Rotary Weekly News - July 7, 2025 (Jul. 07, 2025)

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Soon to be "PAST"-President, Mike Christie welcomed all to this well attended gathering to celebrate the beginning of a new Rotary year and allow us to complete the changeover ceremony to our new club President.

Mike began the meeting with a heartfelt thank you to all the club members, for their hard work and engagement over the past year. He reviewed a number of activities and stressed the importance of membership.

He was sad to announce that Jack Snedden and Ian McLaughlin have decided for health reasons that they will not be continuing in Rotary, we will miss them as regular attendee's at our meetings and for their contributions to a number of aspects of the life of our club.

He spoke about the hard work of Dave Stalwick on our venue choices, the great newspaper articles done by Kitt Brand, the hard work of Doug Fleming on a updated set of bylaws for the club (more on this below).

He also spoke about how membership was a key theme of the recent Rotary International convention in Calgary, and had several club members speak about their experience. He specifically thanked Bruce Shepard for his work on "Why Rotary", which has been a successful tool for introducing Rotary to prospective members.

Several other Rotarians spoke about their experience at the convention and encouraged everyone to attend one in the future.

The meeting proceeded with several presentations and then some ceremony.

Rotary Club "What-z New":

We are looking for a group of volunteers who would like to learn the 'sign-in desk routine' and who are prepared to cover the role (with a greeter to assist them). Please speak to (Director: Club Service) if you are willing to help out with this function.
A few more meeting helpers are required to run cameras and sound during our hybrid meetings. Anyone wishing to help should contact President Mike Christie 403 878 3311.

Rotary Club Committee Membership Update:

Please continue to assist your 'team captains' (committee leads) and please also work in other areas of club activity, as you are able.
Please have a look on ClubRunner in the Committee section. You should find your name on one of the committee member lists, as per your choice(s). If not, please contact President Mike.

Rotary Club Information:

Housekeeping:
- If you have a Meeting Minute, please phone, text or email the President to ensure that it is included in the next club meeting and the subsequent Weekly Newsletter.
- Board minutes can be found on ClubRunner, under Club Documents.

Rotary District 5360 and Rotary International News

MONARCH 1911 SOCIETY

As many Rotarians will know, our club, in cooperation with the Saamis Rotary Club and the Friends of the Monarch Society, has been working on restoring both the structure and the programming at the historic Monarch movie theatre on 2nd St S.E, Medicine Hat.

Our club will try to keep track of events on at the Monarch, to give members a heads-up that the opportunity to serve exists. If you are interested, please let Rotarian Janessa Anderson (403-952-1907) know and she can provide details of available shifts and responsibilities.

Volunteering at a show is a great way to connect with the community and support the historic local landmark.

Ideas for Future Programs

The Program Committee handed out a one-pager at the meeting, requesting members to share their ideas for future guest speakers, events, and activities. Members are asked please to scan in their completed page and to email it to: margiebooyens@gmail.com. Alternatively, please bring it to the first meeting in July, Monday 7.
The Rotary Club's Program Committee members are Jillian Koch (jkoch@jmhca.com), Margie Booyens (margiebooyens@gmail.com), Alain Guerard (aguerard@telus.net), Sharon Hayward (sharon.hayward@medicinehatymca.ca).

The Beginning of a New Rotary Year

Our annual changeover meeting started with a couple of presentations.

First, our club was delighted to present Kristijan Kopilovic, Executive Director of Saamis Immigration with a contribution to their "Hygiene Bags for Newcomers" program. Terry Cooper, Director of Service Projects, President Mike Christie and Sharon Haywood, Service Project member presented the funds to Kristijan.

Our club has done several projects with Saamis over the years and we wish them all the best in the hard work they undertake.

Next, Past District Governor (PDG) Sandy Mackay presented new Rotarian Leslie Tuchscherer with a Paul Harris Fellowship. Paul Harris conceived the Rotary movement, and our club through Sandy's generous donation of foundation points, is able to recognize all members as PHF.

The meeting then turned to the induction of our new President for 2025-2026, Milan Vujovic. Again, Sandy was asked to give the charge to Milan and the new Board. We thank all of them for the time and energy that they will spend leading our club and organizing this Rotary year.

Our new Executive and Board for 2025 - 2026 Rotary Year. Thank you to all of you.

Of course, the ceremonial "passing of the gavel" to the new President from the now "Past" President.

Club Secretary Doug Fleming (now our 26-27 President elect) presented Milan with the club banner for his year with the message to "Unite for Good".

Newly installed President Milan gave a short talk about his focus for this year. He want's to reinforce the strength of our club through membership, by building confidence with new members, and continuing to engage all members in a fun and welcoming club. He made the comment that what you "see" about Rotary is truly the "tip of the iceberg" and there is so much to learn. The depth and breath of Rotary is truly amazing.

Milan mentioned that the monthly theme is "Maternal and Child Health" and we all wish Milan and his team the best for this year.

Meeting News

GUESTS:

Gina Rawson, formerly with RC of Grand Prairie, now a Medicine Hat resident.
Neil Ratal, guest of Milan Vujovic

ATTENDANCE:

3 on Zoom and 29 in person

CLUB DRAW:

Sieg Kappler won a tin of cookies

Please remember to contribute gifts for the weekly draw. If you are somewhere interesting, a small gift to the club for the draw is much appreciated!

Makeups: None were mentioned.

Birthdays:

Jillian Koch July 19
Marg Mazerolle July 24

Rotary Anniversaries:

Sandy MacKay 48 years July 01 1977
Jim White 46 years July 01 1979
Kitt Brand 16 years July 29 2009
Glen Presley 10 years July 27 2015
Margie Booyens 9 years July 04 2016
Lionel Brideson 1 year July 08 2024
Kevin Walcer 1 year July 08 2024
Mihaela Craciun 1 year July 08 2024
Odessa Vermee 1 year July 08 2024
Sharon Hayward 1 year July 29 2024

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY ROSE RUNNER FOR JULY 2025

Anne Carrier

Minutes

FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF UKRANIAN REHABILITATION HOSPITAL PROJECT

Based on a previous notice of motion, and moved by Dieter Brand and Terry Brekko, the club voted unanimously to support with a donation of $2000USD a project being led by the Rotary Club of Canmore. This money will be expressly included as a line item in the 2025-2026 Club budget. Thank you Kitt Brand for championing this cause!

BINGO UPDATES

NEXT Bingo session: The next club bingo will be Sunday evening, July 27 from 5 pm - 10 pm. A total of 8 volunteers are required and the signup email will go out this week.

VENUE DISCUSSION

As approved by the Club Board and the membership, our official meeting location will change on July 1st to the CORE meeting room, 412 3rd St SE. A small group will work at emptying the MH Lodge storage room of our club material and will move it to either the CORE location or to our SEA-CAN at Plainsman Clay.

SHELTERBOX AWARD

Doug Fleming presented the club with a Shelterbox award which was presented at the "after convention" party in Calgary. Shelterbox is a Rotary International partner in emergency response during periods of natural disasters.

UPDATED CLUB BYLAWS

Mike Christie and Doug Fleming, by notice of motion, advised the club that an updated set of bylaws will be sent out this week and will be voted on at the club meeting of July 28. So there will be some reading material available. The Sgt-at-Arms mentioned that they might be a quiz each week, to make sure Rotarians are actually reviewing them, so be ready.

Family of Rotary

Please keep a Board Member informed about members health and/or any other changes, so that information can be provided to the club through the Weekly News.
The club sends its best wishes to John John as he moves into Masterpiece. We hope the move this week goes well.