Speakers and Socials
Business meeting
May 07, 2024
Guest speaker
May 21, 2024
Business meeting
Jun 04, 2024
Year end social
Jun 25, 2024
E-bike and 50/50 raffle draw
District Governor Christina visit
Jul 02, 2024
New Rotary Year
Guest speaker
Jul 16, 2024
Business meeting
Aug 06, 2024
Guest speaker
Aug 20, 2024
Business meeting
Sep 03, 2024
Terry Fox Run
Sep 15, 2024
Sunrise Rotary Trail 10:30am
Guest speaker
Sep 17, 2024
Business meeting
Oct 01, 2024
Guest speaker
Oct 15, 2024
Club Executive and Positions
President
Co-President
Treasurer
Secretary
Speakers and Socials
Membership Chair
Foundation Chair
Cashier and Casino Coordinator
Sergeant At Arms
Co-Sergeant-at-Arms
 
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Club Information

Welcome to Sunrise Rotary! New members and guests are always welcome!
Medicine Hat Sunrise

SERVICE ABOVE SELF

We meet In Person
Tuesdays at 7:15 a.m.
Chinook Village
13th Avenue SE
Mailing: PO Box 1114 Medicine Hat, AB T1A 7H3
Canada
PLEASE NOTE: we meet on the FIRST and THIRD Tuesdays of each month.
Our Club Stories
18 members and friends (plus a dog) of the 4 Rotary clubs in Medicine Hat (Rotary Ignite, Saamis, Sunrise, and Medicine Hat), walk together on the Sunrise Rotary Trail at the Medicine Hat College in recognition of International Women's Day and in support of the "Secret 3k Run/Walk" to support women and girls in Afghanistan and other areas of the world who are in danger. March 8, 2024.
The Sunrise club continues to support the Rotary Alberta Youth Entrepreneur Camp (RAYEC) with a matching District grant. Here Co-President Keith Walker presents the cheque to member Sean Blewett, with thanks to Sean for his 16 years of service to the camp. March 5, 2024.
Some members of the Sunrise club (Corrie, Clare, Gord, Sharla,. Keith, Karen, Bonnie, Renee) show off library cards as we support free memberships for 200 adults (kids are always free) in February 2024.
Carol Ann Cross-Roen, Head of Youth Services at the Medicine Hat Public Library receives a cheque from Keith Walker, Co-President, in support of the library's "Sunrise Rotary Ride the Road to Reading" program. The club proudly provides finances to support the literacy project with Grade Four students at the city schools.
February 7, 2024.
Sunrise Rotary club member Danielle Elyse, with Canadian Humanitarian and the SERnina project, receives a cheque from Co-President Keith Walker in support of the work she and her group do with youth in Guatemala. January 23, 2024.
The club annually gives funds to help students at the Medicine Hat College, thanks to grants through the Rotary District. Here Tonielle Pavlovic, MHC, receives the cheque from Bill Cooper, Co-President of the Sunrise club. December 20, 2023.
The Sunrise and Ignite clubs organized the most successful Terry Fox Run in the history of the run's 43 years in Medicine Hat, with over 275 participants raising $20,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation and cancer research. Here some of the great registration team members pose with a life size cutout of Terry himself: Melanie, Cathy, Sharlene, and Bill. September 17, 2023.
The three smiling water station guys! Leo, Oliver, and Max with Keith, the chair of the Terry Fox Run organizing committee (and a life size cutout of Terry) pose after the run on September 17, 2023. Max and Oliver volunteered to thank the club for sponsoring them to the RAYEC camp in August (and Leo is a friend who helped out).
The flowers planted by members of the Sunrise, Ignite, and Saamis clubs in June at the entrance to the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital look pretty in the sunset on September 12, 2023. Hope the deer family walking near by didn't stop to enjoy the taste of the flowers!
Rotary Alberta Youth Entrepreneurship Camp held at Eagle's Nest Ranch in the Cypress Hills celebrated the 25th anniversary in August 2023. The camp was originally started by former Sunrise Rotary member Les Erickson and this year club member Sean Blewett was recognized for his 15 years of service to RAYEC. Pictured are two 13-year-old Medicine Hat participants sponsored by the Sunrise club, Max Williams and Oliver Walker, along with Oliver's Poppa and the Co-President of Sunrise, Keith Walker. August 19, 2023. 
Sunrise members and spouses had fun on the Sunshine Trolley, thanks to Medicine Hat Tourism in appreciation to the club for sponsoring school groups during May and June. Karen, Jim, Renee, Keith, and Val - August 12, 2023
Co-President Bill Cooper presents a cheque to Rae-Ann Godfrey from the Miywasin Centre. The funds will be used to provide smudging kits for users of the Centre. July 13, 2023
Lots of prizes were given out to the students, parent, and teacher winners of the SUNRISE ROTARY RIDE THE ROAD TO READING program with the Medicine Hat Public Library. Here Sunrise members Karen and Keith give out one of the prizes to a happy grade four student! June 29, 2023.
Mo, Jace, and Bill with cheque from the Sunrise club to support school group rides on the Sunshine Trolley, through Medicine Hat Tourism. June 26, 2023.
Heather Koch was the happy winner of the raffle of two e-bikes and she was there in person at the club's 25th anniversary celebration when the draw was made!
Here she receives one of the bikes from the co-President Bill Cooper. June 20, 2023
Members from the Saamis, Ignite, and Sunrise clubs got together on June 6, 2023 to plant blue and yellow flowers (Rotary colours) at the Rotary Flower Bed at the Medicine Hat Hospital. Pictured: Sharon (Saamis), Sharlene (Ignite), Karen (Sunrise), Heather (Ignite), Teresa (Ignite), and Keith (Sunrise)
The Medicine Hat Skateboard Association is getting ready for the 2023 version of the "Beat The Heat" event to be held in Kin Coulee Park on Canada Day. Here Keith Walker, Co-President of the Sunrise club presents a cheque to the group to support their big competition and fun activity. Sunrise is proud to be a continuing supporter of this incredible group of young people.
Spring is in the air, and that means bikes will be on the streets soon!  Get your tickets for 2 Kona e-bikes by connecting with a Sunrise Rotary member or by using the QR code.  
Members of the Sunrise, Ignite, and Saamis clubs plus friends participated in the Secret 3k Walk/Run as part of International Women's Day on March 8, 2023. It was a cold and snowy walk so the hot chocolate and other treats were most welcome! Altogether 17 people participated and raised funds for the Secret 3K event.
Clare Lindsay and Keith Walker were honoured to receive the Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal for their contributions to Rotary and for their other volunteer work. The reception, with family and friends celebrating, was held at the Cypress Club on January 26, 2023 with hosts Karen Charlton and Bill Cooper. 
The Sunrise club had a raffle at our recent social for a homemade charcuterie board, designed and made by Varley Wiseman. $300 was donated for generators for the Ukraine
Sharla with the BEST gift of all :-) Watch out for the regifting next year!
 
