This amazing event is very nearly upon us and excitement and activity is increasing throughout RIBI.  Due to the range of stories about T4L related activities to be covered, especially the Indian sub NID, and the usual limitations of space, some of the T4L news wasn’t able to be included in the latest edition of Rotary Today.  I have, therefore, been asked to issue this EotW Extra edition to make sure that clubs don’t miss out on any key information and opportunities.

Clubs in action

Rotary clubs throughout RIBI have embarked on great, and often offbeat, projects to raise funds and maximise awareness for the campaign.

The Rotary Club of Eccles in District 1280 is working with the Lancashire Eccles Cake Company to make special Thanks for Life cakes. These can be sent out to clubs and will have the Rotary logo on the label.

Brewing up a storm in Essex is the Rotary Club of Braintree Rivers which is producing bottles of the Purple Pinkie Ale. This project started out as a one-off in August last year, but is now spreading throughout District 1240 and beyond. Over a thousand bottles have been sold, with some travelling as far as Argentina and Sweden. The ale is now on its third brewing run and will continue for as long as there is interest.

The Rotary Club of Southend-on-Sea kicked off events on January 9^th by persuading local football club Southend United to wear purple shirts instead of their usual blue. The club, in partnership with main sponsors Insure and Go, designated the match against visitors, Walsall FC, as

an End Polio Now family day. Following the game, the shirts were auctioned with all proceeds going straight to the Thanks for Life - End Polio Now fund. Roots Hall Stadium in Southend-on-Sea was packed with supporters and younger fans from over 60 local schools who were invited along. Purple wrist bands embossed with ‘Rotary -End Polio Now-SUFC’ were sold throughout the area in the lead-up to the game.

Window of Opportunity Awards

To give Rotary Day the best chance of success, events should be planned carefully. Further sets of posters can be downloaded for printing from the Thanks for Life website, along with leaflets and details of other End Polio Now merchandise to assist clubs with their various events. Artwork queries should be addressed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The posters are envisaged to be for use in the Windows of Opportunity project that all clubs are being encouraged to support. However, they will also provide a great backdrop when setting up Tesco and Sainsbury in-store displays. Please remember that there will be a special category in the awards section of the Bournemouth RIBI Conference in April dedicated to Thanks for Life and the club that has been seen to make the best of the Windows of Opportunity will be announced at the conference.

Thanks for Life in brief - updates

> Some clubs have been requesting a certificate to issue to schools and children when they have supported a polio eradication project for example, a Purple Pinkie day. A basic certificate has been devised that can be customised by the club for their own use. This can be obtained via the Thanks for Life downloads library: www.herefordwv-rotary.co.uk/dgpages/dgthankslogo.htm.

> Generic shop window posters, A4 or A3, for clubs to use can also be downloaded from the above web page. They have been designed with space left for clubs to add their own details.

> Through the initiative of Jannine Birtwistle of the Rotary Club of Guernsey, a fantastic selection of End Polio Now products have been produced with ALL profits going to End Polio Now through the Rotary Club of Guernsey. Check this out: End Polio Now merchandise - RIBI

> On behalf of the RIBI District Governors, the Rotary Club of Exmouth has been commissioned to produce and supply over a million lapel style thank-you stickers for the Thanks for Life campaign. The District Governors have ordered varying quantities of the rolls of stickers for distribution in their districts. These lapel stickers are primarily aimed for the Thanks for Life week. They are undated and available now from early January 2010. If additional supplies are required, visit the website:  www.exmouthrotaryclub.co.uk.

> A range of press releases is available to download from the Thanks for Life website by clicking here.

National media coverage

RIBI Press Officer Rebecca Wallace is working very hard to persuade various elements of the national media to give coverage to Thanks for Life.  Fund raising for Polio Eradication is only one of the objectives of T4L of course but, one of the key questions that she will inevitably be asked after Thanks for Life week itself will be “How much money has been raised nationally?” 

If she is unable to provide the media with this information during the week following T4L they are much less likely to cover the story.  It is absolutely vital, therefore, that all clubs send details of the funds that they have raised to their District Governor, the District T4L Coordinator and the District Communications Chairman as soon as possible during week commencing March 1^st.  These individuals can then decide between them who will forward the District total to Rebecca at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it