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-Three dollars.

That's how much it costs to fully protect a child against polio.

With 35 years of work, Rotary's goal of ridding the world of this disease is closer than ever.

Hello, I'm Don McCorry.

On this edition of Tennessee is Talking, the topic is the fight to end polio.

As a leading force in global health initiatives, Rotary has played a crucial role in mobilizing resources, raising awareness, and advocating for vaccination campaigns to eradicate this pr.. Let the conversation begin.

-That's so cool.

-Then that's when I said that.

-The problem with that idea is-- -Wow, that was amazing.

-Then I came up with a solution.

-What was that about?

-Here's what I think about it.

-Now we're talking.

-West Tennessee PBS presents Tennessee is Talking.

Let the conversation begin.

-Thanks for joining the discussion here on Tennessee is Talking.

Hello, I'm Don McCorry.

The fight to end polio is one of the most significant public health initiatives in history.

This fight represents a global commitment to eradicate.. that once paralyzed thousands of children each year.

Here to tell us more is President of the Jackson Rotary Club, Carolyn Vaughan, and President of the Old Hickory Rotary Club, Clint Beilke.

Thanks for joining us.

Can you explain Rotary's role in the global fight against polio and how it has evolved over the past years?

-I wasn't really aware of how Rotary was involved in fighting polio until I became a Rotarian.

It wasn't until years into my membership I really understood that.

Polio is something that I knew about as a child and I took a vaccine and grew up and became an adult and have lived a full life but the others have not been able to do that because they didn't have access to the polio vaccine.

In 1905 is when Rotary was founded and in 1985 was when the End Polio Now campaign came about and that is a campaign to raise awareness, to raise money to provide vaccines and to just really become an advocate for what polio is and how to eradicate it and how to get control of it.

Rotary has been a pivotal advocate for eradicating polio in the world.

-You've both been involved in Rotary for a period of time.

Can you both share with me a little bit about what was the inspiration behind your involvement especially to end the polio crisis?

-I've been a Rotarian as of September for 10 years now and the thing that I love the most about Rotary, the Polio Plus program as Carolyn said starting in 1985, really focused on being an advocate to bring awareness about what polio is, how to eradicate it and it's transitioned into a hands-on effort where we actually will send out Rotarians across the globe to provide the vaccination, just one drop, $3 is all it takes.

That's what I love about Rotary and it's what inspired me to want to be a part.

Going beyond talk and going into action.

Rotary is good about moving plans and talk and dreams into action to make real change.

-Was ending polio one of the first initiatives by Rotary?

-I think that is the mission of Rotary to eradicate polio.

That's our mission.

-That is the primary mission.

-We're almost there.

We're at 99% eradication.

The problem is it's still out there so we've still got work to do.

Right now, it's in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

There's still active cases there that we've got boots on the ground.

Going into those areas, providing vaccines and trying to eliminate the spread, and just trying to get control of the disease in that area of the world is difficult right now.

They're working hard still.

-We've heard about this Polio Plus program.

Can you share a little bit about what that is and how non-Rotarians could possibly be involved?

-As a non-Rotarian, I encourage you to become a Rotarian and be a part of this movement.

There are clubs worldwide that participate in World Polio Day and that day is a time where Rotary clubs can have fundraisers.

They may have a road race.

They may have a festival.

They may create something where people can come an.. and that money is given to that particular campaign to eradicate polio.

The Rotarians might coordinate the campaign but non-Rotarians come and give and participate.

Really through social media, they can participate by sharing our message and becoming an advocate themselves to their friends, their family, their coworkers.

Just creating awareness of polio is our job and hopefully, those that aren't aware will learn and help us in our message.

-I have to be fully transparent here and say I'm a proud Rotarian myself, so I'm happy to take up this mission.

Can you share a little bit about how Rotary is engaged within the community and how other people could become Rotarians?

-We both are presidents of two different clubs and it's convenient.

You can go to lunch on Monday with Clint and his club at the Old Hickory Club or you can come downtown on Wednesdays at noon and be a part of our club and just join in our efforts annually.

We all give to the End Polio Now campaign through donations annually in our club because that is our mission.

We give to the annual fund which actually helps fund .. great things in our communities and worldwide but also, the End Polio Now.

It is actually matched through the Gates Foundation.

Is it a three-to-one match?

-I believe so.

-It is a match so your $3 can become $9 and just continues to multiply with the matching through the Gates Foundation.

-Carolyn, you mentioned a little bit that there are two programs.

Can you share with us other than I guess location and days of the week if somebody may be interested in one versus the other?

-I think it's really whatever fits your schedule and you might know Clint or somebody in his club and feel more comfortable joining his club.

We don't compete for members.

We are actually open for whoever wants to come.

It is an invitation-only to come to the club but we do.

If you're interested in joining the club or interested in coming to visit the club, please reach out to one of us and we will get you connected and get you there as a guest so other people can meet you and you can see what we're all about and see if you feel like that is a place for you that you want to join in and learn more about what Rotarians do.

We do a lot of community service work here but also, through our monetary support through the annual fund.

