COVID 19 Update

COVID 19 Update![]() Thank you to Doctor Bogoch for the enlightening talk to our club this week. It was very informative and reinforced the need to continue wearing masks, social distancing and washing hands regularly. On the positive side, he had a lot of hope for the research going on and the vaccine trials going on around the world. Read the Guelph Today story HERE. |
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End Polio NowWhen Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988, there were 350,000 cases of polio in 125 countries every year. We’ve made great progress against the disease since then. Today, polio cases have been reduced by 99.9 percent, and just two countries continue to report cases of wild poliovirus: Afghanistan and Pakistan. And we remain committed to the end. With polio nearly eradicated, Rotary and its partners must sustain this progress and continue to reach every child with the polio vaccine. Without full funding and political commitment, this paralyzing disease could return to polio-free countries, putting children everywhere at risk. Rotary has committed to raising US$50 million each year to support global polio eradication efforts. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged to match that 2-to-1, for a total yearly contribution of $150 million. |
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Foundation Event![]() |
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2020 Lobsterfest![]() |
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Community Volunteer AwardsTo help celebrate 100 years of Rotary in Guelph, and in keeping with Rotary’s commitment to Service above Self, the Rotary Club of Guelph Trillium will recognize up to 100 volunteers who contribute in our city and the surrounding community. Please consider nominating someone. The process is simple, won't take much time, and will help us recognize some deserving members of our community. Click HERE to download a copy of the nomination form. |
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Ribfest 2020 is CancelledIt is with regret that the Rotary Club of Guelph Trillium has decided to cancel Ribfest 2020. Over the past few months, we have been monitoring closely the COVID-19 developments. We had been hopeful that with careful planning we could host Ribfest again this year. Not only is it our primary fundraising event, it is also an opportunity for the community to come together socially before the start of the fall. We recognize that everyone is anxious to return to events such as this. However, our priority must be to support the ongoing recovery efforts due to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. We have determined that it would be impossible to maintain social distancing at such a large event, and thus could not ensure the health and safety of our guests, volunteers, vendors or rib teams. We look forward to seeing everyone next year at Ribfest 2021. In the interim, we are examining event options for this fall or winter. Watch for further announcements. |
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Rotary Guelph supports Beyond Borders Charity Gala 2020The four Rotary Clubs of Guelph proudly came together as a Diamond Sponsor of the Beyond Borders Charity Gala for 2020. With Rotary celebrating 100 years in Guelph, it was a great opportunity to showcase Rotary in the Guelph community. Pictured below are Hazel Dickie, Peter Marshall, Tracey Curtis and Noma Vales. Rotary Club of Guelph Trillium was represented by Ave Edington and Donna Graham. ![]() Beyond Borders is a unique one-semester program offered to Grade 12 students in Guelph. The program focuses on leadership development, business, math, and global development and sustainability. There is a strong emphasis on team-building, skill development, and experiential learning. This inspiring program is led each year by teacher Mike Parsons, in the Upper Grand District School Board. ![]() This year, 49 students participated in the Beyond Borders program, culminating with their Charity Gala at the River Run Centre on Saturday evening, January 18, 2020. All 750 show tickets were sold out. The they also had a wonderful silent auction with over 100 items, plus exceptional food treats for guests in the lobby. The students are only given about 6 weeks to prepare this huge Charity Gala event, and each year, the students do an amazing job. It's hard to imagine how each gala could possibly be better than the one before, but somehow they continue to raise the bar with their amazing effort and talent. The 2020 gala was called "Illuminate: Be The Light". And wow - these students shone in a big way, raising $114,500 for charity! |
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The Forgotten People Connection January Report - Kenya Report on November trip to Kenya, ![]() Many of you will remember that back in November Jess Lacoursiere , Kath and I headed out to Kenya with the goal of setting up the earth block making machine and training a Kenyan team on how to use it. We had brought along a soil testing kit so our first goal was to teach them how to analyze the soil to determine what kind of mix would work best to make the blocks. This was implementing the training that Jess and I had taken back in April with the “Dwell Earth” organization in Texas. ![]() We did a number of soil tests on soils directly from our building site and from a few other locations within the greater Kitale area. All the tests showed that the clay was consistently the same in the whole area. The clay had very high in plasticity and would work well as a binder. In fact it was too sticky so we had to add 30-35% sand to the mix to keep it from gumming up our machine. We were able to work with a 6-8% cement content which acts as a stabilizer. Our team worked hard with a slow production rate per day to start but by the end we had them making 500 per day. We then challenged them to raise a new goal of 800 per day and they began to make that goal also. The target was to make enough blocks to construct 8 classrooms when we return next month. They have to date made all the half blocks, ¾ blocks and channel blocks needed and are just about there on the full blocks. The target was 30,000! ![]() What will the total budget be for the 8 classrooms? We are not entirely sure as we have never built using our blocks as yet. Our past buildings using local fired bricks took a huge amount of cement for mortar joints and plastering due to the inconsistency of the brick sizes. Now that we are using this method the amount of cement should be greatly reduced! However roofing and lumber costs will probably remain the same as in the past. I imagine that our total budget for the 8 classrooms will be around $40,000-50,000 USD. Many of you have been very generous in contributing to us already and for that we are very thankful. We have raised about $15000 towards the Khalwenge Highway Academy school fund to date so we still have a ways to go. If we have enough we will push forward on all eight classrooms but if not we will do 4 this winter and the rest will have to wait until fall. Kath and I will be there for all of Feb and March. A team of another 2 couples from Stratford will be joining us for Feb and 3 Guelph Rotary club members are coming in March. If any of you would like to contribute to this cause you can do so by sending cheques to Forgotten People Connection c/o Allen Remley 4458 Sideroad 20 N, Guelph N1H 6J3 ![]() February Update: Subject: Goudys and Steingards in Kenya
