JULY 2010 1

NEWSLETTERDistrict 5370

Issue 1 - District 5370 Jackie Hobal District Governor

Dear fellow Rotarians,

Welcome to the Second Century of Rotary Service!

Wayne and I are on a Rotary High as we head back home after attending the 100th Rotary International Con-vention in Montreal this past week. More than 300 Rotarians, Exchange Students, Interactors, Rotaractors and guests from District 5370 took part in this extraordinary convention. This Rotary International convention will stand out as being memorable for a number of reasons – Canadian Rotarians have cause to celebrate – 100 years ago the first Rotary club in Canada was formed in Winnipeg, Manitoba contributing to the formation of our International Rotary organization. This was the first club

established outside of the USA. To commemorate this defining moment in Rotary’s history, a commemorative stamp

was released recognizing this extraordinary event in history.

BiggerBetterBolder

DG Jackie HobalJuly Newsletter

District Governor Jackie Hobal and Wayne have their meeting with RI Presi-dent Ray Klinginsmith and his wife.

We have achieved our goal for com-pleting our Canadian Rotary Centenni-al Project –Afghani-stan Thank You District 5370 clubs!

Featured speakers included Greg Mortenson – author of ‘Three Cups of Tea’, Jo Luck – founder of the Heiffer Foundation providing food for the hun-gry and Dolly Parton, music star and founder of the Dollywood Foundations’ Imagination Library provided del-egates with inspiration and insight into possibilities for making a difference in the world.

Always a highlight is the time to meet with rotary friends from around the world.

District 5370 was well represented at this convention; •Youth Exchange Committee mem-bers Wayne McCutcheon, Pauline Perrault, Darrin King shared the newly developed D5370 leadership training program - the Bs...which is attracting attention throughout the Rotary world; congratulations to this team! •Interact co-chair Stephen Lindop participated in a discussion forum on engaging youth in Rotary; his interact team from Calmar helped out in…•D5370 Employment Partnership booth in the House of Friendship pro-vided a wonderful opportunity to share with others from around the world how D5370 Business Owners are changing lives of individuals with developmental disabilities by providing employment; the booth became a meeting place where D5370 Rotarians met and shared information with others promot-ing this partnership; •The Rotary Club of Westlock show-cased their project in Ethiopia and Rotarians from 5370 were present at the Project Amigo booth sharing more worthwhile opportunities for service; •PDG Terry Drader, and Rotarians Richard Dickinson, Randy Boissanault from the Edmonton Club presented highlights of literacy initiatives from

District 5370 Rotary Newsletter 2

INDEX

across the district; in addition, DGE Jackie shared some of the Success Stories from the Belize Literacy Pro-gram; Randy provided us with a first glimpse of the new Literacy Without Borders project...watch for details. Wayne and I also connected with our 2011 Group Study Exchange partners from Australia (D9650) DG Jo Wilkin and Lindsay. Please note the time-lines for applying for this exciting GSE opportunity.

What a great time to be a Rotarian! Our history of service is truly remark-able and one in which all 1.2 million Rotarians should be proud. The theme Building Communities; Bridging Continents will be our theme as we undertake to continue the strong tradition of making a difference in the world as we seek to make Rotary

Our 2010-2011 Rotary International

President Ray Klinginsmith is appeal-ing to all Rotarians to build on the successes of the past and ensure that Rotary International continues to be the premier service club in the world bring hope to the millions of people around the globe who need our help.

We look forward to meeting and work-ing with you in 2010-2011!

District Governor

Jackie

Follow DG Jackie on her blog (www.rotaryjack-ie@blogspot.ca)

BIGGER!

BETTER!

BOLDER!

BIGGER!

BETTER!

BOLDER!

District Governors Message

Deal or No Dealpg 5

Annual YE Canoe Trippg 8

Roteract in Oaxacapg 10

JULY 2010 3

Cheryl McKenzieRotary Club of Grande Prairie

District 5370 Newsletter Editor

cmckenzie@cityofgp.com

EDITOR’S NOTES MAILBOX

(In regards to DG Drader)What a year you’ve had! We are sorry that EM (Al) was not up to attending the District Conference. It would have been so much fun. Thank you for the supreme effort by so many.

