Elinor Schoonover and Dr. Berhanu Mengitsu lead the water project team.
Dr. Berhanu Mengitsu recalls running home from school as a boy in Ethiopia hoping his family had water for him to quench his thirst. But, often by afternoon his family with 13 children had used all the water gathered that morning. Getting more meant hauling a heavy jug to a distant stream, filling it and toting it home. Those memories inspired the Old Dominion University professor emeritus of urban studies to team up with fellow Rotary Club of Norfolk member Eleanor Schoonover to bring fresh water to a village similar to the one where he was raised. Eleanor, a retired Navy officer, has spent 15 years working on international Rotary projects with a team of club members.
"I am interested in giving water to kids who travel a long way to go to school. This is not just a project for me. It is the life I lead," Berhanu explained at the June 13 meeting of the Rotary Club of Norfolk, which is applying for a Rotary International grant to drill a deep water well in Asika Village in Ethiopia. The village has two schools, a marketplace and a church serving 25,000 people. It also has the second worst water supply and sanitation system in Ethiopia. Residents must walk to a faraway site where springs flow into a pond also used by cattle. They fill plastic jugs with water and haul it home to use to drink, wash and cook.
Village residents haul water jugs home.
This month our club, which has committed $30,000 to the water project, is applying for a grant to drill a well, install a pump and generator, and build a generator house and guard house. Total cost is $112,343. Other partners include the Gondar Fasiledes Rotary Club in Ethiopia, Cape Henry Rotary Club in Virginia Beach, Bellaire Southeast Rotary Club in Houston, Rotary District 7600, Rotary International's World Fund and WASH Action Group, and an anonymous donor. Once funding is secured, it will take three months to complete the project, whose goal is to bring a reliable water source to the center of the village.
The Meeting
- Guests were community activist Mary Beth Horton, who encouraged members to support a petition for the 20 remaining acres at the now defunct Lambert's Point Golf Course to become a city park, and Peter Schmidt, who will become interim CEO of Norfolk Botanical Gardens when Rotarian Michael Desplaines moves to California.
- Past President Lorna Cochrane highlighted proposed club bylaw changes needed for clarity. Members then voted to approve the bylaws change.
- President Laurie Harrison noted that there are only a few spots remaining for the June 29 social at Chick Robison's home, which can accommodate 60 guests and to sign up soon. Also, she reminded members that next Tuesday will be her last official meeting as president and she hopes everyone will attend. In July, the club will meet on July 11, 18 and 25th with new club President Jeff Wells in charge.
Happy Bucks & Fines
- Past President Michael paid a fine for all the publicity surrounding his upcoming career change to heading the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden and for his recent trip to Texas for a garden conference.
- Recent trip celebration fines came from Jim Tucker, who visited France; George Nottingham, who visited Spain and got home in time to greet a new grandchild; Past President Sally Hartman, who toured Michigan; Dr. Behranu Mengitsu, who just returned from Rwanda and Cairo, and Pam Tubbs, who cruised across the Atlantic and around Great Britain.
- Dr. Bill LeHew was happy about the University of Virginia baseball team being in the College World Series.
- Past President Lorna Cochrane was thrilled that the club bylaws passed, her grandson is coming to visit from Canada and she has booked a trip to Australia and New Zealand in January.
- Gary Bonnewell was happy his family's home renovation finished on time and within budget.
- Sharon Laderberg celebrated the last board meeting for the current leadership team and President Laurie's successful year.
- Tom Kolleer saluted his favorite sister-in-law Laurie's Rotary year and reminded club members about the September 13 club golf tournament.