A few weeks ago we had our club assembly with the theme of "Taking the Pulse" of the club. You had an opportunity to speak about made you feel good about the club and what worried you about the club. It was clear that there is generally a good feeling about the club and that we are doing well. But you also highlighted some areas of concern which we wanted find out more about, so we created a survey which the majority of you filled out. Thank you for that since your input is critical to an understanding of where we should focus our attention as a club to ensure it continues to stay healthy and vibrant.
So what's next? To turn the results into action we plan to use the following process:
We will analyse the responses and break them down by committee.
We will then conduct a facilitated session with each committee to determine which are the most important issues to tackle within the committee's area of responsibility.
The outcome will then be shared with the club as a whole.
Thank you again for your active participation in this process.
This month's MAKE A GREAT PASS TO SIERRA LEONE update is a photo library of our noble volunteers working hard through the winter snow to fill our second shipping container that is now on route to Africa.
The Rotarians involved were our wonderfully resilient President Bent, the ever smiling Don Blunt, the surprisingly strong Jennifer Estall, along with her beau Andy and a few very helpful friends (Alex and Rob). My dear friend Phil Shearn was there as always, as was the ever reliable Graham Schreiber, who has made a major contribution to this project through his constant willingness to help. We were also very pleased to have the help of the polite and pleasant Imad who was representing Oakville Rotaract. Alongside him in one photo and in the group photos is our very own, extremely hard working, European superstar Valeria. Just like Jennifer Estall I was truly impressed with her willingness to stick with every task and lift everything we put in front of her. To match their beauty and strength was my own lovely daughter Jade Jordan.
The trucking company owner Gerry, not only donated the transportation down from Thunder Bay, but was immensely helpful in leading the crew transferring the hospital beds from the truck to the shipping container which was a truly Herculean feat. They were so heavy that a few peoples arms are permanently two inches longer than before. Last but not least and despite his back problems, my Kenyan friend Wilfred Pande also came along for a while and was good enough to donate some used office furniture to Bassie and the CANSERRA school.
Bassie and I led our respective teams of volunteers inside and outside of the container. After everyone left on the Sunday Bassie actually pulled an 'all-nighter' and after 20 hours of non-stop work slept in his car. He finally completed his mission and crammed more stuff into that container than any of us believed was humanly possible.
Bassie and I want to thank the RCOT club and our individual members for their ongoing support. As always if you want to know more, if you want to make a personal financial donation or if you just want to help us spread the word about what we are doing you can check out our project website at www.makeagreatpass.ca
The Membership Committee would like to thank Vanda Albuquerque and Ray Jackson for successfully resurrecting the Sunshine Committee. They are constantly in touch with the infirmed members and their families; currently: Bill Roebuck, Bob Zimmerman and Bev Thomson. We wish them speedy recovery. The activation criteria for selecting a member for follow-up by the Sunshine Committee is covered in the Weekly Courier.
The Rotary Club of Oakville West has successfully leveraged their relationship with the Oakville Chamber of Commerce resulting in their major fundraiser, the Oakville Awards for Business Excellence, now in its 23rd year. The committee decided that the Membership Chair and President Elect should attend the Oakville Chamber of Commerce meetings on a regular basis. To this extent, Raj Phalpher has attended two ‘After Hours’ meetings and plans to attend the upcoming breakfast meetings.
The committee decided that simply encouraging the members to invite friends and associates to lunch and hoping that some of them decide to join the club is not sufficient to increase club membership. We need a well thought out strategy and plan that includes such considerations as changing demographics, an awareness campaign, other forms of memberships, e.g .corporate membership, etc. To this extent, a sub-committee has been formed. Stay tuned!
We have had an excellent response to ‘Taking a Pulse’ survey, and the plan to follow-up on the feedback is covered in the President's Message.
Our Newest Member
Our newest member is Irene Cvetkovski-Dukic who was inducted by Member Chair and President Elect Raj Phalpher and President Bent Fink-Jensen on March 30th.
Our club is a member of an International cluster consisting of 8 clubs from Milton, Oakville, and Burlington (called the MOB). Last year the MOB Cluster selected a project to build 200 latrines in Guatemala. Below is the recognition plaque that has been posted at the site.
Members of Rotary Burlington North will be presenting at our club on April 27th about their visit to this project. Oakville Trafalgar's contribution to this project was $5000 US.
In the Beautiful Colonial city of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico
Itinerary
Fri. Oct 27th - Travel to San Miguel de Allende. Be transported from Leon, Gto. (BJX) or Queretaro, Qto. (QRO) international airports to the private residence of your host. Depending on time of arrival, enjoy a light meal at hosts' home or en-route.
