Rotary is at its best when we foster a sense of inclusion and belonging in our clubs. In fact, I would go so far as to say that belonging is The Magic of Rotary itself.
With a focus on inclusivity and belonging, it is easier to be united in a common purpose. When we are committed to one another and focused on our goals, we are most effective.
Rotary’s Action Plan can help. The Action Plan comes with tools you can use to collect feedback, assess your club’s strengths and weaknesses, and address challenges.
The world is changing, and our clubs can’t afford to stand still. But the changes we make need to be consistent and strategic — building on one another toward a greater vision. The Action Plan can help you work toward that vision and create effective change within your club. Following the Action Plan and addressing suggestions from the community will go a long way to fostering the sense of belonging we want all Rotary members to feel in their clubs.
That’s why expanding our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is so important. Committing ourselves to each other’s well-being is the first step to expanding our reach, allowing us to spread Positive Peace in these troubled times.
Peacebuilding is one of our top priorities, and one of the most effective ways we can build peace is with our Rotary Peace Fellowships, through which peace and development professionals learn how to prevent and end conflict.
We offer the fellowships through our Rotary Peace Centers at leading universities around the globe, where more than 1,800 Rotary Peace Fellows have graduated. And thanks to a $15.5 million gift from the Otto and Fran Walter Foundation, we can continue supporting peacebuilders in more regions with the next peace center at Bahçeşehir University in Istanbul.
Opening another peace center is a monumental achievement, and it is my great honor to invite you to celebrate at next year’s Rotary Presidential Peace Conference at the Istanbul center. The three-day conference 20-22 February will highlight the many ways our family of Rotary advances peacebuilding. Registration for the conference is officially open. I hope to see you there.
The 2025 Rotary Presidential Peace Conference has great potential for our peacebuilding efforts — but only if we have your support.
The truth is, we’re not going to bring peace to the world, end polio, or grow membership by waving a wand and saying some funny words. It’s up to you. You create the magic with every project completed, every dollar donated, and every new member inducted.
I love my Rotary family and I know you do too. That’s why I know that together, we can make every club and district simply irresistible. This year, let us change the world by embracing The Magic of Rotary.
Rotary Monthly Theme
Rotary makes high-quality health care available to vulnerable mothers and children so they can live longer and grow stronger.
We expand access to quality care, so mothers and children everywhere can have the same opportunities for a healthy future. An estimated 5.9 million children under the age of five die each year because of malnutrition, inadequate health care, and poor sanitation — all of which can be prevented.
Rotary provides education, immunizations, birth kits, and mobile health clinics. Women are taught how to prevent mother-to-infant HIV transmission, how to breast-feed, and how to protect themselves and their children from disease.
Rotary makes amazing things happen, like:
Mobile prenatal clinics
Haiti has the highest maternal and infant mortality rate of any country in the western hemisphere. Rotary provided a fully equipped medical Jeep to volunteers and midwives to reach mothers and children in remote areas.
Cancer screening
Rotarians provided a mobile cancer screening unit and awareness trainings around Chennai, India, where there is a high mortality rate of women with breast and cervical cancer due to late diagnosis.
Preventing injuries and deaths
Rotary members launched a $3 million, five-year pilot to save lives of mothers and children during home deliveries in Nigeria. Since 2005, they’ve also repaired 1,500 obstetric fistulas — 500 more than their initial goal — restoring dignity and hope to vulnerable mothers.
Edmonton West Community Service
Sinkunia Cultural Heritage Festival
Lorne, Karen, Al and Darryll represented our Edmonton West Club and Ross and Brenda Tyson were there representing the North East Club. Both Clubs have done a lot of work and donated many hours to Sinkunia and we were acknowledged several times for our support.
There were people from Kenya, Sudan, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Syria, South Africa, Cameroon, and Afghanistan to name a few. There with numerous speeches, many words of appreciation for living in Canada while still embracing the cultures of their ancestors countries of origin.
The Festival included a small petting zoo, bouncy castle and entertainment ranging from impromptu dancing to kids of various ages singing and dancing. Most definitely the highlight was three Zulu warriors performing several dances portraying various hunting stories.
While rain delayed the start, it did not dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd which included a local MP and City Representatives, as well as local community residents. The food was excellent and plentiful as always, with quite a variety and enough to feed an army! Great way to a spend an afternoon! You are encouraged to attend next year!
Thank you so much for having me at your changeover meeting last month. I am really looking forward to continue working with you and the club this Rotary year!
Apologies for my tardiness in getting this to you and the club, but as promised, I have attached our formal invite, ticket purchase link and our gofundme for those members who are unable to attend but would still like to support us in some way. If you wouldn't mind dispersing the invites and information to members that would be so greatly appreciated! We of course are also looking for silent auction items so if anyone is interested in donating this way instead, please ask them to contact me directly and I would be happy to discuss with them!
To reiterate our event for those who may have missed it, we are hosting a Mexican Fiesta Fundraiser, where we will serve amazing Mexican food prepared by a local chef, great music to keep the party going, many intriguing silent auction items and a 50/50 for everyone to enjoy. Oh, and I can't forget to mention, we will be serving an extra taste of Mexico with Mexican beer and margaritas (this event is 18+)! We hope you are all as excited as we are!
Looking forward to seeing you and the club members at our event in September! And congratulations once again Darryll on your presidency this year!
All the best,
Chelsea Letwin
Northern Lights Rotaract President
Fellowship Dinners
In the past our club organized Fellowship Dinners for our members and partners. The pandemic put a stop to these and President Darryll would like to get this going again.
