Thank you to all Rotarians and your families in Rotary District 7090. I know we are one big extended family with all the love of families and with some of the foibles too. It has been my honour/honor to have been your District Governor this year. Bill and I have relished in attending your club meetings and events; it was wonderful getting to know you better. We tried some things:
Holding our District Conference at Batavia Downs Gaming and Horseracing - Working with the majority of our clubs stepping up to purchase the meals for their local food bank and most came to join in the fun and camaraderie, which helped us have a terrific conference. We even figured out how to get the packages into Canada with little difficulty thanks to helpful Rotarians.
Hey, our hat making success stories and pictures traveled far and wide, as I discovered at the recent Rotary International Convention in Atlanta. Many of my classmates in Zones 24 & 32 referenced your millinery talents.
Who would have thought a stationary bike-a-thon would earn over $6000 US for End Polio? Our inbound Youth Exchange & some Rotaract students led by AG David Greenfield had great fun doing a spinning class to earn the bucks.
We currently have only had 6 cases of wild polio globally in 2017. Still a way to go! At the convention, $1.2B US was pledged by countries, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other philanthropic organizations. This helps, but doesn't get us to the endgame. It is still going to depend on Rotarians continuing to step up and contribute so our donations may be matched two to one by the Gates Foundation.
Have you made your New (Rotary) Year’s resolutions regarding membership? Many people use January 1 as a psychological starting line to begin new behaviors intended to help them get healthier, lose weight, spend more time with loved ones, enjoy more leisure activities, etc. These personal resolutions serve a useful purpose of reminding us that it’s possible to change at least some of our habits or start new habits. Although making a resolution is only the first step, and doesn’t guarantee success, it’s still an important step and signifies a commitment to strive for an important personal goal.
Through a Rotary District 7090 matching funds grant, the Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville funded two water wells in the developing nation of Niger, a sub-Saharan country in western Africa. Niger has consistently been listed as the poorest country in the world, according to the United Nations Human Development Index. The two wells are located in the rural villages of Gonzare’ B’eri and Kollo Peul near the capital city of Niamey. They were installed in December 2016.
In addition, this Rotary club sponsored two other water wells in Niger in 2010 through a previous Rotary District 7090 grant, and another well was individually funded by two members of this Rotary club in 2012.
Five years ago the Rotary Club of Clarence began their journey to aid the town of Wangchan, Thailand in achieving sustainable, fresh water. Wangchan is located in the Northern part of Rayong Province in Eastern Thailand and is home to approximately 2500 people.
Thailand is known as the land of 1,000 smiles, and any traveler that has visited this tropical landscape quickly understands its moniker. The welcoming Thai smile immediately makes you feel at home and it is infectious. Thailand is a constant juxtaposition from soaring skyscrapers to lush jungles; crowded city streets to empty glowing beaches.
With the addition of two more members already in June, the Rotary E-Club of Southern Ontario – Western New York (SOWNY) continues to grow its membership.
On June 1, 2017, Georgina Bencsik from Woodbridge and Ottawa, Ontario joined the E-Club of SOWNY. Georgina’s career spans advocacy, consulting and senior management roles. She has spent most of her career as an advocate and director for various organizations and issues concerning art, business, culture, environment, sustainability, media, fashion, film, public relations, public policy, finance, real estate, taxation, health, education, transportation, infrastructure and human rights with a strong voice for Canada’s diversity and multiculturalism. A graduate of the University of Toronto, she has served as an Academic Board member on the University of Toronto Governing Council. Since 2008, Georgina has been Managing Director of 1 Media Inc., and Political Editor of Toronto Waterfront Magazine.
On May 17, 2017, Adventures in Citizenship Program participants E.J. Holmes, Deanna Haas, Evan Court and Noelle Adams spoke to the Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise about their trip to Ottawa with 190 other young Canadians selected for the program. Participants visited the Parliament Buildings and listened to members speak about their roles. They also visited the Indigenous Health Center and learned about the ‘Seven Generations’ along and the War Museum and spoke with war veterans about their experiences. They observed 24 new Canadians become citizens, joined in a traditional French dinner with square dancing, and enjoyed many more experiences. According to the 4 participants, this is an amazing program.
