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Learning More About Rotary's COVID Response & The Rotaract Conference

 
Rotary Whyte Ave had double the fun this past Tuesday when we had two presentations!  
 
First up, we had our very own District Governor Tracey Vavrek who joined the club online to give an update on Rotary's work since the COVID-19 outbreak. Rotary District 5370 has been active since the beginning by establishing a risk management task force to help the district respond to the changes as well as a policy framework to help the district move forward. Tough decisions had to be made, such as canceling district training and youth camps. However,  Rotary is more important now than ever so the district has been working hard to support Rotarians. The district has since made the district training available online; started releasing its newsletter weekly; is doing virtual events (such as an upcoming virtual pints for polio); and providing clubs special COVID-19 grant funding! Tracey is also inviting members to join her for online coffee chats to help keep Rotarians connected (register for the next coffee chat this Tuesday here). Thank you for coming Tracey!

Next up, we learned about the 1st ever Rotaract Conference in Halifax when University of Alberta Rotaract Club members Kira Eberts, Wyatt Liboiron, and Ana D’Aubeterre came and spoke to Rotary Whyte Ave. The University of Alberta Rotaract Club helped develop this  Conference, the fist of its kind in Canada, to help connect Rotaracters across the country.  Five members from the U of A club went to the Conference in February where they met other Rotaracters, shared ideas on how to make a difference in the community, as well as learned new communication tools and governance practices!  Rotary Club of Edmonton Whyte Avenue supported this great initiative by helping to send University of Alberta Rotaract Club members to Halifax. With what they learned, the University of Alberta Rotaract Club came back to Edmonton and revamped the structure of their club so they can better serve club members and the community. Way to go Rotaract!  

Want to learn more about the Rotaract Conference? Watch a fun video on the trip here.

Thank you to our speakers and for everyone who joined us online!
Rotary Schedule At A Glance
Next week's speaker:
 
 
No Meeting
 
Week off for Committee Business
 
 
Enjoy your week everyone!
 
 
Russell Hampton
ClubRunner
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Join A Virtual Pints for Polio Event This Wednesday
 
The District Pints for Polio Committee is putting on a Virtual Pub Night to continue to raise money for Polio and to have some fellowship during this time of isolation!
 
Come join the fun on May 20th from 6 to 7PM.  You can register here.

Rotary Whyte Avenue News
More Ways to Support OFSS
 
 
Our amazing President Elect Stan reports that The Coffee Cup Roundup is going very well! So far, 50 coffee cups have been collected, which will be delivered to Operation Friendship Senior's Society (OFSS) when it is safe to do so. Please let me Stan know if you would like to add to this donation collection.
 
OFSS has also let us know that there are  other ways that we can help support them:
1. OFSS Bottle Drive - if you have a collection of bottles waiting to go to the depot, you can call or email the OFSS Community Relations Supervisor, Jimmy Morrison, to arrange a time for OFSS to come pick them up from your doorstep. You can also take in the bottles on your own and then donate the proceeds for a tax receipt via the OFSS homepage.
2. Disposables - once the OFSS Drop-in Centre is allowed to open, they will need disposable items, such as paper plates, cups, and utensils. Stan is collecting donations of these single-use items and take them to the centre along with the coffee cups.
 
Thank you to everyone for your fantastic support
Rotary Whyte Ave Members Plan for the Future

Whyte Ave Rotarians are always thinking ahead, that's why a few of us got together online this past week to review district grants and project funding!

We discussed plans for possible community service projects for the 2020/21 Rotary year as well as how to best support youth in our area with grant funding. Great projects are being lined up, stay tuned for more details!

A fantastic discussion with some fantastic Rotarians, thank you to everyone who participated!
Check out the 2019/20 Rotary Club of Edmonton Whyte Avenue Classification Study!
 
After the January 2020 brainstorming session held by our club, one of the outcomes of that meeting was a commitment from club president Kevin to lead the creation of a 2019/20 club classification study.  This member classification study was made to help the Rotary Club of Edmonton Whyte Avenue better understand which professions are represented in the club; what skills & expertise are available; how these skills contribute to club goals, events, and administrative needs; and where there are potential gaps in membership skill-sets of which the club leadership should remain cognizant.
 
The study has been completed and is now available!  Please view the classification study here: https://bit.ly/2YWjagh
 
This document includes an overview of Rotary Club of Edmonton Whyte Avenue member occupations, occupation themes, potential occupation skill-set gaps, and recommendations towards strengthening club membership as well as how to better align club membership with the businesses and professions in Edmonton. 
 
Enjoy the read!
 
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