It’s hard to believe that yet another calendar year is coming to a close in just a few weeks. How time flies and yet I marvel at all the good that our clubs in D7090 manage to accomplish each day and each year. For this and many more things you do in Making a Difference I thank you.
Quite the ride and what an experience is how I’d phrase my five and a half months serving you, one I wish every Rotarian could experience. Your understanding and commitment to our great causes would be so much more reinforced and rewarded. Some of the highlights of the past month include the following:
A Guess Who is Coming to Dinner party at the home of Paul and Margot Kneale where members of the two Brantford clubs mix and join at member homes for a wonderful evening
Presenting President Lance Calbeck a certificate from RI President Ian Risely marking the Rotary Club of Brantford's charter on December 1st, 1917
A wonderful Paul Harris luncheon for the St. Catharines South club (pictured right) and another by the Hamilton AM club where John Janisse thrilled the crowd with his rendition of My Christmas Gift to You. Congratulations and thank you to all the Paul Harris Fellows
The Akron-Newstead Christmas party where over $20,000 was raised in a few hours and the fabulous Turkey Roll dinner party hosted by the Hamilton Mountain Rotary. Talk about promptness in completing the evening.
And the trip to Rochester for the 92nd annual Eastern Hills dinner featuring RI President 2019-2020 Mark Daniel Maloney as guest speaker. You may want add this to your list of events to attend for next year.
I enjoyed the company of the two youth exchange students from Brantford, Sanne and Steffi when we traveled to the Buffalo Bills stadium for their fun weekend with all the district’s exchange students. All of them are wonderful people and I encourage clubs to make it a priority to get involved in this program whether alone or partnering with other clubs
And I saved the best for last! I was so pleased to attend the Niagara Falls Sunrise event with PDG Dick Earne and AG David Berry for the induction of the EarlyAct club at Pathways Academy. Pictured is President Harry Walker (on right) with me. Harry deserves much of the credit for this new club! Last time he was president of his club he established an Interact club! Thanks Harry, You are making a Difference!
Greetings fellow Rotarians, especially all ‘newbies’. Please make sure that you have blocked Saturday May 5, 2018 in your Calendar. This is the date to discover the value of the Club Leadership Training event. As a new Rotarian, I attended my first event in 2017, and was so impressed with the subjects covered that I joined the organizing committee! Check the Flyer below for more details on this ‘must-attend’ event. See you there!
District 7090’s new global Rotary E-Club of Social Innovators (RESI) charter application was submitted to RI headquarters on December 15, 2017, requesting a December 2017 start date, and sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Brantford and Brantford Sunrise. At its founding, the RESI is a model of balanced diversity. Not only is RESI a truly global e-club with members on 6 continents (i.e., Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America), but its gender balance is perfect with 20 women and 20 men among the 40 Founding RESI Members.
The District website has an abundance of information readily available to you without logging in. The header menu - the items that go across the top of the HOME page - is organized to take you where you want to go as quickly as possible. For example click on Our Rotary Work which has a page for each of our committees that stand ready and willing to help your club committees. Contact information included.
On December 6, the Rotary Club of Brantford Rotary Sunrise welcomed Todd Pipe from the St. John’s Ambulance to demonstrate what to do if someone is choking. Motivated by a recent close call of one of our members and past president, Kevin Davis, Todd demonstrated the abdominal thrust technique for dislodging obstructions to airways. While the members of the audience hopes it will never have to use it, they intend to be ready just in case a choking situation were to arise.
The Holley Rotary Club participated in the village of Holley’s Night of Lights event. Club members braved the cold weather on the evening of Saturday, December 2, selling hotdogs, candy canes and beverages to event goers. It was a very nice night to get in front of the Holley community, perform a needed service and shine the light on their local Rotary club. The club's newest Rotarian, Dr. Krista Wiley, DVM, was recognized for her good work in the community and honored with Citizen of the Year award.
The Rotary Club of Williamsville celebrated its 14th consecutive year of working with Gateway Longview on its “Adopt an Angel” campaign on December 8, 2017, when items collected by the club were dropped off to the program assistants by Rotarians Bill Thuman and Frank Ralabate. The annual event assists infants through young adults 21 years of age who participate in behavioral health, special education, residential treatment and community-based programs at Gateway Longview.
The Rotary Club of Williamsville members volunteered at Eastern Hill Mall on December 9, from 9am to 5pm ringing the bell in support of the Salvation Army’s annual “RedKettle” fund raising drive.
The Fantasy of Trees is a Rotary Club of Grimsby annual fundraiser and is expected to raise $15,000 or more this year through silent auction and lottery proceeds. There were 40 decorated trees in the raffle with another 60 items in the raffle and silent auction. The event ran from November 24th to December 10th this year.
