Monday, September 24, 2012 - Bill Tubbs, Polio Eradication and Rotary International
Join us on Monday, September 24 as our guest speaker is Bill Tubbs. Bill will speak on his most recent trip to India during which 172 million
children received the oral polio vaccine in one three-day sweep. The trip coincided with the historic declaration that India was removed from the list of "polio endemic countries," but, as he will explain, the wild polio virus is alive and well in three other countries, and the battle against this crippling disease is not over! Bill has had the privilege of traveling the globe in Rotary service, including nine International Conventions, and has been a champion for Rotary's No. 1 goal of global polio eradication, including participation in National Immunization Days in Nigeria in 2007 and India in February 2012.
Bill Tubbs has been publisher of The North Scott Press newspaper in Eldridge since 1971. Under his leadership, the Press has grown to become one of the largest circulating weekly newspapers in the Midwest and is a consistent winner of state and national awards, including Iowa Newspaper of the Year, First in the Nation for Community Service, and Best Local News Coverage in the Nation. Bill is the recipient of the Iowa Newspaper Association's two highest awards: Master Editor-Publisher, and Distinguished Service. He is a past director of the Iowa Newspaper Association, and past president of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council. Bill and his wife, Linda, are recipients of the Iowa Governor's Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Service to Children in the Area of Literacy and Reading. Last year, Bill received the "Golden Dozen" editorial writing award in Coventry, England, from the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors.
In Rotary, Bill was a charter member of the Rotary Club of North Scott. He has maintained 38 years of Perfect Attendance, and he has sponsored 48 members. He is a Past Club President, Past District Governor, and served as North America Coordinator for Public Relations for four Rotary International presidents. He served as the Personal Aide for RI President Bill Boyd of New Zealand, and was the Official Representative of RI President John Kenney of Scotland, to the District 6910 Conference in Jekyll Island, Georgia. Currently he is the Assistant Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator for districts in Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois – in addition to numerous District 6000 committees, including Public Relations, Assistant Governor Team Leader, Vocational Service, Community Service and World Community Service. He is a Rotary Foundation Major Donor, Benefactor, Bequest Society Member, and a charter member of the District 6000 Paul Harris Society.