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9/21/2004
Greetings,
If you had the opportunity to hear President Glenn Estes yesterday at the Adams Mark hotel in Jacksonville, you heard him speak of his passion regarding the need for clean water in developing nations. This past weekend, I was asked to participate at a district conference in New Hampshire, leading breakout sessions on that very issue. With me were members of other nongovernmental organizations such as Water for People, Millennium Plus, and the Carter Foundation. We are all building a strong coalition, sharing resources and information, aimed at developing a comprehensive effort focused on addressing issues related to clean water and sanitation. Currently, at the request of the Carter Foundation, pilot projects are being developed to eradicate guinea worm infections in Ghana. It is truly exciting to see the potential resources that are being made more available as the different organizations come together.
In the meantime the program that has been sponsored by the clubs of district 6970 have been counseled by the Center for Disease Control to keep working on issues related to sustainability. To that end, we have been looking for funding to conduct a health impact study comparing the effectiveness of two point of use filter systems that are being employed in the rural villages outside of Puerto Plata. When funded, Dr. Mark Sobsey of the University of North Carolina and his students will conduct the study. Through the efforts of Past District Governor Tommy Grimes we have been researching means and methods of funding such a program through the Rotary Foundation.
Closer to home, the date has been set for the volunteer weekend. To date there is an understanding that it will be the last week of February. Last year’s effort was a tremendously successful and rewarding one, leaving all participants with a greater understanding of the issues relating to water and sanitation and a sense of accomplishment. I even think that there were some memories of great fellowship, sunny tropical beaches, and a quick game of golf. During our time down there last year, the committee was able to firm up housing accommodations in the resort town of Sosua and will now begin to look into developing a travel package for those that would like to come down with us in February. All Rotarians and their spouses are welcome to come and be a part of this experience.
As in previous years, we are once again looking for partnering clubs. Last year fourteen clubs in District 6970 selflessly joined together in the effort to raise $64,000.00. While down in the Dominican Republic, the clubs from a district in Michigan challenged the volunteers from our district to match them in getting 100% club participation. One hundred percent participation from a district as large as ours can be perceived as a daunting task but I am constantly being reminded of Past District Governor Wilson Smith’s assertion that we are one of the most generous districts in Rotary International. The committee has set a goal of getting each club in the district to contribute $1,000.00 and have one volunteer come down with us. For me what is truly more important is that each club does what it to be a part of the project, whether it is the donation of $500.00 or the participation of a club member. The key is Service above Self, and that is best exhibited when clubs selflessly join together and work towards a just cause.
Yours in Rotary Service,
H. Rob Overly A.I.A.
3/17/2004
The West Jacksonville Rotary team has returned from the Dominican Republic (dysentery-free) and prepared a presentation of the activities. Rob Overly is preparing a more thorough narrative that will be published on the website soon. Additional photos are also available in the West Jax Rotary Photoalbum.
2004 Water Project in DR 
NOTE: Large file (2.4 MB)
1/26/2004
One of the major concerns facing any program such as the Water Project is the ability to sustain the program once all the volunteers have left to go back to their own private concerns. We are extremely please to announce that the William's Foundation has given a grant of $12,000.00. This money will be used to purchase land and build a shop that will be used for the fabrication and maintenance of filter parts. This will allow the program the ability to stabilize the cost of the filter units as well as maintain the filters that are being distributed. In addition, a motorcycle will be purchased which will give a technician the ability to visit the villages to insure that the program is being maintained.
1/5/2004
 This week (January 5th, 2003), one thousand filter kits will be shipped from the manufacturing plant in Holly Hill, Florida to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Three thousand buckets have been purchased in the D.R. where they will be predrilled and stored in waiting for the Rotary volunteers from District 6970 to come down on the week of February 29th through March 7. Ron Jackson of the South Jacksonville Club has arranged travel and housing for this week along with Mark Apicella of the Puerto Plata Isle de Torres Club in District 4060. These filters represent the combined efforts of the West Jacksonville, South Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra, Jacksonville Southpoint, Greater Gainesville, and the South Daytona/ Port Orange Clubs' funding efforts combined with a one for one match from the District's Designated Funds last year. During the week volunteers will assemble the filters, meet with the medical staff working in the community, get an update of the state of the science of providing potable water in developing countries by Daniele Lantange of the Center for Disease Control, visit other projects within the region, and meet with a few other partners organizations that are working in the area. It should be an exciting, educational, and rewarding experience to all participants.
This year's funding will attempt to purchase two thousand filters and we are well underway through the generous contributions of eleven clubs within the district. This year's contributors include South Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, West Jacksonville, Deerwood, Downtown Jacksonville, Jacksonville Southpoint, South Daytona/ Port Orange, Palatka Sunrise, Greater Gainesville, Jacksonville Oceanside, and Mandarin. Bill Hamilton, chair for District 6970's World Services subcommittee has written a letter of authorization to release $18,750.00 of DDF money as a one for one match of the partnering club's efforts. That and a request for $23,500.00 from the Rotary Foundation will bring the total budget of this year's program to sixty two thousand dollars. With the understanding that there are on average six persons per household, this year's program will provide clean drinking water to at least twelve thousand individuals which means that upon completion the combine efforts will touch the lives of at least nineteen thousand and five hundred individuals (2,000 filters from this year's campaign combined with 1,000 filters from last year and 250 filters from the year before) living in the rural communities that have been targeted.
Additional information about the trip can be found here. If you are interested in making the trip, please contact Rob Overly for details.
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