Welcome to another issue of our monthly bulletin! Find out who our upcoming speakers are, information about upcoming volunteer opportunities and upcoming events.
WHAT'S GOING ON IN ROTARY AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD - March 1, 2025
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Rotary has had a somewhat relaxed few months. After the heavy-lifting involved with the wildly successful Holiday House Tour in early December, we entered into our version of hibernation.
We had an enjoyable seasonal dinner at the Golf Club in December, then entered into our January/February routine of meeting every two weeks, with a social lunch in the “off weeks”.
It is now time to 'ramp up' for the final four months of the 2024-25 Rotary calendar:
We are back to weekly meetings with FANTASTIC speakers – when you hear the presentations each week, you realize how lucky we are to be part of such a vibrant community of people trying to do good, whether as volunteers or in their careers of service. There is so much that needs to be done in our community – now, more than ever, it should be blindingly obvious to each of us that a civil society requires us to provide each other with a hands-up, not a put-down.
Attendance at our weekly meetings is way-up – if you have not been able to attend on a regular basis, make Tuesday noon a priority on your calendars – this is our prime vehicle for FELLOWSHIP.
Preparation for our Paul Harris Gala is well underway. This FUN party to reward SERVICE will be at Navy Hall on the evening of May 15th – please circle the date in your calendar. Brian Carberry, Jan Van Haren, and Anne Dickson are coordinating the food and festivities, so we know it’s going to be great! Thanks to Carol Lipsett and her selection committee, we have five excellent recipients: Dr. Richard Merritt; Julia Buxton-Cox; Martin Quick; Betty Disero; Greg Fedoryn.
Our committees are the prime vehicle for SERVICE – if you are not active on a committee as yet, please step up – we need each of us to contribute to what all of us are doing. Use ClubRunner to contact any member of the Executive for more information: https://admin.clubrunner.ca/300/Club/Executive?ClubId=300&DistrictId=0&SelectedId=8a32521f-8d34-4c1e-a3ae-57a479d86d0b
More FUN and FELLOWSHIP:
Betty and I will host a spring sip and savour in May – stay tuned for details.
We expect to announce a second “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” – again, stay tuned!
Changeover will be on June 24th at the Knight’s – again, circle your calendar.
It is not too soon to think about helping out for Canada Day – this year it is on a Tuesday, which should cap off a super-long summer weekend.
Thanks for being a Rotarian – we have had a very positive year so far – let’s make the next four months emblematic of this year’s objective – fellowship, fun, and service above self.
Jamie Knight
President (416-554-1072)
UPCOMING MEETINGS/EVENTS
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.
NOTL ROTARY CLUB MEETING SCHEDULE
MONTHDATEMEETING FORMATGUEST SPEAKER
Mar 4 Lunch Meeting George Scott, 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 TBD
8 Lunch Meeting TBD
15 Lunch Meeting Sarah Kaufman, NOTL Museum
22 Lunch Meeting Club Assembly
29 Social Lunch Location TBD
DISTRICT CONFERENCE
The annual District 7090 conference is scheduled for Saturday April 5, 2025 at Club Italia in Niagara Falls. As part of the District 7090 conference, in support of the theme Volunteering in the 21st Century, there will be an Idea Exchange where all partners and community groups can attend free of charge and network with other Rotary clubs in the area as well as other organizations. This is a unique opportunity to exchange ideas about volunteerism and to promote Rotary initiatives with like minded people and groups. This week, I am planning to invite a few organizations that we work closely with and ask them to participate. If anyone has an idea of a group that should be invited please contact me anytime. Thank you!!
Cindy Grant
905-468-7498
Grantcis347@gmail.com
MARK YOUR CALENDAR - PAUL HARRIS GALA EVENT, MAY 15.
PLEASE PLAN ON JOINING US MAY 15TH AT NAVY HALL TO CELEBRATE AND HONOUR THIS YEARS PAUL HARRIS RECIPIENTS. THIS IS AN EVENING YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS. MORE DETAILS TO COME.
Cheers
Carol Lipsett
OUR MEMBERS
Condolences
Cliff Brown
I am sorry to advise the Club of the passing of my uncle, Cliff Brown at the age of 92 on March 2nd.
Cliff was a long standing member of the club for over 20 years and was instrumental in getting Howie Kudlats to join Rotary and encouraged me to join 12 years ago.
In the past Cliff, was a strong supporter of community fundraising, in particular, Wells of Hope and Red Roof Retreat. He was a key player in forming the Passion event and was a close friend of many members of the club.
He very much enjoyed having ‘Bangers n Mash’ at our Rotary Lunch at the Angel Inn a few weeks ago, his final Rotary attendance.
Cliff will be greatly missed by his wife, Yvonne, his family and many members of our community.
Kevin
Exchange Students
Carter Lalonde
My 5th month in Spain. Crazy to think it’s already been 5 months living abroad. Time is moving way too fast.
To this day, I’m loving everything about my experience and I know that the best months are ahead. This month I have noticed a major improvement in my Spanish. I’m able to fully understand and I’m able to talk at a pretty good level.
This month the inbounds went on a day trip to Benissa for a medieval festival. It was very cool and the city was beautiful. We had a great day. I also attended the outbound orientation for Spanish exchange students alongside a couple of other inbounds and rebounds. My job was to inform the students on why Canada would be a good option to choose as their exchange destination. We had a lot of fun and it was nice to meet more exchange students who were in the same shoes as I was in 5-6 months ago. We did a talent show and other activities together.
My new host family has been incredible and we get along so well. This month I also was so happy because I got a sweet visit from my uncle Paul who you all know and my grandma. They were on vacation in Spain and decided to come and visit me for a couple of days. They got to meet my host families and some of the people I’ve met along my journey. We had an amazing time and I even got to go visit Granada with them! We went skiing and it was such a cool experience.
I’m looking forward to the next coming months as I feel my Spanish will improve drastically.
Carter
Jordan Maffey
Australian Exchange Student from 10 years ago. Jordan Maffey was 16 when he came to Canada. He joined Lee and Jeannie for a couple of days. Exchange is the gift that keeps on giving!
RECENT EVENTS
February reminded us of where the saying “Nature is a Powerful Force” came from.
Hopefully everyone has made it through the worst of it (we hope) unscathed.
Fortunately, nothing stops the Rotary Club of Niagara on the Lake from marching on. It just takes a little extra something. A quilted coat, snow boots, long underwear, two pairs of mittens, a lined toque, a face mask, and a shovel!
Fellow members recorded some of the highlights:
We welcomed six new members into our club this month. And we are richer for it. Seated from left to right at the stage: Janet Marecki, Cindi Loforti-Lepp, Bonita Cawker-Warrack, AnnLiz Simpson, Rhonda Holloway and John Kołodziej.
The Community Service Committee held its monthly meeting to ensure all current donation requests were considered.
Howie Kudlats hard at work with the CSC.
Various members were recognized by President Jamie Knight and Rotary Foundation Chair Joe Will, with a Paul Harris pin for contributions to the Rotary Foundation.
Our Breakfast team was minus a few members (yours truly among the missing) but was still able to give our clients great Rotary service.
The Niagara Pumphouse Summer Healing Arts for Kids Program was approved for 2025 as was money to fund NOTL students who qualified for the Community Crew Lunch Program.
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