Rotary Weekly News - May 27, 2024 (May 27, 2024)

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

The meeting began with an introduction of the students and their advisors to the meeting and then a presentation by the students about their great year. The article below will speak to the work of the students, it was impressive.

The Rotary Club especially wanted to recognize the students Faculty Advisors, Mrs. Tammy Vaari and Mrs. Tiffany Adams. All this great work is thanks to their diligent care. As well, the club thanks Peter Mueller, who is the Rotary advisor to the Interact club.

The Interact students and the advisors were thanked by President Bruce Shepard, who advised them to continue their good work and that they were on a "good path".

President Bruce thanked all those Rotarians who participated in the cleanup of Rotary Centennial trail last Saturday. A lot of litter and trash was removed from the trail and the area looked much better after the group was finished. Special thanks to Dan Kammerer and Dale Stein for arranging and organizing the event.

President Bruce also reminded all the Rotarians who were present that "Early Bird" registration for the 2025 Rotary International Convention, to be held in Calgary from June 21 to 25, 2025 was only available until May 29th, so don't delay..

Also, the Board of the Rotary Club meets by ZOOM on Wednesday this week, beginning at 7:00 pm.

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 June 21 - 26, 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)
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.
Registration for the 2025 Rotary International Convention will be open on https://convention.rotary.org/en-us when the 2024 Convention opens in Singapore. Early bird pricing is available until May 31.

Other District news

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.

Supper with the Interact Club

The Medicine Hat Rotary Club has an annual tradition, to spend an evening meeting near the end of the school year, with our Medicine Hat High School Interact club. This Monday evening we were able to do just that, and. as always were impressed and proud of the work that has been going on all year at the school.

This years club has been led by co-Presidents, Jenna Schubert and Lydia Snider, as well as Vice President Sterling Clark. The club has 20 active members and meets every Thursday at lunch. They have participated in a number of great fundraising and learning projects this year, including Bake Sales, a poppy campaign for Remembrance Day, a 'fill a sock" promotion for those in need in the community and "Pi-day" (which involved teachers getting "pie in the face", a huge success as a fundraiser). Their earnings through the year were donated to the Mustard Seed.

The club also participated in the "Youth in Philanthropy" program organized by the Connunity Foundation of SE Alberta. This was their 10th year in this program, and after consideration of a number of different charities, their funds were divided between Prairie Gleaners and the Alzheimer's Society.

We all enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by the high school culinary students, it was very tasty.

President-elect Mike Christie assisted the students with the silent auction that they ran for this event, and they raised over $800.00 for their next projects.

We all had a great time, really enjoyed the visit and the enthusiasm and energy of the Interact students. Well done!

Meeting News

GUESTS:

Sorry, too many guests and visitors to name. The meeting was attended by 15 Rotarians, 9 partners, 6 guests and 6 Interact students/advisors.

CLUB DRAW:

No draw tonight, at our visiting meeting.

Please remember to contribute gifts for the weekly draw. The stock cupboard is looking a tad bare!

Makeups: The Saturday cleanup crew on Rotary Centennial trail was mentioned.

Birthdays:

Mike Christie June 7^th.
Alain Guerard June 8^th.
Terry Brekko June 9^th.
Sandy Mackay June 15^th.
David Maclean June 26^th.

Rotary Anniversaries:

Mark Sorenson 26 years. Jun 1,1998.
Gwen Dirk 3 years. Jun 28, 2021.
Melanie Harty 14 years. Jun 30, 2010.

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY ROSE RUNNER FOR JUNE 2024

Anne Carrier

Minute Reminders:

ROTARY NIGHT AT THE BALLPARK:

Saamis Rotary Club has booked the dugout deck at the Mavericks game, on Thursday evening May 30th. If you would like to take part and enjoy some fellowship (and a good ballgame) please contact Barry Finnimore (403-504-9164) who has the tickets. He'd love to see some of our club participate.

BINGO:

The next bingo is Thursday evening, May 30^thand a full team has been recruited. Thanks to all.

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE:

Two of our previous Rosebowl winners, as well as friends and accompanists will be performing at St Barnabas Church on Wednesday June 12th, beginning at 7:00 pm. Come out and support some of our outstanding youth musical talent.

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT TO UKRAINE:

Alain Guerard was happy to be able to advise that a group of 18 hospitals in the Ukraine have agreed to take the medical supplies that have been gathered from across our District and beyond. Loading of the containers in Calgary will take place in early June.

COMMUNITY SERVICE WITH SAAMIS IMMIGRATION:

In addition, the Rotary Club is sponsoring an event for the Learning English students at Saamis Immigration, who are going to Police Point Park on Wednesday May 29th. Club members are invited to attend and help the participants practice their English skills. The bus is arriving at 10:00 am and the program at the Interpretive Center will finish at approx 11:00 am.

ANNUAL ROSEBOWL PERFORMANCE FOR OUR CLUB:

The winner of the 2024 Rosebowl, Sterling Clark, will be performing for the Rotary Club and guests in the Recital Hall, Cultural Center at 7:00 pm on Thursday June 6. Please consider this a partners event, and an opportunity to invite interested parties to see one of our Music Festival alumni perform.

NGSE Participant accommodations required:

Margie Booyens advised that the District has an NGSE participant coming to Medicine Hat. Edward is 21, and from German, taking a degree in education. He has been accepted in our local school district to learn about the Alberta system from the middle of September to the end of November. If you are interested in having him in your house, please contact Margie.

CANADIAN HUMANITARIAN - COLOR RUN:

Milan Vujovic thanked the club for the use of the Rotary Tent, he worked the Canadian Humanitarian Color Run on Saturday and threw out blue and gold paint. CH (now known as Real Humanitarian) organizes the fundraiser every year, and the Rotary Club provides support.

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.