Washago Rotary Club fountain of service beyond self

Ed: note: A look at local service clubs and some of the good work they do in their community and beyond:

Shelly Duben | Director of Service Projects, Rotary District 7010

WASHAGO — I am pleased to shine this week’s “Spotlight on Service” on the Rotary Club of Washago and Area – Centennial.

Steve Vickers is proud to be the president of this “small but mighty” club, which has been serving the Washago area since 2005, the centennial year of Rotary. The club was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst.

Members enjoy comradery and fellowship at their weekly meetings and take great pride in serving their community through their many fundraising events.

One of the club’s best projects is a fountain at a local beach.

The village of Washago has a beautiful beach and park that has been underutilized for years. Because Lake Couchiching is so shallow, the beach was often unsafe due to bacteria. This kept families away and geese would take over and leave droppings everywhere, making the park even more unattractive.

The Rotary Club of Washago formed a partnership with the Township of Severn – the club would purchase an aerating fountain and the Township would take responsibility for installation and maintenance. The fountain sits about 20 feet out in the water and keeps the water moving, discouraging bacterial growth and keeping the geese away.

One of the reasons the club was able to do this project is that they applied for and received a district grant. The fountain is a beautiful addition to the beach and it’s extremely rewarding to club members to see families enjoying the water and park, even when nearby beaches are closed.

Clean water, family, community development – this project has is all!

The Rotary Club of Washago and Area is also a supporter of international projects in the district. The club has contributed to the HHART project and supported ShelterBox to provide emergency shelter after a disaster. Members of the club also chose to contribute to the district international project, R.E.L.A.Y. (Rotarians Enhancing Learning of African Youth).

If you are ever in the Washago area, please consider doing a make-up at the Rotary Club of Washago and Area – Centennial. Meetings take place at the Washago Community Centre, located at 4361 Hamilton Street in Washago, on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at 5:45 p.m.