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Welcome to the Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar

Service Above Self

We meet Thursdays at 12:00 PM
Le Dome

1173 North Service Road East
Oakville, ON L6H 1A7
Canada

Phone:

(289) 813-5540

Email:

info@rcot.ca

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Bulletins

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EARTH DAY 2018

As part of Earth Day 2018, Rotary International President Ian Riseley asked each Rotarian throughout the world to plant one tree!

Early on Saturday morning, April 21st members from the three Oakville clubs and families got together at Emily Carr Public School to plant 300 trees supplied by the Town of Oakville. The weather for once was outstanding and it was wonderful to be outside for a good cause.

TINY HOME PROGRAM INAUGURATION

The Centre for Skills Development & Training, and the Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar have launched a new Tiny Homes program to benefit disadvantaged communities, workers, and the environment.

Tiny home communities are proving to be a viable affordable housing solution in many parts of the world. In Canada, the tiny house movement addresses several pressing social issues: access to affordable housing, environmental impact, and now, thanks to the new innovative Tiny Homes program from The Centre for Skills Development & Training, even th employment skills gap.

The new program, launched in partnership with the Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar, will provide program participants with valuable new employment skills, while minimizing the waste-to-landfill and carbon emissions created during the training process. In addition, the fully weatherized, CSA approved, all-season tiny homes built by The Centre will, upon completion, be dispatched to disadvantaged and indigenous communities around the country, or soldwith the proceeds being used for a range of other good charitable causes.

"We really feel that this program addresses multiple issues now affecting communities around the country" said Rotary Club executive Lauri Asikainen. "Not only will it provide valuable skills training for students, but the homes they create have tremendous value, not just as social housing, but as green living spaces, or for people downsizing, adventure traveling, vacationing, or just trying to lead a simpler life."

According to Senior Program Coordinator Ellen Faraday, this new program will also make good use of The Centre's resources, reducing the construction training program's waste-to-landfill and carbon emissions. "Before the Tiny Homes initiative, students in our residential construction program would build partial walls or mock houses that would need to be torn down and sent to landfill at the end of each course. Now, these walls will be combined and mounted on a mobile platform to create a modular, movable, permanent home for someone in need."

Without the help of the Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar, GEM Windows and Doors, Tukstra Lumber and Rush Trailers, this program never would have gotten off the ground", said The Centre's Manager of Marketing & Communications Dean Lorenz. "We're privileged to have these amazing partners involved and that they saw the same potential in this program that we did. It really is a win-win for we everybody".

Above members of The Centre receive the cheque for $10,000 presented by the Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar at the Tiny Home Inauguration.

MORE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVE CLUB SUPPORT

Ken Auden, Chair of the Community Services Committee presented cheques of support from the Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar to five deserving organizations providing needed services within our community. In the picture below are: Lake Scugog United Church Camp represented by Jim Lilly, Board Member, Ken Auden, Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar, Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation represented by Rebecca Babcock , Leadership and Annual Giving Officer, The Women’s Centre of Halton represented by Martha Barragan, Executive Director, Learning Disabilities Association of Halton represented by Katie Jacobs, Executive Director, CYAN (Community Youth In Action Network represented by Chris Alexiou, Chair, Board of Directors and Rotary club President Raj Phalpher. Also receiving funding but not pictured below was the Oakville Children's Magical Christmas held on Sunday November 26th.

The presentation took place at the club's weekly Thursday luncheon at Le Dome.

The Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar is a local group of men and women who raise money to help those in need in our community and beyond. We raise funds through existing projects like the Oakville Family Ribfest, Wines and Lines and the Rotary Online Auction. Through our education awards we actively encourage youth to develop leadership skills and to attend post-secondary education. For the past 30 years we have worked in partnership to provide our seniors with the annual July Strawberry Social. Within the community we respond to requests for both financial and human resources in an effort to ‘give back’ to Oakville. We have recently begun work with indigenous peoples as well. Internationally we work with Rotary clubs in North America and foreign lands to bring needed resources to their communities.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVE CLUB SUPPORT

Every year the Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar manages various fundraising events such as the Oakville Family Ribfest (June), Wines & Lines (October 26) and the Rotary Online Auction (November 4 to 18). The funds raised through these events go towards helping others help themselves within our community and internationally.

On Thursday October 12 at the Oakville Family Ribfest Sponsor Recognition Luncheon a number of these organizations received funding.

Brenda McCann from the Oakville Parent-Child Centre receives a cheque from Community Services Chairperson Ken Auden.

Satti Sawh from March of Dimes acknowledges the funding provided for the Jean & Howard Caine Apartments.

Kathleen Cymek accepted a cheque on behalf of the Trillium Health Foundation.

Andrea Pohl acknowledges the cheque presented to The Willow Foundation.

The presentations made on October 12 are just a small example of how Rotary continues to work with its community partners.

THANK YOU TO 2017 OAKVILLE FAMILY RIBFEST SPONSORS

On Thursday October 12 the Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar expressed its appreciation to all of the sponsors who made the June 2017 Oakville Family Ribfest such a great success.

