President Karen welcomed everyone to the meeting today, our first in April and hopefully it can be considered a spring meeting. President Karen started the meeting with a moment of silence to honor the members of the Humboldt Broncos hockey team killed in this weekend's terrible traffic accident. Everyone's thoughts are with them, their families and the community over these tough days.
Karen also announced that April is Rotary focus is on Maternal and Children's health.
President Karen was happy to announce that arrangements have been made to recognize the club Centennial by having the Mayor do a proclamation, probably on Thursday May 31st, that in recognition of our Centennial on June 1st that June 4 - 8, will be considered "Rotary Week", and a Rotary Flag will be flown at City Hall. This should provide lots of opportunity for media coverage.
As well, Karen announced that beginning on April 16, the Medicine Hat News will be doing a weekly Rotary feature to recognize the centennial and the history of Rotary in the community. Watch for it in the MH News in the next couple of weeks.
Rotary Fun Fact:
Did you know that the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat was awarded second-place recognition as the Rotary Club of the Year (1938-1939) in the Community Service category. The following award summary was published in the Rotarian Magazine, April 1940;
Located in a community of 10,000 person, the Medicine Hat Rotary Club has 50 members. It raised $4,847 for its Community Service fund during the 1938-1939 Rotary year, expending $3,617 of this amount. All members helped raise and dispense the money.
In the fall of 1937, the community was ravaged by a severe epidemic of infantile paralysis, and lives were lost which might have been saved by an “iron lung”. But in the vast province of Alberta, only two were available – one located 200 miles away, and a second, 400 miles distant.
When a second epidemic was threatening in 1938, the Medicine Hat Club lost no time in purchasing a “lung” and presenting it to the local hospital board. The disease struck again, and a number of lives were saved as a result of the Club's thoughtful preparation.
Continuing in interest in the health of others, Medicine Hat Rotarians contributed $200 to the Canadian Institute for the Blind. One sightless girl, who went 2,000 miles to attend a school,was given “pocket money” by Club members who felt that she might otherwise be “destitute of any personal funds for the purchase of small delicacies”. Financial help also was given to a movement fighting tuberculosis.
Representatives of the Club aided arrangements for a community skating and hockey rink, and for the local visit of the King and Queen.
An investigation disclosed that many underprivileged children were suffering from malnutrition, and this put the Club to work again. Rotarians now pay four-fifths of the cost of distributing milk to school children – and a method has been perfected “which avoids either an undemocratic discrimination or the humiliating feeling of charity.”
Production in a Boy Scout toy shop was stepped up 400 percent when Club members took an interest in the project and supplied power equipment. Toys reconditioned and made went to provide a happier Christmas among less fortunate youngsters, and afforded Scouts valuable training in craftsmanship. The Club also raised $1,500 for its Christmas Cheer Fund, which brightened 292 homes at yuletide.
Membership Update:
No new membership applications at this time.
Rotary Club Information:
Housekeeping:
Please bring auction items. It is an important part of our meeting.
If you have a Meeting Minute, please send Pres Karen a note (email, phone, in-person)
Board minutes can be found on Clubrunner, under Club Documents.
Club Centennial Photograph: Monday, May 7, 2018 at the Medicine Hat Lodge
Centennial Celebration: Friday, June 8, 2018, at the Medicine Hat Lodge.
Music Festival Information:
Club Evening Meeting - Rosebowl WinnerNEW DATE April 23, 2018, STARTING AT 5:00 PM: An evening of celebration of the Rosebowl winner and the end of this year's festival. At the Medicine Hat College Cafeteria.
Rotary Presentations:
Glen Presley, Director of Ways and Means took the podium to perform an administrative function required periodically by AGLC, to confirm our bingo licence. He made a motion, seconded by Dave Panabaker, " that the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat renew its bingo licence, for the period July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2020 ". The motion was approved unanimously by the members present.
Upcoming Rotary District Events:
District 5360 Convention: May 4 – 6, 2018: Register on District website. The Club will provide support ($100) to Rotarians interested in attending the District Convention.
Rotary International Convention – June 23-27, 2018 in Toronto: This is a great opportunity for new and seasoned Rotarians to become immersed in the world of Rotary. The Club has agreed to provide an incentive of $500 for new members and $200 for existing members to attend the RI Conference.
Future Programs:
For more Club activities, to keep up with events and stay in touch, check the Club website at: www.medicinehatrotary.com
If you have any future program ideas, please e-mail Heather at heather.bach@ahs.ca.
The Rotary Club was delighted to welcome Sharon Hayward, CEO of the Downtown YMCA.
Sharon began her talk by thanking the club for our involvement in a community project - with the Life Saving Society, in having a life jacket loaner station at the YMCA. The Rotary Club has a long history of involvement in swimming and water safety in the community and the Y's proximity to the river made this effort a natural fit.
Sharon also spoke about their annual Strong Kids campaign, which is the Y's main fundraising activity. The YMCA believes that physical activity is essential for everyone, for their health and to reach their athletic potential. The campaign allowed the Y in 2017 to assist 363 children with memberships, and send 71 kids to camp. As well, it provided almost $40,000 in community donations to other charities for fundraising activities. In total approx. 8% of the total membership received financial assistance.
She also spent some time talking about other Y programs, such as Get Active and Living Fit.
Sharon Hayward, CEO of Medicine Hat YMCA, our guest speaker.
DG Rick Istead.
Tamara McCarron, Club President - RC of Calgary Millennial
Dan Kammerer, MH Sunrise RC.
Birthdays:
Bernie Scott April 9th.
Club Anniversaries:
Uwe Krickhahn April 11, 1983 35 years.
Weekly Draws:
Stan Sakamoto was the lucky winner of the weekly draw, collecting a spring daffodil plant.
John John was in attendance to win a free meal in the member draw.
Club 500:
The luck winner of $1,500 in April was Carol Snedden, on a ticket sold by Jack.
Make Ups:
None announced this week.
Family of Rotary:
The club was saddened with the news of the passing of Honorary Rotarian, Garth Vallely, twice mayor of the City of Medicine Hat and a tremendously active member of the community. Our thoughts and prayers are with Maryanne and her family during this difficult time. Adolf Seiler mentioned that the funeral is expected to be a private, family affair at this time.
Minute People:
Don Davis advised the club that the evening meeting with the Rosebowl winner has been rescheduled to Monday evening, April 23. The meeting will take place at the MH College Cafeteria, at a cost of $30.00 per person, and we will celebrate with our Festival volunteers, as well as Rosebowl winner Soren Lorentzen. Cocktails are at 5:00 pm and dinner is planned for 5:45 pm. We are attempting to have the musical performance started around 6:40 pm, so that those attending Mark Sakamoto's authors talk at the Medicine Hat College Theater can slip next door prior to that start at 7:30 pm. Please make an effort to attend this great event.
Dave Panabaker reminded the club that our Centennial Photo will be taken as our meeting activity on Monday May 7th. Anyone wishing a print on "gator-board" please see Dave, the cost is $20.00.
Chris Perret reminded the club that Earth Day is Sunday April 22nd, and our club is registered, as always, to clean up our section of the Trans-Canada Highway, adjacent to the Cultural Center. on Saturday April 21, starting at 9:30 am.
President Karen mentioned that tickets for the Centennial Celebration are available at each meeting starting today, at a cost of $50.00/person. They can be purchased directly from John John at each meeting or on line through our website if you wish to use a credit card.
