WASH Ambassador Chair Indicates Direction

"There really isn’t any organization addressing WASH issues that have “boots on the ground” like Rotary," says Steve Werner. "The more you can do to advocate, educate, and motivate Clubs and District, the more Rotary will be an important partner with other organizations that share our vision of a world without water-related illnesses."

A member of the WASH Rotary Action Group Operations Team, Steve Werner is the new WASH Ambassador Chair. Read Steve's suggestion on how to start the new Rotary year with a focus on WASH.

I’m honored for several reasons to assume the role of WASH Ambassador Chair for the Rotary 2025-2026 year.
 
First, is to follow in the footsteps of Carolyn Meub, who worked extremely hard at growing the program and building capacity so that Ambassadors around the world can be strong advocates and liaisons for WASH in their District. Working towards the goal of having at least one Ambassador in every Rotary District, to educate on the Global WASH crisis, and encourage projects to help everyone around the world who lacks WASH (safe drinking water, proper sanitation, and strong hygiene practices). WASH Ambassadors can truly change the narrative through their advocacy, outreach, and networking with Clubs and Districts to share WASH resources and expertise. Carolyn and I have the same vision of what Rotary can do for WASH and what it has done for Polio and other global concerns.
 
I’d also like to recognize the WASH Ambassador Steering Committee, the Regional Coordinators, and our Ambassador Administrator for their time, effort, and knowledge and support of the Ambassador program.
 
I hope that every Ambassador who receives this message will help us get off to a strong start in the new Rotary year. Please arrange a face-to-face meeting or Zoom or WhatsApp call with your District leadership and help them feel your passion and commitment to improving WASH concerns locally or globally.

Be sure your District leaders know that WASH doesn’t work in a silo, since improved WASH situations lead to better education for children, stronger economic conditions for households and communities, better overall health, and an even better environment.

There really isn’t any organization addressing WASH issues that has “boots on the ground” like Rotary. The more you can do to advocate, educate, and motivate your Clubs and District, the more Rotary will be an important partner with other organizations that share our vision of a world without water-related illnesses.

Another important thing for all Ambassadors to do early in the year is to do outreach with clubs, so the same message that you bring to your District leadership would be a good topic for a Zoom call with club representatives. Other suggestions are to form a District WASH Committee, organize a WASH Symposium, and ask Clubs how you and WASH-RAG can best support their work.
 
Thank you once again for all that you do and let’s increase awareness of WASH and what Clubs, Districts and Rotarians can achieve.
 
Sincerely, Steve Werner   

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Ambassadors and the Calgary WASH Experience

There are a number of WASH-related activities at the Rotary Convention in Calgary. EVERYONE can participate. WASH Ambassadors will be involved in all these activities look for the Ambassador Pin or Ribbon, and ask them about the program.   

Use the Read More below to see some of the key WASH events. One event you should attend is: 
Saturday, 21 June
15:30 - WASH Ambassador Meet & Greet - Room 224

Saturday, 21 June
7:45   - World Water Summit 17 - SOLD OUT
14:20 - Ron Denham - "My WASH Story"
            Followed by a Meet & Greet - WASH HUB
15:30 - WASH Ambassador Meet & Greet - Room 224

Monday, 23 June
9:20   - Rotary Global WASH Strategy, Erica Gwynn - WASH HUB
14:00 - Community Action for Fresh Water - Room 211
15:30 - CAWST Open House
             B12 -  6020 2 Street SE, Calgary

Tuesday, 24 June
18:00 - B.R.E.W.  Bash - Bottlescrew Bill's Pub (A few tickets left)

House of Friendship 
Hours - Sat to Tue - 9:00 - 18:00    Wed - 9:00 - 14:00

WASH-RAG Booth  141

WASH HUB  https://www.wash-rag.org/wash-hub-calgary/

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INTRODUCING - The Ambassador Lens

The WASH Ambassadors use a variety of ways to get out the message about WASH. There are Join WASH-RAG videos (available in seven languages), marketing materials, educational webinars, and now the start of a Podcast series called, "The Ambassador Lens."

Listen to the PodTalk Audio. 
Episode 1: A Global Perspective Up Close.
The host, Charlotte Roehm, interviews Chuck Fisher on his journey as a WASH Ambassador.
 

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Ambassador Develops WASH in Schools Resource

Some of our Ambassadors provide Club and District presentations on the topic of WASH. Some Ambassadors assist District leadership to establish District WASH Committees. Then some, like Dilip Mirchandani, from Belgium, use their skills and practical experience to develop excellent resources to help Rotary clubs in the development of WASH Projects.

A Guide to Designing a WASH in Schools (WinS) project , developed by Dilip, provides a clear step by step process, from doing a community assessment, implementation of the project, and the important follow-up to ensure sustainability.  
 

Using the term "Going" is not correct. Right from the start of the WASH Ambassador program, it had members from each of the different Rotary Regions. 

However, the Ambassador team wanted to increase its impact and encourage the establishment of a WASH Ambassador in all Districts. It needed to place more focus on developing translated resources (like the video available in seven languages) and establish a Regional structure.
 

Over the last year, the Ambassador program developed a Regional Structure, based on the Cadre structure with some minor differences. 

A Regional Coordinator in each Region is responsible for increasing communication among the Ambassadors in the Region to share ideas and resources on how to promote WASH knowledge and projects, encourage WASH-RAG membership, and recruit more Ambassadors. 

Currently, an Ambassador Conversation Zoom Call is held monthly for all Ambassadors. (Recordings of the Conversations are available.) In the upcoming year, Ambassador Conversations will be held in each Region on a regular basis. 
 

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