Item 2A- ProclamationAgenda Item 2A
October 23, 2017
COCCaTtlatlDYC
Declaring October 24, 2017
"World Polio Day" in the City of Atlantic Beach
WHEREAS, Rotary International, founded on February 23, 1905 in Chicago, Illinois USA, is the
world's first and one of the largest non-profit service organizations; and
WHEREAS, there are over 1.2 million Rotary club members comprised of professional and business
leaders in over 35,000 clubs in 200 countries and geographic areas; and
WHEREAS, the Rotary motto "Service Above Self" inspires members to provide humanitarian
service, encourage high ethical standards, and promote good will and peace in the world; and
WHEREAS, Rotary in 1985 launched PolioPlus and spearheaded the Global Polio Eradication
Initiative, which today includes the World Health Organization, U. S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, UNICEF and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to immunize the children of the world against
polio; and
WHEREAS, polio cases have dropped by 99.9 percent since 1988 and the world stands on the
threshold of eradicating the disease; and
WHEREAS, to date, Rotary has contributed more than US $1.7 billion and countless volunteer hours
to the protection of more than two billion children in 122 countries; and
WHEREAS, Rotary is currently working to raise an additional $150 million, which — if realized — will
be tripled by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for a total of up to $450 million over the next three years;
and
WHEREAS, these efforts are providing much needed operational support, medical personnel,
laboratory equipment and educational materials for health workers and parents; and
WHEREAS, there are 74 Rotary club members in the Rotary Club of Jacksonville -Oceanside
sponsoring service projects to address such critical issues as poverty, health, hunger, illiteracy, and the
environment in this community, and abroad.
NOW, THEREFORE, 1, Mitchell E. Reeves, Mayor of the City of Atlantic Beach, do hereby proclaim
Tuesday, October 24 as World Polio Day in Atlantic Beach, Florida, and encourage all citizens to join myself
and Rotary International in the fight for a polio -free world.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set
my hand and caused the Official Seal of the City
of Atlantic Beach to be affixed this 23rd day of
October, 2017.
Mitchell -E. Reeves, MAYOR