The Atlanta Host Organization Committee is offering some good old-fashioned Southern hospitality at the Rotary International Convention from 10 to 14 June. It has planned a wide range of activities featuring everything from good food and music to inspiring tours of local landmarks. If it’s your first convention, these events are chances to meet fellow Rotarians from around the world, and if you’re an experienced convention goer, you can catch up with old friends.
Hall of Fame baseball player Hank Aaron will host Rotarians for a “Strike Out Polio” night at the new SunTrust Park, where you’ll...
When Teguest Yilma helped found the Rotary Club of Addis Ababa Entoto in 2002, she thought polio had already been eradicated from most of the world. But while Ethiopia had been free of the disease, Yilma was shocked to learn that new cases had started cropping up in surrounding countries such as Somalia.
“I was thinking, it’s not possible, we can’t be free if the countries around us are not free,” she says. Yilma, the managing editor of Capital, Ethiopia’s largest English weekly newspaper, has brought a journalist’s skills to the fight against polio. She became vice chair of the Ethiopia...
Battling breast cancer in 2000, Kathryn Smith found comfort pursuing her lifelong interest in Franklin D. Roosevelt. The more she read, the more intrigued she became with the 32nd U.S. president’s private secretary, Marguerite Alice “Missy” LeHand. “I thought, what a fascinating life she had because she was by his side through the polio crisis, establishing the polio rehabilitation center in Warm Springs and then after his return to politics,” she says. Smith, a past president of the Rotary Club of Greater Anderson, S.C., and a longtime newspaper journalist, turned that curiosity into a book...
One of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s earliest memories is of fleeing with his family into the mountains during the Korean War, his village burning behind him. His father and grandfather had to forage for food in the woods; his mother gave birth to his siblings away from anything remotely resembling a health facility. “I have known hunger,” he says. “I have known war, and I have known what it means to be forced to flee conflict.”
The soldiers who came to their rescue were flying the blue flag of the United Nations. The UN provided them with food and their schools with books....
Like a lot of us, I spent much of my childhood riding bikes, but fell out of the habit for a while. Forty years. Then my wife and I moved to New York, where cyclists risk their necks in a daily Thunderdome of cabs, police cars, firetrucks, double-decker buses, messengers on motorbikes, and delivery trucks backing around corners at 20 miles an hour. Not for me! At least not until my 50th birthday, when my metabolic furnace flamed out. Calories started going directly from beer bottle to beer belly. It was time to start exercising. Either that or give up Samuel Adams, and I couldn’t do that to...
Our regular noon meeting at the German Club will convene at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. Details are as follows:
Date: Tuesday, February 14th (in lieu of our regular meeting at the German Club)
Place: Otter Room, EdVenture Lodge, located in the entry plaza of the Edmonton Valley Zoo
Schedule: 11:30 -11:30 am Setup
11:30 – 12:30 Lunch and Club Meeting
12:30-12:45 Presentation Presentation by Stephanie Perilli, Director, Fund Development, can be entitled Nature’s Wild Backyard.
On the tour we will see the animals and learn the scale of the zoo’s next phase of revitalization.
12:45-2:00 pm Tour of the Zoo
Cost: $20.00 per person
Invite a guest or two!
Click on the link in "Upcoming Events" to register and pay online.
You may confirm your attendance at the club meeting of Jan. 31st or Feb. 7th, or by email to dianadan@telusplanet.net. Payment may be made on line or at the door. Please advise in advance of any dietary restrictions.
Deadline for registration is Friday, February 10th.
On Tuesday, our President, Dimitri Papanicolas, gave a presentation on the research he has recently done regarding various alternate funding options for our club. His research was initiated following the submission of the Alternate Report from the four-member Committee (copy of report previously provided to all members). A meeting between the Board and the Committee did not yield any specific recommendation, but rather differing opinions from the committee members were expressed.
This outcome triggered his research. He presented information from his reading of various articles on this topic, and information learned from talking to three other local Rotary clubs that have endowment funds. The goal of this type of funding are to give the club a base that will provide secure future funds for donations to the charities of our choice, and not for operational purposes.
One of the papers indicated that there are good reasons to have an endowment fund, and good reasons not to have one. The only way for a non-profit organization to decide whether to pursue one is to fully educate the Board and the members, so that a satisfactorily decision can be achieved with an open mind. The paper also mentioned that a charity should put aside some money to hedge against uncertainty, and we have that with the $ 20,000 restricted fund invested in GIC. It continues by stating that an endowment can also be a very positive symbol that shows the community that the organization plans to be around for a very long time and that can attract potential donors.
President Dimitri, mentioned that he agrees with what was presented in June 2016 about the endowment fund not being appropriate for generating funds for club operations. However, his research showed that the endowment funds can be an additional funding option to generate funds for charities in perpetuity. This type of funding could be considered if there is a risk that the present fundraising options disappear or are drastically reduced. In our club’s case these fundraisers are the AGLC casino fund and the flag program. However, there are on-going talks that the casino money may be curtailed or disappear whereas the flag project shows signs of reduced income, and more effort from our club should made to increase revenue from the flag project.
He also said that the number of members contributing to The Rotary Foundation from our club are low in relation to the total membership, and that a few members contribute largely and consistently. Some members had expressed that they prefer to donate to local charities, as they do not completely associate with TRF.
