Hattiesburg, Mississippi

I arrived in Hattiesburg on June 21, just in Time! Pam and Gil Achter accepted to host me during my short stay inthis nice city.

I had the pleasure to meet their grand children! But also share a very nice conversation during a dinner they organized with me. Thank you so much for your support and your kind help. I wish you a good life.

It was a pleasure to speak about Rotary Water Projects overseas with Rotarians from Hattiesburg, during their meeting on June 22.

This presentation took place at the same time than an other project about a fundraising for a disabled children center. It was very interesting to have an international and a community project presentation, this gave to everybody the opportunity to fully understand the aim of Rotary: support to develop goodwill and better friendship in the world, and service for our community.

Tucson, Arizona

I arrived in Tucson with the Greyhound bus after a 17h trip! Jerry & Maryann Jordan from the Tucson Sunset Rotary club had the kindness to wait for me in the station.







I had the pleasure to speak to the Rincon Rotary club,






and speak with students who received the scholarship from Rotary. I wish to succeed in their study.








the Kino Rotary club






but also the Catalina Rotary club in Tucson.







I was so glad to see a real interest from all those clubs, whatever their size is, all of them were already involved in Rotary Water Projects overseas, in Latin America or in Africa. That was very interesting to discuss with them about Rotary water projects in Central Asia. Thank you so much to Wendy, Debra and Barbara for accepting to let me speak about the work that our team does in Tajikistan and Kyrgystan with the other Rotarians.






Jerry and Maryann Jordan had the kindness to introduce me to their nice family during an authantic western show in the trail dust town! Now I know what a cow boy steaks does mean!





I had a very nice time and I wish I could stay longer with you. Thank you for everything.

Las Vegas West Rotary club

I arrived in Las Vegas with the Greyhound bus around 9 pm on June 13 and Bernard Hunt was there to greet me! On the road I saw the Belagio fountains show, all the poeple in the street, the trafic too and what makes the atmosphere in Vegas during the night so unique.

I had the chance to discuss with the Las Vegas West Rotary club on June 15 about the Rotary Water Projects in Central Asia and in Haiti. Rotarians in Las Vegas are very sensible to the water issue.

Indeed, the city is growing so fast that they need to bring more water for its residents and also for the tourists.

Tourism represents the main source of money for this state. However Vegas is in the middle of a desert, the only source of water which is big enough is located in the border with South Utah. But this source is also important for the agriculture area. Poeple need it for their crops.

Those tensions make me think that whoever tries to get the advantage, there is no way to replace water, this is a unique source, for a unique need. Hidden in the middle of lights and fireworks of the city, or brought out in the middle of fields, water is the condition which allows any life to perdure.

I spent a very nice time with Bernard and Jennifer, I had the opportunity to see the red rocks canyon, the very first district and first casino of Vegas! I can't say more since what happens in Vegas...

But thank you so much!

San Francisco

I arrived in San Francisco on June 8, the train was 1 hour early! Mr. Jim Stephens came to pick me up at the Station. I had the chance to provide a presentation to the San Francisco Bayview Rotary club,

but also the International Airport Rotary club

and the Fisherman's Wharf Rotary club.

Thank you so much for accepting to discuss about Rotary Water Projects overseas with me

during your meeting!

I had the pleasure to meet Mr. Samuel A. Murray, Southeast Community Outreach Director for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) City and County of San Francisco. He gave me the opportunity to visit the Oceanside Plant.

The city of San Francisco has a unique wastewater system which combines a sewer system to catch wastewater and storage boxes to treat the water before to put it back in the sea. People use to call this system: "the city under the city".

In 1993, EPA certified that there was no violation of the rule for the protection of the environment from the San Francisco Wasterwater management. Since this time, the SFPUC is actively engaged to conserve this quality of service for its community.

It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to speak about Rotary Water Projects in Central Asia and in Haiti with Rotarians from San Francisco.

Thank you so much to Jim stephens for accepting to show me the Golden Gate Bridge! I spent a very nice time in your company! I wish you a good life!

Salt Lake City

I arrived in Salt Lake City on June 4, at 10h45pm, this time the train arrived 20 min early!

I had the chance to be hosted by the Maves' family in Salt Lake City. Connie and Scott had the kindness to show me their city.

Thanks to them I can say now that I've seen the Great Salt Lake! When I came to try the water, I saw that the buffalos have had the same idea.

What was amazing too is that even if the weather was hot, there is still snow in the natural park, Scott explained me that they have a hard winter and a hard summer too, two weeks ago there was snow every where in Salt Lake city.

I had the chance to go with Scott and Connie to attend a presentation about the problem of the decrease of the level of water in South Utah. It seems that after a long dried period, this level is now increasing because of the melt of ice from the mountains.



