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Making a difference by
planting trees for the planet ...

In an address to the 2017 RI Assembly, President Ian
H.S. Riseley of Australia connected all of the Rotary pri-
orities into one word: SUSTAINABILITY.
“Today, environmental degradation and climate
change threaten us all. They are having a disproportion-
ate impact on those who are most vulnerable, those to
whom Rotary has the greatest responsibility.
“The time is long past when environmental sustain-
ability can be dismissed as not Rotary's concern. It is,
and must be, everyone's concern.”
President Riseley asked that every Rotray club plant at
least one tree for each member by Earth Day, April 22,
2018. “It is my hope that the result of that effort will be far
greater than the environmental benefit that those 1.2 mil-
lion new trees will bring, which is itself most worthwhile. I
believe the greater result will be a Rotary that recognizes Planting 19 beautiful and healthy trees for our planet.
our responsibility, not only to the people on our planet -- Shown left to right, NMS student Zachary Johnson (age 9),
but to the planet itself on which we all live and on which Rotarian Kate Kerr, NMS student Carter Johnson (age 6),
we all depend,” said Riseley. Founding Head of School, Elaine Kennedy.
On the 20th of April 2018 our club planted 19 young The trees were contributed by Christensen's Plant Center,
trees on the campus of New Morning School in Plymouth owned by Noon Rotarian, Tim Joy.
Township. In accepting our “gifts,” Elaine Kennedy, Head our youngsters for years to come. Rotary can trust that
of School, had this to say: “Not only will these trees fill a we will lovingly tend and nourish these young trees until
large void in our back campus, they also will provide a they reach full, self-sustaining maturity...just as we do our
valuable, hands-on growing and learning experience for students.”

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