Our GSE team is in the final phase of preparation for their trip to Honduras on Feb. 17. Under the leadership of Rotarian Anita Hellam of the Modesto Rotary Club. The team will have an opportunity to see most of Honduras on this four-week trip to study the culture and institutions of Honduras, including home stays with Rotary families. We will have a report at the District Conference as well as having the visiting Honduran team. The Rotary Foundation funds this program, another reason "Every Rotarian-Every Year" should contribute to The Rotary Foundation.

The number of countries with indigenous polio has dropped to an-all time low of four, as polio eradication efforts enter a new phase involving the use of next-generation vaccines targeted at the two surviving strains of virus. The indigenous poliovirus has not circulated in Egypt or Niger for over 12 months. This leaves the countries of Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan as the only countries that have never stopped indigenous polio transmission. The Egyptian Minister of Health said "The best tools of our age defeated this enemy who has been with us from pharaonic times". The core partners in this effort are, the World Health Organization, Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and UNICEF.

Almost every club in District 5220 could qualify for the Presidential Citation for an effect Rotary Club. The key is completing the paperwork and forwarding to me for certification. The forms were given to each Club President at pre-PETS last January. The form can also be downloaded at the www.rotary.org website under 2005-06 Materials. Deadline for submission to RI is April 15, but we would like to report on the clubs qualifying at the District Conference, so if clubs can get them to me by March 15, it would give us ample time to send to RI and report at the Conference.

Effective March 1, 2006, Angels Centennial Rotary will change their meeting location to CAMPS Restaurant at Greenhorn Creek. This was the location of the club’s Charter Night, and will be the location of their first Charter Night Anniversary Celebration.

February is the last month to include activities of the club in the awards binders for the 05-06 Rotary year. They are due at PDG Phyllis Nusz’s office, 5250 Claremont Ave., Ste. 123, Stockton, CA by March 10. If you can’t deliver them to Phyllis, call your ADG, who will be invited to the judging. If you are giving binder to the ADG, email Phyllis at PJNusz@aol.com and let her know your binder is on the way.

Riverbank Rotary has moved their meeting location to the Riverbank Fire Hall at 3318 Topeka St. The club meets on Thursday at 7:15 AM and is always a fun club to visit.

The nominating committee to select the District Governor for the 2008-09 Rotary year will meet on April 8, 2006. Now is time for clubs to look at their club leaders and encourage them to step forward. The candidates will need to have served a full term as Club President, been a Rotarian for 7 years, and been active at the Club and District level. Nominations will need to be endorsed by a Club in the District. Applications need to be sent to me by March 8, 2006.

With Rotary Pride,