Home Page | Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora

Sheri Mullin, Secretary

519-846-5357

sheri.mullin@outlook.com

Club Mailing Address

P.O. 111, Fergus, ON.

N1M 2W7

Co-President

Co-President

Past President

Secretary

Treasurer

Club Service Chair

Youth Service Chair

Barbara Lustgarten-Evoy

Fundraising Chair

Gil Plummer

Rotary International Foundation

Robert Galloway

Foundation Chair

Jeff Ostic

Interact Club Update

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Code of Conduct

Membership Application

Are You Interested in Joining ?

Refund Policy & Currency

Fergus Elora Rotary Foundation

Club History and Charter Members

A strong and vibrant club committed to serving our local and global communities while ensuring equity, diversity and growth for all

Rotary Links

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Rotary International

Rotary District 7080

Rotary Club of Centre Wellington Centennial

Rotary Club of Guelph-Wellington

Rotary Club of Guelph

Rotary Club of Guelph South

Rotary Club of Guelph Trillium

Rotary Attendance Online

Cheque Presentations to Groves Hospital

Jim Gibbons presents the cheque for $500,000 to Groves Hospital Foundation.

Picture left to right are Leanne Iravani, Presidennt of The Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora. Jim Gibbons. Angela Stanley, President and CEO of Wellington Health Care Alliance, Ilse VanderMeulen, Chair of the Board of Groves Hospital Foundation, Lori Arsenault, Executive Director of Groves Hospital Foundation

Bruce McLeish and Gil Plummer present a cheque for $50,800. to Groves Hospital Foundation. These funds were on top of the $500,000 that the club raised for the hospital. These funds were designated for an ultrasound to be used in the operating room.

L-R Bruce McLeish and Gil Plummer on behalf of Rotary

Angela Stanley and Ilse VanderMeulen for Groves Foundation

L-R Randy Graham, John Martin representing the Fergus-Legion who partnered with Rotary on Catch the Ace, Jim Gibbons, Angela Stanley, Ilse Vandermeulen, Leanne Iravani, Gil Plummer, Bruce McLeish, Lori Arsenault and Neil Dunsmore

Object of Rotary

Club Members Make Donation To CRC

Janette Gagic, a member of our club, along with numerous club member have made donations to the Community Resource Centre's project of "School Backpack Supplies Program". Accepting is Ron MacKinnon, Executive Director of Community Resource Centre.

Wightman TV - Rotary Bingo

Our TV Bingo will resume on Tuesday October 4, 2022. Channel 1- Wightman TV

CATCH THE ACE WINNER

Congratulation to our jackpot winner, Rosemary Skilling of Fergus who caught the Ace of Spades in envelope #32 on draw #47 held on Aug 21/22. Thanks to all of our ticket purchasers and vendors.

From left – John Martin, Dave Evans, Bruce McLeish, Jim Gibbons, Rosemary Skilling, Janette Gajic, Leanne Iravani, Brian Bielby, and Gil Plummer. Photo by Joanne Shuttleworth

President's Night - Highest Recognition - Paul Harris Awards

Paul Harris Awards were presented to:

Gil Plummer, Bruce McLeish, Dave Roberts, Norm Manning, Jim Gibbons and Rob Galloway

President's Night Pics

Left - Peter Little as our newest honorary member 21/22

Right - John Campbell - President's Recognition Award 21/22

Cheque Presentations - May 24, 2022

Several of Our Donations

Our club assisted KIPP with the building of their shelter located in Bissell Park in Elora.

Left to right in the photo is Leanne Iravani, Club President elect for 2022-2023, Staci Barron from KIPP and Rob Galloway. Club President 2021-2022.

The Rotary Club of Fergus Elora made a $1,500 cheque presentation to Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Centre Wellington. Left to right in the cheque presentation is Leanne Iravani, Erika Longman, and Rob Galloway.

On May 24, 2022, this club presented a cheque to Elora Centre for the Arts to assist with a summer program.

Left to right in the photo is Leanne Iravani, Club President elect for 2022-2023, Molly Kleiker from Elora Centre for the Arts and Rob Galloway. Club President 2021-2022.

