Rotary International President, Francesco Arezzo (Rotary Club of Ragusa, Italy) District Governor Jeff Ferweda, (Rotary Club of Genessee Valley, MI) Club President, Kurtis Lush
District website: https://rotary6330.org/ Club website: https://www.rotarysarnia.com/ Club Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rotaryclubofsarniaontario
The Calendar below shows Rotary’s 2025-26 monthly themes.
ROTARY CALENDAR and THEMES
Month
July
August
Theme
Maternal and Child Health
Membership and New Club Development
September Basic Education and Literacy
October Community Economic Development
November The Rotary Foundation
December Disease Prevention and Treatment
January Vocational Service
February Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution
March Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
April Environment
May Youth Service
June Rotary Fellowships
LEARN ABOUT ROTARY CLUB OF SARNIA
Take the time to view a short video on Rotary’s Areas of Focus – Click here!
Click here to view a short and fun video of our RI President
MONTH OF NOVEMBER
Rotary’s Focus on The Rotary Foundation (TRF)
CANVASSING AND COLLECTION OF ROTARY AUCTION PRIZES CONTINUES…
ROTARY AUCTION GOES LIVE
November 10 to 16
CLUB SOUP-KITCHEN MEAL AT THE INN
Friday, December 5
Rotary Anthem
Right click here to open the link and listen to the Rotary Anthem!
Click here for We are the World.
THE ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT
NOVEMBER MESSAGE 2025
Let us give with gratitude
This November, as we celebrate The Rotary Foundation, I invite you to consider not only what we give but why we give. The Foundation is more than a fund for projects. It is the beating heart of our promise that service, rooted in trust and friendship, can create lasting change.
Our Action Plan calls us to increase our impact, and the Foundation is how we make this vision real. Since 1988, Rotary and our partners have immunized nearly 3 billion children against polio. We have committed more than $2.6 billion to this cause, and last year alone we directed $146 million toward the final push for eradication. These numbers are significant, but the true impact is not in statistics – it is in the lives of children who will never again fear polio. It is in the hope restored to families and the peace built in communities once defined by disease.
But polio is only one story among many. Each year, Rotary Peace Centers train new generations of leaders who will transform conflict into dialogue and division into understanding. In 2023-24, nearly 100 new fellows began their studies, continuing a legacy of more than 1,800 peacebuilders from over 140 countries. When we invest in them, we are planting seeds of peace that will bear fruit for decades to come.
The Foundation also touches lives through district and global grants, supporting projects large and small. A clean water well for a rural community, scholarships for young professionals, medical care in the wake of disaster – these are not temporary gestures, but steps toward dignity, resilience, and opportunity. This is how Rotary service becomes lasting impact. And when natural disasters strike, our Foundation allows Rotary to act quickly with disaster response grants.
Our Foundation is not about what we can do alone but what we can do together. Each contribution, no matter its size, joins with others to create a collective act of faith in humanity and in the future.
The last mile of any great journey is always the hardest. We see this in our final steps toward ending polio, in our work for peace, and in every project that seeks to lift people out of despair. Yet every time we give, we declare that our work will continue regardless of the challenge.
This November, let us give with gratitude, with joy, and with hope. Through our Foundation, we Unite for Good, and in doing so, we leave behind not only projects but a legacy of peace, trust, and Service Above Self.
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION TRUSTEE CHAIR
Undeniable impact
MESSAGE NOVEMBER 2025
Many of you will remember the theme I chose as RI president in 202021. Rotary Opens Opportunities. I remain passionate about these opportunities, and I know you do too.
As we celebrate Rotary Foundation Month, let’s reflect on the many ways the Foundation makes the world better. Rotary is extraordinary, and the Foundation amplifies that impact.
I encourage all of you – in Rotary and Rotaract clubs – to discover this for yourselves. Go beyond the local level and engage with The Rotary Foundation globally. You can partner with clubs to boost literacy in Guatemala or fight malaria in Zambia. You can make a difference with clean water initiatives reaching millions or maternal health programs saving lives across continents.
It doesn’t stop there. Through major impact projects like Programs of Scale, we’re pursuing bold initiatives that push Rotary’s potential to create lasting change further. Greater impact and greater visibility: this is our path forward.
Many of you have asked about the status of Rotary’s biggest impact project in history – our long-term commitment to polio eradication. Recently, RI President Francesco Arezzo, International PolioPlus Committee Chair Michael McGovern, and I met with Prime Minister Shehbar Sharif and the army leadership of Pakistan. Everyone is fully committed to eradicating polio once and for all. We were absolutely convinced by the work of Pakistan’s emergency operations centers, where experts plan and coordinate vaccination.
While some governments scale back support for polio eradication, Rotary remains committed to its pledge to raise $50 million again this year. This meeting reaffirmed our unwavering commitment to finishing this historic mission.
What excites me most is seeing how each of us can make a real difference through our Foundation. I urge everyone – especially newcomers to Rotary – to explore these opportunities. Find your passion among our areas of focus and discover projects to support, especially through global grants.
We members fund, sustain, and deliver these projects. That’s why the Foundation consistently earns top ratings from Charity Navigator. If you don’t want to lead a project, you can still be part of the Foundation through annual support.
Our fundraising goal for 2025-26 is an ambitious $500 million. Your gift this month will create countless opportunities.
We have incredible opportunities before us, and the impact we achieve together through The Rotary Foundation is exponential. The proof is undeniable.
