Rotary District 5370 Update
February 21, 2021

In this issue:

Recent Posts to Rotary International District 5370 News: From Whitehorse to Cape Town as a Rotary Global Grant scholar and SHELTERBOX Update: Volunteer to put the Partnership into Action

Upcoming Rotary International, District and club events and announcements: Request from DGE Donna Barrett: Volunteer for a District committee; 2021-2022 RI theme; District Office closed;  World Rotaract Week (March 8 to 14); Rotary Club of Oakville Speaker Series (March 9); District 5360 Indigenous Committee webinar: The Importance and Reasoning Behind Doing Land Acknowledgements (March 4); Rotary Peace Project presentation — RC of Edmonton West (February 22); PRIP Ian Riseley: Rotary’s New Cause, Protecting the Environment; Rotary Club of Costalegre 3rd Annual Women's Fiesta (March 8); Coaching for Rotarians; Whitecourt cheque presentation; Immigration Matters request; and Spare Towels or Linens? 

Club Fundraising: Dogs with Wings 50/50 raffle (Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona); Rotary Club of Edmonton Sunrise 50/50 Cash Raffle; Celebrate with our Flag (Rotary Club of St. Albert); Saint City Rotary 50/50 Raffle; Edmonton Riverview 50/50 Raffle; and Rotary Club of Whitecourt online auction 

A Foundation Moment: Global Grants – Making Sustainable Change in the World

Learning Opportunities (Information from the District Learning and Development committee): ClubRunner training (February 24 & March 3)

Deadline for submissions for the February 28 issue of the District 5370 CONNECTIONS is noon on Friday, February 26. Send your submission to communications@Rotary5370.org.

To my fellow Rotarians and Rotaractors.

We rely on our District committee volunteers to develop programs to assist you and our clubs to carry on the great work of Rotary. We know that “many hands make light work” and so today I am asking you to consider contributing your ideas, time, talent and energy to help us serve our clubs and members by joining a District committee.

Serving on a District committee gives you an opportunity to focus on a passion, share your skills, explore an interest and get to know some great people. District committees will continue to meet via Zoom for a few hours a month, so no matter where you live in our large District, you can easily participate.

Please take a few minutes to fill out the survey. Let’s work together to guide and strengthen our District!

In Rotary Service,

Donna Barrett

District Governor Elect 2021-2022

The Rotary Club of Edmonton Sunrise

*****

Articles recently posted to:

 

It would not be an exaggeration to say that a trip to Kenya and Tanzania changed the course of Allison Furniss’s life and led to her earning a master’s degree in political science from the University of Cape Town as a Rotary Global Grant scholar.

“I went to Tanzania and Kenya in the last year of my undergraduate studies, with my brother,” says Allison, who was born and raised in Whitehorse. “That was my first time coming to Africa and I was just blown away by the warmth of the people and the vibrant cultures here.”

Since that visit as a tourist, Allison has spent several years living and working in different African countries, including Tanzania, Namibia, South Africa and the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“At the risk of sounding cliché, it really just took hold—the beauty of the continent, the people and the environment; the diversity that exists here between cultures and languages and countries; and contrasting that with extreme poverty, with the very oppressive history through colonization and all the struggles,” she says. “There is just this incredible vibrancy and beauty here and I think it really took hold.”

After graduating from Acadia University with a degree in kinesiology and nutrition, Allison looked for opportunities that would take her back to East Africa. 

*****


At ShelterBox, we are passionate in ensuring that no family goes without shelter after a disaster. We are proud to be project partners with Rotary International. By working with Rotary, we can collaborate and combine resources to support more communities in desperate need of shelter. Rotarians and Rotary groups across the world support us in a variety of ways, from raising funds to providing support on the ground during our responses. This allows us to cross boundaries and work together to reach the most remote communities to ensure no family is left without shelter after a disaster.

