WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OUR MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN
We are undertaking a broad membership campaign and we expect every club in our district to benefit. In preparation for the 3-month campaign, which begins March 1, we are offering several free webinars during February that are open to all Rotarians. You can register for these by clicking on the “Get Ready to Grow Membership Campaign” link under Upcoming Events on the left column of the Home Page.
Here are the principles underlying our approach to this campaign:
In March of 2014, Wolfgang and I traveled with fellow Rotarians, PDG John and Cora Van Laar, PDG Bob and Nan Bruce, and others on a humanitarian mission to the Philippines.
A further trip to the Philippines is planned for the last two weeks of May 2016 with several project visitations as well as informative outings with numerous host Rotary clubs. Please contact PDG John directly for details, Phone: 519-599-6766, or Email: vanlaar@sympatico.ca. While we are not able to join in the trip planned for this May, I was asked to provide some comments around our earlier experience.
Once again, as I am reflecting upon the last month, I find myself wondering where the time could possibly have gone. The month started off with many relaxing days spent with my German friends which made me feel incredibly refreshed and simply happy. When I first started school in September, I became terrified with the thought of making no German friends here in Oldenburg.
The Board of Rotary International approved a proposal to establish the Environmental Sustainability Rotarian Action Group (ESRAG) on October 23, 2015. As a result, there are now 25 Rotarian Action Groups (RAGs) established in Rotary covering a wide-range of critical community issues where Rotary service can make a difference. These important groups allow any committed Rotarian around the world to participate in critical, life-changing initiatives that interest them via their club or district, nationally or internationally. These RAGs are important vehicles to leverage the resources of Rotary effectively in key areas of need.
You’re invited to Connect with Korea — Touch the World at the 2016 Rotary International Convention in Seoul, 28 May-1 June 2016. Explore this world-class city and discover the rich culture that connects the latest trends with time-honored traditions. Taste eclectic cuisine and shop for the newest fashions and electronics. Meet new friends, share ideas, and interact with new technology at this dynamic, unforgettable convention. We plan to make it the most successful convention to date and with your help, attract a record number of Rotarians from across western New York and southern Ontario.
The government of Canada has made a commitment to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of February 2016. Over half of this figure will be comprised of children and youth, many who have not been in school for upwards of five years. It is anticipated that Hamilton may have nearly 400 children and youth resettling in our community. As we can assume that the children and youth have not been in school, they will likely be entering school falling well behind their Canadian peers; they will lack social skills and not arrive ready to learn. For many English will not be a second language adding another challenge for learning. Many have or will experience some level of trauma due to the conditions in their homeland and the Children’s development has been impeded by lack of proper nutrition.
The Rotary Club of Niagara Falls NY welcomed Lynne Tomkins as a guest speaker in January. Ms. Tomkins is one of three administrators at the Niagara Falls High School and coordinator of the school's STEM program, Science - Technology - Engineering - Mathematics. According to Ms. Tomkins, "STEM education is a national priority for all American students as the jobs of the future will rely heavily on STEM aptitudes. The Niagara Falls City School District is the only school district in New York State to construct and dedicate STEM classrooms in every school. Students will benefit from STEM education beginning in kindergarten and continuing through grade 12 with a vertically aligned focus on STEM integration and project based learning. Niagara Falls High School has two of these classrooms; Applied Innovations and Biosciences. Students enrolled in these courses receive college credit in addition to exposure to STEM careers and college readiness."
Ms. Tomkins is the daughter of club President Dr. Henry P. Merletti, seen here presenting a speaker's mug as a token of appreciation from the club.
The Dundas Valley Sunrise Rotary Club presented a Paul Harris Recognition to a local businessman, Aldo Lombardi. In the presentation, Assistant Governor, Robert Morrow used the Four-Way Test to put Aldo’s contribution in perspective. See complete article for how this humanitarian meets the Rotary Four-Way Test.
The Rotary Club of St. Catharines donated $15,000 to the Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial Fund. St. Catharines Mayor and fellow Rotarian, Walter Sendzik and campaign chairman, Greg White, were in attendance to accept the donation. As a result of Rotary and community efforts to raise funds through the Rotary TV auction, Algoma Golf tournament and Ribfest, two more donations were also presented. Club President Cindy Mewhinney was pleased to present a $25,000 cheque to the Niagara Children's Centre and $25,000 to the new First Ontario Performing Arts Centre. The club is very grateful to the Algoma Corporation and all the volunteers that provided "service above self" in order to assist in raising all the funds!
At the Rotary Club of Dundas Holiday Luncheon recently held at the Dundas Golf Club, Scotiabank University Plaza presented the Rotary Club with a cheque for $5,000. The cheque was matching funds to assist the club in fundraising for the replacement of the Rotary clock in the Dundas Driving Park.
Left to right: club treasurer, John MacRae, Adam Bonnell, Manager of Small Business & Professional Banking Scotiabank, University Plaza, Allyson Wenzowski, club president. Photo by Christine Green.
