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Rotary Club of St. John's

The oldest Rotary Club in Newfoundland and Labrador

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We meet Thursdays at 1:00 PM
Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland

115 Cavendish Square
St. John's, NL A1C 3K2
Canada

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Rotary Club of St. John's Northwest

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Rotary Club of Avalon Northeast

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Rotary Club of Waterford Valley

Rotary Club of St. John's History

2015 Club Project - School Lunch Program

Bono's Message to Rotary Members

"Whenever I go doing my work in Africa, The Rotarians have been there before me. It Is very humbling thing to discover just exactly what "Service Above Self" adds up to when you see it in practice in the field" ~ Bono

Premier addresses Rotary

Premier Dwight Ball addressing our club for the annual address from the Premier. Thank you Premier Ball for sharing your vision for the Province with us.

Rotary Firefighter of the Year Award

Posted

on Oct 14, 2015

Firefighters Robin Barrett and Richard McCrate of the St. John’s Regional Fire Department were been recognized as the inaugural winners of the Rotary Firefighter of the Year Award.

Firefighters Barrett and McCrate were recognized for their heroism at the Shaw Street Fire.

The new award was created by the Rotary Club of St. John’s to recognize exemplary community service in the performance of firefighters’ duties.

“We developed this award to recognize the important work done by the women and men of our firefighting service, and to thank them for the sacrifices they make on our behalf,” said Bernie Beckett, president of the Rotary Club of St. John’s.

“The safety and protection provided to residents, homes and businesses throughout the region would not be possible without the bravery and personal sacrifice of our firefighters,” said Mayor Dennis O’Keefe. “On behalf of City Council and staff, thank you for putting your lives at risk and helping to keep us all safe from harm.”

A perpetual trophy, engraved with Firefighters Barrett’s and McCrate’s names, will be displayed in a St. John’s Regional Fire Department station. The firefighters were also presented with individual plaques to mark the honour.

2015 Auction and Gala in support of The School Lunch Association

Posted by Mark Duggan

on Sep 17, 2015

Join us on October 8^th for our 2015 Auction and Gala in support of the School Lunch Association

Come to the Merchant Tavern on Water Street for a fun evening of complimentary wine and finger food. Proceeds of this years’ auction will go towards the programs and services of The School Lunch Program. Their mission is to operate a non-stigmatizing program that provides hot nutritious lunches to primary and elementary school children regardless of a family’s ability to pay.

Tickets are $125 (Tax receipt issued for $75 per ticket)

Contact Ian Penney at ianpenney@janesnoseworthy.ca for tickets!

Thank you to our sponsors - RBC Financial Group, Plum creative works, Five Brothers Artisanal Cheese and Dicks and Company.

Congratulations to our newest Rotary Club - the "Rotary Cub of St. John's After Hours"

Posted by Mark Duggan

on Jun 05, 2015

The newest Rotary club in St. John’s officially launches

Rotary Club of St. John’s After Hours is “on the cutting edge of Rotary”

This month, Newfoundland and Labrador welcomes its newest Rotary club to a century-old tradition. The Rotary Club of St. John’s After Hours hosts its official charter event on Friday, June 12 to become the fourteenth Rotary club in the province and the sixth in St. John’s.

Stella Roy, District Governor of Rotary District 7820 (Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Saint-Pierre et Miquelon) will be present to officially swear in the 28 members of the new club as official Rotarians.

While Rotary International has been around for 110 years, the concept of Rotary is changing to reflect its membership and the needs of the community. “After Hours is on the cutting edge of Rotary,” says Tom McCaughey, Past District Governor of Rotary District 7820 and a member of the Rotary Club of St. John’s Northwest. “We are proud to support this new club because it is teaching us what Rotary means to this generation of young professionals and how we can stay current in the community.”

The Rotary Club of St. John’s After Hours meets downtown on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 6:30pm. Unlike most Rotary meetings, After Hours meetings are not held during work hours and don’t involve a meal. “Members can be home in time to eat supper with their families,” says Kelly Finlay, the new club’s president.

After Hours members seek to play a hands-on role in the community, preferring to wield a hammer or flip pancakes over writing cheques. The club’s flagship project for the 2015-2016 year is the Buckmaster’s Circle Community Centre. So far, After Hours members have provided furniture for six families living in Buckmaster’s Circle, including one that lost its belongings in a house fire, and they are currently building a new preschool playground.