HOLGER KNAACK Foundation Trustee Chair, 2025-26
ROTARY’S NOVEMBER FOCUS –THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
The Rotary Foundation is the charitable arm of Rotary International, created in 1917 with a simple but powerful idea: to "do good in the world." Over the years, it has grown into one of the world’s most respected humanitarian foundations, funding projects that bring lasting change to communities in need. Its mission is to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, supporting education, and alleviating poverty.
What makes the Foundation extraordinary is its global reach—Rotarians in every corner of the world contribute to and benefit from its programs, making it a truly international force for good.
One of the Foundation’s greatest hallmarks is its stewardship of resources. Rotary has consistently received top ratings from independent charity evaluators because of its low administrative costs and high impact. Donors know their gifts are put to work in meaningful, measurable ways—from providing clean water and sanitation in remote villages, to establishing literacy programs for children, to funding scholarships for future leaders. And, of course, the Foundation is most famous for leading the decades-long global campaign to eradicate polio.
Together with partners like the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Rotary has helped reduce polio cases by more than 99% worldwide.
What truly makes the Rotary Foundation phenomenal is the way it empowers ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Through district and global grants, clubs are able to transform local ideas into impactful projects, often multiplying their efforts through matching funds. Every dollar given creates ripples that travel across borders and generations.
At its heart, the Foundation is not just about money—it’s about trust, collaboration, and hope. It represents the best of what humanity can achieve when service is placed above self-interest.
ROTARY INSPIRATION
On The Rotary Foundation
• “The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.”
— Rotary International
• “Doing good in the world is not only our mission, it is our legacy.” — Rotary Foundation motto
• Click here to access The Rotary Foundation Canada website.
On Service & Giving
• “What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.”
— Albert Pike (often cited by Rotarians)
• “Every Rotarian is a link in the chain of Rotary service, and every link is essential.”
— Paul Harris, Rotary’s founder
• “The measure of Rotary’s greatness is not in its number of members, but in the impact of its service.” — adapted from Arch Klumph, founder of The Rotary Foundation
On Inspiration & Hope
• “Rotary changes us and those we serve. I believe we can change the world one life at a time.”
— Past RI President Wilfrid Wilkinson (Canadian - President of Rotary International 2007-08)
• “Rotary is not just a club you join—it is an invitation to endless opportunities to serve.”
— Rotary International
PAUL HARRIS SOCIETY
What's the Paul Harris Society?
The Paul Harris Society is the name given to those Rotarians who pledge a $1000 gift annually – every year You may know these committed individuals they wear a "flag" below their Rotary pin that reads "PHS."
One easy way to give at the $1000 level is through Rotary Direct -- sign up and an amount of money you designate is automatically deducted from your account each month. Learn more at www.rotary.org
Members of the Paul Harris Society know that the need never ends and neither should the giving.
D6330 Long-time Paul Harris Society Chair is Rotarian Jamie Pole.
What your giving supports
• Vocational training for teachers establishing an early childhood education center in South Africa
• Water filters, toilets, and hygiene training to prevent fluorosis, diarrhea, and other diseases in India
• A scholarship for a medical professional in Italy to research treatments that minimize mortality rates among premature babies
• Peace-building seminars for 200 teachers and 1,300 students in Uganda
• Treated mosquito nets and medical services that prevent malaria in Mali
• Clean water and sanitation which assists in preventing disease
• Life-saving health care to mothers and children
• Peace and peace building
• Education and literacy
• Economic and community development
In District 6330 we are proud of the generous members in our Paul Harris Society.
We have over 32 of our clubs that now have members in the Paul Harris Society.
If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Paul Harris Society Coordinator, District 6330 – Jamie Pole!
Rotarian Jamie Pole
NEWS & INFORMATION IMPORTANT TO ROTARIANS
In District 6330, Rotary leadership – past, present, future
Above (left to right) PDG Mike Chaffee (2022-2023 - PDG Sonja Glass (2023-2024) –PDG Katherine Hahn (2024-2025) – DG Jeff Ferweda (2025-2026 – DGE Lorna Gunning Fratschko (2026-2027)
Above – DGN Dawn Kennedy (2027-2028)
ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE
Click here to see more photos and read more about Rotary Youth Exchange in D6330.
BUILDING PEACE, ONE YOUNG PERSON AT A TIME!
Exchanges for students ages 15-18 are sponsored by Rotary clubs in more than 100 countries!
District 6330 is proud to participate in the Rotary Youth Exchange Program, which builds peace, one young person at a time.
Students learn a new language, discover another culture, and truly become global citizens.
Exchange students unlock their true potential to:
• Develop lifelong leadership skills
• Learn a new language and culture
• Build lasting friendships with young people from around the world
• Become a global citizen
Click here for the application.
We are currently recruiting students for exchanges that will take place in the 2026-2027 school year.
The Rotarian Minute is a creation of District 1700. Please send any comments or suggestons to laminute1700@gmail.com.
Summary of new polioviruses this week, cases and positive environmental isolates:
• Algeria: one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample
• Angola: one cVDPV2 case
• Lao PDR: one cVDPV1 case
• Nigeria: two cVDPV2 cases and two cVDPV2-positive environmental samples
For details on the 2024 estimates and what they tell us about immunization globally, read the WHO-UNICEF press release and explore the WHO Immunization Data Portal
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) published its Action Plan – a comprehensive roadmap to streamline operations and sustain momentum toward a polio-free world in light of ongoing global reductions in development assistance.
