we take this time to consider where we’ve come over the last months. So the question is did we live up to Rotary International President John Germ’s theme of Rotary Serving Humanity this year?
Did we move to increase the volume and engagement of Rotarians this year? The answer is yes as the number of Rotarians is higher than this time last year (not much higher but moving in the right direction). This is anecdotal but as I look through Clubs’ Presidential Citation dashboards, member retention is generally higher now than it was last year. We see a similar trend in engagement, the number of Rotarians with specific Club assignments and duties.
The newest Rotary Club in our District, the Rotary Club of Red Deer Urban Spirits, will charter with two-dozen new Rotarians on 04-Jul-17.
The world and your community needs more Rotary; thank you for what you’re doing to provide your community with more Rotary.
Did we support our Foundations and Polio Plus? The answer is resoundingly affirmative as we blew previous year’s numbers out of the water. This result is not just because of the significant Arch Klumpf Society entrants this year; as we look through individual Club results, nearly every Club had higher Rotary Foundation & Polio Plus contributions. Thank you for what you’re doing to support our Foundations.
Did we have some fun and fellowship along the way? If you can’t answer that, then get out from under your rock! At every Club I visited throughout the year there was ample evidence that Rotarians certainly enjoyed each other’s company.
Of course the RI theme for the month of June Fellowships, specifically the dozens of professional and social Fellowships available. We’d encourage you to educate yourself on the many interesting options both in Fellowships and Action Groups.
The theme of the District Conference last month in Red Deer was Strength in Numbers; let me run some of those numbers past you. We saw 361 full and partial registrants; international best-selling author and speaker Neil Pasricha spoke to 750 Grade 8 students on Friday morning, then spoke to the opening luncheon Friday that included 143 non-Rotarians from the Red Deer and area business community. We touched and exposed Rotary to nearly 1,300 families that weekend. Mission accomplished.
In this newsletter you’ll also find the specifics of the Grants awarded this year in our District. In some Districts the District Designated Funds available are not always allocated and used. This has not been the case in our District and it is evidence that we are utilizing the full amount of resources available to us in serving humanity, in our communities and around the world.
As we saddle up and ride into the sunset, please know this my fellow Rotarian: we have been truly blessed and humbled by the privilege to have been your Governor. We have told several Rotarian and non-Rotarians the last while that this has been one of the best years of my life.
We set out a couple big hairy audacious goals around membership & Foundation giving and you achieved them. Good on ya!
Thank you for all you do for Rotary.
My sincerest gratitude for this opportunity and best wishes as we all go forward in our Rotary walk in Rotary Serving Humanity.
Blog posts are an excellent way to tell stories. A club blogsite will help to build your brand by informing and shaping the opinions of others in your community and beyond. It will emphasize what you are known for. Of all the social media tools, blogging seems to have the most mystique and cache.
But, like every social media platform, there are protocols and practices that are unique to blogging. Success requires basic knowledge, hard work, and discipline.
Our district has been very busy in awarding grants to our clubs in 2016/17.
In fact, between District Designated Funds (DDF) and District Projects we have contributed $556,985 (Cdn) in grants to projects undertaken by our clubs.
With leverage from TRF and TRF (Canada) we received at least another $300,000 toward projects. Your contributions to The Rotary Foundation is responsible for these sizable awards and with your continued support we hope to be able to keep making a difference in our communities and throughout the world. Thank you very much for this.
The Executive Director of the High River District Health Care Foundation, Michael Brown brought exciting news to the Rotary Club of High River’s meeting on May 4, 2017. He announced the Foundation is raising funds for major renovations to the maternity ward at High River General Hospital. The $1.4-million needed will help to redevelop the 2,400 sq. ft. unit, creating state-of-the-art care suites to provide patients with enhanced services, additional privacy and more room for family and friends. There will be modern maternity suites with in-room labour/delivery tubs.
Michael said $900,000 of the project will be funded through the Foundation’s reserves, while the remaining $500,000 will be collected through fundraising opportunities over two years, such as special events and private partnerships.
The Rotary Club of High River was a partner with the Foundation in raising more than $1-million to renovate the cancer centre at the local hospital. This partnership officially began in May 2013. Despite the devastating flood in June 2013, Rotary exceeded its goal to raise $500,000. When the renovated cancer centre opened in September 2016, the Foundation presented the Clifford and Louise Lougheed Award to the Rotary Club for community philanthropy.