“We are thrilled that After Hours has picked up so much momentum in the past few months,” says Finlay. “The fact that we offer an informal, welcoming environment has attracted many new and diverse Rotarians from a wide range of backgrounds and career paths.”

All Rotary friends and family are welcome to attend the charter event. Those interested can email rotaryafterhoursstjohns@gmail.com for details and to RSVP.

508 Caribou Air Cadets Annual Ceremonial Review

Posted by Mark Duggan

on Jun 01, 2015

The officers and cadets of the Rotary sponsored 508 Air Cadets held their 66^th Annual Ceremonial Review on Sunday May 31^st. The Rotary Club of St. John’s has been the lead sponsor of the Squadron since its inception in 1949 – one of six Squadrons started by the Club soon after Confederation.

This year, the Caribou Group established the John Fitzpatrick Memorial Scholarship for Volunteerism in memory of Rotarian and community leader, the late John Fitzpatrick. This $500 scholarship recognizes John’s passionate commitment to Rotary, volunteerism and the cadet movement and will be awarded annually to a cadet of 508 Caribou who has demonstrated that same commitment to volunteerism. Mary Fitzpatrick presented this year’s scholarship to Warrant Officer Second Class Alex Olenick.

Club President Linda Bidgood presented the award for Best Senior NCO, also to Warrant Officer Second Class Alex Olenick, and Mark Duggan, Chairman of the Sponsoring Committee, brought greetings on behalf of the Club.

Mary Fitzpatrick presents the John Fitzpatrick Memorial Scholarship for Volunteerism to Warrant Officer Second Class Alex Olenick

Club President, Linda Bidgood presents the award for Best Senior NCO to Warrant Officer Second Class Alex Olenick.

The Husky Boys bring a NL Spring Tradition to the Gathering Place

Posted by Mark Duggan

on May 01, 2015

The Husky Boys bring a NL Spring Tradition to the Gathering Place

Earlier this month members of the Husky Boys group along with Gary Corcoran and Danny Hong from the Stokers group served close to 200 meals of Seal flippers to the clients of the Gathering Place.

“This was a really great experience and very insightful as to the need the city has for these sorts of things,” Paddy Greene – Husky Boys.

The Gathering Place was founded in 1994 as a joint project of the Sisters of Mercy and of the Sisters of Presentation and provides meals for 80 – 125 men and women per day. It is open for guests Monday to Friday and is operated mostly through financial and in kind donations and by the generosity of a large number of volunteers.

Earlier this year, the Rotary Club of St. John’s supported The Gathering Place with a cheque for $50,000 to assist in the redevelopment of its premises on Military Road. The Gathering Place fundraising initiative was the major club project for the last year under the leadership of club president, Linda Bidgood.

508 Cadets medal at Canada Winter Games

Posted by Mark Duggan

on Feb 19, 2015

Two former and one current member of the Rotary sponsored 508 Caribou Air Cadets were among Newfoundland and Labrador’s earliest medalists at the 2015 Canada Winter Games.

First year cadet, Hayley Barrett and former cadet Samantha Marsh won gold in the women's 10-meter rifle team shooting while former cadet, Daniel Dimitrov and teammate William Dalton, captured a silver medal in the men’s team competition. Samantha went on to win a second gold medal in the women’s individual 10-meter air rifle competition.

During their time with 508 Hayley, Samantha and Daniel were part of the squadron’s marksmanship program. One of the many training opportunities available to cadets, where they were coached by Civilian Instructor, Mario Dimitrov (father of Daniel), a former member of the Bulgarian national marksmanship team.

Congratulations to Samantha, Daniel and Hayley.

Photo: From left, Hayley Barrett, Samantha Marsh, William Dalton and Daniel Dimitrov

Rotary Club of St. John’s supports The Gathering Place

The Rotary Club of St. John’s stepped up in a big way this week in support of The Gathering Place. The club presented a cheque for $50,000 to the community support organization to assist in the redevelopment of its premises on Military Road.

The Gathering Place fundraising initiative was the major club project for the last year under the leadership of club president, Linda Bidgood.

The $50,000 cheque was presented at the club’s regular weekly meeting on Jan. 22. (Pictured, L-R:) Linda Bidgood, president, Rotary Club of St. John’s, presents the $50,000 cheque to Sister Sharon Fagan, co-chair, board of directors, and Sister Sheila O’Dea, secretary of the board, The Gathering Place.

