President Melanie Harty welcomed everyone back to Rotary, after a nice holiday break. She was hopeful that everyone had a great chance to visit with family and friends and that the holidays had been happy and safe.
The meeting was well attended, we had 22 members and guests, plus 2 more on Zoom. As well, the meal was quite delicous, some nice brisket that had been cooking for a long time!
Many people have a New Year's tradition of making resolutions for the upcoming year. Here are a few Rotary Resolutions.
Rotary Club "What-z New":
A few more meeting helpers are required to run cameras and sound during our hybrid meetings. We are all learning to adapt to this new reality. Anyone wishing to help should contact Mike Christie 403 878 3311.
Rotary Club Membership Update:
Would you like to join the membership team? Check out a meeting of this team and see how exciting it is! The committee meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 5:00 pm. Contact Mike Christie to join in.
Rotary Club Information:
Housekeeping:
If you have a Meeting Minute, please phone or email the President and it will be included in the next Newsletter.
Board minutes can be found on ClubRunner, under Club Documents.
Upcoming Club Program, Activities and Meetings:
Monday January 15th - Rotary Evening bingo
Monday January 16th - Presentation by MH High Interact Students, who attended the Zone conference.
Monday January 23rd - Meeting at the Veiner Center for a presentation about the new operation.
May 8th and 9th, 2023 - Next Rotary Club Casino
Upcoming Rotary District and International Events
Rotary Monthly Learning Webinar:
This months learning webinar will occur on Tuesday January 17th, at 7:00 pm. It will feature the chair of the District 5360 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, Judy Bopp and some of her committee members. In its commitment to this work, Rotary International asks clubs and members around the world to be “honest and transparent about where we are in our diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) journey as an organization”, and to continue “to learn and do better”. Sign up on the District website at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Hv-WmYT9QX6zUVAaK4d3zQ
Rotary Board leadership training is happening on March 1st and March 11th. Registration is available on the District website.
Next District Conference: Lethbridge: May 5/6, 2023. Registration is now open and January has the early bird rate. The conference website is located at https://www.discon5360.ca
Secret Marathon - website and registration are available for May 8th, 2023 - International Woman's Day, https://www.secret3k.com
Ideas for Future Programs
The Rotary Club's Program Committee members are Jillian Koch (jkoch@jmhca.com), Dave Panabaker (d.panabaker@hotmail.com) and Margie Booyens (margiebooyens@gmail.com).
If you have ideas for future programs, please contact them.
Every year, the Rotary Club holds a cash raffle in support of the Rotary Music Festival. Tickets for the 2023 Raffle are now available from Rotarians and online.
The Rotary Club of Medicine Hat welcomed Cathie Catalano to our meeting today. Cathie is a former member of the club, who has taken on the role of President of the Rotary Music Festival Society.
Ownership of the Medicine Hat Rotary Music Festival is gradually being taken over by the Rotary Music Festival Society (RMFS). In 2021, the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat and the RMFS signed a 5-year sponsorship agreement, which commits the club to funding of the Festival from the 2022 Festival to the 2026 Festival. The initial funding for 2022 is at the existing level of $40,000, but each successive year that amount is reduced by $2,000 so funding in the last year of the agreement will be down to $32,000. Given the decline in membership of the club and the difficulty of raising funds, the Rotary Club felt that they could not sustain the funding at current levels. No decision has been made regarding the sponsorship level from Rotary after 2026.
One of the reasons for the creation of the RMFS, as a charitable entity, was to assist the Festival in gathering funding using their charitable status.
2023 marks the 67th anniversary of the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat sponsorship of the Festival. We are extremely grateful for the commitment not only of financial support, but the many volunteer hours that the club has faithfully spent. In 2020-2021 the Rotary Club advised of the phasing down of the support as major sponsor. 2023 marks year 2 of this 5-year commitment and as we go forward you may seem some changes as we transition. In the meantime, the RMFS (Medicine Hat Rotary Music Festival | The Best Musical Talent in Medicine Hat ) is seeking membership - this means you, as a supporter of the festival with a vested interest in keeping things going. Executive members for the RMFS are needed including a Society Secretary, a Society Vice-President and several other executive members, as well as general working members. If help and support are not provided, there is a chance that there may no longer be a music Festival in Medicine Hat, after 2026. Please help us keep the Festival alive and thriving.
