Rotary Club of Kitchener

e-Newsletter

January 11, 2021

Meeting Recording

A recording of Today’s Meeting can be found here.

President's Comments

President Louise along with Patrik Mayer, president of the Moscow International club welcomed everyone to the meeting.
 
Ildus Yanyshev, District Governor D2223 also welcomed everyone and expressed his good wishes.  ADG Hubert Singh brought greetings from DG Mike Lawrie who was unable to join us today due to conflicting meetings.
 
As usual President Louise began the meeting by playing O Canada and also played the Russian National Anthem which can be viewed here:
 

Visiting Rotarians

Ildus Yanyshev, District Governor D2223, Russia
Mike Lawrie, District Governor, D7080
 
From the Rotary Club of Moscow International:
Patrik Mayer, President
Thomas Bihrer,
Philipp Cohen,
Erik Stenfield,
Elena Shpinel,
Holger Schukz,
Anthony Scholz,
Rifat Cicek, and
Aleksei Grdchin
 
Olga Kholmogorova, National Coordinator of Intercountry Committees, D-2223
Yan Brown, Chairman of Canada-Russia ICC, Canadian Section
Judy Byron, PDG D-5020, Founder and Past Chairwoman of Canada-Russia ICC, Canadian Section
Jennifer Laughton, Secretary of Canada-Russia ICC, Canadian Section
Irina Bakumenko, Secretary of Canada-Russia ICC, Russian Section
 
Shira Ginsler, Rotaractor Club of Stratford
 

Guests

Judy Proctor, guest of Bill Proctor
Judy Ginsler, guest of Ernie Ginsler

Program Highlights

Today’s meeting was a special joint meeting with The Rotary Club of Moscow International from District 2223 in Russia.  Each club provided some background and highlights of the organization and activities.
 
  • Rotary Club Moscow International was chartered on May 25th, 2001
  • English speaking club with members from Armenia, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Russia, Serbia, Spain and Switzerland.
  • RCMI members: 31 (guests 34)
  • Statutory meetings every second Monday evening
  • New meeting formats are being tried (e.g. chimney meeting)
  • Ad-hoc events include:
    - Cosmoscow Art Exhibition
    • Whiskey & Cigar Night
      - Joint online meetings with other clubs
 
Their organization is similar to ours with the following committees:
  • Membership,
  • Club Life,
  • Special & fundraising,
  • Finance,
  • Public Relations and Media,
  • Club Relations - Russia / Youth
  • Club Relations - International, and
  • Legal & Governance.
 
Club Projects include:
RestartU
  • The Center of Inborn Pathologies (CIP) headed by the professor, PhD Natalia Belova, was created in 2008 and is aimed to help children with rare and complex inborn pathologies.
  • CIP organizes unique Multidisciplinary Consulting to establish definite diagnosis, to provide sampling for complex analyses, and to organize social adaptation rehabilitation programs.
  • Families having children with osteogenesis imperfecta, get psychological counselling, legal assistance, are included in social adaptation programs… which drastically improves their lifestyle.
  • RCMI raises funds to purchase “tailor made” wheelchairs and walking devices to be given to the families of the children.
 
More Than Able
  • Fund created in 2015 by entrepreneur and marathon runner Vadim Zelensky, inspired by the famous tandem of American runners Dick and Rick Hoyt
  • Target: train para-athletes to run races such as marathons in tandem with volunteers
  • Para-athletes with different types of handicap can participate, special focus on young people suffering from cerebral palsy.
  •  Results: the tailor made training, with a special medical follow-up, followed by the participation to the race, gives a positive effect on the physical and mental health of the participants.
  • Positive impact on Society attitude towards handicapped people
  • RCMI raises funds to purchase special wheelchairs designed to run in “tandem” in races such as marathons
DETSKI DOM, Children’s house for Deafblind, is situated in in Sergiev Posad 60 km north of Moscow
  • The orphanage is home for 230 deaf and blind children.
  • The aim of Rotary Club Moscow International is to help the deaf children with quality hearing aids. One set of good quality hearing aids costs approximately 2,000 Euro
  • Just imagine a life where you are both blind and deaf !!
  • With good hearing aids we can help many of the deaf children to a better quality of life.
  • Detski Dom - One of the few places in Russia Dedicated to take care of deaf and blind children.
  • Deaf children are learning deaf language, and blind children are learning to read blind text.
  • Children are usually from poor parents or without.
  • The orphanage provide food, lodging, and education.
  • Deafness can in many cases be cured with hearing aids.
  • Over the last 14 years we have supplied more than 200 sets of hearing aids, and important lab equipment.
  • New deaf children are coming every year.
  • Our last Charity Evening we managed to collect 2 Mio Rub (30.000 $)
  • The project is ongoing, so we need to continue raising money.
 

Closing Remarks & Reminders

Our meeting next Monday, January 18 will have some Who Am I presentations giving us an opportunity to learn more about some of our newest members.
 
Speakers
Jan 04, 2021 12:00 PM
Child Welfare: Our Journey to Reconciliation
Jan 11, 2021 12:00 PM
Sharing Rotary Experiences - Projects & Fundraising
Jan 18, 2021 12:00 PM
Our chance to meet some new members
Jan 25, 2021 7:00 PM
Family & Friends welcomed
Feb 01, 2021 12:00 PM
Toastytoes
View entire list
Birthdays & Membership Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Robert Bullas
January 2
 
Karen Redman
January 8
 
Paul Rostrup
January 8
 
Bill Proctor
January 9
 
Erin Way
January 20
 
John English
January 26
 
Kelly Miller
January 26
 
Join Date
Al Way
January 1, 1991
30 years
 
Cameron Yule
January 1, 1992
29 years
 
Carl Zehr
January 1, 1975
46 years
 
Carol Wiebe
January 1, 1995
26 years
 
Dave Smith
January 1, 1977
44 years
 
Ed Fowler
January 1, 1996
25 years
 
Jack Ball
January 1, 1962
59 years
 
John O'Brien
January 1, 1971
50 years
 
Karen Redman
January 1, 1999
22 years
 
Pete Gray
January 1, 1997
24 years
 
Ross Newkirk
January 1, 1990
31 years
 
Shawky Fahel
January 1, 1987
34 years
 
Wayne Boehler
January 1, 1993
28 years
 
John English
January 31, 2002
19 years
 
Sponsors