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Also please visit the District 6990 website: https://rotary6990.orgDistrict 6990 Environmental Committee 2023 – 2024Planning Overview

TABLE OFCONTENTS3 INCOMING DISTRICT GOVERNOR’S MESSAGE4 VIDEO OF INCOMING RI PRESIDENT-ELECT 5 MONTHLY ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN6 GOVERNOR GOBBI’S ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS 7 KEY DISTRICT-WIDE EVENT DATES 8 ROTARY INT’L ADOPT-A-RIVER PROGRAM9 OPERATION POLLINATION10 – 11 “RECYCLE WITH A PURPOSE” PROJECT12 CUT SIX-PACK PLASTIC RINGS13 YOUTH EDUCATIONALL PROGRAM14 ENDPLASTICSOUP INFORMATION15 JOIN ESRAG INFORMATION2

Message from incoming District Governor Barbara GobbiDear Fellow Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors & Friends:I have recently returned from an exciting and motivating trip to “Down Under”, where I had the privilege of attending the 2023 Rotary international Conversion. This was a motivating trip and everyone came away with new ideas and learnings, which I will share with you at a later date.In just a few short weeks, we will start a new Rotary year. There is so much to be accomplished and the needs seems to grow every year. As we start the summer months, we will probably feel the impact of environmental issues, hotter days, stronger storms and other issues. I want to encourage everyone to get involved with our District’s Environmental Committee. We can all do our part in addressing the environmental issues.I look forward to seeing our results and I thank you for everything that you do as Rotarians and responsible citizen.Barbara GobbiIncoming District Governor – Rotary Int’l District 6990Dear Environmentally Concerned Citizens:As we are about to start a new Rotary year, we need to look forward on the challenges that we face and how we can help address environmental issues. It’s up to each of us to do our part. According to Biblical commentary, G-d showed Adam his creations and said; “See My works, how beautiful and praiseworthy they are. Everything that I created, I created for you. Be careful not to spoil or destroy My world – for it you do, there will be nobody after you to repair it”. The message is clear, we were given a beautiful world and it is up to ALL of us to take care of our World and now, we need to repair the damage that humankind had done. Individually, it seems overwhelming, but collectively, we will be accomplish much. Please join in the District and your Club’s efforts, and get other involved, Details are on the following pages. If not us, then who? If not now, then when? .Robert H. Bull ESDAC Chair3=============================================================3

Rotary Int’l President-Elect, Gordon McInally, PRESENTATION. July 13thBelow is a video where he talks about his vision.4In his comments, Gordon McInally, talks about the importance of continuity within Rotary and other entities. By continuity, he refers essentially to strategic planning, where effective programs continue, and may even he improved, regardless of managerial changes. Our Incoming RI President’s theme is “CREATE HOPE in the World”, as HOPE is necessary to dreams into reality. In this virtual bulletin, we present the programs for the 2023 –2024 fiscal year, we schedule programs, identify/review existing activities and recommend new ones. Please review this material amongst your Club leadership and determine how and when you will plan to participate. Our goal is to create HOPE through our environmental actions and programs, in the full knowledge that individually we might be overwhelmed, but together we can create a huge impact.

2023 - 2024Governor’s Environmental Citations & AwardBelow is the Annual Schedule of Activities July 2023 – Int’l Day for the Conservation of Mangroves August 2023 – Nominate your Club’s Environmental Activities Chair and advise the ESDAC Chair  September 2023 – World Cleanup, World Rivers, International Coastal Cleanup Day October 2023 – World Migratory Bird Day November 2023 – Reuse, recycle or donate clothes December 2023 – Avoid plastic wrapping for gifts January 2024 – District Tree Planting  February 2024 – Members join ESRAG and/or Clubs join EndPlasticSoup. World Wetlands Day, the power of the pen – write to your representatives to support the Everglades. March 2024 – World Waters Day. World Recycling Day April 2024 – Celebrate Earth Day, Arbor Day, Operation Pollination, Baynanza May 2024 - World Biodiversity Day, World Bee Day June 2024 – World Reef Day, World Environment Day and World EndPlasticSoup Action Day  Items above are suggestions. Clubs may add/implement their own ideas on any given month.5Monthly Environmental Action Plan

Governor Gobbi’s Environmental Citations & AwardThis year the Governor’s Citations will have three distinct levels, Bronze, Silver & Gold, to differentiate and recognize Clubs based on their level of achievement.Governor’s Environmental Bronze Citation• Complete 6 or more ESDAC activities Governor’s Environmental Silver Citation• Complete 9 or more ESDAC activities•Governor’s Environmental Gold Citation• Complete 12 or more ESDAC activities Governor’s Environmental Award• Club that completes the most activitiesPlease note that the Activities in Monthly Environmental Action Plan are suggestions. Clubs may implement their own environmental actions on any month.6

Key District-wide Event DatesInternational Coastal Cleanup will be held on Saturday, September 16th. This is a worldwide event with thousands of volunteers cleaning up beaches and rivers, and millions of pounds of trash are picked up. ============================================================While tree planting can happen on any day of the year, in the Jan/Feb period, we will conduct a large scale District-wide tree planting. Details to follow in Oct/Nov.============================================================Spring Beach Cleanups will be held in April. In Fort Lauderdale beach cleanups are held on the second Saturday of every month. These are called Fort Lauderdale Beach Sweep, so cleanups can occur in any month.In Miami-Dade County, the forty second annual Baynanza will be held in April.Those outside of these two areas, we anticipate that they will conduct beach cleanups in April and probably in many others months.7

