Are you interested in:
Beer # Cycling # Gourmet Cooking # Recreational Vehicles #
# Performing Arts # Travel and Hosting # Yachting #
OR OVER 100 OTHER TOPICS?
There is probably a Rotary Fellowship Group for you!
(If not, you can start one.) Check them out!
What is The Rotary Foundation and Why Should I Donate?
The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.
Since it was founded more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects.
The TRF Mission: The Rotary Foundation helps Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.
This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores, weighted as follows: 83% Accountability & Finance, 10% Leadership & Adaptability, 7% Culture & Community.
How did The Rotary Foundation get started?
The Rotary Foundation was established in 1917 by Rotary International’s sixth president, Arch C. Klumph, as an endowment fund for Rotary “to do good in the world.” The initial contribution was the “left over” money after the 1917 RI Convention on Kansas City.
It has grown from an initial contribution in 1917 of $26.50 from the Rotary Club of Kansas City, Missouri to more than $4.4 billion dollars in total contributions. The Rotary Foundation made its first grant of $500.00 to the International Society for Crippled Children in 1930, and to this day, it continues to “do good in the world” in the name of Rotary. Thank you for supporting The Rotary Foundation and its work.
I feel this month is a transition month for us in our Best of Friends District with many activities going on.
Finishing up our outside chores, the remainder of the harvest, getting the snow tires put on, and looking towards plans for the coming winter months are just part of the tasks for this month.
And November is a busy month for Rotarians.
To begin, in case you missed the email in October, I have the sad news to tell you that Michele Starwalt-Woods has had to step down from the DGE position due to a personal health issue. I have great care and regard for Michele and her passion for Rotary and community. I am sure she would appreciate your sentiments and thoughts. Aaron Carlson has agreed to become DGE and our Nominations Committee is looking for candidates to step up to lead our District in the years following.
See (read more…) for details on our November initiatives.
Community Engagement: Food drives, Homelessness initiatives, etc.
Promoting Peace; Remembering veterans on November 11
Foundation Celebration on November 16
Membership Summit follow-up
Annual General Meeting (November 25 at 7 PM on Zoom) - Requirements for Presidents and designees
Our District 7090 Nominations Committee is seeking to fill two leadership positions: District Governor Nominee and District Governor Nominee Designate.
The Nominations Committee will be accepting nominations until November 24, 2025.
The 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary is shaping up to be a huge event, with over 20,000 people already registered to attend from June 21-25. Have you booked your spot yet? Registration is increasing on December 15, so don't wait - sign up today > Rotary Convention
Here are some key details people are asking about:
Accommodations: A new block of hotel rooms has been released. All rooms must have names attached by March 19th, and as of now, 632 peak-day rooms are still available online.
Transportation: All convention registrants will receive a C-Train or transit pass to get around Calgary. Yes, hotel rooms at the airport booked through the convention will also include free daily shuttles to the event sites. Have an RV? Check out the RVF: Recreational Vehicle Fellowship of Rotarians Annual and Convention Rally, Calgary Ab. There will be a “rolling rally” to the convention from Ontario and Michigan.
Event Locations: The main general sessions will be held at the Scotiabank Saddledome, home of the Calgary Flames. Breakout sessions and the House of Friendship will take place at the new BMO Centre, which is conveniently located across from the Saddledome.
Special needs: All venues are accessible and if you require special needs, please let them know
Zone 28/32 Event: "Beyond Borders", a special event for districts in Zones 28 and 32, will be held on Monday, June 23rd at the renowned Calgary Zoo. Transit will be provided to and from this event.
Breakout Sessions: Over 375 breakout sessions have been planned, with the full schedule and details to be announced in early 2025.
New Rotarians: The convention is open to all Rotarians, Rotaractors, partners, and children. It's a great opportunity for new Rotarians to get involved, to learn about Rotary, and get involved in international members and projects. Turn the convention into a family vacation, with 5 UNESCO World Heritage sites within driving distance of Calgary.
Club Attendance: Some clubs have already signed up 7 members to attend the convention. It will be the largest District turnout since the Toronto convention for our District.
Also, take note: after the convention, there will be a tour featuring 4-5 wine dinners and at least 6-7 winery visits in the Okanagan region of British Columbia. For more information on the tour and on RWAF, the Rotary Wine Appreciation Fellowship, CLICK HERE.
You are invited to the 2024 D7090 Foundation Celebration with Awards & District Grant Qualification Seminar
Please join us and celebrate the amazing achievements from our 2023-24 Rotary “Create Hope in the World” Year!
Saturday November 16, 2024, 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM
at The Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 71 Fort Erie, 130 Garrison Rd., Fort Erie, Ontario
$30.00 CDN per person: includes luncheon of Beef on a Weck, Salads, Dessert, Tea, Coffee & Soda Pop (please inform us of any dietary needs upon registration)
PHOTO: Keynote Speaker: Natalija Vojno, Rotary Peace Fellow, Rotary Positive Peace Activator, and President of RESI (Rotary E-Club of Social Innovators), D7090
THREE EVENTS IN ONE DAY!
1.Our District Grant Seminar (in person, fun networking!)
