In Sri Lanka, a five-year endeavor that began in tragedy is ending in triumph.  The Schools Reawaken project, started by District 3220 (Sri Lanka) shortly after the December 2004 that killed almost 40,000 residents of the island nation, has dedicated its 22nd new school. Today, more than 11,000 students are enrolled in schools built through the project, says RI Director K.R. Ravindran, chair of the project’s administration committee.  “They would never have dreamt of a school like that, “ Ravindran says.  “To them, these schools are like Oxford and Cambridge.” The $12 million project...

With one more week left before Halloween, it’s time to take advantage of Lane County’s fun autumn activities.  Here’s just a sampling of the events happening in the area this week. Sail on the “Hayflower” and see pumpkins launched by a trebuchet at Colonial Harvest Days at Northern Lights Christmas Tree Farm.  See their website for more details. Enjoy horse-drawn hayrides, a pumpkin patch and a haunted house during Haunted Nights at Lone Pine Farms.  For dates and times, click here. Take advantage of Wednesday Wine Nights at Marché Museum Café by viewing “Faster than a...

In this photo, a young child receives an oral polio vaccine.  Saturday, October 24 is World Polio Day.  Jonas Salk, the developer of the first effective polio vaccine, was born 95 years ago this month.  In honor of Jonas Salk and World Polio Day, Rotarians from all parts of the globe are joining the fight to eradicate this disease.  To find out how you can contribute to the fight to end polio, click here.

Rotarians are ramping up aid to victims left homeless by a series of disasters that struck areas in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific. A devastating tsunami that hit American Samoa, Samoa, and Tonga; earthquakes in Indonesia; two typhoons in the Philippines; and flooding in India have left thousands dead and millions displaced. Rotarians are focusing on distributing relief goods, including food, water, medicine, clothing, and shelter. Rotary clubs from districts in Australia and New Zealand are leading efforts to bring emergency response kits to victims of the tsunami that wiped out several...

The Great Rotary Duck Race was held last Saturday at Alton Baker Park.  In this photo, the ducks can be seen floating down the Willamette River on their way to the finish line.  To take a look at more photos from the 2009 Duck Race, click here.