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Service Above Self

We meet In Person

Fridays at 12:30 PM

Italian Canadian Club

135 Ferguson Street
Guelph, ON N1E 1L4
Canada

Phone:

(519) 821-3863

Email:

info@rotaryguelph.ca

Currently, our club is meeting virtually on Zoom - and it's great!. Everyone welcome. If you would like to join us, email info@rotaryguelph.ca and we will send you the link.

District Site

Bulletins

Venue Map

Dr. Sylvia Whitlock: Rotary's first female president of a Rotary Club

October 16, 2020

Our Rotary Club was honoured to host Dr. Sylvia Whitlock as guest speaker, via Zoom from her home in California. What an entertaining and informative story she told about how women members were finally admitted to Rotary only after it actually became a 'civil rights issue' that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1987. The court ruled that Rotary did not meet the definition of a 'private club' and therefore could not exclude female members. While Rotary International lost its legal battle to remain a 'men's club' it proved fortuitous, as history shows. That same year, Sylvia became Rotary's first ever female president of a Rotary Club, thus breaking the glass ceiling for hundreds of thousands of women who have served in Rotary ever since.

Sylvia also described how she is still a "Rotary Geek" serving humanitarian causes and encouraging absolutely everyone she meets to become Rotarian - as should we all.

Sylvia's personal and engaging story is on this video (36 minutes) where she is introduced by Jennifer Jones. Jennifer (a Canadian!) will become Rotary International's first ever female president in 2022-2023.

Rotary has come a long way since its founding in 1905.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HuYE6IbE4g&feature=youtu.be

The plus in PolioPlus

October 17, 2020

Rotary's involvement with the End Polio campaign began in 1979 with a multi-year project to immunize 6 million children in the Philippines. Since then, along with our global partners, we have helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children against polio in 122 countries. We have helped to reduce polio cases by 99.9 percent worldwide and we won't stop until we end the disease for good.

In 1985, Rotary launched PolioPlus to bring many added benefits to the polio eradication efforts. The “plus” could be providing a hand-operated tricycle for a polio survivor, or providing access to clean water in a community. It might be additional medical treatment, bed nets, or soap. A 2010 study estimates that vitamin A drops given to children at the same time as the polio vaccine have prevented 1.25 million deaths by decreasing susceptibility to infectious diseases.

Rotary Paint Night - Halloween Edition

October 16, 2020

Our virtual paint night last August was so much fun, we’re doing it again on Sunday, October 25 from 6-8pm.

We hope you'll join us with friends to enjoy two hours of stress-free, creative fun … a relaxing and rewarding break in these COVID-secluded times. And each $20 donation will help support Rotary projects, so you'll be doing good while having fun. Charitable tax receipts will be provided.

REGISTER HERE

Duck Race Winners!

October 12, 2020

Many thanks to everyone who purchased ducks to support this Rotary fundraiser.

Adopt-A-Family 2020 Campaign

October 7, 2020

Once again this year, the Rotary Club of Guelph will “Adopt-A-Family” for Christmas, and is asking for the usual generosity of club members and friends to become the Secret Santa for families in need.

Liz Sandals, the club's campaign coordinator, says, "In 2019, our club supported five families, an increase over previous years (two families in 2017, three in 2018). How many families can we support this year? Let's make it a bumper year, because so many families are in need."

Adopt-A-Family is a bit different for 2020,

because of COVID

Gift Cards
Winter Wear
Donate Now

Supporting the environment becomes a new area of Rotary International focus

September 27, 2020

With so much attention paid to COVID since March this year, this exciting announcement made on June 25, 2020 has received little recognition, but it's a big deal. Huge, in fact.

"The Rotary Foundation Trustees and Rotary International Board of Directors have both unanimously approved adding a new area of focus: supporting the environment."

Supporting the environment becomes Rotary's seventh area of focus, which are categories of service activities supported by global grants. It joins:

Peacebuilding and conflict prevention;
Disease prevention and treatment;
Water, sanitation, and hygiene;
Maternal and child health;
Basic education and literacy; and
Community economic development.

