As the chill of winter gives way to the warmth of spring, we have an opportunity to rejuvenate our commitments to each other and to the communities we serve.
A shining example is the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland in Ontario, whose members support a program providing hot meals to people facing homelessness and food insecurity. On any given evening, the Soup Shack run by Feed Windsor-Essex serves up to 130 people, offering nourishment and a sense of community and care.
Club member and Past District Governor Aruna Koushik got the club involved after seeing a news segment about the Soup Shack.
Koushik collaborated with club members to quickly approve the purchase of a stove, pots, and pans for its new permanent space. Soon after, club members met with the Soup Shack team, toured the new location, and presented a check for 3,000 Canadian dollars (about US$2,000) to support its efforts. They also committed to volunteering their time to prepare and serve meals once the facility is operational.
This exemplifies how Rotary members can come together to address community needs, foster engagement, and make a tangible impact. By identifying opportunities for service and mobilizing resources, we not only support those in need but also strengthen our bonds with each other and with the communities we serve.
As we embrace the renewal that spring offers, let’s take inspiration from the Windsor-Roseland club. Consider these ways to reinvigorate engagement within your club:
Identify emerging needs: Stay attuned to the evolving challenges in your communities. Engage with local organizations to understand where your club’s support can make the most difference.
Mobilize resources quickly: When opportunities arise, act swiftly. Leverage the skills and networks within your club to gather resources, from financial contributions to equipment to volunteer time.
Foster collaboration: Encourage members to take initiative and collaborate on projects. Empowering individuals to lead and contribute their unique talents enhances engagement and drives success.
Commit to ongoing involvement: Beyond initial contributions, pledge continued support.
Regular service keeps members connected and reinforces the club’s commitment to sustained impact.
By embracing these approaches, we can harness the energy of spring to renew our dedication to service and engagement. Let’s seize this season as an opportunity to revitalize our efforts, strengthen our connections, and continue making a positive difference in the world.
This is The Magic of Rotary — transforming lives, inspiring hope, and creating lasting change for the communities we serve.
Rotary Theme for April
Every day mothers risk their lives giving birth and millions of children die each year from treatable, preventable causes.At least 7 million children under the age of five die each year due to malnutrition, poor health care, and inadequate sanitation. To help reduce this rate, Rotary provides immunizations and antibiotics to babies, improve access to essential medical services, and support trained health care providers for mothers and their children.
Rotary International's action plan for 2025, as part of its broader focus on ending polio, includes supporting vaccine delivery and advocating for immunization, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. While there isn't a specific plan for measles, Rotary's experience with polio eradication is being leveraged to facilitate vaccine delivery and address the growing risk of resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles.
Rotarians can help prevent measles by advocating for and distributing vaccines, especially in areas with high case rates or low vaccination coverage. They can also raise awareness about the importance of vaccination and the risks of measles through educational campaigns and community outreach.
Community Service
Grandview Extended Care
Fred and Al met with the Site Director of Grandview and the Manager in charge of facilities for Capital Care, discussing their need for a shed. They found one that will suit their needs, collectively figured out the best location, and have agreed to set it up for them in the gazebo area. The cost of the shed is $900 plus $100 for delivery so all in will be approx $1050.
The benches that were built last year need to be refinished so we will need to buy stain and brushes for those, likely no more than $100.
Our budget allocates $3000 for garden infrastructure at Grandview. Grandview has an AGLC # so we should be able to use our casino funds.
Thanks to our dedicated daytime volunteers for all of their hard work.
Ronald McDonald House Home for Dinner
Preparing a meal can be a stressful task after spending a long and potentially emotional day at the hospital. Thanks to generous volunteers, the House can reduce this stress for families. Through Home for Dinner, a group of volunteers purchases groceries and provides dinner for families staying at the House. Duties include planning, cooking, cleaning up, and packaging any leftovers.
