News to Note...

The June 2022 International Convention was the first time the whole Rotary world has assembled in person since Protecting the Environment became an official Rotary Area of Focus. In breakout sessions, booths, and banners, the good news of Rotarians’ fast-expanding environmental work shone throughout the Houston Convention in every format, both in-person and virtual.

ESRAG board members - including current, past, and incoming Chairs Rick Randolph, Chris Puttock, Karen Kendrick-Hands, and Patricia Armstrong - offered five breakout sessions on projects from building climate resilience to restoring watersheds. Nimble ESRAG Task Force leaders set up exhibits in empty House of Friendship booths, where they put in long hours, cheerfully informing intrigued Rotarians who stopped by to learn more about practical environmental solutions.

ESRAG members also rejoiced at the chance to meet each other face-to-face after two years of pandemic separation when we were just little quacking boxes to each other on Zoom. Check out our Facebook and LinkedIn pages for a gallery of photos of Rotarians At Work and having fun! In this issue, news from Houston and three great projects:

Houston Rotarians' heat island project prioritizes most vulnerable
RICON highlights: making great connections in person and virtual reality
Oyster reef regeneration in Australia
Chair Rick Randolph on ESRAG’s growth
U.S. Rotarians: tell schools about EPA Clean School Bus grants

Foundation Report June 13, 2022 from John Howard, Northbrook Rotary Foundation Chair

Through June 13, twenty-three club members made Foundation donations totaling

$52,177 including $29,177 to the Annual Fund (AF) and $6,875 for End Polio Now

(EPN). We exceeded our AF goal of $27,000 by $2,177 and EPN goal of $2,500 by

$3,375. These are extraordinary levels of donations considering the economy, support

to Ukraine efforts, other Club fundraising and our level of membership.

I would like to recognize very large donations by Donna Lee Gulley, JP Deheeger and

Jim Kucienski.

Also, our Club’s foundation donated $2,500 to End Polio Now.

We also have additional donations in progress before to end of the Foundation year

ending June 30.

At our June 21 Club Installation dinner event we will recognize the following club

member Foundation achievements for fiscal year 2021-22:

Ron Bernardi, Major Donor Level 2

Jean-Pierre Deheeger, Major Donor Level 3

Donna Lee Gulley, Major Donor Level 3

John Howard, Paul Harris Fellow +8

Jim Karagianis, PHF

Alan Karzan, Paul Harris +8

Jim Kucienski, Major Donor Level 2

Gary Morello, Paul Harris Fellow+1

Mitch Portugal, Paul Harris Fellow +3

Helen Rivkin, Paul Harris Fellow +6

Jeff Tideman, Major Donor Level 1

Paul Harris Society continues to be a strong contributor to our Foundation giving

program. We have 13 Society members.

The annual Rotary International Convention (RICON) in Houston, Texas, USA provided wonderful opportunities for learning, networking and showcasing the work of ESRAG.

Programs, social events, and exhibits within and beyond Houston's spacious George R. Brown Convention Center highlighted Rotarians' environmental projects more than ever before and introduced thousands of participants to the many ways they can take action now to protect our planet.

Photo: Rotary International President Shekar Mehta talking with ESRAG Director Yavuz Atila, one of ESRAG's Regional Chapter Chairs, at the ESRAG exhibit in the House of Friendship