Stories

Thank you to our generous community for your support of the BEL Rotary annual voluntary

toll. More than $5000. was raised to support local and international service work.

BEL Rotarians and Friends embark upon project to build a school in the small Asian country of Cambodia.

For more information or to join the team please contact Susan Davidson at susandavidson@trentu.ca

or 705-292-8977.

Golfers enjoy scotch and martini sampling at the 2014 Season Opener Golf Tournament.  The 2015 Season Opener is Friday May 15th, at the Quarry Golf Club.  For more information or to register click on the link at the left hand side of this page.

Join BEL Rotarians at Rotary Park (the west side of the Bridgenorth Ennismore causeway) on Saturday May 2nd, at 10:00 a.m. for the Super Spring Clean - Up!

District Governor Brian Menton (left) and Assistant Governor Lynne Chant welcome Wilf Gray to the BEL Club.

The count down is on!  Mark Sunday February 1, 2015 on your calendar and join the wild and crazy plungers who will be "freezin' for a reason" in support of their favorite charities.  For more information and registration forms, click on the "Polar Plunge" site page at the top of the left hand column on this page or go to www.belrotaryplunge.com  

Congratulations and thank you to all who made the Gingerbread Contest such a success!!

Community Services Chair presents Denise Gould of Cmemong Community Care with a cheque to

support senior's programs in our area.

Lorie Windrem, music teacher at Chemong Public School accepts a check from Community Service chair Chris Tworkowski toward the purchase of music                               to support the newly formed recorder and ukulele programs.

Constable Greg White, School Resource Officer with the OPP thanks President Brian Parks

for the Club's generous sponsorship of students to the OPP summer camp.

Assistant Governor Lynne presents Past President Dave with the Presidential Citation and Governor's Achievement Award in recognition of the work of the club during the 2013 - 2014 Rotary year.

David Dane of Runner's Life presents President Brian with a cheque for $500., from the Chemong Lake Tirathlon.

Fellowship, Fun and a Night at with the Blue Jays!

Brad Watt, owner and chef of "Rare" demonstrated butchering and barbecuing techniques to Rotarians and guests.

BEL Rotarians enjoyed a visit from Zicka Christen, exchange student during the 2005/2006 Rotary year. Zicka updated club members about her life during the past 8 years. Zicka is an excellent example of the value and far reaching effects of the Youth Exchange Program. Welcome Back Zicka!

Light Up Rotary is not just our theme for the year — it is a call for each of us to take action and make Rotary stronger. 2014-15 R.I. Presdient Gary Huang encourages us to take action to increase our membership, enhance our service impact, and expand our network.

After 37 years of Service to the BEL Club and the community, Bob Craw is named honorary member.

ADG Lynne Chant presents outgoing President David Tilley with his Paul Harris +1 in recognition of his commitment to Service Above Self.

BEL Rotarians Girv and Cheryl Devitt and Susan and Tony Davidson are seen with the 20 children who received bicycles thanks to the generous donation of the BEL Club.

BEL "Season Opener" golf tournament kicks off the golf season in style!

Rotarian Trevor Copeland is joined by community members Chris, Lisa, Elyse and Isabella in an effort to clean up our environment.

BEL Rotary

“The Little Club That Can”

March 31, 2014

March is Literacy Month

Thanks to the generosity of the Township of Selwyn Community $2100. will be donated to the fight against polio.  Rotarians are determined to finish the job we began more than 25 years ago.

Twenty-eight team members, 11 distributions, 1333 bicycles: the gift of an education!

At the February 24th meeting, BEL Rotary recognized the many sponsors, volunteers and plungers who made this year's plunge such a success.  More than $40,000 was raised and the true benefactors are the charities the plungers supported.  Above is Jenna Gabourie, who raised the most money in the "Individual" category.  Everyone has their own reason for jumping: below is Jenna's story. 

President Dave Tilley presents a cheque to Rotarians Girv and Tony.  The money will go to the purchase of bicycles so Cambodian children will have the opportunity to attend school.

ADG Lynne Chant presents Rotarian Bob Fawcett with his Paul Harris Fellow recognition.  Congratulations Bob!

One of the true honours of being a Rotarian is to induct new members into our club.  Tonight we had the honour of inducting three new members, Kasandra Bath, Trevor Copeland and Stan Hampton. 

Thank you Don for 31 years of Service Above Self!

BEL Rotary donated $1000. to the Rotary Wheels for Learning.  The contribution will translate into 20 bicycles for school age children who otherwise may not have access to schooling.

