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See our District plans for the upcoming months in this bulletin. Also please visit our District 6990 website: https://rotary6990.orgDistrict 6990 Environmental Upcoming Plans and ProgramsVirtual BulletinDecember 2022 HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

TABLE OFCONTENTS3 MESSAGES FROM GOV. KESTI & R. BULL4 PLANTING A FRUIT TREE FOREST 5-6 TROPICAL AUDUBON SOCIETY NOV. VISIT7-8 DISTRICT TREE PLANTING UPCOMING EVENT9 SMALL CHANGES – BIG DIFFERENCE10-11 ADOPT-A-RIVER PROGRAM12 MONTHY ACTION PLAN13 GOVERNOR CITIATION INFORMATION14 ESRAG INFORMATION15 ENDPLASTICSOUP INFO

Message from District Governor Michael W. Kesti3Dear Fellow Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors & Friends:As we enter the holiday season, I want to wish all of you and yourfamilies/friends Happy Holidays and a wonderful New Year. Thank you for yoursupport toward the Environmental Committee. As we look forward, ourupcoming tree/pollinator shrub planting program should be a lot of fun andthese are Family Friendly activities. I also want to encourage Clubs to evaluatethe Adopt-A-River program that will be developed as the Rotary yearprogresses. Please ensure that your Club has appointed a member responsibleto Environmental Activates..I look forward for all of your continued support.Michael W. KestiDistrict Governor - Rotary International District 6990===============================================================Dear Fellow Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors & Friends:This bulletin reviews our November action and highlights our upcoming activities. Looking ahead, the District tree planting program is ready to go. Please see the details in thisbulletin. We need the Clubs in Broward and Monroe counties, and Northern Bahamas to identify tree planting opportunities with their local authorities. As mentioned in our last bulletin, we are evaluating how our District will participate with the Adopt-A-River program. I have included details of this project again this month and other concepts are in this bulletin.Your comments and feedback are appreciated,Sincerely,Robert H. Bull ESDAC - Chair

Planting A Fruit Tree Forest – Nov. 13thTwo Rotarians from Weston Rotary Satellite Club & Sunrise Rotary Club and family/volunteers Club started a fruit tree forest on Nov. 13 4

Tropical Audubon Society Visit Saturday, Nov. 19th4Rotarians (Homestead, Aventura/Hallandale & Miami Clubs), Interactors, family and friends conducted an environmental cleanup with a tour of the historic Doc Thomas House, plus fellowship. 5

Tropical Audubon Society Visit Saturday, Nov. 19th(Con’t)6

DISTRICT TREE PLANTING WILL BE IN JAN/FEB 2023The District Tree Planting will be conducted in Jan/Feb 2023. We have identified two locations in Miami-Dade through Million Trees Miami. On January 28th we will plant native trees in Coral Estates Park, and on February 12th we will plantArbor Day (Jan. 20), Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14)and Tu B’Shevat, (Feb. 5/6) are dates that you may want to use to celebrate a tree dedication.We recommend selling tree dedications to cover the cost of the trees. Biodegradable hearts have been used in the past to dedicate trees. For Miami-Dade plantings, trees/plants must be pre-paid and the cost is $10 per tree/pollinator shrub. There is no minimum quantity/club, however funds must be remitted to the 7pollinator shrubs in Pelican Hammock Island. We need local assistance for Broward, Monroe and & Grand Bahamas, as there is no county/island wide entity in these locations that supports tree planting. Please contact local officials. District Treasurer, Bruce Gerstenfeld, prior to the deadline (December 16th). Please mail your club's check to Bruce Gerstenfeld, 1515 N. University Dr., Suite 219, Coral Springs, FL 33071. Please make the checks out to Rotary District 6990. Please advise Bruce via email that you are sending a check, how many trees/location (bruce@gerstenfeldcpa.com). Please copy me with this information to rhbull.rotary@gmail.com

DISTRICT TREE PLANTING WILL BE IN JAN/FEB 2023(Continued)Information about Miami-Dade planting locations.Coral Estates Park Tree Planting (Jan. 28th) – Coral Estates Park is located at 1405 SW 97th Ave. The park has an extremely low tree canopy, our clubs will address this issue by planting trees to promote severallasting benefits to the surrounding neighborhood including storm water runoff interception, carbon sequestration, reduction of heat island effect, and air pollutant removal. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Pelican Island Maritime Hammock Pollinator Shrub Planting (Feb. 12th) – Pelican Island can be accessed by the Pelican Skipper (45-foot catamaran) at the PelicanHarbor Marina, located at 1275 NE 79th St, Miami. Pelican Island is a man-made 10-acre island created during the dredging of the Intercoastal Waterway in the early 1900s. There are also shelters with picnic tables, volleyball courts, and barbecue grills. We will plant native pollinator shrubs to support wildlife and increase pollinator habitat. FAMILY FRIENDLY -- All AGE GROUPS MAY JOIN INStudents will earn Community Service Hours.8