The Action Plan, developed through extensive consultation and grounded in the latest data, sets out how GPEI will focus activities where they will have the greatest impact, making deliberate, sometimes challenging choices to minimize risk, safeguard hard-won gains, and maintain progress toward a polio-free world.
Click here to read the full article More
TIME magazine includes hexavalent vaccines as part of its ‘Best Inventions of 2025’ list
Earlier this year, Senegal and Mauritania became the first two low-income countries to distribute lifesaving hexavalent vaccines. The six-in-one vaccine combines two vaccines currently supplied to low-income countries: a pentavalent vaccine that targets diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, and meningitis, as well as a separate polio vaccine.
Because the hexavalent vaccine simplifies dosing schedules—it involves three injections rather than five spread across two vaccines—more young children will gain protection against polio in particular, according to Gavi, the global health organization that covered the majority of the vaccine’s costs in the two countries.
Hexavalent vaccines have been in use in Europe and the U.S. for 25 and 13 years, respectively. It wasn’t fair that “lower-income countries have had to wait,” says Katy Clark, Gavi senior programme manager. Click here.
From polio survivor to vaccinator in Pakistan
Meet Masood Khan, and his inspiring story, of having polio himself to protecting others from this lifelong disease as a polio vaccinator, in Peshawar.
Rotary End Polio Now ambassador Anne W Strike raises awareness of polio and empower survivors through sport
Read the inspiring story of Anne Wafula Strike, Rotary End Polio Now ambassador, Paralympian and author, who is raising awareness, tackling stigma and empowering survivors through sport, in her native Kenya.
An extensive, visually-driven story in Devex on Madagascar’s successful polio outbreak response.
Please take the time to view this remarkable story – so many photos and videos to tell the story. The chapters include
• A complex virus
• A fusillade of campaigns
• Making it routine
• The long trek
• Falling from the sky
• America’s withdrawal
The poliovirus is complicated. There’s wild polio — still endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan. But variant poliovirus is the most prevalent form globally. It happens when children vaccinated with oral vaccines shed a weakened strain of the virus in their feces, which can sometimes circulate among under-immunized and unimmunized people until it slowly mutates into a form causing paralysis. Click here to read more.
To quell the outbreak, the Malagasy government and its partners launched four polio campaigns in 2023 and three last year — the last in October. About 63% of the population was vaccinated, including adults, as some were paralyzed during the outbreak. Click here to read more
While the campaigns were successful, they didn’t reach everyone.
“We don’t trust the campaigns because the vaccinators are coming from our own community and they aren’t trained health professionals,” she said. Click here to read more.
The winding roads of Ifanadiana district in the eastern region of Madagascar — about a day's drive from Antranolahatra village — cut through rolling mountains dappled with eucalyptus trees and terraced rice fields. Mothers tend to walk with babies in one arm and baskets on their heads. Vendors will sell black strips of vanilla and deep-fried bananas. Small herds of zebu — or humped, horned cattle — are shepherded amid bustling markets. Click here to read more
For over 30 years, the U.S. Agency for International Development has been a leading health donor in Madagascar. But that was brought to a halt under the Trump administration.
But the ghosts of the U.S.’ imprint still linger. Plastered on the walls of health clinics across the country are posters for USAID’s ACCESS program, and community health volunteers still wear clothes with the program’s logo. Click here to read the rest of the story.
Antananarivo – Madagascar has successfully halted the transmission of variant poliovirus type 1, following recommendations from a rigorous, independent Outbreak Response Assessment (OBRA) to declare the outbreak closed. This achievement marks a major milestone in the country’s ongoing efforts towards polio eradication.
The outbreak, which started in 2020, posed a serious public health threat, particularly to under 5 children but also to unvaccinated adults.
In response, the government – through the Emergencies Operations Centre – in collaboration with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), swiftly launched a series of emergency vaccination campaigns. This effort, backed by strong political commitment from the highest levels, including the President and First Lady of Madagascar, successfully reached over 19 million people with life-saving polio vaccines.
As a result, no new detections have been reported since September 2023!
Meeting the criteria for outbreak closure is a major achievement.
For the certification to be met, a country must ensure high population immunity, strong surveillance performance (evidence that no transmission was missed), and at least 12 consecutive months without poliovirus detection (either in humans or environmental – sewage/wastewater).
“The progress made in recent years in the immunization and eradication of polio is a hopeful sign. Today, polio is finally eradicated. Together, we have proved that it is possible to overcome limits and build lasting change. Let’s continue to act, raise awareness and join forces to give every child a healthy future,” said H.E. Mrs. Mialy Rajoelina, The First Lady of Madagascar and immunization ambassador.
At the outbreak’s peak in September 2023, a total of 287 cases had been confirmed, including 45 cases of acute flaccid paralysis and 44 community cases, 198 positive environmental surveillance detections in wastewater.
Key to halting the polio transmission
Key to halting polio transmission in Madagascar was the country’s intensified surveillance system, which enabled swift detection of poliovirus in both human cases and environmental samples. Enhanced case investigation, community engagement, and innovative vaccination strategies, including house-to-house and cross-border immunization efforts, were instrumental in stopping the spread.
Cases were spread across 30 districts in the country’s 13 regions and two paralytic cases were reported in adults in January 2023, which placed the country in a unique position that required innovative responses.
Four large-scale vaccination campaigns were carried out in 2023, enabling Madagascar to reach 95% vaccination coverage – which was pivotal in stopping the transmission and closing the polio outbreak.
