President Terry Partis started the meeting by commenting how things can change in a short period of time. We are back to ZOOM meetings for the short term at least, with the Public Health Emergency. District Leadership have asked that we ensure our members safety as a priority and that access to our meetings be kept as open as possible.
The Club Board will be meeting on Tuesday September 21, and ZOOM meetings will be discussed and planned for into the future.
Terry also reminded everyone that those interested in applying for, or understanding the District Grant process need to set aside the morning of Saturday October 16th. The District Grant qualification webinar is that morning, from 9 am to noon. Register in advance at this link https://rotary5360.ca/event/grants-qualification-workshop One person from the club must attend to qualify us for grants next year.
A total of 26 members of the club joined us thru ZOOM today, and we anticipate a few more as we move through this fourth wave.
On the "Move for Polio" front, Terry advised that our club is currently ranked 2nd in the District for contributions that now total of $3,525. However he was thrilled to advise that several contributions by check have been forwarded to the District leader of this initiative, and our total pledges will soon read a tremendous $7,225. Great work by everyone and thanks to all who donated.
Rotary Club "What-z New":
As it is most likelyour hybrid meetings will continue in the future, a few more meeting helpers will be required to help run cameras and sound. We are all learning to adapt to this new reality. Any wishing to help should contact Mike Christie 403 878 3311.
Mike Christie advised that he will be taking over the leadership of the Community Services Committee, and is looking for someone to assume the role of Membership chair. Our Club Board is currently two short of a full complement, so we could use a few more volunteers.
Rotary Club Membership Update:
If you are interested in helping this working membership team, please contact Mike Christie. A new Membership Chair is needed.
Margie Booyens was delighted to announce that Ms Reagan Weeks, Prairie Rose Superintendent of Schools has been approved for membership. Her induction will be done at an upcoming meeting.
Rotary Club Information:
Housekeeping:
If you have a Meeting Minute, please phone or email the Newsletter and we'll include it.
Board minutes can be found on ClubRunner, under Club Documents.
Gail Halderman mentioned that invoices for Club Dues (now $250) will be out this week.
Upcoming Rotary District and International Events:
District Grants Club Qualification webinar, Saturday October 16 from 9 am to noon. Registration in advance is required and at least one member of our club must be qualified to access the District Grants program for 2022-2023. Register here https://rotary5360.ca/event/grants-qualification-workshop
The next District 5360 Conference is a "single day" event in Cochrane, on Saturday, May 14, 2022. Attendance will be possible by ZOOM as well.
Future Programs:
The Rotary Club's Program Coordinator is Jillian Koch. If you have future program ideas, please email Jillian at jkoch@jmhca.com
The Rotary Club of Medicine Hat enjoyed an opportunity for service, with a visit to Prairie Gleaners on Saturday morning. Prairie Gleaners provides the basics of a nourishing soup from donated produce that is either not capable of making the sale specifications for grocery stores or has been donated by the community. They get a wide variety of produce and ship the product both internationally as well as providing it at the local Mustard Seed. Waste product from the process is used by local livestock farms, so nothing goes to waste.
6 Rotarians were joined by 2 spouses, and combined to package 600 bags of product. Each bag makes 125 cups of soup, so the effort will provide over 75,000 cups of soup. The event produced positive feedback by those that participated and we anticipate a desire to return on a regular basis. President Terry Partis took a few photos of the work.
Another service project is winding up for this year, as fall weather arrives and the bicycle season draws to a close. Thanks to Terry Cooper for the notes on this project.
To date the bike "working bee" (Peter, Doug, Dale, Adolf, Roger, Marco, Glen, Anne, Margie and I) have collected and refurbished 138 bikes (122 distributed, 16 in Sea-Can ready for distribution). Anne and Margie are currently in the process of identifying organizations and families to receive the bikes. Most bikes have the police identification sticker attached, and can be registered by the recipients with the Police Service.
The Sea-Can also has the spare tires and wheels that we have stripped from bikes that cannot be economically repaired. The new helmets (thanks in part to the Sunrise Rotary Club) are also stored in the Sea-Can.
Now that the weather is cooling down, we plan to look for more bikes at the police compound and start up the working bees with additional volunteers from the Sunrise Rotary Club. peter still has 5 bikes he is working on at this place. Our plan is to work as long as we have bikes and the organizations to give them to. Once the cold weather sits in we will store the bikes for repair in the Sea-Can and will get back into the repair mode in the spring.
Dave Stalwick is organizing the next Rotary bingo, on Monday evening, September 27th. Sign up emails will be out on Monday.
Dave Panabaker advised that the AGLC licence for the 2022 Club 1000 raffle has been applied for, it is expected by the end of September and hopefully tickets will be ready for distribution by Thanksgiving.
Mike Christie's minute was to advise the club that the application for a District Grant for 2021-2022, in support of the Sanare Center, the local Child Advocacy Center, has been approved. City Permits for the facility, in the Thai Orchid building off Strachan Road SE are being obtained and the project seems to be on a firm footing and moving forward.
Kitt Brand mentioned that a Rotary Club in Markdale, Ontario held a kite festival and had over 4,000 entries. That might be something for us to consider.
Jack Snedden took a minute to summarize the "virtual" Peace Park Assembly, which took place on Saturday. Although his participation was interrupted by a power failure, it was an informative and interesting event.
Doug Fleming has club centennial history books for sale, for $20.00 each. at the back of the room.
Margie Booyens announced that due to the new Public Health Emergency the Tri-Club Happy Hour Social has been cancelled. The next event is scheduled for Friday October 29th.
Milan Vujovic and Igor Grujic assisted Canadian Humanitarian in their "Colour Run" on Saturday. Although it was a cool rainy day, everyone had a great time. The Rotary tent was put to good use!
Family of Rotary: (PLEASE KEEP ADOLF INFORMED ABOUT MEMBERS SO THAT INFORMATION CAN BE PASSED ON TO ALL IN THE WEEKLY NEWS).
