by Ingrid Nova | Jul 6, 2014 | Foundation and Fund Raising, Rotary International News
A healthy safe drinking water project was spearheaded by East Lansing Rotarian, Dr. Omero Iung. Through his leadership an international partnership between three Rotary Clubs – East Lansing Rotary Club, Lansing Rotary Club in Michigan’s Capital of Lansing, and Rotary Club General Camara of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil was established in the Fall of 2013. The mission was to create healthy, safe drinking water in local schools from General Camara, Brazil.
Funding the Fountains
Both the Lansing and East Lansing Rotary Club’s donated $2,500, for a total of $5,000 towards the project plan of purchasing and installing 10 drinking fountains. The Rotary Club of General Camara took responsibility for acquiring, installing the fountains and educating the community on water preservation. In October of 2013 the funds were received from the United States. Due to the favorable exchange rate of the dollar to reais, Rotarians of General Camara were able to acquire one additional drinking fountain.
Installing the Fountains
Installation of the 11 fountains commenced in November of 2013, and the project was completed in March of 2014 with a break between December and February for the annual school holiday. Follows is a list of schools and the number of fountains:
- City Elementary School Oraida Pereira in Passo da Taquara – 1
- City Elementary School Trajano Azambja in Boqueirao – 1
- City Elementary School Maria Jose in Potreiro – 2
- City Elementary School Padre Ely in Banheiro Velho– 1
- City Elementary School Mathias in Boca da Picada – 1
- State High School Joao Cannabarro in the county seat – 1
- Municipal School of Child Education Norberto Fagundes Ribeiro in the county seat – 2
- State Institute of Education Vasconcelos Jardim in the county seat – 2
It is estimated that 1,500 students and 500 teacher, staff, administrators and visitors will enjoy the benefit of consistently delivered healthy and safe drinking water. In addition, the local Rotary Club coordinated talks by experts on the importance of water preservation and the rational use of water with the expectation that those messages would be carried home to families and communities.
Dr. Omero Iung sampling the drinking water.
Congratulations to all Rotary partners for a successful project completed.
For a complete copy of the report which outlined detailed costs related to this project may contact Dr. Omero Iung c/o the East Lansing Rotary Club
by Ingrid Nova | Jun 24, 2014 | Playground in the Park
An army of hard-working volunteers got the Community Build portion of the Playground in the Park build done. Despite hot and humid weather on Monday and Tuesday, June 16 and 17, plus a rainy start on Wednesday, work for the Community Build portion of the Playground in the Park Re-Imagined has progressed very well. Just a few slides remained to be put in place and concrete to be poured into post holes.
Community volunteers planning on helping on Thursday and Friday were contacted to let them know that their services would not be required.
City of East Lansing and Contractors Still Have Work to Do
It is anticipated that there is 4 to 6 weeks before the new play space will be ready for the public. Items remaining to be completed:
- The remainder of the plantings for the rain garden
- Additional walkways leading to the play space
- More landscaping beds to be planted
- Benches to be installed around the perimeter of the play space
- Preparation of the entire site for the poured in place safety surface
- Installation of the entry plaza and pergola including the brick paved area
Community Can Still Help
The entry plaza has been designed to acknowledge sponsors on permanent signage as well as to provide opportunities for families and community members to support the park with a commemorative brick. The brick pavers come in two sizes: 8×4 for $100, and 8×8 for $150. “The plaza as designed has room for 800 pavers and it was our hope that the community would help us complete the funding by purchasing these bricks,” said Rotary Project Chairperson John Saltzgaber. “To date, we have sold nearly 200 pavers but we have a way to go. In order to get the pavers engraved and ready for installation we have set a deadline of July 15th for brick purchases.”
Those interested in purchasing a brick or two, or even to sponsor can visit the following website for more information: www.cityofeastlansing.com/playgroundinthepark
Community Caution
The play space will be fenced and locked for safety purposes, and to keep the project on schedule. City officials are requesting that people refrain from entering the play space until the formal dedication in early August.
by Ingrid Nova | Jun 6, 2014 | Events, Pancakes in the Park, Playground in the Park
Sunday June 8th the forecast calls for morning showers and warm temperatures. “A little rain never stopped us,” quipped the Pancakes in the Park Chairperson, Josh Clayton. “We plan on making and serving pancakes like we always do, so come on out and see us on Sunday morning.”