“This success demonstrates that with political will, strong partnerships, and community involvement, polio outbreaks can be swiftly controlled. We must now sustain these efforts to prevent any future resurgence,” said Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa.
Health authorities, supported by GAVI, Rotary, UNICEF, WHO and the Gates Foundation, continue to strengthen routine immunization, enhance surveillance, and maintain high-quality outbreak preparedness measures to mitigate the risk of future polio re-emergence, and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
Click here to read the rest of the article.
SUPPORT THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
THE POLIOPLUS SOCIETY
Join the PolioPlus Society in District 6330.
Donations are matched annually 2-to-1 by the Gates Foundation up to US$50 million, generating a potential total of US$150 million toward polio eradication.
Raise awareness in your community by planning events or projects that support the fight against polio.
Visit endpolio.org to find the latest information and tools to help you share the story of our fight against polio and raise support.
Ending this disease forever remains our top humanitarian priority and needs our full commitment.
How can you take action? Donate to End Polio
Visit the PolioPlus Society Facebook Page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/polioplussociety
Click here to view a short video and learn more about GAVI – The Vaccine Alliance. One of the greatest achievements in the history of mankind
INTERNATIONAL DATES TO NOTE
November Rotary’s Focus – The Rotary Foundation
Wednesday, November 5
World Tsunami Awareness Day
Thursday, November 6
International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment
Sunday, November 9 to Saturday, November 15
International Week of Science and Peace
Monday, November 10
World Science Day for Peace and Development
Friday, November 14
World Diabetes Day
Sunday, November 16
International Day for Tolerance (UNESCO)
Tuesday, November 18
World Day for Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence
Wednesday, November 19
World Toilet Day
*Thursday, November 20
World Children’s Day
Tuesday, November 25
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
Click here to learn about World Toilet Day’s projects around the world.
* Statistics from https://worlddiabetesday.org/
Do you need a make-up? missed meetings? To learn about other Rotary clubs?
All Rotarians are encouraged to join local (and other) clubs to learn more about Rotary, get to know other Rotarians, gain a new perspective and appreciation for Rotary and Rotarians. Here is a list of online clubs where you can earn a make-up along with learning a whole lot more about Rotary! Why not visit them all?
• Rotary E-Club of Canada One – Rotary On Demand, Where you want, When you want!
• Rotary Club of One World
• Rotary E-Club of World Peace
Click here to attend this week’s posted meeting of E-Club of Canada One. These meetings are posted online and available 24/7!
Club President for 2025-26 – Kurtis Lush
The hat is ready for our 100th President. The Rotary Club of Sarnia will celebrate 100 years in 2028. The club already has a hat ready for that special President who will lead the club during the celebrations of our 100th year of service to the community of Sarnia. Shown displaying the 100th Presidential Hat are past president, Mark Taylor (#96), immediate past president, Jamie Pole (#97), current president Kurtis Lush (#98) and current vice-president Joe Cebulski (#99), who also is the designated caretaker of the prized (#100) hat until that person is chosen later by the members. Special celebrations and projects will take place during 2028.
Date
Presentation
November 4 Matthew Slotwinski, CEO SLEP (Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership)
November 11 Remembrance Day – no meeting
November 18 TBA
November 25 Allen McKeown, Green Burials
December 2 Rotary Club of Sarnia AGM
December 9 TBA
Affordable Housing - Here’s an article that may be of interest to club members who are working to improve affordable housing in the community. Click here.
NEWS &
IMPORTANT TO CLUB MEMBERS
A HUGE ROTARY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR MUCH-LOVED ROTARIAN!
BILL HOAD TURNED 93 ON OCTOBER 21!
Click here to view the video card played at the Rotary meeting!
Speaker on October 21 – John Cooke, our speaker today at The Rotary Club of Sarnia represented “Bird Friendly Sarnia.”
View their website - https://lambtonwildlife.com/bird-friendly-sarnia/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/birdfriendlysarnia/
Bird populations are rapidly falling across North America and beyond; a major study conducted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology reported that we have lost three billion birds in North America over the last 50 years.
Many of the species are ones that we can observe in our cities and towns, and have fallen victim to multiplying dangers including: habitat loss and degradation due to urban sprawl and development, declines in insect populations, predation by outdoor pets, light pollution, window collision, and disturbance of their nesting or roosting sites.
The time to act is now! A group of local volunteers has formed a Sarnia Bird Team and is working in partnership with Nature Canada to certify Sarnia as a Bird Friendly City.
Certification as a bird-friendly city is a badge of honour. It tells the world that Sarnia is leading on the efforts to reverse bird population declines.
Click the link below to view the PDF document –
Nature Appreciation Areas of Sarnia, Ontario (pdf)
John Cooke and President Kurtis
Presentation of October 28, 2025
Mike Smalls, Landscape Designer, addressed the club on Tuesday, October 28. His message was simple -
Biodiversity is all the different kinds of life you’ll find in one area – the variety of animals, plants, fungi, and even microorganisms that make up our natural world.
Biodiversity—the variety of all living things—keeps ecosystems balanced, provides food, medicine, and clean air and water, and helps nature and humanity adapt to changes and survive environmental challenges..
Gardens that are biodiverse provide interest, texture, colour, fragrance, high carbon sequestering, and a habitat for pollinators. To help mitigate climate change, switching to a biodiverse environment should be our goal. Gardens that are biodiverse do not require watering, or mowing, or pesticides –a win/win for everyone! Thank you, Mike!
