Edina Mehovic from RI headquarters in Chicago who was kind enough to review what the foundation was all about how her life has been impacted through support from the only recognized 4 star charity…. The Rotary Foundation.
 Annual Giving Officer, Zones 28W & 29 | The Rotary Foundation
 Tel 847.425.5612 

Pretty timely given the impact that COVID has had globally…certainly as our club now meets virtually and our fellowship is more along the lines of virtual hugs than physical how are able to contribute is important. As we all know the funds we contribute allow us to qualify and receive matching grants from the district, RI and in some cases other agencies like the Gov’t of Canada. 

As an FYI..our club over its tenure has contributed $180,101 US!

 That was exactly how we were able to leverage a 12,500 USD club contribution to the prevention and screening program in Ecuador. Our 12,500 in addition contributions from Oro Valley, Calgary, Sedro Woolley Rotary Clubs and the Gov’t of Canada turned into 178,580 USD..a significant amount that is now making a difference in 2 key health issues in Ecuador. It is also a significant contributor to our Belize project headed up by Glen and Al.

Times are indeed challenging…but as we are not currently contributing for a weekly breakfast if you are able why not contribute directly via myrotary.org? That way we can stay the course for “every Rotarian every year” (100 usd goal/person per year), gain Paul Harris recognition and contribute to any number of directed areas within Rotary ..perfect trifecta.

To check it out go to:  my.rotary.org  (sign in)…go to either “Profile” or “Donate”

Profile:

In the profile area…under your name and to the right click on “Donor Self Service”

If you want to set up a recurring transaction, simply hit the “ADD button” ..that will take you to 

A “Choose what you would like to support page”…have a recce / explore and pick what works for you….

“Enrollment Details”….followed by Personal Information & Payment Details…a great way to bleed your bank account…AND feel good about it!

SUBMIT…and you are done…but not COOKED..-😊

Prez Cleone dropping off mask materials

As part of our physical distancing effort folks have recommended to us that only one person do the shopping. ( I guess it eases congestion in the grocery stores.)

I thought I would take that on. Who knew it was going to be such a perilous experience, shopping by myself with another persons list. Honestly, I think I have good reasons for not getting things exactly right...

- this brand was on sale
- Is there really a difference between regular and vanilla?
- When you think about it, isn't everything organic?
- but the airmile bonus on ice cream was awesome
- I was pretty sure that 100g meant the large size
- I had to buy 6 to get the sale price
- I have no idea where the list went
- my cell phone doesn't work in Safeway, so no I didn't get the text

Gayle asks.....Michael made sure it happened.  Thank you Michael 

Please think about Yvonne as she goes through her surgery on Wednesday.  We are 100% behind you Yvonne.....You can beat this GIRL!!!!

No words needed

Summary of fun to Date:

 

 * Half of us are going to come out of this quarantine as amazing cooks. The other half will come out with a drinking problem.

  *   I used to spin that toilet paper like I was on Wheel of Fortune. Now I turn it like I'm cracking a safe.

  *   I need to practice social-distancing from the refrigerator.

  *   Still haven't decided where to go for Easter ----- The Living Room or The Bedroom

  *   PSA: every few days try your jeans on just to make sure they fit. Pajamas will have you believe all is well in the kingdom.

  *   Homeschooling is going well. 2 students suspended for fighting and 1 teacher fired for drinking on the job.

  *   I don't think anyone expected that when we changed the clocks we'd go from Standard Time to the Twilight Zone

  *   This morning I saw a neighbor talking to her cat. It was obvious she thought her cat understood her. I came into my house, told my dog..... we laughed a lot.

  *   So, after this quarantine.....will the producers of My 600 Pound Life just find me or do I find them?

  *   Quarantine Day 5: Went to this restaurant called THE KITCHEN. You have to gather all the ingredients and make your own meal. I have no clue how this place is still in business.

 

  *   Day 5 of Homeschooling: One of these little monsters called in a bomb threat.

  

  *   I hope the weather is good tomorrow for my trip to Puerto Backyarda. I'm getting tired of Los Livingroom.

  *   Classified Ad: Single man with toilet paper seeks woman with hand sanitizer for good clean fun.

  *   Day 6 of Homeschooling: My child just said "I hope I don't have the same teacher next year".... I'm offended.

  *   Better 6 feet apart than 6 feet under

YAY TEAM!

