Committees - Starfish

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The Franklin Rotary at Breakfast’s Operation Starfish Committee’s mission is to assist residents of Williamson County in gaining access to potable water.

The club adopted Operation Starfish in 2002.  The committee is charged with helping people who are in need of potable water, but do not have the ability to pay. Here are a few examples of the projects we have completed:

• Purchased water taps
• Supervised the installation of water lines from the water taps to homes
• Supervise the repair of septic systems

Why have we chosen to call the project “Operation Starfish?” It goes to the story of the aftermath of a violent coastal storm. Thousands of starfish had been washed ashore – some were dead, other dying, many were still alive but unable to get back to the safety of the sea. A small boy was picking up the living ones one at a time, carrying them down to the surf, and tossing them in. A man happened along and noting what, to him, was a futile exercise said to the boy, “Son, there are too many starfish. You won’t be able to make a difference.” Without stopping the boy pitched another starfish into the sea and replied, “Well, I made a difference to that one”. And that’s how we see our Club and this project. At this point our resources are limited and the needs are great. However we can make a difference if we begin with one family (starfish) at a time as we “work in our own garden.”

Our committee members are:

Bob Dietrick-Chairman  615-642-7612

Al Adams

Hunter Battle

Dan Coley

Lynn Hallum

Dick Tennent

Please call if you know of a person in need.

Starfish International

Our Starfish International Project embraces Rotary's humanitarian reach around the world promoting world understanding and peace.  Franklin at Breakfast has adopted clean water and good health programs.

Members travel annually to Guatemala.  In 2008, a clean water system was installed in cooperation with the Flores Rotary Club in a rural community in the Petén Region.  This system provides clean water for hundreds of individuals.  In 2009, members travelled with The Shalom Foundation www.theshalomfoundation.org and Kingsport First Presbyterian Church members representing Living Waters for the World.  Research was completed and relationships were made with Shalom School and Las Americas Rotary.

Water projects in 2010 will bring clean water to hundreds of children at Shalom School each day and at The Moore Center for Children's Health.  The team will also provide health, hygiene and clean water training to teachers, family leaders and children.  Education is a building block insuring sustainability of our project.  Team members will research opportunities to provide clean water systems for an impoverished, underserved community just outside of Guatemala City -- Las Conchas.  Our International Starfish project incorporates Clean Water, Health, Hygiene and Education.

Rotary members build relationships with members from Las Americas Rotary Club attending their weekly meeting, sharing meals and working together to bring clean water and better health to poor children and their families.  Members will hold meetings with Rotary leaders representing clubs from across Guatemala City with the goal of establishing relationships and opportunities for additional collaboration.

Can you serve? 

• Would you like to travel with the team?  Members can leave Nashville International Airport at 6 am and arrive in Guatemala at 11:30 am in time to enjoy lunch in Guatemala City with our service partners!  Your talents and skills are needed and welcome!  We can accomplish more with you!
• Could you write a newspaper article for our local papers and news-oriented websites? Press release templates are available online.  You can help by filling this role!
• Can you be part of the Team back home? Can you help team members collect needed donated supplies?  Can you arrange the gifts the Team will take to our partners in Guatemala?  Are you enjoying serving as host or hostess?  Are you proud of Franklin or Tennessee?  Take this job and do us proud!
• Can you conduct online research to seek grant funds and new grant sources? Sign our project up on Rotary International's ProjectLink placing our program in consideration for support from other Rotary Clubs, for funds, donated goods, matching gifts!  Are you detail oriented? Networking-minded?  Financially savvy?  Visit Rotary International to learn more.  Take this role and serve!

Volunteers who need financial support but do not qualify for Volunteer Service Grants can explore other fundraising opportunities through a number of websites including www.crosssculturalsolutions.org and www.visionsinaction.org.  Many employers match funds donated by their employees to 501(c)(3) organizations such as The Shalom Foundation, our partner in service.  Your donation can double with your employer’s (or your spouse's employer) matching gift being applied to your travel-related expenses.  Contact The Shalom Foundation at 615-595-5811 for a list of companies with matching gift programs.

Rotarians, their spouses, family members and volunteer-minded friends of Rotary are invited to participate.  Be part of a dynamic program with lasting impact.  Help create an international service project that will serve hundreds if not thousands of children and adults in need each year with Starfish International.