Connie and Scott's daughters, Sydney and Kellyn, are learning French, I was glad to help them review their French courses! I wish them to succeed in their final exams and to have the best marks in French!!


Thank you so much for this nice visit of Salt Lake city, I had a very nice time... hope to see you again in Paris who knows?

Peak to Peak Rotary Club

I arrived in Denver, Colorado on June 2, with 2 hours and a half late! Michelle Northrup, President of Peak to Peak Rotary Club, and Barbara Moore, Host, greeted me at the train station.

I am very glad to had the chance to hold a presentation in the Peak to Peak Rotary club on June 3. I was impressed by their comitment in water projects. Colorado takes part of the dried area of the U.S., having the oppportunity to speak about water projects overseas with Rotarians from Denver and Black Hawk was very interesting. Colorado takes a large part of his water from the well installations in the Mountain. No one ignore this issue and I had the chance to present Intelligentsia International water projects in Central Asia which uses mostly pipeline systems to bring water in shools and villages.

Thank you to Barbara Moore and the Rotarians from Peak to Peak for explaining me the History of Black Hawk. And thank you so much to Barbara and John Moore for greeting me and hosting me during this stay in Colorado. I wish I could have spent more time with you and your 2 big big but nice dogs! Thank you also for organizing those dinners with your friends and introducing me to your family, I spent a very nice time.

I wish you all the best!

Presentation in District 6450

I arrived in Lansing on May 28, this time the train was only 30 minutes late!

Ed and Luci Lugowski greeted me at the train station and I had the chance to attend the presentation at noon. Ed had the kindness to invite , Mr. James Settles, Assistant Governor, Mrs. Linda Quagliani, president of Homewood Rotary club and Mr. Dan Graham, President of Park Forest Rotary club to discuss about Rotary water projects overseas.

And I had the pleasure to join them during the Park Forest Rotary Installation Dinner on May 29 where I also met the 6450 District Governor Jim. Thank you so much to all of them for their consideration in this first Rail & Water Tour and their involvement in Rotary Water Projects overseas.

Luci showed me the water management installation in Chicago when we were in the John Hancock restaurant. This installation is protected from the currents of the sea by a barrier.

I also had the chance to visit Chicago during the Memorial Day. Chicago honored their soldiers and their families by organizing a big pride. Veterans, Medal of Honor Recipients, Marines, Military Students... Every body was represented!

Thank you very much to Luci and Ed for introducing me to their nice family, I enjoyed the time I spent with Luci in Chicago and with Amber and Ashley in Lansing. Thank you for your patience with me and your support.

First Presentation In Brownsburg Rotary Club

I arrived in Indianapolis on May 27th in the morning around 7 am. The train was 2 hours late, but Jim and Roberta Graham greeted me at the train station. They had the kindness to show me Indianapolis. I came during one of the most important sporting event: the Big Race! Around 400 000 poeple come to see this race and the big track where all the cars are in competition.

When we came home, Jim and Roberta took the time to speak with me about their project in Afghanistan. They participate to the Rotary project called "Gift of Life", they offer their financial support for heart surgery for the children in Afghanistan and they also support the construction of schools for boys and girls education with Afghan people. Jim and Roberta and their sons are completely involved in Rotary projects, I am honored to had the opportunity to meet them.

Clark Mullen, President, Jim and Roberta and the other rotarians had the kindness to organized a dinner where I could know personnaly poeple from Brownsburg and from the Rotary club. We share a very nice time.

I wish a good life to all of them and a good continuation for their projects and their support to stenghen education programs in Afghanistan.

First Stop in Washington

The travel from Sebring Florida to Washington, DC was very long but When I arrived in Union Station I saw how big this City is!
I arrived on May 23 and the Kurianitkova's family greeted my in New Carrolton and I spent a very nice time with them. Andy and Sasha (Carole's sons) explained me a lot of things about the geography of the U.S. and Carole helped me to improve my speaking for my presentation about Rotary water projects overseas.

I also learnt that Washington area doesn't have problem to get water for its residents. The East Cost area belongs to the moist area of the U.S. and it was very interesting to see that the people I met were aware of their chance and ready to help and learn about water situation and difficulties abroad, in Central Asia but also in Haiti.

During my visit, I had the chance to discover Washington with Sasha and Andy, I realized how big and rich this city is.

I also had the opportunity to see an exhibit about the African-Native American Lives in the Americas in the Smithsonian Institution. The woman who organized this exhibit was there, she was from the North East of the U.S. and I had the chance to discuss with her about her work. The aim of this exhibit was to communicate about what Gabrielle Tayac (Piscataway) calls "one part of the invisible story of America", the recognition the African Native American heritage as one part of the U.S. identity.

I left Washington on May 26 ready for my first presentation about Rotary Water Projects in Indiana!

ps: I wish to Andy and Sasha to suceed in their studies, and I wish a good continuation to Carole and Alex. Thank you.