DG 7890 April Beston has a world wide Challenge to End Polio , by you and your club joining the Polio Plus Society! Join in on the competition!
Join me as I talk to those "amazing people turning their Actions 2 Impact all over the world. #BE THE CHANGE
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Episode Transcript
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SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
Hi there, everyone.
I'm Gwen Jones and welcome onceagain to the Action to Impact
podcast, that weekly podcastwhere every single week I
introduce you to fantasticpeople turning their actions
into impact.
Well, this week, the action is achallenge.
(00:20):
That's right.
A straight up polio challenge.
April Bestin is joining me.
She's one of the delinquents.
I've met I mentioned that groupbefore.
That's a group of, let's justsay, outrageously wonderful
district governors here in NewEngland.
They are shaking things up andmoving things in new directions.
(00:43):
So, of course, when April Bestinsaid, I have a challenge for not
only the rest of my delinquentsdistricts, but for the entire
world, I said, let's get on theshow and let's tell everybody.
I'm not sure if you know, but wehave a thing called the Polio
(01:04):
Society, and I think everybodyshould be a part of it.
I am.
Are you?
Well, that's kind of thechallenge right there.
April Bestin is joining me, andshe's got a challenge for
everyone in your club, in yourdistrict, in your zone, and
around the world to join thePolio Society.
(01:26):
It could not be a more importanttime to beef things up in the
world of polio eradication.
The challenge is on, so thankyou for joining us.
Welcome back to the podcast,everyone.
Well, there are times wherepeople come to me and say, I got
a show for you.
I have a show, Gwen.
(01:48):
And so I always say yes, or atleast nine times out of 10, I
do.
April Bestin, who happens to bea bestie of mine.
I know her quite well.
She's one of the first districtgovernors who came over and
introduced herself to me.
She's the new, brand new,spit-polished, clean, brand new
(02:08):
district governor for 7890.
You may recognize her voice fromwhen I was at assembly.
She was one of what they calledthe De A new genre of district
governors that are breaking themold and doing a whole bunch of
fun and exciting things.
And April got a hold of me andsaid, Gwen, I have a challenge.
(02:33):
I have a challenge not only forseveral districts so far, but I
would like this challenge to goaround the world.
And it's a challenge for thepolio plus society.
So I was like, okay, what thehell?
Let's do a podcast.
So without any further ado,April is joining us.
Thank you for being on the show.
(02:54):
Technically again.
SPEAKER_01 (02:57):
Yes.
Thank you for having me.
I'm so excited to be here.
SPEAKER_00 (03:00):
So technically again, but the last time you
were exhausted and in a roomwith a whole bunch of other
people and it was after assemblyand it was a lot of fun and, but
now you're wide awake, I assumeand ready to go.
SPEAKER_01 (03:14):
Yes.
I have coffee.
It's okay.
I have coffee today.
We're good to go.
We're good.
I'm awake.
I'm awake.
SPEAKER_00 (03:20):
Yes.
Well, before we talk about thechallenge, Madam Governor, how
are you doing so far?
This is being recorded like justa little over a week of the new
Rotary year.
How's it going so far?
SPEAKER_01 (03:32):
It's going fantastic.
It's still very new.
And I think I came to therealization last week that I was
actually governor.
After all this time of leadingup to it, you know, two and a
half years of lead up, I don'tthink you realize the day is
going to come when you getemails that say DG April.
And I'm like, who's that?
(03:53):
No, it's fantastic.
I have the best district in theworld.
So I couldn't ask for more.
And I'm super excited abouteverything that's going on.
And everything is going onRotary.
So, yeah, I'm hitting the groundrunning.
SPEAKER_00 (04:07):
And we're literally only about 10 days into it.
So it does really does have anew car smell.
If you think about it right nowand you know, you in, in 12
months, maybe we'll ask thatsame question again.
When do you go?
I'll be
SPEAKER_02 (04:22):
tired then.
SPEAKER_00 (04:23):
You'll be tired.
It'll be another one of thosetired interviews that we do.
When do you, when do you visityour first club?
Tomorrow.
Wow.
And, and who, and who will begraced by your presence, ma'am?
SPEAKER_01 (04:36):
West Hartford, West
SPEAKER_00 (04:37):
Hartford, Connecticut.
Yep.
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (04:40):
Yep.
And I have another one next weektoo.
So yeah.
Is
SPEAKER_00 (04:44):
that the part that you're looking forward to, to
actually get to go to all theclubs and see how they work and
how they're missioned?
SPEAKER_01 (04:51):
Yeah, I've been visiting clubs over the years,
so it's not a completely newexperience, of course.
But it'll be nice to beintentional about visiting every
club and getting to know as manyRotarians as possible in the
district.
And it's exciting because I lovepeople.
I love meeting new people.
I love laughing, having fun withRotarians.
(05:13):
So, you know, it feeds my soul,makes me happy.
So I'm really excited aboutthat.
SPEAKER_00 (05:19):
Now, it's interesting because I had the
pleasure of not only workingwith Johnny, one of your other
delinquents, but Emma and Poojais now my district governor.
And all of you have used thissame word.
And I don't know if you realizedthis.
And that is that you'reapproaching your...
(05:41):
district governorships withintention.
You just said it just now thatit's like, I'm really looking
forward to heading out with thisintention.
It's a very powerful word.
So before we start talking aboutthis wonderful challenge that
you have, everybody, why do youand your fellow delinquents use
(06:03):
that word intention so much?
What does it mean?
SPEAKER_01 (06:07):
What does that mean?
It means that I have a plan.
And I think that for me inparticular, that's not to pun, I
guess, not intended.
That is a challenge for mebecause sometimes I fly by the
seat of my pants.
Right.
So I think perhaps mydelinquents have challenged me
(06:29):
unintentionally.
There it is again to be better.
and to do things with intention.
So maybe they've rubbed off onme.
And, you know, I was veryfocused on picking a couple
things and doing them wellinstead of trying to do a
(06:51):
million things not as well,let's say.
So I guess that's what intentionmeans to me is, you know,
planning and being focused onthe things that truly matter to
me and just, you know, doing afew things well instead of a
hundred things halfway.
SPEAKER_00 (07:14):
Is that something we all should kind of look at?
Because you guys are in therefor 12 months.
