part by grants from Katharine M. and Leo S. Ullman and The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, with additional support from the Lester Robbins and Sheila Johnson Robbins Traveling and Special Exhibitions Fund established in 1990. This installation of State of Deception is generously sponsored by John P. Murphy Foundation; Ratner Family; Wolf Family Foundation; Stanley G. Blum; and Donna Yanowitz. Related programming sponsored by Cleveland Jewish News. PRODUCED BY PRESENTED BY NOW THROUGH MARCH 1 2015 5, Rotary International will spend another $2.7 million in Pakistan to continue vaccinations to end this disabling viral disease worldwide by 2018. The Chagrin Highlands Rotary represents Beachwood, Woodmere, Orange and Pepper Pike. Anyone interested in more information on the polio campaign or the Chagrin Highlands Rotary Club, which does several other humanitarian projects, may call John Newburger, membership chairman, at 216.292.7737. Image: From a poster for the film S.A. Mann Brand, 1933. Kunstbibliothek Berlin/BPK, Berlin/Art Resource, New York 216.593.0575 | @maltzmuseum | maltzmuseum.org December 2014 n Beachwood Buzz 55