Today is World Polio Day

What is polio?

Polio (poliomyelitis) is a crippling and potentially deadly infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. It mainly affects children under the age of 5. Polio can cause permanent paralysis and even death.

How is Rotary making a difference?

  • Collaborating with global partners to organize mass immunization drives, reaching millions of children, even in remote and hard-to-reach areas.
  • Raising awareness about the importance of polio vaccines, helping dispel myths and encouraging participation in vaccination campaigns.
  • Advocating to governments to ensure sustained political and financial support for eradication efforts.
  • Building infrastructure such as healthcare systems, laboratories, and rapid-response teams to detect and contain outbreaks.
  • Innovating solutions like traveling by boat, camel, or foot to ensure no child is left unvaccinated.

Our work has already made a significant impact, reducing polio cases by 99.9% since 1988.

Why do we need your help?

Even with only a few cases left, we must continue our efforts until the world is polio-free. As long as one child remains infected, children everywhere are at risk. Your donations and volunteer efforts are crucial in delivering vaccines, supporting surveillance, and providing life-saving resources.

Protecting a child from polio for life only costs $3.

How can you get involved?

  • Donate to help fund vaccines, healthcare workers, and community education.
  • Volunteer to join a local Rotary chapter and participate in vaccination efforts.
  • Raise awareness about polio eradication efforts on social media.

Together, we can make history by ending polio for good. Be part of the solution – join Rotary today! For more information, visit EndPolio.org.

  • A class of students who received their purple pinkies.
  • Service Chair James Wernicke poses with a student who received their purple pinky.
  • Club President Tim Bullock and Service Chair James Wernicke pose for a photo in between student groups.
  • Club President Tim Bullock applies purple ink to indicate a vaccinated a child.

Oct 22: General Assembly & Youth Exchange Presentations

This week, we’ll gather for a General Assembly and Youth Exchange presentations. We also have Purple Pinky and Trick or Treat on Mainstreet this Friday, October 25.

Thanks to Victoria Martinez for making this year’s Meals of Hope flyer! Please share with your friends and join us November 9 at Crossroads Bible Church. The Bi-District Conference is also fast approaching November 14-15!

Lastly, please respond to Club President Greg Viola if you plan to attend our Holiday Dinner at Muy Salsas on December 10th. Be sure to include any guests so we know how many mouths to feed!

  • A class of students who received their purple pinkies.

Oct 15: No Meeting Today

Greetings Rotarians and Friends,

This past weekend, I had the fortune to cross paths with the Rotary Club of Juarez Integral after finishing the Chupacabras 100km mountain bike race. It was great to celebrate the accomplishment and talk about the upcoming Bi-District Conference with our friends across the border!

Upcoming Events

As a reminder, there’s no meeting this week, but we do have some upcoming events on October 25. Purple Pinky events will be at each elementary school’s lunch time. Please contact Alison Pannell if you would like to volunteer. Trick or Treat on Main Street will be the same afternoon 4:00 – 6:00 PM. Contact James Wernicke if you’d like to volunteer for that.

Rotary is committed to eradicating polio from the world.

Oct 8: Lemonade Living

This week’s speaker is Melissa Arias from Lemonade Living.

When a developmentally disabled or special needs young adult ages out of high school, parents may wonder, “What next?!” Local families have been faced with the choice of leaving Los Alamos for services or letting their loved ones sit at home and age. Many families have left to find services elsewhere. We want to change that. Lemonade Living wants to make life sweet here in Los Alamos.

Inspired by the high school’s Living Skills program, Lemonade Living was founded with the dream of a farm with therapy services that would blend into the community and provide life enrichment activities through arts and music, academic and job skills development, and social activities throughout the community.

Can’t make it in person? Join us on Zoom! Don’t forget to check out upcoming events like Purple Pinky and Trick or Treat on Mainstreet on our calendar!

District 5520 Update, Recognition Opportunities, World Polio Day Oct 24, Meals Of Hope Nov 9, Bi-District Conference Nov 15-16

We have a lot of upcoming events, so be sure to check our calendar for all the happenings!

Thanks to all the Rotary and Interact club members who made it out to the Homecoming Parade this weekend! Check us out in PAC8’s video!

District 5520 Update

At our Tuesday lunch meeting, Asst Governor Laura Gonzales will update us on what’s new in District 5520. Club President Greg Viola will also share some recognition opportunities. If you can’t make it in person, you can join us on Zoom.

