Page 8 - 2024年4月號

TRUSTEE CHAIR’S MESSAGE

To make change, just get started

For many, the Bahamas is a place to escape Foundation, you can increase your impact by
colder climes, relax on white-sand beaches, and pooling resources with clubs and districts around the
snorkel in clear, turquoise waters. For me, it’s home. world. Foundation grants let you put the generous
I grew up sailing on these waters and to this day, contributions of your fellow Rotary members to
anytime I can, I am out on the water with family work to make the world better.
and friends. It’s where my heart is. Imagine the possibilities. Perhaps Rotary
The environmental threats my country is facing districts in Canada and Australia could protect
are real. Our coral reefs, vital for biodiversity, wetlands in New South Wales in Australia. Rotary
are in danger due to warming seas and pollution. leaders from Brazil, India, and Taiwan could lead
Hurricanes and tropical storms seem to get more grant projects to train farmers in the Indian state of
intense with each passing year. Rising sea levels Andhra Pradesh in sustainable agriculture. Rotary
pose an existential threat to the Bahamas, eroding and Rotaract clubs from the Bahamas, South Africa,
our beautiful coastlines as saltwater intrudes on our and New York could work with their districts to
precious and limited freshwater resources. help my country restore its natural resources, one
Late last year, I was fortunate to represent reef or mangrove at a time.
Rotary at COP28, the United Nations climate The problems our environment faces seem
change convention in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. overwhelming until you realize that many are
The consensus coming out of the meeting was that fixable. There are so many ways to help through
progress on addressing climate change has been Rotary. Even if we don’t lead a grant or volunteer on
too slow. Participants said the world needs to pick the project, we can all help protect the environment
up the pace to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, through our giving to the Foundation.
help communities become more resilient to climate Rotary can’t save the planet all by itself. But
change, and better support countries that are most as our progress in ending polio proves, Rotary’s
vulnerable to it. impact is great when we put our vision for a better
Rotary can be part of the solution. world in motion, and just get started.
As you know, protecting the environment
is one of Rotary’s areas of focus. Many clubs are BARRY RASSIN
active in their communities with projects such as Foundation trustee chair
beach and roadside cleanups. With The Rotary

Illustration by Viktor Miller Gausa
6 ᇃᢊ׭ᎈȁ2024.4