Rotary Weekly News - February 10, 2025 (Feb. 10, 2025)

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

President Mike began the meeting promptly at 12:15, as we had a fair bit of Rotary business and a guest speaker to entertain us today. He commented on the quite nippy weather and how soon we'd be into spring.

One of the first orders of business, and always a great pleasure at any Rotary meeting was the induction of a new member into our Rotary family. Introduced by her club sponsor Nadia Deenen, Manali Shabhag was inducted into the club by Past President Terry Brekko. Terry read the charge to new Rotarians, and joined President Mike in welcoming Manali to our club.

Welcome to our club Manali, we look forward to hearing your story and working with you on projects in the community and around the world.

Following the induction, Terry Brekko was also honoured by President Mike Christie and Treasurer Gail Halderman for accomplishing another funding goal to the Rotary Foundation. Terry was presented with a Paul Harris Pin, with 3 rubies, signifying contribution to the charity that all Rotarians own, the Rotary Foundation. Well done Terry!

President Mike reminded everyone that there is NO MEETING next week, with the celebration of Family Day and that if all goes as planned, the three meetings after that...Monday Feb 24th, March 3 and March 10 would all be at the CORE meeting room on 3rd ST SE. Please watch your email for updates in case their are changes.

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.

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 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

MONARCH 1911 SOCIETY

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

Our club will try to keep track of events on a 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.

The movie "The Notebook", on February 14th at 7:00 pm
The movie "Shrek", on February 16th at 2:00 pm

Remember "the Monarch" is cash only...

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

RI CONVENTION 2025 IN CALGARY: 21-25 JUNE

The RI Convention was last held in Calgary in 1996. It’s going to be back in Calgary again June 21 - 25, 2025.
If you are interested in volunteering, contact Host Organizing Committee secretary, Luanne Whitmarsh (l.whitmarsh@shaw.ca)
Club Convention Champions are playing a vital role in communication (both ways) between the District 5360 Host Convention Committee and their Club. Our Convention Club Champion is PDG Sandy MacKay.
Registration for the 2025 Rotary International Convention is open - https://convention.rotary.org/en-us
The convention website is http://www.rotarycalgary2025.org

Ideas for Future Programs

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)
If you have ideas for future programs, please contact them.

Community Foundation updates

The Medicine Hat Rotary Club welcomed Niki Gray to our meeting today. Niki is the Executive Director of the Community Foundation of SE Alberta. She has just recently returned to work from maternity leave, and we had the privilege of being her first "outside" speaking engagement since she got back to work.

Although the Community Foundation is well known to many in the room, Niki began with a little history and some of the changes that have occurred during her 8 years as Executive Director. She was excited to announce that the Community Foundation endowment is now over $30 Million, and that principal sum is invested, and it is the investment income that provides the yearly grants. Some of those grants are directed by the private endowment holders, and others are set by the CFSEA "Vital Signs" report, which helps set priorities.

One of the biggest changes recently is the widening of the ability of the CF to provide grants outside registered charities. It is now possible for non-profit societies (like Rotary) to apply for grants.

Niki spoke about the Local Impact grant, given out once a year for a maximum of $35,000. That is the largest of the almost $1,000,000 in grants that the CF Grants Committee will award. She also made the comment that they get approximately 4 times the requests for grants, so the decisions can be tough.

She encouraged us to attend the grant writing workshop and not fall into their "pet peeves" regarding clarity and use of funds.

After a number of questions and answers, Niki was thanked by President Mike Christie (once upon a time the ED of the CFSEA himself) with out Rotary Medalta coffee mug.

Meeting News

GUESTS:

Niki Gray, Executive Director of CFSEA and our guest speaker.
Manali Shabhag, member in waiting.
Leslie Tuchscherer, member in waiting.

ATTENDANCE: There were 20 attendee's at the meeting, as well as 5 who joined by ZOOM.

CLUB DRAW: Lionel Brideson won a package of smoked salmon.

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

Makeups: None were mentioned.

Birthdays:

Bruce Shepard Feb 17^th.
Margie Booyens Feb 29^th.

Rotary Anniversaries:

Gregg Martin 34 years. Feb 1, 1991.
Marg Mazerolle 33 years. Feb 1, 1992.

