"Together we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change - across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves!"
The Rotary Club of Calgary comprises professional and community leaders brought together in fellowship to make a better future.
Birthdays
Rishi Chakraborty
April 18
Stuart Libin
April 20
Rotary Anniversaries
Catherine Scheers -- 5years
Dave Macdonald-- 30 years
Philip Libin -- 35 years
Inspirational Quote
"Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family - in another city."
...George Burn
Walley Temple on Global News
Manon Mitchell
As you may have read in our last issue of the COG, our own Dr. Walley Temple was honoured with the People of Action: Champion of Impact award. This award is given to only 6 Rotarians worldwide. Walley’s work "Towards the Elimination of Cervical Cancer in Guatemala" has proven highly impactful in the screening and treatment of this disease. Imagine the honor of being among only six Rotarians who receive the award!!!
Walley was featured recently in a news piece on Global Television. Footage of the project was provided by our own RIck Castiglione (Cielo Pictures).
Attached is a photo take at the Royal Overseas League (ROSL) clubhouse in London, UK where Madeleine and I were staying during the Commonwealth Day celebration.
I spotted this "guy" in the lobby with a distinctive tie.... and a Rotary lapel pin. So I went over to greet him as a fellow Rotarian. He asked where I was from. "Canada", I said. And you? "Well, for some reason some people keep asking if I'm from Canada, but I'm a Scot." Then the penny dropped and I realized I had greeted RI President Gordon McInally! Over the next couple of days we kept running into each other either in the Club lobby, the bar or in the street outside. As the photo shows, one of us ended up with the distinctive tie; the other NOT. [But he assured me he has several more up in his room. And the next day when he was heading off to the High Commission of ???, he was suitably "tied".
P.S. Gordon and his entourage had way better seats for Commonwealth Day in Westminster Abby than we did. But then so did Queen Camila
Marmie's House Renovations Continue
Peter Harrison
As the renovations at Marmie's House continue, another opportunity has presented itself for our members to roll up their sleeves and help. The good folks at YCC are in need of 8-16 volunteers to help with painting on April 13 and 14 (Saturday and Sunday). No experience required!
If you're interested in signing up for one of the available shifts, you can find details here:
The Rotary Club of Calgary Connect is hosting a comedy night fundraiser at Yuk Yuk's (Elbow River Casino) next Wednesday, April 10, at 7:30 PM.
Our latest passion project is the development of an app that will help to connect pets from across different shelters with loving forever homes. We're hoping to make it easier for people to search for animals that meet their criteria, while also helping local shelters that are operating at capacity. This comedy night fundraiser will help us to get the app developed and start connecting people with pets.
Tickets are only $30 and you're guaranteed to have some laughs.
Grab your family, tell some friends, and come on out for a good night and a great cause.
Did you know the books in your home could help Calgary children become stronger readers? Read on to find out what to donate to Calgary Reads Big Book Sale—and when—so there are more books and more proceeds to support critical early childhood reading work in our community.
Our club is back in the casino pool after a few years absence and we are still 21 volunteers short. If you have any friends, relatives, neighbours or people that owe you a favor (and they are over 18 years of age), we would love to include them in this fundraising activity!
Thank you in advance for promoting this important fundraiser in your networks AND thank you to all Club members and District 5360 Rotarians that have already signed up. I appreciate you & all that you are doing to improve the lives of others :)
DATES: April 24 & 25
LOCATION: ACE Casino near the Airport 40 Aero Crescent NEW
TIMES: Daytime shifts, evening shifts and late night counting money shifts are available
The Ronald McDonald House of Calgary will be expanding the Calgary House from 27 family suites to 91 to serve hundreds of more families. We are thrilled to share that The Rotary Club of Calgary has pledged $125,000 towards the expansion of the Ronald McDonald House of Calgary. In partnership with The Rotary Club at Stampede Park and The Calgary Flames Foundation, we are granting Legacy funds to construct a fully accessible playground as part of an outdoor oasis.