Breaking News

At a recent board meeting of our club, Rotary International DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION CODE OF CONDUCT was adopted by the Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora. Please see "Download Files" in the left margin to view the related document.

Rotary's 117th Birthday

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL’S BIRTHDAY on FEB 23^RD 2022

The world’s first service club, the Rotary Club of Chicago, was formed on February 23^rd, 1905 by Paul Harris, an attorney who wished to capture in a professional club the same friendly spirit he had felt in the small towns of his youth. The Rotary name derived from the early practice of rotating meetings among members offices.

Rotary’s popularity spread, and within a decade, clubs were chartered from San Francisco to New York to Winnipeg, Canada (chartered April 13/1912). By 1921, Rotary clubs had been formed on six continents. The organization adopted the Rotary International name a year later.

As Rotary grew, its mission expanded beyond serving club members’ professional and social interests. Rotarians began pooling their resources and contributing their talents to help serve communities in need. The Organization’s dedication to this ideal is best expressed in its motto: SERVICE ABOVE SELF.

By 1925, Rotary had grown to 200 clubs with more than 20,000 members. Over the years the organization’s distinguished reputation attracted prime ministers, presidents, mayors and distinguished luminaries -among them Neil Armstrong, Angela Merkel, John Kennedy, Walt Disney, Bill and Melinda Gates

Rotarians take pride in their history. In honour of that first club, Rotarians have preserved its original meeting place. Room 711 in Chicago’s Unity Building, by re-creating the office as it existed in 1905. In 1993, the R.I. Board of directors set aside a permanent home for a restored Room 711 at R.I World headquarters in the Chicago suburb of Evanston. Rotary International in 2022 now has 1.4 million Rotarians, in 130 countries with over 46,000 clubs.

Happy Birthday Rotary International Feb 23, 2022 for helping others for 117 years. Thank you, Fergus-Elora Rotarians, for being part of this great organization.

Rob Galloway-President Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora 2021-22

TV BINGO

Tickets (bingo cards) cost $5 each, the jackpot is $1200.

Tree Trust

Fergus Elora Rotary Club Working to Preserve Big Trees

Some 80 people were on hand on a beautiful October morning to celebrate Tree Trust Centre Wellington as they stewarded their program’s tenth tree – a legacy Sugar Maple at 365 Garafraxa St. West in Fergus.
The Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora sponsored the stewardship of this tree and a number of club members were on hand to witness the arborists at work. Club president, Rob Galloway, remarked in his speech that Tree Trust reflects the Rotary Club’s environmental focus with a local program where donors, can see their donations at work.
While tree planting is a popular and important part of taking care of the environment, it is mature trees that do the heavy lifting – storing carbon, supplying habitat, providing shade and slowing storm water run-off. In fact, one mature tree does the work of 269 saplings.
Tree Trust is growing and now has 6 chapters, each working in their own communities investing donations to help preserve some of their important trees. Local Rotary Clubs in Stratford, Meaford and Town of Blue Mountains, like the Fergus-Elora club, have stepped up to support this program – the only one of its kind.
Tree Trust is part of the Elora Environment Centre, a registered Charity. For more information, please contact Jaimie McDonald at cw@treetrust.ca or visit TreeTrust.ca.
A plaque has been placed at the base of the tree acknowledging the Rotary’s generous contribution.

CANADA DAY 2021 PHOTOS

Canada Day Garden Decorating Winners

Canada Day Porch Decorating Contest - Winners

Porch/Door Decorating Contest Winners

1rst prize winner Doug & Robin Russell, 549 Walker St. Fergus $150.00

2nd prize winner Alison & Ralph Rainford, 240 Provost Lane, Fergus $100.00 **DONATED BACK TO ROTARY ***

3rd prize winner Megan Scott, 35 Bricker Ave., Elora $50.00

Thank You Notes from Community Resource Centre

Club Sponsors COVID-19 Screening

John Campbell, Club Treasurer presents a cheque to Sally Litchfield of Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce.

The Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora is pleased to sponsor the Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce’s Rapid Screening Initiative. Through this initiative, the Centre Wellington Chamber is providing free rapid tests for small and medium-sized businesses in Wellington County.

Presentations

In the upper photo, President Stephen Pollock made a presentation of $1,000. to Renna Bruce Paonne, Executive Director of Learning Disabilities Association of Wellington County. Funds will be used for a Social Skills Program for their clients.

In the lower photo, our President Stephen Pollock made a presentation of $700. to Wellington Pregnancy Care Centre to Joanne Pronk, Executive Director (in middle) and Ilse VanderMeulen, Director of Fundraising. Funds will be used for an online course for pregnancy, birth and parenting

Award to Ted Ecclestone

ShelterBox Donation Earns Award

News About Our Interact Club

All the members of our Rotary Interact Club created these Thank you notes designed for the hardworking Covid Team at Groves Hospital. The youth of our community continue to amaze and inspire us.

An Additional Focus Area for Us

Rotary International has added Environment as an additional area of focus for Rotary. The seven focus areas are:

1. Environment

2. Community economic development

3. Basic education and literacy

4. Peacebuilding and conflict

5. Disease prevention and treatment

6. Water, sanitation and hygiene

7. Maternal and child health

Donations

So that funds would not sit idle, we made a donation from our Catch the Ace draw that will re-start when it is safe to do so.

Click on 'Read more' to see an additional donation and to Like this story or make comments

Steps to Stop the Silence

Fergus Elora Rotary Club member Neil Dunsmore took the first steps to stopping the silence around mental health and suicide by walking 531 km or 330 miles from The Township of Centre Wellington to the nation’s capital Ottawa. When asked why he would take on such a challenge, Dunsmore answered with a typical Rotarian response “It’s about my community! We are 2.7 times the national average for suicide and that’s an issue for me. Someone needs to raise awareness and get this issue on everyone’s radar, the Federal Governments, the Provincial Governments and the service clubs. Our community is in crisis and when a crisis hits, we have no choice but to act. Service above self!

Africa Kicks Out Wild Polio Virus

In 1996, the great African leader Nelson Mandela launched the Kick Polio Out of Africa campaign with Rotary International’s support, setting out a vision for a polio-free Africa. At the time, wild polio paralysed 75,000 children each year. To protect communities from this crippling disease, African leaders, health workers, volunteers, parents, global donors and organizations united to reach every child with polio vaccines.

New Groves Hospital Opens

Emergency Department Has Our Club Name

To recognize the generous contributes from the Rotary Club of Fergus Elora to the Groves Hospital Foundation, the Emergency Department at the New Groves Hospital was named Rotary Club of Fergus Elora in perpetuity. To date, the Rotary Club of Fergus Elora has donated $500,000 to Groves Hospital Foundation.

Thank You from Big Brothers-Big Sisters

Club Provides $14,500. to Local Charities

The $2000.00 given to the Food Bank is unique in that we provided 80 twenty-five dollar grocery gift cards to purchase food at a local grocery store. In order to keep their distance Jackie Andrews on the left and Brian Dowling on the right accepted the cards on two miniature hockey sticks. The others in the backround are co-presidents Ed Davis on the left and Bob Wright with manager of the foodbank Fred Aleksandrowicz on the right. Chair of Centre Wellington Board of Directors, Jackie Andrews mentioned this program will have a very positive impact on the people coming into the Food Bank as it gives them a chance to go and purchase some food they like.

The Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora Cares

Cancellation of Bingo

Due to the pandemic of COVID-19, the Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora bingo held at Grand River Raceway has been cancelled until further notice.

Wightman TV, Channel 1, every Tue has also been cancelled.

