Kentville Rotary: Paddy’s and Zoom meeting Sept 28 2020

 

Rotarians now have three ways to join our meetings: In person at Paddy’s, On Screen via Zoom or Watching on Facebook Live.

 

 

O Canada led by Sue

 

 

Shelly welcomed everyone to the meeting including guest speaker and Rotarian: Jack D’Orsey (Sydney Sunrise Club).

 

 

Sue is just happy! She rode her motorcycle to the meeting today!

 

Rod is happy that today he will be inducted into the Calgary West Club (at their noon meeting).

 

 

 

Bill welcomed Annette back to the Club, and Jack our guest speaker and everyone else both at Paddy’s and on Zoom.

 

Short report today: please remember to order your Cookies in support of Khayriye’s fundraiser. Order forms are on the table and were also emailed out earlier.

 

Don’t forget to sign up for the first combined District (7810 & 7820) Conference coming up in October. Links are on the website.

 

Secretary’s Report:  Nothing new to report.

 

Illnesses: None to report

 

Guest Speaker: Jack D’Orsey, Sydney Sunrise Club

 

Elva introduced Jack, a member of the Sydney Sunrise Club. Jack is an engineer by trade and is heavily involved in International Services with his Rotary. He led a very successful Rotary grant for Armenia last year (in which our club contributed a small amount). Welcome Jack.

 

 

Why Armenia? Jack worked in Armenia for 15 weeks in 1997. He returned there for a visit with his wife in 2017. Upon getting more heavily involved in Rotary International Services he thought of Armenia and contacted all five Rotary Clubs in the Republic to explore project options. With the assistance of a global grant, Jack travelled back to Armenia to meet with the Rotary clubs there and in particular the club in Yerevan, with whom they were working on the first global project.

 

There are three projects planned or on the go in Armenia. The first is about 90% complete. It is a capacity upgrade at Nork Hospital of Infectious Disease in Yerevan. This was timely in light of the recent pandemic and has no doubt contributed to many saved lives. The equipment started arriving in June and by August the implementation was 85% complete. He toured the hospital and noted how immaculate it was on the inside, however it lacked equipment. The doctors and nurses are highly educated and work wonders with what little they have available.

 

The second project is also a capacity upgrade project at the Martuni Maternity Hospital. He is hoping to have the funding in place and approvals by the end of 2020. This project requires fewer dollars to complete, but it is much more difficult to raise funds (with the loss of WF matching dollars).

 

The final planned project in Armenia is a mobile dental clinic in Shirak Marz. The goal is to fund the operations of this mobile clinic for one year as it provides dental services to more than 3000 children in 40 remote villages in North West Armenia. The estimated cost of this project is between US$100,000 and $120,000.

 

Jack provided a brief history of the land dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Artsakh is an area that was claimed by Azerbaijan and later reclaimed by Armenia, however Artsakh declared itself its own Republic (perhaps only recognized by Armenia). Squabbles continue in this area.

 

Shelly thanked Jack for his interesting and informative presentation. It's always a pleasure to learn where are funds are going and the difference they make. We look forward to following how these projects progress.

 

 

Tulip Coordinator (Phil): Our Oct 19^th meeting will focus on Polio and Rotary’s actions in trying to eradicate it. There will be a special basket as a fundraiser. Tickets will be sold for two weeks prior and will be available online for our Zoom members, or those unable to attend the meetings in person. Tickets are $10 each and all proceeds will go to Polio.

 

Communications (Kelly): The tulips have arrived and are being distributed to all those who ordered them. Don’t forget to take pictures of planting them. (and in the spring when they bloom!!!). Send your photos to Kelly or Phil so they can be included on our social media and website. We will also forward to the district for their use in promoting World Polio Day.

 

Treasurer’s Report (Kelly): The first drafts of the financials have been received and are under review.

 

Membership (Jeff): The committee is putting the final touches on the 2020 membership survey. Please watch for it and take time to respond. Your input is essential.

 

PWD (Jeff): Committee met and is looking at alternatives to the annual Christmas dinner. It will not look the same this year because of the pandemic, but there will be something. Stay tuned for more details.

 

Special Events (Phyllis): The committee is trying something new in lieu of the meetups (on weeks when we miss a Monday meeting due to Holidays). Long-standing members of Rotary are being asked to connect with newer members or prospective members. It is suggested they have a dinner together and take the opportunity to share Rotary experiences.

 

Rotary Foundation: (Doug) This week’s minute is: WHAT IS A ROTARY FOUNDATION BEQUEST SOCIETY MEMBER?

 

Those who have made commitments for future gifts of $10,000 or more to The Rotary Foundation are invited to join the Bequest Society. Donors may elect to receive various benefits and recognition pieces commemorating their commitment at each new recognition level, including pins, crystals, named funds, and special seating at the Rotary International Convention.

 

A bequest gift of at least $10,000 in your name to The Rotary Foundation creates a legacy of your generosity and compassion as you are helping many people live better lives around the world. Today there are over 18,000 Bequest Society Members worldwide.

 

Will you join them by leaving a gift to Rotary in your estate? Ask me to put you in contact with The Rotary Foundation’s Planned Giving team.

 

Chase the Ace – The lucky ticket belonged to Doug. He drew the four of clubs, so it’s another Roll-Over.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kentville Rotary: Paddy’s and Zoom meeting Sept 21, 2020

 

Rotarians have three ways to join our meetings: In person at Paddy’s, On Screen via Zoom or Watching on Facebook Live.

