Operation Pollination

Do you like to eat?

If you’re like me and you like to eat, you may want to consider helping “the little things that run the world” – our precious pollinators that are directly responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat.  

On July 2nd 2023 at our District New Members BBQ, Rotary District 1145 became part of Rotary’s Operation Pollination environmental framework when DG Annemarie van Bochove Allen and PDG Roger Stent signed a simple Pollinator Resolution to cover all clubs in the District (a sample Resolution can be found at https://ESRAG.org/pollinators, scroll down to Operation Pollination).

This Pollinator Resolution is a high-level view of the imperilled state of pollinators and simply states that Rotary is well-positioned to help address this environmental crisis.  It should be noted that by signing this non-binding Resolution, our DGs did not commit anyone to anything.

Tiering off of this Pollinator Resolution is the next step…a Pollinator Pledge (found at the same website).  The Pledge is signed at the Club level by the Club President with Board approval.  The Pledge is where a commitment to help pollinators is made.  

What you pledge to do to help is totally up to you.  There is no prescriptive one-size-fits-all suggestion.  From planting a garden, to handing out seed packets to school children, to painting a mural, or anything you decide on, it's all good.  Also, past pollinator projects that your Club may have done can be retroactively pledged.  If you need help deciding what to do, simply ask your computer.  Mr. Google is more than happy to oblige.

Please know that Clubs can also recruit other organisations to get involved.  Every organisation - large or small, government or non-government, private or not-for-profit - is invited to participate.  And..no project is too big, or too small.  All sized projects and efforts are welcome, depending on your Club's level of interest, capabilities, and capacity.  Best of all...no judgement is ever made AND no "big brother" is coming to check up on you.  Operation Pollination is totally based on Rotary's Four-Way Test.  If you say you're going to do a project and you don't, that is up to you.

PLEASE consider signing an Operation Pollination Pledge for your Club today.  Go to https://esrag.org/pollinators (scroll down to Operation Pollination) and electronically fill the Pledge out.  It's that simple.  Every positive action is appreciated.  Your pollinators thank you. 

Chris Stein, Operation Pollination (August 2023)