This was our 4th Zoom meeting! And week after week, all of us are gradually becoming more proficient in Zoom etiquette and practice! Thank you again for making this shift to virtual meetings which enables us to stay connected, have fellowship, share information and continue the work of our Club as far as we are able.
If you haven’t already done so, please have a look at District 5360’s People of Action website. It is a gold mine of information and ideas – including monthly videos posted by our DG Christine Rendell.
Please also consider using this time of ‘Staying at Home’ to join in some of the many available virtual Rotary Club meetings and webinars. We can profitably use this COVID-19 era to connect, communicate and collaborate at different levels, thereby strengthening the impact of Rotary.
Rest assured that we are keeping an eye on local COVID-19 related needs in Medicine Hat. The amount we will be donating to the Community Foundation Response Fund is growing nicely, as mentioned by our Treasurer, Gail Halderman. We will keep you posted about other opportunities, as they arise, even if just at the level of funding a needed service.
Once again, the value of Classification Talks was confirmed today. New member Peter Mueller shared the many highlights – and significant lows – from his life story, in a very engaging way. Thank you, Peter. We are privileged to have you as a member, and look forward to drawing on your array of life experiences and your knowledge of our community to strengthen our Club’s impact on the quality of life in Medicine Hat.
President Margie
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PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOUR FELLOW ROTARIANS, ESPECIALLY IF SOMEONE NEEDS ASSISTANCE. ALSO, IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION TO SHARE WITH THE CLUB, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH PRESIDENT MARGIE B., CLUB SERVICE DIRECTOR HEATHER B. OR NEWSLETTER EDITOR DAVE P. AND WE'LL MAKE SURE IT GETS COMMUNICATED.
Rotary Club - "What we can do"
The City of Medicine Hat website has a relatively complete list of local issues....check this out as well.
District 5360 has provided a single website to provide up to date information on other club meetings, on activities around the District and some links to Covid-19 sources as well.
The Rotary Club welcomed to the "screen" of our Zoom meeting, one of our newest members Peter Mueller.
Peter provided a wonderful, and touching summary of his life to date, his early years as an immigrant to Medicine Hat from both the aftermath of World War 2 in Europe and the repression that came to East Germany after the war. He spoke about the difficulty of being German in this area as a child, and how it took a fair amount of time for some of that to fade away.
He spoke about his children and his first wife, some of the wonderful moments and some of the tough times. He showed a couple of travel pictures, done for his mental health as well as his physical well being.
He talked about his experience as a teacher, and his recent experience running for Provincial politics. A great presentation, we are lucky to have him in our club and we wish him the best for his new "career" in Rotary.
During our winter break in Rincon de Guayabitos Mexico, Roger Roy invited me to the La Penita Bahia de Jaltempa Rotary club meetings (a 20 minute walk away). The club meets every Wednesday morning and the meetings go only for an hour and finishes promptly at 9:00 AM. I think the club president had a stop watch. The Sergeant at Arms role is easy – someone comes around and each visitor is asked to donate (~20 pesos) and say something if they wish. There were no fines as such – just a quasi mandatory donation.
Roger and I brought down a couple of donated walkers which we gave to the local club here and I hope to get a little more involved with the club activities and school projects next year as Roger mentioned in the last newsletter. It is a small world - Fred von Schellwitz used to be a member of our club and we talked about his days in Medicine Hat.
I also ran into Gail Surkan, former mayor of Red Deer, and her husband, who have had a condo in this region of Mexico for a number of years. I knew Gail when she and I served on the former Community Savings Credit Union board before its merger with Servus Credit Union in 2008.
Carol and I often took the local transportation to visit other beaches / fishing villages along the coast such as San Pancho (or San Francisco as it is sometimes called) about half way between Rincon de Guayabitos and Puerto Vallarta where we hooked up with fellow Rotarian Dan Kammerer and his partner Cheryl.
The ocean was very rough that day and really only for fearless surfers so we didn’t go in. Of all the beach resorts we visited during our stay in Mexico San Pancho has probably the most amenities including refined restaurants along with a touch of art and culture (a mini Banff).
During our walk through San Pancho the four of us had a chance to visit Entreamigos, a Community and Educational Center that provides educational opportunities to local children and young people in San Pancho which is a story in itself and which Dan could post in a future newsletter.
No guests today, but a total of 27 people logged into our meeting to hear Peter Mueller's classification talk.
Minute People:
On behalf of the Medicine Hat High School Interact club, Dave Panabaker wanted to get the message out that although the Interact Garage Sale is currently on hold, it is a great idea as a fundraiser and if any club member or friend of Rotary is doing any cleaning out at home, and has goods that could be donated to the garage sale to be in touch with Theresa Eisenbarth. She has a spot to keep a small amount of stuff that could be saved for the sale (whenever it is held).
Dawn Barr is looking for a gently used recliner for a friend who is in need. If you have one to get rid of, please contact Dawn.
Dawn Barr also passed on the update that the home sewing team produced and distributed 1643 masks in Medicine Hat and Brooks, they have pending requests for 1950. Her guess was that approx 5500 masks have been created since March 20. They expect to stay busy as the need for masks will be with us for a while. Thanks for the monetary and physical donations that are keeping the production line going.
Kitt Brand wanted to pass on the availability of the Rotary Canada One "E-Club" for those that are interested. https://portal.clubrunner.ca/8529
Dave Panabaker wanted to advertise and encourage everyone to consider the Rotary Leadership Training session, being held on Saturday May 23 (by webinar) from 9 am to noon....register on the District website.
Medicine Hat Sunrise Rotary is putting in another coffee order of their "Rotary Blend". The cost remains $9.00 for a half pound and $17.00 for a full pound. Orders will go in on Monday May 11, with roasting and delivery later in the week. The initiative also helps the Medicine Hat Roastery, while they can not open to the public. If you wish to participate, please contact Les Scholly at lscholly@pritchardandco.com
If you have photos or a story to include in the Weekly News, please submit it to Dave P and we'll try to publish it.
Birthdays: The month of May
Anne Carrier May 5.
Ray Kemp May 16.
Doug Fleming May 19.
Ian McLaughlin May 20.
Ted Cowtan May 25.
Dawn Barr May 31.
Club Anniversaries: The month of May.
Ian McLaughlin 28 years Ma y 1, 1992.
Dick Northcott 20 years May 1, 2000.
Susan Withers 2 years May 14, 2018.
Dan Kammerer 16 years May 19, 2004.
Makeups:
No attendance being recorded during the pandemic period!
Family of Rotary: (PLEASE KEEP ADOLF INFORMED ABOUT MEMBERS SO THAT INFORMATION CAN BE PASSED ON TO ALL IN THE WEEKLY NEWS)
Lisa DesRoaches is working from home and providing home schooling for her daughter. She's doubly busy and can't make our Zoom meetings, but sends her best to everyone.
Glen Presley will be undergoing stem cell transplant surgery in the late spring, so please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