In addition, he mentioned that since June 2016, there has been a windfall in the 2016-17 club budget, and this was presented in spreadsheets detailing this year’s club revenues and expenses. The additional moneys came from a CDN $ 10,000 casino amount that was due to go the Dominican Republic for the WPAC project, now cancelled, and the US $ 17,000 remaining amount, following returns of funds to donors of WPAC. This leaves a surplus of about CDN $ 20,000.
In addition, he indicated that AGLC allows casino funds to be used for a local endowment fund. If there was an issue, it would not have been authorized. The literature review also mentioned that alternate funding options should be considered when charity finances are doing well, which is the present case of our club.
The aforementioned are new data/information to what was presented in June 2016. Combining the above financial information and the long-term success of local Rotary Clubs, the creation of an endowment fund for charities for our club (not for club operation) may be feasible without impacting the operation of the club or its charity commitments in the near future.
A discussion ensued in the club where members in favor and not, presented their views.
President Dimitri indicated that based on the presentation of this new information, and the discussion from members, the Board should come up with a plan on how to proceed.
NOTE: you can still submit photos to Hans Granholm and they will be added to this album.
"Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?"
January 28th
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is a social program of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona. It is designed to provide an opportunity for Club members and spouses/companions to meet other Club members in an informal, social, small group setting.
Typically a Member would Host one month and be a Guest for two months. All Members are encouraged to participate - even if for only one month. The visitors should expect anything from spaghetti or pizza to steaks. The most important part of this program is the fellowship and the opportunity to get to know each other better.
One of our newer members, Ron Brown and his bride, Judy Harcourt-Brown spends a few months in Mexico every year. They visit Rotary clubs regularly and participate in local club projects and events.
Judy is a director of Project Amigo Canada, and it is no coincidence that one of their favourite projects is 'Project Amigo' in Colima.
Ron just sent me a Blog covering the period January 11 - 19.
YESS is starting to plan for our 2017 Gala for Youth, taking place on April 28, 2017. This is our largest yearly fundraiser and we are asking for your help! Are you or someone you know willing to donate an item to our gala’s silent auction?
Donor individuals or companies will receive recognition in our event program and signage at the event, on the auction table, and on our event website.
Here some examples of items we are looking for that tend to do well at our auction: Experiences – tickets to an event, trips – skiing, fishing, etc., golf packages or lessons, helicopter, airplane or hot air balloon ride, photo portrait session, kid’s party , art party or lessons Romance - dance lessons, flowers for a year, dinners, dream date night Lifestyle – gym membership or fitness training, haircuts or spa package and related items, pet grooming, massages, housekeeping, shopping spree Outdoor Items – bbq, decking or backyard reno, outdoor machines like snowblower or lawnmower, tools, birdhouse, gardening set, kid’s playground set New Items – purses or luggage , set of his and hers sunglasses, kitchen machines, themed gift baskets, camping or outdoor items, musical instrument, luxury bedding set, home gym, golf clubs, telescope, autographed sports memorabilia Art – artisan pottery, sculpture, painting/print (preferrably framed), woven blanket or shawl
If you have an item you are interested in donating or know of a company we should contact, please call or email Michelle Iorio, michelle.iorio@yess.org, 780-468-7186 ext 223.
INQUIRY FOR INTEREST FOR A TRIP TO GREECE IN SEPTEMBER 2017
After the 2016 successful Tour of Greece there has been an interest in a repeat. If you or acquaintances of yours are interested in participating in an 8 to 10 days bus tour of Greece please send an e-mail to Dimitri Papanicolas at dpapanicolas@outlook.com in order to receive more information. The number of participants should not exceed 20, on first come first saved basis. We will also connect with a few Rotary Clubs during the trip and see if we can organize a visit. The tour is open to non-Rotarian too.
The tour will take place in the mainland visiting archeological sites, religious sites, overall site seeing (see map) and of course some local food, wine, ouzo and shopping. Island and cruise tours can be organized separately before or after the tour.
Members are reminded about the District Volunteer Security Policy, DOWNLOAD HERE.
This policy was generated from the requirement of our insurance company providing liability coverage in case of issues arising from members and non-Rotarians working with youth and other vulnerable members of our society.
The policy provides that all involved Rotarians and non-Rotarians complete a vulnerable persons police check. See below or click 'Read more...'
Contact Hans Granholm, 780-466-5566 for more information.
District 5370 Police Record Check Process
The procedure applies to both Rotarians and non-Rotarians involved in any Rotary sponsored vulnerable person activity.
Have a vulnerable persons record check completed.
Submit your application with the Club’s letter of introduction (obtained by Hans Granholm) to the local police service.
After you receive the certificate, submit the original (photocopies are not accepted) (This procedure is to be updated) to the address in my signature below or alternately deliver to the District office.
Original is reviewed by Youth Protection Chair, Staff Sergeant Brian Scott.
Original and letter of certification are returned to volunteer directly. (To be updated)
Provide a photocopy to the club.
Certification lasts for a period of three years.
Police procedure:
RCMP
Certification is free of charge and sometimes they will complete the certification while you wait (if you have time to wait).
Edmonton Police Service (EPS)
EPS charges $15 for the certification and be aware that they accept cheque or money order ONLY. No cash or plastic. Cheque or money order should be made out to “City of Edmonton”.
The certificate will be mailed to you, usually within a week.
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