We’re into our third month of this Rotary year and the engagements and “CONNECTIONS’ have been fantablous! Your teams are either on target or have outperformed expectations. For those clubs I’ve visited, thank you for the ‘CONNECTING’ with our global friends “Rotary Connects the World”.
During the past month we’ve bridged two countries; Canada and USA, with the opening of The Walkway/Bike Path over Ft. Erie Peace Bridge. This CONNECTION between these two countries and communities has made it possible for pedestrians to enjoy the beauty of our ‘Greenway’ initiative. Several PDGs were in attendance as well as several clubs, most noticeable was the Rotary Club of Ft. Erie who provided refreshments and other arrangements.
In a few weeks we will ‘Sail-ebrate’ our District Conference to the Caribbean. Stay tuned for updates from the ‘boat’.
August was Membership month and there was a slight decrease. However, I remain optimistic and hopeful because the ‘thingamajig’ or ‘whatchamacallit’ will have a dramatic impact. Whose names are on your key tag? This month is more than half over but there’s still time. Will you promote Basic Education and Literacy in your community please? Next month is Economic & Community Development/Polio Plus. Will you begin planning now to help eliminate polio and show your community that Rotary wants to eradicate polio from the face of the earth?
In my ‘CONNECTIONS’ around the district, this article was started at the Peace Bridge, in Ft. Erie, continued in Dunkirk-Fredonia where our Vocational Training Team made a presentation, Lobsterfest sponsored by the Rotary Club of Niagara Falls, ON, a guided tour given by the Rotary Club of LeRoy to the First Lady of the District of the Jell-O Factory in LeRoy, our inbound Youth Exchange orientation program professionally guided by Jill Norton and her dedicated team, presidents’ soiree` sponsored the Rotary Club of Niagara Falls Sunrise, ON and finally sitting in the lobby of the Sheraton Falls Hotel for the Zone Conference contemplating my welcoming address tomorrow to attendees from France, Bermuda, parts of Michigan, New York and Canada. CONNECTING four countries and seven time zones!
Minting an entire new class of District Governors for Zone 24 & 32, (comprised of 34 districts) there was a week-long conference in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Thank you to the Rotarians that volunteered to do airport pick-ups and drive a number of out-of-town DGE’s from the Buffalo International Airport to the Conference Centre in Niagara Falls.
Pictured right is DG Bob Artis opening the conference. Pictured left is the Class of 2020 - 2021 district governors. Our own DGE Frank Adamson is pictured 4 rows from the bottom (on the right).
DG Bob Artis joined other dignitaries at Mather Arch Park in Ft. Erie to celebrate the completion of a new sidewalk and cycling lane on the Peace Bridge. Leaders from the Niagara Parks Commission, Peace Bridge Authority, the Niagara River Greenway Commission, and US Congressman Brian Higgins joined DG Bob in recognizing the significance of this new link between the US and Canada for cyclists and pedestrians. Following remarks at the Mather Arch, participants walked or cycled to the International borderline on the Peace Bridge where officials signed an MOU between the two countries.
Rotary District 7090, known as the “Best of Friends” district, became the very first international Rotary district in 1918. DG Bob said “Our district embodies the spirit of friendship and cooperation between Rotary clubs in Canada and the United States. The Peace Bridge is both a physical and symbolic bond between our countries. As an organization, we encourage the interaction of Rotarians, and all citizens, between our countries. We share our ideas and our talents, working together to help each other improve the quality of life in our local communities and around the world. The Rotary International theme this year, embraced by over 35,000 clubs worldwide, is ‘Rotary Connects the World.’ We applaud the development of this lane on the Peace Bridge which provides one more way to connect the people of our two countries.”
The Rotary Club of Fort Erie, under the leadership of President J. Scott Broda, provided refreshments and was recognized with appreciation as a host for the event.
Important message to any club that has had a positive impact on the youth in their home town...
YOUTH 7090 is the upcoming comprehensive youth conference scheduled for Saturday October 19th in Niagara-on-the-Lake at its Community Center located at 14 Anderson Place. Please reach out to your youth currently involved as well as alumni and "prospectives" and sponsor them to attend. All current inbound YE students will be attending.
