Cogitator Nov 14, 2012

Posted by George Cooper 
on Nov 14, 2012
 

Water for Cambodia directors--Andy Erickson, Chris Van Hemelrijck, Bob Aldrich, and Alan Flynn

 

VISITING ROTARIANS

Water for Cambodia guest speakers Bob Aldrich and Chris Van Hemelrijck were with us.  Bob hails from the Middletown Club and Chris from Wakefield.

CLUB ANNIVERSARIES

Happy Rotary anniversary wishes go out to three Rotarians this week: Past President Ed Neff joined the club 10 years ago on November 13th; Karen Taylor was inducted 8 years ago on November 17th; and, Beth DeGerlia came into the club on November 19th 4 years ago. 

CITRUS DRIVE

If you’ve noticed Citrus Chair Bonnie Sauer is a bit nervous about this year’s campaign--you’re RIGHT!  Why worry?  So far, we have only 116 cases sold.  Our goal is 500+ cases!  There are only 2 weeks left, and only a handful of Rotarians have brought in orders.  It’s crunch time, folks.  C’mon Rotarians, let’s step on it and get those Citrus orders together!  And, don’t forget Bonnie’s challenge to all of us this year…to bring in at least one additional new order from someone who hasn’t experienced Rotary citrus in the past.

PHONEBOOK

Richard Waterman passed on the good news that the 2012-2013 East Greenwich Rotary Phonebook is at the printer and will be out soon!

HAPPY BUCKS (…with funds once again going to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts…)

-John Wolcott had a ‘very positive personal experience’ on his Hurricane Sandy Relief bus trip down to New York.  A slide show will follow in the weeks ahead to demonstrate the efforts of John, Ron Winde, East Greenwich Baptist Church volunteers, and others.

-Lou Lepry made a generous $50 contribution to Sandy Relief, and he led a round of applause for John’s always never-ending Service Above Self. 

-Jane Boynton was back from her happy trip to Florida with daughter Jen.  She also relayed the tough times Best Tile of New Jersey is enduring post-hurricane.

-Gill Thorpe reported that Sandy’s tidal surge made it to within 5 feet of his back door in Wickford…and thankfully receded.

-Bob Miller had a great time last weekend watching the Pats win at Gillette Stadium.  More importantly, he was truly thrilled about a new baby in the family.  Bob’s sister, Ilene Katersky, who passed away only a few short years ago from ALS, must have been smiling from above upon the arrival of her daughter Robin’s new baby boy.

-Matt Bussey and Richard Waterman made a contribution to Hurricane Sandy Relief efforts.

-Wil Yoder stocked up last week on food and water, with his generator ready for action.  But alas, there was no need…his power remained on through the storm! 

-Bob Sloan and wife Cathy, with spines stiffened, traveled to Maryland to begin the discussion about helping Cathy’s dad move to an assisted living facility.  No sweat.   He was 100% in agreement! 

-Vin Meola had a fantastic time in a local running event across both the Jamestown and Newport bridges.  (This local race has become very popular, and they actually had to turn away runners this year.) 

-Alan Flynn thanked the club for sending his wife, Emi, a beautiful and delicious edible arrangement after her recent surgery.  Good news--Emi is now home.

-Bill Winter was the happy auction winner (for $30) of an autographed East Greenwich Magazine cover featuring our very own celebrities, Bonnie Sauer and Jane Boynton.

 

PROGRAM/SPEAKER

Water for Cambodia, featuring Bob Aldrich and Chris Van Hemelrijck 

 

Bob Aldrich and Chris Van Hemelrijck are directors of Water for Cambodia, dedicated to helping the people of Cambodia, especially the Siem Reap area, build clean water filters and thus mostly eradicate waterborne diseases.  Over fifty percent of Cambodians don’t have access to clean water.  More than 20% of deaths of Cambodian kids aged five and under are connectable to disease ridden water. 

In 2002, Middletown Rotarian Gunther Hausen visited the Angkor Hospital for Children in Siem Reap, Cambodia.  While there, he learned of the hundreds of children arriving at the hospital with preventable waterborne diseases due to the lack of clean drinking water.  

In response to the hospital's urgent request for help, Gunther developed the Water for Cambodia project.  In addition to providing bio-sand filters, he understood that teaching literacy was important for the women care givers to achieve improved health and economic conditions for their families.  In 2005, Bob Aldrich joined Gunther as the Project Director.  Over the next 2 years they developed the project model used today.

Since 2006, Water for Cambodia has been building and installing bio-sand water filters in rural villages of Cambodia.  These filters are household units that produce clean water directly from contaminated sources.  Polluted water is poured in the top, filtered through the sand and gravel layers and within minutes clean drinking water pours from the spout.  One filter, at a cost of only $50, can produce enough clean water for a family of 6-8 for many years.

In July 2012, Water for Cambodia passed the 10,000 mark for water filters delivered to the needy of Cambodia. 

Bob and Chris eagerly thanked the East Greenwich Club, with directors Alan Flynn and Andy Erickson leading the way, for its wonderful support and status as a ‘major donor’ over the past several years. 

Finally, Alan Flynn pointed out that our club’s leadership in Paul Harris Fellowships, and all of our Rotary Foundation contributions, have played a role in the $300,000 Foundation grant to Water for Cambodia.      

*To see the video Bob and Chris presented, and to learn more about Water for Cambodia, please visit:  www.waterforcambodia.org

  

Founder of Water for Cambodia, the late Gunther Hausen, with Bob Aldrich