banner
Club Information
Welcome to the Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar
Service Above Self
Lunch at 12 noon on Thursdays
Le Dome
1173 North Service Road East
Oakville, ON  L6H 1A7
Canada
Phone:
(289) 813-5540
Email:
DistrictSiteIcon District Site
VenueMap Venue Map
Executives & Directors
President
 
President Elect
 
Secretary
 
Treasurer
 
Club Service
 
Community Service
 
International Service
 
New Generations
 
Rotary Foundation & Legacy
 
Fundraising
 
Communications & Public Relations
 
Membership Chair
 
Indigenous Persons' Committee
 
Russell Hampton
ClubRunner
ClubRunner Mobile
SPEAKERS
Apr 02, 2020
Apr 09, 2020
Apr 16, 2020
View entire list
Photo Albums
2020 BILL BARNES' 100th BIRTHDAY
2020 Paul Harris Fellow and Community Recognition Dinner
2019 CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
2019 WORLD POLIO DAY EVENT
2019 OAKVILLE CLUSTER CELEBRATION
2019 8TH ANNUAL OAKVILLE FAMILY RIBFEST
2019 EDUCATION AWARDS
2019 - MAY -CRAWFORD LAKE
Quick Links
Links
Make a Donation to Rotary
Oakville Family Ribfest
Rotary Online Auction
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
District 7080
Make a Great Pass - Donate Soccer Gear
Stories
PRESIDENT KAY'S MONTHLY MESSAGE
President Jennifer Kay is currently recovering from a surgery and we have decided to utilize her message space to share a photograph taken by Past President Karen Milner. Enjoy the snow drops.
Read more...
JOIN US FOR A VIRTUAL MEETING
The weekly luncheons at Le Dome have been suspended during the COVID-19 health crisis. However the Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar continues to meet  at 12 noon each Thursday via ZOOM. ZOOM provides a remote conferencing service that combines video conferencing, online meetings, chat, and mobile collaboration. Please join us by selecting the link below or sending an email prior to the meeting to info@rcot.ca.
 
Here is the information you need to get on the call:

Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/163379798

Meeting ID: 163 379 798

Dial in number:

 +1 647 374 4685 Canada

 +1 647 558 0588 Canada

You can join our call via any device and may participate by audio or or video. Please put yourself on mute once joining and unmute to speak. 

Read more...
LIFE IN SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE DURING A LOCKDOWN
....every day I wonder if we have made the right decision to stay in place when just about every Canadian we know here in San Miguel Allende has headed north.  
 
As I write this on Tuesday March 24th, Mexico has just announced that we have entered stage 2 - and our President (known as AMLO) still encourages social gathering and says he is protected by his amulets.  
 
Lucky for us, the Governor of our state and the mayor of our city have taken stronger measures and as of last weekend (March 22nd) we are in a semi-lockdown.  No street vendors (which are a norm here), no sitting in restaurants but they can do takeout, everything is cancelled/closed and people in this small city are adhering to that.  
 
We are lucky in that we live on a golf course and what few people are left here are still getting out golfing.  Easy to keep the six foot distance on a golf course.  Every morning at 7 my neighbour and I walk around the golf course - almost 5 km and that’s what is keeping me sane.  
 
April and May are the hottest months here but that’s also when the mosquitoes come out.  Soon we will get the late afternoon rain and that will last until August.  
 
We are mentally prepared to wait this pandemic out inside our walled compound for as long as it takes but I just read that they are expecting the virus peak to hit Mexico in August. I hope I am back in Canada by then.   
 
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
 
Self-isolation in San Miguel de Allende, Mx
Joliver65@me.com.      415.117.9657
Read more...
GOOD INFORMATION ON COVID-19
Below are a number of links to useful information pertaining to the novel coronavirus.
 
From the Town of Oakville
 
 
From the Province of Ontario - includes a self assessment
 
 
From the Government of Canada-includes a self assessment
 
 
From the Center for Disease Control
 
 
From the World Health Organization
 
 
From Liliana:
 
"Someone sent me this video about what to do when we go to the supermarket and when we bring the groceries home or get take-out in. I thought it was very useful.
 
The video is in Youtube and this is the link:
 
If you find masks, wear them when you go to shop as an extra precaution. 
 