Global grant applications for projects will be accepted beginning on 1 July 2021.

Orange Shirt Day, September 30

September 30th is Canada's annual "Orange Shirt Day" in recognition of the harms done by the residential school system. It's a day when all Canadians should tune in and create bridges with each other for reconciliation. It's a day for survivors to be reaffirmed that they matter, as well as the many others who suffered effects. It's a day about self-esteem and well being. WEAR ORANGE on September 30 to show your support.

The date, September 30, was chosen because that was the time of year the trucks and buses would enter Indigenous communities to “collect” the children and deliver them to their harsh new reality of cultural assimilation, abuse, shame and deprivation.

A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

Many Canadians remain poorly informed about the history of residential schools and the generational after-effects, so here is a great chance to learn by attending a 1.5 hour webinar presented by the Rotary Club of Pickering and the Rotary-inspired HIP organization (Honouring Indigenous People). It's on September 30, 2020 from 4pm to 5.30pm. Details and pre-registration are here.

ABOUT ORANGE SHIRT DAY...

Land Acknowledgement

September 11, 2020

A Land or Territorial Acknowledgement is a tradition that has dated back centuries for Indigenous people, but for many non-Indigenous Canadians, officially recognizing the territory or lands we stand on is a fairly new concept. Many Indigenous people say it marks a small but essential step toward reconciliation.

Starting today, our Rotary club meetings will include this Land Acknowledgement statement, the same one used by our Indigenous Awareness Committee and similar to the one read before Guelph City Council meetings.

As we gather, we are reminded that Guelph is situated on treaty land that is steeped in rich indigenous history and has been home to a variety of peoples over the millennia. Today, this area has become home to many First Nations, Métis and Inuit people. As a community, we have a responsibility for the stewardship of the land on which we live and work. Today, we acknowledge the historic Mississaugas of the Credit, the First Nation people who were the treaty signatories of the territory on which we are meeting.

Lobsterfest 2020 reminder

LOBSTERFEST 2020 IS ALMOST HERE - AND OUR ONLINE AUCTION IS "LIVE"

HAVE YOUR PLACED YOUR MEAL ORDERS YET?

We need to finalize the orders by September 19 for pickup at the ICC on September 26. You can order or even change your order for meals HERE and pay by cheque or eTransfer. Or use the attached order form (below) or call Rosemary at 519-822-4687.

Help us out by ordering soon, and by promoting this opportunity to others.

OUR ONLINE AUCTION RUNS FROM SEPTEMBER 11-19

Check it out right HERE.

Rotarians supporting Cameroon

September 10, 2020

For many years, our club has supported Rotary Global Grants in Cameroon, working in close contact with the Rotary Club of Kumbo. We have formed a strong bond with past president Ibrahim Yaouba of RC Kumbo, who oversees our Rotary projects there and who visited us in Guelph about 15 months ago.

Ibrahim has updated us regarding the desperate humanitarian tragedy in Cameroon's NorthWest region where our projects are located. Local lives continue to be impacted by the effects of continuous displacement, confrontations between the military and non-state armed groups, as well as the threats posed by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Rural hospitals and clinics in Cameroon are bare, dilapidated and totally rundown. Rotary is stepping up to send shipments of medical supplies but help is needed to cover the cost of shipping.

A school named Hectorine

Hectorine Villanovich, wife of our former club member Aldo, passed away on July 22, 2020 after a long illness. Her memory will live on through this couple's tireless Rotarian work in supporting poor communities in Guatemala. In fact, a school will be named after Hectorine.

After relocating from Guelph to Burlington, Aldo joined the Rotary Club of Burlington Lakeshore, and that club is spearheading the next improvements to Hectorine's special school in Guatemala.

Donations are welcomed.

Rotary's Digital Duck Race 2020

September 4, 2020 This story mostly copied from Guelph Today - with thanks!

