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All PLRC projects are humanitarian in nature, because Rotary's raison d'être is to serve humanity. But they can be organized into some descriptive subcategories, beginning with Donative Programs:
RIDE THE POINT (RTP)
This is the PLRC’s largest fundraiser. During its 2013-2023 run, RTP’s total proceeds have been $385,000. The PLRC donates the RTP funds to UCSD's Moores Cancer Center.
The purpose of the event is to connect our community by providing the Family-friendly (6- mile), Enthusiast (25-mile), and Metric Century (62-mile) bicycle rides. Each of them highlights the natural beauty, historical sites, recreational opportunities, and healthy lifestyles available in the Point Loma area.
The associated Healthy Lifestyle Expo is a showcase for local business and non-profits. It is open to the public and usually attracts hundreds of spectators. PLRC Rotarian Rich Stakelum has valiantly shepherded this annual event from the outset. His army of 250 volunteers are enlisted from the Point Loma Associa- tion, Peninsula Lyons Club, San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, Rotaract Club, Point Loma Nazarene University, Grossmont College, UCSD Moores Cancer Center, and the San Diego Gulls. For sponsor-ship opportunities, click here.
Richard and Gale Krause are pictured here, when an earlier RTP donation was presented to the Moores Cancer Center. Gale's hus band Jim Krause was a 35-year PLRC Rotarian−who died of pancreatic cancer in 2012.
Pictured left: Krause family−Gale Krause (center), Richard Stakelum & Tim McCully, past President. Photo by Leon Scales
The purpose of the event is to connect our community by providing the Family-friendly (6- mile), Enthusiast (25-mile), and Metric Century (62-mile) bicycle rides. Each of them highlights the natural beauty, historical sites, recreational opportunities, and healthy lifestyles available in the Point Loma area.The associated Healthy Lifestyle Expo is a showcase for local business and non-profits. It is open to the public and usually attracts hundreds of spectators. PLRC Rotarian Rich Stakelum has valiantly shepherded this annual event from the outset. His army of 250 volunteers are enlisted from the Point Loma Associa- tion, Peninsula Lyons Club, San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, Rotaract Club, Point Loma Nazarene University, Grossmont College, UCSD Moores Cancer Center, and the San Diego Gulls. For sponsor-ship opportunities, click here.
Richard and Gale Krause are pictured here, when an earlier RTP donation was presented to the Moores Cancer Center. Gale's hus band Jim Krause was a 35-year PLRC Rotarian−who died of pancreatic cancer in 2012. Pictured left: Krause family−Gale Krause (center), Richard Stakelum & Tim McCully, past President. Photo by Leon Scales
Many of the 2021 RTP’s 762 riders−ages 5-94−began and ended at Liberty Station. The event is advertised in local, state, national, and international venues. The 2021 cohort included riders from Los An- geles and Ventura Counties, Big Bear, Tahoe, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, Utah, Italy, Germany, and Mexico. VIP riders included local, state, and federal community leaders and media personalities. Photo by Sarah HerveyThe most inspiring “snapshot” of this annual event is the 2019 video, narrated by Gale Krause. Her son Andrew and Steve Ford, Jim’s riding buddy, are both pictured above right. Andrew is riding Jim’s bike. Every year, either Andrew or Gale's her son Mark rides Jim’s bike. The 2022 RTP date is Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. For more information on Ride the Point, visit RideThePoint.org.
2023 RTP Photo Galary
Rich The Point PLRC Volunteer Backbone Sponsor Subsidies Good Sport Gulls
Riders From All Walks Pageantry Pomp Scouting Out Furure Rotarians PLRC RTP Gets Hot
Andrew & Gale Krause to the End (photo by Club Historian)
POLIO ERADICATION
Background. For over 30 years, Rotary and its partners have driven the effort to eradicate polio worldwide. Rotary’s PolioPlus program was the first initiative to tackle global polio eradication by vaccinating children on a massive scale. As a core partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, (GPEI), Rotary members have contributed more than $2.2 billion−and countless volunteer hours to pro- tect nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries from polio. Rotary’s advocacy efforts have played a role in decisions by governments to contribute more than $10 billion to the effort.
POLIO ERADICATION
Background. For over 30 years, Rotary and its partners have driven the effort to eradicate polio worldwide. Rotary’s PolioPlus program was the first initiative to tackle global polio eradication by vaccinating children on a massive scale. As a core partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, (GPEI), Rotary members have contributed more than $2.2 billion−and countless volunteer hours to pro- tect nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries from polio. Rotary’s advocacy efforts have played a role in decisions by governments to contribute more than $10 billion to the effort.When Rotary and its partners formed the GPEI in 1988, there were 350,000 cases of polio in 125 countries every year. Today, they have reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent. Nearly 19.4 million people are walking, who would otherwise be paralyzed. Over 1.5 million people are alive, who otherwise would have died. Further detail is available in Rotary's World Polio Day 2021 video.
