The holiday season is upon us. What a great time to focus on fellowship and the sense of community that comes from being part of a Rotary club.
It is such a gift that our clubs can give us. Through Rotary, we can meet more like-minded people. You can learn new things. You can discuss issues with those who care to take action.
It was once said that “Without food, we would die. Without fellowship, life is not worth living”.
So this holiday season, take a moment to perhaps:
Give a happy dollar or two at your club meeting and thank your club members for their friendship and fellowship
Reach out to a member who has not been actively participating in your meetings or other activities and let them know you have missed him or her
Thank your Club President who is 6 months into the job and let them know you appreciate the fun and fellowship he / she brings to your meetings
Turn a regular meeting into a holiday social and invite everyone to share a favourite holiday tradition.
There are studies that are emerging - showing that connecting with others is as critical to our health as exercise and good nutrition. So take a few minutes to stop and reflect on the people and the sense of community we get from being in Rotary. I hope this holiday season that you can - “be with those who bring out the best in you, not the stress in you”.
ANNE
Posted by Glen Christensen
A MATCH MADE FOR YOU!
Thie Convery (Honorary Member – Rotary Club of Dundas Valley Sunrise) is challenging clubs to donate to Polio Plus again this year as she did in 2019 and 2020. The clubs in our District met these challenges and Thie’s challenge this year is even bigger and better - $60,000 donated by of D7090 clubs and she will match it! $60K becomes $120K becomes $360K when matched by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
We can do this! Right now, 18 clubs have committed to or already donated to the cause. 4 other clubs are on the verge of approving a contribution. If your club would like to join this challenge, please confirm your decision to either Sandi Chard (sandichard@gmail.com) District Foundation Chair or Glen Christensen (bonglenchristensen@gmail.com) Polio Plus Chair (if you have not already done so).
DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 10, 2021 for funds to be submitted to The Rotary Foundation in order to be credited to Polio Plus by the December 15 deadline for the challenge. Please contact Glen/Sandi also by 12/10/21.
Posted by Scott Marcin, DGN
DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER FOR PETS
Calling all Clubs!
The Presidents-Elect Training Seminar (PETS) is quickly approaching, and we need all the clubs to name a President Elect, and get the President Elect to register for the PETS sessions. If you have not named a President Elect, this would be a great time to have your club’s nominating committee get together and choose the next Club President.
The PETS sessions begin on January 10th, with a Fireside Chat night, with a welcoming message from our DGE Lisa Bishop. After that the PE’s will meet for PETS on the last Thursday of each month through May, hearing from a talented group of Rotarians, who want to make sure you are ready for the challenge of being a Rotary Club President.
Entering its second year as an engaging and widely praised approach to building positive relationships and helping people maximize their potential, the Centre for Coaching is accepting registrations for its 2022 sessions.
The 3-part certificate series will be offered virtually from 10 am. to 12 pm. EST on Saturday, January 22nd, February 26th, and March 26th, 2022.
IF THE PRESIDENT AND OFFICERS ARE THERE TO RUN OUR CLUBS, WHY DO WE NEED A BOARD OF DIRECTORS?
Rotary International’s standard club constitution requires that clubs have a board of directors. That standard constitution also makes it clear that the board of directors is empowered to have ‘general control over all officers and committees.’ This power includes the power to remove officers if necessary.
If you are serving on the board of directors of your club, other than this general statement of your collective power, you should be asking yourself, why have you been given that power?
#1 - One Media Release a Month! Tell your story to your community! Rotarians do great work in their communities and beyond. Make sure people know about it. Engaging your community generates interest and new members.
#2 - One Social Media Post a Week! Social Media platforms are geared to particular audiences. One post a week to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn will get your story to a whole range of demographics in your community.
Thank you to the 12 clubs that in 2020-21 received Every Rotarian Every Year Club Status. For clubs that achieve a minimum Annual Fund contribution of $100 per capita during the Rotary year, with every dues paying member contributing at least US $25 to the Annual Fund. Giving to the Annual Fund, together with the Endowment Fund is the only way District Designated Funds (called DDF) become a reality. The following list is in order of the highest per capita giving.
Rotary Club of Holley - $550.40
Rotary Cub of Fonthill - $277.60
Rotary Club of Lewiston-NOTL - $234.61
Rotary Club of Akron-Newstead - $212.50 Rotary Club of Flamborough AM - $204.70
Rotary Club of West Seneca - $190.60
Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise - $188.90
Rotary Club of St. Catharines Lakeshore - $165.26
Rotary Club of Hamilton AM - $162.84
Rotary Club of Welland - $135.63
Rotary Club of Lockport - $117.36
Rotary Club of Medina - $109.09
Top 3 clubs givings to the Annual Fund per Capita
Niagara Falls, ON - $769.14
Holley - $550.40 (EREY and Foundation Givings Banners)
This past month we observed Remembrance Day! Area 6 Assistant Governor Milica Kovacevich (2 from the left) and fellow presidents of the three St. Catharines Clubs: Sandra Holloway, (St. Catharines), Courtney Usborne (St. Catharines Lakeshore) and Krystal Riddell (St. Catharines South) came together to lay a wreath at the local Cenotaph.
