Rotary Foundation

DG's May-June Newsletter

The 2004-2005 Rotary year is quickly drawing to a close. I hope all of you feel as I do that it has been a great year. I want to congratulate all of you for making this our Centennial year so successful.

Wendy and I started our Club visits last August and completed them on November 24th. We want to thank each and every Club for their hospitality and co-operation as we were made to feel most welcome throughout the District. It was a very positive experience to hear about all the great projects Rotary Clubs are involved in. It is easy to see how important Rotary is to the many communities across Southern Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Rotary faces a number of challenges in the future. Perhaps the biggest challenge of all will be to attract new members that are willing to participate and support the growing needs of our communities at home and world wide. It appears the gap between the wealthy and the poor is widening. Volunteer organizations such as Rotary are been called on more and more to meet those needs.

What is the profile of a good Rotarian? So often we hear we need more young people to join. While I have no argument with that point of view, I donâ¿¢t think any one age group is more important than another. I strongly believe that any one who qualifies within the rules as presently outlined and wants to serve Rotary is a important perspective member. There are many people who now take early retirement, who have both the means and the time to become good Rotarians. In short look for quality people that want to serve irrespective of age.

Rotary more than ever has shown the world this past few years, through its support and leadership with the Polio Plus program, how effective and influential it can be. The only hope that many third World countries have for such things as water filtration, digging of wells, sanitation projects, housing projects etc. are through the help they get from Rotary.

The list of needs continues to grow as there is less Government aid and more and more, private organizations and service clubs that are required to fill the gap. The ability Rotary has to work with other clubs on projects throughout the World assures us our dollars are being used as intended. It is very gratifying to know the people on the receiving end also live by the four way test.

The number of Centennial projects completed or in various stages of completion are most noteworthy. Many clubs have been recognized by Rotary International that had registered their projects with them. Also of note was our District Centennial tree and shrub project that was in conjunction with our April ninth Birthday Celebration. Over one hundred applicants from across Southern Alberta and Western Saskatchewan will be planting twenty five trees and/or shrubs in there communities this spring and summer. What a wonderful legacy for Rotary as these trees and shrubs grow and pay lasting tribute to the Rotarians in this District. Just as a matter of interest there was over five hundred applications.

This past year saw our District put special emphasis on water-filtration projects in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. With the co-operation of a number of clubs who supported this project we in District 5360 were able to raise in excess of $200,000.00 towards this end (including matching funds). Along with the water-filtration in co-operation with Dr Jan Tollefson there was technical training on how to properly take care of the filters for long term service. There was training to enable the filters to be constructed in the afore mentioned countries again by Dr. Jan Tollefsonâ¿¢s organization. This project also enabled the beginning of a small cottage industry to develop in these countries. It has been estimated that we have been able to provide clean drinking water to between thirty and forty thousand people. We have heard reports from the people that we have helped saying there children are now healthy and going to school every day. The parents are also healthy and going to work every day. These filters are provided for individual familyâ¿¢s or multiple family use, they are installed in schools were they will be used by up to two hundred students.

I would be remiss if I did not congratulate the many youth programs that have been so successful this year. The YEX program once again will have a profound effect on the lives of so many people. Our lives are much richer knowing and interacting with the Exchange Students from all around the world. I am a firm believer that if there is any hope for peace in the world it will be the result of people getting to know and understand one another. The other programs that provide a cultural exchange are Group Study Exchange, Ambassadorial Scholarships, Peace Scholarships, Short Term Exchanges and the list keeps growing.

RYLA ran two very successful programs this year. The lives of between eighty and ninety young people where enriched this year with there participation in these well run programs. RYPEN also did a super job in helping to improve the lives of many young people. Rotary in District 5360 is fortunate to have people that want to help enrich the lives of our youth. We also re-introduced the four –way speech contest back into the District and hope that more clubs will participate in this program next year.

Our District Conference was held May 19^th – 22^nd at the Banff Park Lodge in Banff Alberta. I think every one who attended would agree this was a great venue. The pre conference events included a Golf tournament, a Partner’s program at the Banff School of Fine Art’s and a hiking trip of the Banff area. By all reports these different events were enjoyed by all that participated. At four o-clock on the nineteenth we officially opened the Conference at the Brewster Barbecue facility. Following the opening presentations we ate a great steak dinner with all the trimmings. We then proceeded to have  great fellowship and danced the night away.

The following day we had a number of inspiring and very emotional presentations that focused on the “Power of One.” The entire program was very well received and ran very smoothly. David Michaux 111 and his wife Sarah were our Rotary International Representatives. They where excellent Representatives of Rotary International President Glenn and Mary and added a great deal to our Conference. We concluded the day with a banquet, a short program and dancing to the wee hours of the morning.