Be well, Liliana"
 
Read more...
EVENT VICTIMS OF COVID-19
The novel coronavirus or COVID-19 has impacted the lives of everyone. Many of the local events and functions that we are all used to attending have been cancelled or postponed. Our annual Rotary events are no different. So as at today the following events are postponed or cancelled. 
 
STRAWBERRY SOCIAL - JULY 2020
 
This year's event has been cancelled and our partner, Acclaim Health has been informed. If you have any questions please contact Vanda Albuquerque.
 
9TH ANNUAL RIBFEST - JUNE 2020
 
The event has been postponed until June 2021 and all of our vendors, sponsors and partners have been informed. If you have any questions please contact Ken Coulter or Bent Fink-Jensen. 
 
ROTARY EDUCATION AWARDS - MAY 2020
 
With COVID-19 closing schools, we have delayed the date for getting applications from students until May 1, 2020. If the school closures are extended, we will consider a further response. The Education Awards Dinner, originally scheduled for May 20, 2020, is also an unknown, in light of all the uncertainty. One thing we can say is that we will be helping students who need a hand, however we have to do it. The Dinner is a terrific way of celebrating these students, but that is a separate, later decision. If you have any questions please contact John Kubacki. 
 
CAMP ENTERPRISE and RYLA APRIL - MAY 2020
 
In accordance with the decision made by District 7080 these events have been cancelled for 2020.
 
VISIT TO CRAWFORD LAKE - MAY 2020
 
Organized and managed by the Indigenous Committee this has been cancelled for 2020.
 
DISTRICT ASSEMBLY and TRAINING - APRIL 2020
 
In accordance with the decision made by District 7080 these events have been cancelled for 2020.
 
DELTA BINGO - MARCH 2020 until ?
 
Due to COVID-19 concerns, as of March 16th, Delta Bingo is temporarily closed until further notice

 
Read more...
JIM'S JOTTINGS
The Escape
 
This COVID-19 business is a pain in the neck. It disrupts our lives, routines, dreams and schemes. We all need to do our part to struggle through. What is particularly annoying about COVID-19 is that it forces us to think about life, our lives, our families, and our dependence on the community, on the skills, knowledge and talents of so many people. We usually don’t think about all that very much. We don’t actually take life for granted but normally we do try to avoid thinking about our mistakes in the past, the unknown path into the future, and our own mortality.
 
So here we are; no Rotary meetings, theaters, pubs, libraries, restaurants and no sporting events to see – the list of closures is very long. Apparently getting back to normal will take a long time. So here we are, with lots of time and little we can do.
 
Here’s a suggestion; we can escape into the present.  What? How? Well wherever we are, at home, in a line up, waiting, facing delays, we can look around and appreciate the wonders everywhere, we have light at the flick of a switch, thermostats to regulate the temperature, oranges from California and bananas from the tropics, books, television, telephones, internet, radios, medicines, doctors, policemen and first responders, families, friends, people helping us and those we can help.
 
We can use the time to connect – by skype, email and letters – with family and friends, and to people we have not connected with for ages.
 
In the present, in these less busy days, we can escape from normalcy to a new freedom, to a celebration of life itself, to see the changes caused by COVID-19 as a gift of time and opportunity.
Read more...
NOTICE OF ELECTIONS 
Over the past several weeks and months, the nominations committee has been working to recruit candidates for each position on next year's board. In our first Zoom video meeting on March 26th Bill Kerr presented the slate of nominees for next year's RCOT board, as follows: 
 
2020-2021
 
President, Cathy Whittaker
Past President, Jennifer Kay
President Elect/Membership, Liz Behrens
Secretary, Nicholas Meyer
Treasurer, Ron Salem
Communications/Public Relations, Liz Behrens 
Club Service, Liliana Chocarro
International Service, Bruce Friesen
Community Service, Ken Auden
New Generations, Desmond Jordan
Foundation & Legacy, Ken Coulter
Fundraising, Raj Phalpher
Indigenous, Cliff Thompson
 
If you wish to serve in any capacity and were not approached by the nominations committee, this is your chance to put your name forward. Simply contact me by Thursday April 9.
 
If we receive additional nominees for any position, we will then hold a club election to select the final candidates. If we do not receive additional submissions within two weeks, we will consider nominations closed at that point and there will be no election needed.
 
As is customary, the current board proposes that the list of 2020-21 board members for the club (above) be the same for our charitable corporation, the RCOT Foundation, with the exception that Bill Kerr serves as Secretary for the foundation board, as he usually does.
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or wish to put your name forward for next year's board. 
 
