The pace of the role of District Governor has certainly slowed in terms of club and area visits but the volume of emails, phone calls and Zoom meetings remain so that one certainly cannot become bored. I’d like to begin with a kudo to the Grimsby at Noon club for hosting a wonderful Mayor’s Gala and inviting Loretta and I to participate. Aside from the venue, food, Rotarians and guests, the most impressive was the amount of involvement and success in the community with Habitat for Humanity. Well done!
It was also a pleasure to be a part of the 50th anniversary of the chartering of the St. Catharines South club along with DGE Melisa, DGN Bob and DGND Frank. The highlight had to be the comments from presidents of the past – both enlightening and entertaining. Thanks to all who had a hand in the planning and execution of a great luncheon.
I continue to hear from our Rotaract clubs in arranging visits to them all. I look forward to getting to know all our Rotaractors in the district and share the magic of Doing Good in this world. If your Rotaract club does not have a date yet, please email me at reg@d7090.org so we can arrange one.
Remember how I’ve said, “The more I know about Rotary, the more I know I don’t know about Rotary.” That certainly proved to be the truth when we attended the first of six Rotary Peace Conferences scheduled this year by President Risely. What a wonderful experience, from some rare Vancouver sunshine to a lineup of great speakers on a variety of subjects related to the environment. I’m so pleased that I took this opportunity to attend a Peace Conference. The final of the six will be held in Chicago, our Rotary birthplace late in the Rotary year. There is also a Peace Summit in Toronto just prior to the convention if anyone is interested in a new experience.
I am so pleased with our positive membership numbers so far this year. In spite of the terminations at the end of the calendar year to minimize paying RI dues for non-members we are still in a positive position at plus 65 at the end of January. Although it is tops among Zone 24’s seventeen districts, we are still down 23 members from the start of the 2016-2017 year. So let’s not get lackadaisical, it is the duty of every Rotarian to ask others to join Rotary and turn around our decreasing club, district and zone numbers. As they say, ‘let’s keep the pedal to the metal!’
Thanks to the team that both planned and executed our on line PETS this year! Led by Al Lutchin and Susan Czyrny the two Zoom sessions were very well done and helped our presidents of 2018-19 get a good start to their year. I’m anxious to review the feedback when it is available. Next is Multi District PETS in Toronto March 2nd and 3rd and then Club Leadership Training Saturday, May 5th in Buffalo. We hope many of you will join your president elect to take advantage of the event and strengthen your club.
Well, off to the Area 2 meeting, my area, and where I spent three very interesting years as assistant governor with the two Ancaster, two Brantford and the Caledonia club. I urge you all to step up our Rotary actions to Makean even bigger Difference in the remaining Rotary year!
Every one of us has had our Rotary “Moment” – that moment when it suddenly hits you, “This is why I do what I do!!”. For each of us, it’s something different. For many of you, it continues to evolve. I’d like to share with you a Rotary Moment I recently experienced at the recent International Assembly I attended in San Diego, California! For those of you who aren’t familiar with what International Assembly is, let me offer a brief explanation. This week long training is the final step in the journey to becoming District Governor. All of the incoming District Governor Elects (all 537!) gather to meet in person with the incoming Rotary International President Elect and to find out what the next “theme” will be for the upcoming Rotary year. Before I left, almost every past District Governor in our district reached out to me, to offer words of wisdom and to tell me that this was going to be the BEST experience of my life. I had no idea…..
Just when I thought my Rotary experience could not get any better, along came International Assembly! Imagine all of the thrill and excitement you feel when you are with your fellow club members doing “something for the good of Rotary”. Now take that energy, enthusiasm and excitement and kick it up a notch… no wait, kick it up about 100 notches!! Then, you will be close to understanding the level of energy and excitement that fills the halls of the week long experience known as International Assembly! I met Rotarians from every corner of the globe! The friendships were instantaneous, and will be life long. The connections were priceless. The experience… there are simply no words. When the theme for 2018 was finally released “Be the Inspiration” I had no doubt that this year will truly be one of the most memorable, incredible experiences of my life. More importantly, it has inspired me to try and make this upcoming year, the same for YOU!
