Stories

 Thanks to funding from the Rotary Foundation, the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Bytown was able to purchase and install a new dishwasher and countertop at the Centretown Emergency Food Centre at 507 Bank Street, Ottawa in February, 2017. The Club received a District Simplified Grant from the Rotary Foundation which helped to pay for the project.

 

 The new dishwasher and countertop will enable the Food Centre to offer food in containers which are properly sanitized.  This will prevent contamination and illness. 

 

 The Food Centre operates on a very limited budget.  It was desperately in need of a new dishwasher.   The support of Rotary in purchasing the dishwasher will mean that the Food Centre will not have to expend their limited funds on a dishwasher.  They will therefore have more money to spend on the purchase of food for those in need in the community. 

 

Two members of our Club, Terry Egan and Stu Hewlett, actively participated in the implementation of the project,

 

 Since 2015, the Rotary Club of Ottawa-Bytown has held five food drives on behalf of the Food Centre and we have raised almost $10,000 in food and cash which we donated to the Food Centre.  The food drives have resulted in a close working relationship with the Food Centre which has made us sensitive to the challenges the Food Centre faces in providing food, on a limited budget, to over 10,000 clients each year.  It was this close relationship which gave our club the awareness of the importance of this project and which gave the club the commitment to carry the project through to completion.

 

 The Rotary Club of Ottawa-Bytown club has held two club meetings on the site so that all the club members could learn about the needs of the Food Centre and to learn about the project.

 

 The direct beneficiaries of the project were clients who take the food home in bulk in properly sanitized containers.  The Food Centre provides food to over 10,000 people annually including immigrants, the homeless and the working poor. Many families obtain food from the Food Centre.  Therefore, the direct beneficiaries of the project include many children.

 

 We extend many thanks to the Rotary Foundation and to those who worked to implement this project and especially Stu Hewlett and Terry Egan.

Guest: Edmond Lantier, Hull Rotary Club

 

•  We began the meeting with a short presentation by our guest, Edmond Lantier.  He circulated invitations to a commemorative event celebrating the 100^th year of the Rotary Foundation.  The event is sponsored by the Rotary Club in Hull.  The proceeds from the event will go to a pediatric clinic for underprivileged children in Hull and to the Rotary Foundation.  The event will be held at the Embassy of France on Sussex Drive from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Thursday, May 11.  Wine, champagne and cocktails will be served.  The cost is $60 per person.  Unfortunately, the deadline for registration and payment was April 11, the day of our meeting. 
• Terry informed us that we will be selling daffodils for the Canadian Cancer Society on Saturday, April 22 at the Loblaws store at 100 McArthur Ave. (corner of Vanier Parkway).  If you have not signed up to volunteer and are able to do so, please let Terry know.
• Derek and Stu are continuing to read with elementary school children at Cambridge School.  Derek recently read with a child from Syria who could not speak a word of English.  Stu is working with a child who is desperate to learn how to read.  They go to the school once a week, on Mondays.
• The Board meeting was held on Monday, April 10, 2017.  Li reported on the key points which were covered at the Board Meeting.  She explained that as a result of last year’s rummage sale, the club has money in reserve.  It was agreed at the Board meeting that, in the upcoming year, we will again allocate $4,000 to the Community Service Committee; $2,000 to the International Service Committee and $2,000 to the Vocational Committee.
• The Board also discussed fundraising.  We have decided to go ahead with sale of the Father’s Day Gift Packs which James put together.  The packages are very attractive.  We will sell them for $30 each and the Club will earn $10 on each one sold.
• - The Golf Tournament will be on.  We are going to use next week’s meeting to have an in-depth discussion with Terry about the planning for the Tournament.  In particular, we need to discuss whether we can take some of the burden of the planning off of Terry’s shoulders.
•  -Li mentioned that the Rummage sale last September raised a total of about $28,000 for the Church, Causeway and our Club.  We are considering whether we should hold another sale.  LA has kindly offered to look into this.
• The club will also continue with the sale of the cash calendars. 
• The Board members also discussed the Masters Golf Raffle.  The Kanata Sunrise Club is keen to take over the raffle.  Given the size of their club, they should be able to raise more money which will benefit all of Rotary.  Our club’s charitable status has been suspended due to late filing.  Chris has put a great deal of work into organizing past raffles and would like to have a break.  Therefore, the Board decided that we will hand the raffle to the Kanata Sunrise Club for one year only, on the understanding that it will be returned to our club.
• As regards community service, the board decided to apply for a District Simplified Grant for next year for funds to replace the stove at St Mary Home.  We want to continue gaining experience in applying for grants and creating a good track record.  Anabelle has offered to prepare the application for the grant.
•  St Mary’s Home also needs a new washing machine and dryer (which they need right away) and we will see if could fund this. 
• Also, we are ready to send a cheque for $2,250 to Project Chance Africa for payment of food (oatmeal and milk powder) for elementary school children in Nairobi, Kenya.  $750 of this amount will be covered by a District Simplified Grant.
• On the subject of club membership, the Board decided that we should invite Tim Desjardins to join our club.  He already feels like a member since we know him well from working together on the rummage sale.  Stu will extend the invitation to Tim.
• -The Board members also discussed our decision to hold meetings on a bi-weekly basis during the winter months since many of our members are out of the country in the winter.  The idea of bi-weekly meetings is generally liked except we have a concern that when combined with cancellations due to bad weather and other reasons, the breaks between meetings becomes too long.  Therefore, we decided that we should try to have two meetings a month, even if there are cancellations
• Mike proposed that our club should fund a Shelter Box which costs about $1,500.  Before we take a decision on this, Mike will prepare a Treasurer’s Report, for the next Board meeting.

