It is spring, but the temperatures have yet to warm up. Spring is usually the busiest time at RCOT and our activities are revving up. Some of the key upcoming events that requires participation by every member are: Camp Enterprise, District Assembly, Tree Planting, Education Awards, Ribfest and hosting dinner for ~ 50 International Convention attendees.
Next Gen’s Camp Enterprise is from April 12th to 15th at Creiff Hills Conference Centre in Puslinch. It provides senior high school students with an introduction to professional, business owner and management careers, through 3 ½ days of exposure to the private enterprise system, the art of negotiation skills, insights into business concepts and the opportunity to have face-to-face discussions with business leaders like Jeff Parker and Lauri Asikainen.
The District Assembly / Club Leadership Training is scheduled on Saturday, April 14th at Sunbridge Hotel & Conference Centre, Cambridge. It is a great opportunity to receive great training in all aspects of Club Leadership. The day is free, only your time and attention are needed. Please register at the District 7080 Website that can be accessed from our Home Page.
Community Service is working with the other two Oakville clubs on the Tree Planting initiative for the Earth Day on April 21st.The location is Castlefield Park adjoining the Emily Carr School (Dundas / Third Line). The Town will provide the seedlings / saplings, mulch, work gloves, etc. and even the publicity for the event. If the ground has not thawed by then, the back-up date is May 5th.
The picture above is from the 2014 Education Awards dinner.
Education Awards Dinner is planned for May 24th. We will be giving $60,000 to graduating high school students who are going to College or University. We are delighted to be able to help these students, who are remarkable in their perseverance and accomplishment.
Ribfest and the Auction committees have started planning their 2018 events and both have room for additional members to contribute. If you are interested in participating, please contact their respective chairs, Trish and Ashok.
The three Oakville clubs are hosting a dinner for ~50 attendees of the International Convention in Toronto on Monday June 25th at the Oakville Golf Club on Sixth Line. Plans include: Canadian menu; piano or John Carham Quartet; Ken Coulter to entertain the guests on the bus from the Metro Convention Centre to the Dinner venue; and, if the guests arrive early, CharterAbility cruise has been booked for them by Ken Auden.
Above is a picture of the dining room in the Oakville Golf Club
The 3 Oakville Rotary Clubs in partnership with the Town of Oakville are supporting the worldwide Rotary plan to plant trees on Earth Day, Saturday, April 21. The alternate date if necessitated by weather is May 5.
The Town is purchasing the saplings and seedlings and town will also provide mulch. The tree planting will be on Saturday April 21 at 10 a.m. at Emily Emily Carr Public School on 2255 Pine Glen Rd, Oakville, ON L6M 0G5. Pine Glen Rd is one major street south of Dundas and the school is just east of Postmaster Drive.
We need all of our members to attend this 'hands-on' opportunity to help grow Oakville's tree canopy. Can you bring your family and/or grandchildren? Of course you can. Just make sure everyone has the appropriate footwear. Planting saplings and seedlings is a very easy process.
In conjunction with the Rotary International Convention being held in Toronto the 3 Oakville clubs are coming together to host a dinner for 50 international Rotarians at the Oakville Golf Club on Sixth Line.
The Rotarians will be met in downtown Toronto and escorted to Oakville by our very own Ken Coulter. Should traffic allow them to arrive early for the dinner a Charterability boat ride has been arranged.
There will be an open reception, with cash bar, before dinner. This must attend event where all are welcome will cost $50 per person and feature a 'Canadian' menu that is rumoured to include a male syrup dressing salad, Atlantic Salmon, Alberta Beef, vegetarian choices and strawberry rhubarb crumble, Nanaimo bars and more.
You can pre-register for this event by speaking with Cathy Whittaker. Raj can answer any other questions. The inter-club committee is still working out the details.
I have a copy of a book written by Mrs. J. Wesley Fish of Otterville, Ontario. She wrote down a saying or a reading for every day of the year of 1908. Her daughter loaned the book to me to have a typed copy made. Here are a few of the aphorisms she collected.
