Cindy Hudson-Knapp - On Rotary

October 1, 2019

There are many potential projects that Bennington Rotary members can become involved in doing to improve the environememt. A recent one was collecting trash with Bennington College students. Following up on this, Cindy reviewed possible projects of this nature for future work by Rotarians. She checked on Rotary International's ideas for such work at https://www.rotary.org/en/climate - change - what - rotarians - are - doing - now

Rotary International recommends the book Drawdown. One of the suggestions is planting trees. This was also advocated in an issue of The Rotarian. One can receive the seeds for the planting of trees from the Stare of Vermont. The problem is finding the right space where they can be planted. Cindy suggested that after the new Head Start building is completed, Rotary might buy a tree and plant it there.

Another important aspect of improving the environment is education. The Environmental Science teacher at the high school has worked with groups on this and would like to start a club at the high school focused on this. It is also important to have programs for elementary school children. Perhaps this is an area where Interact might become involved. It might also be possible to collect books about the environment to give to elementary and early childhood programs.

Rotary also might continue to work with Bennington College students on a number of projects such as Bring a Bag, Take a Bag where there would be a bin by grocery stores where there would be reusable bags that people could take a bag or leave one for others. Another project the college students suggested was cleaning up the trash around Wal - Mart.

The Community Service committee could work with the International Committee to find ways to fund a boy's dormitory in an orphanage in Kenya. Many projects are possible. If Rotarians have ideas about this, Cindy would be glad to hear them.

Author: Cindy Hudson-Knapp
Sally Sugarman (Club Member & Windmill Editor)