Guest: Christopher Kory, Causeway Work Centre

Announcements:

- Chris Kraft spoke to us about the huge amount of work that he and others did over the past weekend in cleaning out the storage lockers where the items for the rummage sale were stored.  There were six large lockers in total.  Chris described the quantity of goods as "phenomenal".  Items were given to Causeway Work Centre since they plan to hold a sale.  As well, more items were given to the Centretown United Church for their sale in May.  Many thanks to Chris and the others who worked so hard at the lockers on the weekend.

- Christopher Kory attended the meeting and explained to us about Causeway Work Centre which is in the Hintonburg neighbourhood of Ottawa.  Causeway started as an employment agency for youth with mental illness.  However, it has branched out and now runs various types of programs.  Christopher Kory runs their nutrition and wellness program.  They have a catering business, a landscaping business and an entrepreneur program.  These programs bring in funds and also provide training to their clients.

- Charter Night will be on October 25, 2016 at the Ritz Canal Restaurant.  If you have not already signed up, please be sure to do so if you are available to attend.

- our regular meeting will go ahead on October 25, 2016 (the day of Charter night) since we had already arranged for a speaker from the United States to speak to us about a Cold War Museum.  Instead, the meeting of October 18, 2016 will be cancelled.

- October 28 - 29 - the District Conference will be taking place in Ottawa.  The Youth Exchange will be presenting a murder mystery for the Conference and they are looking for volunteer actors.

- Saturday, December 17 - Running on Empties will be held at the Beer Store on Merrivale Ave. again this year.  A sign up sheet will be circulated.

- Monday, November 7 - the Board Meeting will take place in the room above Mike's store.

Speaker - Terry showed us his photos from his recent trip to Australia.  Terry is a wonderful photographer and his descriptions of the trip were very interesting.  Thank you, Terry.

The Rotary Club of Ottawa-Bytown Holds Another Successful Food Drive

 

On Saturday, July 9, 2016, our club held another successful food drive at the Loblaws Store on Isabella Avenue. The food drive was in support of the Centretown Emergency Food Centre. We raised over $2,000 in food items and cash donations on July 9th. This was the fourth food drive that we have held in 2016 and 2015 at the Loblaws Store.  In all, we have raised approximately $8,100 in cash and food items on behalf of the Food Centre.

 

The Food Centre provides a vital service to the community of Centretown.    In recent years, the Food Centre has seen a significant increase in the number of residents of the community who are in need.  In particular, immigrants and new Canadians with large families have put increased demands on the Food Centre.  In 2015, the Centre served 9760 clients, 529 more than in 2014, and sadly, the need continues to grow.  The Rotary Club of Ottawa-Bytown is proud that we are making a contribution in support of the Centre.

Guest:  Tom Wilkinson, Charlottetown Rotary Club

-          We circulated the schedule for the food drive at Loblaws on Isabella Street on Saturday, January 23, 2016. 

-          Chris mentioned that the South Ottawa Club raised $2,000 at the Scottish Night.

-          Wendy raised the subject of whether we should continue to fund the teacher’s salary at the school in Kenya.  We normally send the money at this time of year.  Unfortunately, salaries are not eligible projects for a Simplified District Grant.  Suan Cross has mentioned that payment of salaries is critical to the success of the school.  Many of the teachers in Kenya are poorly trained.  Payment of salaries is critical to keeping the good teachers.  However, Suan mentioned that if our Club wants to apply for a grant, we could instead fund a breakfrast program in the school.  Lunch is currently provided to the children but they do not receive breakfast.  Mike has very generously offered to fund $800 so that we can continue to pay the salary plus apply for a grant. 