Simply put, this conference has the potential to open young eyes to the tremendous opportunities of personal growth and collaboration through Rotary.
The website for details and to register is www.youth7090.org Click on several items for more details. The cost to the youth to register is only $25 Canadian. Current and potential (non Rotarian) Interact faculty advisors may attend for free! Rotarians may also register for a reasonable fee to cover the meals. Why not solidify those potential relationships for strengthening your existing youth program involvement?
There will also be a post conference reception at a local restaurant. Help us build a more cohesive youth services community within our district. Please register today! Direct questions to Larry Coon or Aad Vermeyden.
TIME TO RECRUIT YOUTH EXCHANGE STUDENTS!! Summer is over and school has started, and so has the season to recruit high school students for long and short term Youth Exchange opportunities. If you know of any high school aged youths that should consider it, please encourage them to do so and research www.rotaryye7090.org for more information.
Dakota Reynolds just left for Australia. She sees her exchange as an international education and writes: “Along with the benefits of an international education comes social responsibility.” Clearly, Dakota does not see her exchange as just an adventure. By sending her on exchange, we are all working towards making this place a better world.
Back in May in the preparation for her exchange, she observed, why a Rotary exchange is so different from the many others that exist. She wrote: “This week I was blessed with the opportunity to speak in front of CEO's and so many influential people from across the country for the annual NAF Benefit in NYC. Everywhere I seem to travel I run into another "Rotary Person". I met an amazing man who is at the top IBM. He told me that years ago he was an exchange student though Rotary and he came to the US from India. Turns out he impressed a lot of people during his year and ended up staying here for college and working his way up to the top of this huge company. I talked to another handful of influential business professionals throughout the night who also had similar stories. Rotary seems to be everywhere I turn and it allowed me to have the chance to be the Student Speaker at last night's benefit. The opportunity has already begun to open up doors for me and I'm not even a real exchange student yet! I just wanted to send you a quick message and thank you and Rotary for everything, because it truly has already begun to change my life.”
This all happened even before she went out, just imagine what the rest of her life will be like. Let’s go out and find the next Dakota! Thanks for your support for this program.
Four members of the Rotary District 7090 Vocational Training Team (VTT) recently presented a program about their May 8-29, 2019 trip to the Sao Paulo Rotary District 4480 in Brazil for the purpose of gaining insights into the medical industry there. This presentation was given on Sept. 10 at the Shorewood Country Club in Dunkirk to an audience of 35 Rotarians and guests. Rotary District 7090 Governor Bob Artis, a member of the Rotary Club of Clarence, was present. The program was arranged by Dan Smith, Rotary District VTT Chair and Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club Youth Services Chair. This VTT experience in Brazil was funded by District Designated Funds.
The VTT members were Jennifer Schoenhals, RPh, team leader and teasm members: Anna-Marie Wysynski, MD; Claire Harkness, RPN; and Thomas Gerbasi, MD. Schoenhals is a member of the Rotary Club of Niagara Falls Sunrise. She has been a pharmacist for nearly 35 years, owns a pharmacy, has expertise in compounding, and is the creator of several customized medications. Wysynski, a non-Rotarian from Burlington, ON, is the Medical Director at Vitality Anti-Aging Center. As a GP, she is knowledgeable in all areas of medicine. For 15 years she has been an Emergency Physician at Alexandra General Hospital practicing allopathic medicine, and she also is experienced in integrative medicine. Harkness is an RPN at Juravinski Hospital in Hamilton, ON, which specializes in treating all forms of cancer. She is a member of the Rotaract Club at McMaster University, and is enrolled in full-time studies to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Gerbasi, who is a member of the Rotary Cub of Lewiston-Niagara on the Lake, retired in July 2018 after a 40-year career as a pediatrician. In addition to pediatrics, Gerbasi’s experiences included teaching medical students, ophthalmological disease, and treating children with cancer and also congenital heart disease.
