Stories

This week the Windsor Rotary Club presented a cheque for $5,000.00 to the Windsor Nursery School. The grant will assist the school with the installation of a ducted Heat Pump which will provide both heat and cooling for the kids and staff.

Shown with the five youth who attend the school are adults (L to R) Lisa Lebrasseru, Director of the School, Emelie Demont, President of the Windsor Nursery School Society and Alex Jurgens, President of the Rotary Club of Windsor.

This is just one of the ways we are supporting youth in our communities...one toonie at a time. You can help by playing the weekly Windsor Rotary Community Toonie 50/50 draw. Find out more at http://rotarytoonie.com

This is a good time of year to remember March 11, 1991. On that historic date four women became members of the Rotary Club of Windsor – the first women members in the 62 years of the club's existence.

Actually, to invite women to become members of Rotary was impossible up until several months before because the Constitution of Rotary International (duplicated by all Rotary clubs) stated clearly that membership was restricted to male persons. Then, in some states and countries, the courts decreed that service clubs could not discriminate against women as members. So, the door was opened.

The Rotary Club of Windsor presented a cheque for $10,000 to the Windsor Senior Citizens' Bus Society this week. The money was raised through the Windsor Rotary Community Toonie 50/50 for the purchase of a new bus. Windsor Rotary has supported the Windsor Senior Citizens' Bus Society since its beginning in 1985 by donations toward replacement busses as well as annual contributions toward expenses.

Did you know that the Senior Citizens' Bus isn't just for seniors activities anymore? If your group or team needs affordable transportation options the bus is available for bookings. Reach out today to see if they can meet your needs.

The True Rotarian Award is presented to a Rotarian who demonstrates through his/her Rotary and community life that he/she lives by the four-way test at all times; who is humble, does not flatter wealth or boast of his/her own achievements; speaks with sincerity and empathy; and provides Service Above Self in word and deed. The True Rotarian is the foundation of Rotary - always there, contributing to Rotary's goals and objectives unselfishly.

The True Rotarian Award was presented to Gerry Raymond by District Governor Rob Christie.

Every year since 1975, the Windsor Rotary Club has presented scholarships to 4 local students who plan to further their education. Three of these bursaries are available to students graduating from Avon View High School and one to a Hantsport student graduating from Horton District High School.

This year we were proud to award the following students each with a $1,500 scholarship. Graduating from Avon View High School are Andrew Lawrence, Victoria Grandy and Elise Lynch. Hantsport student Halie Merlin graduated from Horton District High. The photos show Rotarian Tish Deemer making the presentations.

As they do almost every year, the Rotary Club of Windsor held a ski weekend for Rotary Exchange Students from around the world who are being hosted by Rotary Clubs across the Maritimes. Some 20 exchange students gathered at Camp Mockingee for a weekend of fun, fellowship and good food (Rotarian Les Reid was Chef for the weekend).

Saturday was a beautiful day to spend at Ski Martock skiing and snowboarding. There were lessons for students who were new to the sports, who then joined their friends for a really good time on the slopes. In the evening students were priviledged to be invited to Paul Primeau's Sweat Lodge in Falmouth and were very respectful of the opportunity.

By all accounts it was an absolutely fabulous weekend!

The Rotary Exchange Student Weekend is one of many youth projects supported by Windsor Rotary...one Toonie at a time. You can help by playing the weekly Windsor Rotary Community Toonie 50/50 draw. Find out more at http://rotarytoonie.com/

In the photo: Rotary Exchange Students at Camp Mockingee. If you look closely you may be able to pick out Rotarians Les Reid and Tish Deemer as well as our own Windsor Rotary Exchange Student, Joao from Brazil.

