South Community Garden Box Construction is Happening!
June 7, 2023
The construction of the garden boxes at the South Community Garden site is happening!
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Local Rotarians recognized as Paul Harris FellowsJune 4, 2023  The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. The Rotary Foundation (Canada) is a registered charity that supports Rotary International’s effort to “do good in the world”. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world. |
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Latest from the South Community GardenJune 6, 2023 More lumber was unloaded this morning at the site of the South Community Garden and work on the garden boxes has started.  |
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Highway Cleanup 2023May 13, 2023 A sure sign of spring... a group of Rotarians and partners tackled the cleanup of the 4 km Thunder Lake Hwy 17 corridor.   |
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Happening at the South Dryden Community GardenJune 4, 2023 Another step forward in the construction of the new South Dryden Community Garden. A group of Rotarians were on-site on Friday to unload the initial delivery of lumber that will be used to build the garden boxes.   |
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Happy to Help with Fall Fest 2022
The Rotary Club of Dryden was happy to be a part of such a great event in our community! Kudos to the Dryden Fall Fest organizing committee and the sponsors and volunteers who all helped make the Fall Fest activities happen.
South Dryden Community Garden Project
The South Dryden Community Garden Project is a Rotary-led collaboration between the Rotary Club of Dryden and the City of Dryden.
The garden is located at the corner of Wabigoon Drive and Van Horne Avenue, the most densely populated area of Dryden, and will provide people in the area the opportunity to grow their own fresh produce and contribute to food security.
There were four work parties this fall to put up the fence and gates and to prepare the site for building the garden boxes next spring. Volunteer labour was provided by Dryden Rotarians, friends of Rotary, and the Dryden Kinsmen. Funding has been through the Dryden Rotary Charity Foundation and the City has provided the land and other infrastructure.
Special thanks to Shaun Kurz for designing the site and providing the Bobcat.
Book Exchange wraps up Basic Literacy & Education Month
September is Rotary's Basic Education and Literacy month, and Dryden Rotarians wrapped it up with a mini book exchange at the conclusion of last evening's meeting. Before we made our book selections, our Club's Literacy Chair, Lucille Ayers, updated Rotarians and guests on the various education and literacy activities that the Dryden club was involved in, initiated, or supported financially in the 2021-2022 Rotary year. These activities were recognized earlier this year when the Club received a District 5550 Literacy Award.
For example, the club donated scholarships and bursaries to area high school students, provided sponsorships for youth to attend various leadership events, sponsored the Free Reading Program on our website, supported the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, built three Books for Sharing boxes in our community, and raised funds to support schools in Guatemala and Bangladesh.
Any books that didn't go home with a Rotarian last evening will be added to Dryden's Books for Sharing boxes.
National Truth & Reconciliation - September 30th
Lucky Ducks on the Wabigoon River
Wasn't that a ducky afternoon!
Skene's Landing on the Wabigoon River was the place to see ducks on Sunday...not Mergansers or Mallards, but 1,000 little yellow ducks bobbing their way towards the dock in Rotary's Lucky Duck race.
And the winners from all these lucky ducks were:
Duck #263 - P. Rigey for $1000
Duck #562 - H. Hanson for $500
Duck #410 - D. Miller for $400
Duck #414 - J. Hewitson for $300
Duck #350 - A. Aitken for $200
And one more winner - Rotary Youth programs in Dryden. The community's support for the Lucky Duck Race makes our club's Youth programs a winner too!
Thanks to everyone who bought tickets or came down to the Landing to cheer the ducks on. And a big shout out to Lotto One for selling tickets for us as well!
Rotarians assist at "We Run This City"
Seventeen Rotarians were out early on Sunday morning to help with Dryden's "We Run This City" race. This was a great event for people of all ages with 5 KM and 10 KM walks and runs. This year's proceeds will go to the new Dog Park in Rotary Park.
Rotarians visit Dryden District Conservation Club
For a small group of Dryden Rotarians, Saturday was a great opportunity to visit the Dryden District Conservation Club and learn about their many activities, to hear how the funds donated by the Dryden Rotary Charity Foundation have been put to use, and to try their hand at archery. 
New Books for Sharing Box Installed in North Dryden
Are you looking for some summer reading? Our newest Books for Sharing box has just been installed in North Dryden at the Hatch Memorial Parkway at 199 Wice Road. This is our third book box in Dryden; the other two are at the Laura Howe Marsh and at Kinsmen Park, both on Van Horne Avenue.
The Books for Sharing boxes are a partnership between the Rotary Club of Dryden, the Friends of the Dryden Public Library, and the Dryden Public Library. The City of Dryden’s Public Works took care of the installation of all three boxes - many thanks to them for their assistance with this great project!
How does a Books for Sharing box work? It's pretty simple -- "Take. Read. Share. Return or replace only if you wish."
The Friends of the Dryden Public Library monitor the boxes on a regular basis and stock them with books from the Library's inventory of gently used reading material when necessary. There is usually an adequate supply of most books, however we are often in need of books for very young children (board books, easy read, primary). If you wish to donate children’s books, please send us a private message on Facebook to arrange for pickup.
Rotary and Amarok Partner with Mothers in Bangladesh
The Rotary Club of Dryden raised $36,000 through its Second Annual Xmas Promotion for schools in the urban slums of Bangladesh. These funds support our sponsored school, the Durbar-Shaikat Rotary Mothers’ School, and other similar schools in Bangladesh. Each school teaches 25 mothers in the morning, each of whom teaches five neighbourhood children at their home in the afternoon.
Books for Sharing Boxes on the Map!
The word is spreading about our Books for Sharing boxes!
The Kenora Little Libraries Facebook page has added the locations of our two Dryden book boxes to their Google map showing where you can find Little Libraries in Kenora and area. Check it out at https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit...
Our Books for Sharing boxes are a partnership between our club, the Dryden Public Library, and the Friends of the Dryden Public Library and we're looking forward to the installation of our third box soon!
2022 Highway Cleanup
Dryden Rotarians, family, and friends were out for their annual cleanup of a stretch of Highway 17 East on Saturday May 30th.
Fundraisers for ShelterBox
Thank you so much to everyone who supported our recent Cook for Peace fundraiser where $20.00 from each food package sold was donated to ShelterBox in support of their aid to Ukraine.
We raised over $3000.00 and Ecole Catholique De L'Enfant-Jesus joined in with a school student fundraiser and added $105 for ShelterBox! Thank you all!
If you'd like to know more about ShelterBox's efforts in support of Ukraine, you can visit https://www.shelterboxcanada.org/the-ukraine-crisis.../.
April 14 Bingo Cancelled
The Rotary Club of Dryden has made the decision to cancel the radio bingo scheduled for tomorrow, April 14, due to the impact of the storm that is affecting our area.
We are asking people to hold on to their bingo cards as these will be played on April 21st as a regular game.
The Monster bingo that was advertised to be held on April 21st will be deferred until May 5th.
The Monster bingo advertised for April 28th will continue as scheduled.
Thank you for your understanding and for playing Rotary Radio Bingo.
RYLA is back!
Check out the poster below for more information about RYLA - Rotary Youth Leadership Assembly.
Interested students must contact the Rotary Club of Dryden through the DHS Guidance Dept. or email your letter to rotaryyouthdryden@gmail.com
Please do not apply on line.
Please do not apply on line.
eRYLA 2022 - The Building Blocks of Leadership
eRYLA is a NEW virtual program that gives youth another opportunity to participate in leadership development sessions.
Dates: May 6 & 7, 2022 on Zoom
Open to youth ages 15 -25
Open to youth ages 15 -25
Wrapping Up our Bingo Season - Schedule Update
Our regular Bingo was cancelled on April 14th because of the winter storm so we've had to make a few adjustments to our schedule. 
Thursday April 21st - regular Bingo USING CARDS DATED APRIL 14
Thursday April 28th - '80th Anniversary' Monster Bingo
Thursday May 5th - Monster Bingo (previously scheduled for April 21st)
Check out the posters below for more details about the April 28th and May 5th Monster Bingos and our website for information on where you can purchase your cards.
Cook for Peace Fundraiser
More than 2 million people are reported to have already fled Ukraine to neighboring countries in freezing temperatures, facing an uncertain future. The UN is predicting as many as 16 million people will be affected by this crisis and in need of humanitarian assistance, including 4 million refugees.
Dryden Rotary Charity Foundation supports Red Lake Hospital
The following was recently posted online by the Margaret Cochenour Memorial Hospital in Red Lake. It's about their new blood culture incubator in their laboratory, the purchase of which was supported by a donation from the Dryden Rotary Charitable Foundation. This is one of the ways that the funds raised through CKDR Rotary Radio Bingo supports communities and residents in our region.
