Kitchener Rotary e-Newsletter - July 15, 2024 (Jul. 16, 2024)

Meeting Recording

There is no recording of today’s meeting as we met in person at Charcoal's Restaurant.

President's Comments

President Dave welcomed all to this our second meeting of our 103^rd year!

Guests

Colleen James, guest of Hubert Singh
Daren James, guest of Hubert Singh
Jonas Senez, our Inbound Exchange student from France
Ella Mironescu, our outbound exchange student to Japan
Serena Gillespie, our just returned outbound exchange student from Japan
Satoka Hayashi, an inbound exchange student from Japan currently with the Font Hill RC (her Family will host Ella in Japan)

Happy Jar

Carl Zehr is happy to recently been on a trip to Newfoundland and Labrador with wife Sandy, a great trip! He is also very happy and relieved that the announcement for the site of the new hospital will be made next Monday, July 22 and people will stop asking him about it!

Lumi Mironescu is pleased to have had a recent family trip to Cuba. While there she wore some clothing with the Rotary logo and was often asked about it. She was even invited to join a group and have her photo taken. She was also happy to be here today with four exchange students.

Immediate Past President Bryn Jones is most happy with his new title – Past President! He is happy though to have served in the role as president and appreciated the hard work and support of the club members. He was also happy to have celebrated his 17^th wedding anniversary this past weekend.

Current President Dave Chatson is happy to be in the role and is looking forward to leading the club and working with a great group of people.

Paul Rostrup was delighted to have some time with family on the weekend, especially their granddaughter in Toronto.

Club Announcements

Rotary African Women’s Education Fund (RAWEF)

Our club received the following letter of thanks, read by RAWEF chair, Martin Jones, from a student who received support for her education through our RAWEF program.

Dear Martin Jones and Joan Mukwama,

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to express my deepest gratitude to the RAWEF fraternity, under your leadership, for sponsoring my education. Thanks to your generosity and support, I am thrilled to share that I have successfully graduated with second-class honors upper division.

Your belief in my potential and your commitment to education have made a profound impact on my life. The knowledge and skills I have gained will undoubtedly shape my future in meaningful ways. I am truly grateful for the opportunities your sponsorship has afforded me.

Thank you once again for your unwavering support and belief in me. I am eager to apply what I have learned to contribute positively to society and make a difference in the world.

With sincere thanks and warm regards,

Faith Auma

Martin added that, through the RAWEF fund, we provide about $70,000 annually towards education of young women in central Africa and have support over 120 students to date.

Assistant District Governor

The Assistant District Governor (AG) in each area of the district provides support to clubs and helps to strengthen ties between the clubs in an area, often leading to joint projects. For the past three years Paul Rostrup of our club has served as the AG for our KW cluster. Replacing him for the next three years is Melodie Mensch from the Kitchener Conestoga Club.

For his exemplary work as an AG Paul was awarded an Honourary Paul Harris by outgoing District Governor, Brenda Halloran at the recent district turnover meeting.

Youth Exchange

Committee chair Boyd Pendleton hosted four exchange students from across the district this past weekend and had them join in on the support we provided to the City of Kitchener’s Cruising on King Street event. He is working with the Kitchener Conestoga Club that is interested in becoming part of the Youth Exchange program.

A three-part celebration party – welcome back for Serena, goodbye to Jonas and a send-off for Ella will be held this coming weekend at Pinehurst Park, for more information please contact Boyd directly.

Our next inbound student, Saimi Vieno Allisa Hartikainen, from Finland will arrive on August 13. A former exchange student, Klaus Sharffenorth, from Germany, will be visiting in the area in October and arrangements are being made to have him speak to the club.

Our 100^th Anniversary Gift to the City

Dedication of the newly renovated Band Stand, which our club provided $100,000 in funding, will take place on Monday, July 22. Festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. on Roos Island in the park. All members and friends of Rotary are invited to come and be a part of this very important and exciting milestone in the history of our club.

Special Recognitions

We were very pleased today to induct Colleen James as a new member of our club, sponsored by Hubert Singh.

Colleen James, M.Ed., is a highly regarded equity and inclusion consultant.

She is the driving force behind Divonify Incorporated, demonstrating unwavering dedication to challenging traditional norms in the realms of racial equity and social justice.

With an extensive 20-year career, she collaborates with organizations to scrutinize inequities and cultivate environments that embrace the diverse perspectives within their workforce.

As a first-generation Canadian, Colleen's upbringing fostered a deep sense of pride in her Black identity. Her parents, emphasizing her right to belong in all spaces, empowered her to embrace and celebrate her heritage. Despite facing racism and stereotypical assumptions about her, Colleen's resilience fueled her commitment to systemic change, aiming to create authentic spaces of belonging. Her focus extends beyond workplaces, as she actively engages in solutions for equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Recognized as one of the Top 100 Black Women to Watch in Canada in 2020 and honored as a prominent DEI figure in 2021, Colleen received the Black Excellence in Leadership Award in 2023.