Western Canada High School Interact Club Newsletter
Sophia Lathrop
Our Western Canada High School Interact Club has been busy. Click here to see what they've been up to. Here's a picture of the club members at the Bethany Care Centre.
Our Club Invests $100,000 in Safe Haven to Give Young Girls Their Future Back
Tom Loucks & Randy Topolnitsky
Our dollars will help build The Community Hub in Havens Harbor, a building being renovated by the Safe Haven Foundation www.safehavenfoundation.ca. The Community Hub will bring together Alumni, Haven’s Harbour and Haven’s Way youth under one roof for opportunities of celebrations, financial literacy lessons, community cooking nights, and learnings from guest speakers. Older Alumni will organically mentor Haven’s Harbour residents who, in turn, can mentor the girls in the Haven’s Way home.
In a meeting of the Rotary Community Services Directors group early in 2022, an agency CEO noted that it would be more helpful if agencies and groups could apply once for Rotary support. The Calgary Centennial, Downtown, North, Chinook and East Clubs began to convene to develop a solution. They developed proposal that was shared with Technology Helps. It was determined that a “one window” platform could be developed for $2500. Each club agreed to contribute $500 for the initial development of the platform that was named Rotary Helps YYC. You can see this window by clicking here.
Every year our Rotary District plans an inspiring conference to provide Rotarians with an great opportunity to learn, connect, make new friendships and be inspired. This year's conference is in Drumheller on May 4 and 5. Registrations are still open. Many of our club members are attending, so join us in Drumheller. Great speakers and break out sessions are planned and you can see those on the DisCon website. By the way did you know that our own Disconauraus Rex's video invitation now has more the 2.2K views on YouTube! It is the highest viewed video on our District YouTube Channel. CLICK HERE to register and join us for a great weekend of fellowship and learning!
2025 Rotary International Convention - Club Booth
Doug McMillan
The Rotary event of the year is coming to Calgary on June 22, 2025. We will be welcoming Rotarians from around the world at next year's International Convention. Some of us will be attending this year's convention as ambassadors at this year's convention in Singapore. The House of Friendship is a huge space allocated to Clubs, Fellowships and Rotary Action Groups to communicate their activities; this allows all Rotarians to learn, and connect with other rotarians, clubs and projects. We are starting planning for a Rotary Club of Calgary Booth at the 2025 House of Friendship. At this point, we need to build our list of volunteers who will commit to a 4 hour shift (or more) at our booth. Of course, we will provide guidance and training for those who wish to be ambassadors of our club. It would be great to have a representative from each of our main areas: Youth, Community Services, International and Early Childhood Literacy. For the time being, Manon will track volunteers so please let Manon know (by clicking here) that you'd be willing to work 1 shift (4 hours) at our booth at the House of Friendship. The convention runs from June 22 to June 25, 2025.
Granting Strategy Task Force Update - April 2024
Randy Topolnitsky
Thank you to all the Rotary Club Calgary Downtown (RCCD) members who participated in Granting Strategy consultations in recent weeks! The Granting Strategy Task Force (GSTF) was pleased to hear from Club members through a consultation and engagement process that aimed to be inclusive and accessible to all.
.png)
I spotted this "guy" in the lobby with a distinctive tie.... and a Rotary lapel pin. So I went over to greet him as a fellow Rotarian. He asked where I was from. "Canada", I said. And you? "Well, for some reason some people keep asking if I'm from Canada, but I'm a Scot." Then the penny dropped and I realized I had greeted RI President Gordon McInally! Over the next couple of days we kept running into each other either in the Club lobby, the bar or in the street outside. As the photo shows, one of us ended up with the distinctive tie; the other NOT. [But he assured me he has several more up in his room. And the next day when he was heading off to the High Commission of ???, he was suitably "tied".
Did you know the books in your home could help Calgary children become stronger readers? Read on to find out what to donate to Calgary Reads Big Book Sale—and when—so there are more books and more proceeds to support critical early childhood reading work in our community.
The Ronald McDonald House of Calgary will be expanding the Calgary House from 27 family suites to 91 to serve hundreds of more families. 
