Half of District 7090 is in Lockdown again and numbers of COVID infections continue to rise in Ontario. The border remains Closed with no expectation that it will open before the end of my term. For the first time, health care is looking a lot better on the American side of the District with many more vaccinations, including second doses being administered. Judy and I thankfully have had our first dose with a booking in August for the second one. Rotary International President Holger Knaack is asking every Rotarian to encourage everyone who can be vaccinated to take advantage of it. Vaccines have been extremely effective in reducing Polio to less than one percent and to 2 countries. We can beat this infection too, if we follow precautions and get vaccinated. And get back to some normalcy.
As you know India is in a crisis and running out of beds and oxygen. And, sadly, Rotary International President-Elect Shekhar Mehta is hospitalized with COVID. Our prayers for a speedy recovery go out to him and his family. In light of this, the District Leadership and the District Foundation Committee have agreed to donate $10,000 from our DDF reserve and to challenge those clubs who have the capacity to donate $500 - $1,000 USD to purchase oxygen concentrators for India. A combined donation of $20,000 will buy 20 of these units. Your donation would be most appreciated. See the letter request that follows my article below for the details on the project.
I would like to commend the clubs and Rotarians in New York State for proceeding with the Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup last week. We certainly collected a lot of garbage, including plastic. With the lockdown in Ontario and Quebec, we have postponed the cleanup on this side of the border, which is most likely not going to happen until June at the earliest. For those clubs that had done a lot of pre-planning and reaching out to partners, thanks. It should be pretty straightforward to resurrect these plans at a later date.
DGE Anne has asked me to take the lead on this initiative in her year, which I am pleased to do. It fits nicely into Rotary’s new area of focus, Protecting the Environment, and our District’s commitment to promoting Healthy Communities.
DGE Anne and her team have pulled together an excellent Club Training Assembly to be held on Saturday, May 15 from 8:30-noon. You can register online and pick 2 sessions of interest to you from 24 topics. There is something for everyone. We are encouraging every Rotarian to register. It is via Zoom and it is free. Please go to our website and register right now or click here.
Zone 28 & 32 are planning a “Celebrating Our Foundation” Gala Fundraiser and Sandi Chard is planning a Pre and Post Gala event on May 12 starting at 7:00 p.m. This event is to raise $75.00 for the Annual Fund, which supports our District and Global Grants, which have been diminishing over the years, while requests for grants has been exploding. $25.00 goes towards Polio Plus. I am asking every Rotarian to consider registering for this. The cost is $100 USD plus 10% service charge. $100 is fully tax-deductible. You can register through our District website.
If you answered yes, then please consider getting involved in some District events or committees. For me, it is one of the most rewarding parts of being a Rotarian.
What type of committees might you consider volunteering for? Here is a sampling:
Right now, we are seeking a volunteer to help with the organizing of the coaching series of sessions we are running at the district. We need someone to correspond with those interested, manage the registrations, communicate updates for the sessions.
We are seeking individuals to join our newly formed diversity, equity and inclusion district committee and help us to make some great strides in this area
The plans are set for our Pre-GALA with many clubs submitting videos celebrating their foundation grants. The District Foundation Committee will be celebrating major donors, benefactors, Paul Harris Society members, the successful Polio Plus year, and all Rotarians in District 7090.
After our Pre-GALA, we will join Rotarians from Alaska to Newfoundland in District 28 and 32 featuring a "Red Carpet" kicking off at 8:00 pm ET sharp hosted by Rotary International's first female President (to be), Jennifer Jones live! This will lead us into the variety show with Master of Ceremonies Past RI Director Jeffrey Cadorette, Past President Barry Rasin, and more distinguished guests, entertainers, and inspiring stories about service supported by TRF, and much more!
WHAT CAN YOUR $100 CONTRIBUTION TO THE ROTARY FOUNDATION DO?
Your $100 contribution to The Rotary Foundation can help provide textbooks for one elementary school in Zambia, provide a hearing aid for a deaf child in Pakistan, buy deworming tablets for 112 children in the Phillippines, pay for cataract operations for 3 blind people in India, or provide 230 blankets for the elderly in the winter months of Korea.