She leads transformative discussions within organizations, challenging assumptions and guiding leaders to deepen their understanding of power dynamics and privilege. This prompts them to rethink outdated business models and foster equitable opportunities within their organizations. Notably, Colleen achieved a significant milestone by being elected to Regional Council, representing Kitchener residents on October 24, 2022.

Colleen actively contributes to various committees and collaborative initiatives, including her participation in the Caribbean Canadian Association of Waterloo Region. Demonstrating her commitment, she established the James STEM scholarship award, furthering her dedication to educational empowerment.

Colleen holds an Honours B.A. degree in history, political science, and Caribbean studies from the University of Toronto, coupled with a Master of Education in Leadership, Higher, and Adult Education. A proud resident of Kitchener, Ontario, Colleen resides with her husband and daughter, embodying her steadfast commitment to fostering positive change within her community.

Program Highlights

Our program today was presented by our newly installed President – Dave Chatson with a look at the year ahead for our club.

Dave began by referring to our 2024-2025 Rotary International President – Stephanie Urchick and her presidential them for the Rotary year - "The Magic of Rotary". President Urchick has called on members to recognize and amplify the organization's power to save lives.

Urchick believes the MAGIC of Rotary invites us to:

Innovate and Adapt
Foster Inclusivity and Diversity
Strengthen Community Connections
Engage and Inspire Members
Lead with Compassion and Integrity

Dave then explored each of these 5 areas indicating what President Urchick is encouraging or challenging us to do and then how we have responded in the past, will continue to respond or possibly change.

The MAGIC of Rotary invites us to Innovate and Adapt

Encourage your club to think creatively and embrace new ways of addressing community needs.
Innovation is key to staying relevant and effective.

Kitchener Rotary Innovate and Adapt through . . .

Kids Ability, City of Kitchener (developing new ways to stay engaged)
- Peace and Ukraine (responding to current needs)

Indigenous Peoples Relationships (responding to current needs)
Fundraising (exploring new ideas and opportunities)
Meetings / Club Structure (confirming what works best for our members and changing where needed)

The MAGIC of Rotary invites us to Foster Inclusivity and Diversity

Make a concerted effort to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within your clubs
Diverse perspectives enrich our organization and enhance our ability to serve.

Kitchener Rotary and Inclusivity and Diversity . . .

Membership Committee (working to ensure everyone feels welcome in the club)

Women in Rotary (our active committee works to ensure women are welcome and feel they have a meaningful place in Rotary)
Better Tent City (we support diverse groups of individuals)
KidsAbility (we support diverse groups of individuals)
Leadership Opportunities (for all members)
Other Opportunities / Being Intentional

The MAGIC of Rotary invites us to Strengthen Community Connections

Build and nurture strong partnerships with local organizations, businesses and community leaders.
Collaborative efforts to Magnify Impact.

Kitchener Rotary Strengthen Community Connections through . . .

City of Kitchener (connection strengthened through our anniversary projects)

Fitness Park, Rotary Plaza, Band Shell (projects that benefit the community and help people to see who we are)
Nutrition for Learning (an ongoing positive connections)
Peace Park (a join cluster project)
Working with Partners, Rotary Clubs, Community Groups, Businesses

The MAGIC of Rotary invites us to Engage and Inspire Members

Focus on member engagement and retention by creating meaningful opportunities for involvement and leadership.
Recognize and celebrate the contributions of every member.

Kitchener Rotary Engage and Inspire Members through . . .

Membership Committee (ensuring new members understand the purpose of Rotary and their opportunities and responsibilities)

Committees / Teams (all members encourage to support the work we do by being actively involved)
Celebrate our good work! (we do good in the world and need to continually recognize ourselves for what we accomplish)
Meetings and Structure (meetings provide meaningful and informative programs)
Strengthen Mentorship (all new members are assigned a mentor to assist with orientation into the club)

The MAGIC of Rotary invites us to Lead with Compassion and Integrity

Exemplify Rotary’s values in all your actions.
Lead with compassion, integrity, and a genuine desire to make a positive difference.

Kitchener Rotary Leads with Compassion and Integrity though . . .

A Rich History (over 100 years of support locally and internationally)

People of Action! (we accomplish a great deal)
People who care (we concern for others comes through in all we do)
Making a difference (we make a difference everyday)
Being Proud (we have a right to be very proud of the good we do)

Who Is Dave Chatson?

To conclude, Dave told us a little about himself . . .

Born in Trenton, Ontario in 1967
Became a licensed Funeral Director in 1987
Has worked in Trenton, Kingston, Belleville, Ottawa and Breslau
Is currently the director at Memory Gardens Funeral Home, part of the Arbor Memorial group
Joined Rotary in 1994
Was president – 2006-07 in Belleville, 2015-16 (in Kitchener)
Has two sons, one daughter-in-law, and two grandkids!
Is engaged to partner Tara, with a wedding planned for September 2024

Closing Remarks & Reminders

Please see the reminders below for upcoming events and meetings.