I know there's this two years,you know, that this magical two
years that you supposedly aresupposed to dot every I and
cross every T and know exactlywhat's going on.
But those little initials infront of your name are only for
12 months.
And so it's very easy to want tojust throw a net out there and
(07:38):
try and do as much as possible.
So are you guys trying to lookat kind of a new way of thinking
about your year to do just a fewthings really, really well?
SPEAKER_01 (07:48):
Well, that's the way I'm looking at it.
But I think as a group, we'realso looking at doing things
together.
And I think that's reallyimportant is to work together.
outside of your bubble, whetherit be your club working with
multiple clubs or your districtworking with multiple districts,
because there's power innumbers, right?
(08:09):
So
SPEAKER_02 (08:09):
I
SPEAKER_01 (08:10):
think that's also something that we've committed
to.
And in that, going back to whatyou asked, doing a few things
well and just picking thoseimportant things, which right
now, you know, membership is abig one, right?
SPEAKER_02 (08:25):
And
SPEAKER_01 (08:27):
marketing and things like that.
So picking a few reallyimportant things, the things
that are really, that we need todo well right now as Rotarians
in North America.
So, but yeah, I think that'ssomething we're all looking at
doing.
SPEAKER_00 (08:40):
Cool.
Well, you did say in there, inthat answer, working clubs,
working with other clubs anddistricts, working with other
districts, which as they say inthe business is an excellent
lead in to the why you wantedyour very own show and not your
own podcast.
You can't have this one.
(09:01):
I'm going to keep this one for alittle while, but you wanted
your own episode.
And it's because you're workingwith other districts in this
challenge.
So, Madame, the floor is yours.
What's this big challenge?
SPEAKER_01 (09:15):
So yes, this big challenge is Polio Plus Society.
So for those that don't know,the Polio Plus Society is
something that districts canchoose to do where members
commit to give$100 a year to thePolio Plus campaign.
Simple as that.
And what the challenge is, isbetween districts who can
(09:36):
increase the percentage of PolioPlus Society members the most by
the end of the Rotary year.
So simple
SPEAKER_00 (09:43):
as that.
So end of June, June 30th, 2026.
Yes.
So I am a member of the PolioPlus Society.
I have to.
Thank you.
And what I find fascinating isthat you don't even have to
think about it.
They just do it every year.
They take my hundred bucks andthey say, thank you.
(10:04):
I'm also in every Rotarian everyyear, but I mean, but it kind of
does both.
So.
and I kind of threw that outthere real quick.
Do you know, you know, asdistrict governor about every
Rotarian every year, is thatcorrect?
Okay.
So if you don't mind, I'll,I'll, I'll tell our listeners,
but your group, your club,everybody gets kudos from Rotary
(10:30):
International for if everybodyin your club gives to Rotary.
polio plus so and if you do itso every Rotarian every year so
in my old club our club gave$25on everybody's birthday to polio
plus making every Rotarian everyyear so just throwing that out
(10:53):
there you guys so every so thatgave kudos so this actually goes
above and beyond that with ahundred bucks And do you know
any background about thesociety, when it was started,
anything like that?
SPEAKER_01 (11:09):
I don't know when the Polio Plus Society was
started, but it's still notofficially tracked by Rotary
International.
So it's up to the districts totrack it themselves, similar to
the Paul Harris Society.
That's newly tracked by RotaryInternational through reporting.
So I think it's been a looselyheld thing.
Society by Rotary Internationalfor the past several years so it
(11:32):
came to my attention probablythree or four years ago but of
course I believe it's older thanthat so that's a tough one I'll
have to get back to you
SPEAKER_02 (11:41):
on.
SPEAKER_00 (11:41):
So besides getting a beautiful certificate mine's
around here somewhere yeah and abeautiful pin and all that kind
of stuff do you think right nowit's important that we're need
to spend a little time on polioplus this is the first time in a
long time we had michaelmcgovern on the show not too
(12:01):
long ago saying that we'veactually had an increase so is
that why you're kind of gettinginto this again
SPEAKER_01 (12:08):
i'll answer the first part of your question
first i think it's moreimportant than ever that we talk
about polio right now for acouple of reasons.
First, there is the phenomenonof polio fatigue where we've
been at this for 40 years.
So I think there are someRotarians or people in general
(12:29):
who are like, you know, well,we're almost there.
So, you know, there's otherthings we need to do.
Let's move on and, you know,talk about something else.
But now more than ever, we needto cross the finish line and we
need to finish strong because ifwe don't, we could in the next
10 years, see 200,000 childrenparalyzed a year if we stop
(12:53):
right now.
So we'd be almost back to wherewe were back in 1988 when we
started.
So we need to keep going untilthere's zero cases of wild polio
per year.
So it's more important than everto keep going and to keep our
promise to the world that wewould eradicate this disease.
(13:13):
And we've come so far, there'sno reason to stop now.
When it takes so little.
SPEAKER_00 (13:18):
I do love it.
That the Gates Foundation.
Said we're still sticking withyou.
Because up to.
Just a couple of months ago.
We in Rotary weren't sure.
It was not the quote unquote.
Most politically.
Happy stance to take.
To be a pro vaccinated.
(13:41):
Pro vaccine society.
Do you think.
that we should hang on andembrace that emblem of being a
pro-vaccination, civilorganization, giving
organization around the world?
SPEAKER_01 (13:58):
Yeah, absolutely.
I 100% agree.
I mean, personally, I ampro-vaccine.
I vaccinate my own children.
So that's me talking personally.
But look, let's look at wherewe've come from.
You know, we did this, so itworks.
We can show the numbers.
There were 350,000 cases ofpolio every year when we started
this back in the 80s.
And now, what, even last year,there were 99.
(14:20):
Right.
That's less than 100.
This year, there's been, Ibelieve, 13 or, you know, a
dozen or so, let's say.
It works.
We did that.
You know, and, you know, theprocesses and the we have in
place can be used to vaccinateagainst other diseases in the
future.
So it's not just polio.
(14:42):
We can eradicate other diseases.
We can, right now we're givingout vitamin A, which is saving
lives in other parts of theworld with the vaccine.
So it's not just polio.
So we have, it absolutely works.
So yes, we should keep going andwe should be a pro-vaccine or we
should hold a pro-vaccine stance100% because we can show the
(15:03):
proof.
SPEAKER_00 (15:05):
So what, so this challenge is to be, to have your
club or your district.
