Edition: July 18, 2023
wellingtonrotary.ca Chartered November 22, 2002
Rotarian of the Year:
Yvonne Buys
Club Bulletin for week of July 18, 2023 This Week: Margo Langford & Carolyn Moulton
(PECSyria Relief Activities)
President's Message
I have an embarrassing confession to make - I have not been a regular reader of the Rotary magazine. But, now that I must write something for the bulletin each week, I’m highly motivated. So, I’ve been poring through past issues and - lo and behold - there’s a lot in there. For example, did you know that:
Before she entered politics, US Senator Tammy Duckworth used to work at Rotary International
The first “Little Free Library” was created in 2009 by Rotarian Todd Bol, in Hudson, Wisconsin
The CART Fund (Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust Fund) was started by Rotarian Norm Rogers in 1995, after his wife was diagnosed with the disease. The idea was simple – place a little blue bucket on the table and ask Rotarians to toss in their pocket change at each meeting, with all money collected to go to research grants. The idea spread. By 1999, $100,000 had been raised and the first grant issued. By 2022, donations totaled $11.2 million, which had funded 64 research grants.
Rotary Fellowships are international groups whose members share a common recreational or vocational interest. Several of these groups represent interests of some of our club members, such as Golf, Curling, Flying, Birdwatching, Photography, and Wine. Membership in these Fellowships is open to any Rotary member. Something for everyone.
I was most impressed by stories that demonstrated how participation in a Rotary activity at a young age profoundly changed a person’s life.
Take Lungiswa Gwasi from South Africa who, after attending a RYLA camp in 2007, started an Interact Club and was its first president, then went on a Rotary Youth Exchange to Brazil in 2009 and eventually became RI’s Empowering Girls ambassador in 2021 (Jan 2023 issue).
Or take Punit Renjen from Rohtak, India, who was selected in 1984 for an Ambassadorial Scholarship from The Rotary Foundation. After getting a Master’s degree in management he eventually became CEO of Deloitte, an organization with 415,000 employees in about 150 countries and was selected as Global Indian of the Year by The Economic Times in 2021 (Mar 2023 issue).
Or take Danneille Davis from southern Florida, who became a Rotaractor after attending a RYLA camp in 2008, then received a Rotary Scholarship in 2021 to earn a Master’s degree in Gender, Peace and Security (June 2023 issue).
I wouldn’t be surprised to one day read a similar story about our speaker last week, RYLS participant Jennifer Armstrong.
And, in closing, it looks like pretty decent weather for the week ahead, just in the Goldilocks zone – not too hot, not too cold, just right.
Lyn McGowan
President, Rotary Club of Wellington
---------- // ----------
Last Week: Jennifer Armstrong (RYLS Experience)
Meeting Notes by Barry Davidson
ROTARY MEETING NOTES, JULY 11
28 members and one guest, Lois Brown, were present today to hear Jennifer Armstrong describe her sponsored attendance at the Rotary Youth Leadership Symposium (RYLS).
Jennifer found the program very helpful and it built her confidence to assert leadership. The programs included:
Explaining the situation that girls in third world countries find themselves in when hey get their menstrual period and lack the supplies to manage it. They do not tend school and fall behind their male counterparts as a result.
A discussion of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity that sensitized them to these topics.
Team building exercise on a physical rope course.
She learned how she acted as a leader as one who steps back to see the strengths of others. She highly recommends that the Rotary Club of Wellington continue to sponsor local youths.
When asked what local organizations she has worked in she said:
Wellington Waterfront Committee
Youth Focus
Wellington Recreation Committee
A co-founder of the Wellington Community Association
She studied kinesiology at McMaster during the pandemic so it was all online. She just returned from Switzerland and looks forward to going to Australia.
When asked how we could attract more young people to Rotary, she said sponsoring events in which they could participate would help them to learn about the Club. Ken mentioned establishing a Roteract club to which Jen said the lack of a high school in Wellington made it more difficult to attract youth to some activity here.
Club Business
The President handed out a membership survey and asked everyone to complete it by next week.
Membership dues of $200 are due now by cash, cheque to Peter Campbell, or e-transfer to Yvonne at y.buys@utoronto.ca.
Kim asked for a few helpers to pickup bottles and cans at the municipal dump when he is unavailable. Chris and Dave R volunteered.
Cashiers at the Bottle Depot are asked to unbundle paper bills and count them with the loose ones. After the 1 pm shift is finished, take a photo of the tally page and text to Trudy and Ted.
Tim reported that Channells have donated the corn for the Rotary community party on Aug 20.
Baker Joe had surgery in Ottawa and will be laid up for a few weeks. A Get-Well card will be sent by Christine.
Christine reported that Heather O’Connor, the author of the new book on the Storybook Walk, will have another book coming out in the fall. She will appear July 25 at 10 am at the Wellington kiosk for a dedication ceremony with the mayor and counsellor. Members are urged to attend the dedication.
David Hawkin’s number was drawn for the 50:50, but he did not draw the ace of spades.
-------- // ----------
Bottle Depot Volunteers Schedule for This Week
Wednesday July 19, 2023
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.: John Inwood, Ken Robertson, Ted Nash, Dave Wallace(FoR)
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Roger Tessier, Norm Dodgson, Alex Lacher (FoR), Sethu Madhaven (FoR),
Saturday July 22, 2023
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Doug Henderson (FoR), Ken DesRoches (FoR), Julie Craig (FoR)
Needed: 1 Rotarian to be Cashier/Lead
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Dawn Cutler, Howard Ziedenberg, Chris Compeau, Brenda Little (FoR)
O Lord and giver of all good
We thank thee for our day food
May Rotary friends and Rotary ways
Help us to serve thee all our days.
------ // ------
Four Way Test
Of the things we think, say, and do:
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and better
FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all
concerned?
------ // ------
Rotary Song
R-O-T-A-R-Y, that spells Rotary.
R-O-T-A-R-Y, is known on land and sea.
From north to south, and east to west,
They profit most who serve the best,
R-O-T-A-R-Y, that spells Rotary.
.jpg)
.png)