Liberty Station Stroll
World Polio Day is October 23 of each year. On that day, in 2019-2021, the PLRC's Liberty Station Stroll has fundraised to assist in the quest to totally eradicate this paralyzing dis- ease. Due to club member generosity, annual Polio Plus giving averages $3,000 which in turn immunizes 5,000 child- ren against this terrible disease.
In addition, all Polio Plus donations are matched 2-1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. That multiplier effect yields a significant value added to all Polio Plus giving.
Paul Harris Society
Paul Harris, and several others, held the first Rotary Club meeting in 1907 in Chicago. The Paul Harris Fellow recognition was established in 1957. It acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation. One becomes a Rotary Foundation Sustaining Member upon donating $100, or more, per year to the Annual Fund. One becomes a Society Member upon donating $1,000, or more, each year to the Annual Fund, or Polio Plus, or approved Foundation grants. 
The purpose of the Paul Harris Society is to honor and thank individuals for their generous, ongoing support of The Rotary Foundation. Rotary districts often honor new members of the Paul Harris Society by presenting them with a certificate and chevron at a district or club event. For the various donation levels in the Paul Harris wheelhouse, click here. A number of our members have contributed multiple times−including a Platinum Foundation Circle recipient, who has thus donated 12 times. Paul Harris Society gifts have helped provide:
• Vocational training for teachers establishing an early childhood education center in South Africa;
• Vocational training for teachers establishing an early childhood education center in South Africa;
• Water filters, toilets, and hygiene training to prevent fluorosis, diarrhea, and other diseases in
India;
India;
• A scholarship for a medical professional in Italy to research treatments that minimize mortality
rates among premature babies;
• Peace-building seminars for 200 teachers and 1,300 students in Uganda; and
rates among premature babies;
• Peace-building seminars for 200 teachers and 1,300 students in Uganda; and
• Treated mosquito nets and medical services that prevent malaria in Mali.
The number of Paul Harris Fellows reached the 1 million mark in 2006. Notable
figures have been named Paul Harris Fellows. They include U.S. President Jimmy
Carter; Russian President Boris Yeltsin; U.S. astronaut James Lovell; UN Secre-
figures have been named Paul Harris Fellows. They include U.S. President Jimmy
Carter; Russian President Boris Yeltsin; U.S. astronaut James Lovell; UN Secre-
tary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar; and polio vaccine developer Jonas Salk.
The latest PLRC Paul Harris Fellow (Dec. 2023), Presi- dent-elect Llyod Weaver, is pictured right, upon receipt of his Paul Harris recognition from fellow Harris Fellows Frank White and James Morrison.
David Brummerstead, pictured left, received his ninth Paul Harris award.
Photos by Rob Cenko
District 5340 Grant to Aid Ukrainians
The following (paraphrased) great news was provided in District Governor Gensler's June 2022 e-mail:
The following (paraphrased) great news was provided in District Governor Gensler's June 2022 e-mail:
District 5340 will receive a $25,000 Disaster Re-sponse Grant from the Rotary Foundation to support Ukrainian refugees right here in our own District. 
Congratulations to James Morrison (pictured right), Dis- trict Rotary Foundation Treasurer and member of Point Loma Club−and his team, for getting approval of their Disaster Response Grant for Ukrainian refugees in our local area in RECORD time!
Congratulations to James Morrison (pictured right), Dis- trict Rotary Foundation Treasurer and member of Point Loma Club−and his team, for getting approval of their Disaster Response Grant for Ukrainian refugees in our local area in RECORD time!
T
hose who attended the 2022 Houston Convention learned about the organization's top priority regarding the status of Ukrainian refugees. Rot- ary International demonstrated its prompt attention to, and approval of, our Refugee Grant. Since the conflict began, our District has also been receiving Ukrainian refugees. Many of these families in the US have mothers with small children, while the fathers remain in Ukraine. These refugees are in need of food for host families, housing, clothing, transportation and more. We are in need of volunteers as well.
hose who attended the 2022 Houston Convention learned about the organization's top priority regarding the status of Ukrainian refugees. Rot- ary International demonstrated its prompt attention to, and approval of, our Refugee Grant. Since the conflict began, our District has also been receiving Ukrainian refugees. Many of these families in the US have mothers with small children, while the fathers remain in Ukraine. These refugees are in need of food for host families, housing, clothing, transportation and more. We are in need of volunteers as well.