Lobster Sale Deadline is December 4th!
Bingo is back!
CKDR Rotary Radio Bingo is back!
The first bingo of the new season is on Thursday, October 14th, at 7 PM and we're starting off with a 'Monster' bingo. You can find a list of all the regional Bingo Card vendors here on our website.
Another Successful Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day
The Rotary Club of Dryden, in partnership with the City of Dryden, was kept busy on a beautiful fall day at the recent Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day supported by Rotary Club
You know fall is getting closer when the City of Dryden advertises their upcoming Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day, a project supported by the Rotary Club of Dryden. Check out the City's flyer below for all the details!
Over 3,500 Interactive Activities for K-6 Readers
Basic education and literacy are one of Rotary's seven areas of focus and the Rotary Club of Dryden is involved in many activities that support and promote literacy here in our community and further field.
Rotary Volunteers Make Vaccinators feel like "Superheroes" Dr Says
Up to sixteen Rotarians per day, help the nurses, doctors and other staff ensure that the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines run smoothly at the Dryden Arena.
20-21 Rotary Radio Bingo Tops Record and is a Pandemic’s Silver Lining
The 2020-21 edition of Dryden Rotary’s “Rotary Radio Bingo” broke all previous records. Sales of bingo cards were for all practical purposes sold out for every game the entire season.
Lillian Berg Gr. 7/8 put “ACTION” into Reconciliation with a study of The McIntosh Indian Residential School
With a program called “ReconciliACTION” Lillian Berg P.S. teacher Shannon Elliot taught her students about the history of the now-discredited “residential school movement”.
The Club’s Website has a Fresh New Look
At our April 7 meeting Rotarians John Borst and Susan Reany Iskra provided an overview of our new and improved website; a project they have been working on for a while. The goal of the revamp was to make the site more appealing and accessible to all.
“Homelessness and drugs are problems we must face” says Dryden resident, Shauna Pinkerton
Shauna Pinkerton shared her journey from Dryden to East Hastings Street in Vancouver and back with Dryden Rotarians on Wednesday, April 1st.
Durbar-Shaikat Rotary Mothers’ School, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, Share Their Stories
By Nasima, Morion, Shahnur, Shamima and (Aysha the schoolteacher)
Dear Dryden, Rotarians, we are really pleased to share with you about our days and progress. After a long hardship of livelihood because of Covid crisis our days started to begin with our family and works.
Club’s International Team Makes District Presentation on Amarok Education Model
Dryden’s International Committee, consisting of James Kroeker (chair), Cindy Palermo, and John Borst, presented to DG Gailmarie’s District 5550’s monthly “DG’s Talk” on the Amarok Society’s “mother’s schools” in the slums of Bangladesh.
Treasury Metals aims for a construction decision at Goliath by Fall of 2023.
A decision on starting construction of the Goliath Gold Mine by Treasury Metals is still a long way off according to Mark Wheeler, Director of Projects and Mac Potter who spoke to Wednesday’s Dryden Rotary Club virtual meeting.
A Gentleman’s Gentleman Passes from the Club
Arthur Clare Thompson
May 4, 1931 – Mar 12, 2021
"Enjoy Rotary and have fun helping others."
Beezer's bees hit the sweet spot with Dryden Rotarians
Reagan Breeze, Dryden’s beekeeper extraordinaire, doesn’t just want to produce honey, he wants to save the bees and the world in the process.
Dryden Hospital and Youth Receive Big Winter ‘21, Grants from DRCF
Dryden Rotary Charity Foundation doles out another $101,425.00 to local community organizations
Dryden Working Circle Shares Progress
By Sarah McCarthy and John Borst
The Dryden Working Circle Committee continues its efforts to bring both Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members together.
Firefly shines light on Restorative Justice for youth
An alternative to the courts praised for first-time offenders.
by Sarah McCarthy CKDR
Firefly is spreading awareness about Youth Justice Services available in Dryden.
Scientists from the African Center for Aquatic Research and Education (ACARE) to Train at the Experimental Lakes Area in NWO
Speaking to Dryden Rotarians from Ypsilanti, Michigan, Dr Ted Lawrence, Executive Director of IISD-ACARE described how under IISD’s leadership, Dryden’s World-renowned Experimental Lakes Area will help save the Seven Great Lakes of Africa.
Ashley Apland Talks on FireFly’s Services to Youth in NWO
Ashley Apland, Clinical Manager for Youth Mental Health at Firefly explained that Firefly is a non-profit organization which provides full youth services to NWO. This includes “Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy service, mental health services, developmental assessments, autism, and spectrum disorder services”, she said.
Thirty Year Member, Elaine Thompson, Passes Away
On January 31, 1990, Elaine Thompson joined The Rotary Club of Dryden. On January 22, 2021, she sadly passed from us. During those nearly 31 years her warm smile and quiet demeanour belied her enthusiasm for Rotary. In 1995-96, Elaine served as the club’s 35th president. She was both the second woman to join the club and the second woman to serve in that position.
Personal Trainer, Kris Skramrud, Speaks on Surviving the Pandemic in Good Shape
Editor’s note: this post is based on the report of Sara McCarthy of CKDR
A local Certified Personal Trainer is out with some tips on staying active during the province-wide stay at home order.
Dryden Rotarians Create Virtual Awards Night
While we can’t gather in person, The Rotary Club of Dryden went virtual Wednesday night for their annual Paul Harris Fellows Award evening to recognize new, active and past members.
Club Donates Two Gifts to the Community Over the Holiday Period
With Dryden Rotary’s Virtual meetings cancelled and no weekly Dryden Rotary Bingo Dryden’s Rotarians usually take a break from their community involvement during the holidays. It was a bit of a surprise when, not one, but two, opportunities presented themselves for local Rotarians to put their new drive to be “People of Action” into play.
Club Assembly Deals With Constitution & By Laws Revision, Virtual Christmas Dinner & 2020 Christmas Cheer Hampers
Dryden Rotary's November 4th virtual meeting had no speaker, instead it held what in Rotary-speak is called a "Club Assembly". This really means a business meeting where all members dealt formally and informally with a variety of items. On the 4th three items were dealt with Revisions to the Club's Constitution and Bylaws, how we would handle our traditional Christmas dinner meeting and changes to our annual Christmas Cheer hamper collection during the pandemic.
Update on Rotary’s Goal of Eliminating Another Virus-Polio
Dryden Club contributes $4,292.40 to wipe out Polio in 2020.
Polio has occurred as a sporadic illness in humans since the time of the ancient Egyptians. As humans became more urbanized, polio epidemics have occurred with increasing severity until the polio vaccine was developed in the 1950s.
Minor Hockey Breakfast Program Needs Help with Training Equipment
Skills training in hockey for both girls and boys has undergone a revolution in the past decade. Today coaches use “Rush Defenders”, “High-speed Deke Trainers” and “Reactive Sniper Machines”. And there is even Synthetic Ice so you can skate all year round on makeshift rinks or even your living room if you are that dedicated.
Four Takeaways, From the NWHU Medical Officer of Health’s Speech on Covid-19 in NWO
The Northwestern Health Unit’s, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kit Young Hoon speaking at The Rotary Club of Dryden’s virtual meeting on Wednesday left four key pieces of information with those in attendance.
Walk Through Laura Howe Marsh Provides Opportunity for Fellowship During Pandemic
On a sunny Saturday morning, October 10th nine Dryden Rotarians with two family members plus two out of town guests, spent an hour of fellowship walking the trails of the Laura Howe Marsh.
Mothers’ School Student in Bangladesh Describes How Poor in City Slum Surviving Covid-19
October 20
Khulna, Bangladesh
Dear Members of The Rotary Club of Dryden,
I (Rahima Begum) am happy to share with you about my efforts during the days of extreme Covid-19 and lockdown.
Speaker Allan-Riives Seeks Volunteers to fill Shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child
Operation Christmas Child (OCC) was the focus of Dryden Rotary’s speaker Sharon Allan-Riives at its virtual meeting this past week. Allan-Riives is the lead person in the Dryden area for this annual gifting program.
Literacy Chair Informs Club About “The Free Reading Program”
Rtn. Lucille Ayers, club literacy chair, shared information on “The Free Reading Program” at the October 8th meeting.
Hazardous Waste Day Volume Grows by 50 Percent in 2020
Dryden Rotary, Miller Environmental and The City of Dryden’s cosponsored, 2020 Hazardous Waste Day measured by the number of carloads that passed through the city’s Public Works Facility on September 19th grew from 370 to 555 an increase of 185 or 50% growth.
