The Ellensburg Downtown Rotary Club is celebrating its fifth year of existence by undertaking several new service projects in 2020-21.
First, we are partnering with Generations, Kiwanis, and the Kittitas County Sheriff's Department in a joint effort to clean up the Naneum Pond so kids can fish there safely. This effort will involve members in clearing the pond of algae and cleaning up the picnic area. Even with social distancing requirements, this project can proceed safely to prepare for a dedication in the fall.
The goal of the service project at Naneum Pond is to create a safe place for kids to fish locally, as well as to initiate a memorial to Ryan Thompson, a deputy sheriff who lost his life in the line of duty in March of 2019. The service clubs involved in this project plan to sponsor an annual "Fish With A Cop" day in tribute to Officer Thompson and the other members of the Sheriff's Department.
Second, we are sponsoring an Interact Club at Ellensburg High School. This club has been approved at the district level by both the schools and Rotary. It is officially registered at Rotary International. Interested members will be receiving training on how to protect the safety of students and work with them effectively. When schools reopen, we hope to begin activities with interested students.
The Interact project will give high school students a chance to continue with service in their local community. Some of these students participated in Interact at Morgan Middle School. Others will be able to join this group and participate in Rotary projects such as the Naneum pond refurbishing.