END POLIO NOW - Car Magnet 8 cm wide by 10 cm high. (3.25" x 4").	END POLIO NOW - Car Magnets Washago Rotary In support of the Rotary Polio Plus Challenge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Rotary Club of Washago & Area - Centennial
P.O. Box 634
Washago, Ontario L0K 2B0
Canada
Contact: Dan Herbert, Public Relations Chair at 705-689-9090 - danherbert@danherbert.com

December 21, 2008

END POLIO NOW – Car Magnets a Big Hit

[Washago] In response to the $100 million challenge by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the 22 member Rotary Club of Washago & Area – Centennial in Ontario, Canada has initiated a new program that will not only raise money for Polio Eradication, but will also raise community awareness and help other Rotary clubs to focus on Polio Eradication Efforts.

The club has acquired 5,000 Car Magnets that Rotarians can purchase to display on cars, gym lockers, filing cabinets, or any other metal surface. The magnets are 3.15 inches by 3.9 inches and proudly show the END POLIO NOW logo. They cost $2 each and shipping is included anywhere in North America.

Project chair Janet Stead who is a member of the Rotary Club of Washago & Area - Centennial says “Originally we wanted to sell one car magnet to every Rotarian in Canada, but the idea is really catching on and we have received orders from Rotary Clubs in Germany, Switzerland, England and The USA. That’s the power of the internet.” Stead also says “There is a small cost to shipping the magnets to destinations outside North America, but it is minimal.”

The idea was conceived by Stead after she and some fellow members attended the grand opening of a local sports complex. The grand opening was hosted by the five Rotary Clubs in the District of Muskoka in Central Ontario, Canada and the focus of the event was on accessibility. Stead said “We were all given a Rotary, END POLIO NOW lapel pin at the grand opening, and when I walked through the parking lot after the event, I thought that it would be great to see the logo on all the cars that were owned by Rotarians.”

So she took the idea to her club and they all thought it was a good idea. She sourced out the best price for the best quality magnet and placed the order. The idea is now a reality and the car magnets are ready to ship.

Stead says “This idea has really taken off. Most orders are coming from clubs who are ordering enough for their entire membership and at $2 each, they can re-sell them to their own members at a profit and turn even more money into Polio Plus. Stead hopes to raise over $5000 from the first order and is ready to acquire more to meet the growing demand.

You can read about how to order these unique magnets on the club’s website at www.washagorotary.ca.