2. Our Foundation Celebration: The 2023-24 District and Global Grants, Club Banners, Fundraising & Donors
3. District Awards: Club Citations, Lighthouse Awards, Governor's Trophy and the PDG Kevin Crosby Membership Award.
We hope to have two attend from each club!
For more information, please contact, PDG Lisa Bishop, Chair, District Foundation Committee: delhipeople@sympatico.ca
World Interact Week is celebrated every year during the week of November 5th to commemorate the founding of the first Interact club in 1962.
Stand up and make a note at your club meeting this coming week!
Over 30 clubs in our District support an Interact club. Congratulations!
Most Interact clubs are within a school although a few are community Interact clubs and serve as one of the key starting points for further youth programs like RYLA or exchanges. Please use the appropriate social media and the monthly newsletter space to celebrate these future leaders and promote youth service.
The District 7090 Interact page with all the details is HERE. If your Rotary club is interested in starting an Interact club please contact David Berry at dberry@cogeco.ca or through the ClubRunner app. Consider listening to the youth advisory and leadership groups in your community to help our young folks identify needs and projects.
The RI related page and the Interact Handbook and other materials can be found HERE.
Soon Rotary will be launching a new system to manage membership leads.
This system, using technology from Salesforce, will streamline the process allowing clubs to directly receive leads and contact prospective members.
These prospective members will be able to select the club they find most interesting and suitable based on the information presented about it, such as location and meeting times.
Your club’s president, membership chair, secretary, and executive secretary will then be asked via email to visit the membership leads management page, connect with the candidate, and report on the process. District leaders will still be available to provide support if a prospective member isn’t a good match for your club.
In the coming weeks, we’ll share more details about how the new system will help you easily connect with prospective members.
Ensure that information about your club, including meeting details and location, is correct in My Rotary as well as on your club’s website and social media. This will make your club more visible to prospective members.
Continue using Rotary’s existing membership leads process. We’ll keep you informed about the upcoming changes and the expected launch date. Until then, don’t miss out on prospective members who want to connect with your club.
We expect these changes to create a better experience for club leaders and prospective members.
Thank you for your continued collaboration in growing Rotary!
Sincerely,
Brian King, Director of Membership Development, Rotary International
Events in the last couple of weeks have shown the life saving and life changing impact of disaster relief. Here is an update on some recent ShelterBox.
ShelterBox USA is supporting Rotary International Zones 33 and 34 (Southeast USA) to help meet the immediate needs of communities devastated by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. ShelterBox USA committed an initial match grant of $100,000 to the Rotary Zone 33 and 34 Disaster Recovery Fund to help communities affected from the Carolinas to Florida confronting the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. To take advantage of this match you can donate at Zone 33-34 Foundation (superform.app) and put “ShelterBox Match” in the Transaction Description.
After Hurricane Beryl left a trail of destruction across the Caribbean, we partnered with Rotary to get the emergency shelter aid and other essential items to thousands of people uprooted from their homes in Grenada. Right now, entire communities are living out in the open or in overcrowded buildings like schools. We provided tents as well as essential items like mosquito nets, solar lights, and cooking sets. ShelterBox USA President Kerri Murray traveled to the Caribbean this month to assess the response.
See the ShelterBox Monthly Response Summary for September, which provides more details on our response in the Caribbean, as well as Gaza, Malawi, Bangladesh, Yemen, Pakistan, Somalia, Chad, Cameroon, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, and Syria.
We will continue to keep you informed of current and upcoming responses. Please reach out if there is more information you would like for your District.
The District7090 Honouring Indigenous Peoples (HIP) committee is sponsoring a presentation by the 2024 Rotary HIP Youth-2-Youth Reconciliation participants on Nov 7 at 7:00 PM.
These youth experienced a weeklong session of cultural training, reconciliation events and teachings from First Nations elders.
Our three wonderful students will present on their experiences at Youth-2-Youth Reconciliation 2024.
Youth to Youth Presentation Nov 7th, 2024, at 7:00 PM
Guest Speaker: On October 10, Rick Falkowski, author of "Historic and Influential People from Buffalo & WNY," engaged with the Akron-Newstead Rotary to present his latest work, "The History of Buffalo Music & Entertainment."
His discussion focused on the rich landscape of Rock 'n Roll in the 1950s and 1960s.
Rick, a talented musician himself and the founder of the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame, shared his extensive knowledge on the subject, making for an enlightening experience for all attendees.
Annual Raffle Fundraiser: We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported our Annual Raffle Fundraiser on October 24.
Your contributions will directly benefit our community, and we are excited to put the funds raised toward meaningful initiatives.
Upcoming Event - Christmas Auction: We are pleased to announce that the Akron-Newstead Rotary will host its annual Christmas Auction on December 6. We look forward to an enjoyable event that will bring our community together in the spirit of giving. Details to follow.
The Rotary Club of Ancaster AM's 3rd Annual Car Raffle Is Underway!
We are super excited for these draws, with a bonus 50/50 Cash draw happening, as well as a couple of incredible early bird prizes.
Our first Early Bird is happening October 17th: A 6 Hour VIP tour for 2 people behind the wheel of some incredible supercars (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, and McLaren, to name a few).
