March 22, 2024 12:15 pm
Regular Meeting - Marilyn Jackson, DEI ChairAdd Guest
Marilyn Jackson, AWER Past-President and Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, led our meeting. She presented ideas on Rotary International's Piller on Water and Sanitation ... because water is a major worldwide problem, including in the USA. Some 2.5 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation facilities. Horribly, at least 3,000 children die each day from diarrheal diseases caused by unsafe water. She also shared points about the work and reach of the UN's water for peace initiative and the United Nations World Water Day, including key messages put forth by the UN.
·
Water can create peace or spark conflict. When water is scarce
or polluted, or when people struggle for access, tensions can rise. By
cooperating on water, we can balance everyone’s water needs and help stabilize
the world.
·
Prosperity and peace rely on water. As nations manage
climate change, mass migration and political unrest, they must put water
cooperation at the heart of their plans. Water negotiations can enable peace or
spark conflict. When water is scarce or polluted, or when
people have unequal, or no access, tensions can rise between communities and
countries. The UN emphasizes public
health and prosperity, food and energy systems, economic productivity and
environmental integrity all rely on a well-functioning and equitably
managed water systems.
·
Christopher
Goff said that New
York State once boasted the USA's best water, but not anymore. The need for
electric power is compromising huge amounts of water, so some rivers lack their
once pristine waters, which impacts huge parts of the state’s population.
·
Chris Hempfling, noting other water issues in the US, pointed to major
problems in Jackson, MS which has faced clean water shortages
for decades. Similarly in Flint MI there's a lack of clean water affects huge
populations, mostly people of color, as it does in Jackson, MS.
·
The Colorado River is in crisis impacting drinking water and
for farming, and industrial activity in at least three states: California,
Nevada and Colorado.
·
North
Austin, Texas has
major water shortages.
·
Marilyn
noted that in the US most households are not drinking filtered water. Unfiltered
water means that harmful chemicals are being consumed - but it's an easy
problem to solve by installing inexpensive in-home water filtering devices onto
spickets.
·
The US government has committed to replacing all lead
pipes serving water to every American household.
·
Don Schewe reported that Rotary is engaged. He mentioned AWER's own
Water Sanitation project which engaged other Clubs and RI in a life-changing
well-building project in a South American nation. Other RI projects to support communities'
work to develop and maintain sustainable water and sanitation systems and
support studies related to water and sanitation.
Marilyn
concluded the meeting by guiding a short discussion aimed at reaching out to
encourage younger member recruitment into our Rotary Clubs. She posted eight strategies developed by
Rotary International. Here's the RI list: 1. Organize interesting meetings,
2. Look at your traditions, 3. Update how and where you talk about Rotary, 4.
Examine your club dues, 5. Provide alternatives to weekly attendance, 6. Plan
events that members can attend easily, 7. Involve young members early to build
club loyalty, 8. Plan family-friendly projects and activities.
Below is a link to short illustrations for each of its eight suggestions. Also, see links to United Nations on World Water Day, and to the just completed District 6900 Conference in Jekyll Island led by District Governor André Marria.https://rotary6400.org/newsiteTEMPORARY/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/8-tips-young-people-in-your-Rotary-Club.pdf - Providing 8 ways to attract younger person to become Rotary Club Members
https://www.un.org/en/observances/water-day - United Nations
signaling March 22 as World Water Day
https://rotary6900.org/resource/show/1369 - This is an overview of the District
Conference on Jekyll Island, led by André Marria, 2023-24 Rotary 6900 District Governor,
March 20-24, 2024
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Neil Shorthouse, Keyway editor
Rotary Club of Atlanta West End
Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center
800 Spring St NW
Atlanta, GA 30308