President Margie Booyens drew attention to the fact that the Club’s Rotary Music Festival kicked off for the 65th time on March 2 and encouraged members to support it in whatever ways they could.
President Margie also encouraged members to read an article from the February issue of The Rotarian on the forward thinking of Rotary President Elect, Holger Knaak (Germany). She asked members to think about how we can appropriately apply some of his ideas within the Medicine Hat community, aimed at involving younger people in Rotary. She posed the question: ‘Is establishing a Rotaract Club (once again) an option we should consider?’
Program:
Today's program was Rotarian Elaine Behiel's Classification Talk. Thank you Elaine for sharing your story with us!
Elaine was born and raised in Medicine Hat. She is the oldest of three girls. After graduating from Medicine Hat High School, she started working at the Hospital. She got married in 1975 and started a family of four children in 1985. Elaine had a rewarding career spanning 38 years of service. She had a number of posts: Purchasing Inventory Control; Accounts Receivable Supervisor; Application Analyst; Patient Safety – Manager’s Assistant; and Information & Privacy – Director’s Assistant. Elaine retired in October 2017, which has given her more time to spend with her six grandchildren. Elaine and her husband separated in May 2019. She has started a new chapter in her life, which has included joining Rotary, to meet new people and to give back to the community.
Rotary Club Information:
Meeting venue and meals: President-Elect Mark Sorenson shared with members, the Board’s recommendation to move the location of Club meetings from the Medicine Hat Lodge to the Medicine Hat College from Monday, April 6, 2020. Members were previously surveyed and a number of alternative venues had been explored by Heather Bach (Director: Club Administration). The benefits of meeting and eating at the College were outlined (choice and cost of meal; quality of food; free parking; free venue); the concerns about the rising costs of the current venue (new venue charge and cost of food) were put forward. Mark indicated that there were still details to thrash out (such as storage space), but that the College was willing to accommodate the Club. After a period of time, members would be asked to evaluate whether the new meeting venue and menu met the Club’s meeting expectations and needs. Mark emphasised that March meetings would be held at The Lodge, with the exception of Monday, March 16 when the meeting would be held at the College with guest speaker Dr Terry Chapman (VP Academic).
Housekeeping:
Please bring club draw items. It is an important part of our meeting and funds to run the club.
If you have a Meeting Minute, please send President Margie a note (email, phone, in-person)
Board minutes can be found on ClubRunner, under Club Documents.
Upcoming Club Program, Activities, and Meetings
Shalla Shaharyar's Classification Talk: Monday, March 9, 2020
Membership Committee Meeting: Thursday, March 12 at 5:00 pm.
Rotary Music Festival Rosebowl: Friday, March 13
Rotary Music Festival Stars of the Festival: Sunday, March 15
Rotary Meeting at the Medicine Hat College: Guest Speaker Dr. Terry Chapman
Rotary Bingo at Top Hat: Wednesday, March 18 at 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Rotary Club Board Meeting: Wednesday, March 18 at 7:00 pm
Tri-Club Social at Grit City: Friday, March 20 at 5:00 pm.
Business Meeting, Monday, March 30.
Upcoming Rotary Club, District and International Events:
Tri-Club Social with District Trainers: Friday, March 20 at 5:00 pm at Grit City
Cultural Fair: Margie reminded members about a ‘Cultural Fair’ on March 7, 2020 from 11:00 – 14:00 at the Veiner Centre, Medicine Hat – to celebrate the 2020 International Women’s Day theme ‘An equal world is an enabled world’. This free event, put on by Unisphere, of which Rotarian Shalla Shaharyar is the chair, will include cultural entertainment and artifacts, ethnic food and the opportunity to listen to diverse stories of diverse women in diverse roles in our very own community.
Sunrise Club: Margie encouraged members to attend the Sunrise Club meeting the following day (Tuesday 3 March), at which Rotarian Sean Blewett would be the guest speaker, talking about the Blewett family’s recent experiences while on vacation in fire ravaged Australia.
Club1000 tickets: Glen encouraged all who have sold tickets to return the stubs and the money – as well as unsold tickets. He encouraged those who are able, to continue selling as many as possible. Tickets will also be on sale at the Rotary Music Festival until Monday 9 March.
End Polio Now: Sandy MacKay reported on the latest developments of Rotary fighting the wild polio virus in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Gates Foundation – Rotary fundraising partnership will continue for another year, with the GF donating $2 for every $1 raised by Rotary.
Dinner Club: Sandy reminded members that the Dinner Club was up and running. He invited the participation of those who had not yet joined.
Adventures in Citizenship: Mark S shared that six Interactors had been interviewed by PP Chris P and himself and two selected for the Adventures in Citizenship in May 2020. He commented on the high quality of the applicants.
Interact: On Theresa Eisenbath’s request, Margie encouraged members to contribute goods for the Garage Sale of the Interactors to be held at MHHS on April 3-4, 2020, 09:00 – 16:00. Theresa is willing to pick up goods if members are unable to take them to her house.
Rotary Club Interact Meeting: The Rotary Club-Interact meeting will be held at the MHHS on Monday, May 25, arrival at 5:30 pm, meeting, conducted by Interactors, starting at 6:00 pm.
Birthdays: The month of March
Dan Kammerer: March 4
Dave Panabaker: March 7
Shann Snedden: March 17
Terry Cooper: March 25
Club Anniversaries: The month of March.
Stan Sakamoto: 36 Years
Jack Snedden: 31 Years
Mike Christie: 18 Years
Dave Stalwick: 18 Years
John John: 17 Years
Teresa Schile: 6 Years
Robert Bruce Shepard: 6 Years
Dominique Hirsch: 3 Years
Dawn Barr: 16 Years
Makeups:
Brown Bag lunch: 7 Friends of Rotary
Bingo: 7 members
Board meeting: 8 members
Family of Rotary:
Ray Kemp reported that Gerry Nadeau has come through his operation successfully. He is likely to remain in hospital for a week.
For those other members of the club who are facing health challenges, we keep you in our thoughts and prayers and also wish you well.
