Thankfully, 2020 is in the rear-view mirror and we can start to focus on a year of renewal and growth and more importantly real hugs and human contact! Multiple COVID-19 vaccines are a testament to what mankind can accomplish in a timely fashion when we all pull together in a common purpose… a trait of Rotary and its members. And Rotary has the infrastructure in place to ensure that we can help to get needles into arms around the world in a timely fashion to conquer this pandemic in 2021.
We lost an inspiring and dedicated Rotary leader, John P. Heise, (pictured left with his wife Sandy) who passed away suddenly on December 23rd; President of the Rotary Club of Holley, and Past District Governor (2011-2012). John was not only a Rotary leader, but also a passionate educator serving as a public school and high school principal, Director of Special Education and in retirement, Board of Education Trustee. He was a champion of our Youth Exchange Program and the Holley High School Interact Club. He has been an inspiration to many of us and will be sadly missed. The District will honour John with a donation to The Rotary Foundation, Education and Literacy Fund.
A number of our clubs have added new members over the past 6 months, which is good news. However, many have lost members. Net membership remains stagnant at 1,960. Please reach out to a colleague, a work-mate, a neighbour, a friend, and invite them to a meeting. We cannot continue to erode membership if we are to be a force in our communities, locally and internationally. Please be a person of action. We can do this.
A One Day Virtual District Conference with Pre-Conference Sessions & Community Service Project.
CONFERENCE DATE IS SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 - REGISTRATION TO OPEN IN JANUARY WITH ANNOUNCEMENT
What a challenging year! DG Frank Adamson truly hoped to have an in-person District Conference as planned. He rescheduled the date to Spring 2021, in hope that social gathering could occur. We are very sorry this cannot happen. Thank-you for your understanding and patience as we must accept the implications of our closed international borders, and the legislated and personal need to socially isolate.
We are now planning to have an amazing VIRTUAL District Conference, with the possibility of small group (Area) gatherings as public health guidelines permit. It is our hope that this virtual conference will have features to allow spontaneous discussions between participants in real-time fellowship, allow participants to view portions of the conference, and go back to view portions later. Some of our speakers are highlighted below.
Key Note Speaker:
RI President Nominee 2022-23: Jennifer Jones, “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion”
Some of you who know me - know that I love a good laugh. Here are some quotes that have made me smile as we say goodbye to 2020:
“I have been social-distancing for so long that today I struck up a conversation with a spider. Seems nice. He is a web designer.”
“Coronavirus has turned us all into dogs. We roam the house looking for food. We are told “no” if we get too close to strangers and we get really excited about car rides and walks”.
Or “My life seems like a test that I did not study for”.
Well, goodbye 2020. And Hello 2021. I know that I am personally so thankful for all that my Rotary club and my Rotary experience give me.
At our club meetings, we laugh and we have interesting breakout sessions where we can have conversations with just a few individuals - just like we did when our meetings were in person.
We can reach out and invite new people to join our meetings - many are excited by the zoom and hybrid opportunities offered today. We have had five guests to our club's December meetings alone.
COVID - 19 has literally changed Rotary and how we socialize but perhaps only for a short term.
Last month I announced our six Lighthouse Award winners and asked you to stay tuned for the winner of the Governor's Trophy. But first let's take a walk down memory lane. Looking back over time...just how and when did the Lighthouse Award come into existence. Perhaps many of you are aware but for the uninformed..let's take a look back to the year of District Governor Bob and First Lady Nan Bruce (2003 - 2004) with the Rotary Club of Waterdown. I called Bob and asked his reason(s) for implementing the award. He said "as he and Nan were making their club visits he noticed something very unusual and outstanding about the landscape of southern Ontario and western NY, there were lighthouses. In so many ways Rotary clubs are like lighthouses. Generally speaking, they are beacons of hope in their communities and symbolize humanity. Rotary clubs are steadfast and in time of need they are there to assist. And too, many leaders look to Rotary for guidance on matters of importance just as navigators look for lighthouses for their beacon of light for safety and navigation."
Because of DG Bob's observations, the Lighthouse Award has become a legacy. Thank you PDG Bob and Nan for those observations. As Paul Harvey would say "now you know the rest of the story."
