Terry's Update to Rotary

 For any non Rotarians reading this: Terry and Tanya's Rotary Club, RC Strathcona Sunrise, has an International Committee that meets regularly to coordinate the club's International Projects (we have projects at various stages in India (2) and Mexico (proposed) as well -and maybe more since we left). They have a meeting Fri Feb 10th and this is our update to them.  We won't hold it against them if they turn down our request below, they are tasked with stretching the dollars that club members work so hard to raise (selling beer, burgers and ...very heavy bags of soil conditioner).

Hi Guys,

Project Update (feel free to skim Pippa, I don't want to eat up the meeting):

1) Protected Springs GG (PSGG)

Based on previous experience and the scope of this project I expected it to take 12-16 months to complete.  I now expect we will be 90-100% completed by March 20th (our return date).  20 are complete, 20 under construction and 10 not started.  Thanks to local Rotarians we are under budget.  Extra money will go to build steps for some (~3) of the insane access springs (see blog for details) and perhaps a few extra springs (we'll see).

Don't tell Lynn, but I just signed 130 very formal certificates as President of RCSS.  I TOLD them I was only PE, but they didn't listen, or spell my name right.  These will be given out tommorrow and Friday as we provide Hygiene & Protected Spring Management Training to the recipients of the first 18 springs now complete.  The course is taught by Dept of Public Health, but sponsored totally by Rotary (cost is $9/ per participant, for training materials, transport, lunch and certificate (they LOVE certificates down here)). After this 3 more training days to do.


2) Fish Farm DCG
Assessment stage is done. All farmers and would-be farmers have been spoken too, technical training w/ field trips has occurred. One of 3 days of business training has taken place so far- next class feb 18th.  Terry has met with local fingerling and feed producers. We have 47 days to form a women's co-ops for widow-headed households.Tanya has taken the reins.  The speed of the PSGG is such that it is consuming alot of Terry's time monitoring,administrating and mostly dispensing payments to contractors (via RC Kakamega) and keeping everyone in the loop. Its a good problem to have.

3) Students
Our form 2 student, Mathias, we have met and updated you on. Moses, for whom Michael Pontus is providing medical coverage, has ongoing issues with his now amputated leg, but they are being addressed.  Both Moses and Mathias seem happy, clothed, school supplied and marks look good. Our form 1 student will not start at Musingu High as the fees are too much.  This was Alinda's recommendation and she went ahead and started him at another school before I could object- but she says the alternative school is very good and she knows her stuff.  We will meet him soon.

 I concur with Tanya that we keep Mathias at Musingu High school until he graduates at a cost of $700.00 a year (we budgetted for $600).  We have until next Dec to decide about our 2013 Form 1 student (Student #3).

4) Other Rotary related.
      (i)Tanya is working closely with Rotaract; it is a very $ poor, but very active club.  She did a garbage clean up day with them last Saturday and she has not missed a meeting. They were blown away to see her actually picking up garbage. Video on our blog.  She is meeting weekly with female Rotaracters starting tomorrow. 
      (ii) We travel to Navaisaha ( 5 hrs on bus 1 way) to meet Campbell River Rotarians and discuss a ~$50K clean water GG proposal this weekend.

Request : Could RC Strathcona Sunrise sponsor two Rotaracters to send to RYLA in March?

 In 2009 we sent two for $150.00 each.  This year I expect the fee will be $200 each.  Covers travel, registration, room and board for weekend in Nairobi (9hr bus ride from here).  RC Kakamega will likely send 1 or 2. These will be 1st or 2nd year students who will be being groomed to run Rotaract in 2 years (older Rotaracters cannot go due to exams).  Tanya would select lucky recipients with Abraham, Winnie and Athanacious (VP, Treasurer and President).  They are all excellent. Will ensure females are represented (club is 30 strong, with about 40% women).  If yay, please record in minutes to reimburse me when I get back after I provide reports and receipts from students.

Have a good meeting, skype probably won't work at Plates, but I am available if it does.  My skype handle is Farmsalmon4ever.

Terry

PS Did I ever tell you that the first thing we saw on our first day here at KASFOOC office was a picture I took of about 20 RCSSers bagging Skyrocket? Each beneficiary was told, and shown, exactly how donors worked for the money to provide springs and fish farm supplies. Thanks to that opicture and KASFOOC, they really understand that this money was worked for and, perhaps a little forcefully for my taste, are told that theyhave to work hard to make projects sustainable tosay thank you to donors.  Pretty cool, and yes, they make sure to thank us, as we walk around out there, for working so hard to raise the money to build these springs.