Guelph’s popular duck race fundraiser has returned in a new format. Although the ducks couldn’t bob towards a finish line before an eager Canada Day crowd this year, they’ll have a "digitial race" online on Thanksgiving. The event and fundraising is being shared by two clubs, the Rotary Club of Guelph-Wellington (the annual duck race organizers) and the Rotary Club of Guelph, as part of celebrating 100 years of Rotary in Guelph.

All proceeds will support local charities in their COVID recovery and relief efforts.

"Got Duck" tickets can be purchased here until the Digital Duck Race on Thanksgiving. They cost $10/each, 6 for $50 or 14 for $100.

The grand prize is a $5,000 shopping spree in Downtown Guelph. Nine secondary prizes include electronics, $500 gift cards, a tool package, beer fridges and a chance to test drive an exotic car. Two early bird prizes of Apple Airpods will be drawn. The “duck race” finale will be on Thanksgiving. Click here for more prize details. The prizes are pretty sweet, thanks to generous donors.

Celebrating Guelph Rotary in hundreds of ways

September 2, 2020

When Rotary reached its centennial in Guelph this year, the Rotary Club of Guelph-Trillium decided to celebrate 100 years of Guelph Rotary in hundreds of ways.

RECOGNIZING VOLUNTEERS x 100

The call went out to nominate local non-Rotarian volunteers who make or have made a difference by helping others with their Service Above Self. 100 volunteers will be selected and recognized over the coming weeks, each one is being thanked during a weekly meetings of the Guelph-Trillium club. Each volunteer will also receive a letter of thanks, a certificate and $100 towards their chosen cause. Nominations are still being accepted. Email info@trilliumrotary.org for more information.

EGGS AND CHEESE x 100

A goal was set to collect and donate 100 dozen eggs and 100 blocks of cheese for the Food Pantry at Chalmers Community Services. Since June, over 249 dozen eggs and 102 blocks of cheese have been collected for the Pantry!

100 cheers for the Rotary Club of Guelph-Trillium. We are so proud of you!

Lobsterfest 2020 - with a difference

LOBSTERFEST IS HAPPENING DIFFERENTLY IN 2020 - AND WE HOPE YOU’LL BE A PART OF IT!

Lobsterfest has been a highlight on the Guelph calendar since 1980, and we’re not letting Covid-19 stop this 40-year legacy … especially not during Rotary Guelph’s centennial year!

While we can’t hold our usual dinner-dance-auction at the ICC, we’ve come up with a Covid Variation, and we need YOU to help make it a success.

DELICIOUS MEALS TO GO: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
OUR LOBSTERFEST ONLINE AUCTION: SEPTEMBER 11-18
HELPING ROTARY HELP OTHERS

We are "This Close" to ending polio in the world!

August 25, 2020

The World Health Organization has officially certified the Africa region to be free of wild poliovirus.

This milestone comes four years after Nigeria — the last polio-endemic country in Africa — recorded its final case of wild polio. It’s a significant step forward in the fight to eradicate polio and protect the world’s children from this paralyzing disease.

Weekly meeting August 21, 2020 Program:
UP CLOSE & PERSONAL WITH STEVE DYCK

Steve Dyck was our guest speaker this week with his Classification Talk which is now known in our club as an Up Close & Personal presentation. Our club loves these opportunities to get to know more about newer members!

Steve joined Rotary in October 2019 with the classification “Solar Energy.” He is the owner of Guelph Solar, a rapidly growing company headquartered in Guelph. Steve was the Green Party candidate in the last Federal Election.

Steve's life story is fascinating, especially as he marvels at the changes that have occurred. What hasn't ever changed is his constant love of people, starting with his family, and living up to his lifelong value for decision-making: Will it be beneficial to all?

Weekly meeting August 14, 2020 Program:
DEVON CLUNIS, WINNIPEG POLICE CHIEF (Retired)

Watch the video recording here.

