Florida Rotarian devoted to saving people from drowningby Vanessa N. Glavinskas Excerpt from The Rotarian Magazine -- October 2012

“I’ve always had an affinity for the water,” says Underwood, who grew up surfing and sailing in California. “My father was in the U.S. Coast Guard, and I’ve dedicated my life to mariners. I see this project as saving future mariners. Rotarians have an opportunity to educate parents and children have an opportunity to educate parents and children and save lives.” - Jim Underwood

- Over 500,000 "Josh the Baby Otter" books have been distributed to children worldwide through this partnership

- Nearly every state and 4 Countries are involved with the project

- Rotary Clubs have purchased over $650,000 in Josh the Otter materials for children since 2010

- International Rotary Clubs are participating with the - International Rotary Clubs are participating with the Josh the Otter project in Jamaica, Canada, Pakistan and Brazil.

- Rotarians have made over 1000 Orders of Josh the Otter materials since 2010

{Jim is a Retired Rear Admiral of the United States Coast Guard. He has been the driving force behind the Rotary International "Josh the Otter Water Safety and Literacy Project" expansion of the Foundation's water safety program across the country.}

Rotary and Josh the Otter Facts

3 Easy Steps to Begin your Rotary’s Josh the Otter Water Safety and Literacy Project:

1) Identify your Target Population - Would you like to work with Pre-K and/or Kindergarten students in your community? - Contact administrators from local schools and/or daycares you would like to serve to inform them of your project and identify student numbers.2) Create a Project Budget - How many children would you like to serve in your community? - Discounted Rotary Packet Price: $3.95 per child, shipping included in the Continental United States. International package pricing please contact JCMF orders. Packet includes: “Josh the Baby Otter” Book, Coloring Activity Sheet and Sticker3) Contact JCMF to order packets and to learn how to conduct the fun life-saving reading presentation! - orders@joshuamemorial.org or 402.613.5555

The Rotary project's goal is to educate children with a fun and simple message:TO STAY AWAY FROM WATER UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT.

The “Josh the Baby Otter” book was created by the Joshua Collingsworth Memorial Foundation to help children comprehend and remember this important message. Ultimately, we want to create a water safety behavior for all children that will be passed on from generation to generation. Rotarians help spread the life-sRotarians help spread the life-saving message of water safety by reading the book to children and by providing "Josh the Baby Otter" books for

every child to take home. Together we CAN save lives!

JOIN IN THE ROTARY “ JOSH THE OTTER WATER SAFETY AND LITERACY PROJECT!”