Rotary Weekly News (Jun. 09, 2025)

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Canada Day coming up – the club agreed to cut cake at the Canada Day cellie.
8 people have signed up to help Odessa move her store. Thank you so much!
Still need one floor worker for Bingo on Sunday at 5. Peter volunteered and a full team is on the bench!
The sign in sheet serves as attendance record as well as meets the building sign in requirement, so no need to sign in at the bottom of the stairs.
There is a motion outstanding on change of location – vote to occur next week.
Dr. R. Northcott will be coming to speak on his missions to the Third World.
Next meeting includes a new member induction and July 7 meeting will include the changing of the guard – new executive will take over.

Rotary Club "What-z New":

We are looking for a group of volunteers who would like to learn the 'sign-in desk routine' and who are prepared to cover the role (with a greeter to assist them). Please speak to Dave Stalwick (Director: Club Service) if you are willing to help out with this function.
A few more meeting helpers are required. We ared 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 to ensure that it is included in the next club meeting and the subsequent Weekly 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 S.E, Medicine Hat.

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.

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, which is JUST AROUND THE CORNER!
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
A 'Calgary Orientation' webinar is on Tuesday, May 27, 09:30 - 10:45. If you missed it, the link to a recording of the webinar will be emailed out by RI by June 6.
Those attending the convention are encouraged to attend the New Generations Service Exchange (NGSE) program PIZZA PARTY on Tuesday 24 June from 5:30pm at the Knox United Church. Tickets can be purchased online through the NGSE website on the District 5360 website. Here's a direct link: https://rotary5360.ca/events/new-generations-service-exchange-%28ngse%29-pizza-party/

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.

Medicine Hat Stampede - More Than a Summer Fair!

Introduced by club secretary , Doug Fleming. Doug is a long time Stampede volunteer and the is proud grandfather of the MH Stampede Queen!

Lori Siedlieki serves on the MH Stampede board as the President. She is a pharmacy tech at AHS. Lori is a former chair of Stampede Queen committee. As a chaperone for the queen contestants, she is in effect the “Queen Mother”. Ron Edwards is a long time businessman and involved with the MH Stampede as the GM for the last 4 years.

The Stampede has 18 PFT employees and 33 committees plus event and seasonal activity staff. The annual stampede is about 2% of activities. For example, this past weekend included a graduation, wedding, farmer markets and several other smaller events. This week about 400 people and 600 horses will arrive with the chuckwagon races. The RCMP musical ride comes in August – groups of ten or more get ticket discount of $3/ticket. Then Cars and Guitars. Then Indian Relay racing comes after that along with indigenous trade show, dancing and cultural events. Last is Hearts to Horse – a unique equine entertainment event. So the Stampede is much more than a summer fair and rodeo.

The Stampede brings about $20 million into the community annually.

The issue facing the Stampede is the need to replace a grandstand which has reached end of life and needs major improvements or replacement.

Q&A followed. There are 2 booths open to charities and non-profits for fundraising. The stampede takes 30% of revenue. The stampede itself can not give a tax receipt for donations. The Friends of the Fair can take donations and offer a receipt but money donated must go to the Pioneer Village OR the grandstand replacement.

Interact Year in Review

Interact Club joined us from MHHS with 4 students including the 2 co-presidents. Presented on the past years activities. Have about 10 consistent members meeting weekly. They encourage school spirit, give back to the community and build positive relationships.

For fundraisers, support the Root Cellar and Health Foundation.

Activities:

At the beginning of the school year, did face painting for football games and at the Purple Shirt Basketball game. Proceeds went to the Foodbank and ALS Society.

Host bake sales throughout the year as a fundraiser with funds going to the Root Cellar and Real Humanitarian

Fill A Sock campaign is an annual event for the Health Foundation to fill a sock with basic hygiene products for those in need

Candy Jar fundraiser at Valentines Day – funds to ALS Society. It wasn’t as successful as hoped but learned from it for future activities.

Book Drive – leave a book, take a book. Books left donated to the Health Foundation

Root Cellar volunteering – several members volunteered for up to 3 hours a day helping prepare food baskets and assisting in store activities. Provided a give back to the community learning and education on how a charity works.

RYLA Trip – Rotary Youth Leadership – week long leadership development camp that helped attendees learn about themselves and develop leadership skills.

YIP presentation – Organized by the Community Foundation to showcase MH Community Housing and Redcliff Youth Center and each organization received $900

Cheque Presentations - $350 donated to the Root Cellar and the Health Foundation with surplus funds.

A short Q&A with members ensued.

Meeting News

GUESTS:

Tiffany Adams and 6 Interact students from MHHS
Ron Edwards and Lori Siedlieki from the Medicine Hat Stampede
Leela John

ATTENDANCE:

22 Rotarians attended in person. 1 attended Online.

CLUB DRAW: Terry Brekko won chocolate

Please remember to contribute gifts for the weekly draw. If you are somewhere interesting, a small gift to the club for the draw is much appreciated! STOCKS ARE LOW!

Makeups: None were mentioned.

Birthdays:

Mike Christie June 7
Alain Guerard June 8
Terry Brekko June 9
Sandy MacKay June 15
Lionel Brideson June 21.

Rotary Anniversaries:

Mark Sorenson 27 years June 01 1998
Melanie Harty 15 years June 30 2010
Gwen Dirk 04 years June 28 2021

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY ROSE RUNNER FOR JUNE 2025

Anne Carrier

Minutes

BINGO UPDATES

Next bingo is Sunday 15 June at Top Hat Bingo at 5PM. Dave has a full team!

CLUB PROGRAM

June 16: Guest speaker, Rotarian Dick Northcott on International Aid

June 23: No meeting as the Rotary International Convention will be on, in Calgary

June 30: No meeting, this being the day before Canada Day

July 1: Cake cutting in Kin Coulee on Canada Day! More information and a schedule for volunteering will follow

VENUE DISCUSSION

Members are reminded that we are examining the pluses and minus of the CORE venue as a permanent home, so comments and concerns are welcome. Please provide any feedback to Dave Stalwick (d.stalwick@gmail.com). A club discussion on the meeting venue will be held in the near future. Date for the vote on this motion is Monday 16 June 2025.

Family of Rotary

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 club sends its best wished to Dawn Barr recovering form Hip Surgery in Kelowna.
The club wished Jane MacKay and Milan Vujovic success in upcoming Joint Replacement surgeries.
Margie presented that a memorial service for those who have passed recently on 26 June at St Joseph.