Once again, we had over 30 participants at our noon meeting on Monday 20 April 2020. It was great to be able to welcome a number of members who Zoomed in, for the first time, via their cell phones.
It was an informative, healthy and constructive meeting.
Due to careful financial management by our valued Treasurer, Gail Halderman, our Club is in a satisfactory financial situation for the current Rotary year, in spite of the usual sources of income having been cut off for the time being, due to the COVID-19 situation. A main challenge for thinking and planning will be the running and funding of the Rotary Music Festival in 2021 and beyond.
What is our Club doing to support COVID-19 related services in Medicine Hat? We plan to make a donation, before the end of May, to the Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund. Donations will be matched by Province. Please consider contributing by responding to our Treasurer’s email of 21 April, which was sent via ClubRunner to all members.
I would like to express sincere appreciation for the fact that member participation is alive and well during our Zoom meetings – more so, I would say, than during our face-to-face meetings! The questions, concerns and discussion about our forthcoming AGM on Monday 25 May confirmed the central role played by our Club’s Nominations Committee of Past Presidents, who will be receiving and sifting nominations for our new Board, right up until Friday 22 May. If you are interested in serving on the 2020-2021 Board, and want to check out your eligibility, please connect with AG and PP Dave Panabaker, who is chairing this Committee.
Let us remain in close social contact through Zoom meetings, emails, phone calls, our Facebook pages and our Club newsletter. My impression is that in this new era, Club communication is improving. This augers well for building stronger relationships and uniting us, in all our diversity, as we move forward to crystalise new goals and take on new challenges in the new Rotary year. May we continue to support and value one another and put the best interests of Rotary, our Club and our community, first.
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PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOUR FELLOW ROTARIANS, ESPECIALLY IF SOMEONE NEEDS ASSISTANCE. ALSO, IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION TO SHARE WITH THE CLUB, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH PRESIDENT MARGIE B., CLUB SERVICE DIRECTOR HEATHER B. OR NEWSLETTER EDITOR DAVE P. AND WE'LL MAKE SURE IT GETS COMMUNICATED.
Rotary Club - "What we can do"
The City of Medicine Hat website has a relatively complete list of local issues....check this out as well.
From an email to all Rotary District 5360 members from DG Christine Rendell on April 4th, the District has provided a single website to provide up to date information on other club meetings, on activities around the District and some links to Covid-19 sources as well.
With all the changes to daily life and the restrictions on both Public Gatherings and Gaming activities, the Club Board felt it was wise to sit down with the annual budget, and review both where we stand and what the future might look like. So 3 Wise Men (Gail Halderman, Terry Partis and Mark Sorenson) met and review the status of our accounts.
At today's meeting Gail review the preliminary results, preliminary because the return to anything near normal is still uncertain, so the future is very cloudy. In general, the review resulted in a positive opinion about the clubs position, we have adequate reserves for our known commitments in 2020-2021 and have some hope that our service and giving can be expanded, depending on that cloudy future.
A number of questions were asked and answered, and lets hope "normal" returns soon. Thanks to all three of the wise fellows for their counsel.
As requested by our Club President Margie, here's a brief summary of my Rotary activities this last winter:
I'm also involved w/ Angels for Mexico which is out of Calgary, Christina Callaghan is CEO and they build playgrounds (this is built in 4 days from raw material) and also supply & train fire departments. Did lots of traveling w/ Angels for Mexico looking for new playground sites. Amazing accomplishments!!
Helped ship & disperse walkers & wheelchairs .This was coordinated by Randy & Caroline Vandeen from the Saamis Rotary club in Medicine Hat. Some of the walkers I placed w/ our club in Guayabitos (Terry Cooper also brought one). Ignacio w/ El Tuito Rotary picked loads & placed with the needy as far as 2 hours south of Puerto Vallarta.
I know a lot of RV'ers, so we bring down cases of school supplies which Helma directs the "All schools project".
We did concrete work at Los Ayolas school.Widened sidewalk, made ramps cut out & widened bathroom door & made all wheel chair accessible.
Volunteer and helped out at the annual Rotary fundraiser...Always a sell out of 400 people. John Spry (Campbell River Rotary) & myself usually sell close to 50% of tickets.....so they like seeing us back every year.
Every year there's a fashion show which is also a sell out of 400. It is put on by a group of ladies & funds are used for scholar ships. As seen we are waiters...Lots of fun.
The wash rooms were not working in a school(La Colema) where we did extensive work over the last 2 years. This is Jim Smith's (Olds Rotary) project. I drafted Libert (RV'er from Calgary) to give us a hand....4 days later we got it done....pressure system was plugged as well as broken toilet bowls etc...Libert's not a Rotarian so I suggested we should give him recognition for the hours of volunteering. At our breakfast meeting we presented Libert w/ a Certificate of special recognition....Ironically I also received one which was not anticipated!
This gives a brief overview from this last winter.
Gracias (Club Rotario Bahia DE Jaltemba La Penita)
No guests today, but a total of 35 people logged onto our business meeting.
Minute People:
Chris Christie mentioned that Community Foundations across the country are facilitating a "stay at home" Gala, on Saturday May 2nd, 6 pm local time. There is a one hour national program and then a one hour local program.
Theresa Eisenbarth wanted to get the message out that although the Interact Garage Sale is currently on hold, she believes it is a great idea as a fundraiser and if any club member or friend of Rotary is doing any cleaning out at home, and has goods that could be donated to the garage sale to be in touch with her. She has a spot to keep a small amount of stuff that could be saved for the sale (whenever it is held).
Dawn Barr is looking for a gently used recliner for a friend who is in need. If you have one to get rid of, please contact Dawn.
Kitt Brand wanted to pass on the availability of the Rotary Canada One "E-Club" for those that are interested. https://portal.clubrunner.ca/8529
Dave Panabaker wanted to advertise and encourage everyone to consider the Rotary Leadership Training session, being held on Saturday May 23 (by webinar) from 9 am to noon....register on the District website.
Dan Kammerer took a minute to advise about some great news regarding Bula Ghosh, the co-President of the Swift Current Rotary Club who was award a Saskatchewan Volunteer medal, for her many community activities.
Roger Roy wanted to pass on the follow photos, and "warn" everyone that you never know what might happen to you. He was walking along River Road, under the CPR bridge and the picture bolt and nut fell off the bridge and just about "got him".....
If you have photos or a story to include in the Weekly News, please submit it to Dave P and we'll try to publish it.
Birthdays: The month of May
Shalla Shaharyar April 28.
Anne Carrier May 5.
Ray Kemp May 16.
Doug Fleming May 19.
Ian McLaughlin May 20.
Ted Cowtan May 25.
Dawn Barr May 31.
Club Anniversaries: The month of May.
Ian McLaughlin 28 years May 1, 1992.
Dick Northcott 20 years May 1, 2000.
Susan Withers 2 years May 14, 2018.
Dan Kammerer 16 years May 19, 2004.
Makeups:
No attendance being recorded during the pandemic period!
Family of Rotary: (PLEASE KEEP ADOLF INFORMED ABOUT MEMBERS SO THAT INFORMATION CAN BE PASSED ON TO ALL IN THE WEEKLY NEWS)
The Rotary Club extends our sympathy and condolences to DGE Mary Turner, who's Mother passed away last Thursday.
Glen Presley will be undergoing stem cell transplant surgery in the late spring, so please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