Well done to our Edmonton West volunteers for spending a Sunday afternoon cooking a delicious meal for the families staying at the RMHC Edmonton House. The House is truly a Home away from Home and the staff go above and beyond to support and comfort these families. Their dedication and compassion are truly inspiring.
Thanks to Fred for making his delicious chili. Our next Home for Dinner event is on September 6th.
Edmonton Food Bank
More than ever, as the number of families experiencing food insecurity is soaring, so is the need for us to work together to increase food accessibility for families and individuals who are food-insecure in Edmonton.
Each month, over 22,000 people receive food hampers from Edmonton’s Food Bank. The Food Bank also distributes food for more than 500,000 meals and snacks each month through more than 250 agencies, churches or food depots with which we are affiliated. Approximately 40 percent of clients served are children under 18.
Edmonton West members have been donating their time every couple of months to this worthy organization. Volunteers are often the glue that holds a community together. Volunteering allows you to connect to your community and make it a better place. Even helping out with the smallest tasks can make a real difference to the lives of people and organizations in need. And volunteering is a two-way street: It can benefit you as much as the cause you choose to help.
New Generations
Hay River Youth Centre
The centre offers drop-in programs and services to support the well-being and emotional development of young people in Hay River.
The Youth Centre is open 5 days a week to youth aged 12-18. They offer an after-school program and nightly evening programs including art, cooking, technology and literacy building.
Lorne attended the Hay River Youth Centre during a recent visit to Hay River with the Youth Exchange students. He was informed there was a lack of funding from other sources which resulted in the Centre closing for a number of weeks. Lorne proposed that we donate $1000 to be paid to the Rotary Club of hay River in support of the Hay River Youth Centre. It was approved by the board.
International Service
Zimbabwe Project
Good news! We heard from Patricia that the well has been drilled and they have a water source. Yey!!
Disaster Relief for Jasper
Each year our club budgets $3000 for disaster relief around the world. The Rotary Club of Jasper's Fire Relief Fund still needs help as Jasper continues to recover from the 2024 wildfire. While immediate relief efforts are ongoing, the fund focuses on providing long-term support for community agencies, particularly those involved in mental health, sports, food supply, and social programs.
Jasper is a place many of us hold close to our hearts. The impacts of this wildfire will be long felt, and we approved that the budgeted $3000 will be sent to the Rotary Club of Jasper.
Guatemala Evening
We had a great turnout for our evening meeting that celebrated our eye project in Guatemala. Dr. Jennifer Hodges gave a wonderful presentation of our trip in January.
With the help of Edmonton West volunteers and the amazing team in Guatemala we ran 5 clinics, saw 825 patients, did 41 surgeries, dispensed 237 readers and will send back 153 prescription glasses. Edmonton West is so proud of the work we do in Guatemala and the lives that we change.
Huge thanks go to Ben Doz and Marley for their leadership and dedication. To Lorne for his organization skills and packing abilities!! There have been many volunteers over the years who have been part of the team. Each of your valuable contributions have made this project so successful. You truly embody Rotary's Vision Statement, "Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves."
Membership
Our membership committee has been working tirelessly behind the scenes on increasing membership in our district and our club. There success is evident in the wonderful new members that have joined our club. Well done!!! Here is their report:
Membership Committee Report April 2025
As we are coming towards the end of another Rotary Year, we would like to present to members an overview of the club’s membership (new, active, honourary, and non-participating).
New Members
With the leadership of the Membership Committee, we have had an active year of recruiting and inducting new members. This has been a very diverse group. There are several ways a club can receive new members. The most common way is having a club member sponsor someone as a new member. There is the RI
Membership Leads System which directs someone who is interested in Rotary to our club for consideration, And, there is the ‘cold call’ whereby someone walks in off the street interested in Rotary. We had two such members this year. The club has benefitted from these new members as they have enriched our club meetings and activities. This speaks to the good health of our club and the attractiveness of Rotary principles and its framework for service and charitable giving. It is incumbent upon each of us to make our new members feel welcome and at home, and to ensure they know how Rotary “works” – this goes well beyond our own club committees and initiatives, and extends to understanding such things as RI, District, Foundation, and how ClubRunner operates.
