Dieter Erhard of Art Center Seadrift has just published a limited edition of his first art photo book. Instead of selling it, he asked for donations towards Guatemala help projects. As a result, he was able to purchase a “Jaws of Life” to be given to the fire department of La Antigua, Guatemala.

Humberto del Busta, past Rotary president who was instrumental in recovering the fire station from a 2017 takeover by dissidents, looking forward to the delivery of this life-saving equipment, said, “There are many curvy roads coming in from Guatemala City, where bad accidents occur. Fast response is essential to save lives. Crash victims will benefit from this life-saving tool.”

Dieter thanks the Lukas Company for the special price and shipping of the Jaws of Life, and his Rotary Club of Erlangen Schloss for handling the donation funds.

Dieter Erhardt, owner of Seadrift’s Art Boat, with the backing of Erlangen, Germany’s Rotary Club, began the “Insect Hotel” project. These wooden structures were built by handicrafters in the Barmherzige Brueder disabled facility in Gremsdorf. Beginning last year, the goal was to produce and distribute 100 hotels. The number has now reached 280 hotels placed around the city, and in schools.

Through the members of the Erlangen Rotarians district 1880, this idea of helping the insects, will now be spread amongst their District and furthermore to possibly all Rotarians in Germany.

This project not only helps to create a better understanding, of how attention is needed to our insect world, especially bees, and how important insects are to our environment.

As the Mayor of Erlangen was presented a certificate, and the Secretary of State stood in front of the extra large (9 ft. by 9 ft.) Insect Hotel, Erlangen was pronounced “Capitol of the Insect Hotels”.

Pictured below is Dieter Erhard with his finished “bee” sculpture. The bee was created to raise awareness of the diminishing insect population in his native Germany and raise funds to purchase “insect hotels” to help replenish them.

(See July issue of Dolphin Talk.)

So far, enough has been raised to purchase 131 insect hotels.

Remember while driving our cars, how often we had to clean the windshields? Not any more in parts of Europe. Dieter Erhard (of ArtCenter Seadrift) is among those who have recognized the problem of disappearing insects, and are trying to do something about it.

Dieter is creating a huge bee. Its frame is stainless steel and it will hold about 1,500 fluorescent plexiglass pieces. At the facility of the Barmherzige Brueder in the town of Gremsdorf, people with disabilities will produce them. A public workshop, where visitors names will be engraved onto the plexiglass pieces will bring donations towards the purchase of insect hotels. With the funds earned, he plans to order at least 100 “insect hotels”.

So far 62 of such insect hotels have been ordered through Dieter, from friends or the local Rotary Clubs and their members. On December 8th, all sponsors and recipients will meet at the facility by the brotherhood of the Barmherzige in Gremsdorf. A introduction speech regarding the insects and bees will be held as well as all can visit the workshop at the site. Dieter’s then finished bee will be displayed there to round out the theme and event.

The city of Erlangen wants him and his bee to its sister city in Bozen, Tirol to also promote putting up insect hotels.

These hotels will attract up to 30 different species to breed and multiply.