To adapt, as laid out in Rotary’s Action Plan, we must occasionally step out of our comfort zone and try something new. Here are two examples of clubs that adapted — one with heart and one through critical thinking and strategy.
The Rotary Club of Chandigarh Mid Town, India, led with heart earlier this year. To engage members and grow membership, Club President Nitin Kapur personally called every former member of the club and invited them to a gathering billed as an alumni meetup.
Eight former members attended, and the results were stupendous. The visitors had a chance to connect once more — not only with current members but with the sense of camaraderie and belonging that membership gave them. By the end of the evening, the club welcomed six of the former members back into the Rotary family.
Club President Kapur showed courage when he reached out to the alumni. Not only did he adapt and try something new but he had the strength of character to show the club’s alumni how much they still meant to the family of Rotary. That bravery paid off.
People want to feel needed and appreciated. People want to feel that they belong. And they might never feel that way if we don’t have the courage to tell them.
Meanwhile, the Rotary Club of Seoul-Hansoo, Korea, has been experimenting with different club models to great effect. Over the past four years, Seoul-Hansoo has created and maintained four satellite clubs — a service club, an interest-based club for musicians, a cause-based club that mentors professionals, and a club for college students.
These satellite clubs are part of a five-year plan the Seoul-Hansoo club implemented to increase membership through innovation.
What’s the secret to founding and maintaining so many satellite clubs? Membership between Seoul-Hansoo and its satellite clubs is fluid and synergistic. Many members of the satellite clubs attend the sponsor club’s meetings. And many of the sponsor club’s members participate in the satellite clubs.
Additionally, the focus of each satellite club is no accident. Each one appeals to different interests of people in the sponsor club and in the community, attracting existing and potential members. This is an excellent strategy to both retain and attract members because it offers flexibility. If someone is interested in joining but they can’t make it to the sponsor club’s meetings, they have plenty of options to choose from.
These are just two examples of how we can adapt with our hearts and minds. Every club is different, so I encourage you to reach out to members of your club and of the community around you. Ask them about the club experience and what you can do to improve.
Talk to enough people and you might find ways that you can adapt and spark The Magic of Rotary in your club.
Rotary Theme for December
We believe good health care is everyone’s right. Yet 400 million people in the world can’t afford or don’t have access to basic health care.
Disease results in misery, pain, and poverty for millions of people worldwide. That’s why treating and preventing disease is so important to us. We lead efforts both large and small. We set up temporary clinics, blood donation centers, and training facilities in underserved communities struggling with outbreaks and health care access. We design and build infrastructure that allows doctors, patients, and governments to work together.
Our members combat diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and polio. Prevention is important, which is why we also focus on health education and bringing people routine hearing, vision, and dental care.
HOW ROTARY MAKES HELP HAPPEN
We educate and equip communities to stop the spread of life-threatening diseases. Rotary members have hundreds of health projects underway around the world at any given time.
OUR IMPACT ON DISEASE
The Rotary Foundation is changing the world by providing grants for projects and activities around the globe and in your own backyard.
Rotary makes amazing things happen, like:
Providing clean water: Rotary has worked with partners to provide more than 80 percent of Ghana’s people with clean water to fight Guinea worm disease.
Reducing HIV infection: In Liberia, Rotary members are helping women get tested for HIV early in their pregnancies. They used prenatal care to reduce new HIV infections in children by 95 percent over two years.
Ending polio: Rotary members have played a key role in bringing the world to the brink of polio eradication. Their efforts have not only ended polio in 122 countries but also created a system for tackling myriad other health priorities, such as Ebola.
Volunteering in the Community
ETS Stuff A Bus
Rotarians and Rotaractors joined forces to help unload the donated food from the ETS buses. This year the Edmonton Transit Service celebrated it's 30th annual Stuff a Bus campaign to collect non-perishable food and monetary donations for Edmonton's Food Bank in partnership with Save-On-Foods.
Since 1995, the ETS Stuff a Bus campaign has collected over 601,050 kilograms of food and $515,000 in cash donations to help feed Edmontonians in need. This campaign also supports the Strathcona Food Bank (with Strathcona County Transit) and the Parkland Food Bank in Spruce Grove.
Salvation Army Christmas Kettles
Thanks to our Edmonton West volunteers for continuing our tradition of supporting the Salvation Army Christmas kettle Campaign. It is a great opportunity to spend time with fellow Rotarians, ring some bells and spread Christmas Cheer. And of course help raise funds for a very worthy cause.
What is the Christmas Kettle Campaign?
The Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign is a fundraising effort that occurs each year during the Christmas season. Kettles are found in 2,000 locations across Canada and are an opportunity for the public to donate whatever funds they can to support the work of The Salvation Army during the Christmas season and throughout the year.
What happens to the money raised?
For too many Canadians, the necessities of life needed for basic human dignity are out of reach. Poverty is the root cause that puts dignity out of reach for millions of Canadians, making access to everyday needs, like food, clothing and shelter, difficult.
Funds raised through donations made at Christmas kettles, together with other sources of funds, help provide direct, compassionate, hands-on service to over 1.9 million people each year in Canada, restoring hope and dignity to those who might otherwise remain invisible in society.
Edmonton Food Bank
Volunteers from Edmonton West and the MacEwan University Health Centre joined forces to make sure clients that use the Food Bank receive festive hampers to brighten their holidays.
Project Amigo
Here are two letters from our sponsor student, Cristian Alexander:
Hello dear sponsor Bruce and members of the Rotary Club of Edmonton West.
