SERVICE CLUBS pages

The Paris Independent 6

November 6, 2021 S E R V I C E C L U B S

SATELLITE ROTARY CLUB TO LAUNCH IN PARIS

By Carolina Saenz

Attention Parisians! A satellite rotary club is coming to Paris! Aware of the importance of community service clubs, new Paris resident Dale Hall is determined to bring the benefits of a satellite rotary club home. A Rotarian for 5 years, Hall served as president of the Niagara Sunrise Rotary Club and has been involved in the Brantford Sunrise Rotary Club since moving to the area. Moving to Paris in July 2021, Hall quickly recognized the need for more than a traditional Rotary Club in the city. “When I look at the future of Rotary, I think it is a different type of meeting. So, when my wife and I moved here we agreed to open a Rotary Club in Paris with the new satellite model,” says Hall. The Rotary Satellite Club of Paris will be sponsored by the Brantford Sunrise Rotary Club and operate as its extension. As Hall explains, the satellite model “Is essentially a Rotary Club for the 21st century. ” As opposed to the traditional model, a satellite model aims to be more inclusive of all members of the community.

Back in the 90s and earlier, rotary clubs were mostly popular for men and business professionals. This new model caters to the next generation of Canadians. “Rotary has made it a mandate to really push towards having more diversity, more equity and more inclusion in Rotary as a whole,” explains Hall. “We want family units to feel welcome to come to meetings and projects together. I think all families are looking for more things to do in a cost-effective manner, so what a better thing to do than help out in the community,” adds Hall. Furthermore, the satellite club will aim to be more action and service oriented by meeting once every 3 to 4 weeks but still participating in a good number of projects. This will cater better to busy families and open the rotary club experience to more members of the community. The exact plans, of course, will be dictated by the members who will create the identity and image of the club. One of the main goals of the satellite club will be to help and work alongside existing community service organizations to serve the needs of the Paris community and all of Brant County. Continued on Page 7

OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER HONOURED

Paris Optimist Past President Larry Crawley presents Marilyn McCulloch with The President’s Citation for Outstanding Optimist Club Member 2020 – 2021. The award is bestowed upon an individual who demonstrates exceptional dedication, care and love of the Club, Club Members, District, and Optimist International.

PARIS OPTIMIST CLUB INDUCTS 2021 – 2022 EXECUTIVE

The new executive for the Paris Optimist Club was inducted recently by Governor Gail Dolson. Left to right are

Grant Brooker (board member); Helen Shipp (board member); Lynda Kelley (board member); Marilyn McCulloch (secretary); Gerry Shipp (board member) and

Larry Crawley (past president); Back row, Julie Henwood (President). Absent:

Andrea Wicks-Cherry (treasurer); Lesley Brown (board member);

Bob Nelson (first vice president); Mel Osborne (board member).

Submitted by the Paris Optimist Club

NEW SERVICE CLUB PROMOTES ENGAGEMENT

Continued from Page 6

Potential locations for meetings will aim to support a variety of local businesses intermittently. Regardless of what the future brings, rotary clubs have a history of finding ways to adapt and support the community. Even through Covid times, rotary clubs remain active through online meetings, The Niagara Falls Club even having nonagenarians join via zoom! The Rotary Satellite Club of Paris will be hosting an information session the last week of November. Attendees will go through an application process to ensure Rotary is a good fit for them. The first-year membership fee is $99 directed to Rotary International, which in turn provides benefits such as event insurance to the local club.And depending on membership numbers, the satellite club is expected to begin sometime in the spring of 2022. With the growth Paris is experiencing, there is no better time for projects such as this one to contribute to the community. “Paris is a beautiful town and there is a lot of growth within the community. And growth can also bring a lack of familiarity with your neighbours. So, what used to be a small tight-knit community has grown, and to keep it tight-knit we need to engage with our neighbours. And I really hope Rotary will be a way for new and longstanding members of the community to come together and get to know each other,” concludes Hall. For more information, please contact Dale Hall at dalejhall@yahoo.ca