Drum roll please....for the winner of the Governor's Trophy. But first let's take another look down memory lane. During the year of "Peace through Service" District Governor Rick and First Lady, Jeanette (2012 - 2013) of the Rotary Club of Brantford wanted to take the Presidential Citation and Lighthouse Award to another level. It was this year the Governor's Trophy took life. DG Rick said "he wanted to recognize one exceptional club that exemplified "Peace through Service" by demonstrating and implementing an extraordinary project. A small club with membership hovering around 20 took up the challenge and built a bridge in collaboration with the Seneca First Nation. Thus was the birth of the Governor's Trophy and the Rotary Club of Salamanca was declared the winner for their community work with the Seneca First Nation.
Thank you PDG Rick for your leadership and foresight.
Past winners have been:
2012 - 2013 Salamanca
2013 - 2014 Brantford Sunrise
2014 - 2015 Lockport
2015 - 2016 Welland
2016 - 2017 St. Catharines Lakeshore
2017 - 2018 Norfolk Sunrise
2018 - 2019 Niagara on the Lake
2019 - 2020 A Repeat....
Of the six clubs that were in the running from the Lighthouse Award please CONGRATULATE this year's winner: The Rotary Club of Lockport!!!
Yours in Rotary Service,
Bob Artis, District Governor 2019 - 2020 An Inspired Clarence Rotarian
Best of Friends District 7090
M 716.553.0345
2019-20 FOUNDATION GIVING RECOGNITIONS
Normally, in the fall of each year, we get together to celebrate the success of The Rotary Foundation and congratulate clubs for their significant contributions to TRF. Unfortunately for this year, we were not able to do that. But we can still recognize clubs, in a public way, for your tremendous efforts.
For the Rotary year ended June 30, 2020, District 7090 Rotary clubs and Rotarians contributed $130,174.72 US to Polio Plus and $218,681.36 US to the Annual Fund. Well Done!
Your gift to the Annual Fund helps Rotary clubs take action today to create positive change in communities at home and around the world. Your contributions help us strengthen peace efforts, provide clean water and sanitation, support education, grow local economies, save mothers and children, and fight disease.
The Rotary Foundation recognizes clubs that have achieved specific levels of giving as follows:
Is your club looking for some new ideas of how to raise funds in this virtual world? On Tuesday January 26, we are having another of our monthly District 7090 Web Talks. This one is focused on fundraising ideas - what do other clubs do to raise funds online and in times of COVID? We plan to feature some of the clubs in our district who can share what they are doing and also plan to make the session highly interactive so that everyone can share their ideas and questions.
So circle January 26 on your calendar. We will be online from 7 pm to 8 pm. Anne Bermingham (District Governor Elect) and Lisa Bishop (District Governor Elect Nominee) will be our hosts. You will meet members from other clubs and hopefully pick up an idea or two that you could consider implementing at your club.
Click here to register. Registration will close at Noon on Monday, January 25 and the Zoom meeting link will go out by email only to those registered shortly thereafter, so register today and put it in your calendar!
The Rotary Club of Hamilton After Five has provided funding for the purchase of a $2,600 industrial refrigerator for the City Housing Hamilton (CHH) community kitchen located at First Place Hamilton Seniors Residence. Fifty percent of the funding for the industrial refrigerator was provided by the Rotary Club of Hamilton After Five and fifty percent of the funding came from a Rotary International District 7090 Grant. The new industrial refrigerator provides storage for food that is used for food preparation for First Place residents and for the Seniors in the Kitchen (SINKS) program.
Pictured is Joanna Turchin, Rotarian, and Tammi Fougere, Property Manager of First Place.
Despite COVID-19, the politics and the imposed governmental restrictions the Rotary Club of Lewison/NOTL prevailed and, at least on the US side, had its traditional rowdy Christmas party, Good Will on Earth, and Peace to men!
(Although we can identify all the people in the photos, we chose not to do so).
Two exciting events took place for Brock Niagara Rotaract this month. One was the club’s participation in the Shoebox Project in St. Catharines on December 2nd and the hosting of their holiday trivia night on December 16th.
Although the club couldn’t fill the shoeboxes as usual (because of the pandemic), they were able to still receive donations and virtually filled two boxes for the project.
Many who donated for the holiday trivia night couldn’t attend (due to exams), there were still a few participants who enjoyed the night! All the donations from the trivia night will be donated to Community Care of West Niagara’s Holiday Sponsorship Program.