Once again, Rotarians came out to the Chautauqua Safety Village to participate in the village's annual Halloween activities. Westfield Mayville Rotarians met under its Rotary Pavilion and handed out candy to hundreds of children passing by. Bags of candy were collected from the entire club. Children and safety have been two hallmarks of the club!
The Rotary Club of Buffalo Sunrise provided 19 energetic and able volunteers to assist with planting and staking 40 large bare root trees on Saturday, November 7th at the Grant Street entrance to Buffalo State College. Big Dig III was a partnership effort between our Rotary club and Buffalo State College Arboretum to beautify a barren landscape on Buffalo’s West Side. Buffalo Sunrise provided $3000 through a District Grant to purchase the trees and we accomplished the task in less than three hours from shovel in the ground to completion!
Pictured: Jill “Pickax” Norton. and some additional club members who assisted in the project.
Rotary Club of Hamburg kicks off 2021 Warm the Children, honored by Home Depot ‘Surprise’ gift. Hamburg Home Depot selected Warm the Children as the beneficiary of the Home Depot Foundation’s Surprise Program presenting the Rotary Club of Hamburg a $1,000 check on November 16 during Rotary’s meeting at Uncle Joe’s Diner.
Pictured from left are: Erin Mungovin, operations assistant store manager, Patrick Morgan, store manager, Rotarian Liz Angelbeck, Warm the Children coordinator and Maria Rebmann, associate support department manager.
Grand Island Rotary had a first at their meeting in November at Como Restaurant in Niagara Falls. With meeting chair and sponsor Dave Garcia looking on, President Sherry Miller (at least her ‘script’ is showing in photo) inducted our first Domestic Partner Team Members: John and Diane Garey.
Diane will be listed as the Active Member, John as the Partner, with both promising to be active in upcoming projects. Diane expects to get her St. Stephens ‘Sunday School class’ involved in Rotary’s schedule with the Salvation Army Red Kettles at the Grand Island Tops Market.
Pictured left (middle) is President Sherry with the Gareys.
Three Rotary Club of Waterdown members Garry Flood (left), Sue Collins (middle) and Brenda Jefferies show some of the 12 books by indigenous authors that the club purchased to raise awareness of impacts of the residential school systems. The books were placed in the Little Free Rotary Library just outside the Club’s meeting center - marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The club asked people to borrow the book, then initial it and return to the Little Free Rotary Library for others to enjoy.
(Photo courtesy and approval from Flamborough Review)
Thanks to the Students’ Council and Interact Club of E.L. Crossley who encouraged Cyclone families to donate non-perishable foods for Pelham Cares throughout the last week of October. Staff and students brought in boxes of food that will help to restock the shelves at Pelham Cares.
Members of the Rotary Club of Fonthill, who also collected food for this, were happy to swing by the school to safely collect the boxes and deliver them to the staff at Pelham Cares.
Watch for more information on how to contribute to the December food drive in the Voice of Pelham and myPelham.com.
Part continuing education (what is the need in our community?)
Part new eyes and expertise (love new members’ perspective)
Part consistent dedication of fellow Rotarians (we feed off each other’s energy)
COVID-19 protocols changed the way we interact with people. Out of necessity we found new ways to build bridges with our families, our neighbours, our community. We had limited fund raisers that led to limited funds. We started asking the organizations that had been recipients of our funds;“How else can we help?” “What else can we do for you?”
The Rotary Club of Fort Erie continues its annual service to Community by helping with the Salvation Army Kettles. The club rings the bell at Walmart from 10am to 6pm for 5 Saturdays in a row. Members started November 20th and will continue through December 18th.
Although we can't see the whole of their smiling faces, the Rotary Club of Lockport's EarlyAct program members at DeSales Catholic School proudly sport their new EarlyAct shirts in November at one of their first meetings since the school is meeting in person. The 4th and 5th grade student members of EarlyAct completed their Rotary International project by collecting donations to help eradicate polio ...and tripling their set goal!
