Events

Greg Hanson brings us this program.  Through his work at B&B Lumber - Greg met John and casual conversation let Greg realize John might have been a part of seeing the goodness of Rotary throught their Polio eradication efforts in Africa.  John will talk about his work in Africa and seeing firsthand the importance of the wide web of Rotary service.

Thank you to Matt Treaster for lining up this program.

Greg Zuercher will speak about him,  along with a group of others that have been working to honor Lt. Erwin Bleckley, a Wichita native, who was a WW1 aerial observer who died trying to do the first ever air re-supply in history.  Bleckley and his pilot were trying to provide supplies to the surrounded “Lost Battalion” in the Argonne Forest in October 1918.  The aircraft was shot down, and both the pilot and Bleckley were killed.  Each man received the Medal of Honor for the heroics.  Bleckley is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in France.  The group hopes to purchase a plane like Bleckley flew in and bring it to Wichita.  Of course it will only take money but it is an interesting story with local ties.  

An informative question and Answer session.

Larry is a retired Parametic from the San Diego Fire Department.  He has a passion for water.  He will come early - take samples of what we are drinking and tell us what's in it that we are not required to test for.

Larry and I parallel each other in many ways.  My company has been more and more concerned about pharaceutical residuals in drinking water over the years.  We have done projects where we were concerned about certain elements that might be in process water to be used for projects we consult or participate in.  We test for everything.  We have to know everyhting that is in water so we get the chemical reactions we anticipate.  It has been disturbing in areas that treat their affluent and discharge it into a river or stream - that eventually ends up coming our though a faucet in your home after setlling in Lake Cheney (or another lake) - the high concentration of crap that in drinking water that isn't required to be tested for.  Chlorine is a great thing - but there are things that it doesn't eliminate or kill.

Larry's company tests for this stuff and he has hooked up with foundations to provide the equipment necessary to the communities at little or no cost.

As for our other connection - I have been actively engaged in the WASH Rotary Action Group for several years providing technology consulting and as teh treasurer of their foundation.  Larry has been active in the WASRAG Action Group also but is concentrating on water quality in the USA.    

This will be vary interesting.  You might just find out why kids are maturing earlier and leran to never introduce old drugs into the sewage system.