President Bruce started our meeting with a solid "bang" of the bell, and certainly had everyone's attention right away! He welcomed those who were joining us by ZOOM as well as a number of guests and new members.
Bruce also congratulated the Friends of the Monarch and the Monarch 1911 Society on a couple of wonderful concerts on Mothers Day. The performers were outstanding and it was very nice to see the work going on at the venue.
Later in the meeting, Club Service Director Dave Stalwick spoke about the recent series of venue visits, he thanked everyone for being patient and those who spent extra time having these facilities available.
Now that our "test" visits have ended, he is encouraging everyone in the club to provide their first and second choice for a future venue, and if they wish some comments at the end of the second page. He is collecting all the responses by May 30th, so he can review them with the Board and then the results will be discussed at the regular club meeting on Monday June 10th.
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.
The Rotary Club welcomed Francis Barnes to our meeting today. Frances was introduced by Dave Panabaker. Frances is a long time educator in the local school system and recently was the Chair of the Community Foundation of South Eastern Alberta. She is now working as an executive coach, and trying to spend a little more time on the golf course.
Francis was with us today, to introduce us to a project that the CFSEA is taking on, a recognition program for 7 individuals over 70 years old. The criteria specify that the achievements must have been made after the nominee has reached the age of 70. Francis provided examples from a recent gala celebration in Calgary.
Frances asked the members of the Rotary club to first; spread the word, second; gather nominations (Aug 26 is the deadline), and third; to attend the Gala Event, on Thursday October 10, 2024 at Medalta.
More information can be obtained at https://cfsea.ca/top-7-70 . This is not a fundraiser for the CFSEA, it is intended to recognize these outstanding individuals in the community. Dan Kammerer from our club is a member of the CFSEA Board and is available to answer questions if you contact him.
Frances was thanked by President Bruce Shepard, with our Rotary coffee mug.
Shirley Greenfield and Lionel Brideson, prospective members
Odessa Vermee, a new member
CLUB DRAW:
Dawn Barr was the winner of some plum liquor, brought back from Croatia by Joe Hrankowski.
Please remember to contribute gifts for the weekly draw. The stock cupboard is looking a tad bare!
Makeups: The Saturday afternoon bingo team was mentioned.
Birthdays:
Anne Carrier May 5
Doug Fleming May 19
Ian McLaughlin May 20
Dawn Barr May 31
Rotary Anniversaries:
Ian McLaughlin 32 years May 01, 1992
Dick Northcott 24 years May 01, 2000
Dan Kammerer 20 years May 19, 2004
Susan Withers 6 years May 14, 2018
WEDDING ANNIVERSARY ROSE RUNNER FOR MAY 2024
Gail Halderman
Minute Reminders:
BINGO:
The next bingo is Thursday evening, May 30th. At the May 11th bingo, we earned a small profit of $46.75 and Dave Stalwick won the guess pot.
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.
CENTENNIAL TRAIL CLEANUP:
Dan Kammerer and Dale Stein have scouted out all the potential future dates and believe that Saturday May 25th, from 9:30 am to noon will be the best time for the club to help with the annual "Litter Blitz" and clean up Rotary Centennial Trail. Please put this date aside, as many hands make this less work. A signup email has gone out, please respond when you know your Sat May 25th schedule.
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.
TEAM FREEWHEEL UPDATE:
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. Sterling sent the Rotary Club a very nice "thank you" note for our Rosebowl sponsorship.
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.
Rotary Club-Medicine Hat High Interact meeting:
Peter Mueller advised that our annual meeting with the high school Interactors will take place on Monday evening, May 27th. Please be there by 6:00 pm, and the cost is $25.00/person. There will be a presentation by the students and a silent auction to raise funds for their projects. Sign up using the invitation on Clubrunner.
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 Rotary Club of Medicine Hat has returned to meeting in person. Our first meeting of every month is a ZOOM business meeting. Check the club calendar, which is usually up to date for our meeting locations and program.