Will you commit today to donating $100 or more per year to The Rotary Foundation and to making a difference in people's lives? To donate, click here.
LOOKING TO PARTNER ON AN INTERNATIONAL PROJECT?
Click here to access the International Service Committee's Approved Projects Catalogue
Click here to look at 11 very interesting eco-friendly service projects
"Rotary kindled the spark within me to look beyond myself and embrace humanity."
Shekhar Mehta
Rotary International President 2021-2022
On April 3rd, the Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville assisted the Chautauqua Safety Village in Ashville, New York with its Easter Carnival Drive-Thru event.
Pictured left to right - the Easter Bunny, Elizabeth Link, Donna Quagliana, John Hamels and Barbara Fay were at the pavilion that this Rotary club helped to fund and build several years ago.
These Rotarians, and club President Jan Berkhouse who was the photographer and is not shown, handed out candy supplied by Westfield-Mayville Rotarians to over a thousand children during the event.
Trash, tires, and plastics were some of the debris that seven members of the Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville and four volunteers collected along the Lake Erie Barcelona Beach area in Barcelona, NY on Apr. 17. Rotary District 7090, which includes Rotary clubs throughout Western New York and Southern Ontario, Canada, is conducting a major international Rotary service project from now until June 1. This initiative is the Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup.
In support of this Rotary District 7090 driven project and Earth Day, the Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville spread the word about its cleanup and led the local effort in Barcelona. Club President Jan Berkhouse said, “We had a successful cleanup on a cold and dreary day. From 9 to 11:45 a.m. our group worked from Barcelona Harbor west to Moose Beach, and also along the east side. We are grateful to the volunteers who helped us with this service project.”
Westfield-Mayville Rotarians who participated were Helen Baran, Jan Berkhouse, Tom Berkhouse, Pete Bills, Barbara Fay, Mike Harrington, and Steve Stratton. Volunteers who assisted during this cleanup were Benjamin Carlson and Christine Carlson of Boy Scout Troop 126, and Liz Dorman and Victoria Templeton of Chautauqua Rails to Trails.
As they say - we needed to 'pivot' with the times - and indeed, we have. The pandemic forced our hand. We needed to find creative ways to remain connected and relevant; to continue the good work we do in support of our communities. The old ways had to be adapted.
First, we learned the technicalities and merits of 'zooming' to remain connected within and outside of our club.
Next, we found ways of keeping morale up; ways of connecting socially. This lead to our social connections (Come Wine & Eat Cheese), club games (Virtual Trivia Nights), socially distant car rallies (Rotary Wheel Car Rally), and online gourmet & art appreciation (OnLine Dining & Art Tour).
Importantly, we needed to fundraise for our future work. This lead to our virtual initiatives at online auction sales (a new Bargains, Bling and Blarney), local vendor promotion (Take a Bite Out of Norfolk), and even more zoom-based trivia. In each case, we have been blessed with terrific support from within our club and from Norfolk County. So much so that we are now confident that we have already raised funding that will support our plans for the next year.
Although we can scarcely wait to return to a new normal, we are proud of our continuing success with virtual and/or socially distant community connections. We exist to 'give back' and the pandemic has only altered our approach. Thank you everyone - we are grateful that we are strengthened through challenges.
Pictured - at our recent Take a Bite Out of Norfolk virtual fundraiser, President-Elect Louise Schebesch presents the special participant prize to Lynette Pratt. Lynette, new to Norfolk County, will enjoy a free airplane ride over Niagara Falls and the area, courtesy of our very generous sponsor, the Brantford Flight Centre (thanks Lisa!)
The Batavia Rotary Club has donated an AED defibrillator to the local Salvation Army center.
Salvation Army regularly serves community residents at its center on East Main Street. "After two recent incidents when patrons at the center were stricken with health issues, the Salvation Army leadership realized the need to have a defibrillator on the premises in order to assist visitors in a timely manner," said Todd Rapp, Operations Manager.
