Charles Pratt opened our meeting with the following invocation.
Our lives are being affected by COVID-19 pandemic, including the cancellation of our weekly meetings, which is difficult and painful. But this is the only way we can protect our family, friends and the society in which we live according to other medical organizations.
The World Health Organization says the best way to fight COVID-19 across the wall is to adopt social distancing people are being asked not to gather in groups to minimize the spreading of the disease.
For me, I consider my house as a land-based cruise ship where everything is available to me, but I cannot go ashore. Let us be thankful for all we have and available to us. Let us not forget the less fortunate around the world who are struggling from day to day to survive.
Club President Rick Erven shared the following announcement.
I am pleased to announce that Franco Savoia has agreed to take over the role of Community Services Director, replacing Farid Bedwany. Franco graciously accepted the board’s invitation to assume the position, and the board unanimously confirmed his appointment. He will finish the current term and serve through Manon’s presidential year. Please welcome Franco to his new role, and thank you, Farid, for your contributions to this club.
We also celebrated Catherine Scheer’s competing all of the tasks on the new member checklist, and the removal of the “red dot” from her name tag. Catherine has been active since joining, having been part of the (un)Gala committee. She looks forward to developing the Communications portfolio.
Manon Mitchell introduced Caroline Dratnal, one of this year’s four winners of the 2020 Rotary Calgary Concerto Competition, who performed Franz Liszt’s Sonetto 104 del Petrarca. Everyone on the videoconference enjoyed and appreciated her performance.
President Rick announced COVID-19 Community Response Fund as the recipient of our Lunchbucket Challenge fundraising campaign. Established as a partnership between the United Way and the City of Calgary, the COVID-19 Community Response Fund supports vulnerable Calgarians during this extraordinary time. Since its creation, the Calgary Foundation has contributed $1 million to our most urgent needs. We chose the COVID-19 Community Response Fund as the beneficiary of our Lunchbox Challenge because the board felt the United Way and the City of Calgary team possess the expertise to assess needs rapidly, and that our club can be confident in their decisions.
We have made it easy to donate to the Lunchbucket Challenge. There is a donation link on the main page of our club website.
The United Way’s Karen Young provided this first update on the support delivered by the response fund.
Thanks, Rick. It is great to be here with you virtually. I am so excited about how we have been able to respond quickly to the COVID-19 emergency declared in Calgary on March 15th. The Calgary Emergency Management Agency asked the United Way to set up the COVID-19 Community Response Fund, which we were able to do in just twenty-two hours. We have worked to put money out into the community as quickly as possible to deal with the immediate relief required to help stabilize individuals and families during this challenging time. I wanted to pop in today just for a couple of minutes to say thank you to the Rotary Club and all your members for starting the Lunchbox Challenge. I think it is just fabulous. I appreciate our joint activities on the Enough for All poverty reduction strategy and the Community Hubs project.
Now that Calgarians need us again, you are stepping forward with a coordinated response. We are grateful for people like Peter and Adele McKeen, who have stepped up with a matching donation so we can leverage the opportunity.
I have been working with another group of ten donor families who have also created a match. They started with a goal of $500,000, and we have the potential to raise one million dollars. This success shows what we can achieve when we all work together. Additionally, the Government of Alberta can provide funds to match the donations we receive. We have a real opportunity here to leverage these dollars into the community and make them go as far as possible.
The immediate relief fund helps with the basic needs of in-need populations such as isolated seniors, families living in poverty, or newcomers to Calgary. We have worked hard to get more than $3.5 million out of the door. While we have answered 108 applications for support, we have received 196 applications, with requests for support totalling roughly $14 million. The need is great, and we see the impact social distancing is having on the community.
Thanks to the Calgary Flames Foundation, we have been able to provide 500 Chromebooks to help Grade 12 students in need to complete their studies. We have helped Meals on Wheels deliver 12,586 meals through the shelter system while people were unable to access the food bank. The Alex Community Food Centre has been providing food hampers in the Greater Forest Lawn area.
We supported CUPS with a $250,000 donation to help them serve their vulnerable population, and we work with Senior Secret Services to bring cheer to isolated seniors. Senior Secret Services have provided notes to 250,000 seniors, and they check in with them to see how they are doing during the lockdown. They also ensure isolated seniors have the medications they require. We support the Canadian Mental Health Association to allow their continued ability to provide counselling services online.
I wanted to remind you that today is giving Tuesday and that we are starting a campaign called United Apart, so now is a good time for you to become involved through your Lunchbucket Challenge. We live in a world where being kind and compassionate is one of the best things we can be doing for our community. Thank you, Rotarians, for coming through again.
