Today, and throughout history, all groups whether it was families, countries, organizations, corporations, small or large businesses have formed strategic alliances. Why? Because all organizations have the innate goals of wanting to grow, prosper and most importantly survive. This month, I would like to address how these alliances are currently being used to accomplish goals for both Rotary International and at the local club level.
Your Rotaract friends had their annual Rotaract Retreat end of February.
Forty of us met in Ottawa with RC Julie, DG Gerry, DGE Hadi, DGN Fay and PDG Martha.
During the day, we got some updates concerning the incoming changes for Rotaract; ideas on how to have a meaningful impact in our actions; learn what peace is and a recent status of the world situation. After a whole day of exchanges and speeches, we spent the night meeting with friends we haven’t seen for a while and making new amazing one!
What an incredible weekend, always inspiring to meet so many great clubs and discuss about their actions! Now looking forward to seeing you all at the DTA :-)
Rotary Brockville Donates $25,000 to Jumpstart
By Doreen Barnes, 1000 Islands (Brockville)
On Thursday, February 13, the two Rotary Clubs in Brockville presented Canadian Tire (Brockville and Prescott) owners Alex and Beatriz Joannides, a cheque for $25,000 towards their program Jumpstart. Canadian Tire Jumpstart believes that children, ages 4 to 18, should have equal access to sports and physical activity. Over 70 activities related to hockey, dance, climbing, swimming and other sports are included in their funding program for children. In 2018, 971 children in this area were assisted with a disbursement of $50,168. Canadian Tire Jumpstart is Giving Kids a Sporting Chance!
Left to right are, President Shelley McCaffrey of the Rotary Club of the 1000 Islands, Rotarian Ray Marshall, Canadian Tire owners Alex Joannides, Beatriz Arias-Joannides, President David Keenleyside of the Rotary Club of Brockville, Canadian Tire Human Resources/Office Manager Gabriele Wickens and General Manager Jerry Wickens.
In 1911, a million people gathered to commemorate the first ever International Women’s Day. It became an official world-wide celebration by the United Nations in 1975. Today, no matter where they live, what they do, or what their background is, people around the world celebrate women on March 8 to help ‘forge a gender equal world.’
En 1911, un million de personnes se sont rassemblées pour commémorer la première journée internationale des femmes. Cette journée est devenue une célébration mondiale officielle reconnue par les Nations Unies en 1975. Aujourd’hui, peu importe où ils habitent, ce qu’ils font ou quelle que soit leur origine, les gens de partout sur la planète célèbrent les femmes le 8 mars afin de ‘forger un monde où règne l’égalité des sexes’.
Training for all incoming Presidents (Rotary and Rotaract Clubs) will be held March 21-22, 2020. Detailed program schedule will be announced soon. Training will take place Saturday, March 21 from 9am - 4:30 pm and Sunday, March 22 from 9 am - noon. Click here to register for PETS.
District Training Assembly (DTA) will also take place on Sunday, March 22 from 9am - 4:30 pm. Incoming Presidents must register for DTA and register for morning sessions identified as mandatory for Presidents Elect.
Registration for DTA is separate from registration for PETS. Click hereto register. for DTA
Saturday evening (March 21) there will be a Foundation Dinner. Registration for this dinner is also separate. Click here to register for the Foundation Dinner. There is no cost if you are a President Elect. All others must pay.
If you want to reserve a room at the Ramada Inn, Click here to get our special rate. This rate is only available until March 9 so book now.
Pre-PETS Training will take place online prior to March 20, 2020. Check Events calendar.
I was very happy to hear that at the 2019 Rotary Convention in Hamburg that Rotary International and Toastmasters International came together to form an alliance. I have been a Toastmasters and Rotarian for about the same length of time. They definitely complement each other.
In 2010 I had the opportunity to lead a Group Study Exchange to India. The interview procedure is intense. I am certain that if it was not for the skill of impromptu speaking that I had practiced at each Toastmasters meeting I would not have been selected for this leadership role. While in India for a month, the team and myself were required to do presentations to various Rotary clubs - at least 20 times and a presentation at the District conference there that had at least 1500 attendees. Toastmaster members at my Club in Kemptville helped me learn to be comfortable in front of any audience.
Since 2000, ShelterBox has provided shelter, warmth, and dignity following more than 300 disasters in over 100 countries. We respond urgently to earthquake, volcano, flood, hurricane, cyclone, tsunami, or conflict by delivering boxes of essential shelter, aid and other life-saving supplies. Each iconic green ShelterBox contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, a water filtration system, emergency lighting, and other tools for survival.
What began as a local connection with one Cornish Rotary Club in the United Kingdom has led to an international movement that’s raised over $68 million for ShelterBox to date – enough for 140,000 ShelterBox family tents or 390,000 ShelterKits.
We have four Rotary Clubs in Kingston, Ontario – Cataraqui-Kingston, Frontenac, Kingston, and Kingston-Waterfront – covering all three meal times of the day, plus the cocktail hour. Our oldest club, RC Kingston, was chartered in April, 1921, and this year we begin a 4-Club joint celebration of ‘100 Years of Rotary in Kingston’!
While we are very proud of our beautiful city, sitting on Lake Ontario, with our historical sites and trendy boutiques, we are most appreciative of our people. Kingstonians come from all corners of the world, tastily reflected in the multicultural cuisine of our many restaurants. So, one of our dozen or so Centennial Projects has to be a celebration of our local population, in particular, our newest Kingstonians.
