 Memorial Day is Monday May 31, the start of Springfield Rotary Club’s Flag Project. Volunteers are needed.
When we receive an order for a flag, we notify JULIE, the Joint Underground Locator service. They mark utility and cable lines on the customer’s property. A Rotary volunteer, using a four-foot length of one inch diameter lead pipe and a sledgehammer, installs a 16-inch piece of one inch diameter PVC pipe in the customers front yard and records the location, e.g., 5’ x 5’. That would mean 5 feet from the sidewalk and 5 feet from the drive. We place a red plastic cap on the conduit. We need volunteers for this physically challenging task.
On May 24, one week before Memorial Day, we begin deploying flags. Our goal is to finish the Friday before Memorial Day. That way the flags are out for the weekend.
Two-person volunteer teams retrieve flags and lights from our warehouse and following a computer-generated route and using vehicle or phone GPS systems deploy the flags for all the customers on their list. They locate the red cap on the conduit and install a flag and a small battery powered spotlight. With over 500 customers, we will need at least 20 teams We will accept non-Rotarian volunteers. Several members have drafted their spouses. Not all locations have simple 5 x 5 coordinates. Even if they do, finding the red cap that marks the conduit location can sometimes be difficult, especially in the spring when lawns are thick.
We leave the flags out from Memorial Day until after July 4. Then the same volunteer teams retrieve the flags and return them to our warehouse. On Monday Aug. 30, a week before Labor Day, we deploy the flags again, retrieving them after September 11. We do not deploy for Veteran’s Day.
We charge $60 a year for a flag subscription. This is a big fundraiser that helps support our grants to nonprofits. It provides an excellent volunteer opportunity. The work is interesting. Although searching for the red caps can be a little frustrating, most of us find the job enjoyable. It is time consuming. A route may take at least four hours to complete. However, it is rewarding when you see all those flags flying throughout our community and think about the grants we will fund with the proceeds.
As Manager of the Flag Service Project, I will be contacting all club members soliciting your help. You can reach me at jlloftus@aol.com. |
Our Club has a history of accomplishing many positive things for Rotary, and last year was no different. The recognition of this comes in a Rotary Citation that will be presented at this coming meeting. Past District Governor Mark Roberts will present our Past President Vicki Megginson (image on right) and our Club with a Rotary Presidential Citation. Please join us as we celebrate this accomplishment. Congratulations President Vicki!
Go the Extra Mile 5K Service Volunteer Opportunities Still Open
For curbside users, please place your meal tickets or cash in an envelope with your name and “for Sheila Mack” on the outside of the envelope and give it to the Maldaners staff member that gives you your food. They will get the envelopes to Sheila Mack. Curbside pickup is between 4:45 and 5:15 p.m. To pick up food, turn into the alley behind the building and pick up the food at the back door. It's easy to pick up your food and the meals are delicious.
Over 1500 books are available and we need all-hands-on-deck to help sort over the 50 cases stored at Computer Banc with David Fowler’s help. Kathryn Harris is coordinating the sorting and distribution effort. Books will need to be sorted by age groups, with some books stored to replenish the little libraries and others for distribution to local organizations that serve literacy needs of our community. Hold Sunday afternoon April 25 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. to help with The Little Library Literacy Labor of Love at Computer Banc, 1545 North 11th Street. Local organizations will be invited stop by and pick up books for the children they serve. 
Please remember to report your service hours and related contributions. Just follow this link:
