Festival City Rotary Newsletter July 2
The Rotary Club Of Festival City
President: Bill Helmuth
Minutes of the meeting of July 2, 2013
Club email: festivalcityrotary@gmail.com
Club website: www.festivalcityrotary.ca
Guests: Bob Martin and Marcia Matsui arefrom the Stratford Rotary Club. Sue and Rick Storie are from the London Hyde Park Rotary Club.
Door Prize: Vincent Hill donated the prize won by Deb Stacey-Rivers.
Announcements:
1. Meeting Change: The meeting normally scheduled for Tuesday July 23 will be replaced by a farewell party for Leticia on Monday night July 22. It will be a potluck event starting at 6 PM. The party takes place at the home of Dianne Yundt. Leticia will make a video presentation of her cross-Canada trip.
2. Literacy Awards: Sue Storie, the literacy chairperson for District 6330 presented the club with two literacy awards. The District Literacy Award was presented for completing five literacy projects. The Zone Literacy Award was for completing ten projects. Projects included adding Facebook and Twitter feeds to the website, donating back to school back packs, helping start Rotaract, financing the purchase of five computers for El Salvador, providing the Adult Learner award, continuing Rotary Reads, and promoting digital literacy. We have already started on the next award through our contribution of $1000 to a day care centre.
3. The Champagne edition of Bingo: Saturday August 4. Volunteer by clicking on the Bingo link on ClubRunner or inform Jack West or Vince Hill. It was on this date in 1693 that Dom Perignon announced that he had invented a sparkling wine which came to be known as Champagne.
4. Alberta Flood Relief:
As you are aware, the residents of southern Alberta are suffering very acute hardship as their rivers flood their homes and communities.
We have had a number of clubs in our District enquire how they might assist in the relief efforts as a result of these floods.
We have been advised that there is not a need for non-monetary item’s at this time – only financial donations are required which will allow the organizers to be flexible and provide assistance in an effective manner and where it is most urgently needed.
The District has agreed to act as the conduit for donations made by clubs within our District.
With this in mind, should your club wish to support the Alberta flood relief effort, please forward your cheque to our District Treasurer – Henry Weickert, P.O. Box 1596, Southampton, ON N0H 2L0. The cheque should be made payable to District 6330 with the memo line or covering letter indicating funds are for the Alberta Flood Relief.
Funds will be forwarded to our Rotary contact in District 5360 and used for the benefit of all the clubs/communities which have suffered due to flooding. Should your club wish to support a specific club, please so indicate and funds will be directed accordingly.
In due course we will be provided with a full accounting of where funds were spent.
Thank you for your consideration.
Yours in Rotary Service,
Tom Robitaille Don Moore
District Governor 2012 – 2013 District Governor 2013 – 2014
District 6330 District 6330
Club Assembly:
Membership Committee: Deb Stacey-Rivers said that the committee held six meetings during the previous Rotary year. The survey completed by the membership was helpful in finding out what it wanted from Rotary. More social occasions is a popular wish. The first social evening was held in May and it is hoped that more will occur during the year. The next is the July 22 farewell party for Leticia at the Yundts.
Deb also noted that several members have reached milestones. Jean Aitcheson and Bill Helmuth have been with the Festival City club for 5 years, Laura Pogson and Kent Chisholm for 10 years, and Jack West and Wayne Young for 15 years.
Tyler Canal, chair of Public Relations wants the membership to inform him of events which can be promoted. He will use Facebook and Twitter to promote events in addition to more conventional methods. The pancake breakfast will be advertised on the Stratford Rotary Dragon Boat site.
Brian Rivers, chair of New Generations Committee spoke about the Youth Exchange program. He wants the membership let him know their thoughts on continuing the program. It costs about $3000 per year. If we continue, new host families will be required as it seems that the same families have hosted students for several years. A short exchange option is being explored and Brian will keep us informed as information becomes available. Our next exchange student is a 16 year old boy from Indonesia.
Last week’s speakers were so impressive with what they do with so few resources that the board of directors will explore the possibility of assisting the Same World Same Chance organization as an international project. Anyone wishing to make a personal donation to SWSC can do so by visiting www.sameworldsamechance.org and follow the links.
Ken Hansen asked that anyone with the name of a person who would be an interesting speaker please let he or Brandi Gillett know. Ken will follow up any suggestions.
Kent Chisholm is asking for fundraising ideas. We are not doing as many as in the past and he is looking for suggestions.