Clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education are necessities for a healthy environment and a productive life. When people have access to clean water and sanitation, waterborne diseases decrease, children stay healthier and attend school more regularly, and mothers can spend less time carrying water and more time helping their families.
Around the world almost 200 million days of school attendance are lost every year because of the lack of proper sanitation. Many diarrhea cases in children result from transmission of disease in schools rather than at home. A school is a place where children should feel safe, not a place where they are susceptible to infection. Rotary supports UNICEF’s Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Schools program.
WASH is about the rights of the children and quality education. Healthy, well-nourished children can fully participate in schooling. School attendance increases with improved quality of water and sanitation in the school because students have to spend less time traveling long distances to fetch water. Children can also take pride in their school and community with a renewed sense of dignity.
Rotary recognizes the theme of Water and Sanitation in March, but year-round our aim is to give access to not only safe water, but sanitation and hygiene, to many millions of people around the world by 2030.
As people of action, Rotarians are taking steps towards that goal.
For example, in Madan, India Rotary clubs partnered with local organizations to install a rainwater harvesting and distribution center for 4,000 people and delivered training programs for women in the community and students in 35 schools.
In Guatemala Rotary clubs improved conditions for as many as 1,793 children in 10 schools in the town of Escuintla by providing toilets, washing stations, water tanks, and training.
Rotarians here in District 5040 and worldwide not only deliver access to cleaner water, they continue with their commitment to strengthen the ability of communities to develop, fund, and maintain sustainable water and sanitation systems.
Members of District 5040 have just returned from a continuing project in Laos which distributes water filters to families in the remote areas of the country.
Here at home, we can also remind ourselves and our communities that, thanks to Rotary projects around the world, 23 million people now have safe water and 21 million people have access to sanitation and hygiene.
Much of my time lately has been attending events and meetings.
Our Learning and Development Committee, especially DGE Bala, Trainer Drew and PDG Don are in their busy season taking the “Our Year Ahead 2019-2020” and “The Foundation-Putting it to work for you” sessions around our District. Please take advantage of these opportunities to learn more about Rotary, The Rotary Foundation and your role as People of Action.
It is also Awards time!!! I am working with District Awards Chair Peter Clarke as we gather information from the clubs to recognize those in our District who are outstanding People of Action, Club and Rotarian of the Year, and clubs with outstanding Membership and Public Image achievements. Please make sure your club has submitted the proper applications/information to us.
Recognition from Rotary International and Rotary Foundation for clubs attaining the Rotary Citation and Foundation Awards will be determined after the Rotary year as the clubs have until June 30th to report their goals and achievements online.
How will you celebrate our founder, Paul Harris’ birthday on April 19th? Rotarian Valerie Liddle has brought a great idea forward and not only are we asking that all the Rotary Family in District 5040 participate, we are going to ask all of our Rotary Family in Zones 32/24 to join us; and next year? The worldwide Rotary Family.
So now that I have your interest…..what better way to Celebrate Paul Harris’ Birthday than with a
Rotary Act of Kindness. We want you to post your act/event on to the Facebook page on April 19th so you can be counted. Just imagine what a beautiful, loving, peaceful day we will be creating as over 4 million of us worldwide participate.
https://www.facebook.com/rotaryactofkindness
Valerie, Thank you for this opportunity for all of us to take action!!
I attended the New Westminster Rotaract Club meeting on February 4th. We kept to the same format and using the People of Action card deck the Rotaractors shared their amazing stories of why they are so passionate about the work they do through Rotary.
PDG Don and I both attended the District Rotaract meeting on the 13th and what a special occasion as Don presented the 2017-2018 Rotary Citations to the New Westminster and Burnaby Clubs. Don had already presented the Prince George Rotaract Club with theirs. Congratulations!
I joined Chair Don, Team Leader John and the Vocational Training Team teachers at their planning meeting on February 7th . Present were the 4 local teachers and 2 from Smithers joining via computer. I am so impressed with their level of commitment to help their peers in Kenya. I am ecstatic to report that the Global Grant has been approved and the Canadian teachers will be departing March 15th. Arrangements for the Kenyen teachers is still in progress so no dates to report currently.