Coronovirus Information

Please see the following link for up to date information:

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html…

TV Bingo

Pints for Polio

International Reach of Our Club

Presentation Of Paul Harris Award

Dave Adsett, a non-Rotarian was presented with a Paul Harris Fellowship by Jim Gibbons (right)

Paul Harris Award

Past President Leanne Iravani was presented with a Paul Harris Fellowship

Presidents Changeover

Top Photo - Leanne Iravani receives Past Presidents pin from Ed Davis

Next Photo - Co Presidents Bob Wright and Ed Davis with Leanne Iravani

Next Photo - Ed Davis and Bob Wright hold Rotary theme flag for 2019-2020

Bottom Photo - Co Presidents for 2019-2020 Ed Davis and Bob Wright

Presentation Day - Jun 4/19

Organizations that received funding this spring are pictured below: Presentations made by Leanne Iravani, Club President, were made to Fergus-Elora District Soccer - Special Needs Soccer, $1,000. received by Pat Espina, Centre Wellington District High School, Bikeshare Program $1,378 received by Matt Arnold and Brianna Redwood; Centre Wellington Food Bank, Christmas hamper program $1,488 received by Jackie Andrews; Community Resource Centre, several programs totalling $4,200, received by Lauren Petty and June Baldwin; Big Brothers-Big Sisters, Camp URU $1,500 received by Kristen Drexler; The Grand 101.1 FM $2,500 for signal antennas received by Scott Jensen Missing is KidsAbility that received $2,900

Food Bank

At their Annual General Meeting, Centre Wellington Food Bank provided the Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora with the Friend of the CW Food Bank Award. This was received for Hall Rental for Annual Christmas Hamper, Food Drive volunteers, and Christmas Children Book Drive.

Pictured is Leanne Iravani , President of the Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora with the award.

Cheque Presentation

Pictured above: John Martin, Vice President -Royal Canadian Legion, Fergus; Stephen Street, Groves Hospital CEO; Leanne Iravani, President-Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora; Lori Arsenault, Executive Director-Groves Hospital Foundation; Randy Graham, President- Royal Canadian Legion,Fergus and Bruce McLeish Secretary-Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora.

The Rotary Club held a Catch the Ace draw to raise funds for our new hospital and help to fulfill the $500,000 pledge that the club made to the hospital. The $44,707.15 is the full net proceeds of the Catch the Ace draw. Thanks to Wellington Advertiser and Fergus Printing who helped substantially to make this draw such a success.

Catch the Ace - Jackpot Winner

The $30,000 jackpot winner on April 28, 2019 was John Fines. He holds the Ace of Spades that was contained in envelope #37 that is held by his wife Kathy. Congratulations to the winner and thanks to everyone who purchased tickets during this lottery draw. All net proceeds that will be in excess of $40,000 will be donated to Groves Hospital Foundation.

Round # 2 of Catch the Ace is underway with draws every Sunday at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 275, Fergus with the 1st draw on May 5, 2019.

Catch the Ace - Jan 20/19 - Draw Winner

Jim Dixon, draw winner Jan 20/19 received a cheque for $590 from Jim Gibbons, Chair of the Catch the Ace Committee of Fergus-Elora Rotary Club. Jim Dixon hoped that his selection of envelope #3 would contain the Ace of Spades and he would have won an additional $9,553.50 that is in the jackpot. Tickets for this weekly draw are available at Fergus Legion and Dixon Home Hardware and cost $5 each. All net proceeds will go to Groves Hospital Foundation..

Paul Harris Fellows - 2018

The Paul Harris Fellow is the highest form of recognition given by Rotary clubs world-wide. Individuals who have shown by exemplary effort, sacrifice or dedication to the causes and principles of Rotary, that they deserve the recognition of the Paul Harris Fellow, are eligible to be nominated, whether they are members of Rotary or not.

	On behalf of the club, John Campbell presented a Paul Harris Fellowship to Bruce Hawkins (left).
	Leannne Iravani, Club President presented a Paul Harris Fellowship to Jeremy Hewitt while Ed Davis and Barbara Lustgarten-Evoy look on.
	Colleen Roberts received a Paul Harris Fellowship that was presented by Karen Welch.

Rotary Bingo on Wightman TV

Thanks to all our bingo players who played TV bingo in the Fergus and Elora area during the past year. We will be returning near the end of October 2018 on Wightman TV channel 1 on Monday nights.

