As we approach the end of the first half of our Rotary year, I reflect on our many accomplishments over the past six months. Our service committees have excelled in their respective roles, and our club Directors have provided leadership, and support to your President as well. Our volunteer efforts continue on several fronts.
I look forward to continued "Service Above Self" contributions from our dedicated membership in the New Year. Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season with your family and friends.
We will meet again on January 8th for a cheerful beginning to the year, with Sylvain Bouffard's talk on whiskey. We will also hear reports from our Committee Directors in January, as well as Peter Morrin's notable work in Africa. The Climate Action Symposium, with its focus on Youth, is also taking place in January.
With warm regards!
President Arja
Jack Chong
for 40 years of Rotary service
(January 12)
Jim Reid
for 38 years of Rotary service
(January 3)
Russ Phin
for 32 years of Rotary service
(January 11)
Elaine Matthew
for 19 years of Rotary service
(January 31)
Anne Desgagnés
for 15 years of Rotary service
(January 5)
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS !
ELAINE & SYLVAIN
At the meeting on November 20, the Club welcomed two new members - Elaine Matthew and Sylvain Bouffard.
Elaine recently moved to Kingston from Burlington and has been an active Rotarian for more than 18 years. She is shown here with her sponsor and Membership Chair, Randy Beck (L) and President-elect Trevor Dagilis (R).
Sylvain is a new Rotarian and recently retired from the Canadian Armed Forces (Army). He is shown here with (L-R) Membership Chair Randy Beck, President-elect Trevor Dagilis and his sponsor and Seaway West AG, Elsabe Falkson.
K-F SUPPORTS MARTHA'S TABLECHRISTMAS EVE DINNER
Just in time for Christmas, $2,500 in Rotary support from the Kingston-Frontenac Club was delivered by Don Polk to Ronda Candy, Martha's Table Executive Director. Martha's expects to serve dinner on Christmas Eve for 400+ in the local community, including delivery to ~140 housebound residents.
Thanks to all the Club members who made this possible by volunteering for Bingo shifts at the Play! Gaming & Entertainment Centre.
YOUTH EX STUDENTS CELEBRATE WINTER
Despite a lack of snow on the first weekend in December, K-F student Nanda (c) was joined in Kingston by Rotary YouthEx students from around D7040 to enjoy some Canadian winter activities.
Nanda survived (with a smile!) her 1st time ice-skating at the rink in Market Square as well as a curling lesson from Kingston-club Rotarian Sherri Agnew together with Mia (Italy), McQueen (Taiwan), Luzia (Germany), and Natsuki (Japan). A native of Natal in tropical northeastern Brazil, Nanda proclaimed “winter is my new favourite season”!
STILL Seeking Host Families....
WE NEED YOU !
The Rotary Clubs in the Kingston area are requesting your assistance to host a high-school aged exchange student from another country for a three to four month period. This is an ongoing requirement, every year
The Rotary Youth Exchange Scholarship is a year-round program in which our Club participates. In exchange for sending out one high school student to another country for a year, we agree to receive a student from an international destination who will also remain in our community for one year.
There is no monetary remuneration for hosting a student. The benefits to you and your family are numerous:
You will learn about another culture directly from someone who lives there.
You will have the satisfaction of showing a visitor the way a Canadian family lives, of showing them your community and your country's way of life.
You may learn to speak another language as you assist this young person to learn to speak English.
You will make a life-long friend in another country of the world.
If you would like to apply to be a host family or know of someone who might, please apply through the online Host Family Application form on our Rotary District 7040 Youth Exchange website at www.district7040ye.com (found under “Forms and Documents” and under “For Parents/Host Families”) or https://yehub.net/C04-hfapp.
If you would like more information about this very rewarding experience, please contact us.
YOUTH EXCHANGE PROMOTES WORLD PEACE, UNDERSTANDING AND GOODWILL!
WILL YOU HELP TO DO THAT?
ROTARY FOUNDATION RECEIVES TOP RATING FOR 16th CONSECUTIVE YEAR
By Rotary International -October 2024
For the 16th consecutive year, The Rotary Foundation has received the highest rating — four stars — from Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of charities in the U.S.
The Foundation earned the recognition for adhering to sector best practices and executing its mission in a financially efficient way, demonstrating both strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency.
“We are delighted to provide the Rotary Foundation with third-party accreditation that validates their operational excellence,” said Michael Thatcher, president and CEO of Charity Navigator. “The Four-Star Rating is the highest possible rating an organization can achieve. We are eager to see the good work that the Rotary Foundation is able to accomplish in the years ahead.”
Charity Navigator analyzes nonprofit performance based on four key indicators, referred to as beacons. Currently, nonprofits can earn scores for the impact and results, accountability and finance, culture and communities, and leadership and adaptability.