And so… we come full circle, with December signalling a new year creeping upon the horizon. 2022 is close and we are keenly aware of the monumental significance this particular approaching new year means to every one of us. We have just endured another year getting through a world-wide pandemic and so we look to the future, a turning of the page, a reason to keep moving forward, to inspire hope in others and within ourselves. And, it was with an abundance of hope and inspiration within the Tonic Hamilton club that throughout 2021, we continued with our signature programs and projects such as Rotary Advisors, Rotary Advisors for Youth, Community Service Projects and Scholarship Committees.
Rotary members in Ukraine are helping neighbors return to their homes, distributing supplies from other countries, and organizing long-term aid — all despite being affected by the war
Across Europe, Rotaract members are using digital tools to share information and coordinate to help people who have been affected by the war in Ukraine
Six Rotary members were honored in March as People of Action: Champions of Girls’ Empowerment during Rotary Day with UNICEF in New York City. This distinction recognizes the honorees’ commitment to improving girls’ access to education, health, and sanitation and hygiene resources, as well as their work to create environments where girls can flourish.
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the 12 clubs that in 2020-21 received Every Rotarian Every Year Club Status. For clubs that achieve a minimum Annual Fund contribution of $100 per capita during the Rotary year, with every dues paying member contributing at least US $25 to the Annual Fund. Giving to the Annual Fund, together with the Endowment Fund is the only way District Designated Funds (called DDF) become a reality. The following list is in order of the highest per capita giving.
This past month we observed Remembrance Day! Area 6 Assistant Governor Milica Kovacevich (2 from the left) and fellow presidents of the three St. Catharines Clubs: Sandra Holloway, (St. Catharines), Courtney Usborne (St. Catharines Lakeshore) and Krystal Riddell (St. Catharines South) came together to lay a wreath at the local Cenotaph.
Once again, Rotarians came out to the Chautauqua Safety Village to participate in the village's annual Halloween activities. Westfield Mayville Rotarians met under its Rotary Pavilion and handed out candy to hundreds of children passing by. Bags of candy were collected from the entire club. Children and safety have been two hallmarks of the club!
The Rotary Club of Buffalo Sunrise provided 19 energetic and able volunteers to assist with planting and staking 40 large bare root trees on Saturday, November 7th at the Grant Street entrance to Buffalo State College. Big Dig III was a partnership effort between our Rotary club and Buffalo State College Arboretum to beautify a barren landscape on Buffalo’s West Side. Buffalo Sunrise provided $3000 thr
ough a District Grant to purchase the trees and we accomplished the task in less than three hours from shovel in the ground to completion!
Rotary Club of Hamburg kicks off 2021 Warm the Children, honored by Home Depot ‘Surprise’ gift. Hamburg Home Depot selected Warm the Children as the beneficiary of the Home Depot Foundation’s Surprise Program presenting the Rotary Club of Hamburg a $1,000 check on November 16 during Rotary’s meeting at Uncle Joe’s Diner.
owing in photo) inducted our first Domestic Partner Team Members: John and Diane Garey.
be listed as the Active Member, John as the Partner, with both promising to be active in upcoming projects. Diane expects to get her St. Stephens ‘Sunday School class’ involved in Rotary’s schedule with the Salvation Army Red Kettles at the Grand Island Tops Market.
y Club of Waterdown members Garry Flood (left), Sue Collins (middle) and Brenda Jefferies show some of the 12 books by indigenous authors that the club purchased to raise awareness of impacts of the residential school systems. The books were placed in the Little Free Rotary Library just outside the Club’s meeting center - marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. 
Thanks to the Students’ Council and Interact Club of E.L. Crossley who encouraged Cyclone families to donate non-perishable foods for Pelham Cares throughout the last week of October. Staff and students brought in boxes of food that will help to restock the shelves at Pelham Cares.
A whole lot!
The Rotary Club of Fort Erie continues its annual service to Community by helping with the Salvation Army Kettles. The club rings the bell at Walmart from 10am to 6pm for 5 Saturdays in a row. Members started November 20th and will continue through December 18th.
Although we can't see the whole of their smiling faces, the Rotary Club of Lockport's EarlyAct program members at DeSales Catholic School proudly sport their new EarlyAct shirts in November at one of their first meetings since the school is meeting in person. The 4th and 5th grade student members of EarlyAct completed their Rotary International project by collecting donations to help eradicate polio ...and tripling their set goal!
And so… we come full circle, with December signalling a new year creeping upon the horizon. 2022 is close and we are keenly aware of the monumental significance this particular approaching new year means to every one of us. We have just endured another year getting through a world-wide pandemic and so we look to the future, a turning of the page, a reason to keep moving forward, to inspire hope in others and within ourselves. And, it was with an abundance of hope and inspiration within the Tonic Hamilton club that throughout 2021, we continued with our signature programs and projects such as Rotary Advisors, Rotary Advisors for Youth, Community Service Projects and Scholarship Committees.