Well, they're both the same, butso we're speaking to both
presidents right now anddistrict governors and others
are hearing my voice right now.
So how would they join thechallenge?
SPEAKER_01 (15:24):
Okay.
So it's really easy.
They're going to email polioplus challenge at gmail.com and
say, I want to be a part ofthis.
Okay.
That's it.
And
SPEAKER_00 (15:35):
I will get back.
PolioPlusChallenge at gmail.com.
So all one thing.
PolioPlusChallenge at gmail.
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (15:42):
Yep.
That's it.
And they say, I want to be partof the challenge.
And then they'll be part of thechallenge.
That's it.
And it costs them nothing.
And all they have to do isencourage their members to be.
And that would be hopefully thedistrict governor or PolioPlus
chair would reach out for that.
So far, we have 16 districtsparticipating, so tens of
(16:06):
thousands of
SPEAKER_00 (16:07):
Rotarians out there.
Are those all just in NorthAmerica, or are they around the
world?
SPEAKER_01 (16:14):
So far, we're in North America, but I would love
to see Rotarians on everycontinent being part of this.
SPEAKER_00 (16:22):
Because we have a national polio day.
We have a day of service aroundpolio, and And it's in October.
I wonder why this isn't part ofthat.
I mean, it's funny.
It's kind of like we have thesetwo different things that are
(16:43):
going on.
We have this society.
We have the Paul Harris.
You can be a Rotarian.
And we have a lot of stuff aboutthe Paul Harris societies all
the way up to the Klump Society,right?
Big, following, cool pins,special dinners, all that kind
of stuff.
So now we have this society forpolio plus.
(17:06):
How come it doesn't get thesame?
SPEAKER_01 (17:08):
That's a really good question.
I don't have an answer to, but Iwill say the thing I'd like
about the polio plus society isit's so attainable for so many
Rotarians at a hundred dollars.
So that makes it attractive forme
SPEAKER_02 (17:22):
because
SPEAKER_01 (17:23):
there's a lot of members.
Let's be honest, who just can'tafford a thousand dollars a year
to be part of the Paul hairsociety.
And if we're going to expand ournet to include everybody, we
have to see that, you know, noteveryone's wealthy and can
afford a thousand dollars ayear, but you know,$10 a month
through Rotary Direct issomething that a good portion of
(17:44):
Rotarians in North America canafford.
So, you know, it's a great wayto reach out to people and make
them part of something.
So
SPEAKER_00 (17:52):
that's what- But to get to other levels of a Paul
Harris is$1,000.
However, you can just be a PaulHarris fellow and technically
not give again.
Yes.
However, this polio society is$100 a year.
(18:14):
Is that correct?
That is absolutely correct.
Because I was sitting theregoing, damn, I'm like four years
behind then on more Paul Harris,$1,000.
And I'm sure- the foundationwould happily let me catch up.
SPEAKER_01 (18:29):
Yes.
There's difference between PaulHarris fellow and Paul Harris
society.
Right.
That is true.
A little confusing, but youknow, the two are separate.
So
SPEAKER_00 (18:38):
we just, and we just had Rebecca on if you're
followers of the show, all thisstuff.
And I do think it's reallyimportant to have people know
that, The end polio project isdifferent from the Rotary
Foundation, even though theyboth go under the same umbrella.
So if you're giving to this, ifyou're part of this challenge,
(18:59):
it's not the same as thefoundation.
SPEAKER_01 (19:03):
Yeah, yeah.
So I, of course, encourageeverybody to give to the annual
fund as well.
SPEAKER_00 (19:08):
Absolutely.
So like, what do you want to seehappen?
You're, you're throwing down thechallenge here.
So what, what is your goal inthis challenge besides, you
know, this was your intention todo it this year, as we already
talked about, but what, whatreally do you want to, what do
you want to accomplish withthis?
SPEAKER_01 (19:25):
Yeah.
Well, you know, as you know,it's hard times for global aid
around the world.
You know, we're seeing a lot ofcuts to the world health
organization, USA, things likethat, things we depend on for
polio eradication.
And this is, now more than everis needed.
More funds for polioeradication.
(19:46):
So I'm hoping that in our smallway, these tens of thousands of
Rotarians can help fill in thegap.
So that's part of it.
I think it was not my intentionwhen I had this crazy idea, but
it's prescient, right?
So here we go.
There's also the awareness, youknow, reminding people as we
(20:08):
started with remindingRotarians, it's still important
that we cross the finish lineand also that we keep our
promise to the world toeradicate polio and we get
people jazzed about it.
And there's nothing, nothingbetter than a little friendly
competition to do that.
So.
SPEAKER_00 (20:27):
You brought up a couple of times that we keep our
promise.
Do you think that is, is that avery, rotary kind of point that
we said we were going to dothis.
And so help us.
We're going to finish.
SPEAKER_01 (20:41):
Oh yeah.
Oh yeah.
And that you'll see that in the,I'm stealing it from the
literature from Empolio now.orgthat we keep our promise to
children of the world to Empolioand not just polio.
And again, we're setting up, Youknow, yes, polio is our
immediate concern, but it's notjust polio.
You know, we can use what we'velearned from polio eradication
(21:03):
to continue to eradicate otherdiseases.
You know, at the InternationalConvention, there was a talk of
curing cervical cancerthrough...
vaccines, hepatitis vaccines.
So, you know, we can use what wehave in place to continue to do
more good in the world and toeradicate other diseases and
(21:25):
cancers.
I mean, can you imagine beingthe organization that cured
cancer?
You know, that's what's so coolabout being a Rotarian, you
know?
Who gets to be part of anorganization that cured a
disease, for goodness sakes?
You know, I mean, that's what Isay to people.
It's like, we cured a disease.
What did you do?
SPEAKER_00 (21:43):
You know, picked up trash on the side of the yard.
Exactly.
Yes.
And we gave toys to kids, youknow, so it's like, arguably.
So, so you did mention reallyquickly and I, and I know you're
a busy person, so I won't keepyou much longer, but you
mentioned polio fatigue.
(22:04):
Is that One of the reasons,first of all, I think it's funny
that we have polio fatiguebecause I will use my words.
That means we've become spoiled.
My words, because we're notseeing it anymore.