A huge thank you also to our sellers of bingo cards who gave their commission back to the club so that we could help worthy charities in our community. We hope that you will continue to shop in their stores. These card sellers were:

CANADIAN TIRE, 950 TOWER ST SOUTH,FERGUS

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ZEHRS, 800 TOWER ST SOUTH,FERGUS

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DIXON HOME HARDWARE BUILDING CENTRE

745 ST DAVID ST NORTH, FERGUS

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COLDWELL BANKER GRAND HOMES REALTY

162 ST ANDREW ST EAST, FERGUS

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WIGHTMAN

490 ST ANDREW ST WEST, FERGUS

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Canada Day 2018

Award Luncheon on May 29, 2018

Award Luncheon on May 29, 2018

Donation to KidsAbility

Charmaine Brown of KidsAbility receives a cheque from Leanne Iravani, Club President. Funds are to be used on their 6 and Up children's program.

Tree Planting on April 28, 2018

	Rotary tree planters receive planting instructions .
	From left to right Toni Ellisof Neighbourwoods, Don Fisher, Councillor of Township of Centre Wellington, Bruce McLeish, Matt Alain, aborist from Township of Centre Wellington, Karen Welch, Donna Humphrey, Bob Grant, Don Darroch, Cecil Wolfe, Bryan Welch, Jim Gibbons
	Rotary Club President Leanne Iravani with Toni Ellis of Neighbourwoods.

Donation to Child Witness Centre

Leanne Iravani, President of Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora presents a cheque to Laura Muirhead, Executive Director of Child Witness Centre.

Donation to Special Needs Soccer

Pat Espina of Fergus Elora District Soccer receives a cheque from Leanne Iravani, President of the Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora. The cheque is for the special needs soccer program.

Donation to Big Brothers-Big Sisters

Mar 27/18 - Kristen Drexler, Executive Director of Big Brothers-Big Sisters, Centre Wellington receive a $1500 cheque from Leanne Iravani, President of Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora. Funds were used towards the first ever URU Camp in Centre Wellington that is designed toward Grade 5 and 6 students.

Donation to Community Resource Centre

Leanne Iravani, centre, presented a cheque to Lindsay Cowan, Supervisor of Early ON and Alyssa Cunningham, Supervisor of Outreach and Support Services of Community Resource Centre. $1200 will be used for books for the Literacy program, $500 toward startup of Memory Cafe. and $1500 for swim passes.

Annual Children's Christmas Party

December 19, 2017 - A number of children from KidsAbility joined in with our related young ones to have lunch and meet Santa at our Annual Children's Christmas Party with KidsAbility.

Donation to Fergus Elora Senior Trans

Don Doyle, Treasurer of Fergus Elora Senior Trans receives a cheque from Leanne Iravani, President of the Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora

Awards Presented at Christmas Party

Brian Pollock (right)worked with Rotary and installed a large stone where a plaque was mounted that commemorated World War 1 veterans. This Vimy Oaks site in Victoria Park, Fergus was developed by the Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora.	Ivan Ostic, centre, was congratulated for his 50 years in Rotary and was presented with a suitably engraved clock.
Shirley Scott (left) received a special memento from the club. Shirley is a Friend of Rotary that has faithfully helped us by selling bingo cards for the past 10 years.	Donald Darroch, centre, was congratulated for his 50 years in Rotary and was presented with a suitably engraved clock.

Polio Eradication

Polio is on the cusp of being eradicated and there is a lot to learn.

The polio endgame is near. It really is. The target is to eradicate polio by 2019 and judging by the numbers this year, we are almost there. The global WHO polio report on September 27, 2017 reported there were a total of 11 cases globally: 6 cases in Afghanistan and just 5 cases in Pakistan. In the last few years, I watched polio cases drop off a cliff. Just 3 years ago, annual polio cases in Pakistan crossed 200 in total. This remarkable shift in just three short years is truly amazing. There really have been some key milestones and I will illustrate them here.

The Model of Giving

A strong role model can make all the difference during a child’s formative years. For Bob Grant, his father Roy set the standard as a Charter member of the Mount Forest Lions Club and by serving his community in humanitarian needs.

