by Jeanne S McPherson
Orcas Rotary
In response to social and global challenges recently emphasized by Rotary International, Orcas Rotary has developed a new purpose for community service: social and environmental resiliency.
Club efforts will revolve around disaster preparedness, among other environmental support projects, as well as outreach designed to further an inclusive community. We are exploring partnerships with groups that share these values. The new emphasis fits well with The Orcas Economic Recovery and Resiliency project. This year, Rotary International took two important actions. First, it added a new area of focus for service projects: supporting the environment. The six other service areas are peace and conflict prevention/resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy and economic and community development.
Second, Rotary issued a statement on racism: “At Rotary, we have no tolerance for racism. Promoting respect, celebrating diversity, demanding ethical leadership, and working tirelessly to advance peace are central tenets of our work. We have more work to do to create more just, open and welcoming communities for all people.”
Community service projects that support these values are eligible for grants and matching funds. Local Rotarian Rosedanie Cadet received a district matching grant this year for her project in Haiti for a new school program,”Improving Nutrition through Agricultural Education,” with hands-on learning through school gardens. Orcas Rotary is supporting a similar initiative locally through the redesigned Farm Education and Sustainability for Teens (FEAST) program.
Past recipients of club funds include the Fresh Bucks program at the Orcas Food Co-op, scholarships for training at Sail Orcas, the Orcas Family Resources Center, Orcas Center Subsidy Ticket program and the Farm Fund (Orcas Food Co-op). We were also a sponsor of the educational The Real Food Show for Orcas Elementary School. Club members volunteer to care for Information/Map Corner and over the past three years have picked up trash, maintained the landscape, and supported new signage (in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce).
If you would like more information on Rotary or want to explore partnering with Orcas Rotary on projects that support environmental and community resiliency, contact club president Chris Wolfe at christina.wolfe@gmail.com.