Danielle with the cute "baby bassinet" gift!
 
Matching caps for the recently returned Australian travellers!
 
Clare with "wine in a cowboy boot" gift from the gift exchange.
 
Val's going to be stylin' for Christmas!!
 
 
Co-President Bill Cooper presents a cheque to the Chief Librarian of the Medicine Hat Public Library, Ken Feser, in order to fund 200 free library memberships, in the club's continuing support of literacy, reading, and libraries in our community. October 18, 2022.
Some of the grade four winners of the Sunrise Rotary Ride the Road to Reading contest at the Medicine Hat Public Library, sponsored by the Sunrise Rotary club. Summer 2022.
Alberta Day, September 1, 2022: The District Governor, Steve Leavitt, and his wife Pat joined Rotarians from the Medicine Hat Rotary clubs and staff and students from Saamis Immigration - plus family members of both the Rotarians and the new immigrants. We went for a walk, guided by President Bill Cooper, along the Sunrise Rotary Trail, and then had treats supplied by the Sunrise club. 
The Sunrise and Medicine Hat clubs sponsored tours and treats for new immigrants at Saamis Immigration. Here is Keith Walker, Co-President, with the group of 30 visiting the Saamis Teepee on August 22, 2022.
Co-President Bill Cooper presents a cheque to Saamis Immigration to help fund rides for new immigrants on the Sunshine Trolley around Medicine Hat during the summer of 2022.
Sign at the Rotary Flower Bed at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital east entrance.
 