-          Tom Wilkinson gave a presentation on a proposal that we fund a project to provide solar heating of water in an orphanage in North Korea.  Our club committed to fund $500 annually for three years to a fishing project in North Korea.  However, Rotary has cancelled that project since the Government of North Korea had asked that the project be moved to another community and would not allow Rotary’s representative to visit the new site.  Tom has now asked if our Club would be willing to redirect our commitment of $500 annually for three years to another project.

The Mirim School Solar Water and Hygiene Project involves providing 550 children who live in an orphanage with heated water and soap and education about hygiene.  Soap is a precious commodity in North Korea and the current standard of cleanliness in the school is very low since there is no hot water.  Water is currently heated with wood which creates soot.

The project involves an overall commitment on the part of Rotary of $29,000.  Many other Rotary Clubs are participating in the project.

A key concern on the part of some of us is whether we should be involved in a project in North Korea, given the notorious nature of the government in that country.  Tom spoke eloquently on this subject.  He said that Rotarians have an obligation to go to places where Rotary is not present to promote world peace and understanding.  There has never been a peace treaty between North and South Korea and the potential for conflict there is great.  Rotary’s role is to help promote peace.  A Rotarian Peace Fellowship Group will go to North Korea following the next International Conference which will be in Seoul.  Rotary has successfully participated in many projects in North Korea. 

The next Board meeting will be on January 31, 2016.  This item will be on the agenda for discussion.

Guests:

• Jamie Fraser
• Regina Kraft
• Tom Wilkinson

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

-          Stu read out a text from Ernie who is recuperating  from knee surgery.  

-          Running on Empties went well on Saturday, December 19 - our spot was indoors so the cold was not a problem this year.  We collected approximately $560 (not counting cash donations).  Overall, $13,000 was collected in the City.  The money goes for food hampers at the Christmas Exchange.  Many thanks to Terry for organizing Running on Empties and the Salvation Army Kettle.

-          Chris reported that sales of the Masters Raffle tickets are going well. 

-          Next week’s meeting is cancelled.  We will start again on January 5^th.  A student from the Youth Exchange (Ottawa Club) will attend the meeting.

-          The next food drive will be on January 23 at the Loblaws on Isabella Street.  Wendy will circulate a sign up sheet for those who are able to volunteer.

-          As regards the district simplified grants, Terry mentioned that he called the Centretown Emergency Food Centre and another organization to see if they have anything on their wish lists.  Their needs are mainly capital assets such as dish washers and large appliances.

-          Chris announced that we are going to replace the weekly draws for a free breakfast with a 50/50 draw.  The winner will pull a card to win the pot of money.  The deck of cards will get smaller each week and the pot will keep growing. 

-          We ended with our annual Christmas carol sing along accompanied by Jamie.  Ernie listened in to the carol sing by phone.

-          Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!

-          Fay circulated a thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of the silent auction at the District Conference in Watertown, New York.  Our club donated a hot plate which was a popular item.  Fay did a great job in organizing a very successful auction.

-          The South Ottawa Club is holding a Whiskey and Malt event on Friday, November 20, 2015.

-          Chris reported that a meeting of President’s Council was held on November 16, 2015.  They are looking for a representative from each Club to work on a joint committee to mark the upcoming celebration of Rotary’s presence in Ottawa for 100 years.

-          The next District Conference will be in Ottawa.

-          At the President’s Council meeting, each President was asked to report on the activities in their club.  They also reported on the size of membership in their clubs.  Our Club has 17 members.  West Ottawa has the largest membership at 98 members.  Other Clubs are smaller than ours (South Nepean with 10, Stittsville with 15, Kanata Sunrise with 9 and Hull with 10).  Orleans has 22 members and Ottawa South has 30 members.

-          The Orleans Club will be holding an Anniversary Dinner on January 21, 2016.  The cost will be $65.

-          Chris  circulated tickets for the draw for an international dinner to be cooked by the Youth Exchange students.  Tickets are $5.00 each.

-          The calendars are in at the West Ottawa Club.

-          We had a discussion about possible new strategies to sell the Masters 2016 Golf Raffle tickets.  Chris asked if we could join with any of the organizations which our Club supports to see if they may be interested in selling tickets.  If they do sell any tickets, they will receive half of the proceeds ($50).  Wendy is going to contact Allison Dingle, Chair, Management Committee, at the Centretown Emergency Food Centre to see if she knows of any organizations which may be interested in selling tickets.

We did not have a speaker or any guests.