Also, Janet Cullen of Forest Fritters Friends sent a note of thanks to the club for the recent donation, along with a brief update on their renovation project.
Janet notes that the windows have been upgraded and the rooms inside are much less “breezy.” She also sent along a photo of the building which sits at 25 King Street West, in Forest. And we are all invited to come visit!
“We are all so grateful for your generosity!”
WHY JOIN ROTARY? WHO NEEDS ROTARY?
This month, we focus on two Rotarians. First Adelle Richards, Member for 15+ Years
How did you get involved with Rotary? Were you invited? By whom? When?
I’ve been a member of the Rotary Club of Sarnia for more than 15 years. I was invited to join by then-Rotarian and good friend Kevin Smith. I didn’t know much about Rotary at the time, but Kevin did a wonderful job explaining the many opportunities for travel, friendship, and business connections. At that time, I was working in the media industry.
What was Rotary like when you first joined, and has it changed much?
When I joined, our membership was predominantly male and senior. We sat at round, clothcovered tables, and lunch was served to us. Each meeting included Rotary news and an engaging speaker. It was a formal, structured, and professional affair — quite different from the more relaxed and inclusive atmosphere we enjoy today.
What has been your participation in Rotary – and what has Rotary contributed to you?
My dream of travelling on international service trips — such as a polio immunization mission — did not happen. Life had other plans. I survived two breast cancer diagnoses in less than a year, which deeply affected my career. During my recovery, I also separated from my husband of six years.
Limited time and income have sometimes made it hard to be as involved as I would like, but I continue to attend weekly meetings and participate wherever I can. I truly enjoy club and community service.
I’ve always volunteered at our annual Pancake Breakfast — wiping tables, serving coffee, collecting garbage, or greeting guests. It doesn’t matter what the job is; what matters is helping where I’m needed.
And yes, I’m known to be a bit of a talker — I quite often have something to say! (Haha!)
What is your best memory or most meaningful Rotary experience?
One of my most memorable Rotary moments came on Remembrance Day, when my younger brother drove from Hamilton so that we could share the story of our father, who served as a Bomb Aimer aboard a Halifax bomber in WWII. His story is remarkable — he was shot down, captured by the Germans, and held as a prisoner of war for 16 months. While imprisoned, he helped dig the tunnels that became known as The Great Escape.
Sharing our father’s story, along with his artifacts, personal belongings, and daily log, was an emotional experience. Fellow members were genuinely moved, and I was proud to honour his memory that day.
As a member of the Sarnia Legion, I’ve also volunteered pinning poppies at community locations. Last year, I suggested that Rotary members help deliver boxes of poppies to area businesses. Four Rotarians volunteered — and enjoyed it so much that this year we’ll once again deliver and pick up boxes for the Sarnia Legion (October 31 and November 12).
Our volunteers this year are Mike Elliott, Mark Taylor, Murray Quinton, Joe Cebulski, Myles Vanni, and Brian Davidson. We will never forget.
Tampon Tuesday
I’m also a lead member of Tampon Tuesday (TT) — a grassroots initiative founded four years ago by six local women. Our goal is to collect and distribute feminine hygiene products to women who may struggle to afford them.
We meet on the first Tuesday of each month at Stokes Inland at 5:00 p.m. Admission is simple — bring menstrual products for donation. I would be delighted if some of the women in our club joined us for these gatherings!
Donations are delivered to The Inn of the Good Shepherd for distribution through their reception and food bank, with monetary contributions eligible for tax receipts. Our TT team uses donated funds to purchase more products, and we also have collection barrels with our logo placed in local businesses.
Our group has even been recognized on the Mayor’s Honour Roll — something we’re all proud of.
Service Above Self.
Why have you maintained your Rotary membership?
I love Rotary for its fellowship and variety of opportunities:
• Speakers – I always enjoy learning new things, especially about our local community.
• Club activities – Pancake Breakfasts, online auctions, and social events bring us together in meaningful ways.
I love meeting new people and helping wherever I can. Rotary’s philosophy of Service Above Self truly shapes how I live.
Do you have any advice for today’s Rotarians?
Today’s Rotarians should continue the good work globally; but more importantly, in my opinion, within our own community — not just by donating money, but by being more hands-on with local groups and organizations. There are many community groups that could use our help — so it’s an ongoing chance to contribute and truly become a Rotarian!
Here’s a suggestion for our club, perhaps, inspired by the United Way Day of Caring or Habitat for Humanity. We could designate one day each year when club members work together on a big project for a local organization — something practical, like painting a room, building a fence, garden prep or weeding, cleaning, and so on.
Organizations could submit their requests, a small committee could review them and then choose the project best suited to our club and members. The club could even provide the necessary materials whenever possible.
Closing. Rotary will always be a part of me — and a part of the community. I’ve met so many wonderful people and learned so much about life, service, and community through my Rotary involvement. With the energy of our younger members, I’m confident we’ll continue to thrive and make an even greater impact close to home.
Rotarian Adelle Richards
Rotarian Johnna Johansen – a little Rotary history
The next Rotarian highlighted this month is our Club Secretary – Johnna. Johnna has given us a lovely outline of her Rotary involvement – and what a full Rotary life Johnna has! Johnna is truly an inspiration for us all!
How did you get involved with Rotary? Were you invited? By whom? When?