Members of the three Rotary clubs which sponsored the building of the Rotary flower bed at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital came together to plant flowers on July 5, 2022: Heather from Rotary Ignite, Sharon from the Saamis club, and Karen, Bill, and Keith from the Sunrise club. They had fun planting!
 
 
 
 
Bill Cooper, Sunrise Co-President, presents a cheque to Heather Bach, Rotary Ignite club member and the Executive Director of the Health Foundation. The Sunrise, Ignite, and Saamis clubs jointly provided funds to build the flower bed, located at the entrance to the hospital.
Winner of the Sunrise Rotary e-bikes, Renee Stolz, receives her prize from Cyclepath and the club co-Presidents. The winning ticket was drawn on June 21, 2022.
Thanks to all who bought and sold tickets; the funds help the club to do good things in our community and around the world.
A group of Sunrise and Ignite club members had a tour and did some volunteer work at Prairie Gleaners on June 18, 2022.Sharla, Keith, Val, Carmen, Bonnie, Sharlene, Bill (all saying "potato" to make us smile, after spending a few hours cutting potatoes!)
 
Members of the Sunrise club (Danielle, Bill, Keith) presented a cheque to the Medicine Hat Skateboard Association in support of their "Beat the Heat" competition to be held on Canada Day at the skateboard park in Kin Coulee.
Members of the Rotary Ignite and the Sunrise club met jointly for the first time on March 31, 2022 when the District Governor, Martin Parnell and his wife Sue visited. 
In early February 2022 the Sunrise Rotary Club participated in a tri-college "Rotary Den" student entrepreneurial competition in partnership with the Medicine Hat College. Students from Olds College and Bow Valley college as well as Rotarians from Olds and the Calgary-Heritage Park club also took part. The club donated $1500 for prizes, matched by the college so that the winner received $2000 and the runner-up $1000.
 
Pictured are Amanda Dyck, first place finisher with her "Hempte Food;" Keith Walker from the Sunrise club; Chad Flinn, Dean of the School of Trades and Technology; Lexie MacGregor, second place finisher with "Lexie's Pet Care;" and Christie Wilson, Entrepreneurship Advising and Outreach at Medicine Hat College
 
