SLATE OF OFFICERS FOR 2023-23

President - Sue Storie

President Elect – Mariann Timmers

Secretary - Mariann Timmers

Treasurer - Lynn Coates

Foundation Chair - Rick Storie

Communications Chair - Kitty Bucsko

Service Committee Chair - Bev Andersen

Membership Chair - Sue Storie (hoping to find someone else)

SPEAKERS’ PASSPORT

Wednesday, January 4

Meeting summary, February 1, 2023

If you missed last month’s meeting (February 1), you missed an excellent speaker. The topic Bev Andersen gave an excellent, interesting, and informative presentation on service dogs.

Well done and thank you, Bev!

Enhance Your Club Experience

Recent Rotary research confirms that the club experience is what matters most to our members. Everyone plays a part in making sure that members have a fulfilling, enjoyable experience. When members feel welcomed and included, are given opportunities for personal growth and leadership development, are able to make meaningful connections, and are contributing to service, they are more engaged and more likely to remain active in the club.

Looking after members by showing them comfort and care should be the priority for all club leaders. Knowing the needs of your members and making changes in your club to address those needs creates a more positive environment for all. Rotary offers resources that can help.

▪ Member Interest Survey Getting to know new and prospective members early on is helpful for everyone. Use this survey to learn about their preferences so you can meet their expectations.

▪ Member Satisfaction Survey A satisfied member is an engaged member. And engaged members make clubs vibrant. Distribute this survey regularly to all members in your club and respond to their feedback to empower them to shape the club experience.

▪ Exit Survey Understanding why members leave gives your club the opportunity to address any issues that are causing members to resign.

Being open to change can be challenging, especially for clubs that have well-established ways of doing things. But when members feel heard and understood, they are more likely to feel valued and cared for and to be active in their clubs.

CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY – MARCH 8

International Women’s Day is 8 March, a time to honor the achievements of women around the world and raise awareness of the work that’s still needed to achieve equity.

Join Rotary in celebrating International Women’s Day 2023! Our virtual, multi-day observance seeks to raise awareness about the barriers that women around the world face as professional and local leaders and to build a supportive community to take collective action for change. The events, presented in English, are open to Rotary members and non-members of all genders.

The first event, on 8 March, is a Facebook Live session with Rotary President Jennifer Jones, Vice President Nicki Scott, and guests. Find out more about this free, informative virtual event.

Use #IWD2023 to find other events or post information about your own!

Plan To Join Our Rotary Rock Around The Clock Party

MARCH 24, 2023

The Race to Erase is not a running race! The challenges are a combination of savvy and smarts – no goofy shorts required. On Race day, teams compete to complete the challenges in the fastest time. Everyone gathers together at the start to register before heading out to different locations, and only after they have completed the first challenge, are they give the location of the next one. Watch the video below to learn more.

Click here to view the video that tells us all about this excellent community fund-raiser, co-ordinated by our own Rotary member, Rich Bouchard!

Watch and listen for more to come!

Click here to learn more about the Race to Erase!

The Race to Erase was founded by Scott McKay and Rich Bouchard. They had two connected goals in mind: they wanted to create a fun and creative event for people to take part in, and they wanted it to positively enhance the community. First discussed over a game of golf, both agreed that it would be fun to send teams of four on a road rally fundraiser throughout the community, competing in timed challenges along the way. Due to safety concerns (and a high Insurance price tag), the driving would not be timed, only the actual challenges.

The first Race to Erase was held in October 2006. The Race committee partnered with Sarnia’s Inn of the Good Shepherd for the Race to Erase Hunger. The event was an immediate success with 30 teams participating and more than $38,000 raised. In the second year, the Race to Erase again raised funds for the Inn of the Good Shepherd, but this time the Race was called the Race to Erase Homelessness as the funds went to building the Good Shepherd’s Lodge, a homeless shelter in Sarnia. More recently, the Race has evolved to allow more charities to participate and receive a portion of the funds raised. The Race has also expanded its scope. While the first Race Days were held in Sarnia and London, the Race has recently expanded to include Cambridge, and may soon appear in a number of other communities across Ontario.

The Race remains committed to three core principles: having fun, fundraising and community spotlight. The event is first and foremost intended to be a fun way to spend Race Day with friends. Like a Corporate Challenge on wheels, teams get to drive to different challenges and do things together they wouldn’t normally do, whether that is feeding someone a sundae blindfolded, running through a corn maze or learning a Celtic dance routine. Teams are always laughing as they experience the Race.

It was also always important that this event be tied to fundraising as a way to help positively enhance the community. Each team is asked to raise a minimum of $500, which the committee always believed was reasonable for any team to achieve. All teams are encouraged to raise more than the minimum.

Finally, the Race also works to shine a light on the many great businesses and not-for-profits that our community has to offer. Our goal is to ensure that everyone finishes the race knowing a little more about our community than they did at the start of the day. Each participating challenge works with the organizing committee to create a memorable event that ties into their core message, thus exposing their goals in a fun and unique way.

Announcement re: Rotary District 6330 Governor Nominee Designate 2025-2026

Past District Governor David Elliott, Acting Chair of the Rotary District 6330 Nominating Committee, is pleased to announce that, after reviewing the candidates suggested by clubs and those recruited by the Committee, MIKE HURRY has been selected to become current District Governor Nominee Designate for the Rotary year 2025-2026.

(Other Nominating Committee members included Past District Governors Pat Vogelin, Don Moore, Diane Chantler, and Tony Sheard, plus current District Governor Mike Chaffee and, as observers, current District Governor-Elect Sonja Glass and District Governor-Nominee Katherine Hahn.)

Mike Hurry is a member (Past President 2017-18) of the Rotary Club of Sarnia and has been a Rotarian since May 2002. He currently serves as Assistant Governor for Area 5. He has completed all three levels of the Rotary Leadership Institute and is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and Benefactor and Bequest Society member.

As per Rotary International Bylaws* (Article 12) and per District 6330 Policies and Procedures*, we are sending this notice to inform District 6330 membership of the Nominating Committee’s selection and the start of the challenge period.

After this announcement, for 14 days (until Sunday, 05 March 2023), any club in District 6330 (that has been in operation for at least one year) may challenge this selection by proposing a challenge candidate but only if such challenge candidate was already suggested to the Nominating Committee by that club. Such a challenge must be substantiated by a resolution of the club adopted at a regular meeting of that club and be submitted in writing to the District Governor Mike Chaffee at mikechafee635@gmail.com on or before 05 March 2023.

Barring any such challenges, Mike Hurry will become the District Governor Nominee Designate for the Rotary year 2025-2026 effective Monday, 06 March 2023 (the day after the end of challenge period).

*Note: RI Bylaws and District 6330 Policies and Procedures can be found at the following links:

RI Bylaws – Click here to view.

D6330 Policies – Click here to view.

Why should someone join Rotary? Click here for a short, important video.

Remember our Happy Chats – get to know our club members!

Join the Happy Chats – get to know our club members!

Happy Chats are online now only on Wednesdays.

Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Join your Rotary friends for an informal 30 minute get together.

Chat about “stuff” – and what’s important to you. Let’s get to know our members!

Plan to join our Zoom Meetings! Click here.

Our Every Rotarian, Every Year (EREY) initiative encourages all Rotary club members to contribute at least what they can afford every year to help us reach our goal to support the Rotary Foundation financially each year

One who contributes $100 USD every year is a Sustaining Member. With EREY, we encourage you to contribute an amount you can afford every year.