Submitted byMarg DavisonEdmonton Northeast

Terry DraderInclude me in your thank you list I was very happy to know Terry for a short while

Submitted byMALIGA IYER miyer@shaw.ca

Correction: Kirsi Nurmi is hosted by my club, Edmonton Sunrise, rather than Edmonton downtown as indicated in the newsletter. ThanksNorm Turtle turtlen@shaw.ca

Dear Rotary Friends,It is with regret that I withdraw from participation in some district activi-ties for the next Rotary year. I have advised DG Terry Drader that I will be stepping down as chair and a mem-ber of the Belize Program Committee effective June 30. I am delighted that DG Terry has appointed PDG Ross Tyson to chair the committee effective July 1. Ross has been involved with the program almost since its inception and I know that we will continue to make a difference in Belize under his capable leadership. I encourage you to continue supporting the program and thank you for your assistance and contributions over the past three years. Yours in Rotary,Julius Buski, PDG (1999-2000)

Hello Rotarians, A new Rotary Year is upon us! Thank you to Past DG Terry Drader and welcome to DG Jackie Hobal. Wishing you a wonderful DG year!

So, as many of us are, I’m just back from RI in Montreal...WOW, what a great time. If you haven’t gone before please make plans to go next year to New Orleans.

Montreal was a week filled with Rotary memories. and acheive-ments as DG Jackie spoke about in her message, Personal Rotary moments for me, were certainly the speakers, who touched us with their witt and emotion. I know we all heard about Greg Mortenson, Dolly Parton and Queen Noor of Jordon. But did you hear about the “Scouting Guy”. One of the best speaches of the Convention I felt, as was the report on Poilio Eradication. These two weren’t ‘headlners’ but I felt they left a mes-sage with me that was much more profound. We find the greatest treasures in the hidden places.

The week was filled with Rotary “Fellowship” memories that will last a lifetime, and those are the reason I really go. To share a common bond with like minded people who care about Rotary as much as I do. It is changing our lives one person at a time... and will change a world in the process.

Thank you to my many Rotary friends who have shared your life and laughter with me. - Cheryl

Top - Down

One of the many old Churches

Windows at Palais Des’ Congress

Singing O Canada at the Convention

GP Group out for Fellowship

District 5370 Rotary Newsletter 4

Let the Good Times Roll … Again!

JULY 2010 5

DISTRICT NEWS

Employment Partnership Program

Grande Prairie Rotary Club Past Presi-dent Derek Hall and placement recipient Jeremy ThiessenRotary Club of Grande Prairie Donates $25,000 to Create Employment for Individuals with Developmental Dis-abilities

On Friday May 28, 2010 President Derek Hall presented a cheque for $25,000 to Barb MacIntyre, President of the Alberta Association for Commu-nity Living (AACL) and Bruce Uditsky, Chief Executive Officer, in support of the Rotary District 5370 Employment Partnership in the Grande Prairie Community. The Employment Part-nership had proved very successful in Grande Prairie, thanks to Rotar-ians and their 3 local clubs, who had together created over 20 jobs for adults with developmental disabilities. However, the Partnership was in jeop-ardy of not being able to continue as government funding had ended.

Due to the efforts of Grande Prairie Club Members Marilyn Cramer (Local Services Director) and Brooke Coulter (Employment Partnership Steering Committee Chair) there is now funding to sustain the Partnership and ensure more adults with developmental dis-

abilities will have the opportunity for a promising future. The funding enables AACL to provide a staff person who works with and supports prospective employers to connect them to potential employees with developmental dis-abilities. Ongoing support is provided, as needed, by AACL and local com-munity agencies.

One of the highlights of the presenta-tion was Jeremy Thiessen who spoke to the Club, while his Mom beamed proudly, about his job and how great it was to be working at the Best Western Hotel. The vast majority of adults with developmental disabilities are unem-ployed and dependent on government assistance. The Employment Partner-ship has proven to be very cost effec-tive means of creating employment. In addition to enabling more meaningful lives for individuals with developmental disabilities, there is the added benefit of an almost 50% increase in dispos-able income for the individual.

The cheque presentation and ben-efits of the Employment Partnership were acknowledged in the local media thanks to the support of Club Member Kevin Hilgers (Assistant Governor, Chair, PR and Marketing, District Gov-ernor Nominee Designate - 2012-13).

This donation and additional $10,000 over the next two years from Trans-Canada will make a vital difference in the Grande Prairie community enabling adults with developmental disabilities to realize their dreams.