Visit of District Governor

Oct 10/17 - Leanne Iravani, Club President provided a Polioplus thank you certificate to District Governor, Kathleen Dick who visited the club on her annual official visit.

Donation to S.H.A.R.E.

Oct 10/17- Les Frayne from S.H.A.R.E. Foundation received a club cheque for $2,000. to help with that organizations international water projects. Also in the photo is Club President Leanne Iravani and Marg Frayne.

Member BBQ

Aug 15/17- Thanks to Don Vallery and Pine Meadows Retirement Community, we were able to use the community hall and facilities for our member and guest BBQ. A good time and excellent food was enjoyed by all.

Canada Day Quilt Draw

Thank you to everyone who purchased a ticket in the draw for the quilt. The quilt was won by R. Wheatley of Fergus who had the winning ticket #0130.

WHY NOT JOIN ROTARY ?

Donation to The Door

Jun 13/17- Doug Calder from "The Door" operated by Highland Youth for Christ was presented with a $1,000 cheque for youth programming.

Donation to KidsAbility

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Jun 20/17-Charmaine Brown from KidsAbility receives a cheque from President Jim Waites. Funds are to be used for their "6 and up" program in Fergus that is estimated to cost $10,000.

Donation to Wellington Centre for Sustainable Agriculture

Jun 13/17- Valerie Tibbles representing Wellington Centre for Sustainable Agriculture was presented with a cheque in the amount of $750 by Club President Jim Waites. Funds will be used to build a cob pizza oven on their premises.

Donation to Friends of the Grand River

Friends of the Grand River represented by Jason King and Terry Ryckman were presented with a cheque by Club President Jim Waites. $1,962 will be used toward the planting of new trees along the river and $500 will be used to assist with the deep water fish habitat.

Donation to Count Down to Canada Day

Jim Waites, Club President presented a $1,500 cheque to Marilyn Abraham for Count Down to Canada Day Program in Fergus.

Donation to KidsAbility

Jim Waites, Club President presented a $5,174.00 and $250.00 to Lisa Talbot, CEO of KidsAbility Foundation. The larger amount is the second half of a donation that was approved last spring for a speech pathologist on a part time basis at the Fergus location. The smaller amount was to put together a pilot program for boys in Fergus with disabilities for socialization.

Donation to Centre Wellington Food Bank

Jim Waites, Club President, presented $1,000 cheque to Centre Wellington Food Bank Chair, Jackie Andrews. The funds being provided are used by the food bank to partly cover the cost of renting space in Centre Wellington Sportsplex for their Christmas Hamper Program. A Township grant is no longer available for this rental.

Donation to Spark of Brilliance

Jim Waites, Club President presented a $1,000 cheque to Margaret Hill of Spark of Brilliance. The funds will be used for art and other material used in putting on workshops that are open to anyone but are particularly geared to those individuals who are coping with mental health issues.The organization aims to bring together those who might otherwise be socially isolated.Many of the attendees live below the poverty line, most being on disability pensions. The workshops promote an atmosphere of acceptance and a sense of accomplishment and well-being.

Donation to Father's Heart Healing Ministries

Jim Waites, Club President presented a $1,000 cheque to Maggie Baratto and Vanessa Belanger from Father's Heart Healing Ministries. That organization operates a residence home for women exiting human trafficking, the sex trade and addiction. Funds will be used to purchase tables, chairs, hair salon equipment for new salon for hair and make up to be established as a part of their operations. This will assist in the increase of self esteem in their clients through appropriate self-image and self-care.

Donation to Community Resource Centre

Jim Waites, Club President presented a cheque for $2,700 cheque to Alissa Cunningham and Ron MacKinnon from Community Resource Centre. $1,500 of the funds will be used to purchase swim passes for children age 1-19. Last year, 90 children from 39 families were enabled to engage in a healthy activity within walking distance of most individuals. The balance of $1,200 will be used to purchase books for young mothers as part of a kit to build literacy in young children.

Donation To Wellington County Learning Centre

Jim Waites, Club President presented a $1,000 cheque to Elizabeth Deberge from Wellington County Learning Centre. The funds will be used to purchase English language learning books for a number of recent refugees to this area. The books will be used during the attendance of these refugees at English as a second language classes organized by the learning centre.