Transportation is Focus of Consultation to Determine Location of Canada’s Nuclear Storage Facility
In 2023 Canada, after a long exhausting consultation period, will decide where they will build a repository for our spent nuclear fuel. Beginning with 22 sites, only two remain: a site about 35 km west of Ignace, Ontario and a second in the Municipality of South Bruce about 50 km southeast of the Bruce Power Nuclear facility.
2019-20 Exchange Student Morgan Kruger’s Life in Hualien City, Taiwan
Dryden High School student, Morgan Kruger, spent her 2019-20 school year in Hualien City, Taiwan. Last Wednesday she shared her experience with her sponsoring club The Rotary Club of Dryden.
District 5550 District Governor's September 2020 Newsletter
Kenora Rotary Creates Four Little Libraries for the Community
How small can a library be? According to the Rotary Club of Kenora the answer is very tiny. How about putting one on a park bench, or the back of a road sign or at a group mailbox.
Africa Declared Free of the Wild Polio Virus
Report of the District 5550 Polio Chair, Dr. Pat Chernesky
I am pleased and honoured to be the “Polio Plus/End Polio Now” District Chair for 2020-2021! Thanks to DG Gailmarie for this exciting opportunity; I look forward to sharing news about progress in polio eradication by providing regular updates and assisting you in any way that I am able!
District Governor Visits Dryden Rotary Electronically
Rotarians are members of their clubs. The clubs are chartered by the global organization Rotary International (RI) headquartered in Evanston, Illinois. For administrative purposes, the more than 32,000 clubs worldwide are grouped into 529 districts, and the districts into 34 zones.
Covid-19 Puts Tourist Camps in Crisis Across NWO
Clark’s Resorts have been a successful icon of “Sunset Country’s” tourist economy for thirty-five years. This year it sits empty due to the Corona virus pandemic. That is the story shared by Meagan Clark, daughter of the resort’s founders, her parents.
Brazilian Exchange Student Loly Reviews Her Year in Dryden
Loly Cartocci - Bazanelli, our 2019-2020 Rotary exchange student from Brazil gave the club members a presentation of her year in Canada using pictures.
Former European Exchange Students Join Dryden Meeting via Zoom
Four former exchange students from European countries joined the July 8th meeting via zoom to hear Loly Cartocci - Bazanelli’s presentation and say hi to the club members. They were Alba Posas Solandes of Spain (2014-2015), Katarina Närhinen of Finland (2016-2017), Varja LindstrÖm of Sweden (2017-18) and Sigvart Støverud of Norway (2018-19).
Dryden Rotary Start New Rotary Year Off With Fund Raising Event – A Drive Through Pancake Breakfast
On Canada Day, July 1, 2020 Dryden Rotary and the Dryden Native Friendship Centre (DNFC) partnered to have a curbside pancake breakfast.
Advertisements on Rotary Club Websites: it’s not a simple matter
You would think advertisements on Rotary club websites would be a simple matter. Instead, it can often get quite complicated.
Club President Plomp, Passes Gavel on to 20-21 President Anna Traini
July 1st is the start of each Rotary year, so the last meeting in June sees the outgoing president pass the gavel, to the incoming president.
Club Newsletter Editor Reaches 1000th Issue Plateau
Twenty-years is a long time to be producing a newsletter. That is about how long it would take to accumulate 1000 issues at 50 per year. But that is just what Rotarian and city lawyer Willem Vermeer has done with the club's weekly newsletter titled The Keyway.
Local Bee Expert Gets Rotarians All-a-Buzz About Bees
Local bee expert Ann Puddicombe, informed Dryden Rotarians that there are around 400 different species of bees in Ontario. There are about 20,000 world-wide. But here favourite bee is the humble Bumble Bee.
Northern Youth Services Focus is Indigenous Youth and Families
In 2014, guest speaker Norman Miller became the CEO of Northern Youth Services (NYS) a Mennonite program founded in 1967 by Clair and Clara Schnupp with the objective of ministering to the spiritual, emotional, and social needs of Indigenous youth.
COX’S BAZAR DRYDEN WOMEN’S SCHOOL REPORT TO DRYDEN CLUB EXECUTIVE
I am pleased to be working together with Rtns Cindy Palermo and John Borst to promote and continue Dryden rotary sponsorship of the Cox’s Bazar Dryden Women’s School in Bangladesh. In 2019, our committee travelled to Kenora for an evening presentation to the RC of Kenora and to Winnipeg for an evening presentation to the Winnipeg Rotoract club at the University of Manitoba. We presented to our club and were overwhelmed by the generous support from members of over $2,000. Cindy organized a presentation by Tanyss Munro at the Dryden High School for her students and the public.
Rotary Clubs in the Slums of Cox’s Bazar Help Dryden Woman’s School Succeed
Editor’s Note: The following was written by Tanyss Munroe as a report to the Rotary Club of Dryden, ON to demonstrate how the Rotary Clubs of Cox’s Bazar were contributing “Time, Energy and Effort” instead of dollars to the school they were funding.
With the help of Anwar Sadat, a Rotarian of the East York Rotary Club, we were introduced to 3 Rotary Clubs in the city of Cox’s Bazar, just beside the world’s largest refugee camp (Rohingya). The people in the slum of 8,000 people where your school is, live in far worse conditions than those in the refugee camp.
Panna’s Story: How Just the Thought of Literacy Builds Dreams
My name is Panna. I am seven. My parents were separated when I was two years old and my mummy gave me to my granny to raise because she could not take care of me. From then I am living with my grandmother. She is a beggar and every day she takes me on Cox’s Bazar beach and we beg to people. But we are not too good. Many days I am very hungry.
Princess Court Family Council Works to Make Institution More “Home” Like
Carol Gardam, chair of the Princess Court Family Council (PCFC) for the past 3 years, spoke to the club on how the organization advocates for residents to improve their quality of life and while promoting Princess Court and the Family Council within Dryden.
Dryden Rotary Radio Bingo Profits Pass the Two Million Mark
With Dryden Rotary’s most recent announcement of the approval of another $53,000 in grants to local and area organizations The Rotary Club of Dryden has breached the 2-million-dollar mark in grants.
DRCF and Club Approve $53,000 in Grants to Six Local Organizations
Each year the Dryden Rotary Charity Foundation (DRCF) meets in February, May and November to consider and approve requests for grants from various charitable organizations in the region.
Next DRCF Meeting to Review Grant Requests is November 2020.
The Dryden Rotary Charity Foundation is now accepting applications for its next round of grants. The deadline for the summer/fall applications is basically November 1st as the Foundation’s directors meet that month to review and approve the applications.
Ice Dogs-Rotary 50/50 Draw Up-in-the-Air for 20-21 Season
Ice-Dog President Mike Sveinson, along with Executive member Erik Lang, spoke to the Junior A Ice-Dogs forth-coming season and the roll of Dryden Rotary’s 50/50 Joint venture.
NW Health Unit Staff Discuss Food Security During the CoVid-19 Experience
Stephanie Cran and Lindsay Burry from the North Western Health Unit (NWHU) highlighted for Rotarians and 13 guests the issue of food security before and during the CoVid-19 crisis.
Dryden ‘Haute Couture’ Designed Patriotic Covid-19 Masks
Trish England loves to sew and is known locally for designing original handbags. With the Coronavirus in full swing and people wanting well made masks Trish has turned her skills into designing patriotic masks in true ‘haute couture’ fashion.
Why ‘Maternal and Child Health’ are the Focus for April in RI
April is Rotary’s Maternal and Child Health month. As you probably know, in developed countries, women outlive men by an average of 5 to 10 years. This is a relatively new phenomenon. Until the dawn of the 20th century, men generally outlived women by many years. The main reason for this was that large numbers of women died from the complications of pregnancy and childbirth.
KDSB’s Profile Set to Rise in Dryden
Henry Wall, Chief Executive Officer of the Kenora District Services Board, was Dryden Rotary’s first ever guest speaker to attend a meeting using the ZOOM video conferencing system.
Rotarian Discovers The Cost of Living in Dryden Fifty-four Years Ago
Preamble: Although this isn’t directly about Rotary it is a rare glimpse of what life and the cost of living was 54 years ago. As I was sorting though stuff in preparation for my move into “town” I found a booklet which we created as a guide, plan, record and diary of our first trip across Canada.
The year was 1966. My sister was living in Vancouver and getting married. Having been married the summer before we decided we would camp our way across the country. It was the first time I would visit Dryden.
Dr. Carl Eisener Reflects on DRHC’s Ability to Handle COVID-19’s Most Serious Cases
Dr. Carl Eisener Rotarian & ADG NWO clubs.