For more information on the Employ-ment Partnership, please contact Ai-mee Steinke, Employment Partnership Coordinator -Email: asteinke@aacl.org or Tel:780. 832.7326

Submitted byDG Jackie Hobal

District TrainingDirector of TrainingWendy McDonaldpossibilityworks@shaw.ca780 487-0509

Webinar Training – watch for detailsLindsay MoyleRotary Club of Whitecourtlmoyle@millarwestern.com780 779-4378

October 15-16, 2010 For District Leaders D5360, 5370, 5550Rotary Regional Zone Success Seminar – Nisku

November 5-6, 2010 District Fall Training - Grande PrairieNovember 19-20, 2010 District Fall Training – EdmontonFor President Elects (PETS1) & all club leaders(membership, Foundation, Services, New Generations…)

March 4-5, 2011 District Spring Train-ing – EdmontonFor President Elects, Secretaries and all leaders

May 22-25, 2011 RI Convention New Orleans

June 16-19, 2011 District Conference Athabasca, AB

For additional Information and to reg-ister for these events, visit the District 5370 website www.rotary5370.org or call the Rotary District 5370 Office 780 482-5370

District 5370 Rotary Newsletter 6

Members’ ‘passion’ a clear attraction, says out-going president

It was an event that would have made even Howie Mandel proud – and left some Slave Lake residents begging for more. That’s when the Rotary Club of Slave Lake hosted its own version of popular TV game show Deal or No Deal, enthralled a crowd of more than 300 --- and netted the club’s many community projects a cool $35,000.Outgoing club president Ali Moual-lem – who also co-hosted the event in true Mandel style – says it’s just the crowning glory for club projects this year. The event came in late April, just weeks after the club honored its three-year-old promise to raise $400,000 for a new $2.3 million library for the community. That facility – the Rotary Club of Slave Lake Library – has been open for several months.

But back to the fun and games.Deal or No Deal was the brainchild of Rotarian Gloria LeForte who convinced club members and her employer at the Sawridge Inn and Conference Centre in Slave Lake to trust her instincts. Club members quickly climbed on board her planning committee and her employer agreed to host the event. That was the easy part.

The gig was created with no small amount of ‘blood, sweat and tears’ – well, sweat, anyway – much of it pouring from LeForte’s brow. It offered a potential $10,000 to each of the three participants whose names were drawn from a giant rolling drum as the evening unfolded. And that’s where the fun unfolded too.The event kicked off with a dinner – as do most of this club’s fund-raisers. But

it’s the club’s new and untested ideas that keeps the community coming back, says the outgoing president.“Our events offer enough variety to pique community interest – like the

sports celebrity dinner that features new and exciting sport celebrities each year. And fortunately for us, anything Rotary also attracts huge commun support too.”

Deal or No Deal allowed the club to pour that many more dollars of sup-port into what’s become known as the club’s ‘Big Three’ fund-raising initia-tives of the past year. Those include $50,000 each to an arena refurbishing job, a seniors’ lodge expansion project and the construction of an animal shel-ter for the community.

Those, of course are in addition to Ro-tary International projects such as the Belize teachers’ project, disaster relief in Haiti and Mexico and RI’s flagship polio eradication venture. And the club still works with the community to host a children’s Christmas party annually, and offer a scholarship to Grade 12 graduates too.

“Kudos to our members for their hard work and determination,” says President Mouallem, “and thank you too, to our community for its on-going generosity and support that makes it all work.”

The outgoing president said he’s es-pecially thankful for current members whose ‘passion,’ he says “attracts new potential members, young and old, male and female.”

And he predicts that incoming presi-dent, Russ MacIntyre will have an equally successful year.

Submitted byMarilyn RicherRotary Club of Slave Lake

Event a “Big Deal” for Club and Community

The “Deal or no Deal” gang.

JULY 2010 7

Airport “Rotary Welcome”to the City of Grande Prairie

Canada Post issues commemorative stamp to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Rotary in Canada.

Our three Rotary Clubs in Grande Prairie worked together to update their signage at the city airport. Now that renovations are complete we met with the airport and they gave us an op-portunity to put a 3 ft by 6 ft sign that is visible as soon as you walk off an airplane, into the building where the luggage belt is.

So when the door opens to the GP airport – the first thing passengers sees is “Welcome to Grande Prairie, a Rotary City”. The 3 clubs spent around $1000 for the sign holder and artwork. Art may be changed for around $300.00. The art is double sided so can be viewed when you first enter the airport off the plane, and on the flip side where passengers are met by friends picking them up. The City of Grande Prairie offered a low annual fee for the space.

If you look at the entrances to YOUR city – what opportunities are there? Airports? Could the city allow a permanent billboard structure? Just like recruiting new members – the key to marketing Rotary often is ask, ask, ask!

Kevin D. HilgersDistrict Governor 2012 2013 Rotary International District 5370wave@telus.net

Canada Post has issued a single domestic rate stamp to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the first Rotary club in Canada. The stamp features a person wearing the traditional Rotary vest, symbolic of Rotarians past, present and future. The first day cover, booklet and postage-paid postcard provide a glimpse of a Rotarian’s workspace—with meeting schedules, Rotary mementos, awards and lapel pins scattered on a desk. The map on the back of the booklet and postcard is focused on Montreal where the 2010 Rotary International Convention will take place.

