Spotlight on Harriett & Walter Schloer and the PolioPlus Society

Did you know that The PolioPlus Society started right here, in our very own District 5110? Over the summer, Jane Falls, our current PolioPlus Chair, sat down to discuss its origins with Harriet Schloer.

Harriet was serving as the 2012-2013 Polio Chair for the Bend High Desert club when she came up with the idea of having Rotarians commit to giving at least $100 each year until polio is eradicated worldwide. Our District Governor at the time, Dell Gray, was enthusiastic about the idea. A form was drafted and – voilà! – the first PolioPlus Society was created! The idea spread quickly through the Rotary world. Today, PolioPlus Societies exist in 29 of the 30 districts in Zones 26 & 27. In our District 5110 alone, we have 691 generous PolioPlus Society members.

Harriet and her husband Walter Schloer have been long-time Rotarians and were honored by President Obama at the White House as “Champions of Change” for their work in ending polio. Harriet designed and organized a comprehensive program for childhood immunizations in Deschutes Country. She and Walter bought and repaired an old iron lung, which now travels around our District helping people understand the need to eradicate polio. It resides in Springfield, Oregon and you can borrow it for events in your area!

Harriet and Walter attended 19 Rotary International Conventions together and have been long-time donors to the PolioPlus and Paul Harris Societies. Walter, who served as District 5110 Governor in 2005-2006, passed away in June of this year. At the conclusion of her conversation with Jane, Harriet’s message for Rotary was, “Continue doing this! Keep the PolioPlus Society growing and giving!”

To sign up or more information or to join, contact
Jane Falls
District 5110 PolioPlus Chair
541-517-3412
jafalls@comcast.net