Santa's Elves were busy as Rotarians got in the spirit and purchased gifts of toys, books and clothing to support local families.

Terry McQuitty of the Lakefield Herald provides tremendous support to the BEL Club through the promotion and celebration of the work of Rotary.

At the December 2nd meeting, BEL Rotary was proud to recognize community members Margaret Currie and Brad Filman in addition to some of their own with the Paul Harris Fellow Recognition.

At the December 2nd meeting, ADG Lynne Chant presented the BEL Club with the Presidential Citation 2012 - 2013, for outstanding service to the local and global communities and for upholding the ideals of Rotary. 

On December 2^nd, the BEL Club celebrated 37 years of service to the local and international community, and a night of celebration it was.  In true keeping with the spirit of the BEL Club, the room was filled with Rotarians, family and friends. The contributions of the BEL club over the past 37 years are legendary.  The club has made a positive impact on the lives of many people in the local and global communities and members strive to "Engage Rotary" to "Change lives".  The club was honoured to have R.I. Director Bryn Styles address them, and share his dedication, passion and commitment to making this world a better place. 

BEL Rotary joined in partnership with the Ennismore Horticultural Society to bring Christmas to Rotary Park.  President Dave, together with Andrea, Nathan and Owen partake of the fun.

Lakefield Businesses got in the spirit of the season and participated in the Ginger Bread House Contest sponsored by BEL Rotary as part of the "Christmas in the Village Celebrations.

Dr. Rosanna Pellissari, our Medical Officer of Health speaks to the club

District Gov. Marilyn Hanson visits the club

Returning exchange student Alicia Kensit speaks about her trip and business speaker Debbie Karpenko provides information about her business Waterfront Interiors 

Speaker Bill Obee speaks of the wheelchair distribution project in Cambodia

Join us May 1st on the links!

Click on "Golf Tournament link in the top left corner.

February is World Understanding Month

Bridgenorth, ON.

The weather outside is freezing or so the Rotary Club of Bridgenorth-Ennismore- Lakefield (B.E.L.) hopes. They have now begun making preparations for the  33^rd annual Polar Plunge at Chemong Lake.

What’s new this year?  The B.E.L. Club has implemented an arrangement for jumpers to register and gather donations on-line.  Go to: www.belrotaryplunge.com to sign up if you’re jumping or to donate to your favourite plunger.  Using this method, the Club hopes to surpass their highest year in 2011 which raised in excess of $84,000 for more than 50 charities and the Club itself. 

 Here is an opportunity to raise funds for the charity of your choice.  60% of the monies raised goes to your chosen charity and 40% comes to BEL Rotary to support its local and international service projects.

 The “Freezin for a Reason” event happens on Sunday, Feb 3^rd at 2 pm sharp at Rotary Park in Ennismore.  The theme is “Movie Mania” and plungers can compete for prizes including Best Costume and Most Money Raised.  The Best Costume Prize will go to the jumpers who dress in our movie theme and impress our celebrity judges with their “acting”.  The teams who raise the most money will also be recognized one of two categories: the most money raised by a large corporation and the most money raised by an individual or small company. 

 It’s Christmas, the season of giving and the perfect time to ask your colleagues and friends for their generous support.

For more information, you can go to www.belrotary.com and click on the right hand side to obtain a pledge sheet, see the rules and to find out how to generate an on-line account.  You may also contact Tony Davidson, this year’s Plunge Chair at

705-743-4244 or by e-mail: anthony.davidson@rbc.com.

Join our the members of BEL Rotary at our Annual Polar Plunge in Ennismore on Feb 3, 2013.

Pledge sheets are available here:  2013 Pledge Sheets

Past District Governor Dawn Straka Visits the club

Dr, Elwood Jones of Trent Valley Archives speaks to the Club

woo

 By: Ruth Kuchinad

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5th, 2011 at TAMARAC GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

Registration and lunch begins at 11:00 am

Shotgun Start at 12:30 pm

FORMAT: Four Person Scramble

COST:  $115 per player ($400 per Foursome if prepaid, $80 if a member of Tamarac)

INCLUDES: Golf, Golf Cart, Lunch, Steak Dinner:  “The Best in the Area” Prize Table, Closest to the Pins, Door Prize Draws , ETC, ETC, ETC, Prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd then by DRAW

Sponsored by Tony Davidson of RBC Dominion Securities.