For some 50 years now the Rotary Club of Windsor has sponsored a student to attend Rotary's yearly Adventure in Citizenship. John joined over 200 students, each sponsored by a different Rotary Club from across Canada, for four days in Ottawa, where they learned to better appreciate the diversity of Canada and the privileges and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship. The program is organized by the Rotary Club of Ottawa which arranges for host families, and tours of the Parliament Buildings and places of interest in the city. The students attend a special sitting of the Citizenship Court where they have the privilege.of witnessing new Canadians receiving their citizenship.

Windsor Rotarians are already aware that fellow Rotarians Steve and Pauline are making generous committments to our club and our community. It should be no surprise to learn more about the extent of their caring and compassion.

Read the Chronicle Herald story here:

http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1522700-windsor-man-goes-the-extra-mile-for-his-sick-canine-pal

• Mike Knowles, Principal of Windsor Elementary School;
• Ruthanne Greenough, Principal of Hantsport School;
• Shelley Regan, Principal of Dr. Arthur Hines School;
• Brenda Mullins, Principal of Brooklyn District Elementary School;
• Kim Frank, Principal of Falmouth District School;
• Shelley King, Principal of Windsor Forks District School;
• David Campbell, Principal of Three Mile Plains District School.

Presenting the cheque are (on the right)

• Jason Trider, Chair of the Food for Thought Committee and President of the Windsor Rotary Club, and
• Rotarian Jon Oulton, Oulton Fuels which has been a strong supporter of the Food For Thought initiative since its inception.

Welcome to our 2017-2018 Executive Officers: President Jason Trider, Past President Andrew Sheehy, Vice President Joanna Gould-Thorpe and Treasurer Raymond Harvey. Assistant District Governor Roger Sevigny and his wife Suzanne were on hand to welcome the new executive on behalf of District 7820.

In the photo outgoing President Andrew Sheehy officially welcomed Jason Trider as Club President for 2017-2018.

The award of a Paul Harris Fellowship by the Rotary Club of Windsor recognizes Rotarian Les Reid for his many years of volunteer service to Rotary, to his community and to his profession. The award is named for Paul Harris who founded Rotary in 1905, and is made to individuals who best exemplify the Rotary motto of, "Service above Self."

The photo shows Rotarian Les Reid receiving his Paul Harris Fellowship from Rotarian Kevin Walsh and Club President Jason Trider.

What a happy looking group! And why not? A partnership with the Windsor Rotary Community Toonie 50/50 plus a top-up from Windsor Rotary has earned the Newport and District Rink a cheque for $5,000.

The incredible snow and ice storms in 2015 led to the collapse of the Newport and District Rink building, a facility which had been a hub of community recreation since 1973. We were excited to have the Rink as our Community Partner at the Rotary Community Gala and to contribute to the construction of the new building in 2016. This week's cheque will bring the group closer to completing some of the final details.

Rotarian Gerry Raymond recently reported to our Club that about 100 Intouch emergency response units are currently in use in our community and since 1990 over 600 units had been installed by Windsor Rotary volunteers. What Gerry didn't say was that “our community” stretches from Mount Uniacke to Noel to Hantsport and that he has been installing and maintaining these units for an amazing 23 years! During this time his team has included Rotarians Darryl Sullivan and the late Bill Mulhall and now includes Larry Armstrong and Pat Gould-Thorpe. Two Rotarians usually go together when a unit is being installed but Gerry likes to do the maintenance himself. About twice a week he is called on to change batteries or swap out units that are not working properly. “Geneva and I like to get in the car and go for a drive,” says Gerry, “so we combine volunteer work with a little community tour.”

At the Windsor Rotary Community Gala held this spring the partnership between Windsor Rotarians and supporters of the Hants Community Hospital Foundation was a wonderful success. Nearly $3000.00 was raised in support of the Foundation during the Gala. A major top-up from the Windsor Rotary Club brought the total to $6500.00. The money will be used to equip the new Operating Room at Hants Community Hospital.

