Together we walked to make a difference in the lives of people at risk of homelessness. Thank you to our many supporters, we've raised $6,500 so far.
Overall, the event has exceeded its goal of $65K by almost $3K & counting - all much needed funds for YWCA Niagara Region's transitional housing program in West Niagara (Grimsby, Lincoln & West Lincoln).
Special thanks to Team Captain Rotarian Martha K, for her steadfast leadership over many years + YW board member Erin Amirault & her family for their enthusiastic participation as members of our CNOY 2023 Lincoln Rotary team. To round out the roster of Lincoln Rotarians involved, it was terrific that Barb M, John K & Phil G stepped up as volunteers on the day of the event.
Donations continue to be welcomed until March 31, 2023.
International Women’s Day is March 8, 2023 - a time to honor the achievements of women around the world and raise awareness of the work that’s still needed to achieve equity.
Join Rotary in celebrating International Women’s Day 2023! Our virtual, multi-day observance seeks to raise awareness about the barriers that women around the world face as professional and local leaders and to build a supportive community to take collective action for change. The events, presented in English, are open to Rotary members and nonmembers of all genders.
President Brenda Kell-Kotwa called the ZOOM meeting to order at 7:30am & welcomed 15 Lincoln Rotarians, 2 visiting Rotarians - District 7090 Rotary Foundation Chair, Sandi Chard (RC St Catharines South) & Aaron Carlson (RC Lockport) + Guest Speaker Anna Belanger, Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre (NFAMC)
Nancy Neville offered the invocation highlighting opportunities to serve as Rotarians. For her Point of Pride, Sue Foster noted RCL's many far-reaching District Grant projects over the years. She also expressed her pride in the Outstanding Achievement Award in Landscaping Architecture Attended, presented to the Town of Lincoln for Rotary Park, at the recent Niagara Region Biennial Awards event.
UPCOMING MEETINGS/EVENTS + Announcements
January 31, 2023 - Club Social
DINNER at Butcher & Banker Pub, 6:00pm.
February 8, 2023 - Conservation in Nature
2nd session of Speaker's Series organized by RCL Environmental Committee & partners
Fleming Centre, 7pm-8pm
February 14, 2023 - Club Assembly
February 25, 2023 - Coldest Night of the Year West Niagara Walk
February 28, 2023 - Club POD Meeting #1
Village of Hope correspondence received with thanks for RCL's Christmas 2022 Gifts for Kids
PROGRAM
Margaret Andrewes introduced Guest Speaker Anna Belanger, Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre (NFAMC)...
Anna has been working at NFAMC for over 15 years. She has worn many hats over the years. Currently, she is the Language as a Second Language Coordinator as well as the Resettlement Assistance Program Manager. It was in March 2022 that Anna last joined us at our Rotary Club of Lincoln meeting. At that time, she provided an overview of the work that Niagara Folk Arts undertakes, as a Service Provider Organization for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, in delivering various settlement and orientation services to Government Assisted Refugees (GARs) in their transition to Canada.
Since then, Anna has been RCL's primary contact for our 2022-23 Collaborative District Grant Project. Our project involved the purchase of SIX new laptop computers, configured according to specs provided by Anna & her team. The laptops were delivered to NFAMC in St Catharines on November 8, 2022 for distribution to SIX families who are resettling in Niagara as refugees from Afghanistan through the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP).
Margaret added...
"We extend special thanks to Kirk Fielding of Computer Junxion in Grimsby. Kirk was our selected vendor for the project. Based on the specifications requested by NFAMC, the vendor, Kirk Fielding, configured each computer with Microsoft Pro Software, which he registered with a generic user license and provided instructions for the new owners to personalize their registrations. Kirk Fielding’s invoice included costs for the hardware & software only. Kirk did not charge for their configuration or delivery.
Thank you to the Rotary Clubs of Niagara Falls & Grimsby for joining the Rotary Club of Lincoln with this District 7090 Collaborative District Grant Project.
The actual total cost of the project was $6,543 CAD with investments by Grimsby Rotary at $916 & Niagara Falls at $1,112 & the remainder at $4,515 by Lincoln Rotary."
Anna began her presentation with recent statistics related to NFAMC's oversight of RAP in Niagara - TOTAL CLIENTS since November 2021 = 149; 52 have relocated to Toronto, Mississauga, etc. because of employment opportunities. The majority of refugee families arriving in Niagara are from Afghanistan & Syria. Most of those remaining in Niagara have found accommodation without too much difficulty. Their main challenge continues to be in accessing both physical & mental healthcare because of the shortage in family health physicians in the immediate area. Government of Canada RAP funding has been extended for FY 2023-24. As a result, NFAMC is anticipating an additional 340 clients including refugees from Chad & Sudan.
To date, three of the six computers made available through RCL's District Grant Project have been distributed to Afghan refugees families in their need for enhanced learning capabilities for online training to secure certification as healthcare professionals in Ontario &/or online access to English as a Second Language Courses. Anna expects that the remaining three computers will be distributed shortly with priority given to Afghan refugee families.
In conclusion, Anna extended an invitation to Lincoln Rotarians to contact her for arranging a visit & tour to NFAMC, 85 Church Street, St Catharines - abelanger@folk-arts.ca
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