Dan Smith, Rotary District 7090 VTT Chair, stated, “We are pleased with the successful VTT trip to the Sao Paulo Rotary District 4480, which hosted our team. Our team members were given opportunities to experience the expertise of the Brazilian world-renowned medical facilities and personnel in the areas of cancer, ophthalmology, and coronary procedures. Achieved goals included sharing best practices, research, helping others, and improving the quality of life. This team is currently sharing their many experiences of their Brazil trip with numerous Rotary clubs, including the Westfield-Mayville, Dunkirk-Fredonia, Greater Jamestown AM, and Jamestown Rotary Clubs in our area.”
While in Brazil, the VTT visited many hospitals and medical centers, participated in television and radio interviews, and attended several Rotary club meetings and a Rotary district conference. Also, team members stayed in the homes of host families, and were given various cultural opportunities.
During their Sept. 10 presentation, the four VTT members took turns offering highlights of their experience and insights into the medical industry in Brazil. Team member Wysynski, who spoke about the area of ophthalmology, said, “In Brazil there is a higher incidence of childhood glaucoma than in Canada. This is what caused the blindness of the famous Italian singer Andrea Bocelli. Canadians have a higher rate of cataracts. In the U.S. the most common causes of blindness are diabetic retinopathy and cataracts. Also, in North America we have ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians. However, in Brazil there are only ophthalmologists.”
Wysynski said, “I noted four significant differences between the Brazilian and Canadian medical industry. First, in Brazil there is a practice of humanized care. They have us beat in terms of patient care. Second, there is a higher possibility of Brazilian individuals being able to conceive and realize their potential for opening successful practices than Canadians. Third, a family-like atmosphere is endorsed among staff members in medical facilities. There is a greater level of staff appreciation. Lastly, Brazilians dial 192 instead of 911 in case of emergencies.”
Team member Gerbasi discussed the area of cardiology. He said, “In the medical facilities we visited in Brazil, we noticed how staff members were so very caring. Also, Brazil is still dealing with rheumatic heart disease, which is prevalent. The problem is with early detection. Brazilian primary care doctors do not necessarily pick up on early issues. Coronary heart disease is a big issue. One of the reasons is diet. Folks there tend to eat bread and cheese for breakfast, an enormous lunch of rice and beans, and a very late dinner. Meat, meat, and more meat are always on the menu. Very few leafy greens and vegetables are eaten. Another contributing factor is the consumption of high amounts of sugar, which leads to high blood pressure and high cholesterol.” Gerbasi added that public smoking has almost been completely eliminated in Brazil. Also, he said that there is a serious lack of ambulances.
Harkness, another VTT member, spoke about cancer care in Brazil. She noted that there are hospitals which specialize in cancer treatments, and there are mobile trucks and units which help with preventative cancer screenings. Harkness said, “I think the way Brazil approaches healthcare is tremendous. Hospitals there let you know everything. The patient is greatly informed along the way. In Canada I’m trained to not disclose testing numbers. What stood out the most for me is that the patient is given all of the information in order to help decrease anxiety and stress about the diagnosis and the disease of cancer. What we saw over and over again is humanized care. They treat the person, not the illness.”
VTT leader Schoenhals said that the team visited 11 hospitals in 18 days. She noted, “Hospitals post their statistics outside of their buildings for the public to see. The approach in Brazil to patient care may be summarized by the following quote made by Cicely Saunders, an English doctor, nurse and social worker who was noted for her work in terminal care research and her role in the birth of the hospice movement and subsequent palliative care. ‘Do not give days to a patient’s life, but give life to a patient’s days.’”
Schoenhals said that the team also went to Rotary club meetings and a Rotary district conference, were featured in four newspapers, attended a city council meeting and were interviewed on both television and radio. They visited 12 sites and had time for socialization, including taking a samba class. During their stay in Brazil, VTT members learned a great deal about the medical industry in Brazil, and established personal connections with industry professionals and their host families. For more information about this Vocational Training Team’s May 2019 experience in Brazil, visit “VTT 7090 to Brazil 4480” on Facebook.
