Rotary Reflections 2022

Since I try to be a source of new information, I’ll bet many of you were not aware that March 22 is World Water Day! What’s more, this year it’s about “Groundwater: Making the Invisible Visible.” How often do you appreciate the fact that here the water is invisible? Aren’t you glad? You are as happy as I am that it’s also odorless!

Years ago I was in Canada and looked down through about 5 feet of water and marveled at the beautiful rocks lying at the bottom. That’s not something you see in our water. Can you imagine dipping a bucket in our creeks to get not only our laundry water, but also our cooking and drinking water?

Our Rotary Foundation has funded 2,100 global grants to bring water, sanitation and hygiene stations to many parts of the world. We can instantly communicate with people through our computers, but we have to be on the ground to make a difference in water resources in these “almost” waterless areas. That translates to $154 million to fund these projects.

Rotary does make a difference. Polio Eradication is a prime example with a disease that was so prevalent before Rotary rolled up her sleeves and took on this challenge in 1987. Would you believe that Pakistan and Afghanistan had only 12 cases of polio in 2021? Yes, 8 Polio workers were killed in Afghanistan in February, but the work continues on today.

Just like our water is invisible, so is this becoming the case with polio. How wonderful to hear children ask, “what is polio?” I wonder if I’ll ever hear children ask “what is trash?” Yup, I’m on my soapbox again! Please help teach others to save their trash til they get home. Watch for us in Queen City this month.

If you have questions about Rotary or our Atlanta Area Rotary Club, please call me at 903-691- 9717 or join us at Luigi’s on the third Thursday at 6 pm. I’ll leave the door ajar for you!