The Rotary Club of Windsor and the Camp Mockingee Committee are accepting applications for the following two positions:

1. An eight (8) week position with the possibility of an extension to ten (10) weeks;

2. An eight (8) week position

The deadline for the receipt of applications is Friday, June 2^nd at midnight. Applications should be emailed to Andy Kirk, Chair, Camp Mockingee Committee at agmkirk@ns.sympatico.ca

Applicants must be:

1. between 15 and 30 years of age (inclusive) at the start of employment;

2. registered as a full-time student during the preceding academic year;

3. intend to return to school on a full-time basis during the next academic year;

4. be a student in a secondary, post-secondary, CEGEP (Quebec only), vocational or technical program;

5. be a Canadian Citizen, permanent resident, or person on whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act* and;

6. legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial / territorial legislation and regulations

*Foreign students are not eligible.

The successful applicant will need to be self-directed, displaying strong initiative and must be very responsible. He/she will need to work and interact with youth and youth leaders. She/he should be energetic and be willing and able to tackle physical labour (mowing, landscaping and maintenance). A willingness to work flexible hours as well as access to transportation to Camp Mockingee in Upper Vaughans are required.

Among the specific responsibilities for the successful applicants will be:

1) Planning their work day & week based upon the priorities and tasks set forth by the chair & camp committee;

2) Being flexible and cooperative regarding requests emanating from youth leaders and other camp user groups;

3) Welcoming groups when they arrive at the camp and checking the camp upon their departure;

4) Providing support in the areas of recreation, coaching and programming to user groups as requested;

5) Completing mowing, gardening, seeding as well as grounds maintenance and enhancements;

6) Completing minor maintenance as well as repairs, painting and cleaning under the supervision of the camp chair and the camp committee;

7) Ongoing maintenance of the Blue (walking) Trail;

In honour of her humanitarian efforts Chelsea James has been awarded a Paul Harris fellowship by the Rotary Foundation UK. Six year old Chelsea, a student at Windsor Elementary School, was recognized for her support of the Roll Out The Barrel Trust which delivers water barrels to families in drought stricken Kenya. The use of a water barrel relieves women and children from the daily hardship of carrying water which may weigh as much as they weigh themselves.

When Chelsea and her dad talked about how much difference a rolling barrel would make to a family, she enlisted her own family to help raise $600, enough money to buy rolling barrels for 10 families in Kenya. With the help of her family Chelsea made a video showing how a little girl with a rolling barrel could transport more water than she could even pick up if she had to carry it in a jug. Her father helped her set up a gofundme page https://www.gofundme.com/rolloutthebarrel which quickly surpassed her goal and continues to grow and provide more and more rolling barrels. You can read more about Roll Out The Barrel at www.rolloutthebarrell.org .

Chelsea's efforts caught the attention of Adrian Brewer, founder and CEO of Roll Out The Barrel Trust which is largely supported by Rotary in UK. Adrian travelled from the Isle of Wight, UK to Windsor to recognize Chelsea's contribution. This is the first time Roll Out The Barrel has awarded a Paul Harris fellowship and Chelsea is the first person to be so honoured.

In the photo L-R: Jason Trider and Les Reid (Rotary Club of Windsor), Luke MacDonald and Alex Handyside (Rotary Club of Halifax Harbourside), Paul Harris Fellow Chelsea James, Debbie Fredericks (Chelsea's teacher), Adrian Brewer (Roll Out The Barrel founder and CEO), Mike Knowles (Principal, Windsor Elementary School), Cindy Bezant-Titus (Rotarian, E-club of Atlantic Canada), and Ed James (Chelsea's Dad).

As high school graduation approaches we are remembering Ella Lentz, an Avon View High School graduate from Mount Uniacke, who received one of the Rotary bursaries last year.

Since 1975, our Club has presented bursaries every year to 4 local students who plan to further their education. Three of these bursaries are available to students graduating from Avon View High School and one to a Hantsport student graduating from Horton District High School.

