MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

 

President Mike Christie welcomed all to the Club's April Business Meeting, commenting on how amazingly quickly the weather can change in this neck of the woods, and expressing appreciation for the early spring sunshine and warmth.

 

 

There were no guests to welcome, this being a business meeting, so it was straight into the business of the day.

 

President Mike thanked Club Service Director, Dave Stalwick, and John John, for getting the ground level meeting room set up for the meeting - and expressed the hope that we would be able to move to the bigger downstairs meeting room soon.

 

Rotarian Ken Zollner caused some amusement by calling in on President Mike's cell phone, as Mike was speaking, to ask about the Zoom connection which had sadly not been set up this time around. Ken subsequently joined us in person!

 

 

Referring to the previous noon meeting, during which District 5360 Co-ordinator of RYPEN, Kerstan Price, had been the guest speaker, President Mike raised the matter of the club's promised donation to RYPEN 2025 - a donation of 2 x $600, with RYPEN staff recruiting and selecting appropriate participants for the camp. Margie Booyens will contact Club Treasurer, Gail Halderman, and Director of Youth and Vocational Services, Peter Mueller, to confirm that the donation has been or will be made soon.

 

Referring to an email he had circulated to members the previous week, President Mike asked the meeting whether there was support for donating a Shelter Box to the earthquake-hit country of Myanmar. Members approved, so the matter was referred to Terry Cooper and the Club's Project & Program Committee for follow-up.

 

Friends of the Monarch: President Mike intimated that the Friends are seeking funds to (a) extend the stage of the Monarch Theatre for larger productions ($125,000 is needed), and (b) to fix the front facade and marquee (a donation of any amount will be welcome and will be matched). Board member Anne Carrier commented on how the Monarch Theatre would be able to accommodate selected Rotary Music Festival performances, once the stage had been enlarged.

 

 

Next on President Mike's agenda was the Medicine Hat Litter Blitz. After a brief discussion, the following was decided: Members will be asked to gather on Rotary Centennial Drive at 09:00 on Saturday 26 April wearing Rotary t-shirts and gloves. After the completion of the clean-up, those available will gather for a social time at the Medicine Hat Brewing Company, located on that stretch of road. Exact logistics will be worked out and made known to members in due course.

 

Director of Club Service, Dave Stalwick, shared the good news that as from Monday 14 April, Rotary noon meetings would indeed be held in CORE's larger meeting room downstairs. With a smile on his face, Dave cautioned members that while there would be no sergeant-at-arms fines that day, he was keeping a list which would be activated at a future meeting!

 

Dave Stalwick also mentioned the club GREETER schedule that was being circulated at the meeting. He encouraged newer members to get to know fellow members better by taking on the greeter role at a future meeting. He said that the plan was in fact to have two greeters, one a newer member and the other a member of longer standing, the latter to support and assist the newer member.

 

Board member-at-large, Anne Carrier, reported on the 2024-2025 Club 1000 raffle ticket sales. Anne estimated that about 60% of the tickets had been sold but said a report on the exact income and expenditures would be forthcoming.

 

Past President Bruce Shepard reminded members that the 2025 Why Rotary event was coming up on Wednesday 30 April in the Ballroom at the Stampede Grounds. He emphasized that this was a great opportunity to introduce prospective members to Rotary. With the other Rotary Clubs in town participating, our club has 50 tickets for the event ($50 each), of which 20 have been sold to date. All clubs will have exhibitions of their services and projects.

 

Rotary Club "What-z New":

• 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. 

• 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.

• Housekeeping:
  • If you have a Meeting Minute, please phone, text or email the President and it will be included in the next Newsletter.
  • Board minutes can be found on ClubRunner, under Club Documents.

Rotary District 5360 and Rotary International News