Rotary Int’l & Adopt-A-RiverRotary International has established a partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme and their Adopt-A-River campaign. Adopt-A-River is not just about Rivers. It also includes lakes, reservoirs, groundwater, wetlands, estuaries and canals. Pollutants flow into our waterways, oceans & rivers. Below are two videos highlighted these issues, one from Latin America and another from Europe.8In Broward, we would like to start Adopt-New River by cleaning up south from North Fork. Currently, there is an annual action program called, “Paddle with a Purpose”, and we can do much more than cleaning up once a year. We plan to start a collaboration program with Ocean Conservancy. They are working on a NOAA-funded program for high school students and businesses to learn about reducing plastic pollution, a program called Plastic Free Cities. They have started cleaning up the Miami River. We encourage Clubs in the City of Miami to Adopt-Miami River. Other Clubs may adopt a nearby river, canal or lake.Throughout the District there are canals, a few rivers (plus the River of Grass, the Everglades), lakes and watersheds. Just explore and in your vicinity and find a waterway to adopt.

Pollinators are essential for life on Earth, but their numbers have declined by more that 40% over the past years.Operation Pollination is an inclusive framework designed to help Rotarians recruit partners to engage in pollinator education and habitat restoration. Please visit https://esrag.org/operation-pollination/ to find out how your Club and get involved. On this website you will find details to “Take the Resolution” and “Take the Pledge” to support pollinators. Current Rotary Int’l President, Jennifer Jones has signed this pledge and encourages all of us to participate.Clubs are encouraged to get involved and “Take the Resolution” and then “Take the Pledge”. In April, for Earth Day we would like Clubs across the District to plant pollinator shrubs.The Hallandale Beach – Aventura Club has already started their program at Sunrise Park. Details will be published in our next bulletin.9

RECYLING SERVICE PROJECTS CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE HERE IS A SUGGESTION:CONDUCT A RECYCLING PROJECT, HERE IS AN IDEA,RECYCLE SHOES AND SMALL ELECTRONICS “RECYCLE WITH A PURPOSE” Recycling gently used shoes and small to medium-sized electronics is a wonderful project that can be implemented fairly simply. Promote amongst Members, friends/family, community and schools. Ask them to drop off gently used (or even new) shoes at a central location. Shoes will then be sent to Haiti and Central American countries for recycling and potential resale. Volunteers from the Weston Club will help, sort the shoes and transport to forwarding to Soles-4-Souls. Help turn shoes into opportunities for education and employment. While collecting shoes for recycling, how about adding small and medium-sized electronics for recycling? This will ensure that they do not end up in a landfill. Here, too, volunteers from the Weston Club will help out. This is a GREAT RECYCING PROJECT that can be conducted very easily, with the assistance of the Weston Club.Margarita Lartitegui has a wealth of knowledge on this type of project and all of the supplies. Just send her a text message to: 561.843.8776 for more information. She will be happy to help your Club set up this activity.PLEASE SEE AN EXAMPLE OF A POSTER FOR YOUR USE ON THE NEXT PAGE!10

RECYCLE WITH A PURPOSEOn Saturday, Feb. 30thfrom 10:00 – 2:00 PMRiverside Community CenterBring your gently used and new shoes. Let’s recycle them and give them new lifeShoes will then be sent to Haiti and Central American countries for recycling and potential resale. Help turn shoes into opportunities for education and employment. Also, bring your small and medium-sized electronics to recycle and avoid them ending up in the landfills. Laptops, cell phones, video games, tv screens, faxes, chargers, remote controls.Location:Riverside Community Service, 1600 Main Street, Riverside, Florida Saturday, Feb. 30thfrom 10:00 to 2:00 PM11

It is important to cut open the 'circles' that hold together a 6 pack of beverages, these include any that are held by plastic as opposed to being in a carton. These are potentially lethal to fish and turtles that may get their head stuck.Just THREE CUTS on these plastic ring holders can save wildlife. It just take a few seconds.CUT SIX-PACK PLASTIC RINGSWhen six-pack plastic rings find their way into the ocean, they can endanger birds, mammals, turtles, and other marine life, due to their ability to get stuck around animals’ noses, mouths, and bodies. It’s estimated that plastic products kill around 100,000 marine animals a year.A Philadelphia-based bottling company is ditching the so-called “six-pack” plastic rings featured in most packs of soda cans.12

Club of RiversideEDUCATE OUR YOUTH ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUESBeach Cleanups, Trashersizewalks and other litter programs (plastic and aluminum cans) are fine, but educational efforts to prevent plastic pollution is most important.We could educate our youth about the dangers of plastic pollution. Surely, most elementary and middle schools would be happy to spread the word about these issues. You could even find local printers, such as Signarama, that may even print stickers at a discount, or free, if they could add their name. FEEL FREE TO USE THE THIS SIGN, just add your Club’s logo.On the ENDPLASTICSOUP website that are videos and a plethora of information that is age appropriate for younger children. Some of the videos show what children have done around the World to address plastic pollution and other environmental issues. There’s a video about a youth worldwide organize, KIDS AGAINST PLASTIC, and the founders have conducted several TED Talks. 13

Please visit the EndPlasticEnd site: www.endplasticsoup.orgPlease have your Club consider joining this entity. You can also join on an individual basisENDPLASTICSOUP has a very simple focus, but it’s not easy.Their focus and goal is clear, get plastic out of our waterways and our Oceans. Please join this effort.14

Please visit the ESRAG website: www.esrag.orgPlease consider joining ESRAG15If you are not yet an ESRAG member, please #join us! http://ow.ly/U51v50OCsN9Membership only costs US$30 a year for Rotarians, and US$15 for Rotaractors. You can also get a five-year membership, save a little, and help a lot! Your membership supports ESRAG’s vital work in providing education and free technical assistance to help the Rotary family take effective environmental action.