AUGUST 2022                                            

Rotary International Presidential Message

 
August 2022
 
We’ve all taken our own path to become a member of Rotary. Some of you joined because your father was a Rotarian. Some of us signed up because an employer tapped us on the shoulder and asked us to attend a meeting. Others became members only after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling made it possible. Yet each of us entered through one mechanism — an invitation.
An invitation that unlocks our imaginations and allows us to know that everything and anything is possible. Each one of us has that same opportunity — the honor to extend an invitation.
It is awe-inspiring to imagine how we can look out across our communities and identify our future leaders. It’s often tempting to attract people who are exactly like us. It’s a special form of ingenuity to consider how people who are seemingly very different can, in fact, share our values and have some of those same talents, just waiting to be unleashed.
It’s time for Rotary to take our next step in advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) across our organization.
Embracing an experience where people feel included is more than just making our membership numbers more diverse. It’s about making our meetings and events places where we can speak openly and honestly with each other, where our members feel welcome and safe. This means removing barriers for entry and opening doors for inclusion. Our values remain our strength — and our commitment to excellence requires us to maintain high standards for our members as well.
I believe we are all committed and determined to advancing DEI across Rotary. This is rooted in the deepest traditions of our organization, and it will ensure that we remain vibrant and relevant for decades to come.
A few years ago, our Rotary Board set the ambitious goal of increasing the share of female members to 30 percent by 2023. We have less than a year to go, but I believe we can meet and exceed this target.
We need Rotary leaders to rise from every continent, culture, and creed. We need young members and young thinkers to take on larger roles and responsibilities. We need to listen to new Rotary members just as keenly, and with as much respect, as those with many years of membership.
During our recent convention in Houston, we heard from astronauts about their journeys into space. We reflected upon a time in the 1960s when U.S. President John F. Kennedy urged the world to dream, with his declaration that we would “go to the moon [and do] other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.”
Fully committing Rotary to DEI and meeting our ambitious membership targets may seem as unlikely as a moon shot. But I know that when people of action are committed to a big goal, we make it worth every ounce of our energy.
Jennifer Jones
President 2022-2023

Edmonton West Membership

 

A warm welcome to our new member

Bruce Hobin

 
At our meeting last week we had the pleasure of hearing about Bruce's Rotary journey. We are very pleased that Bruce has joined our club and he brings with him a wealth of experience and enthusiasm. He has already been out volunteering with us! 
 
Here is Bruce's story.
 
Rotary Club of Saskatoon (2001-2007)
In 2001, a colleague of mine at the University of Saskatchewan and a PDG of District 5550 asked me and my wife if we would be interested in becoming Rotarians. I was somewhat aware of Rotary, having seen the Rotary wheel in the community and attending some Rotary-sponsored events. After exploring this
opportunity further, I decided to become a member of the Rotary Club of Saskatoon (District 5550). This club was chartered in 1917 and at the time of my joining, it consisted of around 100 members. Here, I got to know what Rotary really meant. I learned about the Youth Exchange Program, the End Polio Now campaign and the work done by the Rotary Foundation, both at the District and International levels. In particular, the Club was involved with an international project with the Rotary Club of Tepic Mexico. We were providing equipment for a hospice that was being built for pre and post hospital care for the Indigenous people who resided in the mountains surrounding Tepic. My wife, Kate, who was Chair of the club’s World Service Committee and I had a chance to visit this project. We could see what our support meant to this community. The members of the Rotary Club of Tepic
treated us very well and we got to know more about how Rotary contributed to making the world a better place.