I joined the Rotary Club of Sarnia in 2006. I was attending an RWTO (Retired Women Teachers of Ontario) luncheon meeting, and the speaker was Tanya Wolff, a former student I had taught in Grade 6. She was speaking about her recent Polio trip, I think it was to Yemen, and she also spoke about some if the good things Rotarians were doing in the world.
After the lunch, we spoke, and Tanya invited me to a Rotary meeting the following week at the Guildwood Inn. It was a room full of professional people, listening to a speaker and discussing club news. It was a very formal atmosphere. I was invited back for several more weeks before I received my Red Name Badge which I wore at every meeting until I did my classification talk, about 3 months after my first meeting. Thereafter I received my Blue Name Badge
What was Rotary like when you first joined and has it changed much?
I was encouraged to sit at different tables for lunch to meet my fellow Rotarians. At that time, we had placemats that had pictures of all members. This helped in determining who was who. When I arrived at one of my first meetings, I went to a table where several gentlemen were seated and asked if I could join them. The answer was No. I quickly found another table. Apparently the table I had first approached had weekly get-togethers at their lunches and there was no room for anyone else to join their table.
What have you contributed to Rotary and what has Rotary contributed to you?
With Tanya as a mentor, I quickly became immersed in Rotary activities. As an educator, I became chair of the Literacy Committee, and I joined the International Committee. There was also a need for help with Bingos, so I joined the Bingo Committee and became co-chair of that committee with Myles Vanni the following year, positions which we still hold. The Bingos have certainly changed since then and do not require as much time as in the past.
In 2006, I worked on the planning committee for the RWTO Provincial Conference to be held in June 2007 for 200+ members and guests at the Holiday Inn in Sarnia. When Tanya started to move up to the district governorship, she asked me to be her Conference Chair as I had some experience in planning, so I worked with committee members from all the clubs in Area #5 planning for a well-attended District Conference at the Holiday Inn in Sarnia in June 2010.
Meanwhile, I attended annual District Conferences in 2007, 2008, and 2009 to figure out what the expectations were for our conference in 2010.
In 2007, Tanya started a fundraiser called “Rotary Roses just because...” We partnered with a florist (the first year it was Tanya’s store but when she sold it we partnered with another florist). Our members would take orders for a dozen roses, beautifully packed. The florist would order in the roses in bulk, and our club members would sort, prepare and pack the roses in an assembly line fashion on a Sunday morning, ready for pickup or delivery the following day. I took over chairing that committee for the next 9 years and by this time we were selling more than 200 dozen roses.
I joined the District 6330 Team as Literacy Chair for 3 years and was invited to speak about literacy to a number of clubs in our district. After 3 years in that position, I became District Scholarship Chair. During my 3 years in that position, I was able to recruit 2 scholarship recipients who received $25,000 USD each to study topics which aligned with Rotary’s themes at a post graduate level in another country. (Both chose Britain.)
After 3 years here, I became chair of the Alumni Scholarship Committee which lasted for one year.
By 2009 I became a Board Member for The Rotary Club of Sarnia which led to my presidency of the club in 2011-12. By the summer of 2011, our new Rotary Office was in its final stages of readiness. Many Rotarians had spent hours painting the interior walls and ceilings, especially Jamie and Bill H., so that by October we were able to have a lunch meeting with catered sandwiches at the office so everyone could inspect it.
With the help of past presidents, especially Brian, things went quite well as I began my presidency. We did not have much money to spend as we had overextended the previous years so when we did want to do something, much discussion was needed.
In December of 2011, my older brother passed away at age 66 which I took pretty hard, but life must go on. Meanwhile, Jamie Pole was working on making our club a 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club and he succeeded. We became the 18th club in Canada to achieve this status and thanks to Jamie, we are still a 100% Paul Harris Club.
What are your best memories / good feelings about Rotary that you are willing to share with readers?
Also, that year, in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce and the Sarnia-Lambton Workforce Development Board we were able to host the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Honourable David C. Onley, to a spring Rotary Luncheon meeting.
Then in March 2012, I was diagnosed with breast cancer followed by surgery and 26 sessions of radiation in London.
At this time, I was in my 4th year as co- chair of the Sarnia Relay for Life and standing on stage that June in my yellow survivor shirt to thank the more than 100 Relay Teams for helping us to raise $300,000 for Cancer Research, was overwhelming to be sure.
In 2012-13, Tom Robitaille from the Bluewater Rotary Club was District Governor and he asked me to be registrar for his District Conference in June 2013, a position I shared with Christine Hayes (Office Administrator).
I continued as treasurer of the club until 2016. At this time, I decided to take a 2-year break from attending most meetings, but did keep my membership in the club and continued to help with fundraisers.
With the extra time, I became President of the local RWTO for 2017-18 to fill my extra time. We held 5 luncheon meetings each year which had to be planned for 125+ retired women teachers. I also joined The Danish Sisterhood Lodge for women who had Danish connections, which met monthly.
Why have you maintained your membership over the years?
After 2 years away from most Rotary lunch meetings, I decided it was time to come back. I missed the friends I had made through Rotary.
I attended all the Rotary District Conferences since 2007 and always found some worthwhile info there. I also attended the RI Convention when it was held in Montreal in 2010, which was a wonderful Rotary experience.
Rayjon. In 2008, Tanya and I were invited to join 4 executive members from our local Rayjon Share Care Organization on a 7-day information trip to Haiti. The previous year our Club had donated towards a medical clinic at Gilbert, and it was ready to start up with used medical equipment from our local hospital. Spending time with the Rayjon Team for the week we were in Haiti we learned so much.
