By Caroline DeWitt, Chair, ESRAG Chapter for Eastern North America (ENA) and the Caribbean

ESRAG’s Eastern North America Chapter is thrilled to invite you to our inaugural ESRAG Project Fair from January 29th to January 31st, 2024, in Sarasota, Florida, USA. We will be offering a hybrid option for part of the conference on Jan. 30, but urge you to attend in person if you can.  You can use the QR code on our poster or this link to sign up.

This event serves as a dynamic platform where creativity converges to support environmental projects with the potential to change lives and make a real impact on our communities. Beyond showcasing projects, it provides a unique networking opportunity, allowing you to connect with fellow Rotarians, ESRAG members, passionate environmentalists, mentors, and potential collaborators.

We start with cocktails and networking on Jan. 29.  The conference on Jan. 30 will include keynote speakers, a talk on funding sources, and project presentations.  Jan. 31 is Adventure Day: participants will get to visit projects including micro-forests and other tree planting, saving coral reefs, and mangrove ecosystems and livelihoods.

In addition to project presentations, we are excited to introduce a Showcase/Gallery of Accomplishments to demonstrate how Rotary Clubs are taking action to protect and repair the environment. This is an excellent opportunity to visually communicate your project’s impact and engage with attendees. The Rotary Club of Sarasota Bay is offering the service of graphic design (more about this below).

We extend our deep gratitude to the Rotary Club of Sarasota Bay (RCSB), Southface Sarasota, and Ringling College of Art & Design for generously hosting our environmental project fair. Their invaluable support is instrumental in making this event possible.

Our main focus is to identify environmental projects currently being undertaken by ESRAG ENA members and other members of the Rotary Family. These include showcasing projects that require funding and successful environmental projects that can be replicated. We’ll describe the granting process at the local, district, and international levels, including Rotary Global Grants.

Seize this opportunity to be a catalyst for change! Whether you have an environmental project that deserves the spotlight in our Poster Showcase, or aspire to learn about the intricacies of securing funding, your participation propels us toward a sustainable future.
If you would like the College to design your poster, please email me your text and graphics as soon as possible, but no later than Jan. 15, 2024. The College will be able to print your poster for you and provide easels.  The graphic design shop quotes are the following: Our cost for a foamboard poster that is 24”x36” will be $50 each and if you want 36”x48” those will be $100 each.  Those are single print prices, if we are to print those in quantities of 10 or more we can offer them to you for $45 each for the 24”x36” and $90 each for the 36”x48”.

I hope you will join us in Sarasota.  I can’t wait to see the wealth of projects and ideas we will share together.

Yours In Rotary service,
Caroline

Caroline DeWitt is Regional Chapter Chair for ESRAG Eastern North America and the Caribbean.  She is Past President and Environment Co-Chair of the Rotary Club of West Ottawa, D 7040 in Canada.