The Rotary Foundation has several ways for you to leave your legacy by contributing to the Rotary Endowment Fund. The first option is to make a direct current donation. The second, more popular method, is to consider Rotary as a portion of your overall estate planning. You can do this in a number of ways: You can include it in your will, or a living trust, make use of your beneficiary designation in your retirement plan, a life insurance beneficiary designation, a charitable remainder trust, or a donor advised fund. The donor advised fund is currently not available for Canadian Rotarians. Contributions to the Rotary Endowment Fund is the way to ensure Your Rotary Legacy.
There are a couple good reasons to contribute to the Rotary Endowment Fund. The first is to ensure that the Fund will continue into the future. The second is a way for you to continue to add to the fund after your death. Many of you have been making very generous contributions annually to the Rotary Foundation, and we all Thank You. Unfortunately, at some point you will no longer be with us to contribute. If you designate an amount to the Rotary Endowment Fund equal to at least 25 times what you are contributing annually, the interest earned should more than equal your current annual contributions. You should feel good to be able to do this. There are various levels giving available. Bequest Society recognitions, start at $10,000. For smaller amounts, you will receive Benefactor insignia. When those accumulated contributions reach the $10,000 level, you will become a member of the Bequest Society. Be sure to check out the brochure: Your Rotary Legacy, Doing Good in the World Beyond your Lifetime.
Questions? Contact AJ Block, District Permanent Fund Chair at ajblock1@gmail.com or 716-870-0647.
Oh Em Gee! These people were phenomenal participants of our Rotary Day of Action! Some were unable to be in this group capture, yet are as worthy of praise for their efforts.
My heart is overflowing in immense gratitude. Area 1 including the Rotary clubs of Delhi, Norfolk Sunrise, Simcoe and our Rotaract club, extended family and friends collaborated to plant 4200 daffodil bulbs on the Sunrise Trail in Simcoe on Saturday, September 28, 2019. Teamwork, fellowship, laughter, sweat equity, and Service Above Self—what a delicious combined effort to beautify this section of our Norfolk County trail system. Dave King, owner of King’s Flowers, and Rotarian, selected three varieties: Yellow King, White Ice Follies, and Red Ranger. Watch for these glorious colors to bloom next spring.
Following the bulb planting, several Rotarians spent hours at a site cleaning out an extremely overgrown garden area at a residence owned by Norfolk Association of Community Living. Now that was intense sweat equity and appreciated by the residents!
Kelsey Blake of Kelsey Blake Creative filmed the event and will produce a video highlighting the project.
Thank you to ALL of you including the extremely cooperative weather. A successful Rotary Day of Action goes down in the history books.
Are you a non-curling Rotarian that has always wanted to try the game but felt a bit “intimidated” to join into the regular draws at a bonspiel? Maybe you are a skip trying to fill your club rink for Rotarian curling events in the future. Here’s a way inexperienced Rotarians can give curling a shot – with instruction and a couple of fun games with fellow new Rotarian curlers.
The Rotary clubs of Area 6, St. Catharines, St. Catharines South and St. Catharines Lakeshore are pleased to announce the addition of a Novice Division for their jointly sponsored 44th Annual “BILL FORD” MEMORIAL BONSPIEL to be held on Thursday, November 21, 2019 at the St. Catharines Golf & Country Club. The bonspiel will continue to feature its usual two draw format for experienced 4 person rinks as well.
The new Novice Division will occur concurrently with the regular draws and will include:
- Usual pre-draw get together for Coffee and Muffins
- One hour instruction (off and on-ice) using sticks with experienced curlers
- Teams of novices formed by the instructors with experienced curler as skip
- One 2 – end game.
- Lunch with the rest of the experienced rinks
- Participate in the Closest to the Hole Golf Contest.
- Return to ice for a 4-end game
- Dinner and prizes.
COST: $90 per person for the Novice Event; $360 per 4-person rink for Regular Draws
For more information and entry form on either or both curling options, contact Frank Parkhouse (905-935-6960; Email frank.parkhouse57@gmail.com). Closing Date for entries: November 7, 2019.