So get ready everyone! I’m charged up and ready to hit the ground running on July 1, 2018 - fully committed to Be The Inspiration you need to move you along your Rotary journey!
District 7090 is in the process of assembling a new Public Image team. Paul McAfee, member and Charter President of the Rotary E-Club of SOWNY, has agreed to lead the District 7090 Public Image Committee as it reestablishes itself. Nine Rotarians in the District have been identified who have professional marketing, communications, or media relations experience and who have expressed an interest in the new District 7090 Public Image Committee. Paul is talking to each of these to determine their levels of interest. He will hold a first meeting of the new committee in late February.
The new committee will develop its goals and communications activities, starting from a blank slate. Support of membership growth among the district’s clubs, and support of the clubs’ efforts to expand awareness of their activities in their local communities, will comprise elements of the committee’s communications priorities.
Anyone interested in participating on the new District 7090 Public Image Committee can contact Paul McAfee.
A great opportunity exists for Clubs to leverage their hard earned dollars through Rotary grants. Qualified Clubs can apply for a District Designated Grant to help locally or internationally. The District will match the Club’s contribution up to $2000. February is the month to apply for a District Designated grant. The application form can be found on the District website under 2018-19 Foundation grants. If your Club is considering applying for a District grant, please contact Sandie Yeater.
Global grants are larger grants and have an international partner. They can be applied for at any time.
Clubs who have received approval for a 2017-18 District Designated Grant should have their projects well underway. Final reports are due at the completion of the project. The report form is on the District website under Foundation, select District & Global Grants 2017-18.
Fans of the television series, Star Trek: Next Generation, are familiar with the character known as “Data.” Yeah, that’s not the data we’re listening to.
The five committees on our district’s Membership team are starting to collect data about the demographics, practices, experiences, and opinions of the Rotarians who comprise our district. We’re using online surveys, online focus groups, and other tools to help us get an accurate picture of where we are, so we can identify where we need to go and where we want to invest our efforts.
So, if you receive a survey or are asked to participate in a discussion group, we hope you will understand that the purpose is to gather data and ideas that will help us provide the most useful support for clubs as they seek ways to grow their membership and ensure the engagement and satisfaction of their members. We also ask that club secretaries keep their membership data up to date so the cumulative data we gather from our district database is current and accurate.
As of December 31, 2017, District 7090 was the only district in Zone 24 to have grown by more than 50 members gaining an additional 51 members during the first half of the 2017-18 Rotary year.
So far in 2018, District 7090 has continued to grow to the point where the total District 7090 membership has now grown to 2,196 from 2, 124 on July 1, 2017, for an overall growth (as of February 13, 2018) of 72 members this Rotary year with 45 of our total membership growth resulting from a combination of the chartering of our new global Rotary E-Club of Social Innovators (RESI) and the existing District 7090 clubs growing by 27 members!
The next Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) is scheduled for March 24, 2018 and will be held at Niagara County Community College, Sanborn, New York. (Canadian Rotarians – The college is located just across the US border so very little extra travel is involved!)
With 10 District 7090 Rotarians completing Part III of RLI at Niagara Community College at Niagara-on-the-Lake in December, 2017 over 100 District 7090 Rotarian have completed RLI since District 7090 started offering RLI.
Some of these “graduates” have now become facilitators.
Please join us in Sanborn, New York – we look forward to seeing you there. Registration fee is $75.00 US (most clubs will reimburse you for registration)
Video Conference: Tuesday, February 20th at 7:00 PM. Rotarians and Rotaractors, please join us for a group conversation using Zoom. Details to join below.
The Rotary International Convention being held in Toronto this June is a once in a lifetime opportunity for us since it's in our own backyard! 40,000 new friends from around the world want to meet you, share their cultures and their Rotary and Rotaract experiences!