The City Fire Department provided training to Salvation Army staff members, but there were no funds to actually purchase the device. That's when the Rotary Club stepped in.
"Our club was happy to assist an organization that is providing vital services to our neighbors in the community, especially during this pandemic when many are facing increased needs because of loss of jobs or reduction of work hours," said President Tom Turnbull of the Rotary Club of Batavia.
Pictured, from left: Tom Turnbull, President, Rotary Club of Batavia, Todd Rapp, Operations Manager, Batavia Salvation Army, Ed Leising, member, Rotary Club of Batavia.
The Rotary Club of Hamburg and Village of Hamburg Parks and Recreation held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the morning of April 7 at the small public park located at Main and Buffalo streets. The ceremony marked the official opening of the three bicycle repair stations donated by the Rotary club through its fundraising efforts and support from a Rotary District 7090 grant.
Besides the station at the park adjacent to Spot Coffee on Main Street, repair stations are located at the intersections of Sunset Drive and Byrd Avenue in Forest Glen and at Prospect and Hawkins avenues. The project was coordinated by Rotarian Maria Guizzotti, a bicycle riding enthusiast who encountered a similar bike repair station when she visited Niagara on the Lake and said bike riders there found it very useful. Each repair station has retractable tools and an air pump, making quick repairs easy.
Pictured at the ribbon-cutting are from left: Jacie Gavin of Village Parks and Recreation, Village Mayor Thomas Moses, Rotarians Maria Guizzotti, Assistant Governor Lisa Avery, Earl Knauss and club President John Nowak and Dave Wittmeyer of the Village Department of Public Works. The DPW installed and will maintain the repair stations.
Our Community Service Committee has been focusing on organizations that are staggering under the weight of the pandemic but continuing to help those in need.
Good Food Boxes
Before the pandemic, this program served 100 families. It now serves more than 300 families due to many people losing their jobs.
In partnership with Lococo’s, fresh food with a focus on fruits and vegetables is delivered to peoples’ homes for a nominal fee once a month. Some recipients are those with special needs paid for by Social Services and 50 percent of the 300 families are paid for by the Friendship Native Centre for First Nations families. The annual cost of this program is $50,000; our club is supporting one month for $4,000.
Community Gardens
We had no idea beforehand that there are a dozen Community Gardens throughout the Niagara Region serving 300 families. Most are on church and school grounds, including one that has been designated as a "Teaching Garden" for families who will benefit by having a plot of their own. The gardens partner with Niagara College, which supplies seeds and plants every year. The gardens are maintained by the families. The mental health benefits of being outside and working the gardens have been a real boon during COVID-imposed isolation l.
Our club is funding a new garden of 40 plots in Fort Erie. The $5,000 we donate will purchase lumber for the raised beds, rain barrels, and tools. The labour will be supplied by the families.
Things moved really fast for our initiative in Mali.
It was only last November when the Rotary Club of Niagara-on-the-Lake began discussions with the Rotary Club of Kati about a seamstress project that they were setting up. The project involved establishing a sewing centre where 20 trained seamstresses could work as a co-op to manufacture and sell traditional African garments. NOTL Rotary raised the funds for this venture, and these were disbursed in February.
On April 16, some of us were able to watch the Grand Opening of Kati Couture Niagara in Mali by live Zoom feed. As a special note, the Rotary Club of Kati has changed the name of the venture from Kati Couture to Niagara Couture. The name change is only partly in recognition of our help. In the local language used in this part of Mali, Niagara also means hard worker. The name is as fitting for our friends in Mali as it is for us.
The Spring into Action Fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Lincoln took place over a period of three days on March 25, 26, and 27th.
Participants in the fundraiser placed a takeout dinner order of ribs or fish and chips from a local restaurant, The Butcher and Banker, and were able to choose which evening they wanted to order their meal. As well as the option of ordering a meal there was also an opportunity to participate in an online auction of items that had been donated by club members or to donate directly to the Rotary Club of Lincoln Foundation Inc.