April 1st.
Let a man take what view of a future life – no work can be so excellent as that of helping men to better living.
July 6.
Seem blind when the faults of a friend appear,
Seem deaf when the slanderer’s voice you hear,
Seem dumb when the curious crowd you meet,
And they bid you the slanderous take repeat.
And, oh, believe me this is the plan
To lighten and brighten the lot of man.
October 22.
Most of the world’s great heroes suffered defeat before they experienced triumph.
November 17.
Boys flying kites haul in their white winged birds.
You can’t do that way when you are flying words.
Careful with fire, is good advice, ‘tis true
Careful with words is ten times doubly so.
Thoughts unexpressed may sometimes fall back dead
But God himself can’t kill them when they’re said.
Mrs. Fish’s book is a reflection of the way generation after generation used aphorisms to help people learn and follow moral values. Many see our age as one that’s lost touch with core moral values. If that’s so what can we do? Maybe using tried and true ‘one-a-day’ aphorisms would be as good a place to start as any other.
May 24th is the date for the Education Awards. It will be a dinner at Le Dome. Fellowship will be at 6 p.m. with dinner following.
The Education Awards are given to graduating High School students from Oakville who are entering their first year of University or College. In addition to needing financial help, these students are active in their schools and the community, and despite some difficult backgrounds have inspiring motivation to study for worthy careers.
The picture above is from the 2017 Education Awards.
We invite many Rotary sponsors to attend, and it is a great opportunity to show how the sponsors' generosity benefits the people Rotary helps. It also allows the recipients to see the support the sponsors are extending, with Rotary, to the community.
The evening dinner will be in the same place as our lunch and at the same cost of $25 per person.
I would encourage everyone to attend as it is one of our best "feel good" events of the year. Speak with Cathy Whittaker to sign up.
Club membership is everyone's responsibility. By inviting someone to join us for our Thursday lunch you can expose them to the Rotary team. On April 21 Dr. Nancy F. Olivieri will be speaking onImproving the Prognosis for Childhood Leukemia and Thalassemia in Asia - a 2020 goal for Hemoglobal. This is a perfect speaker and opportunity to have a prospective member attend lunch.
Remember if you have someone who you believe is truly interested in becoming a Rotarian you can have them attend one lunch for free.
For the balance of the 2017- 2018 year Bill Kerr will be assuming the duties of the membership committee chair. In July 2018 Trish Peden will take on this role. Your Board has decided to separate the membership duties from those of the President-Elect. This is intended to provide greater consistency in strategies and tactics for obtaining and retaining members.
The District serves as a resource, including training, so that collectively, we can improve the lives of others. One of those events is our upcoming Club Leadership Training on Saturday April 14, 2018 at the Sunbridge Conference Centre, Cambridge from 8:00 am to 3:45 pm.
The one-day event is designed to prepare, inform and inspire all Board members, committee chairs and future club and district leaders … and fulfill various requirements to best manage club activities. The timing for this event anticipates responsibilities for the new Rotary year starting in July, and includes roles of President, President Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Directors, and other key positions.
Among the many sessions, we will provide current and helpful information including:
Being Better - an invigorating kickoff to the day by our Keynote speaker
Digital Fundraising - Using technology to increase awareness of Rotary, and engage donors and participants (2 sessions)
Engaging the Next Generation in Rotary - 2 part session discussing how we can actively engage the next generation in Rotary and increase & retain membership
Compass Class - Where are you going? For all Rotarians looking for information and direction!
Rotary Branding - Rotary’s Public Image – It Begins with Us!
Youth Services - a primer for all clubs, with a well-equipped and experienced panel leading discussions on all youth-related opportunities, including Interact, Rotaract, Youth Exchange, Camp Enterprise and more
Vocational Service - weaving together the skills of our professions, our hobbies, our workplaces, our relationship with co-workers, and our various roles in Rotary. Putting it all together.
Treasurers - a panel of experts, addressing CRA responses, best practices, RI policies and procedures and more
Secretaries - RI and District requirements, policies, and best practices
Chairing an Effective Committee - assembling your committee, and collaborating effectively toward goals, policies, mission statements, accomplishments and more.