The Rotary Club of St. John’s is the one of the oldest service clubs in Newfoundland and Labrador. It was established in 1921 and for almost a century has donated millions of dollars in support of community development projects, non-profit organizations, health and youth initiatives, disaster relief and other activities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador as well as nationally and internationally.

ROTARY CHARITIES CAR SWEEP

Posted by Phil Wall

on Jan 07, 2015

Naturals Group

The Rotary Charities Car Sweep draw took place on January 03rd, 2015 at the Avalon Mall.

The winner of the 2015 Toyota Corolla was Mr. Leonard Smith of Corner Brook and the ticket number was 06157.

Members of the Naturals Group, Waterford Valley Club, and the Humber Club on the west coast were all active in the project.

Phil Wall

Request for Community Service Project

Posted by Mark Duggan

on Nov 04, 2014

Request for Community Service Project

The Rotary Club of St. John’s supports a major Community Services project annually in addition to the many smaller Community Service and International projects that we fund and service. We are requesting proposals for a major Community Service project for 2015.

Rotary’s contribution to major projects is generally in the $50,000 range and projects should meet most of the following criteria:

Leaves a tangible, visible addition to our community
Aimed at meeting the needs of the less fortunate and more vulnerable in our society
Capable of completion in one Rotary fiscal year
Raises the Profile of Rotary in our community by identification with Rotary on an ongoing basis i.e. naming rights or permanent signage or some other continuing presence
A project that can bring Rotary Club members together in action

In the past, major Rotary projects have included Access House, the Emergency Response Vehicle, Rotary Sunshine Park, Iris Kirby House, A Van for Brighter Futures, and the Rotary Rainbow Riders Barn. We have also contributed to the Chess Penney Family Y, Ronald McDonald House, Bannerman Park Foundation and The Gathering Place.

Application deadline: December 31 2014

Please submit applications to:

Gary Squires

Rotary Club of St. John’s

P.O. Box 1794, St. C

St. John’s, NL A1C 5P9

or email to gsquires@campbellship.com

World Polio Day - Help Rotaract End Polio Now

Posted by Mark Duggan

on Oct 17, 2014

Next Friday, October 24^th join Rotaract at the locations listed below to make a donation towards ending polio now!

Hi from Salzburg - a message from Rotary Exchange student Maria Peddle

Posted by Jeff Collingwood

on Oct 09, 2014

In front of a church in a beautiful town called Hallstatt during language camp.

Rotary – Reaching from St. John’s to Zimbabwe!

Posted by Ray Smallwood

on Oct 02, 2014

2014 Auction and Gala in support of The Gathering Place

Posted by Mark Duggan

on Sep 12, 2014

Update on the Rotary Splash Pad at Bannerman Park

Posted by Mark Duggan

on Sep 22, 2014

Construction on the Rotary sponsored Splash Pad at Bannerman Park in St. John 's is well underway!

In 2013, three St. John’s area Rotary Clubs - The Rotary Clubs of St. John’s, St. John’s East and St. John’s Northwest - each donated $50,000 for a total $150,000 to the Bannerman Park Foundation to support the construction of the Rotary Splash Pad. Renovations at Bannerman Park, including the installation of Splash Pad equipment, are underway and we are looking forward to this great new addition to the Park next summer.

Kevin J O’Regan Rotary Community Garden

Posted by Mark Duggan

on Sep 11, 2014

Rotarian Gordon Slade to receive Honorary Doctorate from Memorial University

Posted by Mark Duggan

on Sep 09, 2014

CARIBOU GROUP WATERFORD HOSPITAL BBQ

Posted by Margaret Madden

on Jun 24, 2014

The Caribou Group annual Waterford Hospital BBQ

Posted by Margaret Madden

on Apr 10, 2014

End Polio Now Presentation

Posted by Margaret Madden

on Apr 07, 2014

Boys Undercover Reading Program

Posted by Margaret Madden

on Mar 06, 2014

BURP

"Rotary Club of St. John's President Ian Penney and Boys Undercover Reading Program Project Chair John Fitpatrick meet with Winston Taylor, librarian, at St. Andrews Elementary to formally present the cart of boy-specific materials purchased by Rotary."