NEW MEMBERS - NEW SATELLITE CLUB

On Sep 13, 2016, 6 new members were inducted into The Rotary Club-of Fergus-Elora. These 6 new members will meet at our satellite club that meets in the evening, The inaugural meeting of The Rotary Satellite Club of Fergus-Elora Evening will take place on Sep 28 . Jim Waites (left), Club President, is pictured with the six new members that are from left to right Don Vallery, Dave Roberts, Angela Tamblyn, Claire Warren, Carl MacArthur, Rob Murray. A big welcome to these new members.

Official Visit by District Governor-Aug 30, 2016

District Governor, Bill Proctor and Club President Jim Waites on the official visit to the club by the District Governor on August 30

Rotary Member & Family BBQ

John Jefferson cooking steak.	Rick Roberts getting some wieners and sausage ready to eat.
Dorothy Henson was presented with a Paul Harris Fellowship (Rotary's highest honour) by Jim Dixon.	Volunteers for Rotary events during the past year were presented with thank-you certificates.

Leanne Iravani, Director of International Service, Marg Frayne from SHARE, Jim Waites, President of Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora and Les Frayne, Project Manager from SHARE. A cheque for $3,000 was presented by the Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora to S.H.A.R.E. Agriculture Foundation for the purchase of 44 eco water filters for 44 families (250 people) in a remote area of Guatemala where young community members help to improve conditions in their underserviced communities.

There are few supports to communities in this area of Guatemala and the project work is done in Mayan villages which are very isolated and impoverished. All but a few of the communities are accessible by long and difficult jungle trails. A few communities are accessible by boat. The families grow corn on the hillsides to feed their families. Some families have a pig or some free range chickens or turkeys. Some that live nearer the water are fishermen. The homes are traditional thatched huts with dirt floors and wooden walls. Women cook on open fires in the hut. The water in many of the villages is sourced from streams and springs sometimes at a distance from the villages and it is polluted. Families suffer from recurring intestinal illnesses from using this water.

Donation to Child Witness Centre

Past President Bob Wright and President Ed Davis present a cheque for $1,000. to Linda Mark of Child Witness Centre. Funds will be used toward their 2017 Youth Symposium for up to 1500 Grade Eight students and teachers in Guelph and Wellington County of which 230 are from Fergus and Elora.

During the course of the day students and teachers have the opportunity to hear 3 inspiring speakers. Key messages include: You can be the change ! It takes ONE to make a difference ! Step outside your comfort zone and try new things ! Be an 'energy giver' not an 'energy taker' ! Students are given tools and strategies to help them face challenges in their own lives as they enter high school, a key point in their development.

Dave Beynon and President Ed Davis present a cheque for $3,000. to Michael House Pregnancy Care Centre, 187 Bristol Street, Guelph. The centre serves women not only in Guelph but Wellington County. Funds will be used to equip their teaching room at their newly opened supportive housing building. Funds will be used for board room table and chairs, refinish floors and paint the room and the purchase of audio visual equipment.

Past President Paul Rogers and President Ed Davis make a presentation to Jackie Andrews of Centre Wellington Food Bank. Funds from the donation are used to assist with rental costs of space at Centre Wellington Sportsplex for their Christmas hamper program.

2016 Elementary School Awards

For a number of years, the Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora has provided a Community Service Award to a graduating student from each of the local elementary schools. The above picture is Leah Hutchinson, a student of John Black Public School who received the award that was recently presented at their graduation ceremony in June 2016. Congratulations to Leah and all of the other students in Fergus and Elora who received this award.

Club Honours Charter Members

Cecil Wolfe and Bruce Oldfield are both Charter Members of the Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora. The club was officially chartered on May 26, 1966 and they have now been members for 50 years. At a 50th anniversary club luncheon on May 31, 2016, they were presented with special gifts in commemoration of this event.

