October 29 – Ted Trainer – Polio Plus
Dr. Ted Trainer has worked at the international, national, regional, state and local levels to advocate for health policies that allow children, older adults, and people living with disabilities to live their best lives. He worked with the United Nations and taught at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he also completed his Doctorate in Public Health.
He served as the first Program Manager for Rotary’s PolioPlus program from 1989 to 1997 and was responsible for establishing the public-private sector partnership to eradicate poliomyelitis and to propose the projects for spending the $240 million raised by Rotarians for this program.
He is a member of the Kennebunk Portside Rotary Club and joins us by Zoom from his home in Maine.
Program Chair – Renee Campbell
Meeting Location: Cedar Hall, Main Salem Alliance Building
President’s Message
October Wrapped: Four Months of Stories,
Service, and Global Connections
This week’s meeting marks the end of month four during the 2025-26 Rotary year. October has been a month of exploration and stories.
We explored the activities of four of our Club’s larger Committees:
Membership (17), Hands-On (22), World Community Service (18), and Youth Exchange (8). IF YOU ARE A CURRENT COMMITTEE CHAIR, PLEASE UPDATE YOUR DACDB COMMITTEE ROSTER WITH THE NAMES OF THE CURRENT MEMBERS AND DELETE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NO LONGER ON YOUR COMMITTEE. THIS INFORMATION IS IMPORTANT TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHO IS PARTICIPATING, WHO COULD BENEFIT FROM A COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT, AND WHICH CLUB COMMITTEES HAVE OPENINGS TO FILL.
We explored business and economic development in Marion and Polk Counties: Erik Andersson from (SEDCOR) Strategic Economic Development Corporation provided an update on business and economic changes occurring in our community. He also defined some business relationships that extend our local business footprints around the country and even globally.
We explored Uzbekistan and a multi-cultural wedding: Ron Keleman and his wife Kathy said “yes” to hosting an exchange student and we marveled at the traditions and the lavish ceremonial traditions. The stories Ron shared were vivid and as if they were happening right before our eyes.
We explored specific locations in Brazil: Luke Holliday returned to Salem after a Rotary exchange year spent in Brazil. Luke shared the highlights of his year including expensive cattle, pizza the Brazilian way, and fun activities with youth from all over the world brought together in Brazil by Rotary. Luke’s story was about youthful development and the wonderful perspective of seeing new cultures and experiencing new traditions.
This week we will explore the world of Polio prevention through the eyes of a Rotarian presenting from the other side of our nation: Ted Trainer will present to us from his home in Kennebunkport, ME. His story is many years in the making and will enlighten us about the Polio Plus prevention program led by Rotary and taken around the world.
Our club goal for contributions to Polio Plus is $10 per member for a total of $1,450. Well, it was $10 per member when I set the goal. We have lost a few members since that goal was established so it is actually $12 per member. As of Friday, October 23 Salem Rotary Club members had donated $466 to Polio Plus. Don’t hesitate to donate. Every dollar helps our push toward the goal.
Our weekly lunch meeting presentations are just one aspect of a successful Rotary Club. We need to continue to identify how we can become “hands-on involved” and seen in our community as People of Action, Rotarians at Work. If you know of a local need that 6, 8, or 10 Rotarians could help to satisfy please direct your idea to our Hands On committee chair Alicia Bay or any of the 22 members of her committee. Thank you. This will help us realize our goal of being the Club that gets things done!
See you on Wednesday!
President Doug Parham
Rotary Club of Salem
2025-2026
