Supporting the Environment - Seventh Area of Focus

      CLUB ASSEMBLY -PLANNING FOR THE ROTARY YEAR 1JULY2023 TO 30 JUNE 2024

Environment Group Team Leader Alyson Wort:

Supporting the Environment: Seventh Area of Focus

More than $18 million in Rotary Foundation global grant funding has been allocated to environment related projects over the past five years, Creating a distinct area of focus to support the environment will give Rotary members even more ways to bring about positive changes in the world and increase our impact.

In 1990-91 R.I. President Paulo Costa made the environment one of his primary causes, creating the Preserve Planet Earth subcommittee, which looked at ways Clubs and members could conduct environmental initiatives. Past R. I. President Ian Riseley, chair of the Enviromental Issues task force which championed the new area of focus commented 'We have finally caught up to Costa and his vision'.

During the 2023/2024 year we will ontinue to persuade members to reduce their use of single use plastic - the focus must be on reducing, then re-using, then recycling as the last resort.  There is a lot of publicity around the mountains of recycling turning up in other countries, emanating from the UK and we must do our bit to address this.  Think globally but act locally.

I am still trying to organise a Club visit to the Recycling Centre in Leeds which will educate us all further.  There may be interest, particularly amongst new members, of a second visit to the Waste Recovery Centre as well.

Litter picking will continue both as a Club activity from time to time but also individual efforts.

The students at Leeds Trinity University who belong to Enactus will be invited to come and speak to the Club as they do outstanding voluntary service connected to the environment.

I have spoken to Peter Lambert, who organises environmental activities with some of the students at Woodhouse Grove and there may be some synergy with Club activities. 

                              CLUB ASSEMBLY MEETING - 21 JUNE 2022

 We will continue to work with Zeo Muda on New Road Side, Horsforthas there is a great deal of synergy between us and what we are trying to achieve. The space outside their shop gives us a good platform to promote Rotary and our activities. We plan to have this as a base for the next Leeds-wide litter pick, encouraging not just our own Club members to take part but members of the local community. This will also be a good PR exercise in the hope of attracting new members.