A complete list of the 2017 sponsors can be seen at https://oakvillefamilyribfest.com/sponsors/

Not all of the sponsors could attend the luncheon but some of those who could are highlighted below.

The Co-operators

As our presenting Sponsor for the past several years, our partnership with the Co-operators has been very rewarding. The Co-operators believe the world is a better place when taking care of the things that matter most. Their support helps build stronger, safer communities and we at the Oakville Family Ribfest are very grateful. Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts.

Three representatives are shown below with Ribfest Chairperson, Trish Peden. They are Matthew Donohoe, Dave Pecharich and Sarah Walker.

Oakville Beaver

The Oakville Beaver has sponsored us from the first year of Ribfest.The enthusiasm that our local newspaper has shown for the Oakville Family Ribfest is outstanding. They are a great partner of Rotary.

Daniel Baird represented the Oakville Beaver/Metroland West Media and is shown with Ribfest Chair Trish Peden.

Espresslabs

The EspressLab tagline is “We listen, we challenge and we deliver, with a passion that generates truly creative work for our clients.” Well they did just that for us. They rebranded us and redesigned our website and it is amazing. Thank you for your sponsorship and patience with us.

Daniel Polsinelli is shown with Ribfest Chair Trish Peden.

Home Depot

The Home Depot has been a fried to Rotary for many years. They provide the Childrens Workshop area for the kids to do some great woodwork and their staff guide the kids along with ever so much patience and kindness. Home Depot also provides the beautiful patio furniture for the Sponsorship tent. You help put ‘Family’ into our ribfest.

We were pleased to have John Melchiorre and Lina Faustino with us.

Instant Imprints

Instant Imprints and the UPS Store on Cross Ave. have been a huge part of Ribfest. Their sponsorship have been amazing and we are so grateful.

We were delighted to have Jeff and Anita Parker at the luncheon.

First Ontario Credit Union

First Ontario Credit Union has sponsored us for many years. and we can see why! Thank you for your support.

We were happy to have Ankita Rai and Indira Sattan attend.

Kopriva Taylor Funeral Homes

Ilona Kopriva has been not only a valued Sponsor to Oakville Family Ribfest, but a close friend of Rotary as well. Kopriva Taylor Funeral Home has given back to the community over and over again under Ilona’s leadership.

We were very pleased to thank Ilona.

Flir Systems

Flir Systems is the world leader in the design, manufacture, and marketing of thermal imaging infrared cameras. They have supported the Oakville Family Ribfest for many years. I can remember the year Greg was in the Sponsorship tent and he looked at the logo’s and he pointed higher on the board and said “ How do I get us up HERE!”

We were delighted to have Greg Bork with us.

Sysco Toronto

Sysco Toronto was our official meat supplier for the ribs. We thank you for your support and Sponsorship.

It was our pleasure to have Jay McClintock and Dan Cripps attend.

Little Electric

Little Electric has been our vendor of choice for our electrical set up from the start. They are generous with their sponsorship and we thank you so much.

We were pleased to have Joe Privatt attend.

GTAA

2017 was our first year having Greater Toronto Airports Authority as a sponsor. They are so busy with their 44.3 million passengers and yet take time to sponsor a community event. We were delighted to have them.

We were happy to have Kathy accept the award for Theodora Philos.

Oakville Community Foundation

We received a grant from the Oakville Community Foundation for which we were very grateful. It allowed us to grow and we thank you.

Ribfest Chair Trish Peden thanked Wendy Rinella from the Oakville Community Foundation.

Le Dome Banquet Hall

As you can see, we meet at Le Dome Banquet Hall every week. These folks look after us very well! They continue their support by sending food for hundreds of volunteers who are the backbone of our festival. We cannot thank you enough!

We were very pleased to thank John Rizzuti.

The Oakville Family RIbfest is the biggest event in this area and we are proud to create an amazing event that families can enjoy. We could not do it without the help and support from all of our sponsors.

We also recognized people who jump into action and work hard for event even though they are not Rotarians. They are very much the Friends of Rotary. They assist out of the goodness of their hearts.They truly live our code, “SERVICE ABOVE SELF”.

Acknowledged at the luncheon were:

Barb Ferrone, Karol Bilecki, Gino Paccione, Ilona Kopriva, Phil Shearn and Steven Whitten.

The 2018 Oakville Family Ribfest will be from June 22 to June 24. Be sure to save the date!

UGANDAN MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT SPEAKS AT ROTARY

Our guest speaker on September 10 was Hon. Edward Otto, Member of Parliament for Agago County in
Northern Uganda.

He described his journey from fleeing Joseph Kony's Lords' Resistance Army to coming to Canada and getting a law degree from University of Toronto. and practising in the Greater Toronto Area as a barrister, solicitor and notary public. In 2015 he was elected to the Ugandan parliament as an independent. His main message was that education is the key to progress in Uganda and the need for funding for students.