Rotary Club of Summerside - 2009/2010 Year in Review

Executive Members:

Paul Power, Yolande Richard, Les Chipperfield, Dale Sabean, Dale Craig, Ron Casey, Gerald Arsenault, John Maynard/Bill Kendrick , John McCarthy

NEW INITIATIVES

-September 2009 – The Vision committee outlines results of studies, and prepares to strike a board of directors FOR THE PROPOSED EPSI PROJECT.

The first meeting of the EPSI board / training sessions took place thereafter.Later in the year, April 2010, great news for the EPSI program, after months of work by Dr. Marvin, Gerald Morneau and other committee members, as the Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning has approved wages for 2 staff members for 2 years.

-The Journal Pioneer presented Rotary with a new fund raising partnership/opportunity with their “Raise a Reader” book fair. We raised $ 4,500.00

-We introduced a “Charter Night” Dinner and fellowship fun and fund raising eventin January 2010. The committee members worked well together to create this new, wonderful night of recognition.

-Rotaryresponded to the disaster in Haiti with 5 shelter boxes and then followed up with an astounding 20 more shelter boxes with some major support from local businesses and individuals. This initiative brought some heightened PR to our club with a couple of press releases in the local paper.

-We welcomed three new members to our club…Jill, Tim and Carletta.

-We provided 3 STRIVE scholarships to students at TOSH.

EDUCATION - TRAINING

-Bill Kendrick selected for GSE Team Leader position, destined for Australia for 5 weeks.

-Paul and Nelson attended the Pets & Sets Training in Truroon March 5 & 6

-Rotary Leadership Training was held in Moncton, and was attended by Nelson.

CONFERENCES

-A number of Rotarians headed of for the 2 day District Conference in Sydney,CapeBreton in May 2010.

-The Rotary International Conference was held in Montreal in June. Seven Rotarians attended this event as well.

ROTARIAN AWARDS AND PRESENTATIONS

-In October , District Governor David Muise presented John McCarthy with the True Rotarian award

-Gabe Chaisson retired from Rotary after 56 years. Receiveda PHF award at our charter dinner.

-Rotarians Karla Flynn and Katie Irwin as well as Dr. Visser were also honored with PH Fellow awards.

-PHF Awards at a regular meeting to Rotarian Stephen Cudmore & Community leader Warren Ellis

-Derek Key was presented with Rotary’s highest honour the “Service above Self” award by past District Governor Doug Logan.

-Our club received the 2009/2010 Presidential Citation.

SPECIAL EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

-We welcomed Martin Penard from France for one year. Thanks to host families Richard & Maureen, Tina Mundy and Paul & Jill Power

July 2009 - Lobster Carnival. Another successful year and plenty of help from Rotarians on the various activities. Proceeds for Rotary were $10,000.

-Another successful Rotary Golf Tournament, held on August 1st chaired by Blair Dunn.

August 2009 - Rotary Picnic at the Keys.

-RotaryCelebrationGarden – Unveilled on Oct 31st

Club members managed a corn boil in the park.

-Christmas Party Dec 1st – Buffet 511 West. $350.00 collected and given to the salvation army soup kitchen.

-Salvation Army Kettles – Organized by Vance and attended by many Rotarians

-Float is prepared and entered in the Summerside Parade of Lights.

-Premiers Dinner – Jan 11th at the Delta. A number of Rotarians turned out for the event.

-The Easter Seals “Feel the Joy” campaign is kicked off in January, and Colton Matheson named ES ambassador.

-February’s pancake breakfast was another success, raising $2,662.00

-Karla hosted the annual Doolys Pool tournament – supporting Easter Seals

-The Proffit girls make a significant donation to Rotary from the proceeds of their Ropes for Hope project. Funds were designated to support our Nigeria Well Water project

-Easter Seals Telethon – March 28th

-Alberton House officially opened

- Peter Brown – Rolled out the Red Carpet /open house Lofts at 359 Water Street on April 23rd – Donations given to Rotary.

-Mulch sale in May

-GSE Team from Australiain town on May 23rd (Staying with Bill Kendrick), A wonderful dinner with Bill & Mary Kendrick, Vance and members of the GSE team.

- Rotarians turned out to build a “playhouse” for Habitat for Humanity in June.

-Nigerian visitors in June, toured PEI

  • Rotariains gathered to welcome the group at SBCR for dinner
  • WE hosted the group for a Lobster Dinner at Richard & Maureen’s house
  • Tour of Wind Mills in Northcape and Lobster fishing with the group off Alberton harbour

SPECIAL VISITORS

Guests;

Julie Mulligan

Nigerian Team

GSE Team from Australia

Various classification talks from our club members

THANK YOU TO SANDY FOR HIS HELP AS I TOOK ON MY ROLE AS YOUR PRESIDENT, THE EXECUTIVE TEAM FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO THIS CLUB, THE MANY ROTARIANS WHO VOLUNTEER TIRELESSLY FOR OUR MANY COMMITTEE AND SPECIAL PROJECTS. THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING MY YEAR ENJOYABLE AND MEMORABLE.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED

HEATHER MATHESON