ClubRunner - 2 different sessions; one for beginners, one for more experienced users
A Board Member’s Roles and Responsibilities - expectations and requirements for all active Board members (2 sessions)
Soon to be a Past President - how to use your wealth of experience as a club President, and tap into the opportunities that are waiting for you now
International Service - starting and maintaining a project outside Canada
The Rotary Foundation - the Who What When Where Why and How of it all. Ask you questions - we have the answers.
This event is a great avenue for all Rotarians to better understand the machinery of Rotary and help clubs remain vibrant and effective. For President-Elects, part of the District Assembly portion will include review and voting to adopt the proposed new Manual of Policy and Procedure and Budget.
Who Should Attend?
President-Elects are required to attend along with their incoming club executive and committee chairs.
New and veteran members wishing to benefit from attending some of the information-packed sessions and seeking greater knowledge of Rotary, both locally and beyond.
Enjoy the camaraderie and networking at a District-wide event as we all come together for the same purpose - to be better-informed leaders.
Registration is required as soon as possible so that venue arrangements can be finalized.
The 2017-18 Rotary Year is now half over, and it is time to start thinking about recognizing the contributions of outstanding individuals, groups and clubs in our District to the service of Rotary.
The deadline for nominations for the District Awards is April 30, 2018.
The Rotary District 7080 Awards Committee is looking for nominations for our District Awards. The 7080 District Awards are intended to help District Governor Kathi Dick recognize some of the many significant contributions that are quietly and selflessly being made by dedicated Rotarians and Rotary Partners. In order to make sure we do know about these important contributions – we need your nominations.
Attached is a short description of the District 7080 Awards, the criteria for each, and a simple nomination form. We are looking for your help in identifying worthy recipients.
Given the importance of growing our membership, the District also has awards for clubs who have the most success in attracting and retaining members. Nominations are not required for these two awards, as they will be awarded based on your club’s membership data.
Rotary District 7080 Awards
District Service Award
Recognizes an individual Rotarian’s efforts to serve humanity and work toward world understanding and peace through Rotary Foundation programs.
Club Builder Award
Recognizes Rotarians who have made a significant impact in supporting and strengthening their home Rotary club. Selection criteria includes the candidate’s achievements in recruiting new members, participating in Rotary training, involvement in vocational service projects, and attendance at District events.
Rotary Partner Award
Recognizes the outstanding contribution of a District Rotary Spouse/Partner in supporting Rotary causes, projects and/or the Rotary Foundation locally, at the District level or internationally.
District Polio Service Award
Recognizes the outstanding active personal service of a District Rotarian in advocacy and hands on support of End Polio Now both within the District and internationally.
Communications and Marketing Award
Recognizes a club, individual or committee for outstanding communications and marketing of club news and projects to club members and supporters and/or to the public, through any and all media channels.
Membership Growth Award
Presented to the District Club with the largest percentage membership increase during the Rotary year. (Nomination not required.)
New Member Retention Award
Presented to the District Club with the highest member retention percentage over the past three years. (Nomination not required.)
Rotary International and Rotary Foundation Awards
Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation have a number of Awards for outstanding Rotarians, Rotary Clubs and Rotary Partners. These include:
Presidential Citation
Recognizes Clubs that are strong and making a positive difference in our communities achieve goals related to Rotary’s three strategic priorities: to support and strengthen clubs, focus and increase humanitarian service, and enhance Rotary’s public image and awareness.
Rotary’s highest honour, recognizes up to 150 Rotarians each year who demonstrate their commitment to helping others by volunteering their time and talents. Nominations can be made by Current and immediate past district governors. Contact our District Governor if you have a suggested nominee.
Honours members who have been actively involved in service activities related to The Rotary Foundation. Contact our District Governor if you have a suggested nominee.
Recognizes Rotaractors who are making a sustainable impact in one of Rotary's areas of focus through their innovative community or international service projects.