World Polio Day

World Polio Day is October 24 and we’ll be doing our Purple Pinky event at elementary schools in Los Alamos and White Rock. Please contact Alison Pannell if you’d like to participate.

Trick Or Treat On Mainstreet

Join us in front of CB Fox on October 24 4:00 – 6:00 PM to hand out candy to community youth during Trick or Treat on Mainstreet!

Meals Of Hope

We will be packing Meals of Hope on November 9. Please join us at Crossroads Bible Church from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

4110/5520 Bi-District Conference

Our bi-district conference will be held in Ciudad Juarez on November 15-16.

Homecoming Parade Today

The LAHS Interact Club out together an entertaining float for this year’s homecoming parade. Please come out and cheer them on at 2:30 along Central Ave. If you’d like to participate in the parade with us, please wear your Rotary shirt and meet us at Canyon Complex at 2:00. If you need a Rotary shirt, we have a couple XL and XXL available. If you’d like to chip in $20 to help with the entry fee, decorations, or candy, you can Venmo James.

Sep 24: Japan pt. 2, Homecoming Parade Sep 27, Trails Day Sep 28

James Wernicke will speak about the rest of his trip to Japan today: Osaka, Kyoto, and Hiroshima. If you can’t attend in person, please consider joining us on Zoom.

For a complete list of upcoming events, check out our calendar. to

Homecoming Parade Sep 27

We are seeking four adults to help walk in the parade. Please contact James Wernicke if you’re interested. The LAHS Interact club will also be participating with us and decorating the float on Wednesday, September 25, @ 4:00. Meet at the Canyon School parking lot at 1:30 PM on Saturday, September 27.

White Rock Canyon Cleanup Sep 28

Still haven’t found a volunteer event for Public Lands Day on September 28th? Join Los Alamos County Open Space and Trails as we work to maintain White Rock Canyon Rim Trails. Over the years a network of social trails have been created leading to increased erosion and damage to a fragile ecosystem. Work will consist of closing social trails, building water diversions, removing unwanted Siberian elm trees and trimming back trail side vegetation. More information on this project and ways to sign up here.

Finally, thanks to everybody who came out last weekend to clean up the LAHS Memorial Garden for Clean Up Los Alamos Day. It looks great!

Sep 17: Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Clean Up Los Alamos Day, Homecoming Parade

Sarah Piano will speak about Big Brothers Big Sisters at this week’s lunch meeting. Sarah is the Senior Director for the Northern New Mexico region. Big Brothers Big Sisters has a unique one-to-one mentoring experience which helps children achieve success in school, avoid risky behaviors, and improve their self-confidence. The organization started serving northern New Mexico in 1979 and continues to expand its impact. It has won Big Brothers Big Sisters Agency and Board of the Year awards as well as the Pinon Award from Santa Fe Community Foundation for its efforts. You can help by becoming a Big, donating at one of their clothing donation bins, and attending fundraising events. If you can’t attend in person, please consider joining us on Zoom.

Clean Up Los Alamos Day Sep 21

Join us on Saturday, September 21 at 9:00 AM to help clean up the LAHS Memorial Garden. The Memorial Garden honors students we lost during their high school years. It should be a fairly light effort if several people show up.

Homecoming Parade

We are seeking four adults to help walk in the parade. Please contact James Wernicke if you’re interested. The LAHS Interact club will also be participating with us and decorating the float on Wednesday, September 25, @ 4:00. Meet at the Canyon School parking lot at 1:30 PM on Saturday, September 27.

Sep 10: Wernicke On Japan, Eidenbenz on RYLA

Greetings Rotarians and Friends,

We have a couple events coming up in September. First, Clean Up Los Alamos Day is September 21. We’ll be meeting at LAHS Memorial Garden at 9:00 AM. Please bring your work gloves.

Next, we have the Homecoming Parade on Friday, September 27. We will be working with our Interact club to make a parade float. The theme this year is Carnaval de Rio. We look forward to your participation!

