You are invited to view all of the WASHRAG / WASH Rag Newsletters at https://wash-rag.org/page/news . Change in Website Address: To be consistent with the change in our name to the WASH Rotary Action Group, 0ur website address has been changed to www.WASH-RAG.org
Calendar of Events:
15 Oct 2024 - Global Hand Washing Day
19 Oct 2024 - District 5450 WASH Symposium
24 Oct 2024 - World Polio Day
19 Nov 2024 - World Toilet Day
22 March 2025 - World Water Day
WASH Rotary Action Group New Board: At the WASH Rotary Action Group Annual Meeting (watch video), the following new Directors were elected to the Board, Bruce Clemens (USA), Patrick Karney (Belize), and S.N. Srikanth (India). Chris Etienne (USA) returns for her second term. The new Executive of the Board are: Pat Merryweather-Arges, Chair; Brian Hall, Vice-Chair; Mike Colasurdo, Treasurer; Mary Beth Growney-Selene, Past Chair; and Julia Phelps, Secretary.
Update on HANWASH: In 2018, Rotary International made a commitment to provide funding for the HANWASH program to provide safe water and sanitation to all the people of Haiti. (Read more about HANWASH). In 2022, the WASH Rotary Action Group donated $25,000 to this ambitious Project. Recent TV images from Haiti provide a lot of concern, but outside Port au Prince the work continues. Read more.
WASH Ambassador Corner: To educate our members on who are the WASH Ambassadors and encourage others to apply to become a WASH Ambassador we are going to start having a regular WASH Ambassador Corner feature. Why become a WASH Ambassador?
Do you know a WASH Rotaractor? Calling Rotaractors - we have an opening on the Operations Team of the WASH Rotary Action Group! While their skills are diverse, our Operations Team members are united by a passionate commitment to providing safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) to those who don’t have access to these basic human rights. Forward this newsletter to anyone you know would be interested! https://www.wash-rag.org/page/
Looking for a Water Project?: The WASH Rotary Action Group Project Page continues to grow with a variety of projects from around the globe. The project list provides Rotary members with a place to obtain expert advice and obtain financial support from other clubs for major project grants. Future newsletters will include a featured project and a few additional projects from the WASH Rotary Action Group Project page.
Go to the WASH Rotary Action Group Stories page to see their interesting collection of videos on handwashing from some American Sitcoms, some clever songs on handwashing, examples on tweets you can make, graphics you can use, and resources if you want to get serious.
E-Club of WASH - Online Meetings - Rotarians have become familiar with Zoom meetings. The E-Club of WASH has been meeting virtually using Zoom for a number of years. They have members from around the world with a common interest in water, sanitation, and hygiene. Due to meetings being held virtually they have the advantage of being able to have exceptional WASH-related speakers. Rotarians are welcome to visit or join. Visit their meeting Zoom Schedule.
Our Members Asked? - WASHRAG is extremely fortunate to count many dedicated and knowledgeable Rotarians on its team. Which is good - as our membership has lots of questions about the best technology to use on projects, how best to assess local needs, and best practices for sustainable projects. We would like to start a new feature in the newsletter, where you ask the questions and we get answers from our experts and the readers. We will provide the input in a future newsletter. Send your email to info@wasrag.org and indicate QUESTION in the title
To submit stories and pictures our Newsletter, please email: info@wasrag.org to the attention of WASH RAG newsletter editors Ian Rumbles and Terri Black.
We love hearing about your projects and are delighted to relay these great opportunities for Rotarians to get involved in WASH projects! When posting your projects on the wash-rag.org website, please remember to include the name of your Rotary club and District number.
You Can Introduce Your Club to WASH-RAG (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene): It’s easy to become a WASH Advocate by becoming a presenter at your next club meeting, District meeting, or Zone! You can present WASH in your community! Did you know you don't have to be a Rotarian to join WASH-RAG? Your environmentally minded friends, water-conscious community members, and the general public can join us too! Tell them to check us out at www.wash-rag.org or forward this newsletter!
OR become an Ambassador! The WASH Rotary Action Group Ambassadors are a corps of knowledgeable members who provide support and promotion of the WASH goals of WASH Rotary Action Group and The Rotary Foundation. Find or become an Ambassador! The WASH Rotary Action Group Ambassadors are a corps of knowledgeable members who provide support and promotion of the WASH goals of WASH Rotary Action Group and The Rotary Foundation. To apply, click here: https://www.wash-rag.org/page/wasrag-ambassadors
Download the Frequently Asked Questions right here
Watch Prerecorded WASH-RAG Webinars in the Comfort of Your Own Home Streaming from the WASH-RAG website:
Did you miss one of the WASH in Healthcare Facilities or Global Grant Webinars? Catch up on the WASH-RAG website!
Check out the three-part webinar series on global grants focused on WASH in Schools (WinS) or the four-part webinar series aimed at increasing the awareness of the global crisis in health care facilities, and provide an overview on the different aspects of sustainability, advocacy, partnerships, and the role that Rotarians can play in improving safe WASH access in healthcare facilities.
Watch the WASH in Healthcare Webinars Here
Watch WASH Global Grant Webinars Here