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The Beginning
In the summer of 2006 I was on my way to the Richardson East Rotary
luncheon, in
A Rotarian by the name of Oran Bain spoke about his visits to
Africa, twelve at that time, and detailed efforts of the local
African Rotarians and his group of Rotarians to provide a source of
safe, clean water to villages in
You can reduce the infant mortality rate by 50% when clean water is
accessible. Some
individuals walk for ten to twelve hours a day to secure several
gallons of water for their family for just that day, to turn around
and do the same thing again day after day. Can you imagine not naming
your child until it was at least five years old because he or she
might not live that long?
These are just a few of the bullet points that I remember
from that afternoon.
The scope of the Global Safe, Clean Water Initiative of Rotary
International and the selfless dedicated Rotarians all over the
world who donate their time and money was monumental and inspiring. I returned to my car, where
I had left a huge, thermos type drinking mug filled with water that
was still ice cold, crystal clear and very safe to drink. I was embarrassed and
ashamed that just a little over an hour earlier I had been
frustrated, stressed and felt over committed to my tiny and minor
problems and irritations.
I wish I could say at that moment I vowed to get involved. That if an opportunity ever
came around where I could help or contribute in some small way, I
would be the first in line.
This is not what happened.
However, I did not forget about Oran Bain and what he and a
few Rotarians had accomplished with so little that had changed the
world for so many lives.
A little over a year later I resigned from the Richardson East
Rotary due to changes in my schedule where traveling on a regular
basis made it impossible to attend weekly meetings with any
consistency. ( I have
recently rejoined Rotary as a member of Rotary eClub One Rotary, the
first Rotary club chartered to meet on the Internet.)
In the fall of 2008 an opportunity to get involved presented itself. I have years of experience
on business, trade association and charity boards. I also have a strong
avocation in the equestrian (horse sports) field, having been a
rider and competitor all of my life.
At this time I was asked to help create a new kind of horse
show series in the
That stopped me. I
inquired if that was indeed a serious commitment and I was assured
that it was. The light bulb in my head flashed and every second of
Oran Bain’s power point presentation of Rotary International’s
Global Safe, Clean Water Initiative replayed through my head and my
heart. I mentally
subverted all the panic associated with how I would start and
maintain a nonprofit corporation with a global outreach; I took a
really deep breathe, I took a very prayerful moment and replied,
“OK, Rotary International and Clean Water.”
The Nonprofit Corporation
Clear Rounds for Clean Water, as of May 1, 2009, has been recognized
by the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Government as a 501
(c) (3) nonprofit corporation qualified to receive tax deductible
bequests, devices, transfers or gifts, and is further classified as
a public charity. It is
not a process that I would ever do again, nor would have ever
attempted in the first place had I any idea of what I was embarking
upon.
The two phrases, “government institution” and “legal documents” are
the only descriptions that are needed to portray a process that
started more than nine months ago.
In April I involved my Congressman, Sam Johnson, and his
wonderful staff here in
Clear Rounds for Clean Water has eight members on the Board of
Directors and an Advisory Board that is blessed with a diversity of
individuals that represent a global influence. Another major player
in this corporation is my partner and co-founder, Britt McCormick of
Elmstead Farm in Parker,
The
At least 1.1 billion people lack access to a supply of safe water,
and 2.4 billion lack access to basic sanitation. Every year millions of
people, mostly children, die from diseases associated with unsafe
water and inadequate sanitation and hygiene. Each day, some 6,000
children die for want of clean water and sanitation.
Clear Rounds for Clean Water is solely dedicated to providing
charitable funding for the Rotary International Global Safe, Clean
Water Initiative. We
want to play a major part in reducing the appalling number of people
who currently do not have access to safe, clean water.
The equestrian community is blessed with generous resources and
equally generous hearts.
A top rated horse show or a horse show series can be anywhere
in the world and can last as long as several weeks. A “clear round”
is a term used in horse sports when a horse and rider team have
jumped all the obstacles in a course without knocking any down or
refusing to jump any obstacle, in a predetermined amount of time
calculated in seconds.
To bring together the fact of global need for safe, clean water, the
equestrian and the equestrian sport spectator we have created Clear
Rounds for Clean Water.
For over 100 years Rotary International has a history of successful
humanitarian service projects worldwide. With Rotary International as
the recipient of Clear Rounds for Clean Water funds, Rotary
International Matching Grant program will be able to combine our
funding with matching grants from the Rotary Foundation and other
organizations enabling our dollars to become 1 ½ to 3 times greater
than the original amount.
We are also totally committed to providing the 21st
century horse and rider combination with the type of competition
that will be tremendous fun for the competitor and great horse sport
entertainment for the spectator.
We are producing horse shows that will be all-inclusive for
every level of horse and rider.
The quality of our horse shows is established and we have set our
monetary funding goal very high for the Rotary International Global
Safe, Clean Water Initiative.
Everyone and anyone can help us achieve our goals. We have a United States
Equestrian Federation “A” rated 5 day horse show being held in
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Clear Rounds for Clean Water