Community Corner

Rotary Club Seeks Residents' Help in Keeping Towns Litter-Free

Volunteers sought; register online, by email or call.

 

The Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Rotary Club is seeking resident volunteers to assist in its “Rotary Clean Communities Coalition” designed to keep and litter-free.

“For two communities that are a couple of the prettiest towns anywhere, the presence of litter on our streets and parkways is an eyesore,” said incoming Rotary Club president Tim Newman. “We need to pick litter up when we see it and encourage our friends and neighbors to do the same.”

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“Rotary is an international service organization, but our service begins at home. We couldn’t think of a more tangible way to help out in our own communities than by taking this initiative,” Newman added.

Rotary Club’s Clean Communities project chairman David Barkhausen believes the mindset has to change from it's someone else's responsibility to residents'.

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“Ideally, we could deter thoughtless people from littering. But it’s almost impossible to enforce anti-litter laws,” Barkhausen said. “Rather than simply cursing the source of the litter, it’s important that we develop an intolerance for its presence rather than passing by it. The public works crews in our towns don’t have the manpower to patrol for litter."

The Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Rotary Club will have set days when their members pick up litter along key highways and streets. But Club President Newman emphasized the need for large numbers of residents to do this regularly, and not just periodically.

“Litter accumulates constantly, especially in the nice weather. We need to be vigilant about picking it up wherever we can on almost a daily basis,” Newman said.

The Rotary Club is asking residents to volunteer to join their Clean Communities Coalition by taking responsibility for portions of their streets and neighborhoods. They can volunteer by signing up on the Coalition’s website – www.lflbrotaryccc.org, sending an e-mail to volunteer@lflbrotaryccc.org, or calling Barkhausen at (847) 482-1605

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“We will be taking our message to groups in the community, such as student environmental organizations and scouts, the garden clubs, and open lands organizations,” Barkhausen said. "We want to be able to recognize and thank those who participate. Ultimately, if more residents develop the habit of picking up litter in their own neighborhoods and as they make their way around town, we will be successful in enhancing the natural beauty of our towns.”

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