“This stamp will raise awareness of the role Canadian Rotary clubs play in providing humanitarian services and promoting goodwill and peace around the world,” said Jim Phillips, Director of Stamp Services at Canada Post. “Our stamp program honours our country’s—and Rotary International’s—history in a way only Canada Post can.”

“Rotarians across Canada are delighted that Canada Post is issuing a stamp to recognize one hundred years of service and contributions by Rotary clubs in Canada,” said Wilfrid Wilkinson, who is Rotary International’s fifth Canadian-born President.

Additional information about Canadian stamps and photos of these new stamps can be found in the news section of Canada Post’s website. Stamps and other products are available at participating post offices, or can be or-dered online by following the links at canadapost.ca/collection, or by mail order from the National Philatelic Centre. From Canada and the USA, call toll-free: 1-800 565-4362, press 1 for English, and then 2 for placing an ORDER.

Kevin D. Hilgers District Governor 2012 2013 Rotary International District 5370

Kev’s Blog www.kevinhilg-ers.com

wave@telus.net

I heard about the new “100 years of Rotary in Canada”

postage stamp so I called the toll free telephone below and ordered two hundred 57 cent stamps from Canada Post. They come in books of eight. I also found them at the Canada Post outlet my local grocery store. What a cool way to market Rotary, and at no extra cost! (gotta pay for the stamps anyhow.) The books of eight include the story of Rotary, and Rotary in Canada. so there’s education as well. This makes it an ideal gift. Educational, and of use.

District 5370 Rotary Newsletter 8

NEW Generation New 5th Avenue of Service

Camrose Rotary Club’s Annual Canoe Adventure for our District’s Interna-tional Exchange Students was Another Success – despite weather!

In 1966 the Rotary Club of Camrose and the Augustana Campus U of A, joined forces and created an exciting and educational tour involving outdoor adventure, camping and canoeing in the wilds of Alberta! This year’s trip was the 15th annual event, recently renamed the Elwyn Grattidge Rocky Mountain Canoe Adventure in memory of long time Camrose Rotarian and great supporter of this trip - Elwyn Grattidge, who sadly passed away a few years ago.

Fifteen excited and eager exchange students signed up for this year’s “voyage” and they gathered at the Augustana Campus on Saturday June 5th to get acquainted with the trip leaders from Augustana’s Outdoor Ed staff (5 wonderfully talented and helpful leaders) and the two Rotar-

Camrose Annual Canoe Trip

ian “chaperones” – Past President Ray Hook (Camrose) and Anna King (Lloydminster – incoming youth ex-change inbound chair). After meeting everyone and getting the proper kit issued (including how to pack clothes in waterproof barrels..), we all had a good night’s sleep before packing up the canoes and all gear on Sunday, then heading out in glorious sun-shine and warmth to Twin Mountain Lake (near Nordegg) for basic canoe instruction. There w as only one canoe that sent its crew swimming that day… a precursor perhaps for excitement yet to come.

Sunday night was spent in a camp-ground, where it rained all night. Mon-day morning this allowed all twenty-two of us to practice packing up our tents and gear in the rain, and to learn how to eat breakfast in the rain as well. We reached the launching area in mid afternoon (cold and rain) and after additional instruction, headed off on our adventure late that same day. We were in eight tandem canoes and the “mother ship” – a 25 ft (8 metres) Voyageur replica canoe. We carried absolutely everything for 7 days and nights on the river.

We were to travel 142 kms in total from the Bighorn Dam on Abraham Lake to Rocky Mountain House (from Monday June 7th to Sunday June 13th), and it was all downriver with a 7 kph current. To summarize the first four full days – it was wet, cold and windy! But it was fun actually. Toss in the odd bit of hail, thunder and lighten-ing and you may get some idea of the challenges that we all faced – keeping warm and dry (not!), keeping our ca-noes upright in the river (so so on that one!) and lighting cooking fires with wet wood. Suffice it to say, our leaders (Daniel and Jaqueline and staff) were amazing in their guidance, leadership, help and humour, not to mention their rescuing ability for flipped canoes and floating paddlers.

We took a “rest day” on Thursday – waiting for the rain to finally stop (it did, around 2pm finally), and we dried most of our clothing and equipment around the fire and in the sun.

