Turn $30 into $180: Matching Donations for PolioPlus Giving
An anonymous donor has offered to match up to $875 for PolioPlus giving this year! Just a $30 contribution would result in $180 in funding for Rotary’s worldwide polio eradication campaign. Here’s how it works:
$30 contributed by you
$30 matched by the donor
$120 match ($2-to-$1) provided by The Gates Foundation
$180 total for polio eradication!
If you want to take advantage of this matching offer, contact Foundation Chair
Jerry Venters, jvrotary6040@yahoo.com, for details.
HUGE Garage Sale a HUGE Success!! Raises $2,211
The Club’s HUGE Garage Sale on August 23 was a HUGE success!! The sale, held in the Fossens’ driveway, netted $2,211.25. These proceeds will be used to support the club’s service projects, led by the Service Committee. Thanks to everyone who donated items and worked in the sale...and to Cassy Venters, who chaired the event. Cassy has estimated that our members contributed 214 volunteer hours for the sale. Clearly, we couldn’t have done it without you!!
Comfort Bags Prepared for Girls Home, Pathfinder High School
Lander Rotarians and family members gathered recently to assemble 72 Bags of Comfort and Hope for the Girls Home and Pathfinder High School. The duffle bags and backpacks contained personal care items and fleece blankets, teddy bears, fuzzy socks and a message of hope from our Rotary club. They will be distributed to girls as they arrive at the Girls Home and to girls in need at Pathfinder. Monika Leininger was the project lead for the Service Committee. The project was partially funded by a District 5440 Grant of $3,334.
Recent Resignations Pose Challenges for Rotary Leadership
Our Rotary International leadership lineup has been challenged by the resignations of two of its incoming Presidents in recent weeks. In early June, just weeks before the start of the Rotary year on July 1, President-elect Mário César Martins de Camargo from Brazil resigned as the incoming President for health and family reasons. He was promptly replaced by Francesco Arezzo of Italy. In August, SangKoo Yun of Taiwan resigned as the President-elect for 2026-27 for health reasons (he died of pancreatic cancer on Sept. 5). His replacement has been selected: Olayinka Hakeem Babalola of Nigeria. Fortunately, we have significant depth in our Rotary leadership and there were qualified Rotarians ready to step in and serve on short notice.
Our Foundation Giving Status for 2025-26:
Annual Fund PolioPlus
Goal $9,000 $2,500
To Date $2,476 $1,000
27.5% 40%
2025 Wild Polio Case Total 28 - Afghanistan 4 - Pakistan 24