 

 

O Canada led by Sue

 

Grace led by Ellen

 

Bill welcomed everyone to the meeting including guest Hilary Web.

 

 

Sue is always happy! This week she was happy her friend Sue Harvey had spoken at the previous week’s meeting. Ms. Harvey had forgotten to mention her son Ryan has a business: ASD (Autism Special Delivery) through supported employment business. His motto is “No Job Too Small”. If any business needs something to be moved, call and he and his supporter will be there. Call 902-300-6335 to find out more.

 

NOTE: At this point in the meeting, we experienced technical difficulties and our Zoom feed went offline. Details are a little sketchy!

 

 

 

 

Bill reached out to committee members during the week to have them prepare an update for today’s meeting. He expressed his gratitude to be working with such a strong leadership team and thanked each of them for their contributions.

 

He reminded the Board of their Zoom meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) morning.

 

Secretary’s Report: Rick asked any Committee chairs who had not yet filed their 2019-20 annual reports to please do so. To date, he has received four reports.

 

Illnesses: None to report

 

 

Rotary Foundation: (Phil) This week’s minute is: WHAT IS THE ROTARY FOUNDATION’S ENDOWMENT FUND?

 

Gifts to Rotary's Endowment ensure that future Rotarians will have the resources they need to design and implement sustainable projects year after year. Donations to the Endowment Fund can be made as an outright gift or a planned gift, such as a bequest in your estate. As of the 2018-19 Rotary year, Rotary’s Endowment totals US$374.5 million and has US$828.9 in commitments.

 

Contributions to this fund are invested for the future. Only earnings from their investments are used to support Foundation programs so that your generosity does good in the world in perpetuity.

 

What’s your legacy? If you want to leave a lasting legacy to the world through The Rotary Foundation’s endowment fund – just ask me how.

 

 

Tulip Coordinator (Phil): Our Oct 19^th meeting will focus on Polio and Rotary’s actions in trying to eradicate it. There will be a special basket as a fundraiser. Tickets will be sold for two weeks prior and will be available online for our Zoom members, or those unable to attend the meetings in person. Tickets are $10 each and all proceeds will go to Polio. The tulip campaign is underway, and the tulips are on their way.

 

 

.... And we are back online with the Zoomers!

 

Treasurer’s Report (Kelly): All files have been submitted to the auditor since the last week of August (earliest they have been compiled since taking on the role as treasurer). Questions are being responded to and the first drafts are expected soon. July & August financials will be reviewed at the board meeting tomorrow, and finally a reminder to anyone who has not yet paid dues for 2020-21, please do so.

 

Community Services (Shelly): A meeting is being planned in the next couple weeks.

 

PWD (Bill for Bryan and Jeff): Committee continues to meet monthly and respond to client requests.

 

International Services (Elva): Committee is meeting monthly. Water Sanitation Project in South Africa for an orphanage is an exciting new collaborative project. It is expected to be a US$100,000 project.

 

Programs (Ellen): Committee meeting monthly. Next week is still being finalized. In October, we will have a presentation from the Foodbank. There will not be a meeting the week of Thanksgiving. In lieu of our meet-ups, the program & special events committees are going to try something new. We are asking long-serving Rotarians (ten year plus) to invite newer or non-regular Rotarians, or prospective Rotarians for a get together or meal. Please let someone on the Program committee know if you are interested or will be hosting a fellow Rotarian. It is a great opportunity to form new friendships and experience Rotary Fellowship is another way.

 

Note that regular Club meetings will start at 12:00 (rather than 12:15 as was the practice prior to COVID). Based on feedback from last week’s meeting, Paddy’s will be moving to four tables of 6 rather than tables of 10.

 

Communications (Kelly): The Valley Clubs are working on upgrades to the Rotary float to bring it up to code (new standards).

 

Our club Website (ClubRunner) is a great resource if you have missed a meeting or want to go back and review an article from a past bulletin. Links to past bulletins are found by clicking “Bulletin” under the Club Information box on the home page. As well, there are two links available to register for the upcoming conference in October. Both on the home page – the first is found under the download tab by clicking on the file “Rotary Atlantic 2020 Flyer”. Inside that document are highlights from the program and a live link to register. Alternatively, go to events (under speakers) and click on “Rotary Atlantic 2020 Conference”. There are several links within this event to review more details or register.

 

Finally, a note that our Facebook Page is performing well. We continue to gain more likes. Our best performing recent post is about Anja’s acceptance into Med School. In the past 28 days, our posts have reached over 1300 folks and we have more than 70 page views.

 

Bill mentioned that Rod will be transferring to Calgary West Rotary Club. In correspondence from their club secretary, he received compliments on our website and the all the informative content.

 

Membership (Jessica): The committee has been reviewing the results of the 2017 survey. The new survey this year will look at what changes resulted from the last survey, how we are doing now, and what more can we do to improve going forward. Watch your inbox for the new survey.

 

Special Events (Phyllis): The committee reported on the successful fundraiser in July, the meet-up at Shelley’s in September and are now working on Charter Night (which would have been in May).

 

Chase the Ace – The lucky ticket belonged to Bill. He didn’t draw the Ace .... so it’s a Roll-Over.