The Rotary Club of East Aurora presented a check for $5,000 to District 7090 Governor Bob Artis, far right. $3,000 will go to the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, whose mission is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. The remaining $2,000 will support Rotary’s Polio Plus program, which seeks the eradication of polio globally. Pictured from left to right Assistant Governor Area 13 Pat Castiglia, East Aurora Rotary Foundation President AJ Block and Rotary Club President Karen Gembar, and District Governor Bob Artis.
During his meeting with the East Aurora Rotary Club, District Governor Bob Artis presented a pair of Happy Socks to Joe Freeman, the longest serving Rotarian in the East Aurora Club.
Seven members of the East Aurora Rotary Club traveled to Angola, NY to volunteer at Cradle Beach Days, serving popcorn, as they have done annually for the past several years. The number of campers has declined due to a lack of counselors, and the organizers are in need of volunteers to serve the children. To help, please apply online at www.cradlebeach.org or call 716-549-6307.
The Rotary Club of Hamburg, at its regular September 3, 2019 meeting, welcomed two members of the Rotary Club of Hamilton, Ontario who gave a presentation on a project that will provide, through a Rotary International Global Grant, the proposed Liberian Learning Center. The project will construct the first library in the African nation following a disastrous civil war. Along with the library, the center is hoped to boost the economy through the creation of small business start-ups. The Hamilton club hopes to raise $40,000 for the project.
Pictured are from left: Hamburg President Lisa Avery and Leo Nupolu-Johnson and Joana Fejzaj of the Hamilton club. Nupolu-Johnson is a native of Liberia now living in Canada.
The Rotary Club of Hamburg warmly welcomes their new Rotary Youth Exchange student, Alex Kamp who is attending Hamburg High School through the school year. Alex will be celebrating his 18th birthday soon in the USA and is a starter with the Hamburg High School Golf Team and expects to play tennis in the spring. Alex is from the Town of Iserlohn, just outside Dortmund, Germany, a sister city of Buffalo. He has begun his stay in Hamburg with the Reynolds family, hosted by Kim Reynolds and Bill Reynolds.
Pictured from left are: Youth Services Chair Amy Rooth, Alex Kamp and President Lisa Avery.
On Thursday, September 19, a guided walk along the Niagara River, through Art Park was hosted by the Proudly Bi-National Lewiston/Niagara on the Lake Rotary Club. The walk is part of a Rotary District 7090 wide initiative in partnership with the Niagara River Greenway Commission and WNY Walks to promote the health of our communities and to help establish and promote trails along the banks of the Niagara River in the USA from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario and eventually link up with similar trails in Ontario Canada.
The hike was led by Libby Broderick of Niagara Outfitters, a Lewiston based adventure guide company. For more information about outdoor adventures available in the Lewiston area, contact Niagara Outfitters at (716) 545-2143 or libby@niagaraoutfitters.com.
For more information on further Rotary sponsored walks in other communitiess, contact WNY Walks at 716-851-4052 or BeActive@City-Buffalo.org.
Pictured are Secretary Tommy Gerbasi and Niagara Outfitters CEO Libby Broderick.
BNMC President Bob Grinewich presents District Governor Bob Artis with the banner from the Rotary Club of Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus at his official visit to the club at the Gates Vascular Institute in downtown Buffalo.
One door shut – another opened. Using some of an old and lots of new we rebranded a Lake Ontario Fishing Derby. If not for some stalwart members of the old derby, we may have sunk as the new committee members brought organizational and marketing skills but – zero – fishing derby experience. The team came together every Tuesday evening to make a year’s work happen in three months. We could not overcome the negative press from Lake Ontario flooding, however, they did work hard to ensure all knew that south shore was open for business. It worked! Our registrations were up, our sponsorships increased and the prize table had some significant items. Our awards celebration attendance was up and all of our club members had a role in the success of this event. We look forward to even more successes as we continue to seek new ideas and embrace social media to open up a whole new market. We hope to have a real presence of Rotarians participating in our August 1 – 16, 2020 fishing derby. How about you joining us next August?
