Our Program Our Speaker on Tuesday, September 6th was Tim Mulcrone our District 5950 Polio Plus Chair and his wife Ginger. Tim has been our district’s Polio Chair for the last ten years and is an outstanding and tireless advocate for Rotary’s efforts to rid the planet of Polio. His wife Ginger 
was a Special Education teacher and a teaching partner with Steve Frazier when he taught classes for educationally challenged students at Minnetonka Middle School West.
was a Special Education teacher and a teaching partner with Steve Frazier when he taught classes for educationally challenged students at Minnetonka Middle School West.Tim started out by saying, “Thanks to the many Clubs of our District who made last year's polio fundraising successful. I hope our Clubs will make similar plans this year to earmark that $1500 for polio eradication from whatever club fundraising is done this year. Thank you to the Rotary Club of Excelsior for committing to donate $1,500 in the fight to eradicate Polio in the World!”
Tim noted that “In July, a case of vaccine derived polio type 2 was detected in the US, just weeks after the virus was detected in wastewater samples in the UK. Polio's return to areas that had been unaffected for decades, is a stark reminder that as long as polio exists anywhere, it remains a threat everywhere. The re-emergence of polio can be explained by many factors, including vaccine hesitancy and a global drop in childhood vaccination rates. But it's clear today that no matter the location, anyone not vaccinated against polio is at risk. To prevent further cases of paralysis, high vaccination coverage and robust disease surveillance are key. Fully funding the 2022-2026 Global Polio Eradication Initiative is the best way to protect people everywhere into the future, keeping polio from spreading across borders and around the world. Until we eradicate polio worldwide, it will always be just a plane ride away.”
Tim finished by saying “As I have been for the last ten years, I remain at your service for speaking and supporting club efforts to engage members around our flagship initiative, global eradication of polio.” Tim then took Q&A from our members.