Rotary District 5520 Governor Dave Anderson, left, spoke to the Rotary Club of Los Alamos Sept. 6 and is pictured with Los Alamos Rotary Club President Rob Metcalf. Photo by Oliver Morris
ROTARY News:
Dave Anderson, District 5520 Governor for Rotary clubs in New Mexico and Far West Texas, spoke Sept. 6 to the Rotary Club of Los Alamos, delivering a message based on the worldwide organization’s 2016-17 theme of “Rotary Serving Humanity.”
“This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Rotary Foundation,” Anderson told members. “What began with a donation of $26.50 has become a $3 billion effort today by Rotarians here in our communities and around the world in support of humanitarian efforts.”
Anderson explained that Rotary International’s goal of eradicating polio that began in 1985 is getting closer to reality each year.
“We’re almost there,” he said. “There are currently 19 active cases of the disease and those are centered in Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, two new cases have surfaced in Nigeria after the entire African continenthad been polio-free for two years.”
Rotary has een the leader in the global fight against polio, joining with partners World Health Organization, UNICEF, U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
“There is an important need today to expand Rotary’s base membership in each of the region’s 68 clubs,” Anderson said, bringing his message back home. “Rotary is an ideal environment for developing leadership in communities all across this region.”
“We’re no longer our father’s Rotary Club and we invite young future leaders who share our humanitarian goals to join us from all walks of life and careers.” He said the District and International organization are ready to help with local projects in terms of community grants.
2-2-2-2: Rotary District Governor
Rotary Club President Rob Metcalf echoed Anderson’s comments about the need for continual support of the Foundation’s PolioPlus program and to increase club membership in order to continue making an impact in the local communities.
There are 68 clubs and some 2,600 members in District 5520 — the largest Rotary geographic district in the U.S. Members have been active in raising funds and working on projects through Rotary’s Global Grants, raising nearly $750,000 collectively for regional projects involving clean water in Guatemala, birth defect surgeries in Mexico for cleft palates and cross-eyed conditions in children, and projects leading to the clean disposal of hypodermic needles.
Anderson, a native of Ridgewood, N.J., said he first fell in love with New Mexico at age 14 when he attended Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron. The University of Denver graduate is an Air Force veteran stationed in the southwest before overseas assignments to Vietnam, Korea, England, Germany and Greece. He is a recipient of the Airman’s Medal for heroism. Anderson and his wife, Maureen, are members of the Del Norte Rotary Club in Albuquerque, where he is a past president. He is semi-retired from his company, Paragon Technical Services, a Federal government contractor.
About Rotary
Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work impacts lives at both local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. Visit www.Rotary.orgfor more information.