Our second Early Bird is happening December 5th: a 75" Samsung 4K Smart TV with Surround sound technology system.
Our main prize, our Grand Prize of a 2024 Ford Mustang Premium Convertible, takes place on December 28th.
Funding raised from our raffle goes to support the Kemp Care Network’s Keaton's House - Children’s Hospice, a new pediatric hospice being built in Dundas, ON.
Ticket sales available as per licensing to residents of Ontario.
The Rotary Club of Batavia has contributed $7,635 in disaster relief to aid persons impacted by the recent hurricanes in the southeast portion of the country.
The total donation was fueled by a $5,000 contribution from members of the Batavia Rotary Club. The remainder was raised over a five-day period from members of the Batavia and Genesee County Community.
Batavia Rotary Club President Michael Hodgins explained that the original appeal provided for a Rotary Club “match” of community donations up to $5,000. “Given the tight time frame, Batavia Rotarians decided to contribute the full $5,000 to go along with more than $2,600 from the community at large.”
The local funds were sent to the Rotary International Zone 33/34 Foundation. This foundation was established to provide disaster relief in hurricane prone area. These two zones encompass 10 states in the U.S. and 29 countries across the Caribbean.
Hurricane Milton made landfall on 9 October in Florida as a powerful Category 3 storm. Mere weeks before, Hurricane Helene battered areas in and around the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and parts of the United States’ Eastern Seaboard. Storm surges and heavy rains produced extreme flooding throughout the region. More than 250 people have died in the U.S. states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The path for Batavia Rotary Club’s annual Trick or Trot 5K winds through three of the city’s historic cemeteries.
Some Rotary friends may be found hiding behind gravestones or bushes to spook the runners.
It’s a fun way to raise some money to support the $18,000 in college scholarships the club awards to local students annually.
PHOTO: In addition to raising money for Rotary projects, the event collected items for Eagle Star Housing, a facility for homeless veterans in our county.
Members of the Rotary Club of Brantford-Sunrise joined forces with members of the Rotary Club of Brantford for a fall clean-up of the Gilkison Flats, adjacent to Lions Park in Brantford.
Thanks to their efforts, over a dozen garbage bags were filled with garbage and recyclables.
Members of the Rotary Club of Buffalo rolled up their sleeves and volunteered at The Teacher’s Desk and filled bags of “FUN” items for the children in WNY Schools.
The Teacher’s Desk serves over 130,000 students in 9 WNY counties.
RC Buffalo Sunrise President Timothy Priano awarded member Kofi Fynn-Aikens a Paul Harris Fellow recognition at a recent meeting.
At the same meeting, President Timothy also welcomed new member Justin Bacon as a Buffalo Sunrise member and presented him with the Rotary pin.
When Buffalo Sunrisers work, we work hard and have fun! Tree planting crew at Buffalo State University BIG DIG, coordinated by BSR member Susan McCartney. Forty trees were installed by volunteers on Saturday October 19 along Buffalo State’s Grant Street frontage to provide shade and beauty for both the college students and residents in the area.
When Buffalo Sunrisers play, we relax and have fun! Sunrisers attend a shared dinner at the lovely home of Christine and Reverien Mfizi on October 12.
There is a quote that dogs are our link to paradise. In the Rotary world, perhaps hot dogs do the same thing. When chance provides the Ellicottville Rotary an opportunity to get out and sell their hot dogs at local events, the money they make helps the group give a bit of paradise to someone or to some good cause. On September 22, we netted close to $500 selling these dogs at a Lacrosse Tournament, providing our club with resources for the continued support of the Great Valley Food Pantry, the upcoming Halloween Party with St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, and the Thanksgiving Feast on November 27th for the needy and lonely in our community. As our President, John Weismantel says, we perform good works, “one hot dog at a time.”
Ellicottville Rotary’s tireless President, John Weismantel is seen here after the completion of this year’s annual Walk for Alzheimer’s in Cattaraugus County in October.
He walked about 1.5 miles and raised just short of $3000, giving him Elite Grand Champion status and a Top Three individual rank in Cattaraugus County.
John does this walk annually in honor of his sister, Mary, who lives with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
If any fellow Rotarians wish to contribute to this cause in John’s name, please go to his Facebook page or go to https://www.alz.org/wny and Donate.
Heartfelt thanks go to the Enterprise Mobility Foundation™ for donating $2000 to The Rotary Club of Ellicottville, NY and to Ellicottville Rotarian, Deborah Ryan Pelletier who facilitated this generous donation. Thank you, Deborah! This grant will help fund several of the local community projects we support including the Inclusive Playground, scholarships for local students, the Great Valley Food Pantry, annual Halloween Party in conjunction with Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church, the upcoming community Thanksgiving Dinner Church, and other opportunities for us to assist within Ellicottville and our sister Rotary communities throughout the county. Look for them online to see the good works they do. https://www.enterprisemobility.com/home.html
Much like the Rotary Mission, the mission of the Enterprise Mobility Foundation is to strengthen the communities where Enterprise Mobility team members live and work by actively supporting a range of charitable causes such as the environment, health and human services, education, military, and disaster relief. The Foundation has contributed more than half a billion dollars to thousands of local nonprofits in the United States and made wide-reaching commitments — from global philanthropic initiatives to community focused projects.