Cathie also spoke about the 2023 Festival, a couple of new adjudicators and a restoration of the choir program are some of the highlights,
Cathie Catalano, President of the Rotary Music Festival Society.
Kirk Shepard, son of PE Bruce and a working guest today.
Steven Dow, the new President of Plainsman Clay.
Although he certainly isn't a guest, it was great to see Terry Partis back at a meeting today
Club Draw:
Doug Fleming was the winner of a coffee mug.
Makeups:
Those who worked the Dec 19th bingo and the Dec 17th Christmas kettles were noted.
Birthdays:
Siegfried Kappler Jan 01
Dick Northcott Jan 13
Roger Roy Jan 19
Mark Sorenson Jan 23
Melanie Harty Jan 25
Jim White Jan 31
Rotary Anniversaries:
Gail Halderman 27 years (Jan 01, 1996)
Roger Roy 17 years (Jan 01, 2006)
Igor Grujic 3 years (Jan 20, 2020)
Peter Mueller 3 years (Jan 20, 2020)
Wedding Anniversary Rose Runner for January 2023:
Gwen Dirk
Reminders about important Minutes:
Team Freewheel Bike project: The Bike Project encourages everyone to visit the project at 551 Spencer Street (Knowles Electric building). Thursday mornings are a good time to swing by for a cup of coffee and a chat with the team working on the bikes. Active involvement in the project would be warmly welcomed!
Help for Calgary North Club: Former MH Rotarian Joe Chacko is hoping for support for his club's Ukrainian support raffle, they are doing a 50/50 Raffle to raise funds for the three families they are assisting.
Dinner Club startup: Please consider signing up with Dick Bide - it's big fun!
Rotary Bingo's: Dave Panabaker thanked those that worked the bingo on Dec 19th, unfortunately a very cold night and poor attendance at the hall resulted in a small loss to the bingo pool. Dave Stalwick advised that he was running the bingo on January 15th, and would do much better on the profit side, and encouraged members to sign up and help.
Next Rotary Executive: Club Past-President Mark Sorenson took the microphone to advise that the hunt is on for two directors and a President-elect for the Rotary year 2023-2024. Please advise Mark if you are interested in serving the club by working on our internal administration or would be happy to take on the role of President in 24-25.
Salvation Army Kettle results: Adolf Seiler advised that the Rotary day to ring the Christmas bells for the Salvation Army was quite successful. A total of $2,775.30 was raised at the six locations. Dawn Barr took a minute to advise how the Salvation Army had touched her family over the years and encouraged the club to continue our tradition of ringing the bells each year.
Andre Rieu Livestream: Adolf Seiler passed on that the livestream of this noted Dutch conductor is set for the Galaxy cinema on Wednesday January 18th at 7 pm and on Sunday January 29th at 3:30 pm. The performance is one he did in Dublin.
Meeting Room Setup
John John needs assistance setting up the meeting room on a go forward basis. The time commitment is about an hour before the meeting, starting at 11:00 am and about a half hour after the meeting, usually ending around 1:30 pm. If you are willing to help, please contact John or Dave Panabaker.
Thank You Note
The club received a nice thank you note from Evan MA, for the award we sponsor for the highest grade ten academic average at MHHS.
Family of Rotary:
Best wishes were expressed to Carolyn Presley, Glen's wife, for a speedy and full recovery after her major heart operation.
As well, the club sends its best wishes to Lyndel Brekko, who is recovering from a broken leg.
Please keep Adolf informed about members health changes so that information can be provided to the club through the Weekly News.
The Rotary Club of Medicine Hat has returned to meeting in person, face-to-face meetings as of Monday March 21. A ZOOM link will still be available for those who are cautious, ill or are away on vacation.
