A YouTube link for today's meeting can be found Here
President's Comments
President Adrian announced Shawky Fahel as the Bell Ringer for the week in recognition of his $1,000 donation to the Rotary Peace Scholarship program at the University of Waterloo.
Guests
Marissa Watkins, a guest of Louise Gardiner
Happy Jar
Past President Louise was very happy that, for the first time in a lo9ng time, all of her family were able to gather for a vista and party on the weekend.
Jim Brown, was delighted that England lost in the EURO Cup, yes, in part because he is from Ireland, but also because he bet on Italy and won.
Club Announcements
It's week 43 of Catch the Ace KW and Cameron P., won the last weekly prize of $1,428 when he picked card # 23, the Jack of Hearts. The big question is, where is the Ace of Spades? All we know is that with 9 cards left from which to choose your chances of picking the Ace and winning the progressive pot of just over $48,000 are getting better.
Neil Swayze reminded all members of the Online Auction Committee and to be sure to respond to the Doodle Poll that has been distributed to pick the date for our first meeting of the year.
Shawky Fahel provided details about the Memorandum of Understanding between the Fahel family and the University of Waterloo, Faculty of Arts, that paves the way for the development of a new Centre for Palestinian Studies within the University.
Our program today was the annual Year Ahead overview by our new President, Adrian DeCoo. Adrian began with a modified Who Am I.
“I would like to begin by telling you a few things that you may not have known about me.
First of all I was born in a little picturesque town in Holland called Maarssen. Marssen which lies on the river Vecht and was the historic connecting link between Amsterdam and Utrecht.
Over the last 20 years I've been very involved in the continuing education of leaders in our Rotary district, primarily as the Director of Training for the District.
Training was also part of my vocation and professional life as well. I was the co-owner and founder of Great Lakes Learning, which provided corporate training, leadership development and employee skills development. We developed simulations, case studies/quizzes, role playing exercises, and, skills profiles, etc. I co-wrote three books in this field.
And finally, in keeping with previous presidents like Ed Fowler, John Webster, Louise, and maybe a number of you, I love to run. Over the years I have probably done 50 10k runs, and one half-marathon. Unfortunately, though, doing less of that these days for all kinds of reasons.”
Adrian then spoke about the importance of the Gift of Time.
“Time is the most precious gift that we give to Rotary and thereby to this community. Most members have told us that they want to do more hands-on work. And that we want to spend less time doing things like selling car draw tickets.
We're going to try to make it easier for members to get involved in fun events like our environment projects, peace building activities, KidsAbility Fun Day, Cruisi’n on King Street, New Year's Eve at City Hall or our Nogales and Caborca Mexico projects,
This year we will work to capture how many hours that we give to Rotary in this community in our work. Jim Brown will work with committee chairs to try to collect that information. This will help us to tell our story and inform the community of what we do.”
The Committee Chairs for this year were then introduced.
Committee Chairs:
Car Draw David Chatson
On line Auction Neil Swayze
Catch the Ace Paul Rostrup
Partnerships Golf North Darren Sweeney
In Vino Cam Yule and Hubert Singh
Direct Community Support Martin Jones and Bryn Jones
Membership Hubert Singh
Member and Meeting Services Bill Proctor and Neil Swayze
Program Speakers and Social Louise Gardiner
Member Communication, PR, Social Media Paul Rostrup
Children and Youth Services Ed Fowler and Richard Brucheder
Community and International Grants Cheryl Ewing
Environment Peter Gray
Indigenous People Relations Lew Ford
Peace Building Ernie Ginsler
100th Anniversary Bill Proctor
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President Kitchener Rotary Club Charitable Foundation: Ross Newkirk
Highlights of our 100th Anniversary Year were then outlined:
Our Purpose
To Celebrate 100 years of the RC of Kitchener providing Service Above Self to our local community and beyond
To make members more knowledgeable and proud of our history
To honour our club builders
To review our current archives and develop a process to ensure their continued development
To improve the awareness and understanding of the local community of the work of our club
Key Dates / Time Line
Club Charter Dated June 01, 1922
Charter Presented at Mtg. with the RC of Guelph, July 3, 1922
First Official meeting of the club, September 18, 1922
Since our Charter is dated June 1, 1922 our official Rotary Anniversary is the Rotary Year 2021-2022, but, as indicated above, some of our key historical events happened in the following Rotary Year so we will be suing the full 18 months from July 2021 to December 2022 to recognize and celebrate our Anniversary “Year”.
Programs and Events
Incorporating historical and noteworthy events into weekly meetings and special events, e.g.:
Vince Sheer Memorial Golf Social
Toronto Maple Leafs and our Online Auction
Heasley Park in Waterloo named after Rotarian Hugh Heasley
Joint meeting with the RC of Guelph
Opening of the KW Art Gallery
“New” Technology Program
Ski Outings / Flag Raising at Chicopee
Telling Our Story / Rotary Moments will also be an important components of our meetings
Larger events are also being planned such as a former and current members' reunion and dedication events
Working with the RC of Kitchener Conestoga
Kitchener Conestoga is celebrating their 50th as we celebrate our 100th
We are working with them to coordinate efforts
A joint celebration gala is being planed
Our 100th Anniversary Book
It will be a Picture Book
Featuring 100 events / highlights from our history
Other elements such as lists of club presidents, PH Fellows, etc., will be included
Quotations from recipients supported through the years will be featured throughout
A Tentative price $25 each has ben set (will help to cover the cost of complementary copies)
Photos and stories still welcome, please contact Howard if you have any to offer
Our First Project
Donations to the Food Bank drop of significantly in the summer but the needs do not
This summer the Food Bank has launched the Fully Bellies. HAPPY HEARTS campaign
As we have done previously, we would like to support this campaign with a custom donation page which will be related to our 100th Anniversary - $100 for our 100th
Please consider donating $100 (the cost of 4 missed meals)
All donations will be matched by the Alan Bush Investment Team
Link will be sent following this meeting
Our Support for the City of Kitchener
The City of Kitchener and surrounding community would not be the same without the contributions of the Rotary Club of Kitchener
A document outlining our support of the City of Kitchener has been developed
All members are encouraged to read the document when you receive it
Working with the City of Kitchener
We have requested that the City of Kitchener name a city asset in our honour in recognition of our 100 years of service to the community
The document The Rotary Club of Kitchener and the City of Kitchener – A Brief History was provided to them
We also made an offer to present a gift to the city with a value of $100,000, with funds to come from a focused campaign
City Asset to be Named in our Honour
It was announced that the Duke Street elevation at City Hall will be named Rotary Plaza or Rotary Square.
