ELECTION OF CLUB DIRECTORS FOR 2027-2029 - ACTION NEEDED BY CLUB MEMBERS
Five current directors on our club's Board will be ending their two-year terms of office on June 30, 2026, and we are starting the election process to nominate and appoint five new directors. As a first step, we are immediately calling on club members for nominations to be emailed to Brian Martin by November 5th. This could be indicating your own willingness to serve on our board, or nominating someone else. By November 13, the voting process will proceed and the announcement of our new directors will take place at our AGM on November 27, 2026 … an important meeting for club members to attend. Mark it in your calendars now!
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NOTEWORTHY …
Our meeting on October 23rd was virtual only, on Zoom, and we had an excellent turnout! Two items to relay:
O Canada - Crista showed and played this wonderful version of our national anthem by the group Walk off the Earth and suggests you watch it!
Land Acknowledgements - Crista highlighted a fabulous website called Native-Land.ca where you can enter information about yourself and what you value, and the site creates a personalized Land Acknowledgement. Try it out for yourself - it's remarkable. The site is led by an Indigenous group. (Thank you, Marguerite, for bringing this site to our attention.)
Polio flag raising - see the details on our home page about our Rotary flag raising at City Hall on October 21 to mark World Polio Day. Another successful event.
Friday, November 6, 2026 - our club's annual Remembrance Day meeting will start at 12 noon and run until 1:45pm. This year, our guest speaker will be Andrea Moyer, a Guelph teacher (and Reading Buddy friend of Rotary) who has educated thousands of young students about Remembrance Day through her extensive efforts in arranging extensive learning activities and school assemblies for 25+years. She will be joined by Alex Fitzgerald-Black, the Executive Director of the Juno Beach Canada Association. This will be a very special meeting that we hope all Rotarians will attend, to which you will also bring friends and family. Sign up HERE.
Monday, November 9, 2026 at 7pm- our club's annual New Member Orientation Wine & Cheese Meetingat the offices of Intrigue Media. Sign up HERE.
Tuesday, November 10, 2026 at 3pm- the official opening of the Wyndham House foster care home and unveiling of our club's tribute to Margaret Trainor at the new “Suffolk Care Collaborative” at 74 Suffolk Street W. This includes a wall mural and plaque honouring Margaret, as well as recognition of our club's support for the Sensory Room and Study Corners. There will be some speeches, light refreshments, and a tour of this space. Please RSVP if you plan to attend so that Wyndham House can account for space, food and accommodations. Click here to RSVP: fill in one RSVP form per person attending.
Wednesday November 18, 2026 - Canada vs. Scotland Rotary Curling! The visiting Rotary Scotland Curling Team faces off against the Rotary Canada Curling Team at the Guelph Curling Club, 816 Woolwich Street, Guelph. The tournament is from 10am - 12noon, followed by a $25 lunch at the Curling Club. All fans are welcome and encouraged to attend!
Saturday, November 21, 2026 - Rotary Leadership Institute training. The Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) returns on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at University of Guelph (University Centre) and you're invited to be part of this dynamic day of learning, growth, and fellowship. Whether you're just beginning or advancing through RLI levels 1, 2, or 3, this day long interactive experience will expand your Rotary knowledge, sharpen your leadership skills, and connect you with passionate members from across District 7080. Cost is $75 per person to cover the location and meal expenses. It's an excellent investment in your Rotary journey!
Friday, November 27, 2026 - our club's Annual General Meeting. An important meeting for all club members to attend.
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REMINDERS
Vulnerable Sector Police Checks and Declarations for club members … have you submitted yours yet? Review our club's police check policy and forms submission process HERE. If you have questions, email our Club Safety Officer, Ian Blain. SafePractices@rotaryguelph.ca
The Rotary Winter Clothing Drive run by our friends at the Rotary Club of Guelph Trillium (aka The Wednesday Morning Club) is in progress until October 31, 2026. See details HERE.
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OUR PROGRAM ON OCTOBER 23rd, 2026
Our guest speaker Vanessa Chris, a highly experienced journalist and corporate communications expert, authentically shared her personal experience of how AI derailed her career – a story that gave us pause for thought as many of us ponder the current and future impact of AI on work and livelihoods.
Vanessa described how AI is reshaping organizational communications, and the ethics of building a better society through technology.
Seeking a new way to live her purpose and drive positive change, Vanessa has surprisingly found a way … using AI itself!
Her online agency called h2h content agency includes a new tool called Astoria to help impact-driven organizations tell their important stories in a human-centred way.
Following a successful pilot program with a significant Guelph charity, Vanessa is looking to further test and enhance the Astoria program with at least five more organizations on a “pay what you can” model to prove its efficacy. Interested parties can reach Vanessa at this link or by email at vanessa@h2hcontent.com.
Buddy friend of Rotary) who has educated thousands of young students about Remembrance Day through her extensive efforts in arranging extensive learning activities and school assemblies for 25+years. She will be joined by Alex Fitzgerald-Black, the Executive Director of the Juno Beach Canada Association. This will be a very special meeting that we hope all Rotarians will attend, to which you will also bring friends and family. 