PHOTO: Ellicottville Rotarian Deborah Ryan-Pelletier is seen in the center of this picture flanked by representatives of Enterprise Mobility Foundation as they present her with a donation.
Once again this fall, the Rotary Club of Fonthill is hosting a Luxury Purse Bingo. This has always been a great social event supporting our local community. The proceeds will go to support the Pathstone Mental Health clinic at the Meridian Community Centre, as well as to support Pelham Cares. In addition, we will be accepting donations of non-perishable items for Pelham Cares at the door.
Our event will be held in the Accursi Room at the Meridian Community Centre on Friday, November 8th, 2024. The doors will open at 6 p.m. and the games will start at 7 p.m. Light refreshments will be served and there is a cash bar. We run 10 games each with the opportunity to win a designer purse sponsored by local businesses and individuals. We then run an optional 11th game for a luxury gift basket with items donated by local businesses. Participants can choose to purchase 50/50 tickets.
We sell individual tickets for $45 per person. Table groupings are for a maximum of 8 people. There is still the opportunity to sponsor a purse for $250 which also provides you with one complimentary ticket.
The SuperClub of 7090, Rotary Club of Fort Erie, had a crazy busy day in October.
We had 2 events occurring the same day: our 4th annual RotZi event (Rotary Polio Zombie Invasion) and the "Freedom Park CanAm Bike Ride to Freedom" put on by the USA clubs of Rotary Tonawanda and Rotary Buffalo.
We really are Super, especially our President Elect Super Kathy Klune, who helped ~71 bike riders be rehydrated with water and fruit (for vitamin C and fibre.) Imagine preparing all these packages the night before!!!
The clubs from the USA rode their bikes across the Peace Bridge and Super Kathy and a few of our club members welcomed them to our Freedom Park memorializing slavery's ultimate abolition.
Then Super Kathy rushed back home to get lunch ready for our Club President Dave who is recovering from knee surgery. She then rushed off to our main event which involves Youth Services (giving about 15 students volunteer hours), International Services (giving out a Graphic Comic book describing many facets of Polio), Community Services (letting families enjoy the Zombie Photobooth and Zombie Infested Candy Machine while handing out candy), and Club services (allowing any and all members to volunteer and to hand out brochures for getting new members.)
The Rotary Club of Grand Island and about 20 other volunteers, including high school students, community members and a few grandchildren, cleaned our adopted trail along the Beaver Island Parkway on October 6, 2024.
We collected 10 bags of garbage, and had a beautiful day
The trick-or-treaters may have come and gone but the Halloween fun continues for one more night!
November 1, 2024 | 5:30PM-7:30PM
FREE ADMISSION & ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
Coronation Park, Grimsby, ON
Our fortune teller, Madam Erica, returns and Halaloo will be offering fun balloon creations!
If you plan on joining our pumpkin carving contest or you would like to see your carved pumpkin in the parade, make sure to drop off your creations to the Grimsby Public Pool parking lot between 8AM-4PM on event day!
Earl Knauss of the Rotary Club of Hamburg honored as founder of "Farm to Family Program"; recognized by State Sen. Patrick Gallivan with Senate’s Empire Award
Rotarians, friends, and family gathered at Uncle Joe’s Diner Oct. 25 to honor Rotarian Earl Knauss as he received the New York State Senate Empire Award from State Sen. Pat Gallivan.
Knauss was recognized as the founder of the Farm to Family vegetable distribution program that has been coordinated through the Rotary Club for the past six years.
The Empire Award is given to a business, institution or individual that has made significant contributions to their local community.
The Farm to Family vegetable distribution program serves thousands of Western New York residents challenged by food insecurity throughout the growing season.
The program provides deliveries to 30 not-for-profit food distribution sites and pantries from May through December, giving away 125,500 pounds of free vegetables last year and 135,000 pounds to date for 2024.
The vegetables are delivered six days a week by an all-volunteer workforce to sites in Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Hamburg, Springville, and points between.
Rotary Club of Hamburg Sponsors Warm the Children; every dollar donated buys clothing for children in need
The Rotary Club of Hamburg has begun its 18th season of sponsoring Warm the Children, a program which assists families in need throughout the Southtowns each fall, before the cold winter sets in.
One hundred percent of all contributions go toward the purchase of new clothing for children in need and is fully tax-deductible. All administrative costs are absorbed by Rotary, while Club members are responsible for program coordination, with assistance from Evans Bank and community volunteers, who meet families at Walmart in Hamburg to select their clothing.
Early, generous support from West Herr Automotive Group, the Louise K. Mokadam Family Trust, and Orchard Park Presbyterian Church, is greatly appreciated. “We want to encourage those who wish to contribute to Warm the Children to do so as early as possible, so we may send as many families to Walmart as we can, before the snow begins to fall,” says Angelbeck.
Those wishing to contribute may do so by making checks payable to Warm the Children Fund, and either mailing or bringing donations to Evans Bank, 5999 S. Park Avenue, Hamburg, NY 14075. Or, contributions may be made online at www.hamburgrotaryclub.org/SitePage/warm-the-children.