Through this experience, I realized how important it was that we as a club were able to help the Haitian people in some small way.
Rotaplast. Again in 2010, I joined a team of 7 non-medical Rotarians from Area #5 on a joint venture with Rotaplast to Barquisimeto, Venezuela. Rotaplast had a medical team of 16 including surgeons, anaesthesiologists, dentists, etc. and 35 boxes of medical supplies.
This was the 7th mission Rotaplast had made to this city to do cleft palate and facial reconstruction surgeries. That year, the Rotary Motto was MAKE DREAMS REAL and we did that for 75 patients who had free surgeries performed and this was done through Rotarian donations. Rotarians who believed in SERVICE ABOVE SELF.
Closing. What I have enjoyed most about attending Rotary lunch meetings is the information I have gained from listening to the many different speakers that Rotarian Alison has organized to speak to us through the years, and of course, the fellowship with other Rotarians.
Rotarian Johnna Johansen
And to Adelle & Johnna
Thank You Both very much for helping with this little project –and a HUGE THANK YOU for all you have done, and continue to do, for Rotary!
TO VIEW PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS online in magazine format, click below -
Rotarian Myles is retiring!
The Inn of the Good Shepherd is welcoming Jack Christine as its New Executive Director, succeeding longtime leader Myles Vanni, who retires after 20 years of distinguished service.
The Inn of the Good Shepherd has announced the appointment of Jack Christine as its new Executive Director, effective with his transition beginning on Monday, November 3.
Mr. Christine succeeds Myles Vanni, who has guided the organization for two decades and will retire after 20 years Mr. Vanni will remain on staff until early 2026 to ensure a seamless leadership transition.
Congratulations Rotarian Myles!
Best wishes on your Retirement!
· The Rotary Club of Sarnia provides a $4000.00 community grant to Sarnia-Lambton Suicide Prevention. Rotary thanks Jackpot Time.
Rotary Club of Sarnia has presented a cheque for $000 to the Sarnia Lambton Suicide Prevention Committee. This donation will go a long way to ensuring that the SLSPC can continue to work at prevention, education, raising awareness and supporting those who have been profoundly impacted by suicide.
The group continues to work towards making Sarnia Lambton a suicide safer community with their ongoing SafeTALK training, community engagement and supporting the Suicide Loss Survivors group.
Pictured left - Kurtis Lush - President of the Rotary Club of Sarnia and Liz Page, Co-Chair of the SLSPC
Our very own John DeGroot (right) was presented with the award for Member of the Year at the OBAA by the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce!
Congratulations John!
OBAA is the Ontario Business Achievement Awards, presented by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
These awards recognize and celebrate business success across Ontario through various categories, such as Lifetime Achievement, Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and more.
And a second presentation –
The Rotary Club of Sarnia provides a $4000.00 community grant to Sarnia-Lambton Suicide Prevention. Rotary thanks Jackpot Time.
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION (TRF) Donations
Are Important!
Clubs must qualify first! The Rotary Foundation requires Clubs that want to participate in the District Grants program to qualify. To qualify, the club must:
• Be in good standing
• May not have any grant reporting that is overdue
• Have at least 2 members complete the District’s Qualification Training course and quiz
The Certification is valid for One Rotary Year only! Clubs must be re-certified for each Rotary Year.
Rotary Foundation Grants – There are two kinds of grants. -Global Grants and District Grants:
Global Grants
• Must be in (at least) one of Rotary's Areas Of Focus
• Must be International projects involving at least 2 clubs in 2 different countries. One of these clubs is the "host" club - the club where the project will take place. The other is the "international partner" - the club that provides funding and possibly some expertise to help implement the project.
• Must have a minimum budget of USD $30,000
• Club funds are supplemented by the District Designated Funds as, and if, available
• Funds donated to the project from District Designated Funds are supplemented by The Rotary Foundation (World Fund) to fund these grants.
District Grants
• May be local or international in scope.
• Are usually smaller in scale. There is no minimum budget requirement.
• Will usually involve active participation by Rotarians.
• District 6330 clubs may apply for more than one District Grant in a single Rotary year, but are limited to a maximum of USD $3,000 per year in District Grant funding.
• Projects must be started and completed within one Rotary year - July 1 to June 30 of the next year.
Ready to Apply for A Grant? Will it be a District or a Global Grant?
3 simple questions to help you decide:
• Is the project in one of the areas of focus? – No? Consider applying for a District Grant.
• Is the project between Clubs/Districts in separate countries? – No? Consider a District Grant.
• Is the total budget for the project less than USD $30,000? – No? Consider applying for a District Grant.
• If you answer YES to all the above, consider applying for a Global Grant.
The Environment – Rotary’s 7th Area of Focus Clubs in D6330 are helping to save the Environment!
Here is a program being conducted by the Rotary Club of Stratford! And it relates very well to our October 28 speaker – Mike Smalls – on promoting biodiversity and keeping our environment natural
Make healthy meals with Canada’s food guide plate
Step 1. Make half your plate vegetables and fruits. Vegetables and fruits should always make up the largest proportion of the foods you eat throughout the day.
Step 2. Make one-quarter of your plate whole grain foods.
Step 3. Make one-quarter of your plate protein foods. Choose protein foods that come from plants more often.
The PHD is a plant-forward diet developed by the EAT-Lancet commission, with an emphasis on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes.
It was designed as a healthy diet that stays within planetary boundaries.
