To increase sustainable giving, the PolioPlus Society (PPS) encourages Rotary members and others to pledge at least US$100 per year to the PolioPlus Fund until polio is eradicated from the face of the earth.

Article by PDG Murray Verso, End Polio Now Coordinator

The PolioPlus Society is a new fundraising and recognition program in our zone. The program began in Oregon, USA in 2012. With the support of the Rotary Foundation Trustees, it is now being used successfully by districts around the world. Rotary members in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands can now participate.

The amazing progress made by Rotary and its partners towards eradicating polio is inspirational, but the job is not yet done. Raising the US$50 million each year to obtain the maximum Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 2-to-1 match is a challenge. Forming PolioPlus Societies in each district is one way of meeting this challenge.

What is the PolioPlus Society? Members of the PolioPlus Society (PPS) commit to pledging at least US$100 to the PolioPlus Fund per year until polio is completely eradicated worldwide. This may only be for a few years. The goals of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative are to see the last case of wild polio virus infection in 2023 and to stop the transmission of circulating vaccine derived polio this year. If these goals are achieved, and there is a very good evidence that they will be, we will then have to wait only another three years for the world to be certified free of polio.

Who administers the PolioPlus Society? Each PPS is managed by individual districts, in much the same way as the EREY/Centurion program for giving to the Annual Fund is managed. Each district appoints a PPS Coordinator who is often, but not necessarily, the District PolioPlus Chair. They receive application forms from new members, present them with membership certificates and lapel pins, maintain a list of Society members and send out reminders as required.

Joining your District’s PPS is a simple two-step process. Firstly, you will need to complete a PolioPlus Society Commitment Form and send it to your PolioPlus Society Coordinator. The forms are available from your district chair and on some district websites.

The second step is to make your contribution to the “Polio Fund” on the RI website: my.rotary.org/donate (for taxation reasons, New Zealanders contribute via their districts).

District 9800 PolioPlus Society Last month, District 9800 in Melbourne launched its PolioPlus Society with 50 members. Invitation to join was, and is, open to anyone. However, people known to have supported the polio cause in the past were sent personal invitations to be inaugural members. Each received a lapel pin and certificate of membership. The North Balwyn club, spurred on by past president Jane Pennington, the D9800 Polio Plus Society Coordinator, already has11 PPS members, probably more than any other club in our zone.

District Governors, Foundation Chairs and PolioPlus Chairs across Zone 8 are backing this initiative. Please consider joining your district’s PolioPlus Society and encourage your friends and colleagues to do the same until the world is declared polio-free by the World Health Organization

Your contributions will be matched 2-to-1 by the Gates Foundation and will count toward Paul Harris Fellow recognition and Major Donor status.