At the Hamilton AM Rotary October 23rd meeting we once again welcomed one of our favourite guest speakers, Bob Morrow from the Dundas Sunrise Club.
Bob claims to be a Geographer who does precision guesswork, based on unreliable data provided by those of questionable knowledge! Makes one wonder if we can really rely on anything he promulgates?
Bob gave a very insightful presentation on what will "disappear" over the next few years. Things like bank cheques. the Post Office, cash, books, CD's and DVD's and sadly COMMON SENSE! Also on the list was Public Washrooms, City Centres, and traditional television shows.
Those in the senior age bracket already realize that our children, now grown, don't want fancy dining room tables, Sterling Silver, pianos, and entertainment centres/wall units.
As always, Bob was an excellent presenter with a great slide show to prove it. Hamilton AM members will welcome him back again, I am sure!
At the Hamilton AM Rotary Club morning meeting on October 2, local entrepreneur Justin Abiss described a relatively new, but increasingly successful, Hamilton service.
"Mrktbox" is an all-in-one marketplace, combining small footprint micro markets/cafes & low-impact, high-efficiency food delivery.
Starting small in 2017, the focus is on providing local foods, promoting sustainable and ethical farming practices, and fulfilling a desire to reduce impact on the environment. The business has grown now to a point where gross sales have reached $4 million in only 7 years.
Using small format stores has produced big results by selling higher margin items than traditional big box stores. The business uses efficient, low-carbon delivery vehicles which he feels aligns with consumers’ values and lifestyle.
Mrktbox goods and services are currently available at the Dundurn Market, 346 Dundurn St., Hamilton, and online at https://shop.mrktbox.com.
On October 16, “The Best of Friends” District 7090 Governor Dave Alexander was guest speaker at the morning meeting. Each District Governor serves a one-year term and during that year pays a formal visit to each District Club. Dave hails from the Rotary Club of Welland.
Dave Alexander is keen to support clubs in deepening their experiences with their community partners and developing new relationships. Having a clearer understanding of the future of volunteering across our Best of Friends community is the theme of this year's District Conference on Saturday, October 26, 2024, and he hopes it will lead to more membership opportunities, new collaborations, interesting fundraisers, and each Rotarian sharing their Service Above Self experience. The Magic of Rotary is the international presidential theme this year and is an excellent rallying call for the kind of work that we do in making a difference in people's lives.
Dave's main goal in leading the District in 2024/25 is to continue to implement our District Strategic Plan -- and he asks that each Rotarian consider their role in driving this forward with innovation, creativity, and belongingness as core aspects of their efforts. A consideration along the way is to incorporate Rotary's work in Peacebuilder Actions in projects, conversations, habits, and expectations. Dave and the whole District leadership team are thankful to those who have stepped up in a role to support the efforts of our clubs.
Dear Rotary/Rotaract Family, We are excited to announce the launch of our new LinkedIn page! This space has been created to connect, engage, and grow our professional network, amplifying the impact of our shared passion for service and leadership.
Our page will feature updates on club projects, events, and achievements, as well as professional development resources, all designed to support our members in their careers. We invite you to: - Follow: Stay updated with our latest posts and activities. - Engage: Like, comment, and share our posts to help spread our message. - Contribute: We welcome your ideas, content, and resources that could benefit our page and its followers.
Link: http://bit.ly/3C41wNb By interacting with our LinkedIn page, you’re not just supporting our club—you’re enhancing our collective voice in the professional world, helping to showcase our projects and expand our network.
Together, we can continue advancing professionally and make an even bigger difference. Thank you for your support and engagement!
Members of the Rotary Club of Jamestown, NY manned the voter registration table at the Jamestown Community College Welcome and Involvement Picnic as part of the Club’s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts this year.
PHOTO (L to R): John Bauman, Sharon Hamilton and Ruth Lundin
The Rotary Club of Jamestown is reaching out to invite everyone to accept a 90-day challenge to take at least one 10-minute walk each day.
This is the club’s way to support their goal to eradicate Polio in the world and support the Rotary Club of Jamestown.
Starting October 24, 2024 (WORLD POLIO DAY), you pledge to donate $1.00 to END POLIO NOW for each day you purposefully walk 10 minutes or more.
At the end of 90 days (January 21, 2025), you are asked to donate a 50/50 split between END POLIO NOW and the Rotary Club of Jamestown; ultimately the percentages you choose to donate are entirely yours to make.
Make your donations to: Rotary Club of Jamestown Community Service Fund (R.C.J.C.S.F.) End Polio Now, c/o Joni Blackman, Foundation Chairman, PO Box 732, Jamestown, NY 14702.
TOGETHER LET’S WALK POLIO OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH!