On September 19th the Rotary Club of West Seneca hosted over 200 people at the "Greatest Party for the Greatest Good" at Tewksbury Lodge. We are currently fundraising for a global grant in Sierra Leone. Dr. Myron Glick, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Jericho Road Community Health Center was the guest speaker. Dr. Glick recently returned from Sierra Leone and shared an update and his recent experiences.
The Rotary Club of West Seneca is continuing to work with the Jericho Road Community Health Center, in helping to fund the Adama Martha Memorial Health Center Expansion. The Center is located in Kona District, Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone has a great need for primary medical care. It is one of the poorest countries in the world and its people continue to suffer from numerous preventable health issues. Poor infrastructure combined with a lack of resources and trained medical professionals severely limits access to healthcare. With the continued support of the Rotary Club of West Seneca, a lasting difference will be made.
Williamsville recently hosted their annual Official Visit with District Governor Bob Artis. Pictured left are DG Bob with Vern Anderson being honored for his service as Past Assistant Governor. Also pictured right is DG Bob with President Ed Stachura and Immediate Past President and Treasurer Richard Wojtowicz.
On Saturday, September 14th the Rotary Club of Holley, assisted by its Interact club, held it's annual Beefeaters Dinner at the Holley VFW post. Rotarians spent the afternoon roasting 170 pounds of top round and gathering supplies to feed the hungry masses. There were raffles throughout the evening and roughly 200 meals were served, two of them to Assistant Governor Donna Saskowski and her husband, Paul. The club also surprised Rotarian Al Buell, who brought his family to the event, with a cake to help him celebrate his 80th birthday - pictured right.
Next year the club is considering a modification from a traditional roast beef dinner to "Beef On Weck", a WNY staple. Stay tuned!
Lancaster-Depew Rotarians begin another season of fundraising for scholarships, as they have since 1945. However, because of moving the bus garage, the school system carved a brand new concession sales area out of that building. There is increased parking and even an area with picnic tables. Shown in their new space are Past President Brian Williams and his daughter that volunteers regularly, Lauren.
In 2014, the Rotary Club of Lincoln adopted Khazimula Children’s Project (KCP), South Africa, as its primary International Service Project. Recently, on August 27th, the club was very excited that Lorraine Yoko, Chairperson, KCP Board of Directors, and her husband, Grant, joined its regularly scheduled club meeting. A post-breakfast meeting was also scheduled to provide the opportunity for a fulsome discussion on KCP’s current and future needs for Lincoln Rotary’s support. Lorraine expressed her thanks to the club and it's support and will be working with Margaret Andrewes and Rob Foster on behalf of the club in seeking future support.
How do you make $24000 in one night? Well it is simple to state. You put together an outstanding group of committed Rotarians determined to make a change. Make a huge effort to discover and create amazing auction items. Call in every marker you have. Create a buzz for the vent through social media. Target your audience and sell tables of ten…soooo much easier than single ticket sales. Have an outstanding venue and decorate it to the nines! Top notch caterer secured? You bet! Oh, and a theme… Hot Havana Night. Toss in a live band that specializes in Cuban music. Most importantly…attention to detail!!! Okay, not so simple but the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise made this happen in June. One hundred and forty guests were treated to a fabulous charcuterie table, then wined and dined. They explored fabulous auction tables while butlers served delicious appetizers. Our Auctionista worked the crowd during our live auction and if you have never heard of a Golden Ticket …that is our secret! The result was gran exito!
The Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise has, for the past 12 years, organized a local motorcycle ride to raise funds in support of Rotary International's campaign to eradicate polio from our planet. Last year we also organized our first convertible car drive.
In late August 2019, our motorcycle ride and convertible drive raised $1752 (including some generous non-rider/driver donations) and together with the Bill Gates Foundation's 2:1 matching funds this provided 8760 polio vaccinations for kids in the 2 countries where polio is still endemic - Afghanistan and Pakistan. A fun couple of days in perfect weather helps support Rotary's great End Polio Now campaign!
For further details please contact Dave Nicolle of the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise.
