Monroe School and Rotary Partners to Protect Environment

District 181 and Hinsdale Rotary Club signed a regional "Pollinator Resolution" under the backdrop of Monroe School, a 2018 Green Ribbon School. The partnership and resolution is a national effort by Rotary to highlight the "care and concern for all pollinators." Monroe was chosen for the Chicagoland event because of its longtime commitment to environmental education. The school built an Outdoor Living classroom in 1991 and won the prestigious U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Award in 2018. It received the designation for its innovative efforts to reduce environmental impact and costs, promote better health and ensure effective environmental education.

"We were honored to collaborate with Hinsdale Rotary on this important initiative," said Superintendent Dr. Hector Garcia. "We look forward to continuing efforts to give our students various learning opportunities, while building on the work that has taken place at Monroe and other D181 schools in terms of protecting our pollinators and helping the environment."

Present at the ceremony was U.S. National Parks Ranger Chris Stein, who heads up the national Rotary International "Operation Pollination" as well Dr. Garcia, representatives from Hinsdale Rotary and Rotary International.

The goal of the program is to commit to pollinator habitat creation and restoration, as well as create awareness among the community, and to create pollinator way stations across the country. According to Stein, "The establishment of the Chicagoland Pollinator Partnership is an important conservation statement by Rotary and National Heritage Areas."

Stein pointed out that several US "National Heritage Areas" have recently signed similar Pollinator Resolutions. Said Stein, "Given that several of Chicago's Rotary districts, including District 6450 of which Hinsdale Rotary is an active participating club, it was decided that a regional pollinator partnership should be undertaken."

With the signing of Pollinator Resolution for the new Chicagoland Pollinator Partnership, Rotary International and the National Heritage Areas will continue to seek additional support for the Pollinator Pledge all over the nation.

Operation Pollination covers these projects to encourage participants be part of the larger environmental protection framework and effort that is underway.

To learn more about this and other projects around the country, go to www.OperationPollination.net.