The Induction Protocol, final draft, developed by Trevor and Randy, has been reviewed and approved.
Results of the Club Health Check were presented by the President. The overall results of responses were somewhat above average, in the positive. Club members will be apprised of the results at a meeting to follow, where feedback and comments will be welcomed, as there have been questions about the validity of the results.
Our Treasurer gave an update of our budget, indicating that we are operating within our means.
Elsabe Falkson, Area Governor, spoke to the areas of Club Culture and Membership.
Club Notes
Of major note, I'm happy to report, is that our newest member, Elaine Matthew, has stepped up to serve as our President-elect. Elaine is a former Assistant Area Governor. A majority vote of the Board confirmed her assuming this position.
An all-club social event, suggested by our Area Governor, was held at the Yacht Club on February 26th. Over 20 Rotarians from the Seaway West clubs were in attendance, making the event a great success.
Our "Member Sharing/ Rotary Moment" presenter was Don Taylor, a Rotarian for over 30 years, and a member of our club for over 7 years. Don has served as our Community Services Director, Director of Club Services, and currently continues as an active member of the Club Services Committee and a frequent Bingo volunteer.
Our club contributed $330.00 to the Partners in Mission Food Bank this month, towards 2 hampers of groceries.
The Club wine raffle this month actually consisted of a bottle of Irish whiskey, (which was enjoyed by Arja, winner of the raffle).
Please come to hear an interesting speaker, Dr. Joe Bramante, on March 19th. Topic: the Multiverse.
Greta celebrated the birth of new great-grandson Hugo during Tropical Cyclone Alfred on Australia's Sunshine Coast (see below).
Susan is soaking up the sun in the Sunshine State until the end of the month.
Trevor is enjoying a vacation in Peru until month-end.
Peter departed on his ski holiday in the Canadian Rockies after canceling plans south of the border.
As March is Easter Seals Awareness Month in Canada, Todd Colbourne, from the local Easter Seals committee, was our guest speaker on March 5, along with an Easter Seals family, Laura Patterson and her son, Beau.
They spoke of Easter Seals work as Canada’s largest local provider of programs, services, and issues-leadership and development for the disability community and the challenges for Easter Seals families. Todd highlighted how members can get involved in helping by setting up a Campaign Fundraising Team online.
Motivated by a past visit to Camp Merrywood and his personal friendship with an Easter Seals family, President-elect Trevor Dagilis was inspired to set up a Kingston-Frontenac Club donation team. Anyone interested in expanding the donation team or making a tax-deductible financial gift can click on the link: March is Easter Seals Month.
(L-R) Community Service Committee Director Jennifer Patelli, Easter Seals Champion Todd Colbourne, Seaway West AG Elsabe Falkson with Easter Seals Family Laura Patterson & Beau showing off a cheque for $2,500 from the Kingston-Frontenac Club to send a young camper to Camp Merrywood this summer. For more details about the camp, please click onCamp Merrywood.
NEW PROVIDENCE CARE HOSPICE HOUSE
RECOGNIZES K-F ROTARY CONTRIBUTION
Arja Hamalainen, K-F Rotary Club President, and John Mirski, Board Member, attended the Grand Opening of the Providence Care Hospice House on February 25, 2025, and are shown outside Suite #7, dedicated in honour of the K-F Club's generous support. At the project outset, in October 2020, K-F Rotarians donated $100,000 for a new hospice facility in Kingston.
(L-R) Jennifer Patelli, Providence Care Hospice's Donna Dwyer, Don Polk & Fred Richmond tour the new hospice house, Kingston's first.
On Saturday March 8, 2025, 4th year Queen's medical student, Meghan Jenkins, presented an exhibition of her photos, "Strength in Stillness", taken during her meds school practical field experience at the Mae Tao Clinic in Thailand. With Rotary sponsorship from the Kingston-Frontenac Club, Meghan spent 2 weeks at the Clinic in September 2024, assisting primarily with expectant mothers and newborns in the reproductive health unit. While there, she conducted research analyzing historical influences and developed an action plan for improving care and decreasing neonatal mortality. In addition, she made local Rotary contacts in Thailand who are now providing local support for increasing the impact of her initiative.
Meghan considered her photo exhibition "went super well!", attracting more than a hundred attendees from the Kingston-area and as far away as Ottawa, and raised more than $10,000 (so far). Anyone interested in making a tax-deductible donation to Meghan's project can click on the following link: Strength in Stillness
(L-R) International Service Committee Director Club Douglas Tanton, together with K-F Rotary Club member Dr. John Cowan and Meghan Jenkins, at her photo exhibition "Strength in Stillness".