Friday we made camp fairly early, after one highlight on the trip – “rafting” all 9 canoes together while we held on and ate lunch, covering about 8-10 kms without paddling. That was very

JULY 2010 9

cool…. That same evening we were given the opportunity to cook ban-nock on a stick over the campfire… with varying degrees of success. The Friday camp was designed to let us prepare to run the rapids on Saturday at Devils’ Elbow – a 300 metre stretch of good white water that promised to provide some real excitement the next day – and it did! The rapids did take some canoes for a flip and sent our students swim-ming, but with the sun shining, and PFDs and helmets worn for safety, recovery to shore was efficiently done and everyone had a blast.

Under the guidance of our leaders, we spent some time that day building a huge rock pile and erecting a 2 metre high fire over the rocks in preparation for building a temporary home-made sauna out of tarps down by the river for that evening – this dash from the sauna into the river under the stars that evening was a huge high-light for all.

We packed up very early Sunday morning and again “rafted” our canoes together for breakfast while cruising down the river. It was a more enjoy-able paddle this day, as the weather was great and the white water no longer daunting. We took the waves

like experts. Then, all of a sudden we came around the bend and there was Rocky Mountain House – the trip was over…

Of course, there was the cleaning of canoes, loading the canoes onto the trailers, loading our gear and the drive back to Augustana, the gear wash-

ing, clean up and turn in of equip-ment back on campus, but then there were the hot showers – truly another highlight for all, after 8 days without. On Monday the students and leaders came to lunch at our regular Monday meeting, where they presented a short skit, based on their light hearted ver-sion of the 8 rules of camping. Then it was time for good-byes – this trip is

really the culmination of the students’ year in Canada, and most were head-ing home in the next few weeks, so there were tears and laughs, hugs and handshakes all round.

For us as “chaperones”, it was truly an amazing experience, getting to know these exceptional young people from

around the world – Austria, Belgium, Bra-zil, Czech Republic, Denmark (who can for-get the Viking helmets they wore through the rapids!), France, Fin-land, Germany, Japan (Mongolia), Poland, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkey and Switzer-land. They rose to the challenges presented – most of whom had never been camping or in a canoe and they will remember this trip for a lifetime – as Anna and I will too.

So – if you are inter-ested in an experience

of a lifetime, watch for next year’s trip being

advertised (February ish).

Submitted byRay HookAnna King.

Mother Ship shows Anna King and 3 students (from l to r Turkey, Denmark and Czech Rep)

District 5370 Rotary Newsletter 10

After a few years of service to the local community, the University of Alberta Rotaract Club was able to send ten of its members on an international volun-teer trip. Our group flew all the way to Oaxaca, Mexico though an organiza-tion called ProWorld. Before the trip we fundraised for both the trip costs and money for the school we would be working with. It took two years of plan-ning, heartbreak, and more planning before we were finally able to leave on May 17, 2010. The heartbreak came in the late evening of April 27, 2009, when the Canadian Govern-ment issued a Travel Warning due to the H1N1 outbreak in Mexico stating “travelers from Canada are recom-mended to postpone elective or non-essential travel to Mexico until further notice.” This led to the decision on the morning of April 28, 2009 to postpone the Oaxaca trip that was originally scheduled to depart on Saturday, May 2, 2009. With the postponed date set for May 17, 2010, our club was able to do additional fundraising and ensure the stage was set for a rewarding and worthwhile project. The first few days in Oaxaca were spent acclimatizing ourselves with Oaxaca: the city, the food, the people and language, the driving, and even the noises were all so different. For all of us, this was the first trip to a country where lying on the beach or sightsee-ing would not be our main activity. Work began on the 3rd day of the trip, but came to a temporary halt when all 10 of us came down with travelers’ diarrhea. Our energy was low, but our spirits were high. Regardless of sick-ness, we were very enthusiastic about our project for the next two weeks. Our job was to fix up two extremely run-down classrooms at the Escuela Secundaria General Herberto Castillo

(equivalent to our jr. high) in the Colo-nia Vicente Guerrero, Villa de Zaachi-la, Oaxaca. Our drive into the school on the first day really shocked us. People seemed to be walking simply because they had nothing else to do; stray dogs were on every corner, and most of the houses seemed to be made of low-quality building materials such as tin. It was very different from any neighbor-hood we had grown up in. Our group came across many chal-lenges at the work site. A major chal-lenge was the language barrier. A few had taken Spanish in school, but most of us did not know more than “Hola” before the trip. Likewise, many of the people helping us from the school barely knew English. In the end, we somehow managed to communicate using a variety of signals and phrases. Another obstacle was the difference in construction methods between our Ca-nadian group and the local Mexicans. While we planned every move before

executing, the locals preferred to just overcome difficulties as they came up. A lot of materials were reused, even