The Rotary Club of High River continues to support the Foundation. At the club’s meeting on May 25, members voted to donate $10,000 to the maternity ward project.
The improved ward will benefit communities south of Calgary, including High River, Okotoks, Turner Valley, Longview and Nanton. As part of the project, the Foundation will raise awareness in this district. Michael said this could grow High River’s capacity to deliver 600 babies a year, up from its average of 360.
New Club Red Deer Urban Spirits launches Tuesday July 4
Something exciting happened at a dinner party last December. During dessert, the casual party conversation unexpectedly turned to an energetic discussion about joining Rotary. That was how the Rotary Club of Red Deer Urban Spirits was born.
Thanks to the support of DG Neil Berg and existing Red Deer Rotaract and Rotary Clubs, the Rotary Club of Red Deer Urban Spirits will celebrate the launch of their club and induct their 28 charter members on Tuesday, July 4.
Their inaugural year will be led by co-presidents Sara Smillie and BJ Tumanut. Sara was a charter member of Rotaract Club of Red Deer and served as their Club President 2014-2016. BJ has been a member of Rotary Club of Red Deer Sunrise since 2011 and served as their President 2015-2016. Sara and BJ, along with the fresh vision of their board and members, look forward to helping Rotary thrive. With 25 of their charter members new to Rotary, it is their hope that offering an evening club with a strong membership base of young professionals will attract more people to Rotary.
Rotary Club of Red Deer Urban Spirits will hold their regular meetings the first Tuesday of each month at Westlake Grill (in Heritage Ranch - 6300 Cronquist Drive) from 7pm - 8pm. Having a strong focus on “Service Above Self” the members will also volunteer in the community 1 - 2 times per month.
Should you wish to attend the Rotary Club of Red Deer Urban Spirits launch party, please email Sara Smillie.
After the storm – ShelterBox provides aid in Mozambique following Cyclone Dineo
Cyclone Dineo struck Mozambique in February, bringing torrential rain and damaging winds that destroyed 20,000 homes and affected 130,000 people. Our Response Teams have been working on the ground with the Red Cross to help communities rebuild.
Dineo was the first tropical cyclone to hit the coast of Mozambique since 2008. In the province of Inhambane, 200 mm of rain fell and at least seven people were killed, including a child crushed by a falling tree in Massinga. After the storm abated an estimated 130,000 people were in need of assistance. The aid that best suited the needs of the affected communities was our ShelterKits, containing materials to rebuild or repair homes and structures.
ShelterBox Response Team member, Steven Tonkinson says, “The people we have been distributing to are clearly among the most vulnerable in their communities. We have seen elderly men and women, people with severe physical disabilities, mothers with infants and orphaned children. It's reassuring to know that our aid is going to those who need it most.”
ShelterBox Aid: Did you know?
Did you know that our ShelterBox Response Teams work closely with affected communities to ensure they receive the exact type of aid that is most needed? In Mozambique, we are providing our ShelterKits which contain the tools and materials to repair damaged structures and rebuild locally appropriate shelters.
In Colombia, we are providing LuminAID solar lights which last up to 16 hours on just one charge, and are lightweight and float in water. We are also providing families with Thirst Aid water filters, which have a mechanism in place to stop filtering when it cannot produce completely safe drinking water. By supporting the ShelterBox Aid fund, donations will be directed to aid items most in need by communities, such as these ones listed.
Thank you for a great year!
The team at ShelterBox would like to say a huge thank you to all of the Rotary Clubs, Rotary Districts and Rotarians across the country who have supported the organisation during the 2016-2017 year. Over this past Rotary year, Rotary Clubs have donated over $494,000 to help us ensure no family is without shelter. On behalf of those we serve, we thank you for your kindness and generosity.
Outside, the temperature was near zero (F); but the warmth and goodwill inside was near perfect for NAYEN 2017. Officially, there were 439 Rotary Youth Exchange volunteers registered from 23 nations, all enjoying the Canadian hospitality of District 5360. More than 50 Rotarians volunteered to help host the event.
The delegates shared and listened, met old friends and made new ones. They laughed and learned, danced and toured. They searched for better ways to make teenagrers more effective when Rotary sends them around the world as ambassadors.
Perhaps best of all, NAYEN celebrated the success of students after their exchanges, whether it is this year, last year or more than a decade ago. And NAYEN 2017 attendees donated more than 314 books and about $10,000 to the Memo Book Project for the benefit of children in Calgary.