We are excited to learn that Ella is having a successful year at the Dal Agricultural Campus. In addition to staying on top of her studies she is actively involved with the Intercollegiate Judging Team and the Intercollegiate Woodsmen Team, traveling to competitions in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. Just last week she was accepted as the new Co-Chair for the 2018 Judging Competition hosted by Dal AC each spring. She is also maintaining her involvement with 4-H - locally, provincially and nationally. She was instrumental in establishing the new 4-H Nova Scotia Members' Voice Committee (its purpose is to help direct the 4-H program by ensuring our programs stay relevant to the membership across NS) and she has recently been appointed to the 4-H Canada Youth Advisory Committee ( https://www.4-h-canada.ca/youth-advisory-committee ).

The Bursaries are one of many youth projects supported by Windsor Rotary...one Toonie at a time. You can help by playing the weekly Windsor Rotary Community Toonie 50/50 draw. In Mount Uniacke you can play at Giffin`s General Store and Esso. Find out more at http://rotarytoonie.com/

In the photo, Ella Lentz on graduation day with her diploma and Governor General's Medal.

For some 50 years now the Rotary Club of Windsor has sponsored a student to attend Rotary's Adventure in Citizenship. This year John Ogilvie will join over 200 students, each sponsored by a different Rotary Club from across Canada, for four days in Ottawa, where they will learn to better appreciate the diversity of Canada and the privileges and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship.

The program is organized by the Rotary Club of Ottawa and typically includes discussions with the Speaker and staff members of the House of Commons, meeting with Foreign and Canadian Diplomats, and a tour of the Parliament Buildings. The students attend a special sitting of the Citizenship Court where they will have the privilege.of participating in and witnessing new Canadians receiving their citizenship. Activities include a tour of the city, evenings of traditional food and culture, and a talent show put on by the students themselves to highlight their diverse talents.

We look forward to John's presentation on his return so we can re-live with him some of the highlights of this unique trip.

This is one of many youth projects supported by Windsor Rotary...one Toonie at a time. You can help by playing the weekly Windsor Rotary Community Toonie 50/50 draw. Find out more at http://rotarytoonie.com/

In the photo are Rotarian Tish Deemer who manages Adventure in Citizenship for our club, John Ogilvie our student Adventurer, and Rotarian Les Beazley.

As they do almost every year, the Rotary Club of Windsor held a weekend for Rotary Exchange Students hosted by Rotary Clubs across the Maritimes. Some 20 students from as far away as Korea gathered at Camp Mockingee for a weekend of fellowship and fun. The students arrived at camp a day late because of a storm which cancelled transportation throughout the area. The delay didn't dampen any spirits.

After supper courtesy of Rotarian (chef) Les Reid, at the Camp on Friday, the students rolled up the rug, so to speak, and organized a “formal dance.” They decorated the dining hall with international flags, dressed in fancy clothes which they had brought for the purpose and had a great time. We're told they even did the limbo!

Saturday was a beautiful day to spend at Ski Martock skiing and snowboarding. Students who were new to the sports took lessons in the morning and were able to join their friends in the afternoon for a really good time on the slopes. In the evening students were priviledged to be invited to Paul Primeau's Sweat Lodge in Falmouth and were very respectful of the opportunity.

On Sunday morning everyone helped pack and clean up, and we sent the majority of the students home on the bus together. “They were a great group,” said Rotarian Andy Kirk. “Rotary exchange students are almost always really good but this group were just plain superior. Whether it was the dishes, the clean-up, the need for attention when imparting instructions or anything at all, they were great.” By all accounts it was an absolutely fabulous weekend!

In the photo: Rotary Exchange Students at Camp Mockingee. If you look closely you may be able to pick out Rotarians Les Reid, Alex Jurgens, Tish Deemer and Kevin Walsh as well as our own Windsor Rotary Exchange Student, Agustina from Argentina.

