John Oddie, Board Member of The Fergie Jenkins Foundation is pictured here presenting a cheque to Rotarian Jeanette Murphy  in appreciation of the Rotary Club assisting with the Fergie Jenkins Charity Golf Tournaments held June and September of each year.  This donation of $7,000 will assist Rotary with its work locally and with our International projects including the eradication of Polio.

 Our 2019 Fantasy of Trees campaign has started! Pictured here is Marilyn Cornwell, 2019 Fantasy of Trees organizer, Mario Bruno General Manager of Grimsby Hyundai and Jim Howden, Past-President of Rotary Club of Grimsby.They are wearing the Red Scarfs that kick off the 20th Anniversary campaign. Thanks to Grimsby Hyundai for their support of the 2019 Lead Sponsor.

Stephen Parr dropped by from YourTV of Cogeco and made this wonderful video coverage of the 2018 Fantasy of Trees. 

Planning for the 19th Annual Fantasy of Trees is underway. Each year, free of charge, several thousand adults and  children enjoy the glorious,twinkling display at the Grimsby Museum. The Fantasy of Trees has a silent auction and raffle tickets are sold for decorated trees and holiday items at the close of the event. There are many ways to get involved.

 

Happy New Year- The 2018/19 Rotary started on July 1st.  We welcome Barry Rassin as the incoming Rotary International President.  Rotary's President presides over the Board of Directors and is elected to a one year term.  The President's theme for 2018-19, Be the Inspiration, asks Rotarians to inspire change in the world and in each other.

 

Rotary Club of Grimsby welcomes George Wagenaar as our incoming President. George has been an active Rotary Member since 1992. 

 

Rotary Unites 1.2 million members in 35,000+ clubs from all continents and cultures.

 

 

Our Rotary Club provided to over 80 migrant workers at the St Alban's Church Hall in Beamsville which supports an Migrant Workers program managed by volunteers.  Pictured here are members of the club and their spouses getting ready to serve a wholesome meal.

 

The initial program focus was providing donated bikes to the workers so that they have a means of transportation. The bikes are refurbished before being provided ,together with helmets, bike lights and reflective vests, to the workers.  The program now offers suitable clothing to new arrivals, a volunteer driver pool, ESL training and other programs. Church Services are provided in Spanish and a community Sunday night meals are provided together with transportation in order to address social isolation. The program receives considerable support from the local community.

 

The local farms and greenhouses are an important driver of the local economy and the positive impact that these workers contribute goes largely unnoticed.

 

                                                                                                                                                                       Ian Riseley, President of Rotary International, asked each of the 85,000 Rotary Clubs to considering planting one tree for each of 1.2 million members worldwide for World Earth day.  Rotary Club of Grimsby joined with other local Rotary Clubs to plant Breadfruit Trees in underdeveloped countries with an expected 500 trees to be planted.  Our Clubs 35 trees will be planted in Haiti  being one of the poorest countries and where an effort is underway to restore the agricultural sector.  Rotary has partnered with The Trees That Feed Foundation and the cost was $15 US per tree.

 

Breadfruit trees is one of the highest yielding food plants with a single tree producing up to 200 or more grapefruit-sized fruit and is a staple food in many tropical regions.

 

This is a wonderful project as these trees will improve the environment while providing food for a local population in a very poor country.