To register, donate a prize or sponsor a hole please contact Dave Rook-Green at (705) 745-1256 or chess2guitar@yahoo.ca

All  proceeds to aid in our community projects

THANK YOU from the B.E.L. Rotary Club to all the sponsors, supporters and participants of the 31st Polar Plunge which took place Feb 6, 2011.  Your efforts behind the scenes and during the event made this year’s event the best in 31 years. 149 jumpers raising over $82,000, made contributions to 50 different charities – doubling our efforts from last year! CONGRATULATIONS!

Polar Plunge pictures from 2011 are now posted under “Journals” on the right side of homepage!

Adventures in Tourism is an annual 4 day conference from April 3-6 2011 that is sponsored by BEL Rotary.  This free conference will network students with local businesses and industry professionals to demonstrate what a career in tourism, hospitality and culinary areas could hold for their future. It is a unique, once in a lifetime, intimate experience perfect for students between the ages of 15-18 who are looking to make an educated decision when considering their post secondary and career options. Please call Brian Parks at (705)657-2857 for more information.

Superheroes are starting to come out of the woodwork to jump in the Polar Plunge, set for Sunday, Feb 6^th, at 2 p.m. sharp in Rotary Park, Ennismore.  Organizers from B.E.L. Rotary Club have learned that a team of 9 people from Dynacast have raised significant funds and are jumping for the YMCA Strong Kids.  MP Dean Del Mastro has committed to doing the jump this year for Pedal fro Hope, Betsy McGregor will be plunging the Special Olympics Soccer Team, and Chris Jones will plunge with a Youth Unlimited Team.  

The race is on to become the best dressed or most well-funded Super Hero at the 31^st Polar Plunge on Feb 6^th, 2011, @ 2 pm sharp at Rotary Park in Ennismore.  Tony Davidson, Chair of B.E.L. Rotary’s 2011 Polar Plunge Committee said, “Super Heroes as a theme was chosen specifically by the Club because all the plungers are heroes for their audacity in braving the cold, cold winter waters of Chemong Lake to aid others less fortunate”.  The theme also honours firefighters and police such as those in Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield who often rescue snowmobilers and boaters from the Chemong Lake itself.

The Rotary Club of Bridgenorth - Ennismore - Lakefield (BEL) is made up of a cross-section of dedicated business professionals from all walks of life. We received our charter on November 26, 1976 being sponsored by the Rotary Club of Peterborough.

The BEL Rotary Club has earned a reputation as being a fun loving dynamic and high spirited organization that, despite its modest size it takes on, and completes, many local, national and international diverse projects.

If you have any questions about BEL Rotary or are interested in joining, please contact our Membership Director Bob Ash at (705)292-7147 or email Susan Davidson .

Hi I’m Jeanette Heffernan; I have been chosen to represent BEL Rotary. I’m 15 years, and a grade 10 student at St. Peters Secondary School. I play hockey, rugby, and row. I live on a sheep farm with my 2 brothers and 1 sister and my dad is an electrician. I’m really excited to be an exchange student. I want to have a better understanding of the different cultures, and gain more confidence when talking in front of groups. I would like to thank BEL Rotary for choosing me as a representative of their club.

Jeanette Heffernan 

You can find plunge forms at the following locations:

• Bridgenorth Valu-Mart, Bridgenorth Plaza

• Bell’s Garage Bridgenorth

• Chemong Lodge, Bridgenorth

• Custom Copy, Peterborough

• Neilsen’s Jewellery, Peterborough

• Ricart Trophies, Peterborough

 Or you can download the plunge forms here.

• AMJ Campbell 
• Bowles Valu-Mart 
• Chemong Lodge
• Custom Copy
• Glenn Windrem Trucking
• Guradian, Bridgenorth Pharmacy 
• Heming
• Kruz, 100.5 FM
• Ricart
• Rota Spa
• STC, 
• The Wolf, 101.5 FM

The B.E.L. Rotary Club presents the 31^st Annual POLAR  PLUNGE on Sunday, Feb 6^th, 2011 at 2 p.m. sharp at BEL Rotary Park, Ennismore.  “Freezin for a Reason” at the Polar Plunge annually draws over 1500 people to hoot and holler at the crazy folks plunging into the frigid waters of Chemong Lake.  Their efforts are all for good cause as they raise funds for their favorite charities and support Rotary’s many charitable endeavors in the process. Registration forms are now available for download. More information can found under Site Pages. Please forward all questions and concerns to Tony at (705)743-4244 or email Courtney.