One of the key areas of focus of the Rotary Club of Lincoln is youth. With that in mind, the money raised will continue to be used to support programs such as FORT, Convos Youth Zone, The Upper Deck, Big Brothers Big Sisters as well as Community Care of West Niagara and the Village of Hope. Signature projects have also been well received in the community such as the Legacy Hall at Cave Springs Camp and the Skatepark and Pump Track in Beamsville.
The club would like to thank everyone that participated, this will help ensure that the club can continue to support the many local community and youth-focused organizations that are available to the community.
Pastor Gregg Stierheim pictured left has been growing a YEARd for over a year now. It was a challenge he was given at the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic in March of 2020. He has graciously offered to stir up some interest in raising funds for the club's high school scholarship fund.
The Rotary Club of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC) decided to capitalize on his effort and created the Save it or Shave it campaign. You can vote with your dollars at https://www.rotarybnmc.com/page/save-it-or-shave-it. All proceeds given here will benefit the Rotary BNMC Scholarship Fund.
You can also give online through Williamsville United Methodist Church at https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-bin/Vanco_ver3.vps. Proceeds given here will benefit the ministry of Wesley's Place at the Buffalo/ Niagara Medical Campus.
Virtual Meetings via Zoom on Mondays from 5-6om. Contact us for the invite!
The Rotary Club of Niagara County Central held an Earth Day Clean-Up on Saturday, April 24, 2021, on the shores of Lake Ontario in Wilson, New York. Chairman and Rotarian Tim Carter Superintendent of the Wilson Central School put together a wonderful event. Over 190 students from all grades of the Wilson Central School, parents, Junior Varsity football team, and their Cheerleaders along with the people from the Village and Town of Wilson worked alongside the Rotarians to complete this beautiful clean-up project. The Earth Day event was held at the Wilson-Tuscarora State Park on the shore of Lake Ontario. Tim Horton coffee and Tim Bits were supplied to everyone by the Rotary Club of NCC. Plastic bags clear and black along with gloves were supplied to all. Everyone was masked and social distancing. Many walked the shoreline of the lake along with the waterways entering the lake cleaning up the trash while others went through the complete park picking up anything and everything that did not belong on the ground even a small kids' swimming pool was found. The school Physical Education Department offered to all the high school students if they attended and worked for 2 hours in the clean-up project, they would receive full credit for their PE requirements in school (a great way for high school students to be involved in the community).
Chairman Tim Carter and President Dave Evans were overjoyed with all who attended and made the project a success. Tim is looking forward to doing this project next year and making it an annual School-Community Project.
The Rotary Club of Niagara Falls installed a beautiful clock on the Niagara Parkway in honour of the 100th Anniversary celebration this year. The club originally scheduled the official unveiling ceremony of the new clock for Saturday, May 8th at 11:00 a.m. Unfortunately, due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, the club felt it was best to cancel the event and reschedule for a later date.
Once a new date is confirmed, the club will let District 7090 know, as everyone is welcome to join the dedication ceremony.
The club has booked the annual Rotary golf tournament for September 22, 2021, at Grand Niagara Golf Course. If you are interested in playing, being a hole sponsor, or donating a prize, please contact Jim Craig at samum905@gmail.com.
It is always a great day filled with fun, fellowship and prizes!
Since the Rotary Club of Welland could not celebrate its 100th Anniversary (April 1, 2020) due to COVID restrictions, we decided to celebrate our 101st virtually on April 1, 2021.
Referred to as our 101st Anniversary Celebration & Wine Tasting, 18 Welland Rotarians were joined by 35 partners, family, Rotarians, and friends. DG Frank brought greetings from the District and Mayor Campion brought greetings from the City and presented a plaque recognizing our 100th Anniversary. We presented a PowerPoint presentation on our Legacy Project – Rotary Club of Welland Park, which is located on the east side of the Welland Recreational Waterway (former Welland Canal).
