Coalition brings diverse group together for the Ottawa River.
 
The Ottawa River Coalition is one of the longest serving such organizations in the state, coalition Executive Director Beth Seibert said to Lima Rotary Club Monday.
The group, which formed in 1993, has also contributed to a dramatic improvement in the health of the river, said Seibert, who has led the group for its entire existence. “We help the community with the river as a natural resource, drinking water, and helping to improve water quality,” Seibert said. “And we’ve demonstrated that water quality can be improved.” 
In 1987, a government environmental data collection showed that 46 percent of the fish collected downstream of the petrochemical complex had some kind of deformity showing poor health. In 2011 when another study was done at multiple points on the Ottawa River, the number had dropped to less than 1 percent, Seibert said. In the late 1980s and very early 1990s concerned residents and organizations grew concerned about the river and 15 agencies formed the coalition in 1993. The group brings together a diverse membership of environment al advocates, municipal officials, private industry leaders and others. Its long-term success led The Ohio State University and the Ohio Watershed Network to interview the group.
“We realized we have a story to tell about why we are together and how the relationship works,” Seibert said. The group produced a video about their work.
Learn more about the Ottawa River Coalition at http://thisismyriver.org/
In other Rotary business:
Tracie Sanchez thanked the 19 volunteers for helping staff the spring Blood Clinic, including Dan Best who ran the bank by himself and had a deposit to the penny. He’s earned the job for life.
The UNOH Rotaract Club needs some help with connecting direct deposit to a website for their Color Run fundraiser June 3 at Faurot Park.
The Lima Senior High School art students are finishing the Little Free Library boxes, which will go out soon.
On May 22 and June 12, Rotary Club members who wish to have an updated photo can obtain one with Michael Ayers at the lunch meetings.