Stay tuned!

BEL Rotarians celebrated the spirit of Christmas as they shopped for eight families in our community. 

       As the world recognized World Polio Day, the BEL Purple Pinkie people were out in force, collecting

donations and raising awareness of the presence and world status of this horrible disease.

Come and find our how we can work together to make our world a better place!

Monday September 15, 6:30

Chemong Lodge, Bridgenorth

Together we can make a difference.

PDG Dawn Straka and President Brian Parks share goals for the Rotary year.  In the words of Confucius, it is better to light one candle than to sit and curse the darkness.  As we begin the 2014 - 2015 Rotary year, BEL Rotarians are setting goals and taking action to make the world a better "brighter" place.

ADG Lynne presented Past President Ruth with a banner recognizing the club for its contributions to the Rotary Foundation.  The BEL Club was recognized as one of 2,244 out of 34,644 clubs world-wide that achieved the goal of Every Rotarian Every Year (every member made a personal donation) and a minimum contribution of $100. U.S. per active member.  Well done BEL Rotary.

BEL Rotary commits $1000. to the purchase of bicycles so Cambodian children can attend school.

In the spirit of "doing good while having fun" BEL Rotarians carved pumpkins to be donated to local schools.

The Rotary Foundation: The goal is simple "to do good in the world".  The impact is great.

District Governor Marilyn Hanson encourages us to Engage in Rotary and Change Lives.

Rebound exchange student, Alicia Kensit shared her adventures, challenges and triumphs of her exchange year in Mexico. 

Our semi annual clean up was met with wind and rain but it didn't dampen our spirits!

BEL Rotary supports the effort of the Ennismore Horticultural Society.

Hardy golfers from far and wide are invited to the Bridgenorth-Ennismore-Lakefield (B.E.L) Rotary Club's 18^th Annual "Final Fling" Golf Tournament on Wednesday, October 6th, 2010.  Tamarac Golf Course, Ennismore is the site of spirited competition with a shotgun start promptly at 12:30 p.m.  Registration and lunch begin at 11 a.m.

For only $110 per person ($80 for Tamarac members) or $400 per foursome if prepaid, they will be treated to a great 18 holes of golf, supplied with a golf cart, lunch, steak dinner (the best in the area) and lots of prizes.  If they make a hole in one, Tony Davidson from RBC Dominion Securities will even come up with $10,000!

This is the 18^th year of the Tournament, which raises funds to support

community groups such as Five Counties Childrens' Centre, Youth Unlimited, Community Care, Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield Fire Dept., SEL Libraries and the OPP.  In addition to its international projects, B.E.L. Rotary funds support local projects including annual Christmas hampers, the Hilliard St. trail, Chemong lakefront restoration, the Green Classroom at ChemongPublic School, playground equipment at Ridpath Public School Lakefield, and the gazebo at RotaryPark in Ennismore.

Dave Rook-Green and John Taylor, tournament co-directors, suggest there is no better way to say good-bye to the golf season than to come out October 6^th, have loads of fun playing that last round, eating a sumptuous steak dinner, picking up a prize or two and supporting Rotary's good community work.

Registration forms can be downloaded from the right side of the homepage under "Download"

Thanks to Mike for carving an excellent representation of our Rotary Wheel from ice!

BEL Rotary is at it again donating $750 to Lakefield Youth Unlimited. Chris Jones came out to accept the cheque and reminded us of the important role Youth Unlimited plays in our local community helping children from slipping though the cracks.

Thanks to everyone for a record year!!! Some of the pictures from the weekend are now online. Please email Courtney Davidson a description of your costume and number in your party for a copy of your plunge pictures. See you next year!!!!

BEL Rotary

PO BOX 249

Bridgenorth , ON

K0L 1H0

A BIG thank you to all the volunteers and supporters of the 2009 Chemong Lake Triathlon. We would also like to send a warm thank you to all of the participating athletes - We Hope to See You All Again Next Year!

Last week high school students from various communities took part in the BEL Rotary Adventures in Tourism program. The students got to see how local business in the tourism industry are operated and managed. Click here for the full story featured in the Lakefield Herald.

District Governor Tom Bennett presented Don with the Paul Harris +1 pin in recognition of his tangible contributions to the BEL Rotary Club. Don has been a dedicated friend and volunteer of the BEL Rotary Club for many years. He has worked tirelessly at the polar plunge and triathlon, often the first to arrive and last to leave.