The COVID-19 situation in Canada is evolving on a daily even hourly basis. We are being asked to take immediate and strong action to help stop the spread of this virus. It is important for all of us to practice the necessary precautions: hand washing, social distancing and self-isolation when necessary. To this end, all face to face meetings and social events of the BEL Rotary Club are cancelled or postponed until further notice. However, we are meeting online and continuing to serve our community. The health and safety of our Rotary family and friends and neighbours is of paramount importance. We are still here and want to serve our community. Please reach out to one of our club members if we can be of any support.
Take care and be safe,
Your Friends at BEL Rotary
Rotarians may not be meeting in person, but the work and impact of Rotary continues during this unprecedented time. At the BEL Rotary meeting on Monday night Past District Governor Brian Menton, updated the club on the tremendous strides rotary has made in polio eradication and how the infrastructures and resources to fight polio are aiding developing countries in responding to Covid – 19.
Youth exchange brings the world together one student at a time. The BEL Rotary Club was please to welcome return student Danika Ash to their virtual meeting. We also had to say farewell to our inbound student Rocia - who has become an important part of our Rotary family.
We are all working together to do our part to slow the spread of Covid -19 and make our community safe once again. To our front line workers, our medical teams and our local businesses a huge thank
you! Although we are not meeting face to face members of the BEL Club are doing what they can to support the community and help in this unprecedented time.
you! Although we are not meeting face to face members of the BEL Club are doing what they can to support the community and help in this unprecedented time.
In partnership with the Lovesick Lake Women’s Association, President Elect Nicole Mascherin is coordinating the making of masks to be distributed to front line workers and key community members.
The club has also contributed to the production of hand sanitizer to be distributed to health care professionals and at risk community members, and will help with the distribution of this product.
“We know we need to pull together during this difficult time but we also need to ensure that our members, our families and our friends and neighbours are safe”, said President Tony. “Members of the
club are here to help where possible and where safe. If you need help with the delivery of medication or groceries to your home, please contact a club member and we will assist you.”
As we continue in this “new norm”, BEL Rotarians will continue to assess the situation to determine what they can do to help. We are proud to be part of such a generous, civic minded community and will
continue to do our part through these unprecedented times. For contact information and more information about BEL Rotary please visit our website www.belrotray.com.
In 2016, the BEL Rotary Club built the second classroom at the Rotary School of Cambodia and much has changed. Thanks to the work of our partners at Trent University, our teacher Sophea has grown in both his teaching ability and his facility with the English language. The children are learning to read, write and speak English more than we ever imagined. Sophea’s wife has a successful home sewing business and four other women from the community also have home sewing businesses. During this time when awareness of our health is heightened by the spread of COVID 19, many children in Cambodia continue to live with the reality of drinking non potable water. Thanks to the installation of the water filter system and the hand washing station, children can come to the school and get safe drinking water and have a place where they can wash their hands. All of this will go a long way in keeping the children safe and healthy. Thank you to everyone who has made this a reality. For more information about the work of BEL Rotary visit our website www.belrotary.org.
Thanks to the intrepid plungers, volunteers, and sponsors, more than 1,000,000 dollars has been raised for local charities and the work Rotary over the past 40 years. Sunday February 2nd marked the 40th anniversary of the BEL Rotary Polar Plunge and an estimated 1,000,000 dollars raised to support our community. Charities including Hospice, LAWS, Youth Unlimited, YES and Parkinson Canada are but a few of benefactors over the years. This year approximately 75 jumpers took to the icy waters of Chemong Lake and raised in excess of 25,000 dollars.
Veteran jumper Stephanie Dancy has raised approximately 13,500 in her 18 jumps and will continue until she reaches 25 consecutive jumps. First time jumper Rino Andreoli jumped for Parkinson Canada. “A good friend has a son with this disease. It is a great way to support a worthy cause and develop community spirit”. Eight time jumper Cheryl Hoddy is truly an inspiration. Living with Multiple Sclerosis herself, she jumps for Cystic Fibrosis, which her husband lives with. Husband Steve is also a veteran jumper and joined her this year. When asked about the plunge they replied “There’s no such thing as you can’t do it – just do it!”
Thank you to all of our sponsors, supporters, volunteers and of course the jumpers who make this event such a great success. It is your spirit and generosity that make our community so strong!
Youth Exchange has often been called the “Jewel in the Rotary Crown”. BEL is very proud of our students and the difference they make in our lives and the lives they touch around the world. Congratulations to Molly McLean, our outbound student. Molly is going to make Switzerland her home for a year beginning in August 2020. This will provide her the opportunity to be immersed in a new language and culture, and also share her Canadian identity. What better way to make the world a little bit smaller!
