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See our plans for the upcoming months in this bulletin. Also please visit the District 6990 website: https://rotary6990.orgDistrict 6990 August Activities & Upcoming Plans Virtual BulletinSeptember 1, 2023

TABLE OFCONTENTS3 MESSAGES FROM GOV. GOBBI & R. BULL4 FUTURE ROTARIAN PARK CLEANUP 5 BEACH CLEANUP @ DANIA BEACH BY THE PIER6 VIDEOS OF DANIA BEACH CLEANUP & TURTLE 7 UPCOMING DISTRICT-WIDE BEACH CLEANUP (2 DATES)8 PLANTING MANGROVES BY JUST TAKING A WALK9 WESTON CLUB – RECYCLE WITH A PURPOSE10 RECYCLING BATTERIES – AN EASY SOLUTION11 MONTHLY ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN 12 REQUIREMENTS FOR GOVERNOR’S CITATIONS13 ENDPLASTICSOUP INFO14 JOIN ESRAG INFORMATION

Message from District Governor Barbara GobbiDear Fellow Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors & Friends:Now that summer is ending, our environmental programs are swinging into full gear. This month of September we have beach cleanups on two dates (Sept.10thand 16th). Some will participate on both dates, others will partake in on one date. Looking forward there is still so much to do and I am anxious to see the initiatives our Clubs will take to address the Seventh Area of Focus – Supporting the Environment. Time flies by very quickly and I hope that your Club’s Environmental Chair is working towards earning the Governor’s Citations. Please look at the details of these on page 12. I look forward to seeing our progress. Barbara GobbiDistrict Governor – Rotary Int’l District 6990Dear Environmentally Concerned Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors & Friends:This month we will again participate with the International Coastal Cleanup. Last year many Clubs showed up and I hope that this year turnout will be stronger. Separately from this bulletin, I will be sending out, again, details about this important activity. Please remember to send me photos for next month’s bulletin.On page 10, you will find information about recycling batteries. So many of us do not how to properly dispose of out batteries and there are not too many options. The solution presented on page 10 is innovative and can help address this issue. How about getting local schools involved? This should be easy to address if you have an Interact Club that you sponsor.I look forward to hearing from you. Feedback is essential for us to improve.Robert H. Bull ESDAC Chair3=============================================================3

FUTURE ROTARIAN AT WORK WITH A CLEANUPA young future Rotarian, Rony Astete, picked up plastic bottles and other litter at a park and basketball court near his home, while teaching his young cousin the importance of elimination plastic pollution. Congratulations, Rony! His mother is a member of the Rotary Club of Miami4

Beach Cleanup by Dania Beach Pier Rotarians from nine Clubs (Miami Airport, Hallandale Beach/Aventura, Cypress Creek, Pompano Lighthouse, Hollywood, Weston, Pinecrest, Oakland/Wilton Manors & Ft. Lauderdale) cleaned up the beach. Dania Beach Commissioner, Joyce L. Davis came to thank us.5

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Video of the Dania Beach – Beach Cleanup on Aug. 12thVideo of a Newborn Turtle Hatchling6

DISTRICT-WIDE BEACH CLEANUPS IN SEPTEMBERThis September we will have two beach cleanups. The International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) is scheduled for Saturday, September 16th. There will be over 1,000,000 volunteers across the World. Three specific emails with informational details were sent out separately to Broward, Miami-Dade and to Monroe & Grand Bahama. Please send photos of your efforts to: rhbull.rotary@gmail.com=================================================This year the International Coastal Cleanup falls on Shabbat during the Rosh Hashanah holiday, therefore Jewish members of our District will not be able to participate. To address this concern, and those of others who cannot make the September 16th date, we will provide an additional new program called, Repair the Sea (Tikkun HaYam in Hebrew), which will be held on September 10th. An email blast about this activity was sent out to everyone in the District. Please remember to send your photos.With two separate dates, we look forward to greater participation from Rotarians, families and friends.7

• Walking boosts your health• While walking you can help the planet by picking up trash. We call it TRASHERCISE (TRASH + EXERCISE)• Tracking your steps you could have trees planted.• Our District (6990) is in conversations with TREEKLY (not-for-profit entity) that will have mangrove trees planted on your behalf.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------• Mangrove forests capture tremendous amount of carbondioxide. They are a carbon sink. • Mangroves also help reduce shore erosion and can help absorb storm surge impact.• Their root system help bind and build soils, and their root filter nitrates, phosphates and other pollutants in the water improving water quality flowing from rivers, canals into the oceans/bays.• Mangrove forests provide habitat and refuge for birds, fish, invertebrates, mammals and plants.Imagine Having Mangrove Trees PlantedBy Just Taking A Walk 8

On Saturday, August 19th, Weston Rotary conducted a “Recycle with a Purpose –Back to School” collection of shoes and electronicsUsed shoes were delivered to Soles4Souls and these will be bound to Haiti and Honduras (519 pairs of shoes were collected). Two car loads of small & medium-sized electronics were collected and delivered to Best Buy for recycling. TV sets and screen monitors will be delivered to a recycling company in Hialeah (eSCRAP, www.escrapusa.com 2220 E. 11thAve. in Hialeah)

An Easy Option For Recycling BatteriesMany us do not know what to with old batteries. The recycling bins specifically say: not to throw them in there. Some just simply toss their old batteries into the garbage and then they end up in landfills. This is not a viable option, as the old batteries will then leak dangerous chemicals that seep into our water table. There is an easy option available to everyone. Call(2)Recycle accepts all kinds of single-use batteries (from AAA size and up), rechargeable batteries and cellphones. It so simple, just buy a Battery & Cellphone Recycling Kit. (For details visit: www.call2recycle.org). Once the kit is full, just send it back. Delivery to you and/or your Club and return shipping to their recycling center is included in the cost of the kit. To purchase a kit visit: www.call2recycle.org/store/. Below is a screen shot from their site. Just buy a kit, fill it up and send it back. All kits have a prepaid return address label. DO NOT throw batteries in the garbage or in your curbside recycling bin! Batteries can cause fires and harm the environment, people, and property.10

2023 - 2024Governor Gobbi’s Environmental Citations & Award Activities July 2023 – World Mangrove Day – Get involved August 2023 – Nominate your Club’s Environmental Activities 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 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.11Monthly 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 activitiesGovernor’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.12

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.13

Please visit the ESRAG website: www.esrag.orgPlease consider joining ESRAG14If 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.