For those of you who think that COVID 19 is overblown and the precautions and "social distancing" are more stringent than they need be, let me give some local perspective:
Dryden Rotary Goes Hi-Tech with First Ever ZOOM Video-Conference Meeting
With in-person meetings large and small banned across Canada, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic Dryden Rotary is about to enter new territory as it holds its April 1st, 2020 meeting using the ZOOM Video=Conferencing system.
Dryden Rotary On-line Action Delayed Due to COVID-19
In consideration of the health concerns facing us today, Dryden Rotary will delay the March 31st start of the On-Line Auction until such time as all the logistics in delivering the auction can be worked out in a safe and socially responsible manner.
Reliable Sources for Updates on State of COVID-19 in Canada
The most update source for information of the COVID-19 virus The Government of Canada
March Meetings Cancelled Due to CoVid-19 Protocals
Dryden Rotary Secretary Ed Iskra has just announced the cancellation of our next two general meetings scheduled for March 18th and 25th in response to the advice of our public officials who recommend we do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19 through social distancing and avoiding non-essential gatherings.
World Rotaract Week Celebrated from March 9 - 15
March 9th, marks the beginning of World Rotaract week. Legally, anyone who is an adult, 18 years or older, can join Rotary, yet, few Rotary clubs have many members under age 30. The first Rotaract Club was created in 1968 at Charlotte North Rotary Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States partly to address this situation. However, Rotaract Clubs were not Rotary International’s first youth clubs.
TD’s Dawn Jones Shares Story of the TD Grade One Book Giveaway
On Feb 23rd we say “Happy 115th Birthday Rotary!”
February 23, 2020 marks the 115th anniversary of the world’s first Rotary meeting. On that date in 1905, four individuals, each of a different background and different vocation met for dinner in the spirit of friendship and fellowship.
Dryden Rotary Losses Its Most Senior Member “Rolly” Swan
It is with deep sadness that the Dryden Rotary Club learned of the passing of one of its most beloved members Roland (Rolly) Swan on Monday afternoon, January 20, 2020.
New Community Group Seeks to Create a “Fall Festival” in Dryden
Laina Smith spoke to Rotarians on her vision of a holding a Fall Fest in Dryden each October. She has rallied a small committee of seven citizens to organize the event.
Club Grows to Sixty-Four Members to Start Off 2020
With the induction of three new members on January 8th, the Rotary Club of Dryden has returned to its all-time high of 64 members.
The key difference, however, this time we have an equal number of members by gender.
Vocations: The Key to Rotary's Success in Our Community
January is Rotary’s vocational service Month. Rotary’s belief is that our vocations can provide the basis of service. Essentially, whatever your vocation, you serve as Rotary’s Ambassador to that vocation and to the community at large. You also serve as an Ambassador of your vocation to Rotary.
New Member’s Career Path Follows the Heart
All new members who join Rotary give what is called a vocational talk. Originally it was a way for members to get to know what your business was. Over the years it has morphed into more of a life story
December is Disease Prevention and Treatment Month: A Need for Vigilance
Even with a vaccine more than 300 children die needlessly everyday from measles.
By Carl Eisner, MD and Past President Rotary Club of Dryden
December is Rotary’s disease prevention and treatment month. This is one of the six areas of focus of the Rotary foundation. Much headway has been made in this area over the past decades – for instance, polio has been 99.9% eradicated, compared to where the world was with polio when rotary became involved.
The Dryden Rotary Charity Foundation Approves Thirteen Grants Totalling $31,011
Four times a year the eight member Dryden Rotary Charity Foundation meets under the leadership of Rotarian and Past Club President Rena Madden, to disperse the money raised through the Dryden Rotary Bingo proceeds.
Are Women the Future of Dryden’s Most Vital Organizations?
Dryden Rotary is unique among District 5550’s forty-six clubs because it has more women than any other club. Of the club’s 63 members 32 are male and 31 are female. However, when It comes to leadership within our organization women are more likely to serve on our Board of Directors and the Board of The Dryden Rotary Foundation. The latter is a separate body which determines the grants we distribute.
Loss of Two Volunteer Organizations Requires Meals on Wheels in Dryden to Find New Volunteers
Colleen Hill, Dryden’s Meals on Wheels coordinator provided the club with an update on the operation of Dryden’s MOW program.
Ignace, Ontario Plans to be Canada’s Site for Used Nuclear Fuel
Rachelle Davenport and Chantelle Gascon of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) in Ignace, Dryden’s neighboring community brought the club up-to-date on the NWMO’s site selection progress for that community.
Rotary Day at the U.N. is November 9th
November 9, 2019 is Rotary Day at the UN. It is the day that Rotary and the United Nations celebrate and honour their 72-year relationship.
Annual Rotary Awards Evening a Time to Celebrate Many Accomplishments
Once a year the Rotary Club of Dryden hosts an awards evening in which it celebrates three local Drydenites who exemplify Rotary's motto "Service Above Self" through their volunteer efforts, Rotary members who have donated one-thousand (USD) dollars to The Rotary Foundation, winners of the Dryden Royal Conservatory piano competition and inducted new members who have joined the club.
Strategic Plan is Focus of DRHC CEO’s Operational Update
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Doreen Armstrong-Ross Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Dryden Regional Health Centre (DRHC) gave us a brief background on the state of our hospital and their future directions.
2019-20 Exchange Student ‘Lolly’ shares her background with the club
Our Brazilian exchange student, Lorena Cartocci Bazanelli or ‘Lolly” for short, shared with us some background on her home and country.
October 24 is Rotary End Polio Day-Give Today
Ramesh Ferris was born in India to an impoverished single mother in 1979. When he developed polio as an infant, she surrendered him to an orphanage, knowing that he would have no chance for a good life if she kept him. He had the good luck to be adopted by a Canadian couple, and with proper rehab, braces and crutches, he learned to walk short distances at a slow pace.
Six Humanitarians Honored for their Work with Refugees
Six humanitarians who are members of the family of Rotary are being honored as People of Action: Connectors Beyond Borders during the 2019 Rotary Day at the United Nations, which focuses this year on the global refugee crisis.
District 5550 Governor Fred Wright Visits Club and Puts Emphasis on the Reduction of Child Poverty
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Rotary International is divided into around 535 Districts. That averages out to about 65 clubs per district. Each District has a four-digit number. Dryden is part of District 5550. Each District is managed by a person titled the District Governor. Each governor serves for only one year from July 1 to June 30. For the 2019-20 year our District Governor (DG) is Fred Wright from Kenora.
Putting the Plus in PolioPlus
We’re doing so much more than eradicating polio
By Vanessa Glavinskas Photography by Andrew Esiebo
Musa Muhammed Ali, a farmer in Borno state, Nigeria, has had to deal with the many ways polio has affected his life. For instance, he used to have to pay for transportation when he needed to buy feed for his animals.
Dryden Rotary Works with District and other Clubs to Create a Literacy Program in Bangladesh’s Urban Slums
Each month Rotary defines a theme for Rotarians to focus upon. September’s theme is Basic Education and Literacy. It is for that reason that our International Services Director James Kroeker and DHS law and justice teacher Cynthia Palermo spoke to the club on the topic of the Amarok Society.
Rotary 'Vocational Training Team' Program a Means to Support People With Autism
by Dr. Corina Yatco-Guerrero, member of the Rotary Club of Sta. Ana (Davao), Philippines
I am a Neuro-Ophthalmologist and my husband is a Neurologist; we both practice in Davao City, Philippines. When our third child, Emmanuel, was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at the age of two, we were both stunned and perplexed.
Transforming mathematics education in Ecuador's low income schools
By Octavio Jarrin R., member of the Rotary Club of La Puntilla, Ecuador and Keith E. Axtell, member of the Rotary Club of Marin Evening, United States
An assessment of mathematics teachers in Ecuador showed they received little training in content preparation and teaching techniques. This resulted in teachers with little motivation and enthusiasm when preparing and teaching their classes.
2018-19 Rotary President to be Feature Speaker at District 5550 Conference
In the absence of President Mardi, Assistance Governor Carl Eisner, took the meeting chair and proceeded to share future meeting dates and events of which we should be aware.
What the ‘together’ in Rotary’s vision statement means
Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create
lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
— Rotary International Vision Statement
By Paddy Rooney, governor of District 7390 (Pennsylvania, USA)
The word which defines much of our world today is division. We are divided in so many ways by race or creed, ethnicity or belief, by gender or age or sexuality. But the divisions have gone beyond mere realities and instead have become a source of dissension among us with the result that we have sliced and diced ourselves into smaller and smaller groups or tribes which only further exacerbate our sense of alienation one from the other.
Why the loss of ‘The Dryden Observer’ Matters
by John Borst, editor Rotary Club of Dryden Website
In May of this year The Dryden Observer ceased to publish and the community of Dryden loss a little of its soul. Somewhat ironically it was Pope Francis speaking to an audience of Italian journalists on September 16th who reminds us why the local community newspaper is vital in the life of a community.
