President Milan started our meeting at 12:15, with O'Canada and a reading of the 4-Way Test. Once that was complete, we welcomed guests all around the room and then Milan introduced Mayor Linnise Clark, our guest speaker.
As well as a talk from Mayor Clark, President Milan was pleased to present a Paul Harris Fellowship to one of our newest members, Brian Andjelic.
At the close of the meeting, the Mayor was asked to join us in celebrating a club award from Rotary District 5360, which was presented at the District Conference last week. As it happens, a reporter from the MH News was available for a photo and the article made the FRONT PAGE of the Tuesday May 12th edition of the News.
President Milan also advised, in answer to a question, that the Medicine Hat Rotary Club will be involved in the Canada Day celebrations at Kin Coulee this year. He has attended a meeting of the organizing group and the "cake cutting" will be back on!
ROTARY AT DISTRICT LEVEL
We are coming to the end of the 25-26 Rotary year, District Conference occurred last weekend in Red Deer and was apparently a great success.
ROTARY AT MEDICINE HAT LEVEL: MONARCH 1911 SOCIETY
The Monarch is having a promotion on a "book" of tickets. Check it out - it is a great deal!
Our club will try to keep track of events on at the Monarch, and will give members a heads-up about opportunities to serve. If you are interested in volunteering at the Monarch, please let Rotarian Janessa Anderson know (403-952-1907) and she will provide details of available shifts and responsibilities.
Volunteering at a show is a great way to connect with the community and support our historic local landmark. Assistant Governor Sharon McDonnell thanked members who helped to BBQ and sell hamburgers at the Monarch during the screening of the Tiger matches.
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).
The Rotary Club has always made a point of inducting our serving Mayor as an honorary member of our club, so today we were delighted to welcome to the meeting Mayor Linnsie Clark.
Mayor Clark spoke about her personal giving and gratitude for this community. It has an amazing volunteer base, which helps special events happen. She spoke passionately about the need for charity and unity within the community, especially during this troubling geo-political time. She especially mentioned the youth in the community and how they are at great risk.
She answered a number of questions from the club, including economic development, sponsorship of major upcoming events, the timeline for a new municipal strategic plan and what is the “city's new slogan”, as our gas is no longer our primary focus.
The club thanked her for her service to the community and for attending the meeting.
At the same time, President Milan was able to correct a past oversight, as Linnsie should have received a “membership certificate” during the last term, but it was overlooked. So he was happy to make the presentation today.
ATTENDANCE: It was a busy meeting, we had two members attending online and 30 in person (including our guests)
GUESTS: (sorry, in advance I don't think I got everyone)
Igor
Uwe
Martha and David
Shirley
Monica
Ken
Anna
Mayor Linnsie Clark
MEETING DRAW:
A set of walking sticks, donated by Kitt and Dieter were won by our guest at the meeting, David Shue.
BIRTHDAYS:
Anne Carrier: May 5
Neil Ratol: May 12
Doug Fleming: May 19
Mihaela Craciun: May 19
Dawn Barr: May 31
ROTARY ANNIVERSARIES:
Dick Northcott: 26 years (May 01, 2000)
Sue Withers: 8 years (May 14, 2018)
WEDDING ANNIVERSARY ROSE RUNNER FOR MAY 2026:
The Rose Runner for May is DALE STEIN.
NEW MINUTES AND REMINDERS:
ROTARY CENTENNIAL DRIVE CLEANUP: The Litter Blitz along Rotary Centennial Drive took place on SATURDAY 9 MAY. Dale provided gloves, bags, coffee and a treat! The city has undertaken to collect the filled bags. Thank you to everyone who participated.
REAL HUMANITARIAN COLOR RUN: SATURDAY 23 MAY: Deborah Northcott has advised that if volunteers are willing to help with tossing color at a color station along the trail, please to let Rosalee Guillaume know (rfritzler@gmail.com).
