Rotary District 6760 Governor Dan McCormick honored Murfreesboro OB/GYN physician Jim Boerner Tuesday (10/30/2012) for his service above self with time and financial support of the international organization's foundation.
Polio Plus
Since the mid 80's, Rotary International has focused on eliminating polio around the world. Here in Murfreesboro, it was Dr. Boerner who got the Polio Plus program started. In fact, he has coordinated the local efforts of this project from the beginning.
When Polio Plus began, hundreds of thousands of young persons were being crippled with this dread disease. Now, almost three decades later, a total of 171 cases of polio were reported over the entire world as of October 17, 2012. That's down from over 650 cases reported this time last year. One of the final four nations, India, has now gone over a full-year without a new case of polio. Only Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan have recorded new cases.
World Peace
As the goal of wiping out polio nears, Rotary International is looking at other projects, and for several years there has been conversations about world peace. Current Rotary
International President Sakuji Tanaka is planning on Global Peace Forums being held at significant historical locations around the world.
These will be two to three day events to inspire both Rotarians and area leaders to seek peace through service. Reported sites include Berlin, Germany; Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; Hiroshima, Japan; and Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA.
The Murfreesboro Rotary Club was founded in 1919 and meets at noon every Tuesday at the Stones River Country Club.