Our Wine tasting was conducted by Kristina Inman, a certified CAPS Sommelier, and professor of food & beverage in the Hospitality Division of Niagara College. She compared two Niagara wines to those of Germany and France. Those taking part purchased the wines locally and participated in the various components of evaluating wines. A great evening overall.
The well-coordinated multi-national plan for Rotary clubs in multiple districts from all over the Great Lakes Watershed from Lake Superior to the Saint Lawrence River to clean up the area as part of the Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup on April 24 was beset by ever-changing challenges. Border closings, delays on COVID vaccinations, surging infections, and ever-changing restrictions on the scope and size of gatherings all made the skeptics say that this little Bi-National Club could not make a difference.
The Small but Mighty Rotary Club of Lewiston/NOTL mobilized those of us who were not in lockdown and WE DID IT!
The club hauled almost 100 lbs. of rubbish out of the US side of the Lower Niagara River, aided by NYS Parks employees who were delighted to help us haul it to the dump. Some of our favorite items were "unmentionable" clothing items, shotgun shells, dead (non-human) things, kites, shoes, diapers, and large cast-iron pipes and grates.
This little Rotary club can't do everything, but it does what it can with what they have. Pictured left are Secretary Tommy Gerbasi and President-Elect Leslie Sibilia.
It’s a sure sign of Spring at the Club’s Charles Ansell Park, located at Lock One in St. Catharines along the Welland Canal. Planted by the City of St. Catharines Parks and Recreation Department last year, these unique bulbs have been specially created to celebrate Rotary’s worldwide Polio Eradication Campaign. Veseys Seeds of PEI donates 20% of the bulb purchase price to the Rotary Foundation.
A recent regular meeting was turned into a virtual Garage Sale Auction on Zoom. Rotarians donated their "treasures" and 20 members joined in the fun, bidding furiously to own them for themselves. No prisoners were taken on several items. All in all, a great time was had by all!
The top three items by dollars generated were the Alexander Keith’s wooden cooler box pictured left (enough room for 48 bottles of beer apparently) at $75, the Gift Basket donated by Amber at Food4Kids at $50, and the set of Ear Buds at $20.
The Club Communications team’s “most interesting and unique item” was pictured right - the retro, solid wood, 2-piece 26” X 26” dollhouse with contents that allow it to morph from house, to farm, to vet’s clinic to zoo.
The Rotary Club of Buffalo is mourning the loss of our dear friend and fellow Rotarian, Tony Diina (July 8, 1947 - April 20, 2021). Tony, age 73, died suddenly on Tuesday, April 20, 2021. We are shocked and saddened, but also pausing to celebrate his legacy of service, commitment to our community, fellowship, and friendship. Tony defined what it means to be a Rotarian.
Tony’s smile lit up a room. He made a point to get to know new members, mentoring and coaching them along the way. His joie de vivre was palpable. He was friend to many, making quick friends of acquaintances. When in a conversation with Tony, one would feel like the center of his attention. He was present, interested, curious, and engaged. Tony always made everyone feel valued and important, and to say that he went above and beyond would be an understatement.
His involvement in our club was wide-ranging and consistent. A member since 1999, he was a dedicated mentor with our Mentoring Program at Lorraine Elementary School for over 20 years. Deann Sheppard, a long-time member of our Mentoring Program says, “His commitment to his student created a support system that lasted into adulthood. He was always encouraging and never judgmental. The passing of Tony will leave a large void in the Lorraine Mentoring Program.” Tony served on several committees, chairing the Service Fund Committee for many years. He was a Paul Harris Fellow three times over. He was active in the Rotary Tennis Fellowship, often playing tennis with his Rotarian friends. He served on the Board of Directors from 2008 through 2012 and was a regular attendee at District 7090 conferences. As a Past President of our club, I can say that his encouragement and advice were invaluable. I felt like I had my own personal cheerleader on my side.