***** 

Recently, the Rotary Club of Whitecourt presented a cheque for $131,715 to the town of Whitecourt for Festival Way, an expansion to Rotary Park. Festival Way is a beautifully constructed, lighted cement walkway leading into the playground/spray park area, lined with hookups for vendors to plug into. It will make festivals and outdoor events easier for vendors and attract bigger and better events to our park. Of the total donation, $31,715 came from Pembina Pipeline Corporation's donation to our club.

*****

Bulletin Live Designer

Wednesday, February 24, 1:00 p.m. MST

In this session, learn how you can update your content on your club's bulletin.

  • Format and prepare your bulletin to send to all members and friends
  • Customize and design your bulletin using the new Bulletin Designer 3.0
  • Create and edit stories for your bulletin
  • And much more!

Duration: 30 Minutes
Click here to register.

=====

Website Live Designer

Wednesday, March 3, 1:00 - 1:30 p.m.

Get a hands-on demonstration of how to configure and customize your site using the Website Designer 3.0.

• Create custom drop-down navigation menus

• Design a custom banner graphic & header

• Choose from multiple layouts & templates

• Create website content with the new and improved editor

• Modify image size and position within stories

• Add widgets

• and more

Duration: 30 Minutes

Click here to register

=====

Future session topics: Website Content Management (March 10), Events & Volunteer Management (March 17) and Clubrunner 101 (March 24)

All sessions are scheduled for 1:00 p.m. MST. Click here for more information or to preregister.

*****

*****

*****

*****

The District 5370 Rotaract Committee will be celebrating World Rotaract Week, March 8 to 14 and we are excited to promote the events by having giveaway prizes on our social media. For these giveaways we want to use local goods from across our District and this is where we need your help!

If there are any local businesses in your community that make a good fit with any of the areas of focus — promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water and sanitation, saving mothers and children, supporting education, growing local economies and protecting the environment — please let us know. We would like to purchase goods from them to then use as prizes throughout the week, while also helping local economies within our vast District. 

Email reidciorstaidh@gmail.com if you know of any local goods and keep your eyes peeled to hear more about the World Rotaract Week events.

*****

Win up to $10,000 while supporting Dogs with Wings (DWW)  

Dogs with Wings (DWW) is a leader in the international community of assistance-dog training schools. They breed, raise, train and place service dogs, autism service dogs, companion dogs and facility dogs.

Proceeds from the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona’s virtual 50/50 fundraiser will go to DWW to ensure the continuation of the dog training programs. The cost  to DWW to breed, raise, train and place one dog is approximately $40,000 but the cost to its clients is only $1.00. 

Ticket sales end March 1.

 

District Office closed

Due to new pandemic-related restrictions introduced by the Alberta governments, including a work-from-home mandate, the Rotary District 5370 is closed, but is still operational and available by phone (780-482-5370) and email (office@rotary5370.org).

***

The Rotary Peace Project

PDG (District 5040) Chris Offer, a member of the Rotary Peace Centers committee, a Rotary Positive Peace Activator and an IEP (Institute for Economics and Peace) Ambassador, will speak to the Rotary Club of Edmonton West on Monday, February 22 (12:00 p.m. MST). Click here to learn more about Chris.

***

Former Rotary Global Grant scholar Meghan Casey hopes Rotarians can help with her search for inspiring stories about how immigrants have made contributions to their community.

Meghan now works for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on a campaign called Immigration Matters. 

The campaign tells stories about how immigrants contribute to the economy, enrich our communities and make a difference in our lives. They can be business owners who create jobs, experts in various sectors or even community volunteers.

Story ideas can be sent to Meghan (meghan.casey@cic.gc.ca), after which they will go through a vetting process to ensure that they fit the criteria of the campaign.

Read this Rotary International District 5370 News article about Meghan’s experiences as a Global Grant scholar.