BBQ SOCIAL FOR ALL ROTARIANS IN MEDICINE HAT: Kinette Kitchen, Kin Coulee. Members are asked to put THURSDAY 21 MAY from 5-8pm in their schedules. President Milan and the Club Program Committee are organizing a relaxed, fun time together on this date, in Kin Coulee, enjoying special food (the nature of which will be shared nearer the time!) not only with our Club members but with all Rotarians in Medicine Hat, plus family and friends!
BINGO UPDATE: A successful bingo was held on Thursday May 7th and Odessa Vermee was the winner of the guess pot. Our next bingo is Sunday evening, May 24th. A signup email invitation will go out this week.
ROTARY CLUB OF MEDICINE HAT DINNER CLUB: Odessa Vermee has taken over responsibility for organizing our Dinner Club. Thank you, Odessa!
GOLF AFTER ROTARY: Rotary golfers will begin our regular golf after the meeting ritual on Monday May 25th. We normally golf at the Connaught Golf Club and begin around 1:45 or 2:00 pm. It's a lot of fun, if your name is not on the weekly signup list, please contact either Dale Stein or Dave Panabaker. “Fore”…we say that a lot.
ROTARY BOARD PARTICIPATION: Past President Mike Christie advised that the club is still short two Board Members for the 2026 - 2027 year, where Doug Fleming will be President. If you have time and an interest in the operation of the club please contact Mike so he can get your name registered.
TERRY FOX RUN: SUNDAY 20 SEPTEMBER: Keith Walker spoke about the 2026 Terry Fox Run. He reminded us that it was 46 years ago, that Terry Fox crossed Canada, running on an artificial leg, to raise money for cancer. The annual runs organized by Keith and the Sunrise Rotary Club have, over the years, have raised $70,000. So this year, the Terry Fox run is once again around the Rotary Sunrise Trail (Medicine Hat College campus), 3km, no hills, starting at 10:30. Do join in! You don't have to run, you can walk! Form a team to participate and have fun! Please register: terryfox.org. You can donate on this website or at the start of the race.
DOOR GREETERS NEEDED FOR MONDAY NOON MEETINGS: Please talk to Dave Stalwick. Consider getting your name on the roster. Being a ‘meeting greeter’ is a great way to welcome and to get to know fellow members. At the front table today were Dave Stalwick and Dale Stein. Look who you might run into!!
NOMINATE A SENIOR FOR THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION TOP 7 OVER 70 AWARD
Eligible nominees are seniors aged 70+ who live in Medicine Hat, Redcliff, or surrounding counties and special areas. Nominees should be recognized for new achievements started after age 70, rather than lifetime accomplishments.
The award honours individuals who demonstrate excellence, creativity, innovation, or collaboration in areas such as agriculture, health and recreation, arts and culture, science, business, volunteerism, the environment, overcoming adversity, or making a difference.
For nomination forms and details, visit https://cfsea.ca/top-7-70. You can also talk to Margie Booyens, who is one of the ambassadors of this 2026 award.
Deadline for submission of nominations: June 30, 2026.
PECHA KUCHA: FRIDAY 5 JUNE: Terry Cooper is on the program for the forthcoming Pecha Kucha, starting at 7:30pm, at the Esplanade. Terry will be talking about the Team Freewheel project of our club, hoping especially to recruit volunteers to assist with the restoration of bicycles prior to their donation.
Family of Rotary:
The members of the Medicine Hat Rotary Club were saddened to learn of the passing last week of Jane Mackay, spouse of Rotarian Sandy Mackay. Jane was a long time support of the Rotary Music Festival, the Youth Exchange program and the entire arts community in Medicine Hat. We send our love and sympathy to Rotarian Sandy and to all the Mackay family. A Celebration of Life will be scheduled at Medalta for sometime in July 2026.
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.
Our first meeting of every month is a business meeting, but all meetings are both in person and available on ZOOM. Check the club calendar, which is usually up to date for our meeting locations and program.
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