Sat. Oct. 28th - Take a guided walking tour of the Historic Centre of San Miguel. In the afternoon enjoy a cultural lecture of the origins and traditions of the Day of the Dead followed by a Welcome
Dinner with other guests and hosts.
Sun. Oct 29th- Free morning to relax. Three course meal with wine served at beautiful private residence. Later enjoy your favourite beverage while watching the beautiful sunset on the roof terrace of the Rosewood Hotel.
Mon. Oct 30th - Visit a local pyramid (lunch served at the nearby ranch) or perhaps participate in a cooking class (and enjoy eating what you prepare) -both activities are an additional charge - or simply enjoy a free afternoon exploring San Miguel. Later join together for dinner at a popular restaurant in town.
Tues. Oct 31st - Visit the School for Special Education for a guided tour. Attend San Miguel Midday Rotary meeting and share lunch with fellow Rotarians.
In the evening share in the joy of visiting the Main Plaza or Jardin where Mexican children parade in costume and Mariachi bands play traditional music.
Wed. Nov. 1st - Participate in a visit to a cemetery to evidence how Mexican families decorate the graves of their deceased family members and celebrate Day of the Dead. In the afternoon gather for a festive dinner in a private residence and later be prepared to participate in the annual Catrina parade with costumes and make-up provided.
Thurs. Nov 2nd - Final day in magical San Miguel. Be transported out of town with a knowledgeable guide to visit and enjoy spectacular ruins of chapels/churches as well as the beautiful Hacienda homes reminiscent of a by-gone era. Partake in an authentic Mexican meal at one of the Haciendas.
A farewell dinner party will be enjoyed with all of the guests and hosts at a very special San Miguel restaurant.
Fri. Nov 3rd - Be picked up at host's home to be transported to the airport for your flight home with wonderful memories of your visit swirling in your head and etched in your heart.
Tour Price & Deposit Deadline:
Cost per person US$1600 (based on double occupancy)
Deposit: $800 to reserve your space payable byMay 12th, 2017
Full Refund if cancelled by August 25th, less a $200 administration fee
Balance of payment $800 due on August 25th, 2017
What's included in the tour price:
-seven night's accommodation and daily light breakfast at host's home
-one other meal (either lunch or dinner) each day at private residence or at a popular restaurant
-ground transportation from your destination airport and return -additional ground transportation, if necessary, from host's home to activities
-welcome basket
-historical walking tour of San Miguel
-Day of the Dead cultural lecture
-tour of School for Special Education
-guided cemetry tour
-participation in Day of the Dead "Catrina" parade
Are you on the fence about whether or not you should go? Read the article at the link below for more information and pictures of San Miguel de Allende.
Today is the first day of spring according to the calendar. It’ll be a while before the trees blossom and the trilliums appear in the woods. But at this very moment the transformation of our land is secretly underway. Buds are beginning to swell, seeds are activating their complex growth programs hidden inside of them.
Biologists and chemists have learned a lot about the forces at work at the centre of the spring explosion of growth. But at the centre of spring there is mystery. How do seeds measure temperature and calculate up and down? How complex is the program in them that can produce roots, stems, leaves, complex flowers and, indeed, the seeds that replicate themselves?
Our very existence depends on plants. Every leaf is a chemical factory using CO2, water and sunshine, to produce the sugars and oxygen all living things need to exist. “All things bright and beautiful, all creatures things great and small.”
Thus, at the core of our existence there is magic and mystery.
The gift of spring, these early moments when the earth re-awakens, is the time we have to ponder and appreciate the wonder of it all, the magic, the miracles playing out around us, and to be humbled by it all.
Join our team! We are currently looking for editorial assistance.
Please speak with Bob Gardner if you are interested.
We communicate with our members in a variety of ways.
These include:
announcements at weekly meetings,
email notifications,
web page stories,
weekly slide show,
monthly newsletter (RIOTS)
and our weekly meeting summary (Weekly Courier).
Additionally we have a club Facebook page and Twitter account that are managed by Liz Behrens.
The links to our Facebook and Twitter accounts are under Quick Links at www.rcot.ca.
Guidelines have been introduced to cover all of our communications and can be reviewed at our web page www.rcot.ca by selecting the About Our Club tab.
RIOTS - Rotary International Oakville Trafalgar Service is a monthly newsletter published online by the club and is sent to all members and friends of the club. It is available in electronic format to anyone with email.
Content for RIOTS is subject to editing and should be submitted to rotary2359@gmail.com in a non-PDF format.
To subscribe email info@rcot.ca
WEEKLY COURIER is a weekly bulletin sent to members recapping announcements.
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