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Florham Park Rotary Welcomes the NJ HighlandsCoalition Speaker

New Jersey has the 4th least expensive water of any state in the US.  

Julia Somers, Executive Director of the NJ Highlands Coalition shared that good information with the Florham Park Rotary.  Giving her presentation at the Florham Park Diner on the January 6 breakfast meeting, she advised it's because our state has done much and continues to do so to protect our water sources.   

The Mission of the Coalition is to protect, enhance and restore the New Jersey Highlands and to preserve the quality and quantity of drinking water both for the 850,000 people in the Highlands as well as millions of people in surrounding areas who depend on Highlands water.

Protecting the Highlands is a concern for all because: 

 ·     The Highlands provides water to 70% of NewJersey residents

·     Outdoor recreation in NJ is worth almost $19billion and support local economies

·     Highlands forest are one of the state’s best defenses against climate change, they improve water and air quality, and provide critical wildlife habitat for many of New Jersey’s threatened and endangered species. 

 

The Highlands Coalition is a non-profit education and advocacy organization.  It is not the Highlands Council which is a government agency.  Anyone with questions can reach the Highlands Coalition through [email protected] or at 973-588-7190. 

Many in town know that the Florham Park Rotary focuses its efforts mostly on supporting local education. However, local club President, Simone Campbell, also reminds us that as “Rotarians have a shared responsibility to protect the environment and seek ways to provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene.  That is a strong connection between the goals of the New Jersey Highlands Coalition and Rotary International.”  

Rotarian Peter Nicolas recommends that anyone wanting to learn more about the Highlands, our environment, and how to protect them, can check the NJ Highland Coalition's website at https://njhighlandscoalition.org/. There they can see upcoming events and/or view some of the recorded or live webinars. Two titles of particular interest are:

·     Beyond Timber; the Future of New Jersey’s Forests

·     The Morris Canal: Northern New Jersey’s Water Highway with the Canal Society of NJ 

About Rotary

Rotary International is a nonpolitical and nonsectarian organization open to all people regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, or political preference. There are more than 35,000 clubs worldwide dedicated to bringing together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and to advance goodwill and peace around the world.

Guests are welcome to join a weekly Rotary breakfast meeting at the Florham Park Diner at 182 Ridgedale Avenue to learn more about their local Rotary club. Those meetings are also held via Zoom to provide the option for members who can't physically attend frequently in the Diner. Meetings are 7:47 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. every Friday.

More ways to learn about the Florham Park Rotary are to visit www.FlorhamParkRotary.com, check Florham Park Community TV (Channels 21 for Cablevision and 35 for Verizon), or call or write Membership Chair George Gregor at [email protected]or (917) 848-0982.