Rotary Weekly News - April 28, 2025 (Apr. 28, 2025)

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Today's meeting was led by PE Milan Vujovic, who covered for P Mike Christie. Milan started the meeting promptly and welcomed everyone to our second meeting in the downstairs meeting room at CORE.

Milan reminded everyone that it was our Federal election today, and encouraged anyone who had not already voted to "exercise their franchise" and put in your vote. It is a privilege that not everyone in the world can enjoy.

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 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 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

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 SE.

On Tuesday April 29th and Wednesday April 30th the Monarch will be opening their doors to play the Tiger away playoff games in Lethbridge. Admission is by donation to the Root Cellar, and the popcorn machine will be running.

On May 3rd and May 4, the theatre will be showing several of the original Star Wars movies, so check out their Facebook page if you are interested.

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.

Stan Sakamoto mentioned that the "Friends of the Monarch" are organizing a concert by Oscar Lopez, for 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.
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.
Registration for the 2025 Rotary International Convention - https://convention.rotary.org/en-us
The constantly updated convention website is http://www.rotarycalgary2025.org

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.

Presentation about AA

The club was delighted to welcome Dustin and Stewart, who spoke about Alcoholics Anonymous. Both gentleman gave a personal and heartfelt presentation about their stories and the incredible work that AA has done for them and for their loved ones. It was quite an emotional talk.

AA began in 1935 - with one alcoholic Bill W talking to another alcoholic Dr Bob S, The spirit at that meeting is the same spirit that still holds A.A. meeting together today in approximately 180 countries.

The A.A. Program of Action is;

A way to stop drinking and stay stopped.
AA's suggested Twelve Steps are the program to recovery.
The steps are based on the experience of early AA members.

AA is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.

The AA model has been used across a vast number of organizations, well over 200 at this point.

A meaningful and impactful presentation.

Meeting News

GUESTS:

We welcomed Steward and Dustin from Alcoholics Anonymous.

ATTENDANCE:

20 Rotarians attended in person, and 2 guests

CLUB DRAW: None today.

Please remember to contribute gifts for the weekly draw. If you are somewhere interesting, a small gift to the club is an easy fundraiser!

Makeups: None were mentioned.

Birthdays:

Anne Carrier. May 5.
Doug Fleming. May 19.
Mihaela Craciun . May 19.
Ian McLaughlin. May 20.
Dawn Barr May 31.

Rotary Anniversaries:

Ian McLaughlin 33 years May 1, 1992.
Dick Northcott. 25 years. May 1, 2000.
Susan Withers 7 years. May 14, 2018.

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY ROSE RUNNER FOR MAY 2025

Gail Halderman

Minute Reminders

"WHY ROTARY" RECRUITING EVENT

PP Bruce Shepard reminded everyone that the 2nd "Why Rotary" event will be taking place on Wednesday April 30th, in the Stampede Ballroom. Tickets are $50.00 each, and he is taking orders for them now. This year there is a full buffet supper, and tickets will be allocated to each Rotary club in Medicine Hat, based on membership numbers. The doors open at 5:00 pm with supper scheduled for 6:00 pm.

DISTRICT 5360 AGM

The annual general meeting of District 5360 will take place on May 30, beginning at 9:00 am. Registration is required, you'll find the sign up form on the District website.

ANNUAL ROADWAY CLEANUP

Dale Stein and Margie Booyens thanked everyone who took part in the annual cleanup will tool place on Saturday April 26th, beginning at 9:00 am. The group worked on Rotary Centennial Drive NW, from Division Ave. N west to 10th Ave NW. A total of 30 big black bags of garbage were gathered up.

BINGO UPDATES

At the last Rotary Bingo on April 16th, a total of 59 players were served and Gregg Martin won the guess pot. The club earned $471.75 toward the pooled profit. We received two bingo checks for March which averaged $2,750 per event, a great return. Please consider helping out at one of the future bingo events. The next one is Saturday afternoon, May 3, beginning at 11:45 am. The team is full, thanks!

70TH ANNIVERSARY ROTARY MUSIC FESTIVAL ROSEBOWL WINNER CONCERT

We are delighted that the winner of the 2025 Rosebowl, pianist Miriam Monet, has, on our request, agreed to put on a concert for Rotarians and friends, on Friday May 16th, beginning at 7:00 pm in St Barnabas Church. This will be a practice run for the Provincials, as she will play the two pieces she has entered for this 'next level' competition. Please consider bring a plate of "something" to share, for the social after the concert.

CANADA "ELBOWS UP" IN VETERAN'S PARK

Stan Sakamoto advised that he is helping organize a fun, patriotic party in Veteran's Park on Saturday May 3rd. It's all about being Canadian and celebrating our culture.

ROTARY DINNER CLUB

Members are reminded that everyone who has signed up for this year's dinner club can now book a date for the dinner in their home. If you have a particular date in mind, it's best to get it to Milan (or his spouse Almira) so that date can be fitted into the schedule. Please phone and book your dinner as soon as you can.

Family of Rotary

We wish President Mike Christie a rapid recovery from his hip replacement surgery, which took place last Friday.
The club sends John John get well wishes, for a recovery from a bout of vertigo.
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.