On We'll have a group discussion about the Rotaract Preconvention in Toronto June 22-23, 2018 and our plan to help as many Rotaractors attend (together) as possible. Rotaractors represent our next generation of Rotarians! Potential Rotary Club sponsorship will also be explored. (Rotary Club Officers, please consider adding this item to your next Board meeting agenda). Other ideas to discuss will be: Rotaract Club challenges, membershipgrowth opportunities and interclub collaboration on projects. So please call or log on using the directions below this coming Tuesday, February 20 at 7pm. This will kick off a series of monthly or twice monthly meetings to support and develop our Rotaract community.
The best referrals for new Rotaract members come from Rotarians! Do you know of community-minded young adults attending college or university near these existing clubs? Please suggest to them to make contact to attend a meeting and help these clubs grow! Also, young adults who are already in the workforce are able to join the Community Clubs.
As always, thank you for the support of Rotaract, a program of future Rotarians!
A gigantic THANK YOU to all of those who could make it to the online information session on all things SlapShot and RYLA.
As promised, click on the link below to see a brief summary of key points when submitting your registrations for SLAPSHOT and RYLA. https://youtu.be/xQ38zKnli88
We are excited to announce that the Rotaract Club of Niagara has become official. The official chartering and induction of officers celebration was held at Rose City Kids in Welland in January, where club executives and members received the honorary bell, gavel, and banner. Rotaract exists under the umbrella of the Rotary club, and consists of young professionals and students that wish to make a difference both locally and globally. There are currently over 9,500 Rotaract clubs in 177 countries worldwide, and Rotaract Niagara is excited to become a part of this growing number.
The Rotaractors are looking forward to getting actively involved in the community in order to meet pressing needs that exist both locally and internationally. They are grateful for all of the support and enthusiasm received. Rotarians from sponsoring clubs (Fonthill, St. Catharine’s, and Niagara Falls Sunrise) participated, as well as District Governor Reg Madison, and many others. Rose City Kids (RCK) hosted the official celebration, and core founders and leaders of RCK gave a tour of their facilities, including the newly renovated RCK Youth Centre. Rotaract Niagara hopes to begin a partnership with Rose City Kids, and has been inspired by the difference they have made in the community and in the young lives in Welland. The club is currently working on their very first initiative, which is to fundraise and participate in the Coldest Night of the Year, happening February 24th, 2018. Click of the Coldest Night of the Year to support them. You can also get involved by contacting the club through email (rotaractniagara@gmail.com) or facebook (@RotaractNiagara).
Pictured (L to R): Fonthill Rotary Club President Paul Snack, DG Reg Madison, Niagara Rotaract Club President Naasson Huyler, as well as Vice President Ryan Huckla, Secretary Tyler Neal, and Treasurer Dale Hall.
It’s no secret that those with less influence and/or power could be treated poorly by those with more. Recent events in the news prove that this can happen at all levels within our society, even in exclusive communities. Child and Family Services of Buffalo is a United Way organization that has provided for the needs of children and families. Child and Family Services have fought for education, safe and healthy environments, and the care for those children and families, for more than 140 years.
Pictured (L to R): Mary Cornwell, BNMC Rotary Member and Chief Development Officer at Child and Family Services, Lauren Gorlick (Speaker) Community Relations Coordinator for Haven House, and Mike Woods, BNMC Rotary President Elect.
At the BNMC Rotary Meeting on February 5, Lauren Gorlick, Community Relations Coordinator for Haven House, a facility founded in 1979 by Child and Family Services, spoke to about 16 members at Gates Vascular Institute on the medical campus in downtown Buffalo. Rotary members brought various items with them to the meeting from a pre-distributed list of current needs, which were donated to Haven House.
The first ever EarlyAct club sponsored by the Rotary Club of Fonthill presented a cheque for $10,000 to the Me to We organization to build a new school in Manac, Haiti. Teacher Tim Droppert and his team of forty primary school kids from AK Wigg Public School in Fonthill, Ontario organize an annual ball hockey tournament fundraiser each spring. Combining creativeness and hard work their 5 year goal was met in just two years. Incredible work!