Thanks, 
Karen Milner
Past President
 
Read more...
INDIGENOUS COMMITTEE UPDATE
We are very pleased to announce that the Selection Committee for the Rotary Indigenous Scholarship has selected Kayla Sunshine as the recipient of the scholarship for the 2020/21 academic school year. Kayla is Cree from Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation in Alberta. She will be entering her second year and is taking Indigenous Studies with a minor in Entrepreneurship. She has had a difficult past as both of her grandparents attended the Residential Schools and her father was in the Sixties scoop. He has also been incarcerated in Federal prison for all of her life. She dropped out of school in Grade 9 but is now attempting to set a new direction for herself. We believe that this scholarship will provide her with a life changing opportunity.
 
With the selection of Kayla we will now have two students attending the University of Sudbury on a Rotary Indigenous Scholarship for the first time. Along with Kayla, Hailey Sutherland, last year's recipient, will be entering her third year in September.
 
Unfortunately our Committee has cancelled the annual trip to Crawford Lake in May with the Rotary Exchange students due to the current virus situation. However, the District and our Committee have already agreed that we will plan the event in May 2021 for the next group of Exchange students.
 
Our Committee has also agreed to support a Mentoring program that RCO has initiated with Six Nations in Brantford. The program's goal is to reduce the student drop-out rate in High School, which is current almost three times higher than in other school systems. Due to the virus, the project is temporarily on hold, but they hope to restart it in the Fall. Our commitment is to help provide some professionals and trades people that will talk to the students about their profession and then become mentors for the students. We don't anticipate any financial commitment on our part.
 
Our committee is planning to become involved with a program called Art for Aid Project this Fall. It basically collects and sends art supplies to Elementary First Nations schools up north. We will provide more details at a later date, but since many people are using this personal distancing time to clean up around the house, we would like to ask you to collect and save any new or slightly used art supplies that you do not need. Once we restart meetings in person, we will make arrangements to collect the supplies. Examples of what they are looking for (but not limited to), include things like sketchbooks, paint brushes, acrylic or watercolour paint, watercolour paper, colouring books, pencil crayons, markers, stickers, playdough, erasers, glue sticks, beading material, scissors etc. They do not want books, paper, flammable paints etc. If you have questions about what is acceptable, please contact Joanne MacNair or myself.
Read more...
18TH SEMI-ANNUAL BAG LADY REPORT
Below is the semi-annual Bag Lady report.  As an aside, at the beginning of the month Kathy had calls to pick up 35 bags over 3 days.  This surpasses the usual monthly total!  Before she could get them all redistributed, the receiving areas closed their doors due to the coronavirus.  Consequently I now have 18 bags spread all over downstairs with no idea when I can clear them out!!!!!  Thank goodness my donating stores are closed so no more will flow in .
 
18th Semi Annual Report
“ Bag Lady International”
September 1 2019 to March 1 2020
 
This Report is designed to give our members of RCOT, an understanding of the operations of “Bag Lady International".
 
Suppliers of clothing, shoes, household items:
           Mark’s  (2 stores) 
           Winners and HomeSense  (3 stores)
           Marshalls  (1)
 
Number of bags collected: 107 (up 24 bags from this same period last year)
 
Estimated Value: $53,500.00) Calculated at $500 per large bag plus household items)
 
Transport from Suppliers to the Sorting Centre:
            Kathy Scantlebury,
            Jim Campbell 
 
Location of Sorting Centre:
            208 Watson Ave
 
Staff at Sorting Centre:
            Kathy Scantlebury
            Kathy’s Mother 
 
Agencies receiving clothing and supplies:
Interval House (Almonte)
Youth Centre (Almonte)
            The Tomato Ladies  (Oakville)
            Toronto’s Out of the Cold Program through Eastminister Church
            Guatemala and Honduras through Bruce Friesen (36 bags)
            Oakville Safety Net
            St. Vincent de Paul (Hamilton) withdrew in the late Fall
            Eva Rothwell Centre in Hamilton joins (evarothwell.ca ) to replace St. Vincent de Paul
 
Transportation to agencies:
           Betty Pristol
          
Restrictions: None of the donated items can be sold by the receiving agencies or individuals.
           
