Our meeting started promptly on time, although lunch was a little "tardy" and President Bruce Shepard got everything started because we had a fairly full program.
President Bruce started with a reminder about the "Why Rotary" event, and asked all those who were going to please get in touch with PE Mike Christie, who is helping lead this project. Catering is a particular concern, making sure that we have enough food and refreshments to all those in attendance. "Last minute" is not preferred for this event.
Bruce mentioned any that he has been in contact with the President of the recent "defunct" Optimist Club, as Rotary and the Optimist share a passion for youth projects and has invited any members of their club who are still interested in service and youth to attend the event as our guests, so that they can assess whether Rotary might be "right" for them.
Bruce also asked those in attendance to consider volunteering to help at the upcoming Rotary International Convention in Calgary June 21-25. This is a rare occasion where the convention is close to home, and he hoped everyone would take advantage of that opportunity. There is no District Conference in 2025, because of that event.
President-elect Mike Christie, recently returned from President-elect training in Calgary this past weekend also spoke about the upcoming "Why Rotary" event. The other MH Rotary Clubs are participating as well, so it should give all those in attendance a great overview of Rotary in Medicine Hat.
He went about arranging some other work issues and the organizing team will be meeting this week.
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 Mike Christie 403 878 3311.
Rotary Club Committee Membership Update:
Please continue to assist your 'team captains' and please also work in other areas of club activity, as you are able.
NEW DEVELOPMENT! 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 Bruce.
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
RI CONVENTION 2025 IN CALGARY
The RI Convention was last held in Calgary in 1996. It’s going to be back in Calgary again in 2025.
DG Kurt Kowalchuk (email dated June 19) is calling for committee members, in particular but not exclusively, for the Sponsorship & Revenue committee, and the House of Friendship committee
If you are interested in volunteering, contact Host Organizing Committee secretary, Luanne Whitmarsh (l.whitmarsh@shaw.ca)
DG Kurt writes that this convention is going to be done in a way that will be transformational for Rotary in our District
PDG Sandy McKay has volunteered to be the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat's representative on the RI Host Committee.
Other District news
The annual District 5360 AGM will be held on May 13th at 7:00 pm. Our club is normally officially represented by the President-elect and another member of the executive, but any Rotarian may attend. It is a ZOOM meeting, so no travel required. Watch the WN for a link to sign up.
The 2024 District Conference. HAVE YOU REGISTERED?? Register online at https://www.discon5360.ca . The 2024 District Conference will be in Drumheller on May 4 and 5. Because of the 2025 RI Convention in Calgary, there will likely be no local conference in 2025 and the next District Conference will be May 2026 in Red Deer.
Ideas for Future Programs
The Rotary Club's Program Committee members are Jillian Koch (jkoch@jmhca.com), Dave Panabaker (d.panabaker@hotmail.com) and Margie Booyens (margiebooyens@gmail.com).
If you have ideas for future programs, please contact them.
The Rotary Club was delighted to welcome to our meeting today, Kerstan Price, who is currently the Administrative Executive for the RYPEN camp. Kerstan was introduced by Margie Booyens and has been involved with RYPEN since 2005, when she attended as a participant. After that "life changing" experience she has returned as a leader and now helps organize the camps on a yearly basis.
The RYPEN camp (Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment) is held annual at the Lomond Bible Camp on the Little Bow Traverse reservoir. Camp leaders are normally past participants. Participants are not necessarily the top students or those who naturally excel, but those who have overcome adversity and can use an opportunity experience their own strength. Many participants will move on to our Rotary Youth programs such as RAYEC or YEX.
The group has an amazing leadership team, and employ professionals in certain positions for social work, counselling and nursing. Rotary clubs can support this with sponsorships, transport of students and leaders.
Many clubs across District 5360 (Including ours) sponsor participants. The current cost is $600 per student.
The next RYPEN camp is May 3 - 6, 2024 and more information is available at http://www.rypen5360.org
GUESTS: The Rotary Club was happy to welcome the following guests to the meeting today.
Kerstan Price - RYPEN Administrative Executive and our guest speaker.
Kurt Kowalchuk - District 5360 Governor for 23-24.
Sharon McDonnell - our local Assistant Governor and a member of MH Saamis RC.
CLUB DRAW:
Milan Vujovic was the winner of a bottle of margarita cocktail.
Please remember to contribute gifts for the weekly draw. The stock cupboard is looking a tad bare!
Makeups: None mentioned .
