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January 25, 2022
Volume 39 - Issue 07
 
"Together we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change - across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves!"
Speakers
Jan 25, 2022 12:00 PM
Calgary to Banff Railway Project
Feb 08, 2022 12:20 PM
State of the City Address
Feb 22, 2022 12:00 PM
Everyday Peacebuilding and the Shared Path Forward
Mar 01, 2022 12:00 PM
James Wheeler Davidson Luncheon
View entire list
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The Rotary Club of Calgary comprises professional and community leaders brought together in fellowship to create a better future.
 
Birthdays:
January 25     Michael Colborne
February 2 Jordan Hamilton
February 4 Jim Sinclair
February 6 Rebecca Klepic
   
 
 
*** Changes to "In Person" meetings schedule ***
 
The February 8th 2022 Club Meeting with Mayor Gondek will be held using Zoom as opposed to In-Person as previously planned. 
 
Note: Club Meetings in February 2022
February 1 - Zoom (Nketti Johnson-Taylor Ph.D.)
February 8 - Zoom (Mayor Jyoti Gondek)
February 15 - Zoom (TBD)
February 22 - In person (Lorelei Higgins - Rotary Peace Fellow)
 
New Member Profile: Rick Castiglione 
By Diane MacDonald, Membership Committee
 
Those of you who were not at the in-person lunch meeting at the Palliser Hotel on January 11th missed the introduction of one of our newest members, Rick Castiglione.  Rick is a Broadcast Journalist, Documentary Filmmaker and the owner of Cielo Pictures, Inc.  He is a native Calgarian and has served on the Boards of several charitable organizations in the city.
 
Rick’s video production company focuses on the international development and humanitarian work of Canadians.  You may have seen his films on CTV or Global television.  He also plans and leads safari trips in East Africa.  You might want to ask him about the school he helped develop in Kenya.  Fittingly, he has already started attending meetings of the World Community Service Committee.
 
We’re so pleased to have you as a member of our Club, Rick. 
 
Welcome!
Educating Africa Youth Project
By Greg Stevenson
 
The Educating African Youth project started in 2010 in concert with Rotary’s Taking Rotary Assistance to Communities and Youth (TRACC). Educating African Youth targets students in Uganda. Long time Club members will recognize that this was originally named the Curly Galbraith Memorial Fund.  Three Ugandan Rotary clubs provide logistical and hands on assistance. Each of them chooses two or three students each year to be recipients of the support.  As well as being High School graduates, the students must either be AIDS orphans, or living under extremely poor circumstances.  No family members of Rotarians are eligible.  
 
The youth’s educational costs are fully paid by funds raised in Rotary clubs in Canada. Covered educational costs include University, College, or Trade School tuition as well as their room and board while studying.  It only costs ~$3,000USD per student for up to a four-year program.
 
Here are some key points:
  • The program has graduated 49 students.
  • Students are mentored by Rotarians in Uganda.
  • No student who has started this program has ever dropped out.
  • All graduates end up gainfully employed, almost always in their field of study.
  • Culturally these graduates tend to support other family members and allow them to gain education and start climbing the ladder out of poverty.
  • The Calgary Downtown Rotary Club audits the program to make sure all funds are properly used.
  • Calgarian Rotarian Garth Toombs and his wife, Anne, have personally visited Uganda and met with students and administrators of the program.
  • All proceeds go to the benefit of Ugandan students in the program, with no administration fees charged.
There is no shortage of qualified and needy candidates in Uganda.  Click “Read more” below to find out about the latest batch of students that we will be funding and a letter from one of the current students.  Donations come from various Rotary Clubs and individuals from our Club and the community.  Donors can be advised which specific students they fund and their progress as they move through the program.

 
Read more...
NStep Veggie Plant Fundraiser 
By Manon Mitchell
 
For the last 3 years, Kurt and I have been enjoying fresh cherry tomatoes from the NStep Veggie Plant Fundraiser. We are pleasantly surprised every May when we pick up our plants (we also order flowers) to see the size of the hanging tomato baskets; I counted close to 100 tomatoes on the plant you see in this picture from our  2021 order. Of course we enjoy these tomatoes all summer long; it seems like the plant never ceases to produce! I paid particular attention last summer to how many tomatoes we ate and I’m not kidding when I say that we get at least 10 large cherry tomato store containers. Price it out and you’ll see that it’s the best tomato deal in town. To know that our order also benefitted kids in our community through the NStep program is also a great feeling. Every time i reach for a tomato I know that somewhere in Calgary some kid is learning about good nutrition and the benefits of staying active. It’s just win win win. Order your plants today. The same quality applies to their flowers and other produce. Oh did I mention that this is all LOCALLY sourced? Indeed more WIN for all!
 
See the Website with how to order the deadline is Monday January 31, 2022 and pick up is Wednesday May 25, 2022.
 
 
 
** REMINDER: Save the Date for March 1st for a special James Wheeler Davidson Luncheon for March 1st In-Person) **
Proudly Presenting Our Corporate Members

COG Staff - January 25th, 2022
 
Editor: Andrea Serink
Contributors: Diane Macdonald, Manon Mitchell, Greg Stevenson, Bill Kaufmann.  
 
Rotary Club of Calgary - Chartered April 1914 as Club #949
 
Tel: (403) 398-9969 - Fax:  (403) 264-2392
www.rotaryclubofcalgary.org - admin@rotaryclubofcalgary.ca
President: Manon Mitchell - President Elect: Madeleine King
RI President: Shekar Mehta - District Governor: Martin Parnell