Club receives reports on Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) for 2019
Each year District 5550 of which Dryden Rotary is a member, sponsors a Junior and Senior Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program. The program consists of “camp” environment at Shoal Lake, Manitoba.
The Contrarian Reflects on the New "New Morality"
by Mel Fisher, Rotarian and blogger as DrydenCurmudgeon. Mel's columns were published in the Dryden Observer and will now be co-posted here.
A page out of Willy Brant’s diary — Joe and I dropped off some veggies at the food co-op and were sitting in 'Timmies' when a carload of teenagers came roaring in and occupied the table next to us; I got the impression they considered that was ‘their’ table and us old codgers were interlopers to be sitting next to it. Well dressed, nice looking kids, all chattering at once, I didn’t pay much attention till I heard one girl announce ”Well I will never have any kids, that’s for sure!”.
Together Dryden Needs to Find a Solution to Our Youth Centre Crisis
Commentary by John Borst, editor Dryden Rotary News and We the Northwest News and Views
We have all heard the meme “It takes a village to raise a child.” We are also prone to nod in agreement and then go on about our business of living and forgetting about the kid who goes to school without having breakfast and hasn’t got a lunch to eat, or the teen who hangs out downtown or at school staying away from home as long as possible. But in a small city like Dryden even youngsters with three meals a day and a loving home can suffer from anxiety, loneliness or fear of their peers.
Democracy is Set to Take a Giant Leap Forward in Dryden
OPINION by John Borst,
There are two keys to living in a successful vibrant democracy: participation and vigilance. Dryden City Council is to be congratulated for taking a modern step forward to facilitate those principles.
Club Looking for Students Interested in Student Exchange in 2020
The Rotary Club of Dryden in looking for Dryden High School students interested in doing an international student exchange in 2020.
Dryden City Council Set to Webcast Meetings Starting in October 2019
Buried in a single sentence in a Staff Report at the September 9th Committee-of-the-Whole Council Meeting on “Electronic Participation” by members of council that “The IT Department ...have sourced the required hardware and software solutions to implement this project including webcasting.”
Dryden Rotary Website to Become More Community Based
With the demise of our community newspaper, The Observer, Dryden Rotary News will this fall expand by adding We the Northwest News and Views.
Poole Describes How the Salvation Army and Community Outreach Go Hand-in Hand
Sandra Poole, a Kenora Rotarian and regional leader within the Salvation Army provided a brief insight into the workings of her church.
Dryden Youth Centre Needs Support if it is to Continue
Ann Tkachyk of the Dryden Police Department and Vanessa Shepherd, Manager, Children's Services Dryden Children's Resource Centre were instrumental in establishing a Youth Centre in Dryden which ran for 37 days this summer out of the former Child Care Centre on Albert Street.
Thunder Bay Runners Take First in We Run This City Half-Marathon
Full Race Results Published Here
Sunday morning September 1, 2019, dawned wet and cool for the Dryden's Young Professionals' Second Annual We Run This City Half-Marathon and 10 km road races. The weather, however did not deter the the twenty-three runners in the half-marathon or the forty-six participants in the 10 km race.
Club Looses Member Marg Saville to Cancer.
It is with profound sadness the The Rotary Club of Dryden announces the passing of its member Margaret Saville. Margaret joined Rotary in June of 2011. Her funeral service will be held at the United Church at 7:00 pm.
‘We Run This City’, Dryden’s Premier Road Race, All Set to Go
Put September 1st on your must-see list as 97 runners course through Dryden’s streets and trails in the Second annual ‘We Run This City’ half-marathon and 10 k road races.
WHAT CAN A ROTARIAN DO WHEN THERE IS NO COMPLAINTS POLICY?
Many Rotarians are passionate about Rotary, some so passionate that they forget that other Rotarians must be treated with respect.
‘WeLoveDryden’ - Show Your Hometown Pride on June 8
Imagine if the 8000 residents of Dryden marched in the same parade, what a scene it could be.
Okay, 8000 is a little extreme but 1000 would be a super goal and would pack a wallop for our sense of community. Packing a wallop is just what the organisers of Dryden’s first “We Love Dryden” day want to achieve. So put June 8th on your calendar and participate in one or more of the three events.
Links to Series on 2019 Council on Legislation Plus Concluding Comments
#7 in a series.
A request to provide a compendium of links to the 2019 Council on Legislation from a PDG at District 7390 was the inspiration for this post. It also provides an opportunity to reflect on the bigger picture of what happened this year which may portend future directions and trends.
Sing-along with this Saskatoon-Nutana version of the Four-Way Test.
This is a version of the Four-Way Test to which you will have no trouble singing along. The 53 seconds of lyrics have a slightly different ending. There is one additional line.
Did the Council make Rotaractors, Rotarians? No!
Did the Council of Legislation change the status of a member of a Rotaract Club with Enactment 19-72? The answer is no. They are still Rotaractors. They are not Rotarians. That is the conclusion one has to draw from the experience of two Rotaractors who also have membership in Rotary Clubs.
Results of Survey on Changing the Name of The Rotarian
As reported some two weeks ago, the Council on Legislation gave Rotary Executive the authority to alter the name of The Rotarian magazine if it was necessary to be consistent with Rotary’s rebranding initiative.
The Duarte Story as told by Dr Sylvia Whitlock
Author of Women Also Serve: Duarte Invites Women to Join Rotary tells her first person account of what it was like to be a woman Rotary pioneer.
High Tech Industries in Saskatoon Awe Dryden Students
Chris Mills and Cameron Miles, two Dryden High School students shared their trip to Saskatoon for a Rotary Adventures in Technology Program sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Saskatoon.
What is wrong with this statement on women in Rotary?
Variations of the statement below, I have seen many times over the years. A male, with many years of dedicated service, made it in a Facebook post, this past week.
Can Rotary Morph into a ‘Smart’ Organization?
Eight steps Rotary must take to be a "Smart" Organization
“Smart’ is the word of the century. Smartphones, smart cars, smart cities, and smart organisations fill the pages of city newspapers, magazines and scholarly journals.
Rotary’s Chance to Right a Historic Injustice Fails
The need to replace Sushil Gupta, RIPN 20-21, who resigned for health reason, presented the opportunity for the 20-21 Nominating Committee to correct a historical injustice.
The Power of ‘Creating Memorable Rotary Events’
On May 3, 2019, Past Rotary International Director (PRID 2009-10), Dr John Blount spoke to the delegates attending the 2019 District 5550 conference on the topic “Creating Memorable Rotary Events.
John joined Rotary at age 27. He was President of the Sebastopol Club at age 32 and Governor of District 5130 eight years later.
THE ACT OF GENEROSITY GROUNDED IN ROTARY - MELISSA'S STORY
Drawing from a lifetime of personal and professional experiences, from his humble beginning as an Indigenous youth living in Winnipeg's North End, to working alongside business, community and government leaders, Kevin Chief brings a unique voice that is able to attract diverse crowds into inclusive and healthy conversations about diversity, policy, and social change.
FIREFLY PROVIDES WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO
Karen Ingebrigston, the executive director, explained the background on Firefly and a soft push to see if there were any potential future board members in the crowd.
COL takes small steps to streamline its proceedings but rejects the big one.
RI’s tax status changed from a 501(c)4 to a section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization under the US Internal Revenue Code.
#6 in a series
Enactments 19-96 to 19-115 dealt with proposed changes to the before, during and after periods of the Council on Legislation itself.
Rotary International provides a good summary of what occurred during this session, however I have reordered their report to correspond more closely with the chronological order which took place.
An attempt to make the Council smaller and meet more frequently failed.
As Rotary reports
A measure to allow the Council to meet every two years, instead of three, but with a smaller number of delegates, failed 174-334.
The Board argued having a smaller half-sized council meet more frequently would make the process more manageable with more robust debate, and allow Rotary to be nimble and flexible. Districts would have been paired, with one district's delegate attending every other council.
But opponents were against shrinking the council, denying districts the ability to send its own representative every time.
On the other hand a motion allowing the council to meet on line before meeting face to face to find where agreement existed at the 80% level did pass so that those items could be dispatched with “consent” which is a small step in streamlining proceedings. Although only 117 resolutions were dealt with in 2019, the high end is 613.
Another rather strange streaming feature also passed “by the narrowest of margins”. Council members voted 258-252 to strike RI past presidents, and all but one board member from taking part in future councils as non-voting members. The president, president-elect, and one director would remain as non-voting members. It was put forward as a cost saving measure.