Pictured are two Youth Exchange Student participants ready to enter the annual Heritage Days Parade with the Rotary Club of Ancaster. It has become club tradition to promote Youth Exchange by having locally hosted students ride with their country flags, greeting the crowd. This year’s participants were well-received especially by their friends who gathered to cheer them on.
The Buffalo Rotary Foundation recently awarded two $5000 grants. The first went to Gerard Place for medical training equipment for women. The second grant went to Seneca Babcock Community Center for playground equipment.
Recently, the Rotary Club of Salamanca celebrated and honored high school seniors at their annual Award Breakfast. Fourteen students were honored and checks were distributed for Math, Art, Language, Environmental Science and ACE (Accepting the Challenge of Education).
After great success in its inaugural year, the Rotary Club of Batavia recently held its 2nd Annual Rotary Auction to benefit Polio Plus. Contrary to other fundraising efforts where the club relies on the generosity of non-Rotarian benefactors, this event’s auction items and proceeds come exclusively from Batavia Rotarians at a regular weekly meeting.
The Rotary Club of Niagara Falls, New York celebrated its 100th year anniversary of continuous service to the community and to the world. The dinner event was well attended by many Rotarians of District 7090, good friend PDG Nick Constantino from District 7210 (Goshen, NY) and many well-wishers from the City of Niagara Falls, NY.
In 1966, Mary Ann Schlabach and her husband, Beland, began extending hospitality and a helping hand to Jamaicans who were working on the Smith Farm in Vineland Station. Mary Ann became a driving force in the organization of the Caribbean Workers Outreach Program (CWOP) established in 1992. While Mary Ann has served CWOP in key leadership roles including treasurer and more recently, program coordinator, she has contributed immeasurably through her endless acts of kindness. The workers know her as “Sister Mary Ann”.
For her 60th birthday, Barb Mitges received a gift of $600 from Jennifer Hopkins, former Lincoln Rotarian to be given to a charity of her choice. It just happens that Barb, while at the 2016 District Conference in Batavia, discovered District 7090's Gift of Life program and decided she wanted to support that charity. This program brings children to the Children's Hospital in Buffalo and Sick Kids, (the Hospital for Sick Children), in Toronto for cardiac surgery. Barb was struck by the faces on its brochure and the fact that, since 1996, our district's Gift of Life program has been able to save 44 children.
Rotary Club of Flamborough AM held its first meeting at their new location, The Idea Room, 5 Hamilton Street North, Unit B, Waterdown, ON L0R 2H0. In the picture the club is presenting a 1,000 dollar cheque for ‘The Paint Challenge’ a local youth event being held at the end of the school year. Pictured are left to right, Rotarian Margaret Robertson, organizers of the paint challenge Penny Death and Gary Holmes.
Rotary Club of Grimsby and Community Living, Grimsby, Lincoln and West Lincoln held the annual Festival of Arts on June 3rd. The weather was ideal and over 1,500 adults and children turned out for the event. Over the years the event has expanded from local artisans selling their works to food and entertainment, beer and wine and this year a Harry Potter Kids Zone. This event has been held since 1964.
A developing community assistance group is having an impact in Simcoe. As part of the Gathering Food Centre (the food initiative of Church Out Serving), a community raised- garden pilot has recently begun with the hope and goal of expanding. These food gardens are for the benefit of persons and families who normally do not have access to healthy food, and will be supplied through local food programs. The first new raised-gardens of the season were built in May at Hambleton Hall, an affordable housing project recently completed by Indwell. Indwell is a Christian charity that creates communities that support people seeking health, wellness and belonging. Simcoe's Hambleton Hall has provided many things to many people over the years – a Sunday school, place of worship, it was even home to a few weddings. Beginning this month, the once-bustling community centre has now become a home to 35 area residents. With Indwell’s housing initiative complete; it only made sense to offer the raised-gardens to the residents for local food security needs as well as an enjoyable and useful recreational outlet.