"This is why I come to Rotary," commented one member during this presentation

This week's well-advertised meeting was attended by over 70 individuals, including many prominent guests. The very high expectations regarding our speaker were easily exceeded by his authentic presence and compelling story. He told about a little boy called Devon Clunis suddenly transplanted from Jamaica to Winnipeg at age 11, with the cultural shock and difficulties that ensued but overcome with help from special individuals in his life. All of which led him to a life of service helping others, and becoming the first Black Police Chief in Canada.

What an uplifting story, and what a message of hope and inspiration about the POWER OF ONE that each of us can be if we just treat others with dignity and simply ask, "HOW CAN I HELP YOU?"

Special tribute this week:

Two of our longstanding members had anniversaries of note: Ron Newton, a Rotarian for 67 years, and Joe Valeriote, a Rotarian for 53 years! Congratulations, and thank you for your lifetime of Service Above Self.

Rotary online painting class a great success

August 7, 2020

When Covid-19 struck in March 2020, and shutdowns suddenly occurred everywhere, even the university closed down, and most students returned home.

However, about 60 international students were stranded at the University of Guelph and could not get home for various reasons. Since then, life has been been difficult for these young students, isolated on campus in Guelph with little to do and far from home.

So how did a bunch of them end up participating in a Rotary Online Painting Class, led by Ben McCarl from the Rotary Club of Guelph, learning to paint this Night Sky scene?

Rotary District Grant to help Food4Kids Guelph

August 13, 2020

A Rotary District Matching Grant of US$8,000 is going to help Food4Kids Guelph with the purchase of grocery gift cards being mailed to families needing help during these Covid times.

All four Rotary Clubs in Guelph are chipping in $1,000 each that will be matched by a Grant from our Rotary District 7080.

Rotary International Grant for Indigenous youth "Water First" internships in Ontario

August 7, 2020

Dianne Dance, Chair of our club's Indigenous Awareness Committee, shared wonderful news at our weekly meeting about successful grant applications that will enable three initiatives to proceed within Ontario.

This is so inspiring!

Rotary International will get its first woman President in 2022-23

August 6, 2020

It is exciting news that Rotary International's president for 2022-23 will be a woman, and from Canada!

Read the full story about Jennifer Jones below.

Weekly meeting August 7, 2020 Program:
THE HONOURABLE BOB RAE

Watch the video recording here.

Today, the Rotary Club of Guelph welcomed as our guest speaker The Honourable Bob Rae, Order of Canada, former Premier of Ontario, professor, lawyer, international mediator, author and the newly-appointed Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations. What a tremendous opportunity to interact with one of Canada’s most outstanding political and intellectual leaders.

Despite his well-earned fame, Bob seemed just like one of us, with warm chit-chat and appreciative humility. He spoke of his great admiration for Rotary, what it stands for, and for Rotarians being action-oriented people that get things done for the greater good. This matched Bob's theme throughout his presentation: that what we SAY is not enough; it's more important what we DO and HOW we do it.

He went on to address the global challenge of Covid-19, giving us an insight into one his top priorities representing Canada at the UN. As a lifelong activist in Human Rights, we could not have a better Canadian representing all of us in his new role.

Weekly meeting July 31, 2020 Program:
BACK TO SCHOOL ISSUES & PLANS

This week's program featured a panel discussion by four esteemed educators, all members of our Rotary Club, discussing plans for BACK TO SCHOOL. We heard from Martha Rogers, Bonnie Evans, Barb Holmes and Marguerite Campbell.

This topic is on everyone's minds these days, being mindful about the pandemic whilst balancing the urgent need for schooling. The timing of today's discussion today was perfect, coming right after yesterday's announcement of the Back To School guidelines announced by the Government of Ontario.

For such a contentious topic, the presentation ended on a positive note of optimism, with deep appreciation for the commitment of our educators in helping to steer along this difficult path.

Our centennial exhibit at the Guelph Civic Museum

July 28, 2020

NEWSFLASH:

ROTARY'S CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION WILL REMAIN ON DISPLAY UNTIL NOVEMBER 1, 2020

On July 24, the Guelph Civic Museum finally re-opened to visitors after a long closure due to Covid-19, but you can't just drop in. You have to book a "timed admission ticket" online through their website. No worries - their booking system is pretty easy.