The Rotary Exchange Student Weekend is one of many projects supported by Windsor Rotary...one Toonie at a time. You can help by playing the weekly Windsor Rotary Community Toonie 50/50 draw. Find out more at http://rotarytoonie.com/

We crashed the Windsor People First meeting to present a cheque which will help send a representative to the People First Nova Scotia AGM in Yarmouth in June. In the photo with the big cheque left to right: Windsor People First President Evelyn Oatman, Rotarian Francesco Troili, Windsor People First member Calvin Wood, and Rotarian Pat Gould-Thorpe.

This is just one example of how the Rotary supports positive change in our communities…one Toonie at a time. More information at rotarytoonie.com

Windsor Rotary has been sending students abroad and welcoming students from around the world since 1978. Many of their families come to visit and the students stay in touch and frequently return to see the friends they made during the exchange. Students learn a new language, discover another culture, and truly become global citizens.

"Exchange is not a year in life, but a life in a year," wrote Freya, our current outbound Rotary Exchange Student. Freya is building lasting friendships as she spends the school year in Belgium. Here at home our inbound student is Agustina , all the way from Argentina.

David Griffin is the Head Instructor and founder. He has been training for over 40 years. He is a former competitor and head coach of the Nova Scotia Karate Team and is currently an internationally certified referee.

The Windsor Karate Club is the oldest Martial Arts School in Hants County. All Instructors are well trained experienced black belts. Many of their students have competed Provincially, Regionally and Nationally and some have gone on to represent Canada at international events. Lets wish this great group of competitiors well on their way to doing the same.

Thanks to all the students, parents, teachers and Rotarians who supported the Food For Thought Campaign. Your efforts raised $10,938.50 toward the school breakfast programs and the cheque was presented at Windsor Elementary School.

In the photo are (L to R): David Campbell, Principal of Three Mile Plains District School; Shelley King, Principal of Windsor Forks District School; Mike Knowles, Principal of Windsor Elementary School; Rotarian Jason Trider, Chair of the Food for Thought Committee and Vice-president of the Windsor Rotary Club; Brenda Newcombe, Principal of Brooklyn District Elementary School; Shelley Regan, Principal of Dr. Arthur Hines Elementary School; Kim Frank, Principal of Falmouth District School and Rotarian Jon Oulton, Oulton Fuels which has been a strong supporter of the Food For Thought initiative since its inception.

Just in time for Christmas dinners Windsor Rotary presented a cheque for $7,500 to the Matthew 25 Windsor & District Food Bank. The money was raised through the Rotary & Friends Annual Fall Food Bank Drive Toll Road plus a donation from Windsor Rotary.

In the photo, event Chair Jonathan DeMont, Rotary President Andrew Sheehy, Doreen Eagles and Cindy Loane of Matthew 25 Windsor & District Food Bank, Windsor Fire Department Veteran Greg Lake, and Rotary Vice President Jason Trider.

Special thanks goes to members of Windsor Fire Department, WFD Veterans Association Members, Town of Windsor and Eastern Valley Real Estate for all their help. Special thanks to McDonald's (coffee and treats), Cocoa Pesto Bistro (Pulled Pork Stew) and Jessy's Pizza for the great refreshments. It made the damp and rainy day a little more bearable. Again, thank you!

The Rotary Club of Windsor’s Special Fund will allow the SHPL campaign to purchase furniture and fixtures for the Library’s Adult/Young Adult users and for a creative area for Children. Also, high on the list of needs mentioned by current Library users, and wildly anticipated, is an accessible “book drop”. For more information about the Save Hantsport Public Library campaign please visit the website savehantsportlibrary.weebly.com and the Save Hantsport Public Library Facebook page.

Save the Hantsport Public Library is our Community Partner at the 2015 Rotary Gala at King's-Edgehill.

Join us for an elegant dinner and an intriguing evening Saturday, April 18, 2015. Auctioneer Rev. Bill Gibson will add his upbeat flair to offerings of artistic creations, unique products and services. For ticket info call Kevin 902-792-2316.