Area Rotarians Awarded Grant to Promote Water Conservation

Hot Springs Village and North Garland County Scenic 7 Rotary are delighted to announce the acceptance of a Rotary District Grant in the amount of $3,300. This grant will be used to design and promote an educational water conservation program in Hot Springs Village. This effort fits in nicely with two of the seven Rotarian Pillars which focus on supporting access to clean water and environmental protection.

Rotary’s Progress with the Water Conservation Program

To outline their intentions and obtain POA approval, the Rotarians met with POA staff members: Ken Unger, Public Services Director; Kevin Sexton, Director of Business Development, Land & Community Affairs; Chris Boutzale, Water and Wastewater Superintendent; Mindy Maxwell, Business Development & Client Relations Manager; and Julie White, Assistant to the General Manager.

Rotarians Jim Zahnd, David Childs, and Grants Chair Drew Kahle represented Rotary at this meeting, where it was determined that the Rotary Club would be the key communicator and leading force behind the water conservation education program in the Village. Keith and Sharon Goudy from North Garland County Scenic 7 Rotarian Club have also participated in organizing the water conservation program.

The Rotarians plan to design a PowerPoint presentation to present to Village groups and organizations, recognizing areas of water waste and consumption. The group also will provide education on drought-tolerant plantings and will highlight the importance of water conservation and the consequences of not conserving water. Last but not least, handouts will be developed to share at presentations and in new property owner packets.

Unger Emphasizes Importance of HSV Water Conservation

Director Unger stated that HSV water conservation is important because it could delay the need for a water plant upgrade. “The need for a water plant upgrade is completely driven by consumption. Unger said his push to discuss reasonable water conservation is because of the $15.5 million cost to upgrade the plant.”

“We can put restrictions in place, but I hope people will change their water usage behavior to delay some water plant upgrades. Water usage, especially from unabated irrigation, could drive the necessity for a plant upgrade, costing us $15 million.”

“It is better to start changing our behavior now than when we reach the trigger of 80% to 90% capacity on the water plant and have to spend millions to upgrade the system,” said Unger.

The service and altruistic efforts of the Rotarians and many other organizations and individuals in Hot Springs Village are nothing new. Generous volunteer efforts have been the standard and not the exception and historically, Villagers have always been known for their vibrant, innumerable, and seemingly untiring philanthropic efforts. Hard-working and devoted Villagers have always shone a beacon of light throughout the Village and surrounding communities.

Firmly believing in the spirit of volunteerism, the Village’s qualities of service and volunteerism caught the notice of the country’s forty-first President. President H. W. Bush developed an idea called the “Thousand Points of Light” to encourage and acknowledge volunteerism and community service of individuals and organizations.

In a letter dated, December 2, 1992, Bush congratulated Hot Springs Village for its volunteerism and awarded the Village the 989th “Point of Light” medallion. What is extra special about this award is that the Village holds the prestigious honor of being the only community to ever receive this award. As already mentioned, previous to the Village being granted this honor, the medallion was only bestowed on individuals and organizations and never a community as a whole.

If you would like to help continue the long-standing tradition of service, one way to serve is to join a committee. Currently, the Public Services Committee is accepting applications for two openings. Applications are available here and can be submitted via email to jwhite@hsvpoa.org or in person at the HSVPOA Administration Building, 895 DeSoto Boulevard, with attention to Julie White, Assistant to the General Manager.

By Cheryl Dowden