Thanks to a $40,000 grant from the Rotary Club of Kenmore and Kenmore Rotary Foundation, the Town of Tonawanda’s Department of Youth, Parks & Recreation (YPR) has begun installing two new regulation pickleball courts on the front lawn of the Aquatic & Fitness Center (AFC) on Sheridan Dr. near Delaware Rd. Future development of the space will also include the installation of a performing arts stage in 2025. “We are creating a town square setting in this space,” said Town Councilman Carl Szarek, who chairs the town’s YPR Committee. Town crews have already outlined the courts which should be ready for play next spring. When they are completed, the town will have 12 pickleball courts in five locations: Paddock Park, Senior Center, Mang Park, Lincoln Park, and the AFC. The gift from the Rotary club coincides with its 100th anniversary of service to the Ken-Ton Community. “We think a lot of town residents are going to really enjoy the new courts, “said Kenmore Rotary Foundation Board Member Mike Hettler. “I am proud and excited that Rotary is funding this project,” added Rotary President Cathy Piciulo. Donations to the project can be made to the “$100 for 100 Years” campaign through our website: www.kenmorerotary.org.
PHOTO (L to R): Youth, Parks & Recreation crew members Cody Novo, Tom Cornell, Crew Chiefs Marty Salerno and Joe Simonian, YPR Superintendent Mark Campanella, Councilman Carl Szarek, Rotary Club President Cathy Piciulo, and Rotary Foundation Board Member Mike Hettler.
The Rotary Club of Kenmore is partnering with Cardiac Crusade to Save Lives in Western New York
The Rotary Club of Kenmore is proud to announce its involvement in a life-saving initiative aimed at drastically improving sudden cardiac arrest survival rates across Western New York. Larry Coon, Past President of the Rotary Club of Kenmore, has partnered with Cardiac Crusade, a nonprofit organization dedicated to registering Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to ensure their accessibility in emergencies.
In collaboration with UBMD Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, UBMD Emergency Medicine, and the Erie County Health Department, the campaign officially launched on October 16th, World Restart a Heart Day, and will continue until February 14, 2025. The goal is to register 1,000 new AEDs across the eight-county region, helping to close the gap between Western New York and cities like San Diego, where over 2,600 AEDs are registered, and the survival rate from sudden cardiac arrest exceeds 50%. By comparison, the national average survival rate is less than 10%.
Statistics show that the quicker an AED is used after cardiac arrest, the better the chances of survival. If an AED is used within two minutes, the survival rate climbs to 80%, and if used within one minute, the survival rate is an astounding 90%. With such significant potential to save lives, ensuring AEDs are accessible in emergencies is crucial.
To participate or learn more, visit Cardiac Crusadeand sign up to become an AED verifier.
SPEAKER: Rhonda Drewes, a 3rd year PhD Student in the Pathology and Anatomical Sciences Department at the UB Jacobs School of Medicine, a former EMT, and a community volunteer back in her home turf of Long Island. She is participating in a Medical School Social Justice Fellowship to help the Cardiac Crusade initiative in WNY.
CPR Trainers will be on-hand.
Cardiac Crusadeis a 501c3 organization with a mission to get the location of AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) instantly searchable on smart phones and available to emergency dispatchers/responders.
It was established by Julie and Greg Coon (Larry Coon's cousin) after Julie suffered a Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Julie is alive because people around her knew CPR and how to locate and use an AED to shock her back to life.
See the video “Cardiac Crusade Launches Initiative to Map AED Locations Across Western New York” HERE.
We’d like you to know about Fiona Baretto, a Rotarian PP from Amherst Rotary.
Over the last several years clubs from Area 11 and outside have joined forces to finance many of Fiona's projects in Tanzania.
Originally fostered by PDG Pravin, she took the reins and leveraged projects one on top of the other, many in conjunction with “Trees That Feed” and Women Against Poverty organizations.
We were only marginally slowed down by the pandemic.
I will add that she will be in the spotlight in Calgary representing the projects and D7090.
Lancaster-Depew Rotary is proud to be part of her team, providing clean water, sanitation, drones, breadfruit & related drying equipment, moringa, mangrove restoration, and more.
Lewiston/NOTL Past President Greg Lidstone met with David Gao, President of the Hanoi Rotary Club.
Prior to 3 years ago, Rotary was not allowed in Vietnam by the government. It now is allowed, but heavily scrutinized.
The Hanoi Club is under the Thailand District and has done Global Grants with Korea and Japan.
On October 7, Greg joined with Rotarians from Hanoi Rotary and a Korean Club to help restore a school located 2 hours outside of Hanoi that was damaged by a recent typhoon.
Join the Rotary Club of Lincoln and West Niagara Secondary School for a speaker event.
Come out to support the West Niagara Secondary Culinary students who will be providing our reception hors oeuvres AND see the new theatre at the school.
The Rotary Club of Lincoln will also be making a major announcement at this event!
Our special guest: Tim Carroll, Artistic Director at the Shaw Festival
Tim is in his 8th year as the artistic director at the Shaw Festival in NOTL.
Along with being director and co-director of many productions at the Shaw, Tim is recently returned from directing Othello for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
We have asked Tim to talk about the state of theatre here in Niagara, plus offer his views on the Shaw Festival.
Register for the 2024 Rotary Auction Niagara! Make your shopping list and prepare your donations!
All funds raised support local causes and projects in Niagara Falls, St Catharines, Welland, and Fonthill.
The Rotary Club of Fonthill is a welcoming group of professionals both working and retired who meet weekly in Pelham to improve the lives of others.