Fellowship Dinners are designed to provide an opportunity for Club members and spouses/companions to meet other Club members in an informal, social, small group setting.
All members of our club are encouraged to join in and enjoy this wonderful program of fellowship and information exchange. For those who would like to take part, 6 people will be paired together and typically one member will Host one month and appear as Guest for two months. The program involves three Saturday evenings a year. One Saturday every 3 months. The meal choice is up to the host and is by no means meant to be a gourmet meal!!! Fellowship is the most important aspect of the evening!!!!
You can sign up as an individual and don't have to be a couple.
Please let me know if you would like to take part in the Fellowship Dinners.
Cheers,
Annie
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Bruce Hobin
August 8
Bert Andrews
August 16
Wendy Boje
August 16
Spencer Mueller
September 10
Sherry Holmes
September 11
Bev Yee
September 19
Duart Berg
September 21
Spouse Birthdays
Kate Hobin
September 4
Anniversaries
Spencer Mueller
Annie
August 5
Joseph Lizotte
Nancy
August 10
Jackie Hobal
Wayne Hobal
August 19
Join Date
Bev Yee
August 14, 2023
1 year
Annie Mueller
August 16, 2010
14 years
Vic Rudkowski
September 15, 2014
10 years
Duart Berg
September 16, 2013
11 years
Membership
We are so pleased to welcome a new member to the Edmonton West Family, sponsored by Jackie Hobal.
Jennifer Pascoe, MA
Jennifer was born and raised in Edmonton, except for a short
stint in Toronto where she worked in community relations for
Lululemon before the company went public.
Along with Her husband Matt (a fairly recent blended family)
they are raising 4 young teens. She tells me she spends a lot of
time driving to dance, hockey, soccer and a cheerleading from
the stands. When she is not Running in the river valley she is doing yoga – her personal passions.
With emphasis on values-driven collaboration and community building, Jennifer has dedicated her career to working in public relations, communications, marketing, and stakeholder
engagement, with a focus on strategy development alongside integrated and inclusive leadership. She has developed a reputation as a trusted leader, accomplished strategist, and positive change agent, with a commitment to roles and organizations that make an impact on the community and
the various stakeholders they serve.
In addition to her senior leadership and communications
roles, Jennifer has taught various courses in professional communications, public relations, and project management at MacEwan University. Through her community work and volunteerism, she is also dedicated to teaching and mentoring next-generation leaders.
Jennifer joins Athabasca University as Vice-President of University Relations from her most recent role as associate vice-president of strategic communications for the University of Alberta,
where her team of 80 professionals was responsible for internal and executive communications, media relations, editorial strategy and external positioning, crisis communications and issues
management, as well as communications in support of government and community relations, fundraising, and alumni engagement across the U of A’s 3 colleges, 18 faculties, and various
administrative portfolios.
She holds an undergraduate degree in art history and museum studies as well as a post-graduate diploma in public relations. She completed her master’s degree in communications and
technology with a research focus on exploring how and why scientists use social media in support of knowledge mobilization and knowledge translation to communicate the impact of
research and teaching innovation.
Welcome to Rotary Jennifer.
Edmonton West Golf Fundraiser
Our annual Golf Fundraiser was a huge success despite the wet and windy weather. We are so grateful to all 144 golfers that came out to support the event.
Many thanks to all of the volunteers who arrived at Cougar Creek at the crack of dawn to prepare for the days activities, and continued to help throughout the day. I hope I haven't missed anyone!
Lorne Proctor
Amanda Proctor
Al Sanderson
Ingrid Neitsch
Annie Mueller
Spencer Mueller
Nicole Gibbens
Karen Gibbens
Rob Dunseith
John Donner
Connie Haukedal
Duart Berg
Marley McGonigle
Jim Johnson
Mike Ryan
Bruce Hobin
Fred Kraft
Darryll White
Vicky Grabb
We are immensely grateful to our sponsors for generously donating funds and supporting our event, and for the companies who entered foursomes. Many of the companies had booths set up at the holes with give-aways and prizes.
The major sponsors were:
NADG
ITC Construction
RBC - Ripley Wealth Management
Hole Sponsors:
Elite Marketing
Highpoint Developments
Harvard Developments
V3 Group of Companies
Fillmore Construction
Dexterra
Southgate Audi
Breycon Construction
Frontline Construction
Edmonton City Centre
Paladin Security
Raymond James
GEC Architecture
Sportcon Glass
Bee-Clean
Clark Builders
McLeod Realty
PosterTech
Master Mechanical
Summit Realty/
Companies that entered foursomes:
Leeswood Construction
PM Signs
City Image Signs
Certified Concrete
Robertson Electrical
Qualico
Delnor Construction
PCL Construction
Muth Electrical
Triumph Construction
Guardian Chemical
Shelby Engineering
Almost all of these companies are contacts of Spencer's and he works with them all in some capacity. He has spent many hours reaching out to people and asking for their support. Without this support we would not be able to hold this event. We are so very grateful to Spencer for his commitment and invaluable contributions. You are a superstar!!
Out on the course the golfers braved the elements and were determined to have a good day. We do appreciate their "Dunkirk Spirit".
The silent and live auction is an important part of our fundraiser. Big thanks to Lorne for coordinating it all. For collecting items, for buying extra things himself to add to the auction, for organizing all of the bid sheets and hauling everything out to the course. It's a lot of work!! Many of our members donated items and wine for the auction....many thanks to you!! The auction itself is always a little hectic, so thank you to all that helped to make it run smoothly.
Running an event like this is a team sport!! Thank you to everyone who made this event a success. Volunteers are special. We appreciate you all and everything you do!
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