Lawndale Rotary Happenings
Posted
on Jan 29, 2007
-Membership!!On 1/18 we inducted our newest member, David Gerard of Triology Financial
-Business of the Month Award - Lawndale awarded their first Business of the Month award on 1/18 to Raji Malik of "Choices" restaurant. Raji was our guest at lunch and a certificate and placque were given recognizing commitment and service to the Lawdale Community. An award will be given to one business each month through June with the intent to make this an ongoing program.
-Scholarships! Lawndale received a District Simplified Grant and will be sending 33 students from the Lawndale elementary school district to "Science Camp." Scholarships for students in the low income area of the city of Lawndale attend science camp in the San Bernardino mountains during their 6th grade of schooling. This science camp provides knowledge of science in a very motivational manner and is often the first opportunity they've had to leave the urban city.
-Green Ambassadors! Net proceeds from our recent (freezing cold!) carnival will assist in funding to send eight to nine students as "Green Ambassadors" from Enviornment Charter Highschool to Brazil. The students hope to travel to Brazil from April 5th to the 15th to continue working with a research biologist in the Pantanal - the largest fresh water ecosystem in the world and home to the giant river otter. Scientists estimate that continued erosion to the ecosystem will cause it to be totally destroyed within 42 years. Like the Ballona wetlands, the Panatal filters water, which supplies the drinking water to all of Brazil. The cost of this project is $14,000 - about $2,100 per student plus airfare. They will be staying with cattle ranchers in the area as part of the Earthwatch Conservation International project. With our funds, they will be close to reacing their funding goal.
-RI Matching Grant for Food Tunnels in South Africa - With Lawndale as the lead club, we have partnered with the Hermosa Beach Rotary Club and the Durban Inchanga 1000 Hills Rotary Club and applied for and obtained an RI matching grant to fund 37 food tunnels. The project entails purchasing and installing Hydroponic Food Tunnels in poor rural communities just outside of Durban, South Africa. These communities have high levels of unemployment and high incidents of HIV AIDS. Since the tunnels produce, for example, enough spinach to feed 20 adults two meals a day, they will go a long way in alleviating hunger for these people. In addition, where there is surplus production the communities will have the ability to generate an income from the sale of the vegetables.The value of this project is that it is inexpensive, low tech, easy to maintain, and very importantly, sustainable.In essence the tunnels work on a hydroponics principle. For the most part the growing food is protected and controlled. More importantly, for a small maintenance effort - a small amount of water & nutrient is added daily and food like spinach, cabbage, beans, etc grows extremely quickly. Typically a tunnel will feed 20 adults, two meals per day for 6 months (based on production of spinach).Once the six month cycle is over, the Inchanga club will supply an additional 1000 seedlings, which the Club provides at roughly $22.00 per 1000. From then on, the project should become self sustaining. The total cost of the project is $15,000.
-Upcoming events:
Officer and Firefighter of the Year - We will be hosting our annual luncheon honoring one deputy and one firefighter of the year on March 1st at the Alondra Golf Course Club House. We extend the invitation for other clubs to join us for a joint meeting. Previous event attendees have included representatives from LA City Council and Supervisor's office as well as the Mayor of Lawndale. Please Contact Hedy Downing at dbobhedy@aol.com for more information and reservations.
Club Paul Harris Celebration Lunch - our annual club Paul Harris celebration will be held at the Proud Bird on Sunday, March 11th, recognizing new and previous club Paul Harris Fellows. Please contact Jim Hamai at (310) 833-8565 for more information and reservations