The pieces are literally coming together for this major project that will shout Rotary from the corner of State and Union in Lincoln Park in Olean, NY.
The stone was moved from temporary storage in Allegany to Lincoln Park on May 19.
The club hosted a major fund raiser on May 23 raising significant dollars to help finance our signature project. There are too many to thank, but club members, community members, the City of Olean, our stone artist Isaiah Rashad II, the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, and Crandall’s Memorial have been PHENOMENAL!
Recipients Kristen Kessler and Alexa Wujeck show plaques they received for their Honor Roll status for 7 consecutive quarters. Rotary members of Lancaster-Depew recognize outstanding middle school students with a special breakfast each year, in both the Lancaster and Depew school systems.
Separately, the club also awarded five college scholarships this year. Programs like this are made possible through fundraising at our Lancaster High School football concession stand.
The Rotary Club of Clarence has again approved a contribution of $2000.00 to the Polio Plus fund of The Rotary Foundation.
Pictured with a check in that amount are club president Chris Greene and District 7090 Paul Harris Society coordinator, Jim Morabito. According to Morabito, "Every year the Clarence Rotary Club steps up to the plate and makes a sizeable contribution the The Rotary Foundation and Polio Plus. This year being the 100th year centennial of TRF makes it special in that Rotary has a challenge grant from The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to match contributions. We're very fortunate Rotary has a stellar reputation that attracts people like Bill Gates to contribute to our mission against Polio."
The Rotary Club of Hamburg marked 75 years of community service with a banquet at the Wanakah Country Club in Hamburg on June 6. In attendance were District Governor Marlee Diehl, DGE Reg Madison, DGN Melissa Shrock and District Grant Treasurer Don DeMeo, along with past district governors John Rydzik and Jack Amico and his wife, Mike. State, county, town and village elected officials presented proclamations congratulating and commending the Rotary Club of Hamburg for its longevity and service to the community.
Once again, the Amherst South sponsored Rotaract Club (Buffalo State Rotaract Club) has had an incredibly successful and rewarding semester! Collectively our amazing Buffalo State Rotaract members, officers and Amherst South Rotarians came together to participate in events in order to make a positive impact on our campus, local and international community. Our Rotaract team would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to all of the members who take time out of their days to volunteer even with their very busy schedules!
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On May 17, 2017, Adventures in Citizenship Program participants E.J. Holmes, Deanna Haas, Evan Court and Noelle Adams spoke to the Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise about their trip to Ottawa with 190 other young Canadians selected for the program. Participants visited the Parliament Buildings and listened to members speak about their roles. They also visited the Indigenous Health Center and learned about the ‘Seven Generations’ along and the War Museum and spoke with war veterans about their experiences. They observed 24 new Canadians become citizens, joined in a traditional French dinner with square dancing, and enjoyed many more experiences. According to the 4 participants, this is an amazing program. 
After great success in its inaugural year, the Rotary Club of Batavia recently held its 2nd Annual Rotary Auction to benefit Polio Plus. Contrary to other fundraising efforts where the club relies on the generosity of non-Rotarian benefactors, this event’s auction items and proceeds come exclusively from Batavia Rotarians at a regular weekly meeting.
ub of Niagara Falls, New York celebrated its 100th year a
Rotary Club of Flamborough AM held its first meeting at their new location, The Idea Room, 5 Hamilton Street North, Unit B, Waterdown, ON L0R 2H0. In the picture the club is presenting a 1,000 dollar cheque for ‘The Paint Challenge’ a local youth event being held at the end of the school year. Pictured are left to right, Rotarian Margaret Robertson, organizers of the paint challenge Penny Death and Gary Holmes.
Recipients Kristen Kessler and Alexa Wujeck show plaques they received for their Honor Roll status for 7 consecutive quarters. Rotary members of Lancaster-Depew recognize outstanding middle school students with a special breakfast each year, in both the Lancaster and Depew school systems. 
