Escondido Sunrise Rotary; Meeting to Serve our Community via Zoom; and “The Navajo Water Project; Working to Overcome Water Poverty in our Southwest Region” … January 14, 2020
Editor’s Note…
As we all try to conduct our professional pursuits in new ways, it’s appropriate to remind ourselves of who we are as a Serving Organization… Our accomplishments, our fellowship and the reminder of our many successes is valuable as we await the time we can gather together again…
So, we met via Zoom… On January 14 … Sunrise Rotary members talking about service and connecting through fellowship in new ways…
President Chris opened the meeting… Even with a gavel and the familiar chime of a gavel striking a bell… 22 Sunrise Rotarians joined the Zoom meeting… Nice job all of you for joining us…
Past President Jack Anderson led the salute to our Nation’s Flag…
Membership Chair, Dr. Joe Holtz offered an invocation…
Guests and Visitors:
None this week
Now, some Sunrise Rotary member milestones…
Birthdays:
January 14: Past President, Jeff Johnson
18: Past President, Bob Burson
Jeff Johnson enjoying birthday greetings from Sunrise Rotarians… with a little 'breakfast wine' at hand...
Anniversaries:
None this week
Rotary Anniversaries:
None this week
Sunrise Rotarians Having Fun…
Bikes for Kids at Camp Pendleton
A photo showing the result of our ‘Bikes for Kids’ efforts among Camp Pendleton families, in cooperation with the Armed Services YMCA…
On the left of the photo are the many Thank-you notes received from the children and their families… On the right is one of the bikes ready to be presented…
Nice work by Past Presidents Rich Aeling and George Beitner on this project, and thanks to the Bikes for Kids Foundation and our members’ contributions…
Sunrise Rotarians Supporting Local Restaurants for Take Out Meals…
The Ommens and Millers enjoyed a chicken dinner from Chicken Lisa’s Mexican Restaurant…
A note to all… keep supporting our local businesses during this time of pandemic restrictions…
Feeding the Wildlife at Santee Lakes
Gloria Lefler was enjoying a family birthday outing and decided to share the birthday cake with the ducks and coots at Santee Lakes…
Keep your ‘fun’ photos coming to President Chris…
Sunrise Rotarians Serving, and Announcements:
Mark your calendar Sunrise Rotarians…
North County Veteran’s Stand Down Clothing Drive…
Past President Rich Aeling reported that the clothing drive will be held in March in preparation for the Stand Down in April…
Sunrise Rotary Awards
President Chris found an opportunity to present Rotarian of the Month Awards to Past Presidents Jeff Johnson and Jim Ponder… Their Sunrise Rotary recognition from November…
Past President, Jeff Johnson (6 feet or more distanced from President Chris) recognized for his leadership of the Grape Day 5K Virtual Event…
Past President Jim Ponder, accepting his Rotarian of the Month Award for his outstanding leadership of the Grape Day 5K Event…
High Fives:
President Chris reported that other Sunrise Rotary Awards are in process… For Past President Constance Larsen and Club Secretary, John Schwab
Program:
This week’s program highlights one of the five Rotary Foundation Global Grant programs supported by Escondido Sunrise Rotary which include: The Guatemalan Literacy Project with about 500 Rotary Clubs Worldwide; The Navajo Family Water Project; The Clean Water for Ecuador Project; The Green Houses for Ecuador Project, and another Nairobi School Project…
Past President Mike Dunlap shared some detail as to the local funding support for these projects from our Club and from the Cabins by the Lake Foundation… Many amazing projects are taking shape with these combined efforts, along with other Rotary Clubs, resulting in a true blend of international resources to benefit great areas of need.
Past President, Mike Dunlap introduced the speaker, David Simmer, Past District Governor of District 5495 in Arizona. David is a member of the Sedona Rotary Club…
David Simmer speaking to Sunrise Rotarians…
David provided a very thorough presentation on the case and need for water on the Navajo Nation. With a population of approximately 175,000 citizens, the Nation experiences high unemployment (about 50%) with 44% of the children living in poverty. Over 15,000 homes in the Navajo Nation have no clean running water, thus they experience severe ‘Water Poverty’ as well as economic hardships.
Access to water is a challenge based on both the significant separation of residences (mostly due to livestock range management restrictions) and the quality of the soil which restricts successful well-drilling.
For years, the Rotary Foundation declined to include water projects in this area because they weren’t able to build water systems on the ‘hub and spoke’ technology. In recent years, the Foundation has agreed to support the development of water transport systems through the ‘Dig Deep’ organization.
The following slides illuminate the challenges and solutions to bring water to the families on the Navajo Nation…
Water Poverty on the Navajo Nation...
The geographical, environmental and spiritual challenges to bringing water to Navajo homes...
The Dilkon Water Project with the 'Dig Deep' organization...
Rotary's Involvement in bringing water accessibility to the Navajo Nation...
The current project need... And, the Global Grant possibilities for Dilkon 2...
The Rotary Foundation efforts to bring about qualification as a Global Grant project include linking with the Rotary Club of San Felipe… Thanks to the efforts of our own Past President and Rotary Foundation Guru, Mike Dunlap. District 5495 has also undertaken a major outreach effort among Rotary Clubs throughout Arizona to raise more funds to continue growing the project’s impact.
Second Half of the Rotary Year Begins Now…
A reminder to all of Escondido Sunrise Rotary Members; President Chris has led us artfully through the first half of his presidential year in spite of the pandemic impacting our ability to meet in person. We accomplished a significant event with our Virtual Grape Day 5K, and raised an amazing amount of money for all of the good things we do as a group of “Sunrise Rotarians…
But now, we have the last half of President Chris’ year to continue being the beacon of good hope and strength to our community…
Keep attending online meetings and supporting all of our efforts to care for those in Need…
Next Week’s Meeting:
Dick Stevens on the Ecuador Global Grant
Thanks for Attending Today’s Meeting…
Support for our Escondido Community …
Our great community and the success of its businesses is all of our responsibilities… Support the businesses that are doing all they can to survive during this challenging time… Take out some chow… Be ready to support them when the economy begins working again…
The ‘Giving Arch’ on Grand Avenue and Centre City Parkway reminds us that Escondido is a caring, giving community…
To all; be safe and be well…. God Bless those men and women that carry the load at our medical facilities, and God Bless the first responders… May our governmental leaders be wise, thoughtful and smart as this pandemic is overtaken by our hard work and collective support…
Online Meetings:
Technical Support for Online Meetings:
Our on-line meetings continue to be technically managed by President Elect Richard Agnew… Thanks for that Richard… And, Richard is prepared to support all of our attempts at joining the on-line meetings… Look for his email with details and links to log on to the upcoming Zoom meetings…
Watch for emails defining the next online meeting. The system works fine, dependent upon your technical support available through your PC or laptop…
SEE YOU SOON… ON LINE OR IN PERSON….. Next meeting; Thursday January 21; 7:30 AM… Check President Chris’ or President Elect, Richard Agnew’s email for the Zoom Link…