Our funds go to support lots of district gra.. and we actually have a disaster grant right now that's responding to the hurricane relief in North Carolina and East Tennessee and Georgia and West Virginia so every dollar we give goes to do something really great.

We're proud about that.

-Can we or the public go to your website or social media platform to find out more about meetings and how to become involved?

-100%.

We both have active websites, social media presence that can be accessed to learn more about who we are and what we do.

The most exciting way to learn is on Mondays to just drop by at 12 PM, Double Tree Hotel, or Wednesdays, 12 PM at First Methodist Church downtown.

That's where you really get the energy of Rotary.

-You can see it alive and in action.

-Yes.

The thing I love to share the most is that in 1905 when Rotary was founded, its founding was really predicated on networking, professional networking and that's what we like to foster.

A sense of community where newcomers and lifelong Jacksonians alike can really get to know one another, grow their business or just their network and then through that, it turns out when you get the right people in the room, they're going to do good in the community and that's really how we ended up deciding to eradicate polio.

You get the right people and the right things will happen at the right time.

-What's your website address as well as yours?

-Ours is a mouthful.

It's jacksonoldhickoryrotary.org.

-Ours is jackson-tn-rotary.com.

-You also said your social media persons as well.

-Absolutely.

-Yes.

-What .. that you have faced or are currently facing right now in addition to the mission of eradicating polio?

-There are really three primary objectives or barriers that we face in the fight against polio.

The first is just logistics.

Polio does not discriminate, as they say.

It reaches all parts of the globe, but not all parts of the globe are easy to get to.

The second would be political unrest or just general conflict.

When you think about the areas, Pakistan and Afghanistan being the last two real strongholds, those can be some areas that are difficult to get the vaccinations in the right hands, to get volunteers in place.

The third would probably be the biggest in my opinion, and that is misinformation about the importance of vaccinations and making sure that everyone takes part in supporting herd immunity or ensuring the appropriate immunization coverage.

-I think we should let our audience know that you're worldwide.

There are Rotary Clubs throughout the world and probably some little-known places as well.

-Over, I think, 2 million Rotarians across the globe.

-That's amazing.

That really is amazing.

Do you partner with corporations or businesses for this mission or anything else within the organization?

-Yes.

Globally, the three big partnerships we have would be through the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Then across the nation, different districts and clubs partner with organizations in their locality that want to really be a part of that.

Those are really the three largest partnerships that make this happen.

-We've stressed the issue of vaccinations.

Can you give your personal position on why you believe that is so critical and how we've been so positive and encouraging here in the United States but have had hurdles and challenges someplace else outside of the United States?

-I think just a public awareness campaign about the importance of vaccination.

It's so important to vaccinate your children.

Like you said, just the herd immunity alone, we've seen that when vaccination drops off in certain areas like the ones we've mentioned, we've seen it continue to grow.

We have got work to do in those two locations.

Just public awareness campaigns is what we're trying to do right now through social media, through websites.

-My position is that I am not a scientist.

If you see me in a lab, something has gone wrong.

My mom was a science teacher, my seventh-grade science teacher, and taught me that it's important to trust those who have the knowledge and experience.

I think it's important that we trust the scientists who show us with empirical data what vaccinations can do and what happens when we don't get vaccinated.

-Is that part of your awareness campaign that you get individuals that are out there that have the numbers to back up the science?

-Absolutely.

-Okay.

-World Polio Day is October 24th every year, so we do celebrate that through Rotary and different clubs around the globe.

We'll do awareness campaigns, festivals, fundraisers, that kind of thing.

There's Purple Pinky Day, that is a big campaign that we do.

Our local clubs participate in that.

The Rotarians buy donuts and they call them Purple Pinkies because when the children are vaccinated, they paint the tips of their fingers purple.

-Wow.

-To identify who's been vaccinated.

-And who has not.

-Yes.

-Purple Pinky Day.

-The thing that I stress the most about Rotary, when we talk about spreading awareness about important things like vaccination, is that we follow the four-way test.

The very first is the truth.

It's important that we ensure that everyone knows the truth about not just vaccinations, but that everyone needs to learn on their own about vaccinations.

That without it, we lose a critical thing called herd immunity, which could very well bring a resurgence of polio back to the United States.

-Is there a possibility that without vaccinations, we could see a return?

How do we communicate that with parents, that they should continue to do so for their children?

There's a lot of stigma about taking vaccinations and whether or not they are harmful to children or not.

-Absolutely.

Of course, again, I am not-- -The scientist.

-A scientist or-- -But you believe in the facts.

-I think the facts speak well.

-Absolutely.

-Yes.

How does Rotary raise funds for the organization?

You talked about the-- -The easiest way, endpolio.org/donate.

That's the easiest way to donate towards that cause and the one that will ensure the match by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

You can also support through any Rotary club.

Through the Polio Plus donations, every club has a different way to raise money for that.

Every week in the Jacksonville Hickory Club, we have a happy dollars or a brag buck.

Every dollar that's given in order to brag goes towards Polio Plus.

In addition to general donations by members and guests.