Donation to Sunrise Therapeutic Riding & Learning Centre

Past President Bob Wright and President Ed Davis make a presentation to Alissa Gibson representing Sunrise Therapeutic Riding & Learning Centre. Some of the funds will be used to purchase ribbons for their annual horse show. Regardless of where they place, the ribbons are all stunning and the children are thrilled to receive them. Many of the riders have never before had an experience of winning an activity, so it is a special moment. The other part of the funds will be used to purchase new feed bowls and hanging water buckets as well as grooming supplies for the therapy horses.

President Ed Davis makes a presentation to Sara Wilbur, Executive Director, and Richard Seibel, Board Member, of Grand River Conservation Foundation on behalf of the club. These funds will support the development of the new Guelph Lake Nature Centre, which supports about 1,100 students from the Centre Wellington Area each year (in 2014, thirty-one elementary classes and ten classes from Centre Wellington District High School.) Students at the Centre make essential connections with nature at a time when children no longer simply go out and play; the lessons learned there increase their interest in the outdoors, foster self-reliance and encourage our community’s young people to become our next generation of environmental ambassadors. Exposure to the outdoors helps promote physical and mental health in kids, reduces anxiety and offers young people who may not thrive in a traditional learning environment to feel good about their accomplishments.

$100,000.00 Gift

$100,000.00

The Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora has agreed to contribute the above amount to The New Groves Hospital Campaign which will be used in support of the New Groves Hospital located in Fergus, ON. This amount will be contributed over a period of 5 years at $20,000 yearly commencing in 2016. This club has been a strong supporter of Groves Hospital, and in addition to many yearly contributions, it provided $250,000 a few years ago to the Groves Redevelopment Campaign. The first payment of $20,000 took place on May 31, 2016

Welcome to our Exchange Student

Welcome to our exchange student, Arni, from New Zealand

Rotary Fundraiser

During the pre-Christmas season, members of the Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora sold hams and cheese baskets to raise funds for community and international projects. Pictured is the winning sales team. Thanks to many local businesses and individuals who purchased ham and cheese baskets. A special thanks to Zehrs Markets, Fergus who made this fundraiser possible.

Rotary Children's Christmas Party for KidsAbility

On December 15, 2015 the club held it's annual children's Christmas Party. Children from the local office of KidsAbility were invited to attend. Everyone enjoyed the special menu of hot dogs. Gifts for the children purchased by the Rotary Club were presented by Santa.

Rotary's Push To End Polio Now

Donation to Arthur Trail Group

In the spring of 2015, the Fergus-Elora Rotary Club approved an application for funding from Arthur Trail Group. Rotary President, Ed Davis (on top picture) presented a donation to that group to assist with the trail development. The official opening of the trail was held on September 26, 2015 in Arthur. Bruce McLeish, Secretary, John Campbell, Treasurer, and Bob Grant attended the opening ceremonies (included in bottom picture) that were held in Arthur at a kiosk on the trail. As a continuation of the Arthur Trail work already organized, carried out and providing local benefits, the Trails Group is looking to link the existing trail with the Upper Grand Trail Dufferin. This Upper Grand Trail Wellington would begins at Wells Street in Arthur and extend along the old railbed between the village of Arthur and the East/West Luther townline. The project provides multiple environmental and community benefits: natural conservation; increased volunteerism; safe, varied fitness benefits; educational opportunities. Approximately 1000 trees planted along the trail will provide cooling, erosion control, maintenance of the water table and shelter for wildlife. All trees are native species.
Local High School students will assist in the planting. Sowing of wildflower seeds is included. These and the majority of the trees will support the needs of all kinds of native pollinators, at a time when many of them are in decline. Members of local 4H will be building birdhouses to place along the trail.

We Appreciate Our Volunteers

Ed Davis, President (on left) with some of our volunteers. We appreciate the assistance of volunteers who often help with our fundraising projects. If you would like to volunteer to assist the club on our fundraisers, please contact any Rotary member.

Thanks to Scotiabank

Scotiabank provided generous sponsorship funds to the club in the past year. Ed Davis and Norm Manning present the Fergus Branch Manager with an appreciation plaque.

Unveiling of Sign - Stait Park, Fergus