NOTE: Food and agriculture contribute 1/3 of global greenhouse gas emissions – second only to the burning of fossil fuels.
Yet, the vast majority of media coverage of the climate crisis overlooks this critical sector, according to a new data analysis from Sentient Media.
Some Environmental Inspiration - Releaf
A young inventor from Ukraine, Valentyn Frechka, found a way to turn fallen leaves into eco-friendly paper bags.
His company, Releaf Paper, collects dry leaves from city streets and processes them into natural fibers that replace wood pulp.
This method reduces deforestation and carbon emissions while creating 100 percent biodegradable packaging. The paper fully decomposes within 30 days, making it a sustainable alternative to plastic.
European cities now partner with his startup to recycle their autumn waste into shopping bags and packaging products. His invention won international recognition for combining science, sustainability, and circular economy principles.
Click here to view an informative video.
Cover the right-hand column and test yourself - Can you accurately name all the acronyms?
RI Rotary International
TRF The Rotary Foundation
RIBI Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland
DG District Governor
DGE/DGN District Governor-elect / Governor-nominee
IPP Immediate Past President
PE/PN President-elect / Nominee
RYE
RYLA
RYPEN
Rotary Youth Exchange
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards
Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment
VTT Vocational Training Team
RCC
Rotary Community Corps
GG Global Grant
DG (context) District Grant
EREY Every Rotary, Every Year
PHF Paul Harris Fellow
PHS Paul Harris Society
AKS Arch Klumph Society
APS Annual Program Fund (Annual Fund)
PEF Permanent Endowment Fund
COL Council on Legislation
COR Council on Resolutions
BOD Board of Directors
AG Assistant Governor
���
Tip: When in doubt, spell it out all Rotarians will thank you!
And if you’d like to learn more acronyms, click here! The Rotary Global History Fellowship has all the answers! (RGHF)
Click here to view a short Rotary video about our Areas of Focus!
�
ROTARY’S FOUR-WAY TEST
A Thoughtful Start to any day
� � � What is the Rotary Four-Way Test?
It's a short ethical guide used by Rotarians worldwide to help evaluate decisions, both personal and professional.
It was created in 1932 by Herbert J. Taylor, who later became Rotary International President. Facing financial and moral crisis in his company, he developed this test as a litmus test for integrity and fair conduct.
The test asks four questions of the things we think, say or do:
• Is it the TRUTH?
• Is it FAIR to all concerned?
• Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
• Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
It may seem simple, but in a complex world, those questions are anything but easy — and that’s part of their power.
� � � � � Why Should We Consider It?
Because ethics matter — now more than ever.
The Four-Way Test:
• Brings clarity to grey areas.
• Encourages honesty and accountability, not just in public life but in our quiet decisions.
• Fosters trust — a commodity that seems scarce in many parts of today’s society.
• Helps cultivate respectful dialogue instead of divisiveness.
• Serves as a universal framework: it’s non-religious, non-political, and applicable across cultures and professions.
In a world of misinformation, polarization, and moral shortcuts, it gently but firmly asks:
“Are we making the right choices for ourselves and for others?”
Click the 4-way test above and open the link to hear the Four-Way Test by RC of Saskatoon Nutana.
� � What Does the Four-Way Test Mean in Today’s Context?
In a global landscape marked by challenges — climate change, inequality, misinformation, and conflict — the Four-Way Test is a compass. It reminds us:
• Truth is not just about facts, but integrity.
• Fairness challenges us to consider others, not just ourselves.
• Goodwill and friendship are the foundations of peace, community, and collaboration.
• Benefit to all concerned asks us to be stewards, not just beneficiaries.
In Rotary, it’s more than words. It shapes how Rotarians lead projects, build partnerships, and serve their communities — from clean water initiatives to polio eradication. But beyond Rotary, it’s an invitation to live more ethically and courageously.
� � Closing Thought
The Four-Way Test isn't about being perfect. It's about trying to do the right thing, every day, in big ways and small.
It invites us to pause, reflect, and then act — with conscience, compassion, and courage.
Whether you’re a Rotarian or not, those four questions can light a path through some of life’s murkiest terrain.
In summary – What is Rotary Youth Exchange all about?
These words say it best:
INSPIRING
Youth Exchange is not just a year in your life; it is a life in a year.
CONNECTING
Through Rotary Youth Exchange, strangers become family, and the world becomes home.
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
Exchange isn’t about changing who you are. It’s about discovering how big the world is, and how much you can share.
A LITTLE HUMOUR
COMMUNITY SERVICE THROUGH THE YEARS
Pathways Health Centre for Children (Founder)
Bluewater Health – Maternal & Child Health Wing
YMCA – Swimming Pool
Inn of the Good Shepherd
Lambton College
St. Joseph’s Hospice
Huron House Boys’ Home
Community Living, Sarnia Lambton
Community Concerns for the Medically Fragile (Standing Oaks Home)
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RLYA)
DOW Centre for Children and Youth
Big Brothers – Big Sisters
Canada Food Grains
Scouts Canada – Camp Attawandron
Goodwill Industries
Rayjon Haiti Project
YMCA Youth Scholarship
Lambton County Music Festival Awards
Family Counselling Centre
Access Open Minds
Habitat for Humanity
Point Edward Minor Hockey Association
Junior Achievement
Numerous Schools – LKDSB and SCCDSB
…and much, much more
But no -
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever. In its place is something that you have left behind. Let it be something good. †