Pictured is a screenshot of the club’s Instagram post thanking participants of the trivia night holiday edition and thanking all those who donated even in their absence.
On Friday, December 4th, members of the Rotary Club of Fonthill collected the numerous bags and boxes of non-perishable food, personal care products, and grocery gift cards collected by the staff and students of E.L. Crossley Secondary School. Each year the Interact Club of Crossley supports their local community through this Holiday Food Drive. This year, with only half the students in the building on any given day, advertising the Holiday Food Drive and collecting the items was made more challenging. Nevertheless, Carolyn Ranieri, the staff lead for Interact at Crossley, and Janet Cripps, a Crossley staff member and Rotary Club of Fonthill member, were pleased with the collection. Rotary members brought the items to the Pelham Cares collection site where they added to the growing pile of boxes collected over the course of the Pelham Cares month-long drive. Pelham Cares board member, and former Crossley staff member, Sue Kicul expressed her appreciation for the contributions. The Rotary Club of Fonthill is aware that this year, in particular, food insecurity is a huge concern in our community and added their own bags of food to those collected by the Crossley Interact Club. Thanks to all Rotary members and the Crossley community who helped out.
The Rotary Club of Lincoln is pleased to announce that the final delivery of Christmas gifts and gift cards has been completed! On November 24, the Rotary Club of Lincoln made a decision to commit $10,000 from the Lamplighter production fund and to work with Community Care of West Niagara & Village of Hope so that they could buy, wrap and deliver gifts for kids and youth in its local community.
The Lamplighter Tour came about in 2003 and has remained as one of Lincoln Rotary’s major fundraisers www.lamplightertour.com that had to be canceled this year. These funds are usually reserved for the completion of local signature projects such as the Charles Daly Rotary Band Shell at Charles Daly Park and in the last year contributions to Rotary Park in Beamsville and The Legacy Hall at Cave Springs Camp. The club membership and Lamplighter Production team unanimously decided to spend the funds a little differently this year and created the Gifts for Kids campaign.
Brian Papalia, Partnership Director of the Chautauqua County Humane Society, and Kellie Roberts, Executive Director of the agency spoke to the Rotary Club of Jamestown via ZOOM, at a recent Monday noon meeting. Papalia works with organizations for sponsorships and education programs. He has been at the agency for several years as the former executive. Roberts has been the executive director for 3 years.
The CCHS works with loving care to get the animals into loving homes. The COVID Pandemic has lessened the agency’s activities, but they are still considered an essential business, so the doors have remained open for care and they have even been able to start a few new programs. Everything is now done by appointment. The agency has a new location partnership at Chautauqua Mall, across from the Bath and Body Works. Over 100 people have come through the doors at that location and adoption, especially of cats, has been quite successful.
The Rotary Club of Delhi members and supporters gathered on Saturday, December 5, at the local Independent Grocer to honour, Matt Wilkinson, with a Paul Harris Fellow for his ongoing support in the community.
Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville members collectively donated 87 containers of laundry detergent and 87 boxes of dryer sheets to the Union Relief Association of Westfield, NY. The items will be included in this nonprofit's Christmas boxes of food, toys, and necessities for Westfield, NY families.
Patty Benton, Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville Community Service Chair and chair of this project, is pictured delivering the donations to Union Relief on December 10th. Photo by Steve Stratton.
It has been a year full of changes and challenges. Nonetheless, the year was closed in ways that one wished might have been different but still were worth being proud of. A festive season taste of things done in December include:
Annual General Meeting. Bringing much work to an end-year conclusion, a new constitution was adopted, a new set of bylaws was agreed upon, healthy end-year fiscal paper was approved and the result of our strategic planning exercise was concluded. Along the way, a distantly-awarded Paul Harris Fellow was awarded to our hard-working (and clearly shocked!) Treasurer, George Cornfield;
The Rotary Club of St. Catharines recently presented a cheque in the amount of $5000 to Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold. The donation will be used to help the less fortunate during this difficult COVID-19 season.
Pictured on the right is President Sam Walters and on the left receiving the cheque is Betty Lou Souter, CEO of Community Care.