This year’s Budget: $ 0
 
Respectfully submitted by 
Kathy Scantlebury   “Chair of the Bag Lady Board
Read more...
SNAPSHOTS
SABIH'S PICTURE
Sabih Uddin (on the left) just returned from a trip to Northern Pakistan and Karachi.
He was there to oversee the progress orphans are making in their education. Our
foundation hopecharitablefoundation.ca is  supporting orphans' education. While in
Karachi I did a make up at RC of Karachi and exchanged  our club's flag with theirs. 
Read more...
AROUND THE WORLD
EMERGENCY FUNDRAISING FOR COVID19 HUNGER RELIEF FOR GUATEMALA

COVID-19 is on all our minds. However, as this disease spreads to developing countries COVID-19 will have even deadlier effects, beyond the contraction of the virus itself. More people are likely to die from hunger than from the virus. So many people live hand to mouth with no savings. They are now confined to their houses and are unable to work and feed their families.  Our Rotary Club received a call this week from CREAMOS in Guatemala City. Their families are facing starvation and they need our help. The International Committee is starting a fundraising campaign for “COVID19 Hunger Relief Guatemala”. We have already sent $6,000 from our committee but need to raise the balance through personal appeals for donations.

Rotary is ideally positioned to help because all the money raised goes to the cause and we work directly with people on the ground who see the need daily. People want to help. We raised $3000 in 24 hours through one member sending emails and texts to his contacts. It is easy to raise the money if we demonstrate the need and give them a trusted vehicle. Therefore, we have launched a new button on our WebSite to allow people to give to our Rotary Foundation online via Canada Helps.  

We are asking each RCOT member to write a note that they can send to all their contacts through all forms of social media.  People want to help. 

Our goal is $15,000. We can do this. We just need to be fearless in our asking our friends for help.  There is no better organization to help and the need is great. Please get this message to your friends and family today.  ( Hint; you may need to send it today and remind them tomorrow)

Here is some suggested wording:

I am sending this note to my family and friends in the hope that you will help us solve a very dire situation.

Covid19 is on all our minds. However, as this disease spreads to developing countries Covid19 will have even deadlier effects, beyond the contraction of the virus itself. People are likely to die from hunger than from the virus. So many people live hand to mouth with no savings. They are now confined to their houses and are unable to work and feed their families.  

Our Rotary Club received a call this week from CREAMOS in Guatemala City. CREAMOS is an organization we have helped for a number of years. It is training women who live in a slum and were picking garbage in the garbage dump to sew commercially.  These women are some of the most marginalized we have worked with. Now the Coronavirus has dealt them a severe blow. The Government of Guatemala has cancelled all but essential services and has instituted a curfew throughout the country. The result is that these women who are paid to be on our training program cannot come to class nor can they pick garbage at the dump. These women are living day to day. They do not have a savings account. They are now without work and they are running out of food.  

CREAMOS is setting up a program so that these families don’t starve during this crisis. We need your help to fund this program so that these 200 families can weather a month of quarantine. It only costs $19 to feed a family for 1 week!

Our goal is to raise $15,000. With your help this is doable.  I am asking each of my friends and family to donate $100. I will lead with a personal donation of $200.  You can make a tax deductible donation to our Rotary Club at the following link Guatemala Hunger. Our Rotary Club will forward 100% of all proceeds to Creamos in Guatemala.

I will be sending updates on our programs success as we go through this together with our friends around the world. 

Please help us to stop starvation.
 
 
Read more...
PEOPLE THINK IT IS MAGIC
 
Submitted by Lauri for everyone's interest this article originated in The Guardian
   
Read more...
INTERNATIONAL SERVICE UPDATE
Work continues on our Global Grant to equip a mini hospital in Guatemala to train doctors while serving the poor. We now have 19 clubs participating and we have been able to raise our budget to $212,000 US. Work is ongoing to finalize the equipment list. Also they are working with the government to try to have access to a building – both a temporary and permanent solution. Options are the existing clinic building (that they have recently enlarged) or an empty new building at the entrance to the hospital (if they can get approval from the government to use it).  We have been preapproved for $62,000 of Government of Canada funding and will have to file by the end of June to receive that money.
 
We have applied for a District Grant for 2020-21 to equip a maternal care clinic in Honduras. We have applied for a $5000 US district grant that will match our contribution of $5000 US. Total of $10,000 for the project. Our contribution will be a combination of club funds and money that Bruce Friesen has raised. We should hear in April if we are approved but won’t be able to start the project until August or September 2020.
 
