Stories

2022 Holiday Giving

This holiday season, Rotary Club London East is proud to present the following donations to these worth London causes.

Salvation Army ($1000)

John Howard Society ($2000)

Anova ($1000)

Food Bank ($1000)
Mission Services ($1000)
My Sisters Place ($1000)
Toys for Tots ($1000)
Trafalgar School Nutrition Program ($500)
Aberdeen School Nutrition Program ($500)

ROTARY CLUB LONDON EAST'S BUG HOTEL IS UP AT LORNE AVE PARK!

HARUN CHOL NEEDS SCHOOL RECORDS TO APPLY TO UNIVERSITY

In a country at war, records are lost, destroyed. To advance in education, Harun needs to pay for official records.

DAVID WOOD: A NEW PATH FOR ENTREPRENEURS

David Wood, Harvard MBA, a man with deep roots in London, developed his winning formula by transforming a failing plastics company in the '60's. He has since reinvigorated other organizations. His message is particularly important at this point when we are watching major societal conflict erupting.

He says:

Please invite friends and family to hear David speak to us via Zoom at our regular lunch meeting on September 8.

ROTARY IN GIBBONS PARK, AUGUST 18!

BENJAMIN BARNABA GETS TEXTBOOKS

Benjamin is studying to be a Health Officer in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

He wants to help South Sudan with health programs.

ROTARY CELEBRATES PAUL FARROW'S 47 YEARS PERFECT ATTENDANCE!

A drive by congratulations for Paul!

SOLAR LAMPS FOR STUDY

When the market shuts down for Covid, there is nowhere to go for light to study. We provided two solar powered lamps for Joseph and Hamad.

Joseph Daud

Hamad Nocha

SOLAR LAMPS FOR STUDYING

SOLAR LAMPS FOR STUDYING

Covid has closed down the Market, so no light for studying. Two solar lamps enable Joseph Daud and Hamad Nocha to study in the evenings, keeping up with their work.

FIRST YEAR NURSING STUDENT ANDREA PETER

To study for final exams, Peter needs text materials. Rotary/MGYF helps.

CONGRATULATIONS ISAAC JAMES ON GRADUATING AS A CLINICAL NURSE!

Isaac is graduating from Assosa College in Ehtiopia. He hopes to study for a more advanced degree in the future.

Rotary/MGYF helped with his graduation gown.

Isaac James is graduating as a Clinical Nurse!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ISAAC JAMES, GRADUATING CLINICAL NURSE!

HAMED NOCHA, BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Rotary London East/MGYF helped Hamed Nocha with texts. Hamed is studying at home now, but looking forward to going back to college in Ethiopia.

ROTARY/MGYF HELPS

Another student needs texts to study at home while the pandemic has closed the schools. Joseph Moma

is studying Law. He wants to help South Sudan establish its judicial system.

ROTARY/MGYF UP AND RUNNING

Although students in Africa cannot attend school, they are studying at home. To do so, they need texts. This is Daud Koka, who is studying Agriculture. He wants to help farmers make their fields more productive in South Sudan.

ROTARY LONDON EAST ZOOMS ON!

Members of Rotary Club London East, with the help the cyber savvy among them, enjoy a noon hour Zoom meeting!

LORRIE MILLER JOINS ROTARY CLUB LONDON EAST

When Lorrie joined our Club, she jumped right in!

Trafalgar Public School: Our Special Focus

LORRIE MILLER CONNECTED OUR CLUB TO TRAFALGAR

Last year, Lorrie identified a school in East London that could use some help. Her first move was to recruit some helpers and spruce up the landscaping on the school property.

THE ROTARY LONDON EAST/MGYF PARTNERSHIP BEGINS!

President Bonnie Hudson and Sila Joshua sign an agreement to collect a pool of money from Club members and interested friends to support young people from South Sudan who are working on a college education. These young people will use their skills to help build South Sudan, the world's newest country.

TOYS FOR TOTS

As well as a financial donation from our Club to the Toys for Tots project, Deb, Bonnie (wearing the Rotary Participation shades!) and Susan Cassan joined armed forces volunteers to fill Santa bags with new gifts for children ages 3 to 13.

PRESIDENT BONNIE HUDSON PRESENTS COMPUTER SCREEN PROJECTOR TO TRAFALGAR SCHOOL

President Bonnie Hudson presents a projector to Trafalgar school, enabling the staff to show presentations and movies to the whole school in the auditorium.

TRAFALGAR CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Enthusiastic children perform for family and Rotary Club members.

Welcome Deb to the Club

Our Newest Member

For years Deb has been part of our club as a Rotarian Spouse. Her husband Mike has since passed away but Deb's passion for Rotary has continued. On October 2nd 2019, Deb became an official Rotary Member of The London East Rotary Club. We are so happy to officially have you as a member of our club now Deb!!!!

Eva's Garden Party

Eva's Garden Party Fundraiser July 2019

East Coast Kitchen Party Fundraiser

East Coast Kitchen Party

Fundraiser

	Table #1 - Rotarians....Susan Cassan, Bonnie Hudson, Eva Ryten, Jim Gill, Michelle De Ruiter and guests.
	Table #2 - Rotarians....Svetlana MacDonald, Patrick Briscoe, Bob Mann and guests.
	Table #3 - Shirley Anderson, Bill George, Camillia Larouche and guests.

Internet Security

Internet Privacy and Security

Thank you Arthur Majoor for the information on internet privacy and security.

Look up programs like Ghostery or Brave. Clear your cache and cover up your camera. Keep private. You are being watched and tracked.

Limit time on facebook and social media.

Kathrin Campbell

Thank you Kathrin Campbell for working our club members through some exercises during the meeting today. Core strength is so important and so is flexibility.

Woodeden Easter Seals Camp

Last Night The London East Rotary Club provided dinner to 136 campers and staff at Woodeden Easter Seals Camp.

#Rotariansmakingadifference

Changeover Dinner

Last night at our Changeover dinner we inducted Jim Gill as President of London East Rotary. We also thanked Carolina Berges for her year as President.

We remembered those Rotarians who lost their lives this year - Mike Brandt and John Gillies.

Steve Dietrich was honoured with a Paul Harris Fellow for his many years of dedication to Rotary and also for his hours of work he puts into our fundraisers.

It was a fun event, picnic setting and kids were able to play at the park. Thank you everyone that came to support Rotary.

Rotary Club of Durbanville

The Rotary Club of Durbanville is located close to Cape Town, South Africa. Cape Town is a coastal city in South Africa. It is the second-most populous urban area in South Africa after Johannesburg. It is also the capital and primate city of the Western Cape province.

London East Rotary collected bicycles and bike parts to send over in a container to The Rotary Club of Durbanville. It was reported from Durbanville that a total of 204 bicycles were deemed to be complete, usable and suitable for distribution. The bulk of these were distributed to Empowerment Centres.

Rotary Club of London East is 'MAKING A DIFFERENCE'.

Paul Farrow 45 Years Perfect Attendance

What a day to celebrate

Why make such a big deal out of meeting attendance?
The attendance rules may at times seem unnecessarily rigid, but being present at club meetings is one of the basic obligations a member accepts on joining a Rotary club. The constitutional rules emphasize that Rotary is a participatory organization that highly values regular attendance. When a member is absent the entire club loses the personal association with that member, and the member loses touch with the activities of the club. Attendance is the "glue" that holds the club together and provides the basic framework for service. It is a vital part of the operation and success of every Rotary club.

What is a