Linda, great job on the positive Spike.  Kindness is contagious! 

Social distancing is really critical right now and we need to lead by example but we can have fun doing it. My kids are making me laugh as they joke around while we do a 30 day plank challenge with our cell phones on the floor. Walking with Jeannie and waving each other off as we get excited in our conversation and start approaching the 2 meter mark. Coreen sent me a great 21 day meditation challenge on abundance that is inspiring and we can send it to you if you like.

 Our club is planning to have a virtual “Guess Who is Calling for Dinner”.  Invitations will be sent out later this week.

We need to support the health care system and try to flatten the curve by not meeting with more than 5 people but that does not mean we have stopped doing the Rotary work! Meghan and Coreen hosted our first Wednesday video conferencing meeting. Alan K and Peter have been doing the work to postpone Search for the Perfect Pint. The 4 M’s and team are setting things up for RIBFEST for July but if it needs to be postponed or cancelled a lot of work will already be done. Ian and team continue to work on the Legacy Project.

We have to think creatively how we can help in the community. Vida is busy sewing masks. Peter and Danne can’t read at the manor or bring them pies right now but we did lend them the lap tops from the Belize project that they can use to keep in touch with their loved ones. We lent the Purell stations from RIBFEST to the Food Bank. They were verrrrry happy!

We are continuing our international work as well. Al S, Glen and team are preparing for the Belize trip that has been moved to November. Danne and I packed up educational toys to go with the books, wheelchairs, crutches, walkers and piano that will go to Kenya. Meanwhile Michael B is preparing the computers to go with them.

Now those are the things that I know about….. Send Linda and I the project or project ideas that we have missed. Send in ideas as well on how to make the most of these times and support our loved ones and the community

 Have a few members reach out to those in need, especially your older members, and offer to pick up essentials from the grocery store and deliver to them as well as prescriptions if needed, etc.

• Take a look at your social networks to see where people are seeking help.  For example, a manager of a senior living center posted a simple plea for help with toilet paper.  A Rotarian texted him back and 10 minutes later a case of TP was left at his entrance and he asked what other shopping he might provide. These are the acts of kindness Rotary should be doing.
• Start a dialog between members about things needed.  For example:  I have plenty of T.P., bleach, etc.  Encourage participants to ASK if they are in need of something by simply hitting reply all on the email, to encourage people to stay home as much as possible.
• Students are home, younger parents have to work, if they are not telecommuting.  Consider a helping hand or just a simple voice of support.  Healthy older youth might be available for sitting or taking children outside to provide breaks while still practicing safe distancing.  Young parents are stressed with work and family obligations confronting them.  We can help reduce that stress through our acts of kindness.  They are not alone in this journey.
• Stay connected by posting Club news on the District Facebook page (@rotary5050) and keep members in your club and other clubs update to date.
• Consider donating blood as health care systems in BC and WA need blood.  Platelets can only be stored for 7 days and are needed to stop bleeding and are essential for those fighting cancer, disease and traumatic injuries.
• District Leaders are meeting regularly to help develop the latest information on Rotary to pass along to your club presidents on where to help, different options to meet virtually, projects to consider.  

Supporting each other and  but that does not mean we can’t have fun doing it! 

Tonight at 7 different high rises are going out onto their balconies to make noise for the health care workers. We need to help protect them.  This is going to be done at 7:00pm every night for the next while.  Get out your pots and wooden spoons and make some noise

We are lucky that we live at a time when we can are able to do video conferencing.

Right now is it the time to keep in contact and keep each other’s spirits up.  We are sooooo lucky to have the ability to so.

You are amazing !!!!

Cleone

GUESTS: Kalpna Solanki (Our speaker), Mobina Hasan and Ehsan Chisti (parents of a Heritage Woods student. They were part of the team of adults listening to the Student talks on what they’ve learned and what they want to accomplish. Also have shown interest in possibly joining Rotary.

BIRTHDAYS: Isy and Paul

ANNIVERSARIES: Ann 20 year with Club. Yvonne and Andy plus Megan and Paul.

- Danne spoke about the Heritage Woods students’ transition talks were and how inspirational.