We also made a $1000 CDN donation to the Ripple Effect. Due to the urgency for an immediate need for 200 migrant students to attend, it has been decided that District 5550 (Northern Ontario, Manitoba , Saskatchewan) would do a District Project under the Ripple Effect Name (as they have done many schools in the past). The Lead Club in District 5550 will be RC Prince Albert Saskatchewan & in Gualan , Guatemala will be RC Gualan, chaired by President Alberto Guerra who visited our Club with Aldo in the Fall. This would be Phase 1.  Next year we would do Phase 2, a WASH project to improve the school and add more classrooms. This project raises $39,000 US for 5 classrooms at the Hernaldo Beltran Jr. School. Clubs from D7080, including ours, contributed the balance needed of $7,000 CDN for 200 desks , 5 teachers desks, white boards etc.
 
We received this thank you via Aldo.
“On behalf of the Canadian Ripple Effect Program, I  would like to thank you and members of the RC of Oakville Trafalgar for there generous donation of $1,000 to the Hernaldo Beltran Jr. School for the purchase of classroom  furniture. Please pass on our appreciation to members of the the RC of Oakville Trafalgar for their support.
 
I have now received all of D7080 donations($7,000) for the purchase of the classroom furniture. Thanks for your help. These funds will be wire transferred to the RC of Gualan in the 2nd advance for the Hernaldo Beltran Jr. school. Please see attached some photos of the early construction and ground breaking ceremony for your enjoyment.
Also attached are some photos of a tree planting project behind the school. It is great to see the children and parents taking care of the environment around their school and community. This is very special to me as I am a forester and have supervised the planning of over one millions trees in the Kenora area. Thanks for your help. Have a great day and stay safe!
Our Global Grant in Guatemala City to provide vocational and leadership training to women previously working in the garbage dump, is proceeding well and we have received a report recently (see below). 8 women have received jobs in the private sector, higher paying with health benefits, which is wonderful. Previously, social sigma made this very difficult. Here is the report from Creamos.
 
As we begin the year 2020, we’re excited to update you on the progress we’ve made in implementing our proposed project. With our application, we requested funding to implement a Leadership Training Program and a Skill Development program for 151 women living in the community surrounding the Guatemala City garbage dump (GCGD). These women previously relied on risky employment activities, including scavenging through the garbage dump for recyclables and transactional sex, to make a living.
In an effort to disrupt this narrative, the proposed project was designed to support these women in developing marketable leadership and job skills within a safe and sustainable working environment, contributing to both the immediate and long-term economic development of the community. This progressive model will allow for a significant expansion of the current vocational training program. By training peer leaders, the proposed project will increase the organization’s ability to move women off the waiting list and out of the garbage dump into income-generating activities. This project will increase the income of women in extreme poverty, provide work that will be more compatible with raising their families and will increase management skills, economic independence, and self-confidence.
 
Of significant celebration, 2 Creamos participants, who have participated in Creamos’ leadership program and received the skill-building workshop from consultants provided by the Global Grant, have secured formal employment in a well-known international company called The New Denim Project which is based out of Guatemala City. This opportunity will pay women minimum wage, which is equal to four times what women would make working in the garbage dump. In addition, women will all receive health insurance for themselves and their children.
 
Progress Overview: 
 
With this proposed program, 15 participants were selected for the 12-week Leadership Training Program based on a cumulation of their demonstrated need, identified goals, and leadership potential. To date, 6 participants have graduated and 9 remaining participants are expected to graduate by April 2020. Through the Leadership Training Program, graduates learned about management, conflict resolution, skill-building facilitation, quality control, and production efficiency. Upon graduation and/or throughout their course, these participants were invited to participate in five certificate modules facilitated by professional consultants in the focus areas of screen printing, textiles (complex accessories & home goods), t-shirt making, jewelry making, and 3B production skills (baskets, bow ties). These programs have and will continue to take place during the first few months of the new year. Once they’ve completed these training modules, program participants will in-turn relay these skills to new program participants through the Community Training Program.
 