Terrie Jarvis said, "I was very keen to visit the museum to see the Rotary Guelph Centennial exhibit created by our talented Rotarian, Ben McCarl." As a member of the Centennial Committee, Ben had brought both his creative and engineering skills to this wonderful Rotary display at the museum.

Here are some pictures of our exhibit ... but seeing it in real-life is even better.

18 remarkable years of the 1*2*3 GO! program

July 31, 2020

Today our club paid warm tribute to Jean Truex, wife of our club member Paul Truex, for her 18 years of dedicated service in creating and running the Rotary-supported pre-school and early literacy program in Guelph called 1*2*3 GO!

Brian Martin, chair of our club's Literacy & Numeracy Committee for two years, reported that the 1*2*3 GO! program would not be resuming when schools reopen next September because the program's operating space at the Tytler Public School is no longer available due to renovations.

THANK YOU, Jean, on behalf of the hundreds of children whose lives you have improved.

Weekly meeting July 24, 2020
Program: STAYING TRUE TO YOUR BRAND IN TIMES OF CHANGE

A huge advantage of meeting via Zoom is that members can join from wherever they are. Today, President Tracey called in on her cell phone from her holiday while sitting under a shady tree somewhere north of here, and it worked perfectly!

Rotary Centennial Book - now available

July 27, 2020

Here is news we have all been waiting for.

Our club’s Centennial Book (1920-2020) is finally available in print, and it is fantastic.

Congratulations to Tom Funk and Justin Funk for producing this incredible record of Rotary's remarkable history in Guelph. It’s beautifully assembled, very informative and totally inspiring.

This is a great opportunity to relive many great Rotary memories. Every Rotarian should have a copy on his/her coffee table.

New Member: Welcome Lucy Mutharia

July 17, 2020

This week, our Rotary Club gained another awesome member, Dr. Lucy Mutharia, who was warmly introduced by Noma Vales.

Lucy, we are all looking forward to getting to know you.

Club updates from our weekly meeting July 17, 2020

Another week, and another wonderful Rotary meeting with plenty of information for club members, including:

Centennial book
New member induction - Lucy Mutharia
Rotaract Club presentation
Fellowship activities - Call A Rotarian, and Bread Bar Socials
Fundraising
Rotary Local Lager
ZOOM tips from our Marketing Team

New Member: Welcome Felix Arndt

July 3, 2020

Tom Funk introduced new member Felix Arndt who came to Guelph from Berlin, Germany and is the John F Wood Chair in Entrepreneurship in the Department of Management, in the Gordon S. Lang, School of Business and Economics at the University of Guelph. Felix also holds positions as a Research Fellow at the Center for Business and Sports of the Stockholm School of Economics, Sweden, and is a Visiting Professor at the University of Agder, Norway. He has purchased a home in Guelph and plans to be getting married soon. Felix is active in sports and gymnastics, and has been a coach and international judge for Dragon Boat racing.

Welcome, Felix, as the newest member of the Rotary Club of Guelph.

Snippets Friday July 3rd 2020

NEW ROTARY PRESIDENT TRACEY CURTIS

New Rotary President Tracey Curtis welcomed Rotarians to her inaugural meeting of the Club on July 3, 2020. She reminded everyone that she was wearing the 1957 vintage Rotary medal. Donated by member Ab Moore to Past President Carolyn Weatherson (2019-2020), it is worn as a symbol of office for the new president each year. To open the meeting, Tracey chose the beautiful trumpet music of Oh Canada by William Leathers of Mississauga, a 2020 graduate of the Juilliard School (of music) in New York City. (see You Tube for more details).

Our amazing 2019-2020 Rotary year

On Friday, June 26, 2020, the Rotary Club of Guelph's outgoing president, Carolyn Weatherson, summarised our club's amazing 2019-2020 year. It's a must-read!

