The Rotary Club of Coronado's tradition of caring for the environment grows exponentially with Rotary International’s Seventh Focus. Coronado Rotary’s new committee looks toward action and education.
Historically, for decades, Coronado Rotarians have reached out to help the environment through service projects such as monthly Saturday Beach Clean-ups, planting trees, and helping enhance local school grounds during Rotarians at Work Days. For Coronado locals and visitors alike, it is not unusual to see Rotarians in blue vests placing flags along Orange Ave, and more and more these days, at Central Beach, Tidelands Park and along the Bay at the Cays and the Strand.
Even in the midst of a year marked by a ruthless pandemic, Rotarians rallied to educate and take action to protect the environment. Coronado Rotary’s commitment to environmental sustainability has been strengthened exponentially by the new 7th Area of Focus of Rotary International: Protecting the Environment. We join Rotarians around the globe in recognizing that "the environment sustains all life on earth, and Rotary cannot effectively or sustainably serve humanity if Rotary does not focus on supporting the wellbeing of planet Earth" (ESRAG, Rotarian Action Group).
Coronado Rotary’s Committee to Protect the Environment (CPE) started in the summer of 2020. This ever-growing committee (now with 30 active members) is dedicated to direct action, education, and service projects supporting the environment. In just one year that was greatly affected by the pandemic, the committee has none-the-less brought valuable educational information to the Coronado Rotary Club through ZOOM. In addition, safe opportunities were provided for committee members and many additional Rotarians to participate in events that have benefited our local communities.
Since the CPE committee started events in September, the group has held over 35 clean-ups in Coronado and on the Strand, as well as a clean-up across the bay with the Eastlake Rotary Club. The totals for that time are: 635 Rotarian hours, 115 volunteer hours (partners, Coronado boy Scouts), for a total of 436 buckets of trash = 2,180 gallons of trash kept out of our bay and ocean! About 50-60% of what we picked up was plastic; paper/glass/metal added another 30%; the rest were miscellaneous items like food waste, cigarette butts, and a lot of masks.
Coronado Rotary and it’s CPE have been recognized by the non-profit organization Emerald Keepers as Emerald Keepers People of the Month for the month of June, 2021.
Passionately dedicated to direct action, education, and service projects that support the environment, the Coronado Rotary Committee to Protect the Environment presented information about many topics at club meetings on Zoom. Each virtual meeting was attended by more than 100 members during the past year. Topics included: avoiding single use plastic; green holiday Ideas; water use and conservation, Project Drawdown: lowering GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions; End Plastic Soup – a Rotary Initiative to reduce plastic in the oceans; impact on the environment of single-use plastic bottles; Plover & Tern nesting season: protecting our shores; saving energy at home; pollinators: plants, life cycle, and migration; composting and food waste- its impact on the environment. Also, The Antarctic - packing out trash; changes in farming for sustainability; and recycled art and environmental programs at the San Diego Museum of Art.
Asked what inspired her to take on a leadership role in Coronado Rotary’s efforts to protect the environment, CPE chairperson, Zayanne Thompson replied, “My dad was a Rotarian for over 50 years and I grew up with volunteering and service in my blood. I also love the outdoors and am passionate about education and the environment. This new area of service fits perfectly! Protecting the Environment is vital to the other areas of focus for Rotary, and also for the health and future of our planet. We cannot have peace, healthy kids, clean water, disease prevention, and economic development without a healthy, equitable, and sustainable environment.
As to what is coming next for Coronado’s CPE, the committee is looking forward to working with other club committees to develop and implement sustainable practices for meetings and events (i.e. eliminating plastic and single use items wherever possible). The group will continue to host two monthly clean-ups in addition to the the Beach Committee clean-up and look to partner with other clubs throughout the year. Potential activities include habitat restoration, working with communities to plant shade trees, partnering with other non-profits and supporting local events in educating others through direct action to protect the environment.
If you would like further information, have questions about Coronado Rotary’s Committee to Protect the Environment, or tell us what your club is doing, please email us at office@coronadorotary.org.