Active Members
What a team we have! We do not have much to say except please keep on what you have been doing – attending weekly meetings, participating in club service, events, helping with the club’s fundraising activities. And, remember to support the Rotary Foundation – one of the world’s great charities As Rotarians, it is
imperative to keep your collective and individual foci on the four-way test and our club goals of service, fellowship, and fun.
Honourary Members
Rotary has a category called Honourary Membership. “Persons who have distinguished themselves by meritorious service in the furtherance of Rotary ideals and those persons considered friends of Rotary for their permanent support of Rotary’s cause may be elected to honourary membership. The term of such membership shall be as determined by the Board of the club in which they hold
membership”. Our last Honourary Member was Jerome Martin, a longtime member of the club who passed away last year. He was a dedicated Rotarian, a club past president and a multiple Paul Harris Fellow. And for those of us who knew him, we will always remember his accompaniment on the piano of O Canada at the beginning of each club meeting. Our club should always be willing to consider who else would be worthy of being recognized with an Honourary Membership.
Non-Participating Members
It is great to be a part of a club with a large roster of members. It is even greater to be a club where each member is an ‘active’ member. Rotary is not simply about paying your annual dues; we want each of you to show up – at club meetings and our various activities whether they be community service, fundraising or social
events. We know that our Edmonton West members are busy, and we know that many of our members enjoy the ability of travel and have other family and community commitments. We have no expectation that members will attend every meeting or participate in every event, and neither does Rotary. This would be nice,
but not realistic. What the club expects is this. Each member should pledge to commit to participate whenever and however they can. If one takes the initiative each year to pay their membership dues, then please make the effort to participate
in Rotary a priority.
In conclusion, the Rotary Club of Edmonton West has the stability of long-time members and the fresh energy of new members. We are a fun-loving group, and we have multiple opportunities for fellowship and service, starting with regular club meetings with great speakers. When you commit to Rotary, please ensure you
are prepared to seek out all of the opportunities that Rotary presents – through our club, District, and RI. There are many ways to be an active Rotarian and nothing would please our incoming club president, Lorne Proctor more than to have our
club members give their most to making our community a better place through their service in Rotary.
Rotary Club of Edmonton West
Membership Committee
Bruce Hobin, Chair
Duarte Berg
Bev Yee
We invite you to join us for the 31st Rotary Integrity Awards. It is an opportunity to honour and celebrate outstanding leaders in our community who have demonstrated Rotary values by their actions and commitments. Eleven Rotary Clubs have nominated 13 adult non-Rotarian Albertans who deserve to be recognized for their integrity as citizens.
The gala will be a truly inspirational event. You can enjoy great company, music and fine dining as we learn about how our local heroes and their contributions are making a difference in our community.
The 2025 Integrity Awards Gala Dinner will be held on Wednesday May 14 at 5:30 pm at the Chateau Louis Conference Centre 11727 Kingsway Avenue NW in Edmonton.
Please send an email to rotaryannie@telus.net and indicate your name and that of your guest.
You can also pay by cheque, Payable to the 'Rotary Club of Edmonton West' and mail to:
Rob Dunseith
9727 145 Street
Edmonton, AB T5N 2X1
Don't miss this truly inspirational evening.
Golf Fundraiser
Thank you to our members on the golf committee who are busy putting this fundraising event together.
We are asking all members to give a helping hand by bringing 2 bottles of wine (or $50) to Lorne for our wine tree.
A harder ask is to find items for the silent and live auction. These auction items contribute a huge amount to the money we make to support our organizations.
We also can't run this event without volunteers. We appreciate any time that you can give to help out on the day of the fundraiser. Please sign up through clubrunner.
.png)