"Fellow Rotarians, this year you put your heart and soul into incredible projects that are uplifting our community, our country, and vulnerable people far beyond our borders. What all of you have accomplished this year is nothing short of inspiring. It has been such an honour and a privilege to serve you during this historic year.

Please raise your glasses for a toast: TO TEAMWORK!"

Handing over the club president medallion

The Rotary Club of Guelph has a presidential tradition, based on a 1950s Paul Harris Fellow medallion in our club archives.

Watch this short video as outgoing president Carolyn Weatherson speaks of handing over this medallion to incoming president Tracey Curtis.

Video link

This medallion's history is worth reading.

Gary Tatum Youth Awards 2020

June 2020

Our club extends warm congratulations to the following 2020 winners of the Gary Tatum Rotary Achievement Award:

Myles Ansley, representing St. John Bosco Catholic High School
George Sun, representing Bishop Macdonell Catholic High School
Tiara Russell, representing Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School
Jessica McCabe and Derek Whalen, sharing and representing St. James Catholic High School

The Public school award winners will be announced at their fall commencement ceremonies.

Rotary Program: David Akin - Chief Political Correspondent for Global News

We have a very special program lined up for this Friday.

Rotary Program: Jim Rooney - Guelph Sports

Jim Rooney chatted with us on the theme of his podcast

Teammates - Our Individual and Collective Journey Through Life.

Rotary Program: Shakiba Shayani - Guelph Chamber of Commerce

We were pleased to welcome Guelph Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Shakiba Shayani to our Club Zoom meeting. Shakiba shared her insights as her team and its members work to support our community during this pandemic, and beyond.

Covid-19 closures impact on Rotary events

March 29, 2020

President Carolyn Weatherson announces postponement of our Rotary Forest Day and Rotary Centennial Gala (April 25) and cancellation of Rotary Canada Day in the Park 2020 (June 30 / July 1), due to Covid-19. Link

Club Members - Share your HAPPY BUCKS here

March 20, 2020

While our weekly club meetings are suspended due to COVID-19 closures, President Carolyn has a great idea: let's stay in touch by sharing our HAPPY BUCKS here. In true Rotary style, many of us are finding things to be grateful for in these trying times!

Rotary Forest Tree Planting Day

Posted by Carolyn Weatherson on Feb 11, 2020

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, The Rotary Forest Tree-Planting Event is being postponed to a date yet to be determined.
We look forward to planting with you when it is safe to do so.
Thank you all for your years of support and dedication to the environment.

Join us on April 25th for our final planting to complete the Rotary Forest. The Rotary Forest project began in 2007, thanks to the vision of a team of Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Guelph in partnership with a team from the GRCA. The project's ultimate goal is to increase the canopy cover in the City of Guelph and surrounding area by planting 60,000 trees by 2020 and create an exciting hub for the community.

Park at Lakeside Church - 7654 Conservation Road, Guelph. A shuttle will take you to the site!

Rain or shine! Come for one hour, or stay for five!
Wear your boots and learn how to plant a tree while having fun with your neighbours, family and friends. Shovels provided!

Each year, we call on hundreds of environmentally-minded citizens to help us transform a 40-hectare area, across from the Guelph Lake Nature Centre, into a wonderful new resource for our community, with trees that will clean our air, our water, and link nearby forest habitat to create a corridor for wildlife. This vision of a healthy community for generations to come is celebrating its 13^th and final year in 2020

Each year we plant a wide variety of trees with a special grove or area. One year we planted a white pine grove, another a walnut grove, we created a beautiful wildflower meadow for pollinators, for Canada's sesquicentennial we even planted a sugar maple grove in the shape of a giant maple leaf! Last year we planted a birch grove. We plant evergreens as well as a variety of deciduous trees each year like oaks, maples, and hickories as well as shrub species like chokeberry, ninebark and serviceberry which increase diversity and provide additional food sources for birds and wildlife.

Each tree can sequester 1 ton of carbon dioxide by the time it reaches 40 years old. The Rotary Forest's 60,000 trees over their lifespan will be equivalent to taking 201,120 cars off the road.