I think here in North America,and I will say here in the
United States, even thoughsomebody says, don't touch the
(22:27):
burner, don't touch the burner.
We famously only believesomething is hot till after we
touch a burner.
Okay.
So, and I think that's very muchus.
So when you said this fatigue,is it because we just don't see
it anymore?
Yes.
I've got bigger things to worryabout Gwen and April.
(22:49):
I don't have time for this.
I don't see crippled people onthe side of the road.
Is that really where we're
SPEAKER_01 (22:56):
at?
It really is.
And I think it's ironic becauseI think if people talked about
it, they know people who hadpolio.
They know a lot of people whohad polio.
They may not be paralyzed, butthey have polio.
I mean, you look at, and this isnot political, but when there
was talk of stopping the poliovaccinations by certain
(23:18):
political figures, MitchMcConnell came right out and was
like, hey, I have polio.
UNKNOWN (23:24):
Right.
SPEAKER_01 (23:24):
It's everywhere.
We had a case in New York in2022, you know, and we may see
more if vaccinations stop inthis country.
And just like we've seen measlesand other diseases returning
that have been eradicated fordecades, you know.
So, yeah, I think we need tokeep going and we need to be
advocates, you know, and Rotaryhas chosen this as our biggest
(23:48):
initiative.
So it's, you know, I feel aresponsibility as a Rotarian to
be an advocate for theeradication of polio, obviously.
And I hope that most Rotariansfeel the same.
SPEAKER_00 (24:00):
Do you know somebody?
Is it because of the fact thatyou know somebody that you've
taken this on?
Has it been in your
SPEAKER_01 (24:06):
family?
So, I mean, I do know somebody.
Of course, my good friend andyours, Ramesh Ferris, is a polio
survivor and fellow districtgovernor.
And he, of course, is aninspiration to me every day.
SPEAKER_00 (24:19):
Somebody who actually does crawl around to
show you what a crippled personcrawling around looks like.
Yes, he does.
Yes.
He was kind
SPEAKER_01 (24:26):
enough to come all the way from the Yukon to my
installation in Massachusetts.
So, and did his wonderfulpresentation where he, you know,
shows us what polio can do.
I won't ruin it because I knowhe likes to make an entrance.
So, but yeah, so, you know, andhe's an inspiration to me every
(24:46):
day and a, you know, he handcycled across Canada.
Come on.
Yeah.
So go and polio now.org to learnmore about Ramesh.
He's a fantastic person.
And I did, I found out at myinstallation, Ramesh asked if
anyone knew somebody who hadpolio and a lot of hands went
up.
Mine did not, but my mom's did.
Apparently my great grandfatherhad polio and I never knew.
(25:07):
Wow.
Wow.
You know, so we're all, youknow, we've all been touched by
it, you know, so, and that'sjust something in my family I
never knew about.
And I mean, yes, it was a fewgenerations ago, but still, you
know, I, if I was at aconference last September, the
zone 28 and 32 conference, and Imust've met probably a half a
(25:27):
dozen people who have polio andyou'd never know.
So yeah, absolutely.
Yep.
So there's sort of people thatkeep you going.
SPEAKER_00 (25:37):
So the challenge is what?
One more time.
So you're now officiallyspeaking to everyone in my
listening audience.
What is your challenge, April?
SPEAKER_01 (25:48):
Yes, the challenge is the district out there who
increased has the highestpercentage of Polio Plus Society
members.
By the end of this Rotary year,June 2026, we'll win a fabulous
prize of a fancy banner sayingthey are the winners of this
fantastic contest.
And if you're interested inparticipating, if your
district's interested in joiningthe challenge, all they have to
(26:11):
do is email poliopluschallengeat gmail.com.
Awesome.
SPEAKER_00 (26:17):
And this is not just North America, which by the way
is Canada and Mexico.
Yes.
Anywhere in the world.
Anywhere in the world.
So can we get some numbersduring October and see how many
you have?
Because right now, how manydistricts you have right now?
There's 12.
16.
16.
(26:37):
Oh my God.
I was shorting you.
Four.
I will not do that.
And Any other supportive wordsfor like the rest of the of the
newbies out there that aredistrict that are excuse me, not
district conferencing, but ournew district governors.
You got you now you havecomrades in arms.
(27:00):
Are you?
Yes.
Any words of wisdom?
SPEAKER_01 (27:03):
Yeah, I would say reach out to each other for
support and lean on the peoplein your district.
Don't do it alone.
You have so many people outthere willing to hold your hand
and help you through it.
So lean on them.
SPEAKER_00 (27:15):
Miss April, thank you for being on the show.
This was fun.
This was fun.
I hope people are going to lookat the society.
So we had, you know, if you'refans and longtime listeners of
the show, we talked aboutvaccines and the problems that
they have.
We've talked about, not that thevaccines have, but the
reputation that has nowoccurred.
(27:37):
We now have this Polio PlusChallenge program.
Hopefully it can fight thefatigue.
Hopefully just some pure ego.
We did something better than youcan bring away some of that
polio fatigue and get us overthe line.
(27:57):
Yes.
Thank you, Gwen.
Thank you.
And I really do mean thosewords.
I think we do have poliofatigue.
I think there's a lot of peoplethat are just like, oh, come on.
We had like four people.
That's not a lot.
Well, it's not a lot.
So let's push it over the edgeand get it done.
(28:20):
Okay, let's get it done.
Let's get it done.
Thank you, April, for being onthe show.
That challenge is out there.
Ladies and gentlemen, they's andthem's all over the world that
can hear my voice.
Join the challenge for the PolioPlus Society.
You get a pin, you get acertificate, but you get to get
(28:43):
us over the line.
And we need it because there'slots of other things that we can
take on.
Let's get it done.
like the environment or malariaor education or clean water or
peace.
Oh yeah, peace.
Another big thing that thefoundation does.
So come on, join the society,join the challenge.
(29:07):
Let's get us over the finishline so we can move on to other
ways that Rotary can bringpeace.
beauty and wonder and magic andjust greatness to the world.
All right, then that is it forme.
Thanks again, April.
And thank you out there forlistening to this podcast every
(29:29):
single week.
It is a labor of love and I doreally enjoy doing it.
And I'm so humbled that you'reout there listening.
If you'd like to check out mymore musical side, do feel free
to check out Rotary Radio UK.
They even have an app.
So cool.