Pictured here is Assistant Governor Margaret Andrewes purchasing the first raffle tickets from Clarence McCloskey at a sponsor reception on December 9th. President Jim Howden looks on.
On Thursday, December 7, 2017 the Rotary Club of Niagara Falls Sunrise proudly co-hosted the Inaugural Meeting of the new Niagara Falls Earlyact Club at Pathways Academy, 6642 St. Thomas More Drive, Niagara Falls, Ontario. Reg Madison, District Governor, as well as PDG Richard Earne, Chair, EarlyAct Committee for the district, were in attendance to induct this newly formed EarlyAct club into Rotary District 7090. This is the first EarlyAct club for the City of Niagara Falls, Ontario. The Rotary Club of Niagara Falls Sunrise is looking forward to mentoring and seeing what the future holds for this newest generation of Rotarians.
At the Rotary Grant Management Seminar held November 25, 2017 in Niagara Falls, Canada, DG Reg Madison presented President Sue Foster of the Rotary Club of Lincoln the banners it earned during the Rotary year 2016-2017, as recognized officially on November 3rd at the District's Foundation Dinner at Salvatore's Italian Gardens Restaurant. Lincoln Rotary received the Every Rotarian Every Year Club banner, 100% Member Participation Club banner, 100% Foundation Giving Club banner, US$100 Average Giving 100% Member Participation Club banner.
The Rotary Club of Lincoln recognizes all Rotarians, the production team, sponsors, community partners and supporters for the success of its 14th annual production of the Rotary Club of Lincoln Lamplighter Tour! “It was a privilege and pleasure to work with an extraordinary team of actors, writers, directors, crew and all the volunteers who commit their time and effort to make this show come to life each November!” said Sandra Bacon, producer. This year the event involved about 100 community partners and volunteers.
Pictured is the cast and crew both Rotarians & community volunteers that participated this year at the wrap-up party held November 19th.
The Batavia Rotary celebrates its 97th year with the residents of the Genesee County Nursing Home on December 17th. Santa’s elves were busy buying 215 gifts which will be distributed to all of the residents along with a calendar. There will be plenty of singing, dancing and fun to be had by all.
The Rotary Club of Lewiston, NY & Niagara-on-the-Lake held it's Annual Christmas Party at the Como Restaurant in Niagara Falls, NY and used that occasion to give out donations to worthy organizations in the communities we have served on both sides of the Niagara River since 1938.
Pictured (left to right) are Club Secretary Tom Gerbasi, Sister Beth Brosner from Heart Love and Soul Food Kitchen, Sam Pappalardo from Camp Hope (a project of Niagara Hospice), Betty Alexander & Cindy Grant from Newark Neighbours in NOTL, and Club President Ron Danielewicz.
Pictured here, Past District Governor Jack Amico, on left, recently accepted a donation from the Rotary Club of Lancaster - Depew President Robert Benzel, further fulfilling the club’s $10,000 pledge to the District 7090 Million Dollar Challenge.
On Monday, December 11th, the Rotary Club of Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus "BNMC Rotary" celebrated the holiday season together at Coco Bar & Bistro. The evening was complete with with festive apparel, delicious hors d’ouvres and bountiful gift donations for two local charities. Hats, gloves, socks and scarves were collected for the Buffalo City Mission along with new, unwrapped children’s toys for Child & Family Service’s Adopt-a-Family Program. BNMC Rotary wishes D7090 clubs a merry and bright new year!
EarlyAct members at St. Andrew School in Welland decided to decorate their school Christmas tree with angels. Each angel has a gender and age of a member of the community who needs help this Christmas. As Welland Rotarian Nick Bodo observed, "This is a beautiful expression of what Christmas is about and what Rotary stands for."
On December 11, Rotary Youth Exchange students staying in Niagara were the guests of Cindy Forster MPP (Member of Provincial Parliament), Welland. Organized by Nicholas Bodo and in attendance were pictured (left to right) Nicholas Bodo, Welland Rotarian, Mike Taylor, Fonthill Rotarian, Anna Antalfalvi, YE student from Hungary, Manon Hody, YE student from Belgium, Haloise Blais, YE student from France, and Federico Roman Holt, YE student from Paraguay.
The Rotary Club of Hamburg once again participated in the Hamburg Holidays Santa Claus Parade on November 25, 2017. The Easter Bunny was featured on their float as the club promoted its annual Breakfast with the Bunny that is set for March 24. Pictured is the Bunny, the truck float, a 1948 Ford F3 built in Buffalo and driven by Rotarians Dale and Barb Stanley, granddaughter Haley is seated in the driver's seat and came along for the ride.