Next on their agenda - bringing fresh water to a needy community. ‘Go Wigg Go....Go Wigg Go’!
Clarence Rotarian and District 7090 Paul Harris Society coordinator Jim Morabito has a busy February awarding several Rotarians Paul Harris recognition.
Pictured (L to R): Jim Morabito and Joe King, who was awarded a PH +1 to go along with his 55 years of perfect attendance!
In the second picture (right) are first cousins Jim Morabito and Jill Northway. Jill joins her late father in becoming a Paul Harris Fellow. Placing this pin on Jill was special for the cousins as their fathers were 2 of the 5 original charter members of the Rotary Club of Clarence. Both brothers retired from Rotary with 41 years perfect attendance and in addition to having their family continue with good work of Rotary they are remembered thru an educational scholarship awarded every year to a Clarence High School student who shows exceptional business talents.
Pictured next (left) are Kevin Petho and Jim Morabito as Kevin receives his first PH Fellow recognition. GREAT work, Kevin!
Pictured right (left to right): DGN Bob Artis, Rotarians Bob Geiger, Paul Harris Society Member Jim Morabito, PHS Member Joe Floss, Joe King, Vince Amigone, and Clarence Rotary Club President Keith Artis. Members Geiger, Floss, King, and Amigone each were awarded the Paul Harris Fellow recognition.
The Clarence Rotary Club is both a EREY (Every Rotarian Every Year) and Sustaining club. In addition, several members have elected to join the Paul Harris Society to further their commitment to The Rotary Foundation. These members are available to speak to your club and share why they choose to make The Rotary Foundation their "Charity of Choice".
Recently, the Rotary Club of East Aurora donated $13,000 to the East Aurora Middle School STEM lab. The lab focuses on efforts to expand learning in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
The club is also applying for a Rotary grant to provide additional funds for the STEM program, along with its own fundraising efforts. The club has learned about the STEM programs starting at Parkdale Elementary to the East Aurora High School from meetings with East Aurora school administrators and technology teachers. With hundreds of East Aurora students using the STEM lab at the middle school annually, the donations from the club can be used to help purchase computers and related equipment for our East Aurora students.
Pictured (L to R): East Aurora School Superintendent Brian Russ, Board President Mary Beth Covert, Middle School Tech Teacher Natalie Dutton, Middle School Principal Matt Brown and Rotarians - AJ Block, Amanda Larkowski and Ted Borowiak. (photo provided by East Aurora Advertiser, photo by Marty Wangelin).
On January 24, 2018, Rotarians from Niagara County Central, Niagara Falls USA, Albion, and Grand Island clubs, as well as the leadership from District 7090 met at Niagara County Community College (NCCC) in Sanborn NY. They wanted to meet the new leadership of the college and welcome him to Niagara County.
William Ross, Chairman of the NCCC College Board (fellow Rotarian) welcomed them. Ross introduced Dr. William Murabito, Interim President of NCCC, and Vice-President Michael Dombrowski. The Rotarians were impressed with the updates about the college and the new Sanborn Learning Commons - scheduled to open in the fall of 2018.
Pictured (L to R): John Cooper (Area Governor), William Murabito (NCCC Interim President), Reg Madison (District Governor, and William Ross (Chairman of NCCC Board).
NCCC’s link to Rotary began when Ernest Notar, first President of NCCC (1963-1975) was Governor of Rotary District 7090 from 1981-1982. It is great to see the relationship continues today.
The Rotary Club of Hamburg recently inducted two new members into its ranks. Club President Jerry Bastedo, middle, conducted the ceremonies welcoming Ryan Brunner, left, of the Baillie Lumber Company, and Tyler Shaw, of GCW Capital into the 76-year-old service organization.
The Rotary Club of Hamburg supports projects on the local, national and international level. Locally, it coordinates Warm the Children, provides college scholarships to Hamburg and Frontier high school students and is one of the four service organizations that coordinates the Burger Fest each July.
