Who and What We Are
The Rotary Club of Springfield was granted its Charter in 1967. Its members are business and professional men and women mostly from the Greater Springfield community. Prospective members are invited to join upon the recommendation of a Rotarian. The Rotary Club of Springfield has its own autonomous Foundation, the Springfield Rotary Foundation, that channels money garnered through several fund-raising events to local, national and international charities.

Rotary in Lisbon
Rotarians from around the world gather each year to exchange great ideas, connect with old and new friends, have fun, and advance the work of Rotary. The 2013 RI Convention will take place in Lisbon, Portugal, on June 23-26 .

From the bustling House of Friendship to breakout sessions to preconvention meetings, the RI Convention is your way to connect with the family of Rotary.

Council on Legislation Ends with Several Changes Approved
Rotary International's 2013 Council on Legislation concluded its business on April 26, after approving a US$1-a-year increase in per capita dues (starting in 2014), removing limits on e-clubs, and changing the name of the Fifth Avenue of Service to Youth Service.

The Council approved resolutions asking the RI Board to consider allowing grandchildren of Rotarians to be eligible for Rotary Foundation programs, and to waive the rules for Rotary grants so that family member of Rotarians affected by a natural disaster would be eligible.

The increase in dues was proposed by the RI Board based on a five-year financial forecast presented to the Board the previous week and shared with delegates on Sunday. According to the forecast, if there were no dues increase, RI’s deficit would grow to $9 million in 2018 and reduce the General Surplus Fund below the level required in the RI Bylaws.

With the dues increase, the deficit will fall to $5 million in 2018, according to the forecast, and the surplus fund will then stand at $88 million, above the mandated level.

$4 Billion Pledged to End Polio Now
Last April, at the Global Vaccine Summit, in Abu Dhabi, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) presented a comprehensive six-year plan to eradicate polio. Global leaders and individual philanthropists signaled their confidence in this new end game strategy by pledging close to three-quarters of the plan’s projected US$5.5 billion cost over six years.

The new plan capitalizes on the best opportunity to eradicate polio, with the number of children paralyzed by this disease at the lowest level ever: just 223 cases in 2012 and only 22 so far this year.

Where We Meet
The Rotary Club of Springfield meets on Thursdays at 12:15 PM at JW and Friends restaurant (6531 Backlick Road, Springfield VA, telephone 703-451-4556). Our next meeting will be on May 16 2013.

Bulletin
If you want to read/download the latest club bulletin, click here.