-We should encourage people to come in to brag about anything?

-Something.

-Something.

-About themselves, about grandkids, about spouses or-- -Lately, it's been about wins in the SEC.

A lot of bragging going on.

-A lot of bragging on.

It is sort of football time, so we have to acknowledge that.

Okay.

Any other events that are coming up over the next few months that we'd like to make our audience aware of?

You will give us that address again to make donations.

-Yes, endpolio.org.

That's the website.

Just learn more about Rotary and what we are doing in that fight.

To donate, add that word, donate, to the end of the URL.

Endpolio.org/donate.

-What are Rotary's goals over the next few years?

What would you like to see your individual chapters share within this community?

-I think just continue the conversation.

Continue the awareness of this mission and continue to give, because the fight's not over.

We're almost there.

We're close, but we cannot give up now.

Boots on the ground.

We've seen videos of individuals going into these countries, deep into these small villages, vaccinating these children and just bringing hope to the world that, that village will be 100% eradicated, just village by village by village.

I think that we just have to keep working and have to keep having the conversation and keeping the awareness alive and the campaign alive.

-As both of your memberships continue to grow, especially since the post-pandemic?

-Absolutely, yes.

A lot of interest, and people just want to get involved and do more community service-type events.

Clint's got a very active club and real proud of the things that they do.

Both of us look for opportunities for our members to get involved and just keep Rotary top of mind and to be present, to give, but just there for networking and growing our community and helping each other see the importance of service above self.

That's our real motto is service to others before serving ourselves.

I see a lot of that going on right now with things that are happening in the world and how neighbors are responding to neighbors.

We're neighbors to Afghanistan.

We're neighbors to Pakistan.

Our fight is polio, but there's a lot of other things in the world that are worthy of Rotarian action, and they are.

Polio is not the only thing that we do.

We build water wells.

We do so many other things.

We are peacemaking clubs.

We try to strive to promote peace in the world and peace in our communities.

What are some of the other things that we do?

-One of the most-- -You're famous for sharing the importance of Rotary at the end of each meeting, of the things that what we do.

-We feed someone.

We clothe someone.

We vaccinate someone.

We provide clean water.

We do all those things.

We create peace in the world.

There's a lot of things that we do other than polio.

That's our focus today, but I think that our clubs really focus on education, literacy, so many other things that we focus on because we see our community needs our help doing so many things.

-I think many of our citizens, especially within West Tennessee, all have these same sheer values.

This may be something for which they would love to be able to be a part of.

-Yes.

Rotary, just like education and church, have national and international implications, but it really happens locally.

Rotary is a local thing, local endeavor that responds to the needs of the local community.

One of the things I'm most excited about that we are, not related to polio, but we are starting to look at the 2025 Rotary Heart and Soul Project, where we will go to either a school or identify needs across the district and actually provide the children who need shoes with a brand new pair of socks and shoes.

Historically, we have gone to a school, washed their feet, and provided new socks and shoes to every child.

That's one of the things that we really do a lot of work together, both clubs, to just love on our kids and make sure that their basic needs are met, but in a way that they see a community really wrapping around them and making sure that they know how important they are and that they have an entire community behind them.

-Speaking of children, can you share a little bit about your Junior Rotarian program?

-Do y'all have one at your club?

Do you have a Junior Rotarian program?

-Vicariously through the Jackson Club.

-Okay, well, you're welcome to come check it anytime, but our Junior Rotarian program consists of supporting all nine high schools in Jackson, and they can send one student-- for six months, they send one student per school, and for the next six months, we engage with them.

We will talk with them.

Some of them might be interested in knowing what .. do at the table.

It could be a career that t..

It helps them.

We can mentor them for that month that they're spending .. but they come eat lunch with us.

They listen to our speakers.

They're also involved or invited to be involved in any fundraising event that we do, any service project that we do, and it really helps them.

They can get community service hours for that, but it helps them engage with our club and hopefully, see that service above self is important in their young life as well as they mature into an adult and go to college and then hopefully one day in a career and join Rotary and see that you just plant that seed early in their life about service and how that is so important for the rest of your life to find out at an early age that they can participate too and be involved.

-Before joining the Old Hickory Club, I was a member of the Jackson Club, and I just got to tell you, if you ever want to just feel like you are doing some good in the community, being able to sit across from a junior Rotarian, hearing their story, and knowing that through the scholarships or through the programs that we provide, you see the fruit of your labor or where your support is going.

It's just really phenomenal when the resumes are being read of these students.

I thought I did a lot in high school.

Once you hear about what all these students are involved in, I start to think that I didn't do anything.

They are really doing a lot.

Now, in the Jackson Old Hickory Club, we do not have a junior Rotarian program, but we have a Rotaract Club that is located at Lane College, and we have about 65 students at Lane College who are Rotaract, or I think we call them Rotaractors, which is sort of a taste of Rotary, but on a college campus.

-This conversation could go on and on, but unfortunately, we're out of time.

We want to thank Carolyn Vaughan and Clint Beilke for stopping by and telling us about Rotary's fight to end polio.

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