Kentville Rotary: Paddy’s and Zoom meeting, Live on Facebook

 

Once again, our meeting was open three ways: in-person at Paddy’s, via Zoom and recorded Live on our Private Facebook Group. If you missed the meeting continue reading below for highlights or check our  Facebook live feed.

 

 

O Canada led by Sue

 

Bill welcomed everyone to the meeting including visiting guest Rotarian: Rod McMahon (Calgary West) joining us via Zoom.

 

 

Sue: Happy she was shot on Thursday (COVID shot that is!!!) and happy her family have or are scheduled to get theirs.  

 

 

Bill welcomed guest Rotarian Rod.

 

There is still time to register for the “Celebrate our Foundation” virtual charity event. Registration has also opened for the District AGM.

 

As this is a business meeting, Bill asked the Chairs, or a representative, from the service committees (PWD, International, Community and Youth) to report on what they have planned or have done during this challenging pandemic year.

 

PWD (Carl): The committee continues to meet monthly via Zoom. Despite the pandemic they have been able to move forward and support several projects. Working with a $45,000 budget for the year they have provided hearing aids, a new scooter, a lift ramp, eye glasses, dental work and orthopedics to community members in need. If you or someone you know is disabled and in need of Rotary’s help, contact us and we will ensure the committee receives the request. They will then be in contact for more detailed and specific information to determine eligibility. They can support limited large projects (ranging in the $4000-5000 range) and smaller projects as well (in the hundreds of dollars).

 

International Services (Elva): Like the PWD committee, several Valley Rotary clubs now pool their budgets and work together to support global projects. They are working with a $70,000 budget. They are supporting a major water and sanitation project in South Africa, a hospital project for Xray equipment in Brazil, a dental project in Armenia, and an initiative to support the immigration of relatives of the Khatib’s to the Valley. Next year they are hoping for a global grant here in the Valley to support mental health for both youth and seniors. More details about this to come. As well, next year they are looking at a gardens project to teach youth and another dental project in Armenia. The committee recognizes and thanks our club for our continued support of their work.

 

Elva also took this opportunity to read a letter from Rotary and virtually present a certificate to Sue and Joe for their ongoing commitment and support of the Rotary Foundation. Their contributions go above and beyond … on behalf of our Club we would like to express our sincere gratitude as well.

 

 

Youth Services (Gerry): We continue to provide scholarships for deserving graduates of Central Kings or Northeast Kings Educational Centre to support their higher education. Adventures in Citizenship will go ahead this year as a virtual program. We are supporting one student. The international Student Exchange program was cancelled for the school year 20-21 and will again be cancelled for 21-22. We are hoping this program will resume the following year. Due to COVID, the Interact Club was inactive this year. We hope that following the pandemic they will regroup. Also cancelled by the pandemic was Adventures in Understanding. They committee has supported the NKEC breakfast program (by way of cash donation this year).

 

Community Services (Heather): The clean up project was cancelled due to weather and will be rescheduled for a later date. A donation was made to both the KCA Breakfast Program and Cafeteria Program ($2000 each). $1500 was donated to the Dolly Parton Library/Literacy program. The other project supported by the committee is the Valley Bull Dogs Coins Toss event.

 

Special Events (Sue): We are watching the rising COVID numbers closely. At this time the committee is moving forward as if the Polio Fundraiser event will take place in June. However, the contingency plan is to move it out monthly until such a time we are able to host the event safely and within Provincial Health protocols. Stay tuned!!!

 

Secretary’s Report:  Reminder of the Board meeting 8am Tuesday April 27 via Zoom

 

Illnesses: none reported

 

 

Valley Faces (Phil): We have surpassed $100,000 in ads sold and continue to track ahead of last year. That said; we still have a way to go before reaching our goal. Please follow up with your contacts and get the contracts signed and returned ASAP.

 

 

WHAT CAN YOUR $1,000 CONTRIBUTION TO THE ROTARY FOUNDATION DO?

 

Your $1,000 contribution to The Rotary Foundation can help provide all materials necessary for the construction of a deep bore well in India which supplies clean drinking water to more than 300 people, materials to treat and prevent parasites and anemia in need children in Uruguaiana, R.S., Brazil, or purchase a tree nursery in Jamaica that will annually produce 5,000 tree seedlings and increase family income for 700 farmers, or provide artificial limbs to 25 disabled persons in Calcutta, India, or buy kitchen equipment for an orphanage in Peru, or provide a cow and animal husbandry training to a widow in Uganda where civil war shattered the economy and children die because of a lack of protein and calcium in their diets, or buy polio vaccine for 2,000 babies in Nigeria, or fund enough textbooks to educate 2,000 children in a school in Papua New Guinea, or provide 20 $50 micro-loans enabling women in Nicaragua to start a craft business to support their families.

 

Will you commit today to donating $1,000 per year to The Rotary Foundation and start making a difference in people’s lives?

Chase the Ace – Lucky ticket belonged to President Bill. With only 9 cards in the deck, he drew a spade but not the Ace. The pot continues to grow with another a roll over.

The Four Way Test was led by Bill to conclude the meeting.