And until next week, please takecare of yourself and the world
(29:52):
around you.
And we'll hear you next time onthe Action to Impact podcast.
Have a great week, everybody.
Hi there, everyone.
I'm Gwen Jones and welcome onceagain to the Action to Impact
podcast, that weekly podcastwhere every single week I
introduce you to fantasticpeople turning their actions
into impact.
Well, this week, the action is achallenge.
(00:20):
That's right.
A straight up polio challenge.
April Bestin is joining me.
She's one of the delinquents.
I've met I mentioned that groupbefore.
That's a group of, let's justsay, outrageously wonderful
district governors here in NewEngland.
They are shaking things up andmoving things in new directions.
(00:43):
So, of course, when April Bestinsaid, I have a challenge for not
only the rest of my delinquentsdistricts, but for the entire
world, I said, let's get on theshow and let's tell everybody.
I'm not sure if you know, but wehave a thing called the Polio
(01:04):
Society, and I think everybodyshould be a part of it.
I am.
Are you?
Well, that's kind of thechallenge right there.
April Bestin is joining me, andshe's got a challenge for
everyone in your club, in yourdistrict, in your zone, and
around the world to join thePolio Society.
(01:26):
It could not be a more importanttime to beef things up in the
world of polio eradication.
The challenge is on, so thankyou for joining us.
Welcome back to the podcast,everyone.
Well, there are times wherepeople come to me and say, I got
a show for you.
I have a show, Gwen.
(01:48):
And so I always say yes, or atleast nine times out of 10, I
do.
April Bestin, who happens to bea bestie of mine.
I know her quite well.
She's one of the first districtgovernors who came over and
introduced herself to me.
She's the new, brand new,spit-polished, clean, brand new
(02:08):
district governor for 7890.
You may recognize her voice fromwhen I was at assembly.
She was one of what they calledthe De A new genre of district
governors that are breaking themold and doing a whole bunch of
fun and exciting things.
And April got a hold of me andsaid, Gwen, I have a challenge.
(02:33):
I have a challenge not only forseveral districts so far, but I
would like this challenge to goaround the world.
And it's a challenge for thepolio plus society.
So I was like, okay, what thehell?
Let's do a podcast.
So without any further ado,April is joining us.
Thank you for being on the show.
(02:54):
Technically again.
SPEAKER_01 (02:57):
Yes.
Thank you for having me.
I'm so excited to be here.
SPEAKER_00 (03:00):
So technically again, but the last time you
were exhausted and in a roomwith a whole bunch of other
people and it was after assemblyand it was a lot of fun and, but
now you're wide awake, I assumeand ready to go.
SPEAKER_01 (03:14):
Yes.
I have coffee.
It's okay.
I have coffee today.
We're good to go.
We're good.
I'm awake.
I'm awake.
SPEAKER_00 (03:20):
Yes.
Well, before we talk about thechallenge, Madam Governor, how
are you doing so far?
This is being recorded like justa little over a week of the new
Rotary year.
How's it going so far?
SPEAKER_01 (03:32):
It's going fantastic.
It's still very new.
And I think I came to therealization last week that I was
actually governor.
After all this time of leadingup to it, you know, two and a
half years of lead up, I don'tthink you realize the day is
going to come when you getemails that say DG April.
And I'm like, who's that?
(03:53):
No, it's fantastic.
I have the best district in theworld.
So I couldn't ask for more.
And I'm super excited abouteverything that's going on.
And everything is going onRotary.
So, yeah, I'm hitting the groundrunning.
SPEAKER_00 (04:07):
And we're literally only about 10 days into it.
So it does really does have anew car smell.
If you think about it right nowand you know, you in, in 12
months, maybe we'll ask thatsame question again.
When do you go?
I'll be
SPEAKER_02 (04:22):
tired then.
SPEAKER_00 (04:23):
You'll be tired.
It'll be another one of thosetired interviews that we do.
When do you, when do you visityour first club?
Tomorrow.
Wow.
And, and who, and who will begraced by your presence, ma'am?
SPEAKER_01 (04:36):
West Hartford, West
SPEAKER_00 (04:37):
Hartford, Connecticut.
Yep.
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (04:40):
Yep.
And I have another one next weektoo.
So yeah.
Is
SPEAKER_00 (04:44):
that the part that you're looking forward to, to
actually get to go to all theclubs and see how they work and
how they're missioned?
SPEAKER_01 (04:51):
Yeah, I've been visiting clubs over the years,
so it's not a completely newexperience, of course.
But it'll be nice to beintentional about visiting every
club and getting to know as manyRotarians as possible in the
district.
And it's exciting because I lovepeople.
I love meeting new people.
I love laughing, having fun withRotarians.
(05:13):
So, you know, it feeds my soul,makes me happy.
So I'm really excited aboutthat.
SPEAKER_00 (05:19):
Now, it's interesting because I had the
pleasure of not only workingwith Johnny, one of your other
delinquents, but Emma and Poojais now my district governor.
And all of you have used thissame word.
And I don't know if you realizedthis.
And that is that you'reapproaching your...
(05:41):
district governorships withintention.
You just said it just now thatit's like, I'm really looking
forward to heading out with thisintention.
It's a very powerful word.
So before we start talking aboutthis wonderful challenge that
you have, everybody, why do youand your fellow delinquents use
(06:03):
that word intention so much?
What does it mean?
SPEAKER_01 (06:07):
What does that mean?
It means that I have a plan.
And I think that for me inparticular, that's not to pun, I
guess, not intended.
That is a challenge for mebecause sometimes I fly by the
seat of my pants.
Right.
So I think perhaps mydelinquents have challenged me
(06:29):
unintentionally.
There it is again to be better.
and to do things with intention.
So maybe they've rubbed off onme.
And, you know, I was veryfocused on picking a couple
things and doing them wellinstead of trying to do a
(06:51):
million things not as well,let's say.
So I guess that's what intentionmeans to me is, you know,
planning and being focused onthe things that truly matter to
me and just, you know, doing afew things well instead of a
hundred things halfway.
SPEAKER_00 (07:14):
Is that something we all should kind of look at?
Because you guys are in therefor 12 months.
I know there's this two years,you know, that this magical two
years that you supposedly aresupposed to dot every I and
cross every T and know exactlywhat's going on.
But those little initials infront of your name are only for
12 months.
