"Maji ni uhai" means "Water is Life" which is evident in many Kenyan villages who have benefitted from the hard work of Dr. Cathy Fitzgerald and her team of well drillers - some who are Univerity of Nevada students, some who are members of the villages.
For over 17 years, Quincy Rotary has partnered with Dr. Fitzgerald, a Ph.D. in Engineering, with a strong background in hydrology. Rotary helps with the funding and Fitzgerald with the site selection and well drilling, bringing fresh water to Kenyans where water flow is often not efficient. Most water is lugged by young girls over miles of arid terrain to reach villages. The girls rise early in the morning to fetch firewood to build fires. After they forage for fuel, the girls set out to find water to port back to their village in jugs. The often-putrid water sources are shared with wild animals, tape worms, brain eating amoeba, harmful bacteria and a host of other dangerous entities. The girls must then boil the water before using it to cook, or clean, or drink. The girls in villages are the foragers, fetching wood and water miles from their homes while the boys go to school. Up until recently, the girls had little time to attend to their education.
Enter Dr. Fitzgerald who leads UNR graduate students to Kenya to work on water projects. She was looking for sponsors and Quincy Rotary was interested, seeking a meaningful international project to satisfy one of the 7 areas of focus of Rotary International. Those areas are promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, saving mothers and children, supporting education, growing local economies, and protecting the environment. Dr. Fitzgerald’s project fit the bill.
Now, these wells free Kenyan girls from the burden of foraging for firewood and hauling water for miles, allowing them time to spend in a classroom, becoming educated alongside boys. Dr. Fitzgerald was able to convince village elders that if additional classrooms are built and instructors located, girls will be able to stay in school until they are eighteen, instead of being married off by twelve.
Prior to the pandemic, Dr. Fitzgerald trained a team of local well drillers who could be more self-directed. The team has managed to drill four wells from 2020 to 2021. Two additional wells were drilled this past 2022 summer, with funding coming from Dr. Fitzgerald herself. A simple, low-tech water well in Kenya at $2750 is relatively low-cost and brings innumerable benefits. By funding these well projects, Quincy Rotary has found a focus by not only providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, but, through Dr. Fitzgerald’s Well Project, our Rotary also is able to fight disease, save mothers and children, support education, grow local economies, protect the environment, all which leads to promoting peace.
Quincy and Greenville Rotaries combined forces, gathering together under the Greenville Greenhouse at The Spot Monday evening, 4/10, 2023. After the Dixie Fire, the heated Greenhouse became a Greenville Rotary Project build - a place for the community to gather - and the picnic tables inside as well. The tables were built by their club out of reclaimed wood from Dixie Fire's burnt trees. Speaker Sue Weber declared that the silver lining in devasting disasters is the "re" building of community - the gathering of two Rotary Clubs becoming one for a night of food and good cheer!
First place winner Savannah Little (Rotarian David's daughter), Madeline Baker, Adria Black (3rd Place), Abby Warren, Madeline Blausfuss (2nd Place), and Tessa Batiste brought their individual voices to the theme for Rotary's 2023 Speech Contest: How have you Imagined Working Together to better the lives of others, and how did you implement your idea?
Led by Dwight Pierson, Rotarians - Darren Beatty, Pete Hochrein, Brenda Roccucci, Bill Elliott and Mike Flanigan organized and stocked The Quincy Elementary Rotary Closet with warm jackets, snow boots, tees, sweats, socks and sundries! These much needed items are given to kids and are much appreciated as the days get colder!
Welcome to the Rotary Club of Quincy California!
Service Above Self
We meet In Person
Mondays at 12:15 p.m.
Mineral Building Plumas-Sierra Fairgrounds
204 Fairgrounds Rd
PO Box 1717
Quincy, CA 95971
United States of America
PO Box 1717
Quincy, CA 95971
United States of America
President
Secretary
Treasurer
Club Service
Public Image
Rotary Foundation
Youth Services
RYE
Member Birthdays:
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Richard StocktonMarch 15
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Beth ReidMarch 21
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Kelsha SutherlandMarch 22
Spouse/Partner Birthdays:
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Eliza FletcherMarch 17
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Michelle RybackMarch 24
Anniversaries:
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Jon CurnowAmanda CurnowMarch 13
Join Date:
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Zoe StancerMarch 6, 20233 years
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Doug ProutyMarch 21, 201115 years
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John SheehanMarch 21, 201115 years
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Kory FelkerMarch 23, 200719 years
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Kris KurpjuweitMarch 29, 20215 years
Egyptian Rotary member honored for advancing women’s leadership and community development
Egyptian Rotary member honored for advancing women’s leadership and community development
Barcelona selected to host Rotary International Convention 2029
Barcelona selected to host Rotary International Convention 2029
‘Success is collective,’ says recipient of Rotary’s 2026 Sylvia Whitlock Leadership Award
‘Success is collective,’ says recipient of Rotary’s 2026 Sylvia Whitlock Leadership AwardEgyptian Rotarian has elevated female leaders, promoted microloans, and helped build
Destination: Rotary
Three days, three towns, three clubs. Who knew Wisconsin could be so microcosmic?
A survivor of violence guides others to safety
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