Whether you were there or not, there are many ways to follow up on NAYEN 2017:
Remember who was there: Click here for the registration list. Learn from the presentations: Click here to see videos and handouts .
Plan to be at NAYEN 2018, March 14-17 in Omaha, Neb. USA. Click here for details .
Eight remarkable Albertans will become members of the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2017.
The Order is the province’s highest honour a citizen can receive and is an official part of the Canadian Honours System.
“These inspiring citizens are sharing the best of their energy, ideas and abilities in their work to strengthen communities and foster enhanced opportunities for Albertans. They are great mentors and leaders who inspire us all in our collective efforts to build the best possible province.” - Lt.-Gov. Lois E. Mitchell
The Alberta Order of Excellence members to be invested in 2017 are: Steve Allan, Calgary - Rotarian, Past President Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown, District Governor 2009-2010 Gary Bowie, Lethbridge Anne Fanning, Edmonton Marie Gordon, Edmonton Steve Hrudey, Canmore James Holland, Edmonton Vivian Manasc, Edmonton David Werklund, Calgary
The investiture ceremony will be held in Edmonton on Thursday, October 19. This will bring the total membership of the Alberta Order of Excellence to 165.
Biographies of the new members will be available closer to the investiture.
The Rotary Club of Calgary obtained a district grant of $7,500 this year to assist the Syrian Newcomers in Calgary. These displaced new Calgarians arrive with just 1 suitcase and have to rebuild their lives from scratch. The effort for supporting these refugees is in partnership with other Rotary Clubs in Calgary and the Syrian Women’s Club to delivered the hampers so desperately needed.
Just recently, the Syrian Women’s Club completed putting together the baskets of goods for distribution to 26 families. They include food items, hygiene items, a $50.00 gift card, as well as 2 free cookie sheets and one pillow.
This is the second batch which has been assembled, the first one went out last summer. The value of this gift to each family is approximately $250.
We would love to acknowledge the hard work of the Syrian Women’s club who have spent many, many hours acquiring and sorting the items as well as bundling all the items into hampers. In addition, we’d like to thank all our mentors who keep in touch with the families and provide the unique opportunity for these families to get settled and adapt to a whole new culture.
On April 25 Kainai Public Library launched the Okstakit Little Library Program.
The program is the result of an ongoing partnership between Kainai Public Library and the Rotary Club of Raymond, which has been collecting donations of books for the library since 2015. Library staff saw the need for an outreach program that would bring books to members of the community that may have difficulty getting to the library, and the construction of four little libraries was undertaken by Rotary Club member Doug Streibel. The little libraries will be installed throughout the community, including at the medical clinic, Kainai Marketplace grocery store, and St. Paul’s School. Linda Weasel Head, Kainai Public Library Coordinator, said the program will “give the kids something they’ve always wished for – books that they can keep and say, ‘this is mine!’”
At the launch celebration, Elder Calvin Williams opened the event with a prayer, followed by a welcome from Kainai Public Library staff – Linda Weasel Head, Kathy Goodstriker, and Candice Shouting. Charlene Bruised Head Mountain Horse, Chair of the Kainai Board of Education, spoke of the library’s crucial role in the community, and Val Boehme, past president of the Rotary Club of Raymond, detailed the Club’s dedication to promoting literacy and their continued partnership with Kainai Public Library. Boehme and his granddaughter, Asia Hillyer, made a special donation to the Okstakit Little Library Program in memory of Asia’s father, the late MP Jim Hillyer. Other distinguished guests attending the launch celebration included Annette Bruised Head, Kainai Board of Education Acting Deputy Superintendent; Mary Weasel Fat, Library Coordinator at Red Crow Community College; Grant Hunter, MLA for Taber, Warner, and Cardston district; Joyce Zwick, Assistant Governor, Rotary District 5360; and Officer Jim Bennett, Blood Tribe Police.
The Board of Directors for the Calgary Rotary Clubs Foundation (CRCF) encourages all Rotarians to visit the CRCF web site at the link provided above.
We are looking to update the site with new photos and stories about projects that our Calgary clubs are involved in or have completed where funds earned from the clubs involvement with CRCF were utilized.
If your club has a story to tell please send it along with photos to the attention of Gordon Forsyth
Send us your story in a “Word.doc” and please keep the dialogue to under 250 words.