Sunrise Rotary provides funding to the Medicine Hat College for student scholarships. Pictured with the donation is Tonielle Pavlovic with the college and Keith Walker, Co-President of the Sunrise club. Despite what the cheque says, this was March 2022!
 The beginning of July brings change in the Rotary world:  new theme, new executive, new budgets, and more.   Many thanks to Clare Lindsay who served as our president for the last 2 years leading us through the uncharted waters of a pandemic, embracing technology for meetings, a new structure for our club executive and board and still managing to get us steered in the right direction to have profitable fundraisers and continue the club legacy in promoting literacy in many forms to all ages in many areas locally and globally.  Thank you!  We welcome our co-presidents, Bill Cooper and Keith Walker who look forward to continuing to guide us in doing the fantastic work that Rotary is known for.
These days we meet differently, but it is still great to connect and share the work that Rotary does.  Today we are thankful that Dave Panabaker could join us as one of his last responsibilities as Assistant District Governor.  We appreciate all that you have done Dave, and wish you the best!  We are also excited to announce that our very own Keith Walker will be taking over his role!  Big shoes to fill Keith, but we are sure you are up for the task!  
We are doing this again!  November is Family Violence Awareness month and we think it is an awesome opportunity to spread some hope in our community.  If you have a gently used purse or backpack that you are willing to part with, consider filling it with items that those who have fled a violent situation may need.  Think brush, combs, shampoo, deodorant, book, scarf, mittens, a little sweet candy, an inspirational note.  This is our second year for this project, and our goal is to collect 300 purses/bags to distribute to the Women's Shelter, The Salvation Army and Saamis Immigration.  Can you help us reach that goal?
We are thrilled to announce our newest member of the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat Sunrise -- Danielle Skogen!  Danielle was inducted today by DG Christine.  Important things to know?  Danielle is a teacher, fluent in 3 languages and has a passion for empowering people and in particular women in third world countries.  Danielle's presence brings great energy and renewed commitment to our international projects.  It has been 30 years since Rotary allowed women to join the ranks.  We are proud to have Danielle join us and look forward to working with her on great things ahead!
Good things happened on one of the hottest days of the year in Medicine Hat!  DG Christine Rendell met with the board of directors last night, and the club this morning to share the upcoming vision and direction of Rotary.  She hails from Rotary Club of Calgary East and is a strong supporter of small clubs that do mighty things (like ours!).  Thanks Christine for sharing your enthusiasm for Rotary and dedication to doing your part to make this world a better place.
He wouldn't want us to brag, but we should...just a bit.  Craig Elder has become our clubs newest (MULTI) Paul Harris Fellow!  Thank you Craig for all you do for Rotary and the community of Medicine Hat.  We want you to know we notice you, and appreciate you! 
Lisa Kowalchuk and Sara Mackenzie from the Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce met with us today to explore the many similarities between the work of the Chamber and the work of Rotary.  Certainly there are some parallels!  Thanks for coming to breakfast with us!  We hope you enjoy our new Sunrise Rotary Roast custom coffee blend.  It is a great way to kick start your day (Rotary and our coffee that is)!
ADG Dave Panabaker attended today to welcome Clare as president and introduce the 2019- 2020 Rotary theme:  Rotary Connects the World.
And it is official!  Clare Lindsay accepts the presidential gavel from Josh Wintoniak signalling the start of a new Rotary executive.  Thanks Josh for all your work over the last year!  And Clare, we look forward to your year as president!
Sunrise Rotary Medicine Hat is thrilled to support the Be Youth Centre this year with money from the Les Erickson Memorial Fund (Community Foundation).  Be Youth provides free programming for youth aged 11- 17 in a fun and safe environment.  As Rotarians, we think this is awesome and are happy to support such a great group!  
Thanks to Celina for meeting our club at the Medicine Hat Library to give us an update on what's happening at the Medicine Hat Food Bank. This is not just any Food Bank, they really go above and beyond and look holistically at how to help their clients. 
Thanks to James Paulson from the Medicine Hat Astronomy Club for visiting our club. Your presentation was "out of this world!" It was great to hear about your plans for a new Telescope and your community outreach programs. 
We had a great time this morning at Madhatter Coffee Roastery in downtown Medicine Hat!
 
Rotarians got a chance to learn about the roasting process and the "third wave" coffee trend. After sipping through some wonderful coffee's we voted on our favorite. Stay tuned for something new percolating from Sunrise Rotary soon...
This week we were led on a photographic tour of Keith and Ted's most excellent adventures through Australia and New Zealand.  Crosswalks for the aged.  Fantastic beaches.  Glorious greenery.  Namesake beer and wine.  And apparently a couple of men who drive better on the left side of the road (as per their wives).  Thanks for taking us there by photos!
We are proud to support Danielle Skogen in her efforts with the SERnina project which provides re-usable menstrual products to school-aged girls in Guatemala.  With the $1000 cheque presented by Syl, the support we provided, helps girls  continue their education and enhance future opportunities.  Danielle also reports that a local business owned and operated by women will be producing these products.  A win-win!  
Treasurer Bill Cooper presents a $500 cheque to Karen LeHay of the Medicine Hat Pride Association.  Karen spoke to our Rotary club regarding the Pride Festival being held in Medicine Hat on September 15, 2018 and current initiatives being addressed by the Pride Association.
With thanks to Community Futures Entre - Corp, His Worship the Mayor of the City of Medicine Hat Ted Clugston addressed a good crowd earlier today at the 15th Annual Mayor's Breakfast.  Pictured is Dan Frost (CF Board Member and MC) along with Mayor Clugston.  There was BACON and POETRY all celebrating small business during national Small Business Week in Canada.  
Joined by Past President Keith and fellow Rotarians Clare and Bonnie, it was our pleasure to present recently retired Rotarian Bill Lloyd with an Honorary Lifetime Membership Award from the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat Sunrise.  The Award recognizes the highest distinction that the Sunrise Rotary Club may bestow to individuals who has contributed meritorious service in the furtherance of the Club and Rotary’s ideals and for the permanent support of Rotary causes.
 
