A WASRAG SPECIAL BULLETIN
World Water Day Competition - Your club could win $500!
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What is World Water Day? 
World Water is fast approaching!  Your club and district can help celebrate World Water Day. It focuses on the approximately 1.8 billion people worldwide who must rely on water contaminated with feces, putting them at risk of contracting cholera, dysentery, typhoid, polio and other waterborne diseases.
 
The UN's Sustainable Development Goals, launched in 2015, include a target to ensure everyone has access to safe water by 2030, making water a key issue in the fight to eradicate extreme poverty.  In 1993, the UN General Assembly designated March 22nd as World Water Day.  It is now a globally recognized event. 
 
 
$$$$$ - What can you win? 
Two prizes will be awarded: 
$500 US for the best project (i.e. the one with the most impact)
$500 US for the most innovative project
 
 
What must you do?
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Whatever works best for your community!  In some areas March 22nd is in the middle of a dry season - or a monsoon.  In the north, rivers may be frozen until Spring.  The choice is yours!  All we ask is that the project improve the quality of water and/or level of awareness of it in YOUR community. You could, for example:
  • Clean up debris along a waterway, lake, creek, pond, stream, or other water source.
  • Prevent erosion by planting trees and native plants along a water source.
  • Build awareness in your community - encourage students to write essays on the importance of water and what THEY can do to protect it.
  • Encourage farmers in your area to use eco-friendly chemicals that will not damage fragile water systems.
  • If your community's water source is safe, eliminate plastic water bottles.  If they are a necessity ensure they are collected and recycled appropriately.
Use your imagination!  The bottom line is to educate your community on the importance of protecting its water sources.  Get them involved!  
 
Whenever possible, please consult with your local water or conservation authority to ensure that your efforts are compatible with conditions in your area!  For example, cleaning a watercourse during spawning season could have a negative impact. 
 
Need Ideas? 
A good place to look is the World Water Day website.  You will find a wealth of ideas to kick-start your project.   
 
Share your story  
Please use your project to celebrate World Water Day.  You can promote it at your regular club meeting closest to March 22nd, 2018.  WASRAG will share some of them in its monthly newsletter.  And - why not tell your story to the Rotary world yourself?  Go to the RI website and post it on Rotary Club Central and/or Rotary Showcase! 
 
Who will judge the entries? 
The members of WASRAG's Membership Satisfaction Team, including Chris Etienne - USA (Chair) and Tom Bos - USA, Ada Cheng - Hong Kong, Rich Churchman - USA, Toro de Silva - Brazil, V.N. Singh - India, Ndukwe Chukwu - Nigeria and Rob Crabtree - New Zealand will review all applications and submit a short-list of finalists to WASRAG's Operations Team.
   
 
How do you enter the competition? 
Submit a brief description of your project, including what you have done, the target audience and the expected impact of the project.  Remember to tell us your Club name and District number and give us a contact name, email address and phone number.  Some projects will be showcased on the WASRAG website.   
 
DEADLINE:  Please submit all entries by May 1st, 2018.  
 
AWARDS:  Winners will be notified by May 31st, 2018.  The awards will be presented at WASRAG's Annual General Meeting on Saturday June 23rd, 2018.
 
Please send all entries to WorldWaterDayChallenge
   
 
How it all started! 
Many of you will have read the fantastic story of the Rotary Club of South Ukiah (California) District 5130's "Cleaning the Rivers of the World" program in WASRAG's October 2017 Newsletter.
Spearheaded by passionate water champion, Salvador Rico, the South Ukiah club challenged Rotary clubs around the world to clean up rivers in their communities. 
Inspired by Salvador and his club's efforts - WASRAG now invites you and your club to get involved in water - and maybe win some funding for your water projects!
DON'T FORGET ABOUT WASRAG's
WORLD WATER SUMMIT 10! 
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Have you registered for WWS-10?  Stay tuned for more news on the exciting speakers and events we have planned for June 22, 2018 at Toronto's Delta Hotel, right next to the Convention Centre, the day before the Rotary International Annual Convention.  Go to REGISTER NOW......