This month, I want to focus on members – new members, active members, honourary members, and dormant members.
 
New Members
With the leadership of Michael Bell, we are in the process of welcoming many new members – some already approved and several pending approval in the coming month, with a number of other prospects likely to be brought forward before the end of this fiscal year.  We also have welcomed back several of our long-standing members, who have enriched our Club meetings and activities.
This speaks to the good health of our Club and the attractiveness of Rotary principles and its framework for service and charitable giving.  It is the responsibility of each of us to make our new members feel welcome and at home, and to ensure they know how Rotary “works” – this goes well beyond our own Club committees and initiatives, and extends to understanding such things as RI, District, Foundation, and how ClubRunner operates.
 
Active Members
What a team we have!  I do not have much to say except please keep on keeping on – attend weekly meetings, participate in events, remember to give to the Foundation – one of the world’s GREAT charities – and keep our collective and individual focuses on the four-way test and our Club goals of service, fellowship, and fun.
 
Honourary Members
Our honourary members should be made to feel most welcome in everything our Club does – from weekly meetings to our various activities.  Our simple request to honourary members is to continue to uphold the four-way test.  This month, we have welcomed our long-time member Dr. Bill Charnetski to our roster of honourary members.  Dr. Bill Charnetski became a Rotarian in 1988 and is both a Past President and Paul Harris Fellow.  In our club he has always been very active in the work of the International Services Committee, taking a very personal interest in International Projects. A truly worthy recipient of Honorary Member Status.
 
Dormant Members
It is great to be a Club with a large roster of members.  It is even greater to be a Club where each member is an active member.  Rotary is not simply about paying your annual dues; we want each of us to show up – at Club meetings and activities – and to give what you can to support Club events and the Foundation.  I want to be very clear (as someone who still works full-time and enjoys travel): we know that NOTL’ers are busy and we know that many of our members enjoy the good fortune of travel and cottages.  We have NO EXPECTATION that members will attend every meeting or participate in every event (although of course you are most welcome to do so).  What we do expect is that each member fully join in whenever and however each of us can.  If you take the initiative each year to pay your membership dues, then please make your membership in Rotary one of your priorities.
 
In sum, the NOTL Rotary Club has the stability of long-time members and the fresh energy of new members.  We are a fun group and we have multiple opportunities for fellowship and service, starting with our weekly meetings (and great speakers).  We are privileged to honour people like Dr. Bill Charnetski who have given so much to our Club and community.  When you commit to Rotary, please ensure you commit to seeking out all of the opportunities Rotary presents – through our Club, District, and RI.  There are many ways to be an active Rotarian and nothing would please me and other members more than to help each of you be fully active in Rotary.
 
Jamie Knight
President (416-554-1072)

Rotary Meetings

Our speaker calendar for the next few months is filling up fast. I am sure they will all be interesting and informative to our members and guests.

 

 

Feb         4         Lunch Meeting        Peter & Gina Schafrick, Nest Niagara

              11       Social Lunch

              18       Lunch Meeting        Club Assembly

              25       Social Lunch

 

Mar         4        Lunch Meeting         Niagara Bee Group

              11       Lunch Meeting         Franklyn Searle, Big Brothers Big Sisters

              18       Lunch Meeting         Club Assembly

              25       Lunch Meeting         Rima Boles, Pumphouse

 

April        1        Lunch Meeting         Nancy Gilbert - Transform International

                                                      (ISC Malawi project)

               8       Lunch Meeting         Sarah Kramer, NOTL Museum. Confirmation                     or 15                               pending.
 
DISTRICT CONFERENCE
 
The annual District 7090 conference is scheduled for Saturday April 5, 2025 at Club Italia in Niagara Falls. I am a member of the conference planning committee – this group from across the district is actively working on developing an exciting and engaging program. The title for the conference is 'Volunteering in the 21st Century'. All clubs will be encouraged to invite partners in our communities to participate in the conference and potentially in the trade show. A survey is being prepared for distribution this week to all members to get input and feedback on potential topics for the conference, particularly around engaging with volunteers, both members and non-members. There will also be a youth exchange program component during the day which promises to be a fun and engaging session.  
 
If anyone would like to join me on the planning committee, please send me an email, phone call or contact me at a meeting. Thank you.
 
Cindy Grant

 

 

Hello Canadian Rotarian,

I have a newsletter story from Lincoln about the "Coldest Night of the Year" walk on Feb 22.
https://rotary7090.org/Stories/lincoln-coldest-night-of-the-year-feb-22

I see that Hamilton Stoney Creek is also participating.  If your club will be putting together a team, or fundraising, send me the link(s) and I'll include them in the story (in process, which you can see here: https://rotary7090.org/Stories/coldest-night-of-the-year-feb-22)

I don't know of any US clubs that participate. If you do, let me know.

Thanks,
Patti

Patricia G. Johnson, PhD
Newsletter Editor, District 7090
Newsletter4D7090@gmail.com
716-830-6173
Rotary Club of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC)
pgjphd@gmail.com