NANDA'S CANADIAN EXCHANGE
Nanda's Canadian adventure continues to be full of first-time winter experiences that she takes on with enthusiasm and a big smile..........
Cross-country skiing Maple sap collection
Cheering the Senators on to victory (vs Rangers)
INTRODUCING THE K-F
2025-26 OUTBOUND STUDENTS
NICO Del Moral
Long Term Exchange Program
AVA Heyes
Short Term Exchange Program
(RYLA - May 2024)
CAIDYNCE Jones
Short Term Tour/ Camp Program
(Adventures in the Environment 2024)
This just in from the K-F Rotary Club-sponsored Robotics team........
Hey everyone!
We just finished our first competition at Durham College last weekend (March 14-16)! Despite facing many challenges, both technical and mechanical, we pushed through and ended up doing very well overall - tied for 10th overall with 35 points. We ranked 6th out of 31 teams during qualifications but were sadly eliminated during the playoffs.
The team was excited and energetic as we competed against 30 other FRC teams. Our uniquely painted bumpers made by our imagery students and our water-themed cart helped us win the Imagery Award! I've attached some photos from the Durham competition.
We'd like to thank you all again for sponsoring our FRC team #2708 Lake Effect Robotics, as you've helped us provide this amazing opportunity for our students.
Wish us luck in our next competition in North Bay this coming weekend!
--
Laura O'Reilly
Lead Community Outreach Student 2708 Lake Effect Robotics
Your logo is on our travel trailer.......
...and in our pits!
K-F CLUB CARIBINER AWARD
The new Carabiner Award was recently created by Trevor Dagilis to celebrate and recognize individual members for unique and outstanding contributions to our Club and our community service work.
At the March 5, 2025 meeting,John Mirski was recognized with a Caribiner Award for his outstanding leadership in stepping up to stimulate fundraising for this year's "Theatre Night Out" at the Domino Theatre, including ticket sales and the Silent Auction.
If you would like to attend and meet the acclaimed local playwright Douglas Bowie, the Domino Theatre production of Decrepitude Blues will be presented on Wednesday, June 18 and $40 tickets are available from John Mirski at mirskijohm@gmail.com.
If you have a suggestion for a future recipient of the Rotary Club of Kingston-Frontenac Carabiner Award, please contact Trevor at trevor.rotary@gmail.com
John Mirski (L) receiving his Caribiner Award from Trevor,
while Russ Phin looks on from his front-row seat.
NEWS FROM GRETA
DOWN UNDER
A B C
A- Mar 7, 2025:
Very happy to announce the safe arrival of great grandson Hugo in Brisbane during the Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Mom Chloe and Hugo are doing well.
The storm is not too bad at the moment, shifting over the ocean all the time. We expect landfall with the eye of the cyclone over the house tomorrow (Saturday).
We have prepared including for possible evacuation, but I think we will be able to stay safe inside the house.
B- Feb 25, 2025:
The closest Rotary Club to Newport (30 km from Brisbane) is the Rotary Club of Redcliffe Sunrise in the town of Redcliffe (home of the BeeGees!).
Attended their meeting this morning at 7 am. They are very strong in Environmental projects, local empowerment projects, work together with 2 Rotaract clubs. On International they have projects in the Solomon Islands.
I was their first visiting Rotarian from Canada. They did not have a banner for the exchange but will look for it, which means I will attend another meeting. Instead President Paul gave me bottle of Australian wine as a welcome gift!
C- Feb 20, 2025:
Compared to all that is happening in Canada, life seems rather flat here, like the waters of Deception Bay in Newport, 30km north of Brisbane, where my son Yves lives.
Herewith a picture from the veranda across the bay the Glass House mountains, so named by James Cook, although he did not make landfall there, only saw them from afar, as I do. They reminded him of the glass kilns in his native Yorkshire.
Best greetings to all,
Greta
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED !
Your Rotary Club of Kingston-Frontenac is looking forward to sponsoring high-school aged students in the upcoming Youth Adventures and programs:
If you know any interested young people aged 15-18, including grandchildren, children, nieces, nephews, friends and neighbours, please see if they would like to take part in these outstanding experiences! Nominations are open - get involved!
For more information, please click on the links above or contact
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