Pictures should be sent as a separate attachment and not pasted to the Word Doc. Photos are limited to a maximum of Two (2).
CRCF reserves the right to edit all submissions to meet site formatting requirements.
The Rotary Mattamy Greenway project is nearing completion and planning for the Grand Opening event is underway!
All levels of donations of prizes and sponsorships will be gratefully received.
In order for the Parks Foundation to plan the event, clubs should make their contributions prior to May 15. However, donations and sponsorships will continue to be accepted right up to the event. Clubs, individuals, companies and groups are all welcome to donate and will receive recognition as outlined.
This is such an exciting project! All of you took a ‘leap of faith’ five years ago and created a world’s first for the citizens of Calgary and area.
To qualify for the Presidential Citation, clubs must complete two mandatory activities and additional activities in several categories. Most activities will be verified automatically through RI’s data. But some will be verified only by the information you enter in Rotary Club Central.
To more accurately capture your club’s achievements, for the first time ever, clubs will have the entire Rotary year — from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017 — to achieve the Presidential Citation goals.
District governors will be able to track the progress of all of their clubs online, and I’m asking them to follow up with you regularly and support you in achieving these goals
DISTRICT CITATION
RI President John Germ will also offer a special citation to districts that:
Have at least 51 percent of clubs earn the Presidential Citation
Contribute at least 20 percent of their District Designated Fund to PolioPlus
Increase Annual Fund giving by 5 percent over last year’s total
Achieve a 3 percent increase in membership
Thank you in advance for your efforts this year to show Rotary Serving Humanity.
Club Sponsorship and Adult Volunteer Opportunities Available
JOHN F. GERM
PRESIDENT 2016-17
ROTARY CLUB OF CHATTANOOGA
TENNESSEE, USA
Growing up in Chattanooga, Tenn., my brothers and I learned young to work hard. It was a lesson taught to us by our father, who had come to the United States, alone, as a teenager. He wanted our lives to be better and easier than his had been; he wanted to give us the education and opportunities that he had missed. We always knew, when he came home at 8 o'clock in the morning after working a night shift at the paper mill, that he was doing it for us.
Looking back, through the prism of many years, I see in my father's hard work not only an expression of his love for us, but the universal desire of each generation to care for and lift up the next. And looking back at this year of service in Rotary, I see that desire reflected in each of us who have chosen to be part of this great organization. It is natural for parents to want to make things better for their children. Through Rotary, we can do so much more: We can make things better, not only for our own children, but for all children. We have the opportunity to care for and lift up those who need us the most – whether they are in our own community or on the other side of the world.
As Judy and I have traveled the world for Rotary over the last two years, we've been reminded, again and again, of what motivates us in Rotary: the simple desire to be of assistance, to give a helping hand to those who need it. Whether it means building a blood bank in Uganda, delivering an X-ray machine to a village in Guatemala, or taking care of refugees in Lebanon, Rotarians are doing what is needed most for the people who are most in need. They're working hard for the communities they care about, helping the people of those communities lead better lives.
To me, that is the essence of Rotary: that desire to be of assistance, that willingness to work for the good of others. In Rotary, when someone needs help and you can give that help, you don't walk away. You don't turn your back. You say, I'm here for you. I'll do whatever I can. And I know that whatever I do, I'm not doing it alone – I'm doing it with Rotary Serving Humanity.
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At the launch celebration, Elder Calvin Williams opened the event with a prayer, followed by a welcome from Kainai Public Library staff – Linda Weasel Head, Kathy Goodstriker, and Candice Shouting. Charlene Bruised Head Mountain Horse, Chair of the Kainai Board of Education, spoke of the library’s crucial role in the community, and Val Boehme, past president of the Rotary Club of Raymond, detailed the Club’s dedication to promoting literacy and their continued partnership with Kainai Public Library. Boehme and his granddaughter, Asia Hillyer, made a special donation to the Okstakit Little Library Program in memory of Asia’s father, the late MP Jim Hillyer. Other distinguished guests attending the launch celebration included Annette Bruised Head, Kainai Board of Education Acting Deputy Superintendent; Mary Weasel Fat, Library Coordinator at Red Crow Community College; Grant Hunter, MLA for Taber, Warner, and Cardston district; Joyce Zwick, Assistant Governor, Rotary District 5360; and Officer Jim Bennett, Blood Tribe Police.
HOW TO QUALIFY
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