if we thought they were in terrible condition. When we came across such situations we just reminded ourselves that we were there to do what they needed done, not to show them how to do it. Because we had this attitude, our project was more successful and there were no conflicts with the local community. We even ignored the lack of proper electrical work, lack of safety goggles, and the permanent “check engine” and “park brake” lights on the 20 year-old suburban that we crammed into everyday. Once past the initial shock of living conditions where we worked, we wit-nessed the community’s vivid culture. Everything is cause for a celebra-tion there. It was warming to see the people always so happy and alive; it really made us think about the defini-tion of “rich”. Mexico is culturally rich, whereas our society here may place a higher value on material wealth. While at the school we witnessed the “Day of

the Student” celebra-tion, which involved all of the stu-dents playing sports and dancing outside in the 38˚ C sun. Our group also had the opportunity to experi-ence some traditional dances and celebrations: all very color-

ful. The center of the city of Oaxaca, the zócalo, is routinely filled with citi-zens looking to socialize on any given Saturday, Sunday, or even a weekday night! During our time off we did some sight exploring. We tried different restau-rants and bars, each proudly serving food unique to the area. Some of us tried special Oaxacan chocolate made with cinnamon and almonds while others tried grasshoppers covered in spices. We all savored the water with different types of fruit juices.

University of Alberta Rotaract ClubService Project in Oaxaca, MexicoMay 17 – 30, 2010

JULY 2010 11

One weekend we went to a women’s cooperative in a Zapotec community and learned about weaving rugs. We also saw the Arbol del Tule, the world’s widest tree at 14.06 m in diameter. We clambered around the Zapotec ruins of Monte Albán. We even went to an Oaxaca Guerreros baseball game. Each and every activity we did only increased our love of Oaxaca. So much of our trip was grilled with action, but we made sure to take time and reflect on every aspect of the trip. A few people kept journals, but our favorite thing to do was R & R: what one group member dubbed as Roof & Reflection. Our hostel had a rooftop patio with a stellar view of the surrounding city. Up there, we would gather each night and discuss whatever we needed to. It was important to us to have these reflections because everything was so overwhelming; talking to each

positive and negative impacts we had on the community was important to us. We were not there to tell them how to live their lives; rather, we wanted to

learn all about how they lived theirs. Two weeks was up before we were ready. The last day at the school was both joyous and sad. By the end of our time there, the students were hug-ging us and calling us their friends. They enjoyed us being there; some had even helped out with repairing the classrooms. The school put on a presentation in our honor and the Principal made a speech in which he thanked us and invited us to return anytime. It was a good feeling to see that we had done so much to help the people, but sad that we did not stay longer to do more. The money we had raised went a lot further than we could imagine: we bought extra paint and glass windows, fixed the basket-ball court, purchased various sports balls, put up maps and boards in the classrooms, and most importantly, we brought electricity to the two class-rooms that we fixed up. Oaxaca captured our hearts in the 2 shorts weeks that we were there. The trip was such a positive experience for all of us. It made us all so thankful for what we have in life and also made us

other reassured us. We discussed the people and culture, the living condi-tions, our project, our illnesses, funny moments, sad moments, sincere moments… opening up to each other made our group extremely close. We all thought about why we had chosen to do the trip, and why it is important trips like ours happen. We tried to think about how the locals that we worked with saw us: were we heroes, or just intruders? Thinking about the

“We tried to think about how the locals that we worked with saw us: were we heroes, or justintruders?”

realize that we are special in that we are able to help others who are less financially fortunate. More importantly, we were able to learn about a culture

extremely dif-ferent from our own. That ex-perience alone is one we will keep with us for the rest of our lives. Now that we are all back, we can remember our trip and recall what a learn-ing experience it was. One point that needs special mention is how thank-ful we all are that clubs like Rotary International and Rotaract

International exist. The U of A Rotaract Club brought us together for a trip that changed our lives. We may be sad that the trip is over, but for each of us it is by no means the last of its kind. Rotaract has opened the door for us to learn more about other cultures and make a difference in the world. Thank you to all of the clubs, busi-nesses, and individuals that graciously donated to the University of Alberta Rotaract Club’s International Project to Oaxaca, Mexico. Your donations made a tremendously valuable contribution to the educational experience of Oaxa-can children in need.

Submitted byLauren Girard

District 5370 Rotary Newsletter 12

WCSS - WORLD COMMUNITY SERVICES SOCIETY

Afghanistan Challenge

THANK YOU – ALL FUNDS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED – WE HAVE ACHIEVED OUR GOAL!