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EPN Flag Raising - October 24, 2018Photos courtesy of Frank Scott. It was a good event with the breakfast and giving us a chance to mingle In addition to commemorating the continuing efforts to eradicate Polio. |
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2017-8 Community Funding AllocationsThis year, the Club had approximately $32,000 to allocate to community organizations, proceeds from Ribfest, Tour de Guelph and Scotch Nosing. 21 recipient organizations attended club meetings in February and March to receive their funds. Pictured below are this year's recipients. L-R: Dan O'Donnell, Allocations Chair, Peter Gill, Chalmers Community Service Centre, Laura Muirhead, Child Witness Centre, Mira Clarke, Action Read, Mike Treadgold, Big Brothers/Big Sisters Guelph, Brittany Webb, Diabetes Canada, Cherylynn Lumsasag, Beginning Family Services, Anita Macfarlane, Children's Foundation, Norm Greensmith, Club President. L-R: Dan O'Donnell, Allocations Chair, Simon Bell Focus on Nature, Leslie Fisher, Guelph Contemporary Dance, Justine Morgan, G-W Women in Crisis, Susan Carey, St James the Apostle Anglican Church, Pat Stuart, Wellington Hospice, Kristin Tilley, Lakeside Hope House, Beth Harris, Michael House, Norm Greensmith, Club President. Front L-R: Penny Jamieson, Power of Hope, Kim Rodrigues, Hopewell Homes, Karen Semma, St. Joes Health Care, Sharon Stewart, The Julien Project, Eric Charlesworth, YM-YWCA, Back L-R: Dan O'Donnell, Allocations Chair, Colin McVicker, Sanguin Health Centre, Jackson Mathieu, Guelph Enabling Garden, orm Greensmith, Club President. Community Funding - Guelph Rotary Trillium 2017-8 Disbursement
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Suzanne Bone receives a Paul Harris FellowshipIn recognition of her outstanding contribution to volunteering and leadership in the community, the Club presented Suzanne with a PHF this past Wednesday, January 31. ![]() Suzanne Bone is CEO and President of The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital. She joined the Foundation following a placement at Guelph General Hospital as part of her Masters in Health Administration in 1991, and since that time has directed fundraising activities for the organization that have raised more than $50 million. She is a certified fundraising executive, and the 19th Canadian to hold the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy Fellows designation. She is also a Guelph YMCAYWCA Woman of Distinction in the Public Service category and was a Guelph Chamber of Commerce board member. Currently she is on the Board of Innovation Guelph. She has been a very active volunteer including serving as a member of the Volunteer Centre of Guelph Wellington Leadership Advisory Committee and the Association for Health Care Philanthropy Canadian Cabinet, treasurer of the Hospital Development and Education Fund of Canada, and she is a past board member of the Victory Kids Club and the United Way of Guelph Wellington. |
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2018 Peter Moore Vocational Services Award WinnerThis years recipient is Seelan Moodley. Dr. Moodley has been a member of our Club since 2004. He is a Past Board Member and has been very active in hands-on projects. He annually organizes pyjama collection at Christmas time for the Power of Hope charity. He also has organized hands-on Day of Giving at the Drop In Center. He regularly mentors medical students from McMaster University. |
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Paul Harris FellowshipsSeveral Paul Harris Fellowships were presented on December 13th recognizing both Club Members and local community leaders ![]() Two members were presented with their multiple PHF's - Patsy Marshall with her +7 and David Halls with his +5. ![]() Rosemarie Coombs, recently retired founder of Michael House seen here with President Norm Greensmith and PHF Committee Chair, Peter Moore. ![]() Penny Jamieson, Power of Hope ![]() Glenna Banda, The Children's Foundation, seen here with colleague and Club Member, Laurie Lantaigne ![]() Emma Rogers, United Way with President Norm and Club Secretary, Ken Boyd |
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Our Club
Our Beginnings: The Rotary Club of Guelph-Trillium was officially chartered in October 1991. The committee to form the club began its work in the early months of 1991 with the development of a list of potential club members. Committee members from both the Rotary Club of Guelph and the Guelph-Wellington Rotary Club submitted names of those who they felt would be potential Rotarians. A list of 30 potential members was drawn up and invitations were extended to the first provisional meeting which was held at George Michals Restaurant on Woodlawn Road. This meeting began at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday March 27th, with an attendance of 49 people, of which 20 were Rotarians from other Rotary clubs and the rest were potential Rotarians for our new club. Today, the club has over 50 members and annually hosts one of Guelph's favourite festivals, Ribfest. |
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Local Organizations Receive Funding From Ribfest Proceeds The Rotary Club of Guelph Trillium organizes and runs an annual Ribfest at Riverside Park in late August. Proceeds from Ribfest are allocated to local organizations, which apply for grants, to help support their good works in the community. On Wednesday, February 12th and 19th, area groups were presented their grants by Dan O’Donnell, Chair of Funding Allocations, Rotary Club Guelph-Trillium, at a breakfast meeting. Each representative spoke at the meeting on how their grant will be used within their organization.
