Announcements/Business:
 
  • Wes Paxton presented $179 that was raised for Polio Eradication.  Conifer High School Interact raised the funds in several fundraising events.  Their next fundraiser: tickets for a Warren Miller skiing film will be on sale in the next couple of weeks.  The money raised will help fund the Interact Club trip to Nepal.
  • Conifer High School football team beat Evergreen last weekend.  They are undefeated this year and they are ranked  fifth in the State.  With a win next weekend they will be #3 in the state!
  • The Interact District Conference was last Saturday.  Our Conifer High School Interact Club received the prestigious Ron Prasher award.  It recognizes the club for overall excellence in projects and service.
  • The link to Salvation Army bell ringing sign up is under the Weblinks tab on our club website.  Or, simply click HERE to sign up to ring the bell.
  • There is a sign up genius for the Imagination Library table at the Conifer Holiday parade.  Joyce Snapp is needs someone to wear the Dolly Parton outfit!
  • Our District Governor, Curt Harris, is bicycle riding to raise money for Polio.  100 miles in the November 23rd El Tour de Tucson, supporting Rotary’s Ride to End Polio.  The link to support his ride is on our website; help him raise $20,000 to end Polio.
  • We need granola bars and peanut butter crackers for the back pack project.
  • Next week's meeting:  we will distribute foundation grant awards, induct our newest member, Bambi Moss and a report from the Conifer Rotary membership committee.
  • The Rotary Rose Parade float committee needs funds for a Rotary float. Our Board will discuss a possible donation.
  • The next social will be November 16th, 6-9 pm at Castles and Kitchens, enjoying wine and appetizers, making pastas and pasta sauce and EATING.  Flyer and RSVP info coming up.
 
 
Program:  Bob Rose
St. Helene, Bay Islands, Honduras, Water Projects
 
St. Helene is an island at the east end of the Bay Islands off Honduras, accessible only by boat.  There are no roads nor means for transportation around the island other than by foot.  The homes are on stilts, as are the toilet facilities, most of which hang out over the water.  There is no work on St. Helene, so many of the men fish or go out to sea to raise money.  There are 200 homes and about 1000 residents.
 
This is a long-term Rotary project consisting of several phases, using a global grant from the Rotary Club of Roatan and support from Evergreen Rotary and Edmonton Canada Rotary.
 
The project started in 2014 after a community needs assessment. There are six settlements on the island and each provides a member for their leadership team.  A play ground for children was the first project, which brought the six communities together.  The communities are developing a sustainable plan to meet their comprehensive needs.
 
The project received an education grant from Edmonton Canada Rotary.  It built a school and included teacher training.  Safe water is their biggest challenge.  They had hand-dug wells which are becoming brackish and failing.  They had to haul drinking water jugs by boat and then on foot to the homes.  Past water efforts were not sustainable.  Rotary's involvement was to first develop trust with the residents.  They now have two good Rotary wells.
 
The second phase, with a global grant, is focused on bringing water to every home.  Rotary's efforts also include training water board personnel to maintain the system and collect fees.
 
The next phase is latrines and economic development, with a budget of $210,633.  There are currently seven Rotary Clubs (four in Canada) that are supporting the Grant and have raised $51,853.
 
 
Guest: Richard Toussant, Evergreen Rotary