I would like to thank all the Clubs throughout the District who have contributed to this project. You have all helped my desire of us working together on one project to make a larger impact. This is the first Vocational Training Team in our District and this program will have lasting effects for the teachers and students in Kenya as they move into 21st Century teaching techniques and using technology in their classrooms. The students are the real winners as they will be provided more tools to enable them to reach greater goals. You will be able to hear first hand from the Canadian Teachers as they report out to us at the District Conference in May.
Are you registered for the Conference yet??
Friday February 8th I attended the press conference at Sutherland Secondary School in North Vancouver where the ACT society awarded the Lionsgate North Vancouver Club with a community award for their contributions to a project in which all of the Secondary Schools in the North Vancouver School District teach students how to preform CPR and use AEDs which are installed in the gyms.
I then attended their lunch meeting where President Lyn passed the award onto her club. The club then welcomed Rotarians Ian and Ron relocating to the club from Ontario and Australia! Welcome to District 5040!
I had a great weekend Feb 9/10 connecting with the District Leaders Saturday at the Strategic Plan review, led by PDG Don and Sunday with Bala’s Leadership Training session.
The updated Strategic Plan is now on the website.
How is your club’s strategic Plan? Contact the District Strategic Planning Committee if you would like to update yours.
Remember that the Rotary Citation can also be used as a guide for your club. This is a good time to ensure the club goals are updated and more importantly that the achievements have been entered. The challenge is to have more clubs in the District receiving the Citation for this 2018-2019 year. 18 Rotary Clubs, 3 Rotaract Clubs and 2 Interact Clubs were recognized last year. We all know that more clubs qualified, we just need you to enter those achievements so we can prove it!
The Rotary Clubs of the entire Sunshine Coast (6 clubs) held their Foundation dinner Feb 16th in Sechelt which Doug and I attended. It was a great evening of fellowship with 9 Rotary clubs represented. Incoming Foundation Chair, PDG Don imparted to us information as to how Our Foundation works together with clubs to make real change in our world.
I also had the privilege to kick off the District Paul Harris Matching points initiative which is open to all Rotarians in District 5040 until March 11th.
Every contribution of $500 USD to the Annual fund will be matched with 500 Paul Harris Points from the District.
This is a great way to receive your first Paul Harris Fellow recognition or move up to that next level. Once you have made your contribution contact PDG Del Paterson with your
Other upcoming Foundation events include Prince Rupert March 30th and
Terrace April 6th!
February 17th found me at the Dolar Shop Hot Pot Restaurant in Richmond with the Dragon Club of Greater Vancouver celebrating both Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day. Our meeting pre-dinner was an exchange of Rotary knowledge and learning about all of the fundraising and events they have accomplished during this their first year as a club. Already distributing shoes and winter clothes for those less fortunate in their community. What a great addition to our Rotary Family!!
The District 5040 Friendship Exchange in Philippines has completed and by all I have heard and seen it was a huge success! Much thanks and appreciation to Chair Elena and her committee for all of their work. Look for the full report here on the District website.
The month of February will end with a visit to the Whistler Club social and Pemberton Club breakfast meeting.
I will start the month of March in Prince George attending the Taste of India. While in the area I am excited to be attending the Burns Lake lunch meeting as this will be my first visit to their club! The wildfires prevented us from meeting when Doug and I made our tour of the area in August.
There have been some projects starting to arise from the 2018 Wildfires and the Burns Lake Club has one such project. It is to help the Burns lake Firefighter Training Society refurbish a fire truck with both wildland and structural firefighting equipment. If you would like more information, please contact club President Darrell Hill.
dhill002@gmail.com
Are you or do you know someone who is a Polio survivor? Did you know there is a Rotary Action Group for Polio Survivors? Rotarian Ann Lee Hussey, herself a Polio Survivor who has arranged many National Immunization Day trips is the group’s CEO and wants you to get in contact with her if you are interested in their objectives and programs. Visit the website to learn more:
www.rotarypoliosurvivors.org
In closing for this newsletter I want to again ask you:
are registered for the District Conference in May?? The committee has put together a full and eventful program which I know will leave you Inspired and energized for the next Rotary year. Join Doug and I as
Together We Service!!
Thank you all for Being the Inspiration and Making a Difference as we Connect Through Rotary!!
Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change-across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.