Stories

Congratulations to our Trip of the Month Raffle winners!!

On June 20 we gathered for our annual wind up BBQ at Hazel Bluff Hall. Incoming President Dwight Brown presented current president Ken Ebeling with a plaque of appreciation. Thank you to 2018-2019 president Ken Ebeling & his executive team for your dedication to the club! 

 

 

Tiago was our inbound Youth Exchange from Brazil in 1999-2000 and he is back for a visit with his wife Mayara over the holidays.

Chuck Keller was his counsellor and his host families were the Veselys, Hillands and the Browns. This is their first visit back since 2000. Tiago shared how Youth Exchange impacted his life and how the experience afforded him opportunities he would not have had otherwise. It was a very moving presentation that reinforced the value of the program and what benefits are derived from it. While Tiago shared how it changed his life it gave club members pause to think just how the program also changes the Rotary Club. 

The Westlock Interact held their annual fundraiser on Saturday, November 4th at the Community Hall. This years theme was dress Hawaiian! Around 250 attended the evening that was filled with silent auction, draws for a bottle of wine and a draw for a $1000 pair of diamond earrings. Many attendees dressed to the occasion and a good time was had by all. Hats off to the Interact Club, Brandi Wolff and Megan Balascak for hosting a successful, fun filled event!

Westlock Rotary President, Peter Yeung, welcomed it's newest Member at today's noon business meeting. Christine Vachon is a local girl who heads up the very successful Soul Sisters organization and was sponsored by Laura Morie. She will be an asset to the club with all her organizational skills and energy. Welcome Christine!

Due to a conference being booked at the Inn, today's noon meeting was held at the Westlock Legion. The Legion ladies did a wonderful job of feeding us a beef lunch.

President Peter Yeung made a special presentation to Past District Governor, Laura Morie at the meeting. Laura received her Paul Harris plus 8 pin. Congratulations Laura!

 

 

At the noon meeting on August 17th, Inbound Counsellor, Jennifer Christensen, introduced Westlock Rotary Club's newest Exchange Student. Moa Johannson hails from District 2320 in Sweden.

Moa has only been in Canada for two days and stated that she already loved being here. Moa will be spending her first couple of weeks with Jennifer out at Long Island Lake, before moving in with her first host family. Everyone please say hello to Moa and introduce yourselves. We hope you all can help make her year here in Canada a memorable one. Welcome Moa!

Wow! That's the one word that sums up the 2017 District 5370 Conference that was held in Westlock, April 6th to 8th. Terry Brown and her team did an amazing job putting the Conference together with the support of our own Laura Morie, District Governor for 2016/17.

The weekend consisted of a fantastic line up of very interesting speakers including Dr. Reda from Ethiopia, former Eskimo great Gizmo Williams, Canada's number one fundraising auctioneer Danny Hooper and various others. The overall favorite was our very own Leo Sequin, who gave a very passionate talk about Rainbow for the Future and his 30 year journey in helping people half way around the world in Ethiopia.

Friday's entertainment was second to none with the antics of our local RF Staples teachers and friends with their performance of Rock of Ages. The conference ended Saturday with a little country music entertainment from Ain't No Rodeo.

Overall, a huge success. Thanks to all who put this together and to all who participated!

Westlock Terminals showed there support of The Westlock Rotary Club and Rotary Internationals effort to rid the world of Polio by decaling both of their grain trailers. Thanks to Cliff Bell and his team at the Terminals!

 

This years Charter Night was well attended with a special theme of Robbie Burns Night, complete with bag pipes, scotch tasting and haggis. The guest speakers and the toasters did an excellent job with a very well done reply by Florence Waldner. Special thanks to Alan Watt and his crew for all their hard work putting together an enjoyable evening of laughter and fellowship.

Our Club handed out more money this month. Donations were made to the RF Staples Breakfast Program as well as to the T-Birds Football Club.