Last week we heard from Rick Lawrence, an annual visitor to our Club, to update us on the water projects in Guatemala that he coordinates. He noted the latest project targeted three villages, where Rotary supplied the materials and instruction, and the residents supplied the labor. He noted that each of the projects has four components:
Getting water into every household (using solar powered pumping stations as opposed to diesel pumps where possible);
Installing grey water filters (grease traps);
Pit latrines for each family;
and safe stoves.
His talk to us was timely, as we celebrate World Water Day this month (3/22).
Our first attempt at a virtual auction went live on March 4, however as of our Zoom meeting last week, there are an estimated sixty items committed but undelivered. Let's get those items in! The auction committee has been working very hard to adjust to the challenges presented by this virtual experience. Hopefully the virtual environment will generate a new audience for us. We need your help, though, to reach that audience. Just cut and paste the following message, sharing it liberally through your electronic contacts:
If you are receiving this email you are likely friends with, related to, or have at some point handed your business card to, a member of the Rotary Club of Pittsfield. The Rotary Club of Pittsfield wants to invite you, as a friend of the Club, to participate in the 2021 Rotary Auction, now fully digitalized for a safe, quarantine-approved auction experience! Plus, our Auction is now not only a one-night event but will run for over two weeks this year to keep the fun going for as long as we can.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us and we will be happy to answer them. We are excited for this year’s Auction and hope that you will be as well once you see all the items available for bidding.
Last week we learned that Jayson Tanzman's brother, David, died. Please extend your condolences to Jayson and his family (28 Meadow Ridge Drive, Pittsfield).
At our last Zoom meeting, Alex Reczkowski updated the membership on the status of the "Hearts of Europe" initiative that parners Rotary International with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Alex reported that currently RI and District 7890 were evaluating the Global Grant application. This is a $60,000 project that sees our Club working with four other clubs in the district to introduce STEM technology in Serbian early education. Alex announced that he was pledging $500 toward this project, and he challenged the Club to match that amount, at which point he would commit to another $500.
On Tuesday, March 9, we celebrate ORGANIZE YOUR HOME OFFICE DAY, which this year is exponentially more significant because of the pandemic, and the likelihood that you've transitioned that home office space into a remote learning center for the kids.