At the same time, it was an honor to also present Bill with the Paul Harris Fellow Award on behalf of the Rotary Foundation in appreciation of the tangible and significant assistance Bill has been to Rotary!
 
It was time well spent with Bill and Fay and we wish them well in all their future endeavours!
Sunrise Rotary Stampede Raffle $15,000 Jackpot Winner Evelyn Cummins receives her Grand Prize from Raffle Co Chair Ted Rodych and Club President Dan Kammerer.  Through the ongoing wonderful support of our community, the generous help from the Family and Friends of Rotary and the tireless efforts of Rotarians, the 2016 Raffle was another unqualified success - well done everyone!

Following Keith’s retirement (File Photo), he and Val were initially on their way to either Arizona or Hawaii, until Keith saw an advertisement for a trip to Iceland. $750 per person covered the flight and 5 nights accommodation and seemed to good to pass up! They decided to go to Iceland instead.

Rotary’s founder, Paul Harris, believed that serving humanity is “the most worthwhile thing a person can do,” RI President John F. Germ said, and that being a part of Rotary is a “great opportunity” to make that happen.  Germ unveiled the 2016-17 presidential theme, Rotary Serving Humanity, to incoming district governors on 18 January at the International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA.  Watch the Video here http://video.rotary.org/uE8h/president-elect-john-f-germ-2016-17-theme-address/

An excellent Presentation by Medicine Hat College Student Association Reps Stephanie Powers, Peer Support Co-ordinator and Michael Fritzler, Vice President Student Life on implementing Peer Support initiatives on Campus.
Pictured here with Sunrise President Milvia and the Medicine Hat Club's Outbound Counselor Milan Vujovic, Katie Caparini shared her presentation on her year long exchange to the city of Bregenz Austria 2014-15.  Bregenz is situated in the Austrian Alps, along the Lake of Constance.  It is in very close proximity to other countries, such as Germany and Switzerland.    
The group received two short but information packed presentations, the first from Craig Elder (file photo) on the Rotary Foundation. Not only did I learn that there is a multitude of ways to donate, but also how efficient Rotary is in their fiscal responsibilities. A 92% efficiency rate in donation allocation. That is an incredible statistic - 92% of donations get to programs. Maybe Rotary can help the government out with some advice!
President Milvia introduced Rita Bessant, CORE Executive Director to give the morning's presentation.  The CORE Association is a registered charity and has been serving Medicine Hat for 61 years. They serve persons with disabilities, children and youth.  Rita pointed out that homelessness is not gone in our community and that many youth are on the edge of homelessness and still need support.
Rotary International District 5360 Governor Martin Harvey and his wife Liz along with Assistant Governor Dick Bide from the Medicine Hat Club paid a visit to Sunrise Rotary today with DG Martin making his annual presentation.  For those not able to attend this meeting, a copy of DG Martin's presentation is included on our home page in the Download section. 

Gillian Slade of The Daffodil Project was the presenter and she educated the Sunrise Rotary members on a project that is working towards planting 1,000,000 King Alfred Daffodils by 2025.

2015 Sunrise Rotary $15,000 Jackpot Stampede Raffle Winner GLENDA NEWTON receives the Grand Prize from Club President Milvia Bauman and Raffle Co-Chair Dan Kammerer (Raffle Co-Chair Keith Walker not shown) - CONGRATULATIONS GLENDA!!
Rotary International President K.R. "Ravi" Ravindran called Sunday's address to incoming district governors the "most significant moment of my life."
Using their talents, expertise, and leadership, Rotary members worldwide are asked to be gifts to the world this upcoming 2015-16 Rotary year.
 
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