Cyndy Forsyth, Paul Dredge, Abby Tailor & Nida Ansari
Messages this week from our Club President, Tracey Curtis
Hello Rotarians. Another week is behind us, and we are another week closer to vaccinations for all, to improve our lives. Stay strong. Please remember to reach out to each other, and as a special request, please also reach out to NEWER club members, some of whom have joined us during COVID times and have not yet had the opportunity to experience an in-person meeting at the ICC!
Despite the current restrictions, there are still a LOT of activities going on, but before this week's announcements ...
Rick had another perfect pick of O Canada for this week, featuring talented young performers from "Central Peel Regional Strings". Watch and listen again here.
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Many happy returns to:
Hal Jackson - March 5
Ranjit Singh - March 6
Judith Martin - March 7
Kevin Thompson - March 7
Barb Holmes - March 10
Congratulations on these Rotary anniversaries:
Braden Lunnen - March 6, 2020 - 1 year
Heather Copland - March 6, 2020 - 1 year
Sharon Ninaber - March 6, 2020 - 1 year
Elaine Beattie - March 11, 2005 - 16 years
Paul Demarco - March 12, 2010 - 11 years
Congratulations on your anniversaries. We are so glad to have you in our club!
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Other Announcements:
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY - MARCH 8
Monday, March 8, is International Women's Day everywhere, and also the celebration of WOMEN OF DISTINCTION in Guelph Wellington. Read more here, get a $29 ticket to attend this event starting at 6pm, and send your personal congratulations to:
The Rotary Club of Guelph will be a "vendor" at the online marketplace for Women of Distinction, to attract new members. Look for us there!
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FINDING THE BALANCE DURING COVID-19 - MARCH 9
Register now for the next webinar. With a focus on how Covid is affecting youth, Anne-Marie Zajdlik, Helen Fishburn and Marva Wisdom will chat with Dr. Joanna Henderson, Executive Director of Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario, as well as Justin Wisdom, a young entrepreneur. Register here.
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FIRESIDES ARE COMING SOON!
We want to hear opinions and ideas from our RCOG members. You should already have received an email offering ten different meeting dates to choose from. Sign up online here, or email Terrie Jarvis and say which Fireside you'd like to attend. Each session is online and runs from 7-9pm. Couldn't be easier! Attending a Fireside chat is a great opportunity for fellowship, getting to know other members, and learning more about our club. ALL members should aim to attend a session.
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THE NEXT ROTARY PAINT NIGHT - MARCH 21 - 'DREAMING OF SPRING'
More and more people are loving Ben McCarl's online art sessions. The last paint night had over 50 people participating, mostly from Guelph but also from other parts of Canada and the US. All are welcome. It's a free event, with donations welcomed for the Rotary-inspired Integrated Youth Services Network helping youth in Wellington County and Guelph. DONATE TO ROTARY HERE and select 2021 Paint Night so we can forward donations to IYSN. Your donation, whatever the size, is a nice way to say 'thank you' to our Paint Night volunteers.
On March 21, starting at 6pm on Zoom, Ben will provide step-by-step instructions to paint this delightful subject ... a sweet giraffe that is 'Dreaming of Spring'. Read more about our upcoming Paint Night here and REGISTER HERE. Allow yourself enough time to get your own supplies to join the fun by painting from home.
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SHELLDALE FUNDRAISER ON MARCH 17 🍀
Michele Richardson, who serves on Shelldale's board, gave a shout-out for their Winter Warm Up fundraiser taking place on Wednesday, March 17, St. Patrick's Day. Details are here. For just $30, you can get an excellent three course Irish meal to enjoy at home. Quantities are limited, so orderhere by March 7th! And if you need help with pickup and delivery, Michele is ready to assist you. Email Michele Richardson.
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"PICK ME UP" FUNDRAISER FROM ROTARY CENTRE WELLINGTON
Someone you know probably needs a pick-me-up, so here's a reminder from our friends at Rotary Centre Wellington for their Spring "PICK ME UP" Bags Fundraiser. For just $25, each bag includes $38 worth of products from local vendors, including handmade soap, handmade scented candle, chocolates and a spring flower. What a treat to give a "pick me up" to someone special, or even yourself! And if you'd like someone to collect your bag/s for you in Fergus on March 13 and bring them back to Guelph, just send Terrie Jarvis an email.
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REMINDER: VIEW AND VOTE ON GUELPH'S ROTARY FOREST VIDEO
Our talented and dedicated Carolyn Weatherson has created this marvelous 70-second video and entered it in a Rotary International contest! The more votes our video gets, the better the chance of our club winning a prize. Read more details on our website here. Please spread the word: Vote! Vote! Vote!
Our club's 29th annual Canada Day celebration for Guelph is in active preparation phase but unfortunately, it cannot be held "In The Park" due to COVID. The committee is hard at work exploring many creative ideas. Stay tuned. Better still, ask Canada Day Committee chair Matt Webster how you can help!
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NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION SESSION HELD ON "THE NUTS & BOLTS OF ROTARY"
On Monday, March 1, thirteen of our newer club members attended an introductory webinar hosted by our longstanding Membership Secretary, Tom Funk, and presented by our longstanding member, Randy Seager. The webinar focused on membership in our own club, the Rotary Club of Guelph, and it was a fabulous learning experience! Wow. Such a lot of work to prepare this session, and so well presented. Thank you, Tom and Randy!