Notes revealed that in 2016 the cost of hosting the COL was 3.3 million, with the cost of the average delegate at $3,600. The 17 member board plus 14 Past presidents cost was $118,000 or $3,800 per non-voting delegate. In my view the decision smacks more like an attempt by Past District Governors to retain control of the Council and lessen the influence of the Directors and Past-Presidents even though they are non-voting delegates.
The Director’s did make a major gain with an “emergency” piece of legislation gaining approval. The Board may now propose legislation it deems urgent to the Council on Resolutions, which meets online every year, instead of waiting for the next Council on Legislation. Proposal 19-96 passed 325-182, and offers the Board a means of recommending constitutional changes more frequently than every three years. Evidently something similar already exits but it has never been used. Given where RI’s strategic plan is pointing, especially in Strategic Priority Four on future governance, I think the odds just increased this new authority may be put to use.
Regarding the change in tax status, although it passed 374-120 the very vocal minority “feared the measure would change the way clubs have to operate by requiring only activities that qualify as charitable, and would harm the reputation of The Rotary Foundation as the charitable arm of Rotary.” Rotary reports however, that “A joint committee, composed of members of both the Board and Foundation, has reviewed the idea for more than 18 months, and argued the change would not change the way Rotary clubs operate or be harmful to The Rotary Foundation.”
Finally before closing in two of its last resolutions 19-115 and 19-116 “the Council approved two measures that clean up and modernize The RI Bylaws and standard Rotary Club Constitution, making them more understandable. The enactments make no substantive changes. But proponents noted these documents have not received a comprehensive review like this in almost two decades and have accumulated redundancies and archaic language. So if you've avoided these documents in the past, give the new edition, when available, a second look!”
As an historical footnote, “This is also the first time a sitting RI President has ever proposed an item to the Council.”
Membership, RI Committees and Dues Provided Lots to Debate by COL Delegates
# 5 in a series
Rotary has shouted out loud and clear that Rotaract Clubs are now officially clubs of and in Rotary rather then clubs outside of the family of Rotary. The path there had many twists and turns including an appeal to Social Media by President Barry Rassin. His was a post I just happen to read. Then the next thing I knew it I was hearing that Rotaractors would now be Rotarians too.
n my opinion it was a decision that made much sense since as I have argued in earlier posts, Rotaractors are adults and qualify by age for Rotary. I also live in a small working-class town in which Rotaract makes little sense. Hence if an eighteen to thirty-nine year old is interested in service to community Rotary is where they should be.
The debate over dues for seniors in 19-89, 90, and 91, I found fascinating primarily because the reasoning wants so poorly thought out. Rather than being a recognition that the aged like youth may require some adjustment to the cost of being a Rotarian, 90 and 91 especially were more a reward for long time service than age. 19-89 made the best case primarily on the basis of age but did include a short service factor.
The real reason we should provide a reduced cost to those 80 years or older is a recognition that it is a service to do so. At that age the social aspect of Rotary is our greatest benefit to others including our members. Isolation and loneliness face the elderly. Multi-generational contact may not be possible elsewhere in our age stratified society. A reduction for long-time service is not a justifiable reason for a reduced fee as is proposed in 19-90 and 91. Both create two classes of seniors, which certainly is not fair to all concerned. A reduction based solely on age does warrant consideration.
I also found the rejection of a standing committee on “Information Technology” disappointing. Nothing is so all-pervasive in this age than “information technology”. Perhaps it was the term itself that was part of the problem. Somehow, it is a dated expression. The next wave of the revolution is already poking at the door. Some call it, The “Internet of Things”. Concepts such as “Smart Cities” are being developed. So are Smart organizations especially mega-companies such as Amazon.com. We too are an organization. We too should be exploring and evolving into a “smart service organization”. It should not be left to our staff, we need our governance leaders to part of the process. But that is a topic for a future post.
There is not enough space to comment on other items, however, I do wish to say, I wish Rotary would report on the rational for the withdrawal of an item. Some items leave one wondering why? A little more transparency would go a long way in developing confidence in COL’s leadership and the delegates thing and an understanding of the process.
Marketing Rotary to Older Adults: Let’s Not Miss the Boat
May is Youth Services Month. Rotarians in every community quite justifiably put much effort and coin into providing support to its early years’ cohort. Youth Exchange programs, adventure series of various types, scholarships, food programs, literacy supports, are some of the best-known Rotary activities.
A Short Study. Should RI change the name of its magazine, if so to what?
At the recent Council on Legislation RI was given the authority to change the name of its magazine. Below is a two-question survey which will take about 10-15 seconds to complete on this issue.
COL Motions on Our Magazines, Privacy and Past-Presidents Are a Surprise
#4 in a series
I didn’t expect subjects such as District Administration and Rotary International-General to hold anything exciting, but I was wrong as there was much to chew upon.
Dear Nominating Committee for 2020-21 Replacement President-Nominee
Please choose a woman as President-nominee for 2020-21.
COL Rejects Glorious Opportunity to Make Rotary More Democratic
# 3 in a series
Enactments 19-40 to 19-55 addressed issues of elections and nominations at the President and Governor levels plus two Miscellaneous election items.
Dryden’s Rotary Exchange Student in France, Maryn Wrolstad, Shares Her Latest Adventures
Sorry, it has been a while since my last email. I’ll give you an update on what’s been going on. We had our Paris/Toulouse/Barcelona week-long bus trip at the end of February. It was exhausting but a lot of fun!
If you are a Victim of a Crime, you need to know about VCARS
Tanisha Grandbois, the Executive Director of Sunset Area Victim Crisis Assistance and Referral Services, is more commonly known by its acronym VCARS (pronounced vic-cars).
Council on Legislation more active in adopting changes to Clubs
#2 in a series
COL approved ten changes to Clubs in the areas of Administration, Membership and Meetings and Attendance. They also rejected ten proposals. Two items were withdrawn.
#RIWPNow! – Join the Campaign for a Woman President @RotaryWP
It is with regret that we learned of Sushil Gupta’s, (President-nominee for the 2020-21 Rotary year) decision to resign his position as a result of his health. I am sure it was an extremely hard decision to make and I am sure the people of India and throughout Rotary are disappointed.
Council on Legislation Rejects All Changes to Rotary’s Avenues of Service, Object of Rotary, and Core Values
#1 in a Series
Making changes to Rotary’s CONSTITUTION and STANDARD ROTARY CLUB CONSTITUTION was impossible in 2019 as the 532 delegates rejected all 15 proposed changes while two were withdrawn.
Sally Sipos work with Habitat for Humanity earns a Woman of Excellence Citation
# 5 of 30 Women of Excellence to celebrate 30 Years of Women in Rotary
Compiled from resources from Patty Vann, Tommy Johnson, Peter Keen and John Borst
In 2017 Rotary International and Habitat for Humanity formed a partnership to ensure that in the future more people will have access to affordable housing around the globe. Rotary General Secretary John Hewko stated that “Habitat’s aim to bring people together to build homes, communities and hope aligns perfectly with Rotary’s commitment to make positive, lasting change in communities around the world. With Habitat’s expertise and the power of Rotary’s volunteer network, we will help build the foundation for stronger communities.”
It is time to replace the “Public Image Coordinator” with an “Integrated Communications Coordinator”
It has now been five years since Rotary’s new branding initiative launched. To assist Rotarians in implementing the change, Rotary created, at the Zone level, a responsibility portfolio called the Public Image Coordinator. Some but not all Districts followed suit.
The Emergence of the Rotary Butterfly Begins on July 1st
June 30, 2019 is nearly here and with it the end of if this Rotary year. But something else associated with Rotary ends too,Rotary International's current Strategic Plan.
A Short History of Women on Rotary's Board of Directors
Women currently account for 22% of Rotary International's membership. The growth of women in Rotary officially began on 4 May 1987, when the United States Supreme Court confirmed the Californian decision supporting women in the case Board of Directors, Rotary International v. Rotary Club of Duarte and the Council on Legislation confirmed the decision.
Kaakewaaseya Justice Services and the Role of the ‘Gladue Report’
Jennifer Groves, an employee of the Kaakewaaseya Justice Services provide legal services to Treaty 3 Residents who live both on and off reserve. Groves is a specialist in writing Gladue reports.
Rotary says 'Let's talk about diversity and inclusion'
The theme of Rotary International’s April 2019 Training Talk Newsletter is on “Diversity, equity and inclusion.” Just last week I addressed this topic by sharing in graphical form the principles inherent in Rotary’s policy statement. Because this topic is of such importance to our future as a Rotarian, I am sharing the contents of the April 2019 newsletter so that it gets as wide a distribution as possible.
