November 17th Rotaract Meeting (Nov 14, 2016)

Stratford Rotaract Meeting Minutes

Wednesday November 2, 2016 @ 6:30pm

University of Waterloo, Stratford

Members: Sarah, Katelyn, Allie, Kelly, Genevieve, Laurie, Raks

Guests: Erika

1. Guest Speaker

Diane Chantler Rotary District Governor – Teddy Bear Presentation
- Rotary lets ordinary people do extraordinary things.
- Rotary is an international organization that’s been in existence for 111 years (which started in Chicago).
- There are 35,000 clubs and 1.2 million people involved all over the world.
- Rotaract – 9,394 clubs – 216,062 members.
- 20,238 Interact Clubs – 465,000 members.
- Rotary is divided into zones and then districts. We are in district 6330. We have 1800 Rotarians in our district.
- Diane’s looking at new and innovative ways to grow membership.
- If we don’t do something to change membership and the demographics, there could be a problem in sustaining the club.
- We are in the people business – everything we do affects people.
- District conference is being held in St. Thomas in May 2017. Ask for details if you are interested in attending.
- Each club is asked to do an “all about me” board – we have been given a board to fill with pictures of our best moments.
- 2002 – Diane came up with an idea of selling teddy bears to fundraise for Polio. It started small but grew – they were able to raise over 100,000 dollars to eradicate polio.
- Diane has presented us with our own Teddy Bear. We can name him and dress him up. Take pictures and send to Diane. All the bears will be sold at the conference and all of the money will go towards polio.

Arlene Pol & Mark Smith - EsArtes El Salvador Project
- In 2009 – community development for EsArtes was brought to the Stratford Festival.
- Mark signed up as a volunteer carpenter to go to El Salvador to teach for 5 weeks in 2010. It is an afterschool program that teaches skills in the area of the arts. They must attend school and finish high school to participate in the program.
- Project is not funded by the Festival, they are strictly volunteer as expert in the arts.
- Volunteers from all over the country are involved in the project.
- Canadian University Students Overseas – an agency that places students according to their skill set to volunteer on projects across the world. This is essentially how the project started.
- The project is bringing the community together in the aftermath of a civil war.
- The project focuses on teaching young people about the arts as well as the values of volunteerism.
- Gives youth a productive outlet (particularly youth at risk of becoming gang members); gives them confidence; keeps some youth out of gangs; gives them the tools to write and produce/perform their own stories.
- There is a funding crisis for this program.
- As Rotarians, the skills that they have developed by being in committees, they have the experience and ability to organize successful fundraisers to keep this project going.
- They have launched a campaign to raise funds – hammock campaign. For 10.00 a week, you essentially sponsor a child to participate in the program. You can pay in one lump sum or on a monthly basis. Gratitude Hammocks are given to those that donate and the idea is that you are wrapped in gratitude when you use it. It is a thank you from El Savador for your contribution.
- They host an annual fundraiser each year in the fall.

2. Adoption of Agenda

3. Previous Minutes

Amendments to previous meeting minutes
- No amendments

4. Standing Items

4.1 Upcoming Guest Speakers – Remainder of 2016. 2017 Ideas?
- November 17 – Kelly Daum’s Classification
- December 7 – 2017 Event Planning
  - Stop / Start / Continue or Continue, but…
  - Sarah will facilitate
  - We will talk about what’s working and what’s not.
  - We will establish 3 things we will head up in 2017
- December 15 – Christmas Social – Ideas
  - Escape room with social after.
4.2 Club KUDOS
- KUDOS to Funding Committee for their work with the donation to Shelterlink.
- KUDOS to Jonathan for fantastic job on organizing the pub-crawl.

5. Business Arising

5.1 Previous Minutes – Review of Follow Up Items
- Deferred
5.2 House of Blessing Food Drive Volunteers?
- Dec 2 – 3pm to 8pm and Dec 3 10am to 3pm; 2.5 hour shifts – looking for volunteers to assist. We will pass along the contact information if you are interested. Contact Jean if you’re interested in volunteering.
  - Jean – 519-273-3433; volunteer@shob.org
5.3 Announcement Corner (Updates from committees, future events, round table)
- Winterfest 2017 – Jan 13 to 15^th.
- We typically donate 250.00 to the event.
- December trivia night proceeds will go to this.
- Trivia is next Wednesday at Molly Blooms
  - Looking for volunteers – Laurie, Katelyn and Genevieve have volunteered.
- Random Act of Kindness day is on Friday – United Way is a drop off point for wish list items (Allie to provide lists).
- United Way website now to have a non-profit organization “wish list” that people can view.
  - http://perthhuron.unitedway.ca/non-profit-wishlist/
- Luiza has presented us with a banner from her Rotary Club in Brazil.