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ROTARY EXECUTIVE-ELECT TRAINING IS UNDER WAY
Mahmud Hassain is attending intensive PETS training (President Elect Training Seminars) in readiness for taking over as our Rotary Club of Guelph President on July 1, 2021.
Tracey Curtis is also attending many sessions to prepare for taking over from Darlene Carpenter as Assistant District Governor for our local Guelph Wellington cluster of seven clubs, also from July 1, 2021. Do you know our seven GW clubs? See the good overview here.
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If you're happy and you know it, contribute your Happy Bucks on our club's GiveSome pages here. There are four topics to donate to.
The Integrated Youth Services Network of Wellington County & Guelph - An Update
by Cyndy Forsyth, Paul Dredge, Abby Tailor and Nida Ansari
Rotarians are rightfully proud of this visionary program inspired and helped through our club to support local youth aged 12-26 at seven physical 'hubs' linked together digitally, and serving both
the rural areas of Wellington County as well as Guelph.
As fast as we direct lofty and heartfelt accolades towards the amazing IYSN leader and director, our club member Cyndy Moffat Forsyth, she pushes back and absolutely insists on praising everyone ELSE for its success! In her words, "I am just the catalyst." And that is perhaps the 'secret sauce' that is turning this ambitious vision into reality and getting so many separate parties to work so well TOGETHER. Every part is critical and every role appreciated.
At today's meeting, Cyndy provided a brief update about the current IYSN developments but reserved most of the time for two youth workers to explain their involvement and passion for this program.
It is now only about two and a half years since the seeds were planted for today's IYSN which makes the rate of progress truly impressive - in spite of Covid-19! In short, the three rural locations in Wellington County are already well on their way:
In Centre Wellington - Fergus: the B-Hive youth centre run by Big Brother Big Sisters is already open, and another 6,000 square foot space in the Skyline Community Hub is on track to open in June 2021.
In Wellington North - Palmerston: the Minto Mental Health location should open by the end of March 2021.
In East Wellington - Erin: the location is open already
In Guelph:
The University of Guelph space should open in Fall 2021
The Guelph Y will be building on to the front of their premises and that space should open in 2022/2023
Shelldale Family Gateway space should also open in 2022/2023
Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington- Guelph location: the new CMHAWW building planned for Woolwich Street (opposite the cemetery) should 'break ground' very soon and be ready for opening in 2022/2023.
Besides the huge push on IYSN premises, the funding campaign to raise $10 million is also progressing. Momentum is continuing to build, and IYSN has over 75 committed volunteers. Cyndy reports that the need for IYSN is well understood and supported in the community and there is little need to explain the 'why'. Meanwhile, much work is being done to develop youth support programs and protocols. This is where the two youth workers told their stories today.
Abigail Taylor is the IYSN Youth Ambassador Lead. As such, she will be responsible for introducing young people to the three rural hubs in Fergus, Erin and Palmerston, where other Youth Ambassadors are currently being recruited. Based on her personal experience with some struggles as a young person, Abby says she can relate first-hand to the needs of other youth needing and seeking help. She is tremendously enthusiastic about the creation of safe, relaxing spaces in her rural community for young people to hang out. She loves this opportunity of helping others, and has already experienced benefits to herself in the process. Abby is the Youth Citizen of the Year in Wellington County.
Nida Ansari is the IYNS Program Support Coordinator, responsible for developing peer support training programs. Nida is a psychology student in her second year at the University of Guelph, and her work role with IYSN is a much appreciated co-op placement that she is thrilled about. Nida already sounds like a "pro" and is full of energy and ideas. She is the Recipient of the 2019 Rotary Orange and Black Award presented by the Rotary Club of Streetsville.
Animated discussion followed in the Q&A part of the meeting, and concluded with thanks by Paul Dredge for all involved.
(Paul himself is a key player in the IYSN developments, giving himself little credit for his important part! - Editor)
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Upcoming programs
Check our home page for upcoming speakers at our own club and also at other Rotary events. There are some wonderful talks ahead. Invite friends!
OUR FRIDAY CLUB MEETINGS:
Friday, March 12 -we're still finalizing the program for next week, so watch for your Wednesday email from Tom Funk with details. We'll also add it to the Speakers list on our website as soon as we can.
Monday, March 8, is International Women's Day everywhere, and also the celebration of WOMEN OF DISTINCTION in Guelph Wellington. Read more 
Michele Richardson, who serves on Shelldale's board, gave a shout-out for their Winter Warm Up fundraiser taking place on Wednesday, March 17, St. Patrick's Day. Details are 
CANADA DAY 2021 EVENT PLANNING
If you're happy and you know it, contribute your Happy Bucks on our club's GiveSome pages 
Rotarians are rightfully proud of this visionary program inspired and helped through our club to support local youth aged 12-26 at seven physical 'hubs' linked together digitally, and serving both 
Animated discussion followed in the Q&A part of the meeting, and concluded with thanks by Paul Dredge for all involved. 
