• Winner: WINNER
  • Date: 1/31/2017
  • Rotary Year: 2016-2017
  • Award Category: Club Partnership Service
  • Club NameForest
  • Member First NameDana Guthrie
  • Address: 
    31 Goldfinch Drive
    Lynchburg, VA 24502
    United States View on Map
  • Email: lovetotravel2@msn.com
  • Brief Description: 
    Area 5 Rotary Clubs of Bedford, Forest, Lynchburg, Lynchburg-Morning, and Smith Mountain Lake held two World's Greatest Meals to Help End Polio (WGM) events:

    1. WGM Event #2461, Polio Walk and Afternoon Tea, on April 24, 2016 at Traci and Mikael Blido's home in Forest, Virginia - Area 5 organized this event due to the cancellation of the District 7570 Conference Polio Walk. The majority of participants in this WGM had already donated money to the Conference Walk and had those t-shirts to wear for this Walk. District Governor Alex Wilkins donated the leftover t-shirts to our Area 5 Walk and we gave all of them to participants donating $20.00 or more and made donations optional for those who had already donated to the Conference Walk. Forty-one of 45 participants walked "one mile closer to ending polio." Area 5 was honored to have The Rotary Flame brilliantly burning during our WGM, symbolizing India's triumph over polio and our hope that the world will soon be polio free. After the Walk, participants enjoyed the Afternoon Tea. Our WGM consisted of exercise, fun, friendship, and fabulous food, all while promoting polio awareness and raising funds for PolioPlus. WGM Event #2461 raised $1,060.

    2. WGM Event #2940, Game On for Polio, on October 23, 2016, at Traci and Mikael Blido's home in Forest, Virginia - Area 5 organized this event to kick off World Polio Day on October 24th. Forty-three participants played captivating indoor/outdoor games and enjoyed Traci's famous chili and Mikael's famous cupcakes. Area 5 once again enjoyed exercise, fun, friendship, and fabulous food, while at the same time furthering polio awareness and raising additional funds for PolioPlus. WGM Event #2940 raised $3,453.
  • Participation of Club Members: 
    The following percentages include club members and guests represented by each club:

    1. WGM Event #2461: Bedford (41%), Forest (60%), Lynchburg (9%), Lynchburg-Morning (23%), and Smith Mountain Lake (15%)

    2. WGM Event #2940: Bedford (60%), Forest (46%), Lynchburg (17%), Lynchburg-Morning (12%), and Smith Mountain Lake (15%)
  • Resulting Benefits: 
    Both WGMs were beneficial to all concerned. They gave each of our clubs opportunities to promote and increase polio awareness, to build goodwill and better friendships, and to raise funds for PolioPlus to help end polio. Area 5's accumulated total of $4,533 matched by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation turned into $13,599, which is the equivalent of 22,665 polio vaccines. Our WGMs had a far greater reach than our local area.
  • Additional Material or Information #1: 
    WGM Event #2461, Polio Walk and Afternoon Tea, photos
  • 1st Supporting Document: 
    polio walk and afternoon tea photos.docx
  • Additional Materail or Information #2: 
    WGM Event #2940, Game On for Polio, photos
  • 2nd Supporting Document:
    game on for polio photos.docx