About the Presentation: Providing Water, hygiene training and more for 6 communities/schools in Uganda:  Access to sustainable clean water changes everything for a community. Providing a sustainable project and income for a community provides economic development and raises up a community.  Ms. Hall's talk described how she started interest and involvement with Africa -- thanks to 1960's Tarzan -- and how a trip led to a non-profit called H20 for Life and to Rotary projects to bring water to African villages.  In response to a question, Patty told us that "the magic of Rotary" is leveraging about $23,000 of club contributions -- including ours -- to a total grant of more than $66,000.  Patty Hall's slides can be seen by clicking Download Files at the bottom of the Tidings.  Click READ MORE to read about Patty Hall.

 

About the Presentation:  Elizabeth Anez, Community Behavioral Health Manager for Pierce County Department of Human Service, presented an overview of Pierce County’s Crisis Services and the support available to individuals and families experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. The presentation highlighted the crisis office hours and response services, the Co-Responder Program and partnership with local law enforcement, and the role of Peer Support Services in connecting individuals with recovery-focused, community-based support. She also discussed how these programs work together to provide timely intervention, to connect people to appropriate resources, and to help individuals receive support in the community whenever possible.   Click READ MORE  to read about Elizabeth Anez and her colleagues who spoke.

 

Enhancing Opportunities for (Ezekiel Lutheran Church) Youth:  Income from the meal service Ezekiel provides our club partially funds youth service at Ezekiel. Vicki Olson provided the following description of recent service by youth that we heard about at our August 4 meeting:  "Fifteen members of the Ezekiel High School Youth Group drove to Winston-Salem, North Carolina at the beginning of July to participate in a service learning program called SparkWell, an organization that connects people who need help with people who want to serve."  Click READ MORE  for a summary of what we heard from 4 of the students.

St. Croix Valley Food Bank Open House:  On Wednesday September 16th, the SCV Food Bank is having an open house to show off the impressive-looking new building along northbound Highway 35.  The flyer, which you can see by clicking READ MORE   notes that the event is outdoors in a tent on an active construction site.  It says "Please dress accordingly and wear appropriate footwear".  There is an RSVP phone number and email:

715-245-0410 and brandi.poellinger@scvfb.org.

 

Fun Stuff in September:  Roxie led the forming of a group to go to Come from Away at The Phipps on Friday September 25th).  We have a count of 20 or more going.

 

September Calendar:   Click READ MORE for a look ahead to what's going on for River Falls Rotary this month.  Who knows?  Maybe I'll manage one every month this Rotary year.  BTW, RI's focus for September is Basic Educaton and Literacy, which fits well with the return of Rotary Readers to work with SDRF students.

This Week's T-Shirt Wisdom:  Please be Patient:  I'm from the 1900's!

District 5960 LIFT Program - Annual Update:    The LIFT program has been addressing extreme poverty in Nicaragua for a number of years.  The program is expanding and the impact is growing.  Rick Heidick from Stillwater Sunrise Rotary updated us on recent actions and progress.  Rick's slides are below in the Download Files section at the bottom of this Tidings.  Click READ MORE  to read about Rick Heidick.