The next morning we heard form David Michaux for his final presentation. We then proceeded with our Memorial Service honoring those Rotarians that passed away over the past year. The Annual General meeting was then held  followed by our luncheon were a few concluding remarks were made. All in all the general feeling was, it was a great Conference.

There were a number of people that went to a great deal of effort to plan and execute the whole proceeding. In particular Mel Gray the Conference Chairman did a wonderful job planning and running the whole weekend. I would also like to pay special mention to Wendy, Betty Stein and all the partners that did such a wonderful job of hosting the partner’s program and running the Hospitality Suite. Special thanks to George Deegan, District Secretary who ran the Annual General meeting and had other duties through out the weekend. Don Bacon made registration very easy and thanks to all the others to numerous to mention that played a big part in making it a very special weekend.

On to Chicago, to what will be the biggest Rotary World Conference ever to be held in North America. We have at this time one hundred and thirty four registrant’s from District 5360. What outstanding participation from this District. I’m sure none of us will be disappointed as we Celebrate our Centenary in the beautiful city of Chicago.

As a few of you are aware we have been working toward having an entry in the Chicago Parade. The planning for that entry has now been arranged. Thirty three RCMP officers in their Red Serge’s will be marching on foot to the same drills as they would do on horseback. This is a wonderful entry that will be representing District 5360, our Province and our Country. We are having banners made up that will be carried by Rotarians and used to  lead the group.

Wendy and I want to take this opportunity to thank the Assistant Governors, Committee Chairman and in particular the Club presidents and secretaries who have worked so hard to make this a very special year. It is because of your efforts that Rotary has accomplished so much in this our one hundredth year.

We would be remiss if we did not thank all of the many Rotarians and partners who have made our job so much easier. Your hospitality and friendliness was greatly appreciated.

RYLA ran two very successful programs this year. The lives of between eighty and ninety young people where enriched this year with there participation in these well run programs. RYPEN also did a super job in helping to improve the lives of many young people. Rotary in District 5360 is fortunate to have people that want to help enrich the lives of our youth. We also re-introduced the four –way speech contest back into the District and hope that more clubs will participate in this program next year.

Our District Conference was held May 19^th – 22^nd at the Banff Park Lodge in Banff Alberta. I think every one who attended would agree this was a great venue. The pre conference events included a Golf tournament, a Partner’s program at the Banff School of Fine Art’s and a hiking trip of the Banff area. By all reports these different events were enjoyed by all that participated. At four o-clock on the nineteenth we officially opened the Conference at the Brewster Barbecue facility. Following the opening presentations we ate a great steak dinner with all the trimmings. We then proceeded to have  great fellowship and danced the night away.

The following day we had a number of inspiring and very emotional presentations that focused on the “Power of One.” The entire program was very well received and ran very smoothly. David Michaux 111 and his wife Sarah were our Rotary International Representatives. They where excellent Representatives of Rotary International President Glenn and Mary and added a great deal to our Conference. We concluded the day with a banquet, a short program and dancing to the wee hours of the morning.

The next morning we heard form David Michaux for his final presentation. We then proceeded with our Memorial Service honoring those Rotarians that passed away over the past year. The Annual General meeting was then held  followed by our luncheon were a few concluding remarks were made. All in all the general feeling was, it was a great Conference.

There were a number of people that went to a great deal of effort to plan and execute the whole proceeding. In particular Mel Gray the Conference Chairman did a wonderful job planning and running the whole weekend. I would also like to pay special mention to Wendy, Betty Stein and all the partners that did such a wonderful job of hosting the partner’s program and running the Hospitality Suite. Special thanks to George Deegan, District Secretary who ran the Annual General meeting and had other duties through out the weekend. Don Bacon made registration very easy and thanks to all the others to numerous to mention that played a big part in making it a very special weekend.

On to Chicago, to what will be the biggest Rotary World Conference ever to be held in North America. We have at this time one hundred and thirty four registrant’s from District 5360. What outstanding participation from this District. I’m sure none of us will be disappointed as we Celebrate our Centenary in the beautiful city of Chicago.

As a few of you are aware we have been working toward having an entry in the Chicago Parade. The planning for that entry has now been arranged. Thirty three RCMP officers in their Red Serge’s will be marching on foot to the same drills as they would do on horseback. This is a wonderful entry that will be representing District 5360, our Province and our Country. We are having banners made up that will be carried by Rotarians and used to  lead the group.

Wendy and I want to take this opportunity to thank the Assistant Governors, Committee Chairman and in particular the Club presidents and secretaries who have worked so hard to make this a very special year. It is because of your efforts that Rotary has accomplished so much in this our one hundredth year.

We would be remiss if we did not thank all of the many Rotarians and partners who have made our job so much easier. Your hospitality and friendliness was greatly appreciated.