Every fall, they hold their annual fundraising auction. It’s a popular event many look forward to, and the money raised makes their work possible. It’s the club’s major fundraiser. “This is a great opportunity to help local projects in Niagara Falls, St Catharines, Welland, and Fonthill,” says Club Secretary Annie Holtby. “It’s also a great way to shop for the holidays! You can view the lineup before bidding starts, giving you time to make your list!” Register now!
Viewing begins: Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Bidding opens: 8:00 AM, Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Bidding closes: 9:00 PM, Saturday, December 7, 2024
PHOTO: Left: Sandy Graham, Past President Rotary Club of Welland; Right: Hugh Graham, Past President, Rotary Club of Fonthill and Auction Chair Read More on PelhamToday.ca
Rotary Auction Niagara is a joint project of six Niagara-region Rotary Clubs: Niagara Falls Noon, Niagara Falls Sunrise, St Catharines, St Catharines South, Welland, and Fonthill.
The Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise (RCNS) has now completed our eighth consecutive licence of the Catch the Ace (CTA) community participation game. On 27 September, the elusive Ace of Spades was caught for the eighth time. After 35 weeks of anticipation, we were thrilled to announce the winner of our 8th lottery licence as Ed Phillips of Port Dover. As the weekly winner, Ed pocketed $500, but as the lottery winner, Ed took home $26,250. Not bad for a Friday night at the Port Dover Legion.
This community participation game has been a tried-and-true fundraiser for us and our local community. Over 8 licenses, we have generated $800K in revenue which has resulted in individual prize offerings of over $330K and community support funds of just under $340K.
Just as important is the fact that this game has been collaborative with the local Legion and has certainly raised our Rotary public image in the community. Many thanks to all that have participated and/or support the RCNS and the Legion each and every Friday night. Between now and the next approved license, we will be spending the proceeds on Norfolk County initiatives, charities, and good works.
PHOTO (l to r): Judy Buck (representing the Legion), Karissa Hammond (the ticket drawer from the Special Olympics), Ed Phillips (the big winner!) and Gail Bouw (from the RCNS).
Olean Rotary to host Veteran's Recognition pasta dinner.
The Olean Rotary Club will be hosting its annual Veterans Recognition Pasta Dinner from 400 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday Nov. 12, at the Allegany American Legion Charles Harbel Post 892, 4350 Route 417, Allegany.
Tickets for the eat-in and takeout dinners will be sold at the door and are available presale from any local Rotarian.
Adults are $14; children under 12 or senior over 65 are $10; with family tickets available for $40. Veterans will be provided with a free dinner.
Guests will have a choice between homemade tomato sauce with fresh garlic and herbs, or alfredo cheese sauce. All dinners will include homemade meatballs, salad, bread, and dessert made by Rotarian and others.
Proceeds will benefit the greater Olean area through community service projects and other charitable endeavors sponsored by the Olean Rotary Club.
"We were hoping that area businesses could assist us by being a Community or Elite Sponsor of this year’s Veterans Day Pasta Dinner,” said Paula Bernstein, Olean Rotary Club president. “For a $125 sponsorship or greater, you will receive 10 tickets to the event and your business will be mentioned in event marketing materials, including Social Media.”
Bernstein said having local businesses support the organization and its projects is part of what sets this community apart.
Annual Back to School Food Drive Raises $3700 in Donations!
The Rotary Club of St. Catharines Lakeshore recently held its annual Back to School Food Drive on Friday September 20 to assist the Food4Kids Niagara Program.
Club members staffed collection bins at two "No Frills" stores in St. Catharines from 1 to 5 p.m.
As reported by Rotary of St. Club Food4Kids Chair Marlene Mader, “Shoppers at the two locations once again dug deep this year. After sorting and counting at Food4Kids, the Community had responded by donating over $3,700 in requested food items and monetary donations.”
Food4Kids provides packages of healthy food for children up to 14 years with limited or no access to food each weekend.
The food packages are assembled by volunteers and delivered to schools each Friday to ensure children have nourishment over the weekend. There are over 1500 children in Niagara struggling through each weekend without enough food.
Rotarians passed out lists of most needed items to create these packages to customers as they entered each of the two No Frills stores located at 581 Lake Street and at 525 Welland Avenue on Friday.
The Rotary Club of St. Catharines South, and May Court Club of St. Catharines, Raise Over $200,000 for Niagara Ronald McDonald House Charities Family Room
The Rotary Club of St. Catharines South and the May Court Club of St. Catharines proudly hosted the “Because We Care” fundraising event on October 5, 2024, at Club Roma, bringing together over 200 community members to support families facing medical challenges at the Marotta Family Hospital. The event successfully raised over $200,000 to enhance the newly opened Ronald McDonald Family Room, a vital sanctuary for families in need.
During the early planning stages for RMHC SCO’s Niagara Family Room, the team shared their vision with the Rotary Club of St. Catharines. The club fully embraced it, rallied support from 12 other clubs in the region, and even brought in another service club, the May Court Club of St. Catharines. Together, they committed to fundraising for the construction of the new Family Room and to helping kick-start operational funding.
The funds raised will go directly toward the construction and ongoing sustainment of the Family Room, which provides essential services such as daily meals and a comforting environment for more than 150 visitors each day from the pediatric units at the St. Catharines hospital.