Specific project updates include the following: 
 
Stage 1: Preparation for Leadership Training Program (COMPLETED)
 
During Stage 1 of the proposed project, the Leadership Management Consultant (Kelsey Komich, LICSW) created a comprehensive and community-based curriculum that fosters current leadership practices, preparing participants for their future roles as peer leaders. In tandem with this curriculum development, Kelsey also developed a pre-test that was distributed to all participants to test their pre-workshop understanding of the concepts explored through the training. Kelsey then recruited potential participants from the three existing income-generating programs (jewelry, sewing, and production). These participants each completed individual interviews to assess their compatibility for participation in the curriculum.
 
Stage 2: Leadership Training Program Implementation (PARTIALLY COMPLETED)
 
During Stage 2, the Leadership Management Consultant facilitated the leadership training curriculum for the first 6 participants. The first graduates were a pilot program that took place in September and finished in November. We’re excited to report that all 6 participants completed the 12-week course with a 100% attendance rate. Kelsey reports that all members took participation in the group seriously and were engaged in the group weekly. Also noteworthy, this time period was marked by high stress in the sewing workshop due to the high volume of orders associated with the launch of our new collection. In addition to the items in the curriculum, the leadership course also served as a space to address stress management techniques including non-violent communication, giving and receiving feedback, and team building within the initiative. All 6 participants completed a post-test upon the conclusion of the program, and we’re currently in the process of comparing pre and post-tests to assess the impact of the program. The Leadership Training Manual has been completed and handed into Bruce Friesen.
 
Here are some key take-a-ways from the training:
 
"I learned how to accept critique and praise in front of a group and I was able to see the errors I was making and how I can better myself.”
"The course made me see the ways in which I was behaving that could be hurtful to my coworkers. I feel like a new person”.
"It helped me know how to treat people and have more empathy and recognize I am equal and not more or less than anyone else".
“This course was very enjoyable because it helped me learn to be a leader and how to better understand others and the process of working and teaching others”
 
An additional 9 women were recruited as Leadership Training participants but were unable to complete the 12-week session this fall due to an increase in production orders.
 
These participants will complete their remaining 8 sessions between March and April 2020 
 
6 Leaders Graduated → Sewing, Screen Printing & BowTies
9 Pending leaders to graduate → Jewelry, Multicolor
 
Stage 3: Skill Workers Training Program Implementation (PARTIALLY COMPLETED)
 
Graduates of the Leadership Training Program have been invited to begin the Skill Workers Training Program. During this stage, professional consultants train leaders in the skill-building modules of their choice. These modules include screen printing, sewing, screen printing, jewelry, and production initiatives (Triple B). Through this component of the project, leaders have increased their proficiency in their selected craft and develop their ability to replicate the training for new participants. Leaders have the option to participate in a maximum of two Skill Workers Training Program.
 
Jewelry:
 
Leaders who have received Jewelry Skill Workers Training Program Workshop: 5
At this point, five Leadership Program participants have completed the jewelry module with external consultant Laura Spillari, the owner and founder of Xibalba Jewelry. Laura has provided a 6-day workshop to 2 leaders in training and another 2-day workshop for 3 additional leaders. In both workshops leaders learned new techniques and modalities, and experimented with incorporating new materials into their repertoire. Further, the latest skill building training has been focused on yet another technique in which leaders will be crafting their recycled jewelry with paint and naturally dyed threads. This training is expected to conclude by February 2020. The five leaders will participate in a final workshop in April 2020.
 
Sewing: 
 
# of Leaders who have received Sewing Skill Building Workshop: 6
Marta Irene was the chosen sewing consultant, who has over 30 years of sewing experience. She facilitated intensive skill building workshops with the leaders focused techniques to make T-shirts, more advanced textile techniques, quality control and production efficiency. Further, she went above and beyond her role, and has supported the leaders implement these learned techniques in Creamos’ sewing workshop. Marta Irene has continued to exceed expectations, and has committed to provide technical supervision as leaders provide training to the community training participants.
 
Screen Printing: 
 
# of Leaders who have received Sewing Skill Building Workshop: 2 (Participants also received sewing skill-building training)
The screen printing consultants were provided by one of the most reputable sewing companies in Guatemala called Frem color and Salto Producciones. They have trained 2 Creamos leaders, which has been instrumental to Creamos’ production success. Their training began with increasing the efficiency and quality of the preparatory steps in screen printing, ensuring Creamos could do all steps in house. In addition, they taught leaders how to screen print with up to four colors. These skills have, and will continue to dramatically enhance the overall quality of their screen printing, increase sales opportunities, and therefore, contribute to the overall financial sustainability of Creamos.
 
