We are committed to supporting activities that strengthen the conservation and protection of natural resources, advance ecological sustainability, and foster harmony between communities and the environment. We empower communities to access grants and other resources, embrace local solutions, and spur innovation in an effort to address the causes and reduce the effects of climate change and environmental degradation.
Rotary shares an interest in protecting our common legacy: the environment.
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To help replace the coral reefs lost to ocean warming and acidification in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago near Panama, Stillwater Sunrise Rotary is joining other Rotary clubs across the globe to purchase one of 118 six-foot mini reefs. Each reef will be seeded with climate resilient coral seeds. This project will help educate children of the importance of reefs, employ locals to help build and place the reefs as well as create an environment that will bring back more fish for the Ngobe Indigenous communities to sell and eat. In addition, 50 rare Alemendro trees, critical to the survival of the threatened Great Green Macaw, will be planted.
Our goal is to purchase one reef at a cost of $1950. Each reef will include a plaque listing the name of our club and our current club president. In turn our club will receive an online map with the GPS coordinates of our reef, videos detailing the progress of the reef’s development every six months, and a plaque of the Caribbean coral center facility in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Each member of our club will receive a weekly planner that educates on plastic and how to live a more sustainable lifestyle without disposable plastic.
You can see a video of the effort here: (link)
While Washington County Minnesota will be starting curbside pick-up of food waste and other compostable materials sometime in 2023, our club decided that was too long to wait. Food and other organic waste in landfills generates methane, which has 25 times more heat-trapping capability than CO2. By composting wasted food and other organics, methane emissions are significantly reduced. Compost reduces and in some cases eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers. We provided our members with compostable garbage bags so they can the compostable waste generated at home, to bring to our Tuesday morning meetings. One or two members would then transport the waste to the nearest collection site. In less than 8 months, we are approaching 2 tons of compostable waste collected or composted in a backyard composter. Every ton of waste composted, means almost 150 fewer pounds of methane reduced into the atmosphere.
Stillwater Sunrise Rotary Club adopted and began work on the Ramsey-Grove Pollinator Garden in April 2021. Prior to our adoption, very little upkeep had occurred for several years. Click "Read More" to access a presentation (PDF) for a short history of our adoption and the progress made.
At today's meeting, Dave shared some links that give some great ideas for water conservation:
- January 2021- Food Choices to Fight Global Warming
- February 2021 - Positive Eco News
- March 2021 - Water Conservation
- April 2021 - Member survey of engagement in climate actions
- May 2021 - Pollinators
- July 2021 - Plastic-free July
- September 2021 - Regenerative/Sustainable Agriculture
- October 2021 - Winter prep – save on heating costs
- November 2021 - Global Climate Pledge