Understanding the relationship between consent and veto between Canada and Its Indigenous Peoples
By Roshan Danesh
Some politicians, journalists, business leaders, lawyers and others have adopted the practice of using the terms “consent” and “veto” interchangeably when discussing the role of First Nations in decision-making regarding lands and resources.
Community Support Centre NW Needs Help with Purchase of New Mobility Van
Debbie Dokuchie, Executive Director at Community Support Centre NW (formerly the Dryden Volunteer and Recruitment Centre), began her talk by announcing that the organisation had undergone a name change to the Community Support Centre NW to better reflect what they do.
Apatisiwin Employment Counsellor for the Dryden Native Friendship Centre Explains Role to Rotarians
Jeremy Dutton, the Dryden Native Friendship Centre’s (DNFC) Apatisiwin Employment Counsellor spoke on the kinds of services he provides to the urban Indigenous population of Dryden.
Remembering Denis Belleville
Sponsored by the late Bill Beatty, Denis joined the Rotary Club of Dryden in1995 and remained an active member until his passing on April 3rd, 2019.
What Is a ‘True Rotarian’ Anyway?
Words like “True’, or ‘Authentic’ applied to human endeavours are problematic whether applied to a member of a political party, fans of a sports team, a religious faith or a service organisation like Rotary.
It’s Time for a Woman President in 2014-15!
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Editor's Note: The following is a legacy piece first published in Spring 2012 at 5550opinions.
Sometime around now, a committee is about to meet within Rotary to decide whom to nominate as the 2014-15 President.
Diversity and Inclusion in Rotary, what’s the difference?
Today on a Rotary Facebook page a Rotarian wrote: “Diversity is being invited to the party; Inclusion is being asked to dance.”
DRYDEN ROTARY PROVIDES POWERPOINT ON YEAR’S EVENTS AND PROJECTS
This PowerPoint had two requests that occurred at the same time. The District Governor wanted a report on the Club's annual events and projects. At the same time, the President-elect wanted help in creating a PowerPoint on the same topics. Hence, this presentation with its thirty-seven slides was born.
From Personal Advocate to National Advocate: Wendy Wiedenhoeft’s story with the CNIB
Being an advocate for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) began seventeen years ago for Wendy Wiedenhoeft when her grandson was born blind. Today, Wendy is Northwestern Ontario’s representative on the CNIB Board.
Dryden Economic Development Officer Optimistic About City’s Future
Dryden’s economic wows have been front and centre for so long that it was a delight to hear the optimism in Tyler Peacock’s upbeat presentation on Dryden’s future.
Don't just sit in the house, go outside and enjoy nature
Each week the editor of the club’s weekly KEYWAY newsletter includes a column titled “The lighter side” in which items of a humorous nature appear. The item this week took the form of three pictures under the banner in the title.
The Lady Rotarian, the Gentleman Rotarian: Why do we see one and not the other?
If women are equal to men in Rotary, why is it then that we frequently see the term “Lady Rotarian” but never the term Gentleman Rotarian?
Mae Concepcion Dolendo, PP of the Rotary Club of Waling-Waling Davao Philippines is known for her ‘House of Hope” and its Foundation
# 4 of 30 Women of Excellence to celebrate 30 Years of Women in Rotary
Nominated by Maria Victoria C. Jimenez, a Past President of the Rotary Club of Waling-Waling Davao Philippines, edited by John Borst
Alexandria Ritchie only Twenty-four and Already a Rotary Woman of Excellence
#3 of 30 Women of Excellence to celebrate 30 Years of Women in Rotary
Nominated by Richard Cunningham, edited by John Borst
MP Robert Nault Updates Rotarians on Federal Initiatives in the Kenora Riding
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Member of Parliament Robert Nault visited Dryden Rotary to give us an update on the work he is doing on behalf of the Kenora Riding in Ottawa.
JUDITH DIMENT OF THE MAIDENHEAD THAMES ROTARY CLUB, AN ADMINISTRATIVE STAR IN ROTARY'S CAMPAIGN TO ERADICATE POLIO
#2 of 30 Women of Excellence to celebrate 30 Years of Women in Rotary
Nominated by Greg Wilkinson, text edited by John Borst
Toronto Calling is Theme of Graham Harrison’s Life Story
When a new member joins a Rotary Club, they eventually have to give a little speech on their life story, especially their work history. We call it a “Vocational talk”. This is Graham Harrison’s story.
PP DR ANJANA MAITRA OF ROTARY CLUB OF ROURKELA STEEL CITY, D 3261
#1 of 30 Women of Excellence to celebrate 30 Years of Women in Rotary
Submitted by Putul Rahul and edited by John Borst
Help Celebrate 30 years of Women in Rotary
The following call for submissions is patterned after a call at District 9940 in New Zealand.
Twenty-nineteen marks the 30th year Rotary International has officially welcomed women as members.
Rotary Clubs in the News for February 26, 2019
A compendium of Rotary Clubs in the news for February 26, 2019. Yesterday and today are tests to gauge the response to a daily news feed. It will take more time to establish the system to generate posts of this nature. Based on the response to the February 25, 2019 post it appears feasible to continue such a project.
Rotary Clubs in the News for February 25, 2019
Melissa Munn Explains Métis Nation Ontario Programs Available in Dryden
Melissa Munn, the coordinator of the Community Action Program for Children (CAP-C) of the Métis Nation Ontario (MNO), described the services they offer out of their office at 34 King Street.
Rotary’s Obligation to Promote a Civilized Society
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., the esteemed Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1902 to 1932, left many opinions which guided the creation of civil society in America for much of the Twentieth Century.
To Hope or Despair, that is the Question?
I am proud to say I am an American because I have the good fortune to live in a country that listens and reports – it provides a journalistic communication mechanism which gives prominence to controversial personalities and their radical ideas. At the end of the day, when the disillusion with the status quo reaches a critical point, incredible change happens through the ballot box, and new ideas are put to the test for at least four years. At the individual level, the process can be so disruptive and painful that many want only that it will end. The first view offers hope; the latter only leads to despair.
The Importance of Wearing the Rotary Pin
I am a Japanese businessman, and I wear a suit almost every day. The Rotary pin is always on my lapel. It is there because I am proud to be a Rotarian. Anywhere I go, people will see the pin and know who I am. Other Rotarians will see it and know that I am a friend, and people who are not Rotarians will see it as well. I want to be sure that all of them also understand the meaning of this pin.
A REVOLUTION IN THE TYPES OF ROTARY CLUBS IS UNDERWAY
Gone are the days when all Rotary Clubs met weekly over a meal and attendance was taken and tracked. Over the past decade, flexibility and innovation have become the mantra of Rotary International. And the grassroots have taken up the challenge of creating new ways for clubs to meet the demands of modern society and different cultures.
What Rotary can learn from AOC as symbol
AOC, AOC, AOC: it’s a chant frequently heard throughout the United States since the November mid-term election. For those not of the USA, who do not follow American politics, AOC stands for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. On January 3, 2019, she became the U.S. Representative for New York's 14th congressional district and at the age of 29, the youngest woman ever to serve in the United States Congress.
Rotary Adventures in Agriculture 2018 Another Success for Dryden Students
Cole Ford and Ashley Armit, two students from Dryden High School, attended the 2018 Rotary Adventures in Agriculture Program in Regina organised by the Rotary Club of Regina Eastview from November 21st - 25th, 2018.
Two Books on Rotary’s Four-Way Test Available at Amazon
Corrine Gregory and Wallis Zbitnew, two North American Rotarians have both written books on Rotary’s take on the golden rule. While the authors bring a different approach to the task of reflecting on how the “Test” can be used in life and work, they have the same goal to use it as a means to develop a more ethical and civilised society.
The Happy, Healthy Rotarian
Are Rotarians happier and healthier than most people in society? Although I could find no article which definitively answers that question, there is plenty of evidence from research that volunteering in a community through an organisation makes you happy with the result that you are more likely to be healthier as well. It is especially true if the benefits that accrue are to your community.
Are Global Grants Distorting the Heart of Rotary?
The heart of Rotary is the service club and the community in which it exists. People join first and foremost because they want to give back to their community. Finding fellowship and honing leadership skills are pleasant extras.
How Might a Philosophy Professor Analyse Rotary’s Four-Way Test
At a recent meeting, the Wilmington Rotary Club invited Wilmington College Philosophy Professor Ron Rembert to share his view of Rotary’s Four-Way Test as a philosopher.
The Biggest Problem That No One Talks About
Dr Pat Love speaking to the Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs, Colorado asked Rotarians to identify a malady which is more highly correlated with early morbidity than obesity, smoking and drug abuse and is also correlated with violence, careless acts and substance abuse.
