Polio - Past, Present, and Future

Rotary became a better organization when Jim joined on December 5, 2001. Since then he has been a member of Simi Sunrise, Conejo Valley, and currently is a member of the Rotary Club of Moorpark. He has also served the District in many functions since 2005 including Assistant Governor. He is currently on the Rose Parade Committee as Float Director in addition to his on-going role as the District Rotary Foundation Polio Plus Chair.

Jim has personally helped combat polio through participating in eight National Immunization Days in India and been a speaker/trainer on the topic at assemblies and conferences for many districts. He recently chaired the Polio Survivor Summit held in Kolkata India.

Jim has been recognized within the District with the Sam Greene "Service Above Self" and the Dr. Otto Austel Polio Plus Award. He has also received the RI Five Avenues of Service Award and, in 2017, the prestigious “International Service Award for a Polio-Free World” from The Rotary Foundation.

In his professional life Jim was a High School Teacher, a Coach, and an Administrator.

Jim knows well the toll polio takes as he is a survivor who became paralyzed in 1948.

In summary, Jim is well-respected and sought after as a speaker, grant writer, and champion for the eradication of polio in the world.