Everyone was delighted that President Mike Christie was able to attend and lead our noon meeting today. Mike is recovering from a hip replacement op and is doing well but not yet able to drive. He thanked President Elect Milan Vujovic for kindly offering him a ride!
John John introduced his daughter, Leela John, who hails from Edmonton where she is a pharmacist. Leela is in town to assist her father who is having a cataract operation this week.
Guest speaker Sue Edwards (aka Susan Fisher) was introduced by Margie Booyens. Sue is the Operations and Stewardship Coordinator with the Medicine Hat Health Foundation. She has worked for the Foundation for three years, prior to which she worked in the philanthropy field for 30 years. On a personal level, she is married to Tyrone and they have two children, both in their 20s. The family enjoys outdoor activities including travel, golf, hiking and biking. Sue is currently Chair of the Board of South Country Co-op, a board on which she has served 8 years.
Sue gave a very comprehensive and engaging presentation on the Medicine Hat Health Foundation, which was followed by questions (please see the STORY section of this newsletter for a summary of Sue's presentation).
President Mike thanked Sue, complimenting her on her knowledge, experience and presentation skills and congratulating the Health Foundation on the directions in which it is moving.
As a parting shot, Sue shared the good news that for the second time, she had personal bicycles to donate to the Team FreeWheel project! Ken Zollner was quick to elicit her contact details!
Mike reminded members that the next meeting, a Business Meeting, would again be held at CORE, with the option of joining online.
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 Dave Stalwick (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
CLUBRUNNER CHANGEOVER SERIES
The first webinar in the changeover series took place on Tuesday, May 20.
The next webinar, titled 'Deep Dive into ClubRunner Nova', is coming up on Tuesday 3 June, from 4-5:30pm. All members will have received the webinar invitation.
The series is designed to introduce members to the new and improved ClubRunner. Let's attend so that we learn how to get maximum use out of this platform that we use for storing Rotary documents, for emails, events, calendar, newsletter and many other functions.
ROTARY DISTRICT 5360 AGM
Members are encouraged to register on the District website to attend the forthcoming AGM on Friday 30 May at 09:00.
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.
TIGERS MEMORIAL CUP RUN
Tapping into the pulse of Medicine Hatters, the Monarch Society opened the theatre doors and screened the series of matches played by the Tigers, on Friday 23, Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 May.
Rotarians from all four clubs have had fun working together to BBQ and prepare hamburgers for the hungry crowds, each costing $5. As always, the Friends of the Monarch have been selling pop and popcorn at $5 a shot. Between the hamburger patties and the popcorn, there have been wonderful hunger-inducing aromas wafting around town!
As Assistant Governor Sharon McDonnell says, this has been a great opportunity to show off "Rotary in our Community"!
Not to be missed! On Tuesday 27 May, the Mavericks Baseball team will be in attendance at 5pm at the Monarch, with lots of giveaways. At second intermission, Saamis Rotary Majestics will be presented with their annual sponsorship cheque. They are one of the American Legion Baseball teams in Medicine Hat that are all sponsored by Service Clubs.
CONCERT: JUNE 7
The "Friends of the Monarch" are organizing a concert by Oscar Lopez, on Saturday June 7th beginning at 7 pm. Oscar is a Juno award winning guitarist, and blends Latin, Jazz and Flamenco styles. He's a great performer, please set the date aside.
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, which is JUST AROUND THE CORNER!
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.
A 'Calgary Orientation' webinar is on Tuesday, May 27, 09:30 - 10:45. If you missed it, the link to a recording of the webinar will be emailed out by RI by June 6.
Those attending the convention are encouraged to attend the New Generations Service Exchange (NGSE) program PIZZA PARTY on Tuesday 24 June from 5:30pm at the Knox United Church. Tickets can be purchased online through the NGSE website on the District 5360 website. Here's a direct link: https://rotary5360.ca/events/new-generations-service-exchange-%28ngse%29-pizza-party/
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.
On Monday 26 May, we had the pleasure of an animated, engaging, well illustrated presentation on the Medicine Hat Health Foundation, by Operations and Stewardship Coordinator, Sue Edwards.
A bit of history:
Our hospital’s origin dates back to 1889, built by volunteers with donated materials. The Foundation was established 29 years ago, to raise funds to support and enhance healthcare available to residents of Medicine Hat and area.
We were reminded that the Foundation is not Alberta Health Services but that they work ‘in tandem’. Sue expressed appreciation for the quality of the relationship between the two at this time.
The mission of the Foundation captures its essence:
‘To advance the health of our community through innovation and enhancements to health and wellness services in Southern Alberta’.
Work towards the mission is guided by a Board of Trustees and the values of the Foundation: Community, Compassion and Well Being, Integrity, Philanthropy, Transparency. Heading up the staff team of six, is ExecutiveDirector, Heather Bach.
