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Ripon Rotary Club
District 6270 Monday, 12:00 Noon |
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The Four-Way Test |
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Ripon Rotary has made a major contribution in the international field with the support of social development projects in Eastern Panama undertaken by a mission priest and Ripon native, Father Wally Kasuboski. Fr. Wally has been involved since 1988 in the planning execution of construction projects to better the living conditions of the poor and disadvantaged in the jungle areas of eastern Panama. These projects have included water systems, road improvement, schools, a church and community gathering center, fish ponds, tree nursery, and others. In 1996 Ripon Rotary raised $15,000 and obtained a $15,000 matching grant from Rotary International to help finance the largest water system in rural Panama. Collected at the source in the mountains, the clear water is carried through 65 miles of PVC pipe, laid by hand to a large holding tank and then to individual homes. The project will provide clear, potable water to about 7,000 people living in more than a dozen communities who up to this point could rely only on polluted lowland stream water. The Ripon Club has also donated $3,600 to help finance the shipment from the Ripon area to Panama of a rock crusher donated by a Ripon area industrial firm. The crusher will be used to make aggregate to be used in making concrete. Aside from the Club contributions, individual contributions have been made by some members. Two club member took part with 20 other volunteer workers doing construction work for ten days in Panama. Ripon Rotary's support of Fr. Wally's undertakings addresses in one needy country a problem recently recognized by Rotary International and two other world bodies. The World Water Forum has stated that a global water crisis faces as many as 80 nations. A 1997 United Nation report states, "At least 1/5 of all people do not have safe drinking water." Father Wally has been made an honorary member of Ripon Rotary and the Club is committed to future support of his projects. |
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