One of his most important contributions was planning and organizing the campaign to construct the Rotary Flag Pole project at the Naval Park. He was a patriotic soul and always worked on planning a ceremony in conjunction with Rotary around Flag Day. Buffalo Rotarian Paul Marzello, President & CEO of the Naval Park says “As you know, his motor was always running, and he would save me articles and call me all the time with leads on things that could benefit the Park”.
Tony was an active alumnus of Canisius College. He was a member of the Leadership Society and helped to organize his Golden Jubilee Reunion for the class of 1969. He was involved with the MBA Alumni Association and provided assistance with the college’s fundraising and marketing efforts to alumni and friends. He always stepped up to help his alma mater. Countless other Western New York organizations benefited from Tony’s efforts and commitment, such as the History Museum and St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy. One was always struck by how involved and hard-working he was.
We send our deepest condolences to Tony’s wife Kathleen, daughters - Tracy, Wendy, Kathleen, Jane, and his entire family. I know I’m not alone in saying I will miss Tony tremendously. I’m grateful to have known him.
On March 31, 2021 Fonthill Rotarian Troy Killick was joined by his family to share their exciting family project with the Rotary Club of Fonthill!
Fonthill Butterflyway Rangers
Wild pollinators such as butterflies and bees are crucial to human survival. Climate change, development, and widespread pesticide use are compromising their habitat and food sources. Overall, invertebrate species have declined 45% over the past four decades. The 3 prime drivers of this insect loss are habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change.
Insects are irreplaceable in the natural world – they are a key food source for birds and fish, and are vital in forests and fields as decomposers. Not to mention that over three-quarters of wild flowering plants and one-third of the foods we eat depend on insect pollination. It is estimated that wild insects provide ecological services worth $57 billion each year.
Butterflyway
A Butterflyway is a network of at least 12 native wildflower-filled plantings (a.k.a. “pollinator patches”) in a neighbourhood or community. Butterflyways create habitat corridors for pollinators.
The Butterflyway Project
The Butterflyway Project aims to help people step up efforts to help pollinators find food and shelter.
Butterflyway Rangers
Butterflyway Rangers are local volunteers recruited by David Suzuki Foundation to lead the project in our communities! What do they do?
Connect with our communities
Encourage habitat creation for pollinators
Act as liaisons between the community (Ranger-recruits) and DSF
You can help!
If you are interested in learning more and/or being a part of The Butterflyway Project, please contact Michelle at michelle_killick@yahoo.com.
The goal for Fonthill is to plant at least 12 pollinator patches –signs will be available to denote official Butterflyway pollinator patches.
If you are located in another part of the Niagara Region, Michelle can help put you in contact with a Ranger in your area (there are several throughout Niagara).
The plans are set for our Pre-GALA with many clubs submitting videos celebrating their foundation grants. The District Foundation Committee will be celebrating major donors, benefactors, Paul Harris Society members, the successful Polio Plus year, and all Rotarians in District 7090. 
Your $100 contribution to The Rotary Foundation can help provide textbooks for one elementary school in Zambia, provide a hearing aid for a deaf child in Pakistan, buy deworming tablets for 112 children in the Phillippines, pay for cataract operations for 3 blind people in India, or provide 230 blankets for the elderly in the winter months of Korea.
On April 3rd, the Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville assisted the Chautauqua Safety Village in Ashville, New York with its Easter Carnival Drive-Thru event. 
Trash, tires, and plastics were some of the debris that seven members of the Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville and four volunteers collected along the Lake Erie Barcelona Beach area in Barcelona, NY on Apr. 17. Rotary District 7090, which includes Rotary clubs throughout Western New York and Southern Ontario, Canada, is conducting a major international Rotary service project from now until June 1. This initiative is the Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup.
As they say - we needed to 'pivot' with the times - and indeed, we have. The pandemic forced our hand. We needed to find creative ways to remain connected and relevant; to continue the good work we do in support of our communities. The old ways had to be adapted.
The Rotary Club of Hamburg and Village of Hamburg Parks and Recreation held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the morning of April 7 at the small public park located at Main and Buffalo streets. The ceremony marked the official opening of the three bicycle repair stations donated by the Rotary club through its fundraising efforts and support from a Rotary District 7090 grant.