Sue expressed the gratitude of the Foundation for their many communitypartners and volunteers. Volunteers serve in the Gift Shop, participate in events, and assist with administration and executive-related work, the number of volunteer hours totalling over 3,000 this past year.
The Foundation raised an astonishing $1m in the 2024-2025 fiscal year, of which $15,546.90 was raised by the Gift Shop.
So how was this money spent? To achieve the Foundation's vision, vitally important equipment was purchased, including 11 cardiac monitors, a central monitoring system for ICU, an MRI-compatible ventilator for the ICU, a video glide scope for ICU, and new electric beds for 5 North, totalling $756,000.
Sue went on to outline what she referred to as the Foundation’s newprograms:
Teddy Bear program, Personal Hygiene kits, Craft program, Snack program, Kid’s Treasure Chest, White Rose program.
Sue wrapped her presentation with a brief outline of changes being made by the Alberta Health Services, including four new pillars (Recovery Alberta, Acute Care Alberta, Primary Care Alberta and Assisted Living Alberta). How these changes impact the Medicine Hat Health Foundation will become more evident in due course. Sue also mentioned that renovations are to be made to the pharmacy at the hospital and the Intensive Care Unit.
We, the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat, and indeed the whole wider community, are grateful for the invaluable services provided by the Medicine Hat Health Foundation. A big thank you from Rotary! We will continue to support your endeavours as needed and as we are able.
Guest speaker Sue Edwards and Rotarian John John's daughter, Leela John.
ATTENDANCE:
19 Rotarians attended in person. Online attendance was not possible.
CLUB DRAW: There was no club draw this week.
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! STOCKS ARE LOW!
Makeups: None were mentioned.
Birthdays:
Mike Christie June 7
Alain Guerard June 8
Terry Brekko June 9
Sandy MacKay June 15
Lionel Brideson June 21.
Rotary Anniversaries:
Mark Sorenson 27 years June 01 1998
Melanie Harty 15 years June 30 2010
Gwen Dirk 04 years June 28 2021
WEDDING ANNIVERSARY ROSE RUNNER FOR JUNE 2025
Anne Carrier
Minutes
DISTRICT 5360 AGM
Members are reminded that the Annual General Meeting of District 5360 will take place online on Friday May 30, beginning at 9:00 am. Registration is required, you'll find the sign up form on the District website.
2025 COUNCIL ON LEGISLATION
President Mike shared with members, a few of the two pages of 'Essential changes for Clubs and Districts' coming from the 2025 Council on Legislation:
Clubs:
To help create new clubs more quickly, the number of charter members has been reduced from 20 to 15 to start a Rotary club.
To align RI Bylaws with Board policy, the word 'sex' has been added to the list of characteristics that cannot be used to limit membership.
Club Finances:
Rotary club dues: RI per capita dues will increase to UD$41.00 per half year in 2025-2026.
Districts:
District Conference: Districts are no longer required to hold an annual district conference - but for districts with successful conferences, governors are encouraged to continue holding them.
Learning Events: The President-elect Training Seminar (PETS) becomes President-elect Learning Seminar; the District Training Assembly becomes Club Leadership Learning Seminar.
BINGO UPDATES
No bingo updates.
MONARCH 1911 SOCIETY
Please see in first section of this newsletter.
CLUB PROGRAM
June 2: Business meeting (in-person and online options)
June 9: Guest speaker Ron Edwards (General Manager, Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede) on the 2025 Stampede Week
June 16: Guest speaker, Rotarian Dick Northcott on International Aid
June 23: No meeting as the Rotary International Convention will be on, in Calgary
June 30: No meeting, this being the day before Canada Day
July 1: Cake cutting in Kin Coulee on Canada Day! More information and a schedule for volunteering will follow
VENUE DISCUSSION
Members are reminded that we are examining the pluses and minus of the CORE venue as a permanent home, so comments and concerns are welcome. Please provide any feedback to Dave Stalwick (d.stalwick@gmail.com). A club discussion on the meeting venue will be held in the near future.
70TH ANNIVERSARY ROTARY MUSIC FESTIVAL ROSEBOWL WINNER CONCERT
Anne Carrier thanked all who contributed to the RMF Rosebowl concert, held in the St Barnabas Church on Friday 16 May, being the success that it was. She suggested that future Rosebowl concerts be similarly organized.
Margie Booyens mentioned that Rosebowl winner, Miriam Monet, would be competing in the Provincials on Thursday 29 May.
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 Rotary Club of Medicine Hat has returned to meeting in person. Our first meeting of every month is a ZOOM business meeting. Check the club calendar, which is usually up to date for our meeting locations and program.