Your participation in the Afghanistan Challenge will overcome years of strife and destruction and will offer 4000 children a future filled with hope. Canadian Rotarians with international partners and supported by matching grants from the Canadian International Development Agency are working to build and equip a school in Afghanistan.

Your support will do more than provide the bricks and mortar needed to com-plete the project. A contribution to the Afghanistan Challenge will give 4000 students working in three daily shifts opportunities for a brighter future filled with the potential for prosperity and free from the crippling effects of poverty.

This project is to celebrate the centen-nial of Rotary’s presence in Canada. Rotarians have a long history of suc-

.

cessful implementation of international projects, which assure you donations will go directly to helping Afghan chil-dren.

Long-term Rotarians working with the Afghan Ministry of Education have assured long-term sustainability, and will provide fully trained teachers. Ongoing operational and maintenance funding has been secured from the Department of Education to ensure the 4000 students (boys and girls) who will be taught in this school, will continue to receive educational training.

A world half sick, half hungry and enslaved by poverty will never be a world at peace. Your contribution to help Rotarians carry out this interna-tional project goes directly to meeting the needs of Afghan children whose

dreams for a peaceful future can be realized.

On behalf of those children, Canadian Rotarians thank you for your assistance and trust. Visit the official website for the Afghanistan Challengewww.AfghanistanChallenge.ca

Submitted byDG Jackie Hobal

Rotary Leaders of 2010-2011

Just about every country has seen the elimination of polio.Under your leadership we can “End Polio Now”.Let’s work together to defeat this dreaded disease.You can make it happen.

Yes folks, you are the difference. The Rotary World is in Your Hands. You have the ability to provide “Service Above Self” in you year as District Governor. Just imagine, how you will be Building Communities and Bridg-ing Continents by eradicating Polio. You can do it. You can be the Gover-nor who does it. Let’s “Make Dreams Real”. If we do this the whole world will “Celebrate Rotary”.Yours in Rotary

Bruce D. ChristensenZone 24 Challenge Co-ordinatorpdg5370@telus.net

JULY 2010 13

Oct 01, 2010 Membership Training; TRF Trng Grande Prairie Oct 02, 2010 District Assembly Grande Prairie

Oct 15 - 16, 2010 District Leaders D5360, 5370, 5550 Nisku Regional Zone Success Seminar November 5-6, 2010 District Fall Training Grande Prairie November 8 – 13, 2010 Zone Institute London November 19-20, 2010 District Fall Training Edmonton Presidents elect and club leaders March 4-5, 2011 District Spring Training Edmonton President Elects, Secretaries, and all club leaders May 22-25, 2011 RI Convention New Orleans June 16-19, 2011 District Conference Athabasca, AB

EVENT CALENDAR Date Event Location/Comments

www.athabascaconference2011.caRotary International District 5370 Conference

June 16-19, 2011Athabasca, Alberta

connectconnect

District 5370 Rotary Newsletter 14

CLUB ATTENDANCE

Rotary InternationalDistrict 5370 (24)

Monthly Attendance ReportFor April, 2010

Club Name Members

as of New

Members Terminations

TotalMembers

Number ofMeetings

Gain/Loss YTD

Gain/Loss Attendance

June, 2009

ThisMonth

This Month This MonthThis MonthThis

Month Percentage

*District 5370 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 %*Interact Dawson Creek

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 %

*Interact Edmonton Cent.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 %

*Interact GrandePrairie

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 %

*Interact Sexsmith

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 %

*RotaractCamrose

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 %

*RotaractEdmonton Centre

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 %

*Rotaract GP 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 %*RotaractLloydminster

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 %

*Rotaract U of A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 %

Athabasca 49 0 0 50 4 0 1 70.83 %

Barrhead 23 0 0 22 3 0 -1 43.33 %

Battlefords 0 1 0 49 3 1 49 69.39 %

Camrose 50 1 0 51 4 1 1 72.73 %CamroseDaybreak

28 0 0 30 4 0 2 66.37 %

Dawson Creek 36 0 0 31 4 0 -5 75.00 %Dawson Creek Sunrise

37 0 0 41 4 0 4 65.24 %

Drayton Valley 37 0 0 41 5 0 4 59.02 %

Edmonton 197 1 0 185 3 1 -12 69.56 %Edmonton Ave ofNations

14 0 0 13 4 0 -1 69.00 %

Edmonton Gateway

40 1 1 39 4 0 -1 83.82 %

Edmonton Glenora

90 1 0 86 5 1 -4 58.79 %

Edmonton Mayfield

40 0 0 34 4 0 -6 70.00 %

Edmonton Northeast

65 0 0 62 4 0 -3 64.50 %

Edmonton Northern Lights

14 0 0 16 5 0 2 91.25 %

Edmonton Riverview

40 0 0 40 4 0 0 70.95 %

Edmonton South 61 0 0 60 4 0 -1 64.06 %Edmonton Southeast

14 2 4 14 4 -2 0 74.14 %

Edmonton Strathcona

62 0 0 62 4 0 0 67.50 %

JULY 2010 15

How is your club doing?