This incredible project has been recognized by Rotary International as an exceptional community project. We were honoured to have Elizabeth May, Mike Schreiner and David Suzuki join us in 2018 to plant special disease-resistant elm trees grown by the University of Guelph.

Rotary Guelph's Centennial Project

Posted on Feb 10, 2020

While celebrating our past, we look to the future and look to the sky.

Our centennial project has four components and will leave a lasting legacy in Guelph.

Planetarium

Learn about the sky in the inflatable Planetarium at the new Guelph Lake Nature Centre. An awe-inspiring education tool for all ages!

Observatory

Look to the sky from a new observatory at Guelph Lake. With a retractable roof and three powerful telescopes, it is an ideal location for stargazing, where everyone can broaden their minds and be inspired by the wonder of the universe.

Year Round Trails

Access the Observatory and Nature Centre using the new, fully accessible, year round Trails that link to Guelph’s trail network, running from Victoria Road around Guelph Lake and through the Rotary Forest.

Nature Centre

Rotary also contributed toward the Grand River Conservation authority’s new Nature Centre, a gathering place for park visitors to access information and experience the Planetarium. The Centre will have modern learning spaces for over 20,000 young people who will benefit each year from hands on programs.

The Rotary Club of Guelph's Centennial Project is delivered with the support of:

Ken Hammill, Guelph Icon and Rotarian

February 7, 2020

Yesterday, we received the sad news that Ken Hammill has passed away. He was 91. His legacy and impact on our Guelph community is immeasurable, with widespread agreement that "Ken Hammill made Guelph a better place." He was also a longstanding Rotarian at our club, leaving his valued imprint on our organization, too.

Amongst his many, many achievements, Ken was a founding member of The Guelph Community Foundation so it was fitting for Chris Willard, our fellow Rotarian and current Executive Director of The Foundation, to provide a moving, personal tribute to the memory of Ken at our Rotary Club meeting.

Click below to read Chris Willard's tribute. Also see the wonderful tributes to Ken in Guelph Today, the Guelph Mercury Tribune, and the Mayor's Statement.

Rotary Club of Guelph's 100 year history, in 30 minutes

January 31, 2020

Our fellow Rotarian, Tom Funk, has spent the past two years scouring our club archives and gathering information on various topics to produce a book about our club's first 100 years in Guelph. The book will be available for purchase in the next few months.

This week at Rotary, Tom provided a fantastic 30-minute overview about our club's long history and amazing contributions. You could have heard a pin drop, and everyone left the meeting with smiles and a warm sense of Rotary pride.

Tom's presentation was inspiring, prompting comments such as "If I wasn't already a Rotarian, I would definitely want to become one after hearing all that!"

Lucky Iron Fish

January 24, 2020

One of the great things about our Club is the incredible quality of the inspiring speakers each week!

University of Guelph alumni, Gavin Armstrong, developed a product for malnourished people in developing nations that is helping 100's of thousands here at home too: The Lucky Iron Fish. I use it! You can get it at Danby here in Guelph. When you buy one they automatically give one to someone in need somewhere in the world.

Rotary Club of Guelph supports the Guelph Lake Nature Centre

Rotary Guelph supports Beyond Borders Charity Gala 2020

January 18, 2020

The four Rotary Clubs of Guelph proudly came together as a Diamond Sponsor of the Beyond Borders Charity Gala for 2020. With Rotary celebrating 100 years in Guelph, it was a great opportunity to showcase Rotary in the Guelph community.

Beyond Borders is a unique one-semester program offered to Grade 12 students in Guelph. The program focuses on leadership development, business, math, and global development and sustainability. There is a strong emphasis on team-building, skill development, and experiential learning. This inspiring program is led each year by teacher Mike Parsons, in the Upper Grand District School Board.

This year, around 50 students participated in the Beyond Borders program, culminating with their Charity Gala at the River Run Centre on Saturday evening, January 18, 2020. All 750 show tickets were sold out, and they also had a wonderful silent auction with over 100 items, plus exceptional food treats for guests in the lobby.