Rotary Club of Niagara-on-the-Lake (2007-2012)
Kate and I moved to Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) Ontario in 2007 (sort of semi-retirement). There, we transferred our Rotary membership to the Rotary Club of NOTL (District 7090). This club was chartered in 1994 and was about 50 members. During my time there, I was involved in the club’s Fundraising Committee and got to Chair the club’s major fundraising event, The Annual Holiday House Tour. The history of NOTL dates back to the turn of the 19th century and the War of 1812-14. There are still many historical homes and buildings in the community. Rotary worked with these homeowners and local home designers to decorate these properties for the festive season. This event attracted people from all across southwestern Ontario and upstate New York. Just over 2,000 people would attend this 2-day event in early December.
I was Club President (2010-11) and was fortunate to get to attend the Rotary International Conference in Montreal in 2010. This is one event that every Rotarian should try to attend at least once. I also achieved my first Paul Harris during my time there. At the end of 2012, I felt I needed a break from Rotary so I decided to step back. My plan was to take a couple of years off, but it became a
5-year break. In looking back, I now considered this a big mistake on my part.

Rotary Club of Osoyoos (2017-2022)
When my wife and I moved to the Osoyoos area in 2017, I felt it was time to get back into the Rotary. The Rotary Club of Osoyoos (District 5060) and chartered in 2003 consisted of about 25 active members. What impressed me about this club was the commitment of its members to the community and its fundraising
activities. With my previous experience in Rotary, I got involved pretty fast. I became Chair of the Membership Committee and then Club President (2021-22). Like many Rotary Clubs, we had to deal with COVID-19. So, we learned to adapt to the Zoom era.
The Club’s biggest fundraising activity is its Lobster on the Beach event in early September. It always sells out. It is now back after a 2-year break due to COVID. During my tenure as president, the club was involved in a community project with a local arts society to install a mural celebrating the 75 th anniversary of the
incorporation of the Town of Osoyoos. The club was responsible for raising the funds for the project. We were able to acquire grants, community sponsors and our ‘Buy a Brick’ campaign exceeded our expectations. Rotary’s reputation got people to generously open their wallets in support of this project. This mural now occupies a prominent place in downtown Osoyoos. Please make a point of
viewing this mural if you are ever in the South Okanagan. The club has now pledged $30,000 to support the furnishing of the Rotary Multi-Purpose Room in the new Osoyoos and District Museum. This will eventually become the home of the club’s weekly meetings.
Many of the club members have been involved with the international project ‘Project Amigo’ near Colima Mexico. The club recently sponsored a high school student from the area and club members have participated in weeklong sessions offered by the program.
 
Rotary Club of Edmonton West (2022)
My journey with Rotary now continues with the Rotary Club of Edmonton West. When I knew that I was moving to Edmonton, I started to think about which club I might want to join. Elly Contreras, a PDG of your District and currently an Honourary Member of the Osoyoos Club suggested that I would enjoy the
Edmonton West Club. So here I am. Thank you for welcoming me into your club. I am looking forward to being a contributing member. Hopefully, my past experiences in Rotary will be seen as an asset.

My experiences with Communities in Bloom and the impact of Rotary in making communities better. Since 2006, I have been involved with the Communities in Bloom program as a provincial judge (Saskatchewan, Ontario and BC). As a Rotarian, I was always impressed by what various Rotary clubs in the communities that I judged had done to make their communities better. From sponsoring playgrounds, nature trails, sports parks, community, memorial and peace parks, and floral displays, Rotary has had a very positive impact on the communities that they serve.
 
 

Club and Community Service

Root for Trees

Grow Some Fun with Root for Trees | Family Fun Edmonton
 

A small, but enthusiastic group of us spent a lovely sunny Saturday afternoon planting trees and shrubs with the City of Edmonton Root for Trees Program. Program leader, Chad, did a great job and talked about all the native trees and shrubs we would be planting.
 
 
As we were expecting a larger group Chad brought a lot of trees with him. All together we planted 92 trees and 42 shrubs. Well done us!!
Thanks to our members Duart Berg, Bruce Hobin (and me), and Friend of Rotary Sharon, for giving their time to improve their community.

Volunteering is a great way to bring positive change to people, communities and society in general. Although it can be hard to find time to volunteer, giving to others has enormous benefits to you and those around you.

John Phoa, from the Rotary Club of Edmonton joined our event. Collaborating and working with other Rotary Clubs makes us a stronger. We can do more when we work together!

