Last month, after confirming a full year without a single case of wild poliovirus, Nigeria was removed from the list of the world's polio-endemic countries. It was the last polio-endemic country in Africa. Today, only two countries – Afghanistan and Pakistan – harbor the world's final reservoir of endemic poliovirus. As this issue of The Rotarian goes to press, global cases of polio in 2015 number only a few dozen.
As we move into the second month of this Rotary year and thus the second DG bulletin, we have enjoyed a pretty good summer so far. I trust that you have been able to take advantage of the warm weather we recently experienced with, hopefully, some more to come shortly.
Due to a favorable ruling by the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation, our District clubs will have access to an unprecedented amount of funding for district and global grants this Rotary year. Approximately $285,000 will be available for both district and global grants. This compares to $68,500 that was available for the 2014-15 Rotary year.
Rotary Club of Red Deer Sunrise is hosting the 2nd Annual Chocolate Chase on Sunday, August 30, 2015. Our 3km/5km family-focused “yum run”is a fundraiser in support of our “Access for All”project to build a barrier-free playscape in the heart of Red Deer.
On July 1st the Town of Canmore celebrated Canada Day and Rotarians kicked the day off with a free pancake style breakfast (Donations accepted). In addition to the group of volunteers from the Calgary Stampede Breakfast Committee, the enthusiastic servers and skilled flippers were all part of the Rotary Club of Canmore.
On a warm summer evening, the end of June, the two Lacombe Rotary clubs had a combined year end BBQ and “The Worlds Greatest meal,” raising $885.00 for polio plus. Special guest were ADG Ray Kamtiuk and his wife Sue and polio survivor Andrea Burrows, who contacted polio at 9 months of age. Andrea gave a moving story of her recovery, marriage, and birth of her children.
What started as a social get-together for Senator Hayes and his friends on his farm in 1950 is still a very hot ticket event many Calgarians look forward to at the beginning of the Calgary Stampede. July 5th,2015 marked the 60th annual Hays Breakfast at Heritage Park; and for a number of years, the Rotary Club of Calgary Heritage Park has hosted the breakfast as a club fundraiser
Raising Your Game - Public Speaking Tips for Success
The beginning of the Rotary year brings with it fresh ideas and new ways of looking at how we do Rotary. It’s also a time to review our skills and constantly upgrade. Let’s take public speaking. Does it make you feel queezy and start to perspire uncontrollably at the thought of it?
The Rotary Club of Coaldale has been part of the social fabric of Coaldale for more than 60 years. Chartered on February 23, 1955 as Club Number 956 in District 5360 (Southern Alberta and SW Saskatchewan), Coaldale Rotary, as it is commonly known in the community, conducts its activities according to Rotary International’s founding value statement: “Service Above Self”.
Rotary Club of Drumheller Supporting The Community
Recently the Rotary Club of Drumheller continued its support to the community.
The club presented a cheque for $31,276 to the skatepark being constructed.
This donation was made possible through funds from the White Elephant Sale and with donations from the public through the YouCare program. Pictured, President Scott Kuntz presents the cheque to Brooke Christianson of the Skatepark Committee.
On June 19th Community Service hosted a potluck supper with guest speaker, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret’d) Desmond Brophy, CD, MSM (USAF), BEng, MEng, MDS. Desmond, or Des as he prefers to be called, had a remarkable career both academically and as a pilot in the then Canadian Armed Forces. Des is now a pilot with WestJet. Non-Rotarians in attendance for the evening event included Desmond’s wife, career pilots and aviation enthusiasts.
After a year’s absence the Swift Current Lobsterfest bounced back in the city. The event which had been taking place since for fifteen years since 2000 had taken a lull for a year, due to the small membership numbers. The event requires a lot of hard work and input from members. But with just a membership of 12 the club felt members were burnt out hence the decision to shelf it for a while.
“Proposed Resolution to Change the Fiscal Year of the Waterton Glacier International Peace park Association
This resolution (below) will be voted on at the Annual General Meeting of the WGIPPA to be held at the Community Centre in Waterton Lakes, Alberta on Saturday, September 12th, 2015.
The resolution to be voted on is as follows:
Whereas the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Association (WGIPPA) conducts its business on both sides of the USA-Canadian border utilizing the respective currencies of the two countries, and the WGIPPA maintains bank accounts in both the USA and Canada; and
Whereas the current fiscal year for reporting financial transactions and bank account status for the WGIPPA on both sides of the border is October 1st to September 30th; and
Whereas for the past many years the annual WGIPPA Assembly and Annual General Meeting (AGM) has been held in mid-September, just before the end of the fiscal year; and
Whereas this results in the respective Treasurers reporting fiscal year financial statements that are almost one year behind the AGM;
Therefore, be it resolved that the WGIPPA change its fiscal year from October 1st through to September 30th, to July 1st through to June 30th, and further, be it resolved that the first reporting period or fiscal year be from October 1st, 2015 to June 30th, 2016 to facilitate the WGIPPA getting in synchrony with the new fiscal year designation.”
On June 12, 2015, the Rotary Club of Banff celebrated its 90th year. A dinner was held at the Banff Park Lodge in Banff and was attended by 66 Rotarians and guests. The Banff Club received its charter in July 1914 with 21 charter members and has been active in the community ever since. One of the charter members was Lou Crosby who had a three year old son, Rob, at the time. Rob later joined the Banff club in 1974 and he is currently still a member of the club at the age of 93. Rob was presented with an award at the dinner in appreciation of his 40 years support of Rotary in Banff.
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