Contact any of the individuals at the bottom of this article if you are interested in nominating a deserving recipient for one of the many awards available.
Nomination Form
Name of Nominee __________________________________________
Name(s) of Nominator(s) _____________________________________
Award
District Service Award
Club Builder Award
Rotary Partner Award
District Polio Service Award
Communications and Marketing Award
Rationale
Please provide a summary of why you feel that this outstanding person, group or Club deserves the award. Additional information and examples may be attached.
Please return the completed form and any additional information by April 30, 2018 to Clarence Haverson, District Awards Committee Chair via email at chaverson@rogers.com
Rotary International also has a number of recognitions which can be awarded for significant contributions to Rotary. The attached flyer outlines four of these, and provides a link to the full list.
Please let us know if you have any questions or suggestions. We look forward to your ideas. The deadline for nominations for the District Awards is April 30, 2018.
Yours in Rotary
Clarence Haverson, District Awards Committee Chair
Below we are showing you who will form your Board effective July 1, 2018. As well we have indicated who is chairing some of our Committees so that you can speak with them about volunteering.
Your Board effective July 1, 2018
Position
2017-2018 (current)
2018-2019 (effective July 1)
President
Raj Phalpher
Karen Milner
President-Elect
Karen Milner
Jennifer Kay
Secretary
Bev Thomson
Paul Kaye
Treasurer
Ron Salem
Ron Salem
Club Service
Cathy Whittaker
Cathy Whittaker
Communications & Public Relations
Bob Gardner
Vanda Albuquerque
Community Service Committee
Ken Auden
Ken Auden
Fundraising Committee
Lauri Asikainen
Raj Phalpher
Indigenous Committee
Cliff Thompson
Cliff Thompson
International Service Committee
Claire Conway
Claire Conway
Membership
Bill Kerr
Trish Peden
New Generations Committee
Jennifer Loker
Jennifer Loker
Past President
Bent Fink-Jensen
Raj Phalpher
Rotary Foundation & Legacy
Ashok Kochhar
Ashok Kochhar
Below are some of the other identified club roles and the persons who are leading activities.
Committee Chairs are encouraged to provide up to date or expanded information to rotary2359@gmail.com.
New Generations
2017-2018 (current)
Chair
Jennifer Loker
Youth Exchange
Cathy Whittaker
Education Awards
John Kubacki
Camp Enterprise
Jennifer Loker
RYLA
Diana Dinevski
Interact
Don Blunt, Desmond Jordan
Rotaract
TBD
Ribfest Positions
2017-2018 (current)
Chair
Trish Peden
Administration
Bent Fink-Jensen
Beer Tent
Jim Wilson
Entertainment
Ken Coulter
Kids’ Play Zone
Non-member, check with Trish
Licenses
Bill Kerr
Logistics
Barb Ferrone
Market Place
Non-member, check with Trish
Marketing
Jeff Parker
Parking
Non-member, check with Trish
Recycling
Cliff Thompson
Ribbers & Food Vendors
Ken Auden
Security
Bev Thomson
Sponsorship
John Kubacki
Volunteers
Karen Milner
Communication Positions
2017 -
Club Social Media (Non-Project), Facebook Page (for Club Only),
Liz Behrens
RIOTS, Photography and Archive, WEEKLY COURIER, Slideshow
RIOTS - Rotary International Oakville Trafalgar Service is the club's monthly online newsletter and is sent to all members and friends of the club via email. It is available in electronic format to anyone from our web page at www.rcot.ca by selecting Bulletins.
Content for RIOTS is subject to editing and should be submitted to rotary2359@gmail.com in a non-PDF format.
The WEEKLY COURIER is a free weekly bulletin automatically sent to members via email recapping announcements and other information related to the weekly meetings. It is also the primary location for rotary and non-rotary advertisements. It is available in electronic format to anyone from our web page at www.rcot.ca by selecting Bulletins.
To subscribe to either RIOTS or the Weekly Courier email info@rcot.ca indicating the publication(s) you wish to receive and the email address they should be sent to.