The Rotary Club of Buffalo, friends, family and community recently met at the Frank Lloyd Wright Boathouse to take a guided tour along the Niagara River Greenway, through LaSalle Park and the Shoreline residential district for the Buffalo Rotary Community Wellness Walk, to the Liberty Hound for food and beverages.
A special surprise awaited Greg Stevens for all the work he has done to promote Rotary and promote high visibility for Rotary events in the last two years. He is also a leading force in improving the natural environment and quality of life in WNY. Kevin Crosby, Past District Governor and member of the Rotary Club of Buffalo Sunrise (left) presented Greg with a Paul Harris Fellow recognition award.
Amherst Rotarians recently made the future a little more bright for the neediest of needy in Buffalo. Donating cash earned from Sproctoberfest along with additional items which each member brought on his/her own, aproximately twenty club members received a comprehensive tour of St. Luke's Mission, including the $4000 check presentation and lunch.
The Rotary Club of St. Catharines Lakeshore recognized the Rotary Medalists and Vocational Service Award winners from several local secondary schools at a recent club meeting.
Pictured (left to right) are President Eric Jones, Tinashe Dandato (Holy Cross), Lucas Ferrante (Saint Francis), Sarah O'Rourke (Holy Cross), Club Youth Services Chair Albert Scales, and Nicholas Murray-Coplen (Governor Simcoe).
Charles Ansell Park, located at Lock One near the intersection of Lakeshore Road and Bunting Road, was launched by the Rotary Club of St. Catharines Lakeshore in 1999, with the support of Alan Thoms of the Port Weller Dry Docks and The City Parks Department. Over the past 20 years, the park has steadily been updated and improved by the club with parking lots, interpretative fencing, walkways, benches, planting gardens a viewing station and a variety of marine artifacts. These artifacts, donated by Port Weller Dry Docks from old ship build retrofits at the yard, included a Life boat, an Anchor and finally, the St. Catharines-built John O. McKellar ships propeller, which arrived on site in 2017.
On Saturday July 27 at 11 a.m., Rotarians and invited dignitaries celebrated the last of these marine artifacts with the official unveiling of two story board signs commissioned by the Rotary Club of St. Catharines Lakeshore to tell the story of the propeller. Club President Eric Jones and Park Committee Chair Timms represented the Rotary Club of St. Catharines Lakeshore.
Pictured left: Club charter member and Park Committee Chair Bruce Timms unveils the new interpretive signage. Pictured top right: Propeller with its new signage. Pictured below: Club member attendees after the unveiling.
Important message to any club that has had a positive impact on the youth in their home town... 
BNMC President Bob Grinewich presents District Governor Bob Artis with the banner from the Rotary Club of Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus at his official visit to the club at the Gates Vascular Institute in downtown Buffalo.
Williamsville recently hosted their annual Official Visit with District Governor Bob Artis. Pictured left are DG Bob with Vern Anderson being honored for his service as Past Assistant Governor. Also 
pictured right is DG Bob with President Ed Stachura and Immediate Past President and Treasurer Richard Wojtowicz.
On Saturday, September 14th the Rotary Club of Holley, assisted by its Interact club, held it's annual Beefeaters Dinner at the Holley VFW post. Rotarians spent the afternoon roasting 170 pounds of top round and gathering supplies to feed the hungry masses. There were raffles throughout the evening and roughly 200 meals were served, two of them to Assistant Governor Donna Saskowski and her husband, Paul. The club also surprised Rotarian Al Buell, who brought his family to the event, with a cake to help him celebrate his 80th birthday - pictured right.
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dined. They explored fabulous auction tables while butlers served delicious appetizers. Our Auctionista worked the crowd during our live auction and if you have never heard of a Golden Ticket …that is our secret! The result was gran exito!
The Rotary Club of Buffalo, friends, family and community recently met at the Frank Lloyd Wright Boathouse to take a guided tour along the Niagara River Greenway, through LaSalle Park and the Shoreline residential district for the Buffalo Rotary Community Wellness Walk, to the Liberty Hound for food and beverages. 
The Rotary Club of St. Catharines Lakeshore recognized the Rotary Medalists and Vocational Service Award winners from several local secondary schools at a recent club meeting. 
