The District has had an Indigenous Committee functioning in the District for over a year. This Committee has moved forward with plans to engage our Rotarians with our Indigenous communities.
The recent news announcements about the missing children discovered at the Kamloops Residential School has hit the heart of each of us. We have had some of you great Rotarians reach out to help with donations or other efforts. As a leadership group, we want to support the initiatives of our Indigenous Committee, whose focus will create opportunities for Rotary Clubs and Indigenous community organizations to identify issues in the community, research the issues, brainstorm solutions, develop a plan, and take action.
Rotarians and Indigenous leaders will learn about each other and co-create initiatives that benefit Indigenous peoples in the District. This Committee will run long-term and be sustainable. We already have clubs within our District, such as Cochrane and Raymond, that have made great relationships with their local Indigenous groups.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls for Action recommended all Canadians, individually and or corporately, undertake the necessary steps in favour of reconciliation with Indigenous people. This Committee and its projects will be an essential step for District 5360, its clubs, and members to make meaningful change for all people in our Indigenous areas.
If you are so moved, contributions to the District Indigenous Committee and its initiatives are accepted. Click to Contribute
Your club and individual members can reach out to the District https://rotary5360.ca/DistrictOrganizationChart/2021 if you want to become more involved in this tremendous relationship-building effort with our good neighbours.
Thanks to all clubs and members who have been participating in “Move for Polio – End Polio Now”, the District fundraiser which started on July 1st and ends on October 24th.
As of July 21st, we have raised over $7,000, with 28 Clubs collaborating and 58 members making pledges. Now our target is $100,000 so we have a lot of moving to do!
Remember for every dollar raised, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation matches it 2:1.
Not only will you be supporting a terrific cause but you will be doing something to help your mental health and wellness. You decide what you do. It could be walking, running, swimming, yoga, fishing or gardening…it’s up to you. If you like the sound of this then bring along a family member or friend and show them that Rotarians are “People of Action”.
Want to get your club involved? Have your club identify a Club Champion. Reach out to your membership and see who is interested in this role. This is going to be a bundle of fun and all for a great cause.
Email Marlene Doherty to submit the name of your Club Champion or if you have any questions.
I am sending you this message with our leadership's permission on behalf of Andrea Inwards, Rotarian and past Assistant Governor in Merritt. She is leading a joint effort by our District and our friends in District 5040. Below is her message:
As you aware, the village of Lytton was devasted by wildfire, leaving many people homeless and taking refuge in nearby cities. The evacuees are being housed in District 5060 club towns.
Sue Sterling-Bur, Merritt Sunrise Past President, and overall awesome person, has been working with the provincial Emergency Operations Centre tirelessly as part of a team to ensure the evacuees and their pets and livestock, are housed, fed, and clothed during this stressful time. Sue has reached out for help from her Rotary family. Sue has informed us that the communities have been phenomenal in physical donations and they are good at the moment and that her group is working on updating the list of needs.
To address the short-term immediate needs NOT covered by these amazing donations, we are requesting donations for the purchase of gift cards be made to the Aurora Rotary Club of Kamloops via e-transfer. Leading a small group of awesome volunteers, I will then purchase gift cards and work with Sue, using the infrastructure in place, to see that they get to the people that need them. It is our vision that these donations will enable the evacuees to buy some new clothes or necessities and afford them some dignity. As a Rotarian, I know we all want to help.
This is a joint initiative with District 5040, where Lytton is located, and lead by Past District Governor Bob Blacker and District Governor Nominee Shirley-Pat Chamberlain on the District 5040 side. They will also be collecting donations for the purchase of gift cards for the evacuees.
If you are reading this, please consider this an official request to your club executive for a donation from your club to support this cause.
Please contact me if you have questions. 250-315-8026
Andrea Inwards Rotary Club of Merritt
Steveston Rotary has a charitable society that can issue tax receipts. Please indicate in your e-transfer that your donation is for BC Wildfire Relief 2021. Also, tax receipts are available on request. E-Transfers can be made to:
The Historical Committee of the Calgary/Stampede is offering “Insider Walking Tours” this Stampede.
As a past chairman of the committee and a professional speaker, I’m offering a 23 minute condensed version of the two tours for in-person or over zoom. My presentation is “non-walking”, so just sit back and relax.
The two tours are:
The Trailblazers includes how the Stampede got started with Guy Weadick and his wife and partner, Flores LaDue, and the Big Four, plus some background on a couple of interesting historic buildings on Park.
The Poop Tour…as in “What on earth do you do with all that poop from all those animals over the 10 days of Stampede?”
This light-hearted talk is enjoyable and terrific information.
Please contact Lynne Thornton to arrange your Zoom presentation!
Best Western Premier Hotel, Calgary (District 5360)
Early bird registration closes on October 15, 2021. Six Interact students and one chaperone will be allocated to each district in Zones 28 and 32 during this early bird period. Each early bird spot is CA$841 ($700 registration fee plus a $141 refundable deposit). Visit the convention website for additional information and to take advantage of the early bird rate. Clubs may reserve a convention spot now and select the student who will attend later.
November [2010] represented a great milestone for Rotary Clubs worldwide using ClubRunner as the Rotary Database Integration project has finally been launched! After a full year of working with RI, months of testing and hand in hand collaboration with Rotary International, ClubRunner is proud to be the first and only company to be truly integrated with RI's databases.
Rotary International made their announcement on November 1 2010, and can be found on the RI Official Website.
ClubRunner's mission has always been to make technology work for every club by improving productivity, communication and public relations. We're proud to lead the way in this technological advancement and continue to surpass expectations of all our customers.
Thanks to all clubs and members who have been participating in “Move for Polio – End Polio Now”, the District fundraiser which started on July 1st and ends on October 24th.