The annual community service fundraiser, a signature event for the East Lansing Rotary Club, is scheduled for Sunday June 8th from 7:00am to 12:30pm in the covered picnic pavilion at Patriarche Park, Alton Street and Haslett Road in East Lansing. The menu includes coffee, juice, pancakes, sausage and grilled apples. Tickets are $5.00 each and kids 5 and under EAT FREE.
This Sunday visitors to Pancakes in the Park will also get a good look at the site preparation for the Playground in the Park, Re-Imagined. The Community Build for the playground is set to begin on June 16th and continue through the 19th (rain make-up day on the 20th). Volunteers are still needed to help with the build and Community Support opportunities include engraved brick pavers (4×8 or 8×8) perfect for families or businesses. Look for more details at the Park on Sunday, or go to: www.cityofeastlansing.com/playgroundinthepark
So, on your way to church or the park, toss your rain gear and umbrellas in the car and get ready for a fun day in the park!
by Ingrid Nova | May 28, 2014 | Awards, Community Service Ongoing, Youth Initiatives
The Student Excellence Award is presented to motivated East Lansing High School students who have demonstrated good character and citizenship through activities in school and the community. In addition, they have demonstrated personal growth by overcoming adversities. The award includes a certificate and a monetary donation for future educational endeavors, which is presented to the students at the Senior Honors Night. The students are nominated by the counseling staff at East Lansing High School. The East Lansing Rotary Club is pleased to announce the 2014 Award Winners.
Kenneth Washington Nominated for Student Excellence Award by School Counselor Nicole Coss
“Kenneth transferred to East Lansing High School when he moved to the area from Detroit.Kenneth holds a job outside of school to help support his family. His income helps his mother with household expenses,as she was a single mother raising two boys up until recently. He is the first person in his family to attend college,” shared Coss.
“Kenneth is a top candidate for this award because of his level of maturity. Kenneth has forged dynamic and genuine relationships with students, teachers, administrators, parents and community members. His ability to engage and lead is innately intertwined with his fascinating and compassionate personality, his mastered sense of conscientiousness and his work ethic.These traits convince me that he will positively influence everyone’s paths he crosses.” Upon receiving the award and recognition at a recent Rotary meeting Kenneth shared that he is looking at MSU, Michigan or North Carolina for school where he hopes to study pre-med.
Juwahir Mohamud Nominated for Student Excellence Award by her Counselor Joshua Barrons
“Juwahir’s family is from Somalia. They immigrated to the United States from a refugee camp in Kenya when she was a baby (after civil war broke out in Somalia). Juwahir comes from a huge family–she is one of 11 children. She is one of the most hardworking and dedicated students. Juwahir goes out of her way to help other students and to make a difference in the community. One of the places Juwahir volunteers is the Boys and Girls Club of Lansing. While Juwahir struggled when she started as a freshman at ELHS, she persevered and demanded academic and personal success for herself. She is now an A/B student. Juwahir will be the first person in her family to attend a four-year university. She has been accepted to MSU,”shared Barrons.
The Student Excellence Awards are a project of the Community Service Committee of the East Lansing Rotary Club. Member Kristin Shelley was the chair of this year’s awards process.
by Ingrid Nova | Mar 28, 2014 | Events, Foundation and Fund Raising, Playground in the Park
Fellow Rotarians here are the Big Bang-Quet results. Many thanks to everyone who participated in the University Club’s Big Bang-quet Charity Challenge! Twenty-four organization’s were a part of this year’s “challenge” and our Playground in the Park Re-Imagined project finished in 6th place with 840 votes or $4,200! Many thanks to all who voted online, recruited friends and family to vote, and/or attended and voted at last night’s Grand Reveal party. Thanks also to the Community Foundation and MSUFCU for their sponsorship of this event. And, a special thanks to our own Phyllis Riley for her advocacy on behalf of including the playground project among the charities/causes in this year’s event.
The Community Foundation will be sending us a check for $3,570 – which is our share (85%) of the votes cast – and moves us one step closer to fully funding the playground project.
You can go to http://www.universityclubofmsu.org/theclubwithaheart and click on the full details link to see all of the Big Bang-quet Charity Challenge rankings.
Thanks once again everyone for your support!
The Playground in the Park Re-Imagined Committee