The outdoor spaces of Kitchener’s City Hall are currently undergoing a $12.5M refurbishment. The Duke St. elevation at City Hall features a quiet shaded garden area on the east side; a broad pedestrian plaza and substantial public art installations in the central portion; and a series of planters and seating areas on the west side. The renovation will see this area rebuilt in the same design in 2022 at a cost of $3.3 million. Once completed, this area will create an active pedestrian friendly space to encourage community gathering in a publicly accessible space. The area will be renamed as the Rotary Square or Rotary Plaza at City Hall in recognition of the Club’s 100 years of service to the community.
Our Anniversary Gift to the City of Kitchener
Refurbishment and enhancement of the Victoria Park Band Stand
Agreement in principle with the city to proceed
Details to be determined, stakeholders to be consulted, contract to be signed
To be funded through a focused “Founders of Rotary” campaign
To be named the Rotary Band Stand
Taking Action – What Members Can Do!
Read the History of our Club and the City of Kitchener
Join in our support of the Food bank’s Full Bellies. HAPPY HEARTS. campaign
Send photos to Howard
Spread the word, talk up Rotary, invite friends, relatives, colleagues to events
Plan to attend regular and special events
Bring One!
Be prepared to tell your Rotary story
Several of the key areas of focus from our Strategic Plan were then highlighted.
Martin Jones spoke about Community Service
Local and International
Traditionally we have provided support in both of these areas and plan to continue to do so.
We provide support in all of the RI Seven areas of Focus, not all at the same time, or in every year but our support does cover – Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Diseases Prevention and Treatment, Maternal and Child Health, Basic education and Literacy, Community and Economic Development, and Support the Environment
Indigenous Peoples Relations is a new area for us this year. The initial focus will be on education and building relations but we hope this will lead to some project possibilities in the future.
Youth programs have been put on hold due to the pandemic but we are working towards these being restarted later this year.
Hubert Singh provided some information related to membership
Membership is the fuel that drives the Rotary Engine! Without members, and members that are engaged, we cannot do the good of Rotary.
Our Membership strategy has two broad Components – Retain and Engage and Grow & Diversify
Our three primary gaols are:
A net increase of 5 members,
A 10% increase in the number of females in our club, and
Growing our list of Friends of Rotary from 90 to 180
Each One Bring One – Each member is asked to bring someone to a club meeting over the course of the year, not necessarily to always bring in a new member, but to help spread the word of Rotary and what we do. If friends and colleagues of Rotarians attend meetings they just might become members, or at least better understand what we do and help us with our work.
Dave Chatson gave us some news about Fundraising
Rejuvenated Car Lottery
Our new online Car Lottery is planning to start this August
The prize will be 2022 Audi Q5 Technik 45 from Crosby Audi
Online Auction
Our goal this year is net proceeds of $22,000
We will need 90%+ of the membership to support this fundraiser if we are to be successful
Catch The Ace
Our first go at this has been very successful
Plans are well underway for the second event which will begin soon after the close of event number 1
The sole recipient for the second Catch the Ace will be KidsAbility
In Vino Caritas
We are planning to bring this back to life next spring
Wrapping up this section, Paul Rostrup talked about Public Relations initiatives.
Promotion / Advertising / Branding
Our new Public Relations handbook has recently been distributed and PR committee members will be meeting with committee chairs to help them understand what they need to do to help promote their work and how the committee can help them
Our website has been redesigned
The importance of social media is growing for organizations like ours and the committee will be providing support to all members to begum more engaged in this
Telling Our Story
We need to do more to tell our story at both a club and an individual level
It is through personal stories that others can relate more to what we do and why we do it and possibly join us and/or support us
Adrian then talked about the importance of Telling Our Stories about Rotary to each other as well as to those outside of the club. Over the course of our Anniversary “Year” members will be asked to tell their Rotary Moment – what has impressed you about Rotary, or inspired you, or convinced you to stay a Rotarian? To provide an example Adrian gave his own Rotary Moment.
“The most fun and rewarding “hands on” project that I think we have ever done in my time with RCK is the Habitat for Humanity House build. All five Rotary Clubs in Kitchener Waterloo were involved. What an amazing feeling to see this house rise from the ground to a beautiful finished home from start to finish in two weeks. It still makes me smile today, to think of the hubbub of activity of hundreds of Rotarians working together in harmony to finish this project on time. The most rewarding part of the project was definitely the emotional celebration in the basement of the house, when we handed over the keys to the proud and very thankful family, the new owners of the house.”
Closing Remarks & Reminders
Please consider joining our support for the Food Bank’s Full Bellies Happy Hearts campaign. Hold the date of September 28, 6:30 p.m. for a cluster celebration with special guest DG Rudy Habesch
If you are interested in the dining around barbecue on 24 July, please sign up through the vent link on the website
As well, registration is still open for the golf event on the 26th of July.
