Rotary Christmas Greenery

12" and 18" wreaths plus 20' garlands are available. If you haven't ordered yet please contact Sandra at sandragallaugher57@gmail.com.

Pick up your order at Michael's house on Thursday Nov. 6 between 10:30 am and 11:30 am.  For other pick up times make arrangements with Michael.

Rotary Christmas Baskets

$75.00 per basket. Filled with an array of local products, mostly consumables. Place your order at shelburnerotary@gmail.com or call Sandra at 226-0200-0925. A lovely gift to give at Christmas.

In early October Rotary District 7080 held its District Conference. 

It was an opportunity for Rotarians from different clubs to meet and share ideas for service.

We also heard from inspiring speakers, including David Nairn, actor and former artistic director of Theatre Orangeville. He spoke about their program for young people from the "neuro diverse community" to participate in theatre.

We heard from Joe Dittmar who survived 9/11.  He was in the 105th floor of the South Tower.

We heard from Natalija Vojno.  A Rotary Peace Fellowship recipient  (a scholarship that Shelburne Rotary sponsors). Born in the former Yugoslovia (she's now Canadian), and understanding the horrors of war, she now works for peace and reconciliation in the world and in Canada.

And finally, we heard from Ramesh Ferris.  A Rotarian, and now a Rotary District Governor from Whitehorse, Yukon. Ramesh is a polio survivor and spoke of his battle with polio and his determination to help eradicate it, including joining Rotary, and his ride across Canada on the "Cycle to Walk".

The conference as also an opportunity for our District Youth Exchange Students to meet each other.

Shelburne Rotary supported the last Shelburne Food Bank Senior's market on October 30.

The market moves to four different locations through the morning bringing food to those who need it.

The market will be back in the spring.

Thank you to the Shelburne Food Bank for all you do in our community.

The cool thing about doing an exchange year is that I get to do things I’ve never done before — or things I could never do back home.

In October, for example, I celebrated my very first Thanksgiving and ate turkey and stuffing for the first time. 

I also helped with the Shelburne Rotary Food Drive and PumpkinFest.

I also visited Toronto for the very first time!

The highlight of the month was definitely seeing Toronto (and having lunch) from the top of the CN Tower. 

I’m super excited for everything that’s still to come!

Editor's Note: Natalie was officially welcomed to Shelburne by Town Council at the beginning of October.

This month I have been very lucky to go to Vimy Ridge, the Canadian WWI monument, with my Rotary counselor and friend Jean Pierre. 

It was very peaceful, breathtaking and historic. Surrounded by the hills of northern France, there were sheep grazing 200 yards from the monument. It is my favourite place that I have visited so far.

I also met the other Youth Exchange students in my Rotary District, along with all 150 exchange students from northern France at Mont Saint-Michel.

It was very impressive and amazing to visit, but the best part of the trip was talking with people from all over the world and having so much in common through this exchange.

I was also able to go to Paris with the first of my four host families, Arnaud and Karine. I enjoy living with them at Wormhout very much. 

Paris was also great to visit and we walked around the city for the weekend.

More next month!

This month we supported Dufferin Special Olympics.

Special Olympics is dedicated to enriching the lives of those with an intellectual disability through sport.

Shelburne Rotary is proud to support their efforts in Dufferin County.

My name is Taya Glazier.

I became connected with Shelburne Rotary during my high school years to help earn the 40 volunteer hours that were required to graduate.

Additionally, one of my best friends is a Rotarian’s daughter, and her and I would partner up and sell raffle tickets during the Fiddle Contest. We also had fun picking up garbage during the highway clean up initiative.

Fast forward 12 years, I am now enrolled in the MBA (Masters of Business Administration) program at Wilfrid Laurier University that also has a requirement to complete 40 hours of community service to graduate.

I chose Shelburne Rotary to fulfill this requirement for a few reasons.

First, I am always happy to contribute to the community I grew up in and where my parents still live.  

Second, because of the values Shelburne Rotary holds and the countless community initiatives they support.

And finally, I felt welcomed as a volunteer in high school, and knew I’d have the same experience this time; like minded and caring people who want to better the community. 

Rotarians contribute an estimated 47 million volunteer hours annually.  

It's amazing what people can do when they “Unite for Good”.

But we do also take time to have a little fun, have a listen to the Paul Harris Rotary Rap.