![]() Front row : Heather Fowler, Big Brothers /Big Sisters of Guelph; Barbara Macrea, St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation; Karen Kamphuis, Lakeside Hope House; Dawn Nicholson, Westminster Woods Public School
Back row: Dan O’Donnell ,Chair of Funding Allocations, Rotary Club Guelph-Trillium; Shirley Hunt, Focus on Nature; Rosemary Coombs, Michael House Pregnancy Care Centre.; Jane Colwell, Hospice Wellington; Sly Castaldi, Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis; missing from photo is Allison Stoffman, Ottawa Crescent Public School
![]() February 19,2014
Front row: Mira Clarke, Action Read Literacy Centre; Michelle Hughes, The Elliott; Susan Wahlroth, Community of Hearts Learning Centre; Amy Baskin, J.O.E. (partner with Guelph Public Library)
Back Row: Dan O’Donnell, Chair of Funding Allocations, Rotary Club Guelph-Trillium; Laurie Lantaigne, Food& Friends (Children’s Foundation); Dan Evans & Peter Wilks, Parkwood Gardens Neighbourhood ; Trevor Barton, Guelph Enabling Garden; Ann Caine, Sunrise Equestrian
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Get Involved |
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Thank you from the WEMA Centre
Fellow Rotarians: This message is to let you know the Wema Centre – Transportation Project successfully ended and closed! The project started for us in late August 2012 and concluded with a cash transfer to the bank account belonging to the Wema Centre Trust, Mombassa, Kenya, on March 6, 2013. However, one detail of our agreement remained to be completed. That was to affix a reference to Rotary International on the side of the bus. As you can see in the attached pictures, a label has been affixed which reads "Rotary Clubs of District 7080, Ontario, Canada". The wording is my doing. Please extend a whole hearted "thank you", from the leaders at the Wema Centre in Mombassa, Kenya (Lucy Yinda, Lloyd Muriuki & others), to your clubs for their most generous donations towards financing the first year’s loan payment on the new bus. The Rotary clubs who partnered with the RC of Burlington North include: Burlington Lakeshore, Burlington, Bolton, Guelph-Trillium, Oakville Trafalgar and Cambridge North. A member of our club (Rotary Club of Burlington North) travelled to Kenya in August 2013 and has ridden on the bus. Fareen Samji has reported that the bus has multiple uses of which the most innovative use is a mobile computer lab. The lab enables children to learn and experience the ways to use the internet as the bus is parked in the their city area or in one of their local villages. In the near future, the RC of Burlington North may offer the opportunity to help in purchasing laptops for the bus. The Wema Centre is currently using PCs but they don’t travel well over the rough roads. My contact, Lucy Yinda, has agreed to provide a report of exactly what they need in the future. Link onto the Wema Centre Facebook pages. They provide us with an even better insight to the work they do (The new bus is displayed in a photograph). https://www.facebook.com/wemacentre I extend my personal thank you to all of you! Regards John Zinkie, International Service Committee Rotary Club of Burlington North |
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Funding of OrganizationsLocal and International Projects: In the past five years, funding was provided to the following organizations. Community: A Step Up Action Read Alzheimer Society Beginnings Pregnancy Care Bereaved Parents Network Big Brothers/Big Sisters Unmatched Children Program Chalmers Community Services Child Wellness Centre Children's Foundation Food & Friends Children's Foundation of G-W Diabetes Assn.-Camp Huronia Dunara Homes Edward Johnson Music Found. Fred Hamilton Breakfast
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