To start my letter to you, I would like to thank you again for supporting me with my studies. My great dream and goal is to be a good professional, for that, both you and the members of the club can be sure that I will give my maximum effort to achieve great results and above all take advantage of these great benefits provided by you to me and my academic education.
To continue with my experience, in these last few days I have had
moments full of joy doing social service to fulfill my commitments to Proyecto Amigo. In my academic education I feel that I am doing very well. I would also like to tell you that soon our first flag honors ceremony will be held. My group and I feel very nervous for fear that something will not go well, but I am clear that it is part of the process, since the one who does not fail does not win, but the one who fails and tries things again and again.
At school, I took a workshop that I really like, it's about cooking, but it's called Food Preservation and Industrialization (CÍA), and in that club I've already learned to make a variety of sweets and delicious dishes. Personally, I had no idea how they were made, as a family I feel very comfortable that my parents and my sister are giving me all the support, both morally, economically, emotionally, and also in a certain way
academically.
I say goodbye in advance, without further ado for the moment, thank you for having the availability to read this brief letter, I wholeheartedly hope that in the next few months you are in good health. I hope to write to you again very soon to be able to share new anecdotes from my life. Again, thank you very much for reading my letter and my best wishes for you, success in all your projects.
A big hug from me, Cristian Alexander.
Dear Sponsor Bruce Hobin and Members of the Rotary Club of Edmonton West
I want to begin this letter by expressing my sincere gratitude for the support you have given me throughout my academic journey. Your influence in my life has been instrumental in my intellectual and personal growth, and I want to take a moment to reflect on all you have done for me. From the very beginning, you have been a source of motivation and inspiration for me. Your belief in my abilities and your confidence in my ability to learn have given me the strength to keep going, even in the most difficult times. Your emotional support and guidance have helped me overcome obstacles and stay focused on my goals.
I remember when I first started my studies, I was full of doubts and fears. I didn't know if I was making the right decision, and I felt overwhelmed by the amount of work ahead of me. But your support goes beyond academic help. You have taught me to value the importance of education and to appreciate the learning process. You have shown me that education is not just a means to obtain a degree, but a tool to grow as a person and to make a difference in the world.
Your trust in me has given me the strength to keep going and has allowed me to achieve goals I never thought possible. As I move forward in my studies, I want to make sure you know that your support has been fundamental to my success. I could not have
gotten this far without you, and I want to express my sincere gratitude for everything you have done for me. I recently received my first grade from the evaluation, I got a 9.5 average, I felt happy.
I also want to tell you that the month of November is a date that I love so much because on November 2nd in Mexico and in other countries we celebrate the day of the dead where we remember our ancestors, that is, the people who are no longer in this world
where we make offerings. According to our beliefs, on November 2nd, deceased people have a certain degree of freedom, which is why many families make large offerings to commemorate the people who are no longer with us, which is why I like this date so
much.
On behalf of my heart, I thank you for being such special people and for always being there for me. I hope we continue to share incredible moments and grow together in the future.
With love and gratitude.
Cristian Alexander.
Sinkunia Community Development Organization
Sinkunia strives to promote the development of healthy communities where basic human needs are met, equitable opportunities for education and employment exist, and children and families flourish in healthy relationships and vibrant communities.
Most of you have heard of our connection with Sinkunia. You, as members of our Rotary Club, have been invited to attend their end of year celebration on December 27 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM. If you have been fortunate enough to meet some of the people there, you will know how warm and welcoming they are. If you have not, this is an opportunity for you to do so!
The address is 6770 - 129 Ave NW. Entrance to the building is on the North side - go along 129 Ave and turn North on 67 Street, turn right (East) into the alley and there is parking to the North of the building. Alternatively there is often some parking along 67 Street. Entrance to the building is at the far end of the lot up the stairs. When you get there just identify yourself as a member of the Rotary Club of Edmonton West and you will be warmly welcomed - there will likely be members of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Northeast there as well.
I hope you take the opportunity to join in the fun - and there is always good food!
Give me a call if you have any questions.
Yours in Rotary
Al Sanderson
780 721-0964
End Polio Now Hockey Game Fundraiser
Please see the above information for the Oil Kings Hockey Game that is dedicated to PolioPlus. Every ticket earns a $5 donation to EndPolioNow.
World class hockey at a fraction of the price of NHL games.
We had a great time last year so please join us. for this worthy event.
The club that sells the most tickets will get a tour of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Northern Lights Rotaract Fireside Fellowship
We had a great time at Paramount Fines Foods with Bruce, Kate Darryll and Pat Chelsea and Luke and 5 members of Northern Lights Rotaract.
There was many laughs. We had a great meal of Mediterranean food. A wonderful night sharing ideas and mentoring. A couple from Nepal, a member from India and another from Phillipines shares stories from their homeland. Most are attending Concordia University.
We plan on meeting again mid January at La Morenita on 118 the ave. Look forward to seeing many more members attending.
Happy Christmas to All
It is said that the most precious gift you can give is Time. When you give of your time, you give a little of yourself and a part of your life to someone else. Time in the service of others is what defines all Rotarians. This is especially true during the Christmas season.
We all have our own traditions and ways to celebrate this time of year and I think at the heart of all of our celebrations is family and love, gratitude and our wish for Peace in our World.
So, in the spirit of Christmas, I thank you all, for all you have given over the last year to this Club and the wider community. My best wishes to you and your family for a joyous and Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.
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