Editor’s note: Gary M. Farral, President, Erie Rotary Club, submitted this article from Bob Swanson, International Project Chairman, Rock Island Rotary Club.
“This is an update on a recent Rotary project. It was begun by the Rock Island[, IL,] club but has grown to include many clubs, non-Rotary organizations, and private individuals” Farral explained. Swanson’s District Conference remarks follow.
“First, Bud Phillis and I want to again thank each of you for allowing us to make our Water Project presentation to your Rotary Club and to the District 6420 Conference….Since making 12 presentations, we have received many generous donations, allowing us to…exceed our first year goal by almost two times! We’ve been able to purchase 95 water filter units to date…, which are either already in place in Kenya or are in transit and will be in use by the end of next month.”
“Replenish, our source and distribution arm for the filters, has done a super job getting the filters delivered, completing training of the children and adults on site, and getting back to us with photos and reports.”
“As we spoke with various groups, some questions came up that we thought were great ideas….One club…asked if it would be possible to put some sort of identification on the filters, recognizing that Rotarians were the donors providing the units. At that time, the Rotary emblem was printed on the box the filter arrived in, but there was nothing on the filter itself.”
“…Another club…asked if there was some way to let the children know that the water filters came from the United States….We often hear that other areas of the world do not necessarily have a good impression of the U. S.”
“We thought both ideas were worth pursuing….I am pleased to tell you that the label [shown above] was developed into an adhesive sticker….It is now displayed proudly on every one of the units we have funded. A large Rotary emblem still is printed on the box as well.”
“[Below is] a…report of all the various donations received to date….This is an ongoing effort, and we anticipate continuing year after year, as long as we can.”
“Obviously, the need is huge….Replenish now has established contacts and facilities in 14 nations, from Africa to South and Central America.”
…Bud Phillis and Swanson have made presentations to the following Rotary Clubs: East Moline Rotary, Rock Island Rotary, Moline Rotary, Geneseo Rotary, Quad Cities Club, Twin Rivers RAH Club, Milan Rotary, District 6420 Conference, Erie Rotary, Galva Rotary Club, Dixon Rotary Club, and Iowa Quad Cities Rotary Club.
Swanson continued, “…results have been very good with virtually every Club, or…individual members from the club, donating toward the purchase of at least one LifeStraw Water Filter. Donations continue to flow in; 95 LifeStraw Filters have been purchased [for use] in Kenya and Uganda. These pictures were taken when filters from our project were delivered to a school in rural Kenya.”
“Our club treasurer reports the following donations had been received as of last month.”
Purchased One or More Filter Units
Sam Wray (68) Rock Island Club
Kevin Koski (1) Rock Island Club
John Wetzel (1) Rock Island Club
Tricia Barron (2) Rock Island Club
Rock Island Rotary (3) Rock Island Club
Ernie Beane (1) Rock Island Club
Bob Swanson (1) Rock Island Club
Dixon Rotary (6 2/3) Dixon Club
Geneseo Rotary (1) Geneseo Club
William Bordwell (1) Geneseo Club
Debra Rehn (1) Geneseo Club
Bob Orsi (1) Geneseo Club
Vicki Miller (1) Moline Club
Phil Koenig (1) Moline Club
Moline Rotary (1) Moline Club
Milan Rotary (1) Milan Club
Bud Phillis (1) Rock Island Club
Erie Rotary (1) Erie Club
Donated Toward the Purchase of a Filter Unit
Chuck Austin Rock Island Club
Rock Island Club Foundation Rock Island Club
Jennifer Garrety Rock Island Club
Carl Freeman East Moline Club
Kent Crippen Moline Club
Sam Till Moline Club
Sarah Balkovek RAH Club
Curtis Huizenga Erie Club