Jeff Mendola is the Director of Mission Advancement at New Directions Youth & Family Services which helps youth and families in crisis with vital, life changing services. He graduated from SUNY at Buffalo in 1991 with B.A. in Political Science and a B.S. in Business Administration. He also volunteers at a number of organizations including the American Heart Association, Town of Cheektowaga Economic Development Board, Greyhound Rescue Organization and more. He was recognized by FundRaising Success Magazine as 2013 Rising Star in Fundraising.
Jeff resides in Cheektowaga with his wife, Brenda, and children Kara 13, Abigail 12, and Lauren 11. His interests include home improvement, golf, soccer, and anything with his daughters.
Olean Rotarians gathered at member/host Mia O’Brien’s and our own chef/attorney Carl Vahl brought out delectable appetizers and entrees, one at a time. Members and guests each donated for the RI Polio Plus campaign. This was NOT typical Superbowl pizza and wings! Everything was fresh and prepared on the spot, from shrimp corndogs to flowerless cake and homemade ice-cream. The braised ribs fell off the bone and, oh my, the stir fry over rice noodles was AWESOME! Regardless of the Superbowl game, TEAM ROTARY scored big on this one!
Six local Rotarians are now in India to support their $56,000 preventable blindness project in Northern India. The project has just completed its first year of operation which involves training villagers in remote areas to identify people at risk of preventable blindness.
So far in the planned three year project, over 50,000 people have been surveyed by local staff who also provide nutrition and sanitation counseling. People with eyesight issues are taken to the Rotary Eye hospital in Udhampur for corrective surgery. To date 656 persons have been identified with sight threatening conditions, and a further 2,630 persons have been identified with refractive errors and other eye conditions.
While in India, the team plans to visit other Operation Eyesight projects that Rotary has funded over recent years as well as working with local Rotarians to complete the first annual progress report.
In photo, left to right: Steve Malo, Jane Malo, John Wallace, Jim Dawson, Marjorie Dawson, Alan Plater.
Nanette Chiulli is the Rotary Club of LeRoy, NY's newest member. Nanette is the owner of Nanette's Hair & Now and is looking forward to giving back to her community!
In the photo, Nanette is being pinned by LeRoy Rotarian, Mary Margaret Ripley.
On January 20th, the club welcomed Dr Anil Shrestha, Founding Medical Director of the Nepal Orthopaedic Hospital (NOH) in Kathmandu, Nepal. Dr. Anil made a side trip to Buffalo to personally thank club members for the monies raised and sent to NOH following the multiple earthquakes suffered in Nepal. Dr. Anil, also a Past President of the Rotary Club of Kathmandu West, explained how the hospital came in to being, and all the various contributions of Rotary clubs from across the globe including those contributions from the Amherst South club and District 7090. Dr. Anil detailed the history of the hospital and how it arrived at its current state, and then told of the work that the NOH did for patients after the earthquakes of last April and May. Also joining the meeting was DG Kevin Crosby. Continue reading for the rest of the story..........
The Albion Rotary Club hosted its inaugural Wine Tasting Event on Saturday, January 30th at Tillman's Village Inn in Albion. About 85 community members and fellow area Rotarians shared an evening of fun, friends, food, and wine from four local area wineries - Schwenk Wine Cellars (Kent, NY), Leonard Oakes Estate Winery (Medina, NY), 810 Meadworks (Medina, NY), and Five Sons Winery and Brewery (Brockport, NY). The successful event was the first of several fun events the Albion Club has planned for 2016, including a Ham Dinner on March 17th, a Masquerade Ball on April 9th, the annual Strawberry Festival in June, and the annual golf tournament in July, just to name a few.
The Brantford JCI Santa Clause Parade featured 3 miles of smiles generated by fun-loving Rotary Clowns for Kids. Those smiles translated to cash when Clowns for Kids chair, Mike Mears, presented the Club proceeds exceeding $42,000!
The parade of great club activities continued as the club’s annual "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" included the Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise for the 1st time. Fellowship among 55 guests and hosts from both clubs featured a mix of ages, prospective and new members and 2 Past District Governors in 6 different Rotary homes.
The 3rd special occasion - if not a record for inducting 4 new members at once – was a record-setting inclusion of a 4th generation member. Past District Governor 2012-2013 Rick Sterne introduced his son, Eric, the 4th generation of his family to join this Rotary club - including three club presidents. Eric and the 3 other new inductees - Sherri Haines, Cam Weir and Jason Tangorra - are shown in this photo from left to right.
The Rotary Club of Fonthill recently donated $3,000 from the Pelham Mudfest 2015! to Wellspring Niagara's FUTURE home in Pelham! A cause near and dear to everyone's hearts, we are happy to welcome Wellspring to our neck of the woods as a central place offering essential services to Niagarans and their families dealing with cancer.
Pictured from left to right: Phil Gourlay, Ann Mantini-Celimi & President Frank Adamson. For more information about the Pelham Mudfest Challenge 2016 – please visit www.pelhammudfest.ca.