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY ROSE RUNNER FOR FEBRUARY 2025

Nadia Deenen

Minute Reminders:

ROTARY CLUB 1000 RAFFLE TICKETS

Nadia Deenen spoke about the upcoming 2025 Rotary Club 1000 raffle. Nadia is requesting that anyone who sells a ticket using the ZEFFY site, which facilitates the use of a credit card, PLEASE advise herself and Anne, so they can match tickets to incoming funds. Rotarians who sell that way need to write out a ticket for those purchasers so that they are entered into the raffle. Advising the organizing group will avoid duplicate entries. The cooperation of everyone is truly appreciated and will make financial reporting on the raffle much simpler. Please work hard to sell the raffle tickets, as they are the primary fundraising tool that we use for our Music Festival support.

DOOR MONITORING AND INFORMATION DESK AT MUSIC FESTIVAL

Dave Panabaker advised that;

a sign up link had gone out to all club members, inviting people to sign up for duties at the 2025 Music Festival. Delynne has used a new software program to do the signup, so don't forget to insert your name and email address so you get reminders. The link is available at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DACA823A4F8C70-54772193-festival#
as well, Delynne is in need of a driver for the band adjudicator on Tuesday March 11, both to pick up at the MH Lodge and deliver to St Mary's at around 8:50 am, then at noon to pick up and bring to the Cultural Center. The next day to pick up and drop off throughout the morning of Wednesday March 12 and bring to the Cultural Center at noon. This driving is required, and so if someone is interested in helping out, this would be a great place to start. Please contact Delynne at mhrotarymusicfestival@gmail.com

ROTARY CONVENTION INCENTIVE

Club Treasurer Gail Halderman reminded members that due to the proximity of the convention to our club, our 2024-2025 budget includes a sum of money to be shared between those members who are attending the event. By a show of hands it appeared that 7 or 8 members of those present are going, so please sign up and share in this thoughtful idea.

UPCOMING BINGO - WORKERS NEEDED

On behalf of Gregg Martin a reminder was mentioned that at least 3 more volunteers are needed for the upcoming bingo on Sunday afternoon, February 16th beginning at 11:45 am.

POSSIBLE EVENT SPONSORSHIP

Alain Geurard advised that a photo exhibit currently in Edmonton has an opportunity to spend time in Medicine Hat. Check out the website at http://www.unbreakableukraine.ca .

LEARNING SESSION - DISTRICT GRANT REPORTING

The District is holding an educational session for new members, and really all Rotarians, on District Grants. It will be held on Wednesday evening, February 19th beginning at 7:00 pm. This is NOT the qualification webinar that occurs every year, but is solely for education. Registration is required, go to the following link on the District website. https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_f-xbs_qPQpWmxvkR_VN3DA#/registration

THE MONARCH THEATRE - OPERATING CAPITAL DEBENTURES

Dave Panabaker advised that he had received a request from t he "Monarch 1911 Society" to introduce the concept of their operating debentures. During this startup period of time, while expenditures exceed revenue, the.y are setting up a series of Operating Debentures and are looking for Rotarians to invest. The debentures cost $5,000 and are flexible in the repayment methods. The debentures pay a 5% interest rate and if you are interested in supporting the Monarch Theatre project, Dave can send you the document or you can contact Frank Devine at the Saamis Club for more info.

THE NEXT "WHY ROTARY" EVENT

Past President Bruce Shepard reminded members that the next introduction event to Rotary for potential members will be Wednesday, April 30th at the Grandstand Ballroom of the Stampede Grounds. The event will begin at 5:00 pm, and a buffet supper will be served starting at around 5:30 pm. The supper will increase the cost per person to $50.00 and tickets will be available soon.

ROTARY DINNER CLUB

Milan Vujovic advises everyone who has signed up for this year's dinner club that dinners can now be booked. If you have a particular date in mind, it's best to get it to him (or his spouse Almira) so that date can be fit into the schedule. Please phone and book your dinner as soon as you can.

TIGER TICKETS FOR ROTARIANS

Glen Presley has 8 extra tickets for the Tuesday March 4th MH Tiger game against the Kelowna Rockets, which starts at 7:00 pm. Any ticket cost is a donation to Rotary, so please let Glen know if you would like one or more.......

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.