- New Member social for the 5 Clubs was held at Pasta Polo and was a great turnout.  Thank you to all our new members that attended.  Glen, Michael, Anthony, Aziz, Mike, Frank and I hope I haven't missed anyone else.  Oh Mobina Hasan and Ehsan Chisti were there and we will be very lucky if they decide to join our Club.  DG Brad, AG Al, Past DG Denis & Carol  did an excellent job presenting at the meeting.  The first question that was asked was 'Why did you join Rotary'?  a great thought provoking question that we should all reflect on.  Well done !!!

- There will be a membership meeting on March 12th at Gayle’s place. Car- pool if possible as parking is at a premium. After the new members meeting, we will have a great start at what to talk about.  Everyone welcome.

- Brief Board meeting update. NOTE we will have a semi-regular “Club Runner” update this Spring highlighting all the features and changes available on Club Runner.

- There will be a meeting on RIBFEST at Cleone’s April 13th. Will be for leadership team only.

- Report on PETS weekend.

- Thrifty’s has a net out looking for volunteers to help pick/deliver food orders to Seniors or folks with a disability that makes in store shopping difficult.  This is the email we received.  If you can help that would be fantastic.

From: Lynanne Smith [lsmith@thriftyfoods.com]

I am looking for your help in getting the word out for a few volunteers needed - three to be exact. Sendial is a shopping and home delivery service for individuals unable to shop in-store without assistance. The program has been in operation for 33 years. More than 500 volunteers make the service possible throughout the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. There is a small but mighty team of 14 that support our program in Port Moody. We are running very short on volunteers on Monday & Tuesday mornings. Since the shifts fall on weekday mornings, retired people are typically the best fit. Perhaps a Rotarian, or someone they know would be interested in exploring this opportunity. I’m hopeful you will consider putting out an e-mail to your members, or scheduling a representative to speak at an upcoming meeting. Over 150 of our volunteers have been volunteering for 10 years or more – they love their Sendial! More information about the program can be found at www.thriftyfoods.com/Sendial. Thank you for any assistance you can provide. I look forward to hearing back from you at your convenience.

- BON VOYAGE Party April 9th at Legion. More to follow.

- March 14th Belize Training. We have a large contingent of volunteers going to work on our International Grant project. Great work by Glen and Al S. organizing participation from several Clubs in our District, plus other districts, plus international support plus support from our Canadian Government. 

And speaking about Belize look at what is already happening at the Belize Prison.

This is the new kitchen for the female section. First batch of cookies. We hope to make it sustainable by making items they can sell at the prison shop. So we can train sustainably. Teaching to make stuff that can sell will help them when they get out. They are so happy and proud.

 - RLI coming up one Saturday in March.

 Darrell was awarded a service pin for all the work he does securing guest speakers for our meetings. He is open to ideas from anyone in the Club--If you hear someone speak that you think would be good for our members to hear get the contact info to Darrell and he will follow up with them.

Guest speaker Kalpna Solanki from “Operators Without Borders”

--Born in Zambia, High School in Britain, and University in B.C. She is now CEO of Operators Without Borders.

--Kalpna uses the term OPERATOR to cover any of their trained workers involved in a) water treatment, b) water distribution, c) waste-water collection, or d) waste- water treatment.

-- Operators Without Borders is a Registered Canadian Non Profit NGO. It was formed in 2017 in response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria which struck Dominica. It presently has over 50 volunteer workers who work where and when needed.

--It is not a “first responder” agency. They are called on to help “recover” after an emergency with teams of operators who. 

1. Mentor and train utility operators

2. Provide post-disaster recovery for water and waste-water utilities

3. Provide recycled equipment.

4. --in most cases they leave the area with better services than they had before the storm. As in Dominican Republic

--In Bahamas (2019) the problems have been with contamination of their aquifers so their work has been in drilling new source aquifers and working to desalinate water to drinkable levels. 

--For first time they have also been called in to help in some cities in  the US after hurricanes in the south.

--Part of their expanding mandate is to supply volunteers to help in poor countries especially around the Carribean but also looking at in Africa. They want to send teams to help the water/wastewater sector anywhere. Natural disasters like the earthquake in 2010 in Haiti can decimate infrastructure. Their goal is to be able to send teams to help the water sector anywhere help is needed.

1. They had a project in Belize in 2019 where they were helping to upgrade and replace part of their supply/treatment systems. $ volunteers worked to train “operators” in Belize.

More information available at their website https://operatorswithoutborders.org

Claire MacLean has been involved with SHARE Family and Community Services in the Tri-Cities for 4 Years. She and her husband are raising their family in Port Moody. SHARE Family and Community Services exists to Connect, Engage, and Strengthen Individuals and Families.