We had no idea beforehand that there are a dozen Community Gardens throughout the Niagara Region serving 300 families. Most are on church and school grounds, including one that has been designated as a "Teaching Garden" for families who will benefit by having a plot of their own. The gardens partner with Niagara College, which supplies seeds and plants every year. The gardens are maintained by the families. The mental health benefits of being outside and working the gardens have been a real boon during COVID-imposed isolation l.
Things moved really fast for our initiative in Mali.
The Spring into Action Fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Lincoln took place over a period of three days on March 25, 26, and 27th.
Pastor Gregg Stierheim pictured left has been growing a YEARd for over a year now. It was a challenge he was given at the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic in March of 2020. He has graciously offered to stir up some interest in raising funds for the club's high school scholarship fund.
The Rotary Club of Niagara County Central held an Earth Day Clean-Up on Saturday, April 24, 2021, on the shores of Lake Ontario in Wilson, New York. Chairman and Rotarian Tim Carter Superintendent of the Wilson Central School put together a wonderful event. Over 190 students from all grades of the Wilson Central School, parents, Junior Varsity football team, and their Cheerleaders along with the people from the Village and Town of Wilson worked alongside the Rotarians to complete this beautiful clean-up project. The Earth Day event was held at the Wilson-Tuscarora State Park on the shore of Lake Ontario. Tim Horton coffee and Tim Bits were supplied to everyone by the Rotary Club of NCC. Plastic bags clear and black along with gloves were supplied to all. Everyone was masked and social distancing. Many walked the shoreline of the lake along with the waterways entering the lake cleaning up the trash while others went through the complete park picking up anything and everything that did not belong on the ground even a small kids' swimming pool was found. The school Physical Education Department offered to all the high school students if they attended and worked for 2 hours in the clean-up project, they would receive full credit for their PE requirements in school (a great way for high school students to be involved in the community).
The Rotary Club of Niagara Falls installed a beautiful clock on the Niagara Parkway in honour of the 100th Anniversary celebration this year. The club originally scheduled the official unveiling ceremony of the new clock for Saturday, May 8th at 11:00 a.m. Unfortunately, due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, the club felt it was best to cancel the event and reschedule for a later date.
Since the Rotary Club of Welland could not celebrate its 100th Anniversary (April 1, 2020) due to COVID restrictions, we decided to celebrate our 101st virtually on April 1, 2021.
The well-coordinated multi-national plan for Rotary clubs in multiple districts from all over the Great Lakes Watershed from Lake Superior to the Saint Lawrence River to clean up the area as part of the Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup on April 24 was beset by ever-changing challenges. Border closings, delays on COVID vaccinations, surging infections, and ever-changing restrictions on the scope and size of gatherings all made the skeptics say that this little Bi-National Club could not make a difference. 
It’s a sure sign of Spring at the Club’s Charles Ansell Park, located at Lock One in St. Catharines along the Welland Canal. Planted by the City of St. Catharines Parks and Recreation Department last year, these unique bulbs have been specially created to celebrate Rotary’s 
worldwide Polio Eradication Campaign. Veseys Seeds of PEI donates 20% of the bulb purchase price to the Rotary Foundation.
A recent regular meeting was turned into a virtual Garage Sale Auction on Zoom. 
Rotarians donated their "treasures" and 20 members joined in the fun, bidding furiously to own them for themselves. No prisoners were taken on several items. All in all, a great time was had by all!
The Rotary Club of Buffalo is mourning the loss of our dear friend and fellow Rotarian, Tony Diina (July 8, 1947 - April 20, 2021). Tony, age 73, died suddenly on Tuesday, April 20, 2021. We are shocked and saddened, but also pausing to celebrate his legacy of service, commitment to our community, fellowship, and friendship. Tony defined what it means to be a Rotarian.
On March 31, 2021 Fonthill Rotarian Troy Killick was joined by his family to share their exciting family project with the Rotary Club of Fonthill!