Eric Bennett and Manon Mitchell provided the following overview of our club’s long-range plan. The plan provides recommendations and guidance in five critical areas for the club’s evolution between 2020 and 2023.
Membership and Partnerships
Desired Outcomes
Emphasis on retention engagement, fellowship, lasting friendships, and business networking
Corporate membership provides a meaningful value proposition
Membership in the Rotary Club of Calgary is attractive and sought after
Measures
180 Active and 30 honorary members
30 percent of members are female
100 percent engagement by all members
Corporate memberships increased to 10
Numbers of club members involved in district and zone committees, Rotary International involvement, TRF donation levels tracked
Local Community Impact
Desired Outcomes
Our grants and programs make a difference locally
Inspire Calgarians by contributing to impactful projects that address local community needs
Collaborate with Rotaract and Interact and other Rotary clubs, and Toastmasters International
Leverage funds available through District 5360 and other grants
Promote awareness of the importance of giving back
Balance decision-making processes between new initiatives and continued support for ongoing projects/organizations
Measures
Track Stay in School program volunteers
Track volunteer opportunities for club members through club ambassadors aligned with organizations we support financially
Assign a champion for each local NGO we support
Arrange for half of the organizations we fund to make presentations to the club
Measure and report the number of beneficiaries of our funding
Produce reports for all other local service projects that do not fall under the Major and Small Donations committees, e.g., Stay in School, Christmas Hampers, Feed the Hungry
Provide ongoing communications to the club from the champions of our signature legacy projects, and provide volunteer opportunities to club members
Conduct successful fundraising activities every year
Ensure all club members understand what their giving options are, demonstrated by having at least 75 percent of active members donating to TRF, CRCF, or both
International Impact
Desired Outcomes
Support Rotary areas of focus internationally, bringing measurable and sustainable humanitarian aid to support the world’s most vulnerable
Enhance club member understanding and knowledge of Rotary’s collective efforts
Work collaboratively with Rotary clubs and other organizations to enhance the effectiveness of our international humanitarian support
Measures
Ensure World Community Service (WCS) projects maximize funding opportunities as appropriate
Produce an annual report by the end of November for presentation to the club
Maximize our applications for District grants annually
Ensure WCS projects collectively support a minimum of three RI areas of focus
Present projects ten times a year at club meetings (five-minute updates), underscoring the RI areas of focus
Provide one expert speaker on international development/projects to present at one club meeting per year
Track the number of collaborating clubs and cooperating organizations annually
Support other Rotary clubs’ international projects through direct donations or by applying for a Type C district grant.
Track the number of club members visiting our international club projects, and kilometres travelled
Identify direct and indirect beneficiaries, and the percentage leveraging of funds
Reputational Impact
Desired Outcomes
Rotary International and Rotary Club of Calgary are known and valued for community service work and held in high regard by Calgarians
Members are aware of club activities and their impacts
Our club is known for collaborating with other Rotary clubs
Measures
Feature one successful club project annually, describing our work, volunteer hours, and funds raised, on the RI showcase
Survey Rotary clubs in Calgary annually for their perspectives on our club
Attend at least 11 out of 12 monthly “Calgary All Presidents” meeting
Be featured at least once on TV annually
Create an active committee dedicated to external communications
Post at least once a week on FB or other social media
Track website traffic
Track the number of membership inquiries and collect prospect email addresses and add them as ClubRunner “friends,” provided they agree
Track the number of guests at meetings and collect prospect email addresses and add them as ClubRunner “friends,” provided they agree
Club Operations
Desired Outcomes
Members actively involved in club service
Ongoing financial viability of the club
Club’s charitable status retained with CRA
An efficient and respected administrative team supports operations
Club operations support requirements of specific activities (e.g., vulnerable sector screening)
Effective internal communications support all key results areas
Club operations align with the current economic outlook
Measures
Board governance training held annually, organized by the president
Terms of Reference for each area reviewed each year by the board
A succession plan for all aspects of club operations is reviewed each year by the board
Employee annual reviews are conducted by the HR committee
Follow the process provided by District 5360 for volunteer screening by all areas of the club
Support the measurement of engagement by providing an easy to use process
Standardize platforms for sharing and communication over and above ClubRunner
COG Staff - May 5th, 2020
Editor
Craig Henderson
Rotary Club of Calgary - Chartered April 1914 as Club #949
Suite 305, 105-12 Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1A1
