(Look closely...your President in action!)
Dear Rotarians and friends,
STRC Adopt a Highway trash pickup day was Saturday, and it is one of my favorite Rotary events each year. It is a great opportunity to spend time together doing something meaningful and getting to know each other better.This year, I was thinking about some of the incredible projects we heard about from Interact and mentioned something about the Genius Bar to Ed. He confirmed that it is an excellent program and told me about another program in which students from the ESL class talk with residents from senior living centers in our area to learn about their lives and then write their life stories. He said some of the stories the students write are exceptional. I am hoping we can learn more in a future dinner program.
Ginny talked about how great the Souderton Area School District is and how thankful she and her husband are to live in the District. We talked about readiness for what comes after high school and approaching further education with a focus on what students really need to learn for future careers, beyond what is so often referenced as the “college experience”.
I talked with Jessmy a little about John’s trip and how interested people at our table were on Thursday in visiting Honduras and seeing some of the work she has been leading over the past few years firsthand. We talked about the possibility of organizing a trip for STRC. She told me about how important it is for each person to do something to make things better for everyone else and about an organic fertilizer her cousin is making in Honduras that is having a huge impact on crop growth.
One of Jessmy’s friends talked about his work laying asphalt and about some of the construction work on the road we were cleaning up. We talked a little about the projects, CEPI, the organization I work for, is supporting for research and development and manufacturing in Latin America to help prepare for future public health emergencies, and about our plans to meet in Argentina later this year.
Jim reminded me that stepping over the guardrail is not as easy as it once was as he worked to direct traffic around our crew and keep us safe. He has participated in this event for so many years, that he knew where areas of heavy trash were as well as the most dangerous spots.
Sarah was on hand to document the event with pictures while picking up trash. She also served as a currency examiner when Jessmy’s friend found a $50 bill. We were so excited about the find until she pointed out the fine print that said it was for film purposes only. Before that, the friend had planned to donate it to STRC, which was so generous. He decided to keep it as a memento.
At the end, we picked ticks off each other and talked about life and family while enjoying banana, chocolate chip muffins Ed’s wife, Lucy, made for everyone before she went to help run an event for The Worm Project over at Dock Mennonite Academy.
Jim brought soapy water in a milk carton for hand washing, as always.
I look forward to more opportunities to serve the community with all of you while getting to know you better and learning about what is important to you.
In Rotary
Kate Hoath
President
P.S. Join me this Saturday, May 10 in helping to organize food donations during the annual food drive organized by the Postal Service. CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE to view additional photo's from the Adopt-A-Highway clean up event.