SOWNY E-Club News
Posted by Gordon Crann
Honouring Indigenous Peoples
On February 27, 2017, District Governor Marlee Diehl and Albert Kim, member of E-Club of Southern Ontario – Western New York (SOWNY), attended the 29th Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell’s reception for Honouring Indigenous Peoples (HIP) in the Lieutenant-Governor’s Suite at Queen’s Park in downtown Toronto.
HIP was created by Rotarians in Southern Ontario in partnership and consultation with a number of indigenous people; and it is now in the process of expanding its reach across Canada. HIP is honouring indigenous people by supporting their educational efforts and encouraging all Canadians to be aware of indigenous issues, history and culture.
HIP has a board with 50% indigenous and 50% Rotarian members. The selection of Rotarians was initially drawn from Districts 5550, 6330, 7010, 7070 and 7080. The HIP Board’s mandate is to:
a) Encourage other clubs, indigenous groups and community friends to join;
b) Provide and promote an exchange of ideas and projects with other Rotary/indigenous community groups;
c) Develop an appropriate plan for providing support to the organization through voluntary or paid staff;
d) Advise non-Rotarians of our goals;
e) Help educate Rotarians and others about indigenous issues;
f) Provide clubs with possible projects;
g) Seek a large project in which a number of clubs can participate;
h) Help create partnership opportunities for clubs and encourage clubs to seek partners with other Rotary clubs and indigenous people and groups, and other interested community groups;
i) Help Rotary clubs identify projects;
j) Develop project guidelines to assist clubs in developing sustainable projects;
k) Encourage interaction, sharing and friendship between indigenous and non-aboriginal people; and
l) Help create outside funding and partnership opportunities for clubs.
During the Lieutenant-Governor’s reception, HIP Chair Chris Snyder asked E-Club of SOWNY Member Albert Kim to become HIP’s District 7090 representative in recognition of his past volunteer efforts. After consulting with DG Marlee, Albert accepted on the understanding that this position could eventually lead to him serving on the HIP Board. As HIP’s District 7090 representative, Albert will be working on the One Laptop Per Child Canada project providing educational technology and workshops to indigenous students nationwide, which HIP helps sponsor.