The Rotary Club of Waterdown hosted a Drive Through Santa event at the local Joe Sam’s Park on the weekends of December 5/6th and 12th/13th. Families could register for a time to safely talk with Santa. Gary Flood, Chair of Community Service, and numerous other Rotarians put time and effort into the event which gathered over 150 cars over the two weekends. Gary Flood was quoted as saying, "The club and town of Waterdown were lucky to catch Santa for the event given he has a busy schedule with December 25th coming up fast."
The Rotary Club of Hamilton held its 22nd annual Rotary Children’s Christmas Celebration filling the tummies and putting smiles on the faces of over 550 children. COVID-19 couldn’t cancel Christmas for these kids! Yes, Virginia, there are many Santa Claus’ - the Rotary Club raised over $15,000 through Virtual Stockings.
It was a “full house” on screen to hear Valarie Wafer, Rotary International Director for 2020-22, speak to the Rotary Club of St. Catharines Lakeshore via Zoom at a recent meeting. A current member of the Rotary Club of Collingwood South Georgian Bay, Valarie joined Rotary in 2005. She shared with club members how the “Rotary experience” has made a profound impact on her life. Rotary gave her a new viewpoint of the world and how substantial differences can be made to happen when we work together.
In a virtual recognition ceremony on December1, 2020, Niagara Children’s Centre presented its founding partner, the Rotary Club of Welland, with the Dr. William J Orr Award of Distinction.
The prestigious award presented annually recognizes outstanding dedication to supporting the mission and vision of Niagara Children’s Centre and positively impacting the quality of life of children and youth with disabilities, in the Niagara Region.
Members of the Rotary Club of Ancaster AM - Bruce Pearson, Scott Forbes, Beth Pearson, and President Murray Green deliver $2,000 of food to Ancaster Community Services for their Christmas Program making excellent use of Rotary's community resources and helping community partners at Christmas time to reach those who in need.
Wow!! What a rip-roaring success!! The Dundas Valley Sunrise Rotary Club exceeded its goals, serviced an identified community need, and had great fun! Let me tell you how collecting new socks and underwear did all that and more.
President Holger Knaack established Rotary Opens Opportunities as the theme for his 2020-2021 year as Rotary International President. He asked Rotarians around the world to “create opportunities that strengthen their leadership, help put service ideas into action, and improve the lives of those in need.” Could President Knaack have possibly imagined the complexity of a worldwide pandemic being added into this Rotary year? Like most community members, Rotarians have been personally and professionally challenged by CoVid19 restrictions. Mercifully, Rotarians have the Four-Way Test to guide us in the things we think, say, and do. Together, we know how to identify and approach challenges. Immersing oneself in Community Service Projects is a key part of life as a Rotarian. In Dundas, Ontario, a community need was identified. An energetic, committed sub-committee was established, and our inaugural Socks & Skivvies community service project took off! The Dundas Valley Sunrise Rotary Club stepped up hugely! It is winter. Folks are cold. Rotarians can help.
Some of you who know me - know that I love a good laugh. Here are some quotes that have made me smile as we say goodbye to 2020:
Normally, in the fall of each year, we get together to celebrate the success of The Rotary Foundation and congratulate clubs for their significant contributions to TRF. Unfortunately for this year, we were not able to do that. But we can still recognize clubs, in a public way, for your tremendous efforts.
Is your club looking for some new ideas of how to raise funds in this virtual world? On Tuesday January 26, we are having another of our monthly District 7090 Web Talks. This one is focused on fundraising ideas - what do other clubs do to raise funds online and in times of COVID? We plan to feature some of the clubs in our district who can share what they are doing and also plan to make the session highly interactive so that everyone can share their ideas and questions. 
The Rotary Club of Hamilton After Five has provided funding for the purchase of a $2,600 industrial refrigerator for the City Housing Hamilton (CHH) community kitchen located at First Place Hamilton Seniors Residence. Fifty percent of the funding for the industrial refrigerator was provided by the Rotary Club of Hamilton After Five and fifty percent of the funding came from a Rotary International District 7090 Grant. The new industrial refrigerator provides storage for food that is used for food preparation for First Place residents and for the Seniors in the Kitchen (SINKS) program.
Despite COVID-19, the politics and the imposed governmental restrictions the Rotary Club of Lewison/NOTL prevailed and, at least on the US 
side, had its traditional rowdy Christmas party, Good Will on Earth, and Peace to men! 