The new Family Room, located on the fourth floor of the Marotta Family Hospital, offers a respite for families in crisis, featuring cozy sitting areas, a kitchenette, laundry facilities, and programming for
children. It is a vital resource for families navigating their most challenging times.
Rotary Club of St. Catharines South and other clubs join forces to tackle two of Pakistan's most daunting challenges: malnutrition and polio. In an inspiring evening hosted in St. Catharines, Rotary Polio Plus Chair Aziz Memon shed light on the critical role of nutrition in eradicating polio, revealing how malnutrition undermines immunity and fuels the disease’s persistence. Learn how this partnership is saving thousands of lives and inching closer to a polio-free future for Pakistan, proving that when communities come together, remarkable transformations are within reach.
Our five-year-old Satellite Club of the Rotary Club of Kenmore (Rotary of the Tonawandas) has been working with the Niagara River Greenway, the Historical Society of the Tonawandas, NYS Canal Corp, Buffalo Maritime Center, Erie County, and NRG's Adopt-A-Trailpartners, to revitalize the only unfilled section of the Erie Canal between Tonawanda Creek and Lake Erie.
This section is in the Town of Tonawanda, just south of the Grand Island bridge.
It received recognition in 2000 by the historical societies in the Tonawandas and is a direct amenity of the Empire State Trail/Shoreline Trail along the Niagara River.
The site is overgrown and has limited visibility, so in anticipation of the Erie Canal's 200th Anniversary Bicentennial – 200th Anniversary - in 2025, and in conjunction with the World Canals Conferencebeing held in Buffalo September 21-25, 2025, we are working on revealing this historic nugget. Our anticipated project will include overcoming the invasive species that have encroached the roughly 100' x 150' site, improving connectivity and
accessibility, landscaping with native plants, interpretive signage and public art that helps reflect life on the canal as it may have been in the early 1800's.
The photos in (read more...) show the concepts of the plan.
Our club is writing grants and fundraising for the project which will include as much sustainable work as possible. The NRG-Rotary partnership includes 9 clubs in the watershed, including Kenmore, Lockport, NOTL, Buffalo, Buffalo Sunrise, Buffalo BNMC, Grand Island, and Niagara County. We hope to spotlight this historic site for the 2025 anniversary celebration. We hope this project is something our District and region can enjoy and be proud of for future generations.
The West Seneca Rotary Club has had a busy October!
Friday, October 18th, the club attended and passed out candy to the over 500 kids that came to the Town of West Seneca's "HALLO-West Seneca-WEEN indoor Trick or Treating" at the Town Hall.
PHOTO (L to R): Lisa Breidenstein, Karen Sawicz, Gary Dickson, Gene Hess, Bob Breidenstein, Samantha Roman, Kate Newton
On Wednesday, October 23rd, DG Dave Alexander came and visited with our club.
At the Westfield-Mayville Rotary’s 43 Annual “Gold Rush” fundraiser, Bob Crane (pictured left) was recognized and presented a Non-Rotarian Paul Harris medal and certificate for his 60+ years of outstanding community service.
He has served as an EMT and worked with county emergency services for decades.
Additionally, he has taught CPR and AED, served as EMS captain for the Stanley Hose Co, and was in Korea with the Army for one year as flight medic for Star Flight.
Presently he serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Westfield Memorial Hospital.
Bob and his wife Kathy have been married for 59 years and live in Sherman, NY.
Also at the Gold Rush event, Bob Bruce was the lucky winner of $1000 which was donated by the South Ripley Solar Project.
PHOTO (L to R): Rotarian Nick Bruce, Bob Bruce, Rotarian Mackenzi Bruce
Our meeting last week was packed full of memorable moments! AG Mike Harrington introduced Aaron Carlson who will be our District Governor in 2026-27. Aaron gave a short talk.
Then President Janese called Rotarian Pete Bills to the front where in a surprise presentation by DG (District Governor) Dave Alexander, Pete was presented his Paul Harris +4 pin!
And then, Susan Landrigan was inducted as our newest WM Rotary Club member by DG Dave Alexander, as her sponsor Beth Hocking looked on! Welcome Rotarian Susan!
And then…DG Alexander was introduced and gave a great talk regarding Rotary, and cited some of our own club’s accomplishments over the past 95 years!
He noted that Rotary’s work in ending polio wasn’t done yet.
In his final comments, he stressed that Rotarians should continue their volunteer endeavors and assist the world in making peaceful strides.
And then…Dave followed up by giving a little Canadian treat of “Coffee Crisp” to each person in attendance!!!
A reception and time for socializing followed the meeting. Just a great Rotarian evening indeed!
Rotary is committing US$500,000 to bolster the initiative, channeling these funds through a dedicated Polio Outbreak Response Fund. This contribution represents Rotary's sustained support to the World Health Organization in combating polio globally.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, to host 2028 Rotary International ConventionRotary has announced that Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, will host its convention in 2028.The Rotary International Convention welcomes tens of thousands of
Five members of the Rotary Club of Seminole Lake, Florida, hiked Spain’s Camino de Santiago raised about $7,000 to raise funds to help Ukrainian refugee mothers and children in the Tampa Bay area. It also brought the entire club closer together.