I hope you will join me in welcoming back our Weekly Bulletin. Our newest member, Lynne, has agreed to take on this task and will be looking for your input on what you would like to see. Please let her know and offer any help that you can.
Since I am away much of the year, it was felt that I really needed to serve as President for 2 years to make up for lost time. As a result you are stuck with me until July 2024. If you have not done so in the recent past, please consider serving as President (only 1 year required). Our bylaws do require you to have previously sat on the Board, so this would be a first step.
We will continue our meeting format established last year of; Pub Meeting, Speaker Meeting, Community Service Work Meeting, Speaker Meeting. Speaker meetings will start at 6:15 while the outside meetings may have an earlier start. Check the calendar on our website (kfrotary.org) or load the Club Runner App on your phone to have access to upcoming events. If you dread loading one more app on your phone, one of our members can help.
In spite of some funding challenges discussed below, we are looking forward to a revitalised program in 2023-24. Don Polk has some bold new ideas for Youth Service, Greta and her committee are exploring new International projects while continuing to support our current partners in Tanzania, and Arja is looking to form stronger relationships with existing local partners while welcoming new requests under both Community Service and The Environment. Our Service projects will be supported by our traditional fund-raising efforts of Bingo, Nut Drive, Maxsold, Cash Calendars, and our Spring Fling event (Specifics in the works). Don Taylor will continue to stick-handle our club operations to keep things running smoothly.
Reduced fund raising In the Covid years has required the Board to set a Service budget approximately 25% less than previous years. This will reduce our financial donations across the board, unless we can increase our fundraising in the first part of the year. Our Canada Day BBQ (set up by Douglas) was our first such initiative. Aggie plans on having a few more in the coming year.
We are also down to 24 active members, although we are already benefiting from our dynamic new members. Increasing active membership is a regular task of every club, and requires all of us to make it happen. Please think about who you would like to have in our club and ask them out for a Wednesday evening.
Peter
August 9 Speaker
Del Stowe, Project Manager, Public Works, Kingston
Thank you to Mr. Del Stowe for speaking with us this past Wednesday about the importance of trees to humanity. He introduced us to two great initiatives here in Kingston to increase trees in our community: Community Trees in Trust and the Neighbourhood Tree Planting Program.
Community Service:
Our Community Service Committee has been doing a great job at supporting local organizations financially and with hands-on volunteering such as the Robinson Community Garden.
Remember to let MC know if you plan to bring a dessert or side to the Weeding and Potluck on August 16th.
Extend-A-Family Living Greens Harvest
September 7th harvest of living greens from Extend-A-Family hydroponic facility
Blanket Drive in partnership with RC Morningside, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Thirteen years ago, ten Rotary Clubs in South Africa, led by RC Morningside, formed a Collaborative Rotary Clubs Blanket Drive in the province of Gauteng. Now 10 to 26 local Clubs participate each year, from May to August, to collect funds for the purchase of quality blankets for distribution to Orphanages, Homes for Abused Women and Children, Homes for the Aged, Shelters for Street Children and the Homeless, NGOs, as well as numerous Church Outreach Programs.
During the years 2012 to 2022, The Rotary Club of Morningside alone distributed 40,000 blankets to the needy.
There is a great need for blankets as the country continuously faces extreme poverty and disasters. Started as a ‘winter initiative’ it has evolved as a year-round help in the case of disasters, floods, fires in informal settlements and unemployment.
RC Kingston-Frontenac is happy to assist this year with CAD 500.00, plus CAD 100.00 from a donor of the public, totaling a transfer of CAD 600.00 to South Africa, being actioned at the moment .
Greta
Director International Service
Membership:
Membership continues to be of vital importance for the viability of our club. We need to continue to recruit new members. It is the responsibility of everyone of us. Please invite a friend or more to join us any time at one of our meetings.
Rotary Foundation:
One of our responsibilities as Rotarians is to support the Foundation when we can. Please consider what you can afford to give and donate early instead of waiting until the end of the year. We are contributing $500 CDN and $1000 USD to the Polio Plus and Rotary Foundation from the Club Operating funds.
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