WHY ROTARY'S PEACE INITIATIVE IS NEEDED MORE THAN EVER: AN INFOGRAPHIC
Researchers at the European Centre for Development Policy Management in a report arguing that while “the nature of conflict and violence is changing and old tools and approaches need rejuvenation, funding for peace-building, while increasing, actually remains low.” Worse, researchers say, support for such efforts is vulnerable to sudden domestic policy shifts inside donor states. “The current geopolitical flux will profoundly affect political support to peace-building,” E.C.D.P.M. researchers worry.
About
We the 4 is a blog on Rotary International, its clubs, districts, and Rotarians. It is a component of the Rotary Club of Dryden’s website where Rotarians can express opinions or information pieces on Rotary issues or experiences.
Disclaimer
Opinions expressed on The Rotary Club of Dryden’s blog Wethe4 are those of the author or authors of the piece. The Rotary Club of Dryden takes no responsibility if any reader misinterprets the opinion of the author or authors to be that of Rotary International, its Zones, Districts or Clubs.
DREAM TEAM MAKING PROGRESS ON DRYDEN ARENA UPGRADE
The Dryden Recreation Extension And Modification (DREAM) Committee has made excellent progress in raising funds for Dryden’s Recreation Centre comprised of two arenas, swimming pool and recreation facility.
An Idea from Saskatoon on What to do with Dryden’s Brownfields
Do you know what a brownfield is? The Merriman Webster dictionary defines it as “a tract of land that has been developed for industrial purposes, polluted, and then abandoned..” Cambridge English lumps together “interstitial spaces, brownfields, disused industrial estate, railway lines and stations, abandoned ports, and plots in ruins as unproductive areas within the economic structure of the city which could potentially be used for temporary activities.
Recent Posts
DRYDEN ROTARY RADIO BINGO PROFITS PASS THE TWO MILLION MARK
With Dryden Rotary’s most recent announcement of the approval of another $53,000 in grants to local and area organizations The Rotary Club of Dryden has breached the 2-million-dollar mark in grants.
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NEXT DRCF MEETING TO REVIEW GRANT REQUESTS IS NOVEMBER 2020.
The Dryden Rotary Charity Foundation is now accepting applications for its next round of grants. The deadline for the summer/fall applications is basically November 1st as the Foundation’s directors meet that month to review and approve the applications.
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It’s Time to Melt the “Frozen Middle” and create a “River of Hope”
The issue of climate change and the melting of the polar caps is everywhere at this moment in history. However, according to one former Rotary International director Rotary has its ice cap. Rather than being found at either end of Rotary’s linear structure, it is according to the director found in the middle of its structure or to use a quote from a comment on FaceBook the “Frozen middle”.
Dryden High School’s “Four Directions” Program Doubles Indigenous Student’s Graduation Rate
In the book All Our Relations: Finding the Path Forward, Tanya Talaga, explores the alarming rise of youth suicide in Indigenous communities in Canada, with a special emphasis on North Western Ontario. Part of that story is grounded in the abysmal history of Indigenous education from the late 19th C, through the 20th C until today.
Shine for ShelterBox Dinner Raises Nearly $4000 for Emergency Disaster Relief Agency
Seventy patrons from Dryden and North Western Ontario, attended a Shine for ShelterBox fundraiser at The Centre on the evening of January 30, 2019. ShelterBox is an emergency disaster relief agency which provides emergency shelter and tools for families robbed of their homes by disaster or conflict.
Rainbow Alliance Dryden supports LGBTQ2S+ community in the area
Representatives Amanda Nisula and Meghan Winters of the Rainbow Alliance Dryden (RAD) spoke on how they support Dryden and area’s LGBTQ2S+ community.
2019 Dryden Rotary On-line Auction Set for April 8 -15
Preparation has begun at the Dryden Rotary Club for the 2019 rendition of our Online Rotary Auction.
Proposal Made to Club to Start Livestreaming as a Means to Grow Membership
Club member, John Borst, editor of the club's website, shared a presentation he put together titled “Live Streaming: Its time has Arrived.”
Dryden Hunter, the “Real Deal”
Dryden hunter and entrepreneur, Marc Mcnay, owner of the Real Deal shared the story of his rise to prominence as a promoter of wildlife hunting.
Let’s learn to keep it SIMPLE in Rotary design!
Each year, no doubt at significant expense, Rotary creates a Presidential Theme and a logo to accompany it. Most, thank goodness, are immediately forgettable.
Let’s learn to keep it SIMPLE in Rotary design!
Each year, no doubt at significant expense, Rotary creates a Presidential Theme and a logo to accompany it. Most, thank goodness, are immediately forgettable.
Volunteers Needed for Programs at Patricia Gardens
“We are getting older and will eventually need many of the services provided by Patricia Region Senior Services Inc.” Joy Auren, the new Volunteer and Community Engagement Planner at Patricia Gardens, told Dryden Rotarians at their meeting on Wednesday.
Club President Peter Summarises Accomplishments at Mid-point in his Term
As we approach the mid-point of this Rotary year, it is time to reflect on the achievements and activities our club has been part of, both locally and areas farther afield. It seems like an eternity since our annual fish fry at the Flying Club when Past-President Ed and his Executive turned over the mantle of responsibility to the incoming group.
Horses at the Heart of ‘Horseshoe Connections’ Wellness Learning Program
“Why Horses?” is the most frequent question Joyce and Meagan Gardner get asked when they describe what they do at Horseshoe Connections, an Equine-Assisted Learning Ranch.
Viherjoki and Graver tie for First Place in the 2018 Dryden Rotary Ian Nixon Memorial Public Speaking Contest
This year two very confident young women from St. Joseph School tied for First Place in the Dryden Rotary Ian Nixon Memorial Public Speaking Contest. They are Kaitlin Viherjoki and Kira Graver. Both girls are in Grade 8.
McRotary’s Farm Grows in Ignace
Who knew! The Mary Berglund Health Centre’s (MBHC) Community Garden has grown to include animals and redubbed McRotary’s Farm in honour of our club's support of its gardens and health project.
Remembrance, The Legion and Imagining War
Ted Mitchell, a Dryden High School Teacher, and a member of the Oxdrift Legion ask Rotarians to “try to remember or imagine the world of a military person during war”.
Patricia Region Tourist Council Creates Interactive Digitized Version of their Famous Fishing Map
Graham MacKenzie, the recently appointed Manager of the region’s sole tourism marketing association, the Patricia Region Tourist Council (PRTC) spoke to Dryden Rotary on the current state of the organisation.
Nutrition on Weekends Pilot Program Offered at St. Joseph's School
The research is clear that a hungry child is at a clear disadvantage compared to a well feed child when it comes to school-based learning. Hence many jurisdictions have a breakfast program.
There are a few children, however, whose level of food security is such that they may not be getting enough food at home on the weekends.
Club learns about 2018 Rotary Adventures in Human Rights Program
Rtn. Cynthia Palermo and student Samantha Meek, one of two DHS students, spoke to the club about the Rotary Adventures in Human Rights program they attended in the summer of 2018. Payton Zilkans also attended, however, was not available for the presentation.
Museum Curator Promotes Current Travelling Exhibit on Medical Records
Bethany Waite, the curator of the Dryden and District Museum, has been in Dryden since 2017, right after completing an internship in Fort Frances during 2015-16
Dryden Rotary Club Donates 15K To Furnish New Hoshizaki House
The Dryden Rotary Club is helping the reopened Hoshizaki House to furnish its new building.
Dryden Rotary 2018 Awards Night a celebration of our best Young Piano Students, Outstanding Community Volunteers and Club’s Paul Harris Fellows.
Each year The Rotary Club of Dryden holds a special awards evening. The event occurs at The Centre with a dinner after which we move to the venues performance seats for the awards ceremony.
Local Chiropractor Neil McLeod shares his story with club members
Neil McLeod, Northwestern Ontario born shared his vocational journey to becoming a chiropractor.
Exchange Student Lindsay Coles shares the story of her year in Belgium
Dressed in her souvenier studded red blazer former DHS student Lindsay Cole shared highlights of her year in Belgium with Dryden Rotary.
Council makes progress on multiple fronts says, Mayor
Mayor Greg Wilson provided the Club with an update on the “state of the City of Dryden.”
Ollerhead, Lutheran Parish Mission director briefs Rotarians on Haiti Initiative
Terry Ollerhead of Dryden’s Lutheran Parish provided a brief update on their work in Haiti.
How to be ‘FireSmart’ if you live in a high-risk wildfire zone
Malcolm Robertson, a local MNR officer, spoke on FireSmart a program about living with and managing for wildfire on our landscape and property.
And Your Name Is?
Here is what happened when District Governor Elaine Thompson, met Elaine Thompson Rotarian extraordinaire of the Rotary Club of Dryden.