We all can make a Big Difference with our impact on the environment by simply making some small changes. Just think about some of the suggestions below and see how you individually or collectively through your Club and/or District can make an impact.“Small changes, big difference”:1. Adjust the timing of your lawn sprinklers. Change the timing to a pre-dawn setting. You will reduce water loss due to evaporation2. Lobby your local governments to increase the number and locations of recycling bins3. Use LED lights, this will save electricity4. Dispose of old electronic systems in a recycling center5. Install solar panels and improve insulation in your home.6. Take cloth bags when you shop, avoid plastic bags. 7. Install heat pump water heaters. This will reduce your electricity usage.8. Use well water for your lawns and gardens.9. Verify your air-conditioning settings. Does it have to be so low? Are you air-conditioning an empty home when you are away? Just adjust the setting prior to leaving and upon arrival.10. Start a TRASHERCIZE program. Go for a walk everyday and pick up plastic and aluminum along the way. You will lose weight and help the environment.9

Rotary Int’l & Adopt-A-RiverRotary International has established a partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme and their Adopt-A-River campaign. Please watch the video below with RI President, Jennifer Jones.Adopt-A-River is not just about Rivers. It also includes lakes, reservoirs, groundwater, wetlands, estuaries and canals.Clubs (individually or collectively with other Clubs) are encouraged to “Adopt” a section of your local waterways. Our waterways end up in the ocean. Just a few days ago there was another “fish kill” in Biscayne Bay. Basically inland pollution is being released into Biscayne Bay creating “dead zones”. We can help address this issue.10

Rotary Int’l & Adopt-A-River (con’t)How Does Adopt-A-River work?• It’s Club Driven but needs to be Community Focused• It’s a long term commitment but with many short term projects• Internal Club support and it’s important to create local partnerships.• The Club Benefits are: Member engagement, Community outreach and youth development• Engagement is built by creating awareness, site specific efforts, community efforts• Establishing partnerships at a District and Club level with local authorities and NGO’s• Activities include: River, canal, watershed, lake cleanups. Riverbank watershed restoration• and addressing polluters. The video below highlights the importance of Adopt-A-River. We need to be carefull11Everything in our rivers and canals ends up in our lakes and oceans.

Monthly Environmental Action Plan 2022 - 2023Governor Environmental Citation Award July 2022 – Reduce single use plastic items at home and in meetings August 2022 – Nominate an Environmental Activities Chair in your Club, may be part of Community Services September 2022 – World Cleanup, World Rivers, Int’l Coastal Cleanup Day October 2022 – World Migratory Bird Day November 2022 – Reuse, recycle or donate clothes December 2022 – Avoid plastic wrapping for gifts January 2023 – District Tree Planting  February 2023 – District Pollinator Shrub Planting March 2023 – World Waters Day. World Recycling Day April 2023 – Celebrate Earth Day May 2023 - Members join ESRAG and/or Clubs join EndPlasticSoup. June 2023 – World EndPlasticSoup Action Day  Items above are suggestions. Clubs may add/implement their own ideas on any given month. Participate in at least 3 of the 12 challenges during the year to achieve the Governor’s Citation; if a Club accomplishes 6 or more, will receive a Governor’s Environmental Citation.12

Overview of Governor Kesti’s CitationsGovernor Citation:• Clubs must have Representatives in: ESDAC, Empower the Girl, End Polio Now, DEI Committees• Complete 3 out of 12 ESDAC Challenges• Other requirements to followSpecial Governor Environmental Citation• Complete 6 or more ESDAC Challenges Governor’s Environmental Award• Club that completes the most Challenge Please note that the Challenges in Monthly Environmental Action Plan are suggestions. Club may implement their own environmental actions on any month.13

Please visit the ESRAG website: www.esrag.orgPlease consider joining ESRAG14

Please visit the EndPlasticEnd site: www.endplasticsoup.orgPlease have your Club consider joining this entity15