HAPPY EARTH DAY! Rotary's Seventh Area of Concern is Protecting the Environment. Within our lifetimes we have gone from air pollution from cars that created smog that burned your eyes in most major cities to clean air in most cities. We have gone from burning trash in barrels behind our houses to recycling and harvesting reuseable gas from controlled landfills. We have gone from dumping taconite tailings into our pristine Lake Superior to requiring settling ponds and removing and reusing those tailings. We have gone from making electricity by burning coal with minimal pollution controls to generating 30+% of electricity from renewable energy sources. We are making tremendous progress in Protecting the Environment, but we still have a long way to go.

 

This Saturday the 26th from 2-4:00 Skyline will have a table at the YMCA Healthy Kids Day. We just need a couple volunteers. Newest member Emily tells us to prepare for 300 kids to visit. We will have an activity for them to work on and healthy treats as handouts. Should be fun and a good step in our efforts in cooperation with the YMCA to increase Skyline's visibility in the community. 

  

Last week we met at Second Harvest of the Northland. We worked both inside sorting food to be delivered and outside putting groceries into cars. There was a steady line of cars picking up groceries from 10:00 until 1:00. Some cars picked up groceries for multiple families who maybe didn't have a car. Others picked up for homeless shelters where groceries were needed for many. The need is there in our community and Second Harvest, supported by businesses, individuals, and volunteers in our community are meeting those needs. The Twin Ports Clubs are discussing jointly making a contribution to Second Harvest. Thank you to all of our helpers. 

 

The Board is considering providing funding to Sport Disciple. Chris Sward got a request from his friend Barrett Todd. They had a foothold in Haiti with a soccer program for kids. With COVID and now armed gangs they can no longer work in Haiti. They have started a soccer and baseball program in the Dominican Republic and need to build a toilet building and kitchen to support their program.   

 

April is Rotary International Environment Month.  

 

Thought for the Week