Production:
 
Baskets :
# of leaders who have received basket Skill Building training: 4
 
Multicolor, the basket weaving company, creates products out of 99% recycled plastic. Multicolor has donated their own trainer’s time, to train four leaders in training in various
products and techniques. Leaders have graduated from four extensive training sessions which focused on different types of products, techniques, quality control, and production processes. Leaders were trained in approximately 15 products.
 
Bow Ties:
 
# of leaders who have received bow tie Skill Building training: 4 (Participants also received sewing skill-building training)
In 2019, Creamos partnered with a Bow Tie company called Brackish to create more job opportunities for members of the Creamos community. Brackish donated their time, and personal and flew two of their staff members down to train four leaders. These leaders participated in an intensive two and half day workshop where they were trained in every detail of the process, timed on their agility, and evaluated.
 
Stage 4: Community Training Program (PARTIALLY COMPLETED)
 
Sewing:
 
On February 10, 2020, Creamos began the implementation of the Community Training Program for sewing. Throughout this 24 week course, the six Creamos’ sewing leaders are providing structured community class to new participants recruited from the community, as well as training to Creamos’ production team. February will be the first month 6 leaders will receive a stipend, as they are beginning to facilitate class. Creamos has just completed the third week of the training program and will be intricately tracking attendance to monitor drop out rate. It is important to note that women who demonstrate dedication, and a high skill level throughout the training course will be invited to participate in Creamos’ production initiative. There, they will receive an incentive to support financial needs during the training process.
 
In total, Creamos is currently providing the training program for:
 
25 new women in Community Training Program
9 women in Creamos’ production
34 women in total are receiving the community training program course as of week 3
 
Screen printing.
 
There are 2 leaders who graduated from the Screen Printing Skill Building Program. Leaders are currently providing extensive screen printing training to 13 women in Creamos’ production initiative. Participants are learning how to screen print up to four colors.
 
13 women in total are receiving the Screen Printing workshop from leaders as of week 5
 
Jewelry: Upon the conclusion of the Skilled Workers Training Program, the first two participant leaders led a jewelry training for 21 women in Creamos’ jewelry program to teach them how to produce the new learned styles. Laura, the jewelry consultant supervised leaders as they disseminated technical information. These styles are part of our new collection and can be found on our website ( https://www.creamosfuturos.com/shop ). In February 2020, a different group of three leaders facilitated a workshop for the remaining 20 women, using new material and techniques including naturally dyed thread. This collection is planned to launch in March 2020 in celebration of
International Women’s Day. It is important to note that these are not unique clients - the same participants have received both training sessions.
 
23 women in total are receiving jewelry skill building workshops from leaders.
Training #1 - 2 leaders→ 21 women
Training #2 - 3 leaders→ 20 women
 
Production:
 
Bow Ties: The four leaders are currently training 2 new members to participate in the bow tie initiative. New members are anticipated to begin production in the next few months.
2 women in total are receiving Bow Tie skill building workshops
 
Baskets : Given the great demand of Multicolor, the 4 leaders decided it would be best if they train the 6 new members while they simultaneously begin to produce. Although this is a different modality and most participants will most likely not be up to speed, leaders feel confident that this is the best decision for the group and Creamos’ relationship with Multicolor.
6 women in total are receiving basket skill building workshops
 
The Leadership Management consultant, Kelsey Komich, is providing weekly supervision to leaders ensuring they are incorporating all of the learned skills and management techniques learned in the training.
 
Regards, Gord LeMaistre, Chair, Canadian Ripple Effect Committee”

 

Read more...
SAVE THE DATE AND BE INVOLVED
 
 
Rotary Online Auction - November 7 - 21, 2020
Items needed by October 31st
www.rotaryonlineauction.ca
 
 
 
 
 
 
Read more...
FLYERS
 
 
 
 
 
Please forward FLYERS to rotary2359@gmail.com
 
 
 
 
Read more...
EDITOR'S NOTE:
All materials should be submitted in a non-PDF format to rotary2359@gmail.com
Read more...
Birthdays & Join Date Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Bill Koopman
April 12
 
Ken Coulter
April 17
 
Jennifer Loker
April 28
 
Joanne MacNair
April 30
 
Join Date
Cliff Thompson
April 21, 2011
9 years
 
Bent Fink-Jensen
April 23, 2009
11 years
 
Jim Cox
April 29, 2004
16 years