--Here for the entire community helping folks with vulnerabilities--

1. Food Bank, Housing Services

2. Services for parenting and children/youth services

3. Around aging and social connectedness

4. Newcomers, ESL, etc.

5. Mental health, Substance abuse, etc.

--Thank you Rotary for help with fundraising (Christmas Train Hot Chocolate) and food Bank at Thrifty’s

--SHARE will be involved with the new YMCA facility being built as part of the Burquitlam developments. It will include affordable housing (43 housing) and 100 apartment units below market value PLUS 30 fully accessible units.

--working to transform the FOOD BANK to be more accomodating.

--program to react to urgent mental health issues--within 48 hours and appointment within 2 weeks. 

--working on ways to assist family health Dr.s -- not enough time to spend with patients, reduce burnout, nurse practitioners.

--New Children’s Centre under construction due to open end of 2021. Partnership with Saint Andrew’s United and Kinsite.

--Foundry is a new concept B.C. program offering 1-Stop Hub for Youth 12-24 years old. Provides counselling, mentoring, Doctors, and other services. SHARE has applied to be the lead agency for a Hub in   the Tri Cities during an upcoming second phase where there will be 6 new Hubs spread around the Province. 

--March 7th they will be holding their ‘Imagine” Fundraiser, their 15th annual. At the Hard Rock.  

Rotary Areas of Focus: 

1. Peace & conflict prevention/resolution

2. Disease Prevention & Treatment

3. Waste handling & sanitation

4. Maternal & child health

5. Basic education & literacy Economic & community development

 Gayle and Bob’s 57th anniversary. - Wishing you many many more Healthy & Happy years together!!!

1. Club Installation night  June 25th (Thursday)

2. Cleone thanked Glen for covering 1 week of her absence.

3. Board Meeting was on  Feb. 24th at 7:00am

4. New Members “meet and greet” Wednesday Feb. 26th at Pasta Polo. Our Club has 11 folks attending. Great way to meet new members from other clubs

5. Rotary Leadership Institute March 7-8 Mt. Vernon.

6. Cleone spoke about a new program to collect old I-Phones and tablets to send to Kenya. More info to follow

7. Busy times coming up--preparing for Belize trip in April, SFPP (May 29th) and RIBFEST (July 17,18,19). Try to keep track of hours we spend to include in a yearly tally of hours volunteered.

8. Our thoughts to Linda and George and to the Berrisfords

9. Vida has been involved in Rotary since 1984 and is still actively involved with the “Days For Girls” in Africa and around the world

1. No Birthdays or anniversaries. - oops we need new members for we have a Birthday to celebrate ;o)

2. February 26th there will be a “new members” social. More to come

3. February 12th meeting we will have a Legacy Project Reveal. Hope to see everyone there.

4. Belize trip will happen April 14-22. First ½ working with the Rotary project and second half tourist/exploring time

Guest Speaker: Coreen Beresford speaking on Club Service 2020/2021

1. Successful projects need Club interest, Club involvement and a champion

2. Building the community

3. Summer Sundays (Danne, George and Linda), 

4. RIBFEST (EVERYONE), 

5. Heritage BLVD cleanup (monthly),  Alan will be the Lead now....Thanks to Darrel for all the time he has given

6. Pie Day at Manor (Danne 4th Friday each Month), 

7. Reading at the Manor (1st/3rd Monday each month Peter and Kerry)

8. Little Library (Gayle keeps full and Mike C., Ian, Michael B. to refurbish) 

9. RIPS Bill and Brian W.

10.  Terry Fox Run Mike Clay runs the Port Moody Run and Coreen will lead the 'volunteers' again this year.

11.  Eagle Ridge Manor Outside Christmas decorating-Peter and his team,   Looking for a leader for the inside decorating team

12.  Manor Christmas Party 

13.  Christmas Train (now doing Hot Chocolate only inside and outside) Peter  and his team 

14.  Inner Visions Chili Lunch Linda and Gayle. (exploring a BBQ lunch for summer as well this year)

15.  November 11th Wreath laying (Club President plus members)

16.  Games nights being planned this year Kay ++

17.  New ideas based on member’s passions

18. ****Committee will conduct a “Community Needs Assessment” to identify projects that would fit our vision