Two exciting events took place for Brock Niagara Rotaract this month. One was the club’s participation in the Shoebox Project in St. Catharines on December 2nd and the hosting of their holiday trivia night on December 16th.
On Friday, December 4th, members of the Rotary Club of Fonthill collected the numerous bags and boxes of non-perishable food, personal care products, and grocery gift cards collected by the staff and students of E.L. Crossley Secondary School. Each year the Interact Club of Crossley supports their local community through this Holiday Food Drive. This year, with only half the students in the building on any given day, advertising the Holiday Food Drive and collecting the items was made more challenging. Nevertheless, Carolyn Ranieri, the staff lead for Interact at Crossley, and Janet Cripps, a Crossley staff member and Rotary Club of Fonthill member, were pleased with the collection. Rotary members brought the items to the Pelham Cares collection site where they added to the growing pile of boxes collected over the course of the Pelham Cares month-long drive. Pelham Cares board member, and former Crossley staff member, Sue Kicul expressed her appreciation for the contributions. The Rotary Club of Fonthill is aware that this year, in particular, food insecurity is a huge concern in our community and added their own bags of food to those collected by the Crossley Interact Club. Thanks to all Rotary members and the Crossley community who helped out.
The Rotary Club of Lincoln is pleased to announce that the final delivery of Christmas gifts and gift cards has been completed! On November 24, the Rotary Club of Lincoln made a decision to commit $10,000 from the Lamplighter production fund and to work with Community Care of West Niagara & Village of Hope so that they could buy, wrap and deliver gifts for kids and youth in its local community.
Brian Papalia, Partnership Director of the Chautauqua County Humane Society, and Kellie Roberts, Executive Director of the agency spoke to the Rotary Club of Jamestown via ZOOM, at a recent Monday noon meeting. Papalia works with organizations for sponsorships and education programs. He has been at the agency for several years as the former executive. Roberts has been the executive director for 3 years.
The Rotary Club of Delhi members and supporters gathered on Saturday, December 5, at the local Independent Grocer to honour, Matt Wilkinson, with a Paul Harris Fellow for his ongoing support in the community. 
Club of Westfield-Mayville members collectively donated 87 containers of laundry detergent and 87 boxes of dryer sheets to the Union Relief Association of Westfield, NY. The items will be included in this nonprofit's Christmas boxes of food, toys, and necessities for Westfield, NY families.
It has been a year full of changes and challenges. Nonetheless, the year was closed in ways that one wished might have been different but still were worth being proud of. A festive season taste of things done in December include:
The Rotary Club of St. Catharines recently presented a cheque in the amount of $5000 to Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold. The donation will be used to help the less fortunate during this difficult COVID-19 season. 
The Rotary Club of Waterdown hosted a Drive Through Santa event at the local Joe Sam’s Park on the weekends of December 5/6th and 12th/13th. Families could register for a time to safely talk with Santa. Gary Flood, Chair of Community Service, and numerous other Rotarians put time and effort into the event which gathered over 150 cars over the two weekends. Gary Flood was quoted as saying, "The club and town of Waterdown were lucky to catch Santa for the event given he has a busy schedule with December 25th coming up fast."
y Club of Hamilton held its 22nd annual Rotary Children’s Christmas Celebration filling the tummies and putting smiles on the faces of over 550 children. COVID-19 couldn’t cancel Christmas for these kids! Yes, Virginia, there are many Santa Claus’ - the Rotary Club raised over $15,000 through Virtual Stockings.
It was a “full house” on screen to hear Valarie Wafer, Rotary International Director for 2020-22, speak to the Rotary Club of St. Catharines Lakeshore via Zoom at a recent meeting. A current member of the Rotary Club of Collingwood South Georgian Bay, Valarie joined Rotary in 2005. She shared with club members how the “Rotary experience” has made a profound impact on her life. Rotary gave her a new viewpoint of the world and how substantial differences can be made to happen when we work together.
Members of the Rotary Club of Ancaster AM - Bruce Pearson, Scott Forbes, Beth Pearson, and President Murray Green deliver $2,000 of food to Ancaster Community Services for their Christmas Program making excellent use of Rotary's community resources and helping community partners at Christmas time to reach those who in need.
Wow!! What a rip-roaring success!! The Dundas Valley Sunrise Rotary Club exceeded its goals, serviced an identified community need, and had great fun! Let me tell you how collecting new socks and underwear did all that and more.