The students are only given about 6 weeks to prepare this huge Charity Gala event, and each year, the students do an amazing job. It's hard to imagine how each gala could possibly be better than the one before, but somehow they continue to raise the bar with their amazing effort and talent. The 2020 gala was called "Illuminate: Be The Light". And wow - these students shone in a big way, raising $114,500 for charity!

Why I love Rotary, by Carolyn Weatherson

Watch this video put together by President Carolyn for an interesting perspective on membership.

Centennial Pins now available

Celebrate 100 years of Service above Self by wearing the new Centennial Anniversary Pin.

Lapel pins will be available to purchase ($10 per pin) at the club meeting January 3 and subsequent meetings.

Wear the Centennial Pin and show the community you are a proud member of Rotary in Guelph.

Yes! There is a Santa Claus

Five local families will wake up Christmas morning and know for a fact that the spirit of Santa Claus is alive and well, thanks to the generosity of the Rotary Club of Guelph members. Our club members donated $3,000 and with a corporate donation from Walmart of $1,000, 8 adults and 11 children will have presents under the tree for Christmas morning. These families are referred to the Adopt-A-Family program by social workers and community agencies who will also deliver the presents to the families.

The gifts we purchased for these families were largely items they NEED such as food gift cards, winter clothing, diapers, car seats, boots, bedding, etc. However we were able to also buy gifts on their WANT list, like lego, chromebooks, wagons, LOL dolls, electronic games, learning toys, jewellery kits, markers and art supplies.

A sincere Thanks and WAY TO GO from the Children and Youth Committee

Pictured above are Courtney McGillivray, Store Manager, Walmart, Guelph Stone Road store and on right is Rotarian Dianne Dance.

Doc Doc

No one is going to win a prize for identifying the licence plates on a vehicle that is parked near 135 Ferguson Street in Guelph most Fridays. These special plates read DOC DOC and belong to non-other than Rotarian Dr. C. Harold “Hal” Jackson, a member of the Rotary Club of Guelph who holds two PhD degrees (Doc Doc) from the University of Western Ontario, now corporately branded as Western University since 2012.

Tracey Curtis

I will never forget my introduction to Rotary. I was in Lesotho with Bracelet of Hope, along with Jim Wadleigh and Noma Vales who were representing Rotary. I saw the impact of delivering computers to schools and of gardens planted in the foster homes and of chickens laying eggs for our foster children… and I got it… this was all because of Rotary! I saw for myself the power of being a Rotarian and serving those who need it most. Now I, too, am proud to call myself a Rotarian for life and am further honoured and so humbled to serve as your 2020/2021 President. Thank you for your confidence in me!

I never imagined becoming your President and certainly not in the middle of a world-wide pandemic. Regardless of what life has in store for us, some of it outside our control, I promise to make our Rotary year meaningful, both for members and for those we serve. For that, I humbly ask for your support … because I will need it.

This year I want to focus on the health of our club, our members and our families. Each have different needs to be met which we must understand to be able to tackle them head-on. In this, we can each serve in whatever capacity we are able.

Here we are in 2020 and the world seems upside down. Who would have thought that the pressing issues that confront us at the writing of this introduction, including the fight for racial equality and the fight against a deadly pandemic across the world, would be our most significant challenges? Sadly, it is like a throw-back to fighting the polio epidemic or the AIDS crisis and fighting for equality in the 1950’s and 60’s. We may find that we are even better equipped to confront both.

Our world today needs Rotarians more than ever – strong, caring, empathetic, service-focused. We as Rotarians are uniquely positioned as a truly global organization, to elevate discussion and dialogue toward better understanding of each other. Our theme for the 2020 – 2021 Rotary year, Rotary Opens Opportunities, is timely. It serves as our 2020 call to action. Our 1.2 million members around the world are a literal United Nations of ethnicities, working together for the greater good.

I am grateful to be your President on our journey together where we can individually and collectively commit to opening opportunities for all.