Managing flow, in Africa.

• Position: Finalentry - Interview

CPA Joseph Lanza, partner and director of tax at McGowan Guntermann, recently took his more than 33 years of public accounting experience ... to Africa! Lanza shifted from his professional focus and expertise in tax planning and financial management and got his hands dirty helping to establish a clean water supply for the townspeople of Ngu-Nyumu, a small village in Kenya, as part of a Rotary International project. Fresh from his trip, we asked him about his experience.

What was the genesis of the water project? What were the logistics of the work required?

The water project started as an idea from one of our Rotary Club members, Jim Lisi. Through Jim, our club (the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara North) became aware that more than 2 billion people in the world have unmet water, sanitation, health and hygiene needs. Most of these needs are directly dependent upon access to clean drinking water. We wanted to do something about that. Jim did some research and was connected to Evie Treen in Santa Barbara, who had been to Kenya many times and knew of a village that had a need for water--and the ambition and desire to make it happen. A geologist determined a spot to drill, but drilling was delayed for several weeks because of the torrential rains in March. Finally after years of preparation, fund-raising and getting the right team in place, drilling began March 25 and went late into the night. Water was finally reached at a depth of 150 meters. The miracle is that the water was immediately free flowing--and clean, clear water continues to flow without a pump today. That means the villagers are able to use it for drinking, cooking, cleaning and watering their crops and animals. In the three months from the time the well was drilled until we went to see it, they had already planted acres of corn, squash, lettuce and other crops--and set up a village committee and distribution lines to provide access to the water.

What was the dedication ceremony like?

I was one of six Americans who attended, and we were treated like royalty. There was an interpreter who translated English into Kamba, and vice versa. We had a great sense of accomplishment and gratitude, but there was also an understanding of the work that remains to bring the water to a larger group of people in the surrounding areas.

Was this your first trip to Africa?

It was. We were fortunate enough to be able to spend several weeks in Kenya, so we saw several national parks and many, many animals...