Charity Navigator is the largest and most utilized independent charity evaluator in the U.S. Since 2001, the organization has been an unbiased and trusted source of information for more than 11 million donors annually.
"DOUBLE-CARABINER" RECOGNITION
At the final Club meeting of 2024, Trevor recognized Don Polk with not one, but two Carabiners!
The first Carabiner recognized Don's efforts in coordinating November's successful Student & YouthEx Nights, while the second Carabiner was in recognition of Don's dedication to revive Rota-Teller, the Club bulletin.
The new Carabiner Award was recently created to celebrate and recognize individual members for unique and outstanding contributions to our club and our community service work.
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
- Trevor Dagilis
Carabiner Caption Contest!
Rather than let John Mirski's photo (above) of the Carabiner presentation go without comment, if you're inspired to think of a funny caption, send it to polkdj@hotmail.com - the most original will win a Tim Hortons gift card!
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT PLEDGES C$151M TO SUPPORT GLOBAL POLIO ERADICATION
Story Written By:
Global Polio Eradication Initiative
Sep. 23, 2024
The Government of Canada continues to demonstrate its commitment and leadership in the fight to eradicate polio, announcing a new contribution of CAN $151 million over the next three years to support the work of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). Canada’s Minister of International Development, the Hon. Ahmed Hussen, formally announced Canada’s next pledge to the GPEI at a Rotary regional conference in Toronto, Ontario on 20 September.
Canada has been a leading supporter of the global polio eradication effort since its inception and across successive governments, helping the GPEI reduce cases globally by over 99% and prevent more than 20 million cases of paralysis from polio. This most recent funding, which brings Canada’s total contributions to the GPEI to more than CAN $1 billion, will support the GPEI’s ongoing efforts in immunizing 370 million children annually. Canada’s overall contribution has also helped build and will ensure the continuation of increasingly important health infrastructure in some of the most vulnerable regions of the world. In addition to vaccinating children against polio, this infrastructure also delivers other essential health services, including critical surveillance and tracking systems.
Left to right: Past Rotary President Jennifer Jones, Rotary member Ramesh Ferris, Minister Ahmed Hussen, and Rotary member Deana Rohrs
“Rotary members in Canada and throughout the world are thrilled to welcome this new investment to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative,” said Jennifer Jones, who served as the President of Rotary International in 2022-23. “As a founding member of the GPEI, ending polio has been Rotary’s top priority since the very beginning, and the Canadian government has been with us every step of the way. With the finish line so close, every contribution to the global effort is a critical step towards a world without polio for children everywhere.”Today, polio continues to spread in some of the most challenging places in the world to deliver health services, like Gaza, where variant poliovirus recently paralyzed a child for the first time in 25 years. The final two countries where the wild poliovirus remains endemic are Afghanistan and Pakistan. The GPEI is continuing to adapt its approach to reach every child with polio vaccines and other essential health services in these and other affected countries that are challenged by setbacks in routine immunization, security threats and climate catastrophes.
“Canada’s support to GPEI is instrumental in protecting the lives of millions of children around the world against polio,” said Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF. “With the continuing commitment of our donors, and all partners in the polio program, we can deliver a world where no child has to live in fear of this disease."
Kingston-Area Rotary Clubs
80 /99
2024 Team Progress
Thanks!
to all Rotary donors
for the Gift of Life!
NEXT ROTARY DONOR DAY March 15, 2025
BINGO! FUNDRAISING
In the 2024-25 Bingo Year to date (for hours volunteered Apr-Oct), Kingston-Frontenac Club members have so far raised:
$23,079.04
($320.54/ hour volunteered)
to benefit our local community.
Only 5 volunteer shifts remain to be filled
in 2024-25 Bingo Year (ending March 2025).
Thanks to the K-F members who have volunteered for this valuable service.
Volunteers (2 for each date) needed:
Saturday Feb 1 @ 8:00pm**
Saturday Mar 8 @ 4:00pm**
Friday Mar 14 @ 6:00pm**
Saturday Mar 29 @ 4:00pm
** - only 1 volunteer needed
** ** **
ALL BINGO VOLUNTEERS - PLEASE NOTE:
Effective October 1, 2024,
evening BINGO hours have been adjusted:
WASNOW
06:15 - 08:15pm 06:00 - 08:00pm
08:15 - 10:15pm 08:00 - 10:00pm
10:15 - 11:59pm 10:00 - 11:30pm
The K-F Bingo Schedule, Calendar & Homepage Events listing
have all been adjusted (where applicable) and ARE CORRECT!
NEW MONTHLY MEETING ROTATION
STARTING FEBRUARY 1, 2025
1st & 3rd Wednesdays of every month Club Meeting at Bistro Stefan
(including Board Meeting on 1st Wed)
2nd Wednesday of every month Pub Night
4th Wednesday of every month Community Service (Food Packing)
5th Wednesday of any month (ex.January) Fun & Fraternization
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