Our District Foundation Committee is coming to you! Although we meet quarterly along with the District International Service Committee, we usually are missing representation from about 40 of our 66 clubs.
So…our Foundation Team will come to you on the following Saturday mornings at 10 am for a 30-minute ASK YOUR QUESTIONS gathering via Zoom:
March 28 – Annual Fund (Rotary’s Present)
April 4 – Scholarships: Global Scholars and Peace Fellows
April 18 – Endowment Fund (Rotary’s Future)
May 30 – Polio (Rotary’s Major Initiative)
Drop in on one or all five sessions! If you’re interested, just email me at bonblack@yahoo.com and I will send you the link. Feel free to ask other club members who might have an interest in hearing more about Our Foundation doing good in the world - see you soon!
The Silent Auction Committee for the Rotary International District 7040 Conference 2020 invites you to participate by donating a gift item to be auctioned. The proceeds from this auction will go to The Rotary Foundation on behalf of the entire district. The auction will be held during DisCon 2020, October 16-17, 2020.
Le Comité d'encan silencieux pour la Conférence 2020 du Rotary International District 7040 vous invite à participer en faisant don d'un article-cadeau à vendre aux enchères. Le produit de cette vente aux enchères ira à la Fondation Rotary au nom de tout le district. La vente aux enchères aura lieu pendant DisCon 2020, du 16 au 17 octobre 2020.
Over the years the Montreal-Lakeshore Club has obtained - from 'Health Partners International of Canada' and delivered more than fifty 'Physician Travel Packs' to a number of projects in Central and South America and Africa
But then customs’ authorities in a number of countries, such as Paraguay, Peru and Guatemala made it difficult or even impossible to donate medicine to needy persons or entities in their respective countries so for the last several years this excellent type of international aid had come to an almost standstill.
The purpose of having a District Public Relations Committee is to help you promote your Club and its events and to raise awareness of all things Rotary. To this end, as District Chair of PR, I offer assistance to any club to have info on their events and their club in general published/ aired in local media including print, radio & TV and uploaded to appropriate Social Media platforms.
Le but d’avoir un Comité de relations publiques de district est de vous aider à favoriser votre club et ses événements et à soulever la conscience de toutes les choses rotatoires. À cet effet, comme chaise de district des RP, j'offre l'aide à n'importe quel club pour avoir l'information sur leurs événements et leur club a en général édité aérer dans des médias locaux comprenant la copie, la radio et la TV et téléchargé pour s'approprier les plates-formes sociales de médias.
Rotarians can thank and recognize other Rotarians for their continued commitment to others. Simply go online to www.rotary.org click on “My Rotary” at the top, then under the “Learning and Reference” tab, click on “awards”. Club leaders and members may nominate for: Recognize a Club, Significant Service Award, Avenues of Service Award in district, Service Award for a Polio-free World, and Polio Plus Pioneer Award. Any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact District 7040 Awards Chair PDG Sue Bellor at sbellor1@twcny.rr.com .
Les Rotariens ont la possibilité de remercier et reconnaître les autres Rotariens pour leur engagement continu envers les autres. Allez simplement en ligne à www.rotary.org, cliquez sur « Mon Rotary » en haut de la page et sous l'onglet « Je me forme », cliquez sur « Prix ». Les Leader et membres de club peuvent se porter candidats pour : Reconnaître un club, un prix de service important, un prix d'avenues de service dans un district, un prix de service pour un monde sans polio et un prix Polio Plus Pioneer. Si vous avez des questions ou des préoccupations, n'hésitez pas à contacter le président du GDP du district 7040, PDG Sue Bellor, à l'adresse sbellor1@twcny.rr.com .
Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) is a unique opportunity for high school students to gain insight and knowledge in life and leadership skills. The academy features professionally developed curriculum, exciting guest leaders, small group problem solving and self reflection which lead to enhanced leadership skills. Based on their academy experience, many graduates change their career objectives or educational plans. District 7040 Rotary Clubs may sponsor one to three students (ages 15-17) to attend this Youth Leadership Academy, The program is offered in English only. All students stay in residence at St. Lawrence College for 2 nights/3 days. Registration and transportation costs are covered by the local Rotary club.
The annual D/7040 Rotary Foundation Walk is Saturday, May 9th in, Canton, New York, hosted by the Rotary Club of Canton. The annual Foundation Walk was created to bring all the clubs in the district together in a family-oriented social setting with an emphasis on fellowship while providing an opportunity for clubs and their members to contribute their Annual Fund giving to the Rotary Foundation. You can collect pledges from the members of your club, or from anyone that you know. The Canton Rotary Club is inviting you and your club to join us in a leisurely walk in Canton, our county seat. See some notable sites and hear some of our history.
Registration will begin at 9:00 am at the Eben Holden Conference Center located on the St. Lawrence University campus. Plenty of free parking is available in lot C. Morning refreshments will be provided. Early registration is encouraged. The walk is a 5K (3.2 mile) beginning promptly at 10:00 am. Families and non-members wishing to attend should register through their sponsor Rotarian.
The walk route will leave Eben Holden Center visiting historic campus buildings: Herring-Cole Hall, Richardson Hall and the Garrison Chapel. Proceeding then to the Canton village historic district: Silas Wright House & Museum, the U.S Post Office, the birthplace of Frederic Remington, Jail Liberties Stone, the St. Lawrence County Courthouse, Heritage Park, as well as a federal style home. At various stops a brief summary of its historical significance and/or a guided tour as time permits will be provided. We will then return to Eben Holden Center for lunch at 12:00 pm.