Pictured is Rotarian Yolanda Czyzewski-Bragues, proud member of the Rotary Club of Hamilton AM, enjoying her copy of the Rotarian while lounging on the beach in Zihuatanejo, Mexico.
Yolanda is also the Vice President of the Polish Canadian Congress, Hamilton Branch, is married to Victor Bragues, from Portugal and they and their children have friends and family all over the world. Hence, Rotary is very important to Yolanda as it helps build bridges to communities. She is currently the club's social chair and chair to one of the club’s major fundraisers, the Drams & Disco event happening in April of 2018.
On February 2, 2018, President June Mergl (photo center) and Rotarian Eugene Oatley (right), delivered winter survival packs to the Salvation Army. Each backpack was filled with essentials such as hats, gloves, sleeping bags and personal items, which will be delivered to those in need throughout Niagara.
Survival packs were also donated to outreach programs at Southminister United Church and St. Andrew's United Church and donated to a fellow Rotarian who has made a connection with people in need of the kits.
The club is happy to have helped the needy during this cold time of year.
The Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise was able to donate $3500 of its CTA funds to the Farm to School program - as coordinated between RCNS member Jim Peters and Sharon Smyth of the Children’s Nutrition Network. This is a CNN initiative to bring local fruit and vegetables to elementary level children in the name of better nourishment. With RCNS' help in part, this year alone, the CNN has been able to deliver 957 cases of apples, 633 cases of cucumbers, 1118 bags of strawberries and 56 cases of tomatoes!!
In response, the teachers asked the children to show their thanks. See their gratitude displayed in this collage of post cards that were sent to RCNS.
Recently, RCNS inducted a new member who was introduced to the club by a good friend who has been a host parent for the club's Rotary Youth Exchange student. Jennifer Maxwell had just moved to Simcoe from Hagersville and needed to meet members of the community. Friend, Lisa, suggested the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise. Jennifer is working with the Child Crisis Centre and is very much looking forward to being active in Rotary fundraising projects.
Welcome to Rotary, Jennifer!
Pictured (L to R): President Elect Keith Jones, new member Jennifer Maxwell, Past President and Membership Chair Lucine McKay.
Grimsby Rotary @Noon had another successful Mayor’s Charity Gala, February 3, 2018, with sold-out seating at the Casablanca Winery Inn located in Grimsby. Pictured right, some Rotarians enjoying the event.
District Governor Reg Madison spoke on the accomplishments of Rotary, including being “this close” to ending Polio. He also extended an invitation to attend the RI International Convention in Toronto in 2018.
This year’s Mayor’s Gala will largely go to support Nelles Manor, a historic home built in 1798 in Grimsby, Ontario which was recently converted to a museum.
The Rotary Club of St. Catharines South recognized its 50th Anniversary on February 15, 2018. And, on February 5th, at the club's celebratory meeting, District Governor Reg Madison presented President Jeff Thomas with a citation certificate recognizing the momentous occasion.
Attending the lunch were 15 of the 49 past presidents who were asked to share a highlight from their year as club president. As President Thomas stated, "It was because of the hard work of the past presidents, that the shape of the club was formed and its history of doing good has created the foundation for the current club to work from, and has made my role easier as your president.”
Also in attendance were DGE Melissa Schrock, DGN Bob Artis and AG Frank Adamson.
District 7090’s new global Rotary E-Club of Social Innovators (RESI) was chartered by Rotary International on December 15, 2017 with the Rotary Club of Brantford and the Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise as its co-sponsors.
There were 40 RESI charter members on December 15th. RESI has since added 11 new members from Belgium, Canada, Ghana, Liberia, Nicaragua, Scotland, Spain and United States.
RESI is a model of balanced diversity. Not only is RESI truly global with members on 6 continents (i.e., Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and North America and South America, including Central America), but its gender balance is almost perfect with 25 women and 26 men among the 51 RESI Members currently.