Yours in Rotary,

James Wernicke, Service Chair

This Week’s Speaker

September 10, 2024
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
United Church
Los Alamos, NM

James Wernicke will present on his summer vacation to Japan. Touring Japan offers a rich blend of ancient tradition and modern innovation. Visitors can explore historical landmarks like Kyoto’s temples and shrines, the iconic Mount Fuji, and the bustling streets of Tokyo, where cutting-edge technology meets vibrant cultural districts. Japan’s efficient transportation system, including the famous Shinkansen (bullet train), makes it easy to travel across the country. Travelers can also experience unique customs like tea ceremonies, relax in traditional ryokan inns, and enjoy local cuisine, from sushi to ramen. Each region offers its own charm, from the peaceful countryside to lively urban centers. If you can’t attend in person, please join us on Zoom.

Malin Eidenbenz will also give us an update on their experience at RYLA 2024.

This Week’s Helpers

Finemaster
TBD
Sergeant of Arms
TBD
Rotary Minute
TBD
Please send lunch orders to Greg Viola by 7:00 PM on Sunday.

Want to help out with our weekly duties? It would sure help lighten the load, and boy, wouldn’t that be nice for those who serve week after week? If you would like to help out, please let our Membership Chair Linda Bullock know.

Accessibility Issues?

The United Church has an elevator to the second floor. Park in the second lot next to Cañoncito Montessori School where the playground overlooks the lot, and use the sidewalk that runs parallel to Canyon Road to reach the door leading to the elevators.

Upcoming Events

Bi-District Conference

November 15-16, 2024
Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico

The Bi-District Conference is a two-day event that brings together Rotary clubs from northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. It provides a platform for clubs to present their Global Grant projects and seek funding from other attending clubs.

This collaborative approach has led to numerous successful Global Grants
over the years. The conference strengthens relationships between clubs across
international borders, fostering a spirit of cooperation and shared purpose.

Transportation will be provided from El Paso to the conference hotel in
Ciudad Juarez. Contact Donna Pedace for carpooling arrangements from other
locations. For more info, see this PDF.

Club Projects

Strive to Thrive

Join us in supporting a “Resiliency Course” to be constructed and implemented

For all students in Los Alamos Public Schools.

The Goal?

To help strengthen the mental health of our youth.

Why Support Us?

Boost students’ life skills by instilling focus, balance, determination and a whole host of valuable social-emotional abilities thus helping to improve: Self-Confidence, Esteem, Cooperation, Collaboration, Decision making, Communication Skills, Stress Reduction, Positive Risk-taking, Student Motivation, Social Cohesion, as well as Leadership, Goal Setting, and Teamwork

How can you help?

Your generous contribution will make a significant impact on our students’ lives. A check or this link will direct your tax deductible donation to Los Alamos Rotary 1312 Inc., our 501c3 charitable foundation, PO Box 986, Los Alamos, NM 87544.

Let’s strive together for a thriving community. For more information, contact Alison Pannell at (505)-570-0629 or livukenjani@gmail.com.

Rotary Youth Exchange

Welcome, Phillipine and Sena!

We are thrilled to welcome our two new Rotary Youth Exchange students, Phillipine from France and Sena from Japan. These bright and adventurous young people will spend the next year living with local families, attending our schools, and immersing themselves in our community. We’re excited to share our unique culture and experiences with them, and we know they’ll bring a fresh perspective and energy to our club. Let’s give Phillipine and Sena a warm Los Alamos welcome!

Service Opportunities

Ruidoso Fire Relief

We have received inquiries from clubs and members eager to know how they can contribute. We believe the most effective approach for our district is to send donations directly to the Ruidoso Club’s Foundation. This will enable the Ruidoso Rotarians to allocate funds to where and when they are most needed. Your willingness to help and participate fills us with pride. Please send your donations to the address provided below, and they will be forwarded to the President of the Ruidoso Club.

Rotary Club of Ruidoso Foundation
1711 Quail Run Ct NE
Albuquerque, NM 87122

Other News

Call For District Articles

D5520 Newsletter Editor Don Powell is requesting articles for the district newsletter Yucca. Keep your articles short and concise to help us produce a shorter newsletter. Photos are OK. Just remember to put down the names of the folks in the photo. We (the Yucca readers) would like to see flyers of your upcoming fundraisers and events and photos of the aftermath. We will inform you of the district happenings and upcoming events, conferences, seminars, training, etc.

Rotary Friendship Exchange

Would you like to be part of a team that will facilitate travel worldwide among Rotarians? Become part of the District’s Friendship Exchange team! Friendship Exchange is an international exchange program for Rotary members and friends that allows participants to take turns hosting one another in their homes and clubs. Visit the website or contact Fernando Lopez for more info.

Contact Us

info@rotarylosalamos.org