Habitat for Humanity

This was the first time that our club has volunteered at the ReStore. In the past we have worked on building sites and in the warehouse, so this was a new experience. By volunteering with Habitat we help families build strength, stability and independence through affordable homeownership.  Every volunteer impacts a family.
 
 
Devon Belcourt, from the Rotary Club of Northwest Spirit was tasked with weed wacking and clearing all the weeds in the yard. He looks like he was enjoying himself!
 
 
Lorne and Darryll were asked to take apart some cabinets that couldn't be sold in the store. Two guys with a sledgehammer destroying things...what could be better than that. 
 
 
Here is Lorne maneuvering his shopping cart with ease!
 
 
Karen and I spent time in the store cleaning and organizing. I do enough of that at home and would like a go with the sledgehammer next time. As usual, I forgot to get a photo of us working, so this is us leaving.
 
 

Remembering Dan Graham

 
It was with immense sadness that we learned of the passing of fellow Rotarian Dan Graham on July 18, 2022. Dan was a long time member of the Rotary Club of Edmonton West has served as President and he was District Governor of District 5370 in 1997-98. He will be greatly missed.
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Bruce Hobin
August 8
 
Bert Andrews
August 16
 
Lynne Paradis
August 26
 
Spencer Mueller
September 10
 
Sherry Holmes
September 11
 
Duart Berg
September 21
 
Benjamin (Ben) Turner
September 22
 
Spouse Birthdays
Bruce Hobin
September 4
 
Coleen Volk
September 27
 
Anniversaries
Spencer Mueller
Annie
August 5
 
Joseph Lizotte
Nancy
August 10
 
Jackie Hobal
Wayne Hobal
August 19
 
David Turner
Carol (deceased)
August 20
 
Join Date
Annie Mueller
August 16, 2010
12 years
 
Vic Rudkowski
September 15, 2014
8 years
 
Bryan Gouthro
September 16, 2019
3 years
 
Duart Berg
September 16, 2013
9 years
 

International Service

ShelterBox Canada provides shelter, essential items and technical assistance to help some of the world’s most vulnerable people recover and rebuild their homes after disaster.
 
They listen and adapt their support to the needs of each community, working together with those affected by disaster, alongside their supporters and partners.
 
Edmonton West is a strong supporter of ShelterBox and makes an annual donation to the organization. In the Spring of 2022, with the Ukrainian Crisis in mind, we donated $5000. 
 
ShelterBox is working on three projects – two within Ukraine and one to support refugees fleeing the county.
 
They are working with their partner, People in Need, to provide mattresses for collective centres like schools and churches in Lviv, Ukraine. Collective centres are places where people fleeing conflict-affected areas are seeking shelter and safety. The mattresses will help people sleep and keep warm at night.

 They are preparing to provide shelter kits with tools and rope, high thermal blankets, hygiene kits including items like soap, washing powder and toothpaste, solar lights, buckets and water carriers to help people survive in buildings damaged by the conflict.

ShelterBox will be supporting refugees in neighbouring countries with high priority items they can carry with them, like hygiene items and warm winter coats.
Upcoming Events
Food Bank Warehouse
Food Bank Warehouse
Sep 06, 2022
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
 
A Conversation with Zen
University Club
Sep 12, 2022
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
 
Purolator Tackle Hunger ~ Time Change ~ NOON
Commonwealth Stadium
Oct 01, 2022 12:00 PM
 
Thanksgiving at Boyle Street Community Services
Boyle Street Community Services
Oct 10, 2022
 
Highway Clean-Up
Petro Canada
Oct 16, 2022
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
 
View entire list

Save the Date

 

Monday December 12 @ 12:00

Papaschase Room - University Club

 

 
 
Share Rotary! | Rotary Club of Perrysburg
Please add mailservice@clubrunner.ca to your safe sender list or address book.
To view our privacy policy, click here.
 
ClubRunner
102-2060 Winston Park Drive, Oakville, ON, L6H 5R7
Advertisement for Russell Hampton
Advertisement for ClubRunner
Advertisement for ClubRunner Mobile