Birthdays:
Glen Presley April 3
Sarah Koch April 4
Bernie Scott April 9
Rotary Anniversaries:
Dick Bide 53 years April 11, 1971
Terry Brekko 35 years April 01, 1989
Joe Hrankowski 24 years April 03, 2000
Dave Panabaker 20 years April 01, 2004
Don Davis 13 years April 01, 2011
WEDDING ANNIVERSARY ROSE RUNNER FOR APRIL 2024
Peter Mueller
Minutes:
WHY ROTARY? EVENT: Wednesday April 24, from 6:30pm
A reminder: Mike Christie is asking for volunteers to decorate the Stampede Grounds Ballroom. Interact members and selected Rotary Music Festival participants will be in attendance, as would members of the other Rotary Clubs in town. There will be a cash bar. Coffee and liqueur are included in the $30 pp ticket. The event will be run like a typical Rotary Club meeting. The Events Committee has found a few sponsors, but donations for door prizes are needed.
Please let Mike know how many guests you will be bringing.
Mike secured a volunteer to round up some door prizes (thanks Terry B) and our paid attendance is now reached over 70 people, so is heading towards our goal of 100. He is visiting MH Sunrise on Tuesday morning, to get a number from their group as well.
Mike advised that our next two meetings will be at the Medicine Hat Lodge, to allow for a preparation presentation of the club, prior to the "Why Rotary" event, as well as an "after action" report of the event on April 29th. It is important that as a club we review how the event went, what we might do differently in the future and how we might encourage those who were interested to attend future meetings.
CENTENNIAL TRAIL CLEANUP:
Dan Kammer and Dale Stein have scouted out all the potential future dates and believe that Saturday May 25th, from 9:30 am to noon will be the best time for the club to help with the annual "Litter Blitz" and clean up Rotary Centennial Trail. Please put this date aside, as many hands make this less work.
YOUTH EXCHANGE UPDATE:
Milan Vujovic has been assisting the MH Saamis Club with the Youth Exchange program for 2024-25. He will be performing the role of inbound counsellor for their Brazilian exchange student, Samaria, who will be arriving in late August. He hopes to have her attend a meeting of ours in the fall and perhaps a few as the year progresses.
BINGO:
The next bingo is Monday evening, April 15th and a complete team has volunteered. Thanks to everyone who has stepped forward.
CLUB PROGRAM:
As mentioned by Mike Christie, the next two meetings (April 22 and 29) will be at the MH Lodge to allow preparations and post-mortem of the "Why Rotary" event.
Then we are scheduled for the MH College, Room S102 on May 6 and May 13. Arrangements to this "test site" for meetings are in the works.
Also, Dave asked everyone to put aside the evening of Thursday June 6th. The winner of the 2024 Rosebowl, Sterling Clark, will be performing for the Rotary Club and guests at the Recital Hall, Cultural Center at 7:00 pm. Please consider this a partners event, and an opportunity to invite interested parties to see one of our Music Festival alumni perform. A reception at the Cultural Center is planned for after the performance.
District Governor Kurt:
DG Kurt was very happy to be able to join us for lunch, to thank everyone for what they do in Rotary. He is planning to attend the "Why Rotary" event and looks forward to what will come from it. He also encouraged everyone to watch for the start of the RI Convention in Singapore (June 21st), for the best deals on the RI Convention in Calgary. Both hotel bookings and 2025vconvention registration will be available once the 2024 convention begins.
Assistant Governor Sharon:
AG Sharon, with her Rotary Hat on, was visiting the club for two reasons today,
This Saturday, April 20th at 2:00 pm the MH Saamis Club has arranged for Jim Marshall to be in attendance at his exhibit at the Yuill Gallery at Medalta. So a form of a private viewing is being planned, with the artist in attendance. If you have not seen the exhibit, please take this opportunity to come out and support Jim's work.
As well, Sharon spoke about an upcoming fundraiser for the Monarch Theatre. On Mother's Day, Sunday May 12th, a duo will be performing two concerts at the Monarch. The cost of each ticket is $70.00, which will return a $40.00 charitable receipt for each ticket. Some folks are going to both concerts, so the downtown restaurants have been asked to make sure they are staffed for a large turnout. Given it's Mother's Day, they are going to be busy anyway, so reservations are recommended. The box office at the Monarch will be available Monday to Friday (8 - 5) to purchase tickets. A great idea for something special for Mom, or a significant other!
Family of Rotary
The club sends its thoughts and prayers along to the Shepard family, as they deal with several serious family health challenges.
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.