The Rotary Club of Hamburg Sunrise recently presented a $200 donation to the Rotary Club of Hamburg in support of its Warm the Children Program. The Rotary Club of Hamburg has administered the Warm the Children Program since 2007, with 100 percent of all donations going directly to the organization which provides brand new, warm winter clothing to children in need throughout the Southtowns. Shown presenting the check is Cathy Rybczynski, president of the Hamburg Sunrise Rotary Club and accepting the donation is Jerry Bastedo, president of the Rotary Club of Hamburg.
What do flying foxes, an arid climate and clay soils that are about 250 million years old have in common? These are some of the challenges facing fruit farmers in the Melbourne area of Australia as outlined by Frederick (“Fred”) Johnson, Jr. during his November 28 presentation for the Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville’s Rural-Urban Day special program. Area high school students, some school staff and agricultural community members were invited as guests. Including Rotarians, 49 people were in attendance. This event was held in the fellowship hall of the United Methodist Church in Westfield, NY.
Pictured, Fred Johnson, Jr. visited a 150-plus year old Shiraz vineyard at the Tahbilk Winery in the Goulburn Valley wine region of Australia during his VTT experience in late Feb. and early Mar. 2017.
On Friday, December 1, residents and members of the Akron-Newstead business community gathered with Rotarians and their guests at the Akron Fire Hall for a festive evening featuring food, friends, fellowship, and community-outreach.
The approximately 120 people that attended the 28th annual fundraiser were treated to hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, and the soulful sounds of Saxman Slim. The event featured an Angel Tree, Theme-Basket Raffle, Silent Auction, and the ever-popular Mystery Gift Auction – where wrapped gifts of unknown content are auctioned off to the highest bidder.
On Monday, December 4, the Rotary Club of Lockport had a good turn out of Rotarian volunteers along with several fine young members of the Lockport High School Interact Club. Together, they worked to cook turkeys and serve a meal to at least 185 visitors to the local Salvation Army's facility. The club participates in this event yearly and is currently exploring opportunities for more of this joint service in the coming year.
WOW! Who knew that pancakes and sausage patties would be such a hit? On Saturday, December 2, 2017, The Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise (RCNS) played host to the Norfolk community. Reportedly, this "pay it forward" to the Norfolk community event was an over the top success.
There were a total of 120 adults and 110 kids served over the 2-hour event. A huge increase over last year's 80 guests. The Junior Farmer's building in Simcoe was the perfect venue with lots of space for the kids to play without restrictions. The Christmas blow-ups were fascinating to the kids and the colouring table was never empty....simple things in life are still so important. Having Santa, Mrs. Claus and the Elves on location was pretty special too!
Gift to You. Congratulations and thank you to all the Paul Harris Fellows
Harry Walker (on right) with me. Harry deserves much of the credit for this new club! Last time he was president of his club he established an Interact club! Thanks Harry, You are making a Difference!.png)
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The Rotary Club of Williamsville celebrated its 14th consecutive year of working with Gateway Longview on its “Adopt an Angel” campaign on December 8, 2017, when items collected by the club were dropped off to the program assistants by Rotarians Bill Thuman and Frank Ralabate. The annual event assists infants through young adults 21 years of age who participate in behavioral health, special education, residential treatment and community-based programs at Gateway Longview.
The Rotary Club of Williamsville members volunteered at Eastern Hill Mall on December 9, from 9am to 5pm ringing the bell in support of the Salvation Army’s annual “Red Kettle” fund raising drive.
The Fantasy of Trees is a Rotary Club of Grimsby annual fundraiser and is expected to raise $15,000 or more this year through silent auction and lottery proceeds. There were 40 decorated trees in the raffle with another 60 items in the raffle and silent auction. The event ran from November 24th to December 10th this year. 
Pictured here, Past District Governor Jack Amico, on left, recently accepted a donation from the Rotary Club of Lancaster - Depew President Robert Benzel, further fulfilling the club’s $10,000 pledge to the District 7090 Million Dollar Challenge. 
EarlyAct members at St. Andrew School in Welland decided to decorate their school Christmas tree with angels. Each angel has a gender and age of a member of the community who needs help this Christmas. As Welland Rotarian Nick Bodo observed, "This is a beautiful expression of what Christmas is about and what Rotary stands for."
The Rotary Club of Hamburg once again participated in the Hamburg Holidays Santa Claus Parade on November 25, 2017. The Easter Bunny was featured on their float as the club promoted its annual Breakfast with the Bunny that is set for March 24. Pictured is the Bunny, the truck float, a 1948 Ford F3 built in Buffalo and driven by Rotarians Dale and Barb Stanley, granddaughter Haley is seated in the driver's seat and came along for the ride. 
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WOW! Who knew that pancakes and sausage patties would be such a hit? On Saturday, December 2, 2017, The Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise (RCNS) played host to the Norfolk community. Reportedly, this "pay it forward" to the Norfolk community event was an over the top success.