Edmonton Sunrise

36 1 0 33 4 1 -3 69.53 %

Edmonton UrbanSpirits

44 1 0 47 5 1 3 68.22 %

Edmonton West 53 0 0 56 3 0 3 68.06 %Edmonton WhyteAvenue

0 0 0 22 4 0 22 66.28 %

Edson 26 1 0 26 4 1 0 64.08 %

Fairview 29 0 0 31 4 0 2 65.00 %

Fort McMurray 43 3 0 42 4 3 -1 60.37 %Fort McMurray Oilsands

17 0 1 17 4 -1 0 66.20 %

Fort Nelson 27 0 0 0 0 0 -27 0.00 %Fort Saskatchewan

8 0 0 0 0 0 -8 0.00 %

Fort St. John 47 0 0 0 0 0 -47 0.00 %Fort St. John Sunrise

17 4 0 19 4 4 2 103.13 %

Grande Cache 19 0 0 15 4 0 -4 63.33 %

Grande Prairie 107 0 1 108 4 -1 1 86.19 %Grande Prairie Sunrise

57 2 0 54 3 2 -3 70.89 %

Grande Prairie Swan City

118 0 2 118 4 -2 0 71.49 %

Grimshaw Centennial

26 0 0 0 0 0 -26 0.00 %

Hay River Sunrise

15 0 0 14 5 0 -1 35.71 %

Hinton 25 0 0 0 0 0 -25 0.00 %

Jasper 33 0 0 36 4 0 3 111.81 %

Lac La Biche 16 0 1 16 4 -1 0 76.00 %

Lloydminster 75 0 0 77 4 0 2 51.09 %Lloydminster Border City

34 0 0 35 4 0 1 59.85 %

Morinville 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 %

Nisku-Leduc 39 0 0 39 5 0 0 61.96 %Parkland After Dark

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 %

Peace River 37 0 0 0 0 0 -37 0.00 %

Sherwood Park 49 0 0 49 4 0 0 68.09 %Sherwood Park Centennial

39 0 0 0 0 0 -39 0.00 %

Slave Lake 24 0 0 0 0 0 -24 0.00 %

Spruce Grove 45 1 0 51 5 1 6 68.78 %

St. Albert 59 1 0 58 4 1 -1 69.60 %St. Albert - SaintCity

18 0 0 21 4 0 3 82.89 %

Stony Plain 45 0 0 52 4 0 7 85.10 %

Vegreville 26 0 0 20 3 0 -6 83.33 %

Vermilion 37 0 0 0 0 0 -37 0.00 %

Wainwright 0 2 0 19 4 2 19 68.00 %

Westlock 66 0 0 67 5 0 1 78.57 %

Wetaskiwin 12 7 0 18 4 7 6 69.44 %

Whitecourt 20 0 0 21 5 0 1 86.67 %

Yellowknife 63 0 0 0 0 0 -63 0.00 %

Average attendance percentage 70.22 %

District 5370 Rotary Newsletter 16

LastName First Name Club Classification Sponsor

Stafford-Mayer Michael Drayton Valley Thompson Katia Drayton Valley Gupta Radhe Edmonton Real Estate Lily SimpsonHeglin Shaun Edmonton McDonald Karen Edmonton Roger LaingMilroy William Edmonton Bentley Dave Edmonton South Davidson Steven Edmonton South Dowdall Andy Edmonton Southeast Automotive-Retail Cec BlackburnRudge Jesse Edmonton Whyte Avenue Property Dev Brewster Holly Grande Prairie Retail Marketing Kevin HilgersDouglas Jennifer Grande Prairie Equine Therapeutic Robert WallaceMiller Dawn Grande Prairie Environmental Oilfield Cyril GurevitchKushner Charlene GP Sunrise Aquatics Manager Kylee HainingMarcotte Greg GP Sunrise Owner/Plumber Tracey VavrekLindquist Dalen GP Swan City Banking Bob Normandeau MacLennan Bill GP Swan City Banking Frank WrightDavison Maggie Jasper Russell Barry Lloydminster Automotive Tsf from Border City ClubBelland Guy Stony Plain Fitchtner Kevin Stony Plain Knysh Terry Stony Plain Porter Keith Stony Plain Svenningten Jason Stony Plain

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