***

Rotary Club of Costalegre 3rd Annual Women's Fiesta goes virtual

Monday, March 8

 - submitted by PDG Judy Brown (Rotary E-Club Canada One)

For the last few years, Ron and I have been part of the Costalegre Rotary Club when we spend time at our Mexico beach condo (we are associate members of the club). They usually hold a fantastic Women's Fiesta each spring, with a luncheon and fashion show, tables with unique items to buy, and lots of fun with upwards of 250 ladies in attendance. This year, the Women's Fiesta will be virtual. It is free to attend and will only take half an hour of your time. All you have to do is go to the Rotary Club of Costalegre Facebook page.

One of the most popular events at the Women's Fiesta was the fashion show.  The online substitute will be a video of womens’s images flashing on screen while Pretty Woman plays in the background. Women can have their image, or an image of them with their girlfriend(s), included and be entered into the draw for an Amazon gift card worth $100 by sending the image and a $13 donation.

***

District 5360 Indigenous Committee webinar

The Importance and Reasoning Behind Doing Land Acknowledgements

Thursday, March 4, 4:00-6:00 p.m. MST

Contact Jan Fox (jan.fox@reachedmonton.ca) for the link to this webinar and/or a list of local Indigenous speakers who are available to clubs.

***

Celebrate with our Flag! 

Show your patriotism and support Rotary Club of St. Albert’s community work. For an 

annual donation of $60, we will deliver and then pick up Canadian flags (even if 

you’re away) on the weekends of Victoria Day, Canada Day and Labour Day. This 

program is only for residents in the Greater St. Albert area.

Link to order flags

***

2021-2022 Theme

Rotary International President-elect Shekhar Mehta encourages members to be change-makers and announces his theme for the 2021-2022 Rotary year, Serve to Change Lives.

***

Rotary Club of Whitecourt online auction

Since our major annual fundraiser, Lobsterfest, had to be cancelled for the second year in a row due to COVID-19, we are hoping to raise enough funds to continue running our awesome programs. The auction closes Tuesday, March 2. Browse and bid here.

***

Saint City Rotary 50/50 Raffle

Funds raised by this raffle will support Appetite to Achieve and other projects of the Rotary Club of St. Albert—Saint City.

The Appetite to Achieve program helps school-age children in St. Albert public schools and families who do not have enough food for daily breakfasts and lunches. 

Ticket Sales End: Thursday, April 1

***

50/50 Raffle

The winner will receive a minimum cash prize of $2,000 or 50 per cent of ticket sales (whichever is greater) up to a maximum of $5,000.

This year, the community service projects of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Riverview focused on helping youth and seniors in Edmonton's inner city, at Delton and Norwood schools and at Operation Friendship Society, a drop-in centre for Edmonton's inner-city seniors.

Ticket Sales End: Friday, April 2

***

Spare Towels or Linens?

Sandra and Roman Bayrock (RC of Edmonton Riverview) will be loading up an enclosed trailer to haul some of their belongings to Belize this fall. If you have any spare towels or linens of any kind, they would be happy to have them to share them with residents of their adopted village of  Maya Centre. It doesn't matter if they are worn or used, every towel and linen will be put to good use. Contact Roman (bayrockr@gmail.com) to arrange pickup of your towels and linens.

***

Rotary Club of Edmonton Sunrise 50/50 Cash Raffle Fundraiser

The winner will receive a minimum cash prize of $2,000 or 50 per cent of ticket sales (whichever is greater) to a maximum of $5,000.

Proceeds from this raffle will support the club’s services projects and the Tourette Canada Edmonton Chapter.

Ticket sales end March 11.

***

Regarding Raffles Sponsored by Alberta-Based Rotary Clubs

Due to provincial regulations, only Alberta residents, aged 18+ may purchase raffle tickets.

***

Please add mailservice@clubrunner.ca to your safe sender list or address book.
To view our privacy policy, click here.
 
ClubRunner
102-2060 Winston Park Drive, Oakville, ON, L6H 5R7