And so it's very easy to want tojust throw a net out there and
(07:38):
try and do as much as possible.
So are you guys trying to lookat kind of a new way of thinking
about your year to do just a fewthings really, really well?
SPEAKER_01 (07:48):
Well, that's the way I'm looking at it.
But I think as a group, we'realso looking at doing things
together.
And I think that's reallyimportant is to work together.
outside of your bubble, whetherit be your club working with
multiple clubs or your districtworking with multiple districts,
because there's power innumbers, right?
(08:09):
So
SPEAKER_02 (08:09):
I
SPEAKER_01 (08:10):
think that's also something that we've committed
to.
And in that, going back to whatyou asked, doing a few things
well and just picking thoseimportant things, which right
now, you know, membership is abig one, right?
SPEAKER_02 (08:25):
And
SPEAKER_01 (08:27):
marketing and things like that.
So picking a few reallyimportant things, the things
that are really, that we need todo well right now as Rotarians
in North America.
So, but yeah, I think that'ssomething we're all looking at
doing.
SPEAKER_00 (08:40):
Cool.
Well, you did say in there, inthat answer, working clubs,
working with other clubs anddistricts, working with other
districts, which as they say inthe business is an excellent
lead in to the why you wantedyour very own show and not your
own podcast.
You can't have this one.
(09:01):
I'm going to keep this one for alittle while, but you wanted
your own episode.
And it's because you're workingwith other districts in this
challenge.
So, Madame, the floor is yours.
What's this big challenge?
SPEAKER_01 (09:15):
So yes, this big challenge is Polio Plus Society.
So for those that don't know,the Polio Plus Society is
something that districts canchoose to do where members
commit to give$100 a year to thePolio Plus campaign.
Simple as that.
And what the challenge is, isbetween districts who can
(09:36):
increase the percentage of PolioPlus Society members the most by
the end of the Rotary year.
So simple
SPEAKER_00 (09:43):
as that.
So end of June, June 30th, 2026.
Yes.
So I am a member of the PolioPlus Society.
I have to.
Thank you.
And what I find fascinating isthat you don't even have to
think about it.
They just do it every year.
They take my hundred bucks andthey say, thank you.
(10:04):
I'm also in every Rotarian everyyear, but I mean, but it kind of
does both.
So.
and I kind of threw that outthere real quick.
Do you know, you know, asdistrict governor about every
Rotarian every year, is thatcorrect?
Okay.
So if you don't mind, I'll,I'll, I'll tell our listeners,
but your group, your club,everybody gets kudos from Rotary
(10:30):
International for if everybodyin your club gives to Rotary.
polio plus so and if you do itso every Rotarian every year so
in my old club our club gave$25on everybody's birthday to polio
plus making every Rotarian everyyear so just throwing that out
(10:53):
there you guys so every so thatgave kudos so this actually goes
above and beyond that with ahundred bucks And do you know
any background about thesociety, when it was started,
anything like that?
SPEAKER_01 (11:09):
I don't know when the Polio Plus Society was
started, but it's still notofficially tracked by Rotary
International.
So it's up to the districts totrack it themselves, similar to
the Paul Harris Society.
That's newly tracked by RotaryInternational through reporting.
So I think it's been a looselyheld thing.
Society by Rotary Internationalfor the past several years so it
(11:32):
came to my attention probablythree or four years ago but of
course I believe it's older thanthat so that's a tough one I'll
have to get back to you
SPEAKER_02 (11:41):
on.
SPEAKER_00 (11:41):
So besides getting a beautiful certificate mine's
around here somewhere yeah and abeautiful pin and all that kind
of stuff do you think right nowit's important that we're need
to spend a little time on polioplus this is the first time in a
long time we had michaelmcgovern on the show not too
(12:01):
long ago saying that we'veactually had an increase so is
that why you're kind of gettinginto this again
SPEAKER_01 (12:08):
i'll answer the first part of your question
first i think it's moreimportant than ever that we talk
about polio right now for acouple of reasons.
First, there is the phenomenonof polio fatigue where we've
been at this for 40 years.
So I think there are someRotarians or people in general
(12:29):
who are like, you know, well,we're almost there.
So, you know, there's otherthings we need to do.
Let's move on and, you know,talk about something else.
But now more than ever, we needto cross the finish line and we
need to finish strong because ifwe don't, we could in the next
10 years, see 200,000 childrenparalyzed a year if we stop
(12:53):
right now.
So we'd be almost back to wherewe were back in 1988 when we
started.
So we need to keep going untilthere's zero cases of wild polio
per year.
So it's more important than everto keep going and to keep our
promise to the world that wewould eradicate this disease.
(13:13):
And we've come so far, there'sno reason to stop now.
When it takes so little.
SPEAKER_00 (13:18):
I do love it.
That the Gates Foundation.
Said we're still sticking withyou.
Because up to.
Just a couple of months ago.
We in Rotary weren't sure.
It was not the quote unquote.
Most politically.
Happy stance to take.
To be a pro vaccinated.
(13:41):
Pro vaccine society.
Do you think.
that we should hang on andembrace that emblem of being a
pro-vaccination, civilorganization, giving
organization around the world?
SPEAKER_01 (13:58):
Yeah, absolutely.
I 100% agree.
I mean, personally, I ampro-vaccine.
I vaccinate my own children.
So that's me talking personally.
But look, let's look at wherewe've come from.
You know, we did this, so itworks.
We can show the numbers.
There were 350,000 cases ofpolio every year when we started
this back in the 80s.
And now, what, even last year,there were 99.
(14:20):
Right.
That's less than 100.
This year, there's been, Ibelieve, 13 or, you know, a
dozen or so, let's say.
It works.
We did that.
You know, and, you know, theprocesses and the we have in
place can be used to vaccinateagainst other diseases in the
future.
So it's not just polio.
(14:42):
We can eradicate other diseases.
We can, right now we're givingout vitamin A, which is saving
lives in other parts of theworld with the vaccine.
So it's not just polio.
So we have, it absolutely works.
So yes, we should keep going andwe should be a pro-vaccine or we
should hold a pro-vaccine stance100% because we can show the
(15:03):
proof.
SPEAKER_00 (15:05):
So what, so this challenge is to be, to have your
club or your district.
Well, they're both the same, butso we're speaking to both
presidents right now anddistrict governors and others
are hearing my voice right now.
So how would they join thechallenge?
SPEAKER_01 (15:24):
Okay.
So it's really easy.
They're going to email polioplus challenge at gmail.com and
say, I want to be a part ofthis.
Okay.
That's it.
And
SPEAKER_00 (15:35):
I will get back.
PolioPlusChallenge at gmail.com.
So all one thing.
PolioPlusChallenge at gmail.
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (15:42):
Yep.
That's it.
And they say, I want to be partof the challenge.
And then they'll be part of thechallenge.
That's it.
And it costs them nothing.
And all they have to do isencourage their members to be.
And that would be hopefully thedistrict governor or PolioPlus
chair would reach out for that.
So far, we have 16 districtsparticipating, so tens of
(16:06):
thousands of
SPEAKER_00 (16:07):
Rotarians out there.
Are those all just in NorthAmerica, or are they around the
world?
SPEAKER_01 (16:14):
So far, we're in North America, but I would love
to see Rotarians on everycontinent being part of this.
SPEAKER_00 (16:22):
Because we have a national polio day.
We have a day of service aroundpolio, and And it's in October.
I wonder why this isn't part ofthat.
I mean, it's funny.
It's kind of like we have thesetwo different things that are
(16:43):
going on.
We have this society.
We have the Paul Harris.
You can be a Rotarian.
And we have a lot of stuff aboutthe Paul Harris societies all
the way up to the Klump Society,right?
Big, following, cool pins,special dinners, all that kind
of stuff.
So now we have this society forpolio plus.
(17:06):
How come it doesn't get thesame?
SPEAKER_01 (17:08):
That's a really good question.
I don't have an answer to, but Iwill say the thing I'd like
about the polio plus society isit's so attainable for so many
Rotarians at a hundred dollars.
So that makes it attractive forme
SPEAKER_02 (17:22):
because
SPEAKER_01 (17:23):
there's a lot of members.
Let's be honest, who just can'tafford a thousand dollars a year
to be part of the Paul hairsociety.
And if we're going to expand ournet to include everybody, we
have to see that, you know, noteveryone's wealthy and can
afford a thousand dollars ayear, but you know,$10 a month
through Rotary Direct issomething that a good portion of
(17:44):
Rotarians in North America canafford.
So, you know, it's a great wayto reach out to people and make
them part of something.
So
SPEAKER_00 (17:52):
that's what- But to get to other levels of a Paul
Harris is$1,000.
However, you can just be a PaulHarris fellow and technically
not give again.
Yes.
However, this polio society is$100 a year.
(18:14):
Is that correct?
That is absolutely correct.
Because I was sitting theregoing, damn, I'm like four years
behind then on more Paul Harris,$1,000.
And I'm sure- the foundationwould happily let me catch up.
SPEAKER_01 (18:29):
Yes.
There's difference between PaulHarris fellow and Paul Harris
society.
Right.
That is true.
A little confusing, but youknow, the two are separate.
So
SPEAKER_00 (18:38):
we just, and we just had Rebecca on if you're
followers of the show, all thisstuff.
And I do think it's reallyimportant to have people know
that, The end polio project isdifferent from the Rotary
Foundation, even though theyboth go under the same umbrella.
So if you're giving to this, ifyou're part of this challenge,
(18:59):
it's not the same as thefoundation.
SPEAKER_01 (19:03):
Yeah, yeah.
So I, of course, encourageeverybody to give to the annual
fund as well.
SPEAKER_00 (19:08):
Absolutely.
So like, what do you want to seehappen?
You're, you're throwing down thechallenge here.
So what, what is your goal inthis challenge besides, you
know, this was your intention todo it this year, as we already
talked about, but what, whatreally do you want to, what do
you want to accomplish withthis?
SPEAKER_01 (19:25):
Yeah.
Well, you know, as you know,it's hard times for global aid
around the world.
You know, we're seeing a lot ofcuts to the world health
organization, USA, things likethat, things we depend on for
polio eradication.
And this is, now more than everis needed.
More funds for polioeradication.
(19:46):
So I'm hoping that in our smallway, these tens of thousands of
Rotarians can help fill in thegap.
So that's part of it.
I think it was not my intentionwhen I had this crazy idea, but
it's prescient, right?
So here we go.
There's also the awareness, youknow, reminding people as we
(20:08):
started with remindingRotarians, it's still important
that we cross the finish lineand also that we keep our
promise to the world toeradicate polio and we get
people jazzed about it.
And there's nothing, nothingbetter than a little friendly
competition to do that.
So.
SPEAKER_00 (20:27):
You brought up a couple of times that we keep our
promise.
Do you think that is, is that avery, rotary kind of point that
we said we were going to dothis.
And so help us.
We're going to finish.
SPEAKER_01 (20:41):
Oh yeah.
Oh yeah.
And that you'll see that in the,I'm stealing it from the
literature from Empolio now.orgthat we keep our promise to
children of the world to Empolioand not just polio.
And again, we're setting up, Youknow, yes, polio is our
immediate concern, but it's notjust polio.
You know, we can use what we'velearned from polio eradication
(21:03):
to continue to eradicate otherdiseases.
You know, at the InternationalConvention, there was a talk of
curing cervical cancerthrough...
vaccines, hepatitis vaccines.
So, you know, we can use what wehave in place to continue to do
more good in the world and toeradicate other diseases and
(21:25):
cancers.
I mean, can you imagine beingthe organization that cured
cancer?
You know, that's what's so coolabout being a Rotarian, you
know?
Who gets to be part of anorganization that cured a
disease, for goodness sakes?
You know, I mean, that's what Isay to people.
It's like, we cured a disease.
What did you do?
SPEAKER_00 (21:43):
You know, picked up trash on the side of the yard.
Exactly.
Yes.
And we gave toys to kids, youknow, so it's like, arguably.
So, so you did mention reallyquickly and I, and I know you're
a busy person, so I won't keepyou much longer, but you
mentioned polio fatigue.
(22:04):
Is that One of the reasons,first of all, I think it's funny
that we have polio fatiguebecause I will use my words.
That means we've become spoiled.
My words, because we're notseeing it anymore.
I think here in North America,and I will say here in the
United States, even thoughsomebody says, don't touch the
(22:27):
burner, don't touch the burner.
We famously only believesomething is hot till after we
touch a burner.
Okay.
So, and I think that's very muchus.
So when you said this fatigue,is it because we just don't see
it anymore?
Yes.
I've got bigger things to worryabout Gwen and April.
(22:49):
I don't have time for this.
I don't see crippled people onthe side of the road.
Is that really where we're
SPEAKER_01 (22:56):
at?
It really is.
And I think it's ironic becauseI think if people talked about
it, they know people who hadpolio.
They know a lot of people whohad polio.
They may not be paralyzed, butthey have polio.
I mean, you look at, and this isnot political, but when there
was talk of stopping the poliovaccinations by certain
(23:18):
political figures, MitchMcConnell came right out and was
like, hey, I have polio.
UNKNOWN (23:24):
Right.
SPEAKER_01 (23:24):
It's everywhere.
We had a case in New York in2022, you know, and we may see
more if vaccinations stop inthis country.
And just like we've seen measlesand other diseases returning
that have been eradicated fordecades, you know.
So, yeah, I think we need tokeep going and we need to be
advocates, you know, and Rotaryhas chosen this as our biggest
(23:48):
initiative.
So it's, you know, I feel aresponsibility as a Rotarian to
be an advocate for theeradication of polio, obviously.
And I hope that most Rotariansfeel the same.
SPEAKER_00 (24:00):
Do you know somebody?
Is it because of the fact thatyou know somebody that you've
taken this on?
Has it been in your
SPEAKER_01 (24:06):
family?
So, I mean, I do know somebody.
Of course, my good friend andyours, Ramesh Ferris, is a polio
survivor and fellow districtgovernor.
And he, of course, is aninspiration to me every day.
SPEAKER_00 (24:19):
Somebody who actually does crawl around to
show you what a crippled personcrawling around looks like.
Yes, he does.
Yes.
He was kind
SPEAKER_01 (24:26):
enough to come all the way from the Yukon to my
installation in Massachusetts.
So, and did his wonderfulpresentation where he, you know,
shows us what polio can do.
I won't ruin it because I knowhe likes to make an entrance.
So, but yeah, so, you know, andhe's an inspiration to me every
(24:46):
day and a, you know, he handcycled across Canada.
Come on.
Yeah.
So go and polio now.org to learnmore about Ramesh.
He's a fantastic person.
And I did, I found out at myinstallation, Ramesh asked if
anyone knew somebody who hadpolio and a lot of hands went
up.
Mine did not, but my mom's did.
Apparently my great grandfatherhad polio and I never knew.
(25:07):
Wow.
Wow.
You know, so we're all, youknow, we've all been touched by
it, you know, so, and that'sjust something in my family I
never knew about.
And I mean, yes, it was a fewgenerations ago, but still, you
know, I, if I was at aconference last September, the
zone 28 and 32 conference, and Imust've met probably a half a
(25:27):
dozen people who have polio andyou'd never know.
So yeah, absolutely.
Yep.
So there's sort of people thatkeep you going.
SPEAKER_00 (25:37):
So the challenge is what?
One more time.
So you're now officiallyspeaking to everyone in my
listening audience.
What is your challenge, April?
SPEAKER_01 (25:48):
Yes, the challenge is the district out there who
increased has the highestpercentage of Polio Plus Society
members.
By the end of this Rotary year,June 2026, we'll win a fabulous
prize of a fancy banner sayingthey are the winners of this
fantastic contest.
And if you're interested inparticipating, if your
district's interested in joiningthe challenge, all they have to
(26:11):
do is email poliopluschallengeat gmail.com.
Awesome.
SPEAKER_00 (26:17):
And this is not just North America, which by the way
is Canada and Mexico.
Yes.
Anywhere in the world.
Anywhere in the world.
So can we get some numbersduring October and see how many
you have?
Because right now, how manydistricts you have right now?
There's 12.
16.
16.
(26:37):
Oh my God.
I was shorting you.
Four.
I will not do that.
And Any other supportive wordsfor like the rest of the of the
newbies out there that aredistrict that are excuse me, not
district conferencing, but ournew district governors.
You got you now you havecomrades in arms.
(27:00):
Are you?
Yes.
Any words of wisdom?
SPEAKER_01 (27:03):
Yeah, I would say reach out to each other for
support and lean on the peoplein your district.
Don't do it alone.
You have so many people outthere willing to hold your hand
and help you through it.
So lean on them.
SPEAKER_00 (27:15):
Miss April, thank you for being on the show.
This was fun.
This was fun.
I hope people are going to lookat the society.
So we had, you know, if you'refans and longtime listeners of
the show, we talked aboutvaccines and the problems that
they have.
We've talked about, not that thevaccines have, but the
reputation that has nowoccurred.
(27:37):
We now have this Polio PlusChallenge program.
Hopefully it can fight thefatigue.
Hopefully just some pure ego.
We did something better than youcan bring away some of that
polio fatigue and get us overthe line.
(27:57):
Yes.
Thank you, Gwen.
Thank you.
And I really do mean thosewords.
I think we do have poliofatigue.
I think there's a lot of peoplethat are just like, oh, come on.
We had like four people.
That's not a lot.
Well, it's not a lot.
So let's push it over the edgeand get it done.
(28:20):
Okay, let's get it done.
Let's get it done.
Thank you, April, for being onthe show.
That challenge is out there.
Ladies and gentlemen, they's andthem's all over the world that
can hear my voice.
Join the challenge for the PolioPlus Society.
You get a pin, you get acertificate, but you get to get
(28:43):
us over the line.
And we need it because there'slots of other things that we can
take on.
Let's get it done.
like the environment or malariaor education or clean water or
peace.
Oh yeah, peace.
Another big thing that thefoundation does.
So come on, join the society,join the challenge.
(29:07):
Let's get us over the finishline so we can move on to other
ways that Rotary can bringpeace.
beauty and wonder and magic andjust greatness to the world.
All right, then that is it forme.
Thanks again, April.
And thank you out there forlistening to this podcast every
(29:29):
single week.
It is a labor of love and I doreally enjoy doing it.
And I'm so humbled that you'reout there listening.
If you'd like to check out mymore musical side, do feel free
to check out Rotary Radio UK.
They even have an app.
So cool.
And until next week, please takecare of yourself and the world
(29:52):
around you.
And we'll hear you next time onthe Action to Impact podcast.
Have a great week, everybody.
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