The flame was launched in Chennai, India, in December to celebrate India being polio-free and commemorate the 30th anniversary of PolioPlus. The torch has made its way through Colombo, Karachi, Kabul, Sydney, Taipei, Manila, London, and Lagos, and will make an additional stop in Toronto before the convention.
RI President Gary C.K. Huang lit the torch during a ceremony in front of the PolioPlus statue at One Rotary Center, attended by roughly 150 Rotary leaders, RI staff, community members, local Rotarians, and members of the Rotary Club of Madras, India, that created the flame.
Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair John Kenny noted the progress that has been made since Rotary launched the polio eradication campaign in 1985. “The fruits of our labor since that day are clear,” Kenny said. “Ninety-nine percent of the world’s population live in regions certified polio-free. The goal of eradication is closer than ever.”
The audience took a moment to sing happy birthday to Rotary member Mary Stitt, a frequent participant in National Immunization Day trips, who turned 90.
- Learn how you can help us end polio
- Read about the flame’s stop in Afghanistan
- See the torch in São Paulo. Register for the convention today
Heath Jordan, President Trustmark Wealth Management and David Martin, Sr. Vice President, spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson at its April 14, 2015 meeting. Messrs. Martin (2nd from left) and Jordan (2nd from right) are shown in the photo the right with club members Allison Parr (left) and Drew Cleland (right) at the meeting. Mr. Martin spoke on asset protection legislation recently passed in Mississippi and Mr. Jordan spoke about financial markets with a particular emphasis on the negative interest rates in Europe and the probems that can exist with a deflationary environment. We thank them very much for their very interesting presentation.
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Dr. Jay Dean, Director of the Mississippi Opera Orchestra, Professor of Music 
