The Object of Rotary is to foster the ideal of service through fellowship
As Rotarians with a passion for preserving our environment, after listening to a futurist at last year’s district conference, we wondered if club members would be interested in an environmentally-focused fellowship group. So we gave it a shot and we’re happy to report that the Going Green Fellowship Group is rolling along.
What do we do?
- address quality of life issues and environmental concerns including climate change, carbon footprints, energy efficiency and conservation, and transportation choices;
- explore science, policies, solutions, and plan service projects to engage fellow Rotarians and the larger community in flourishing sustainably.
If these topics interest you, please email the Rotary office to join the group! You don’t need to attend all or even any of the meetings – but you’ll receive group emails, and you’ll know what we’re doing. We meet on the first Monday of each month after Rotary from 1:30-2:15. The first 20 minutes of each meeting will often be a speaker. Our kick-off meeting was September 25, 2013 (exciting photo below) and we currently have about 40 members.
What have we been doing?
District 6250 Conference, May 3-4 in the Dells, We presented breakout sessions on:
- Fellowship groups in our club
- Our Going Green Fellowship group
- A dialogue on the adverse effect climate change is having on Rotary’s six Areas of Focus including impeding the eradication of polio.
31 Rotarians (!) signed up to be part of the 6250 Environmental Network we created to share environmental stewardship ideas and projects among our clubs. 13 clubs asked for environmental presentations to their clubs!
Dr. Jonathan Patz
Dr. Patz is Director of the Global Health Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For the past 15 years, Dr. Patz served as a lead author for the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – the organization that shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. Dr. Patz is also a delegate to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Dr. Patz, presented to our group on May 7. Several members of other Clubs in the district attended including Rotary International Director Mark Beth Growney Selene and District 6250 Governor-elect Dave Warren. Participants gave his presentation high marks; watch it here. And here is a copy of his Powerpoint slides. His presentation is 30 minutes long and starts at 4:45. Between 21:00 and 23:10 he covers how climate change is impeding polio eradication work.
What’s next?
- Member Dick Pearson is presenting at the June 4 Going Green meeting on how you can save a ton of money investing in energy efficiency in your commercial/ industrial building – and likewise significantly reduce CO2 emissions.
- Look for a flyer in the next few weeks with info on purchasing a (very nice looking, navy blue) reusable, stainless steel water bottle with the Rotary logo.
- We’re gathering information for a tree-planting project.
Stay tuned, more updates coming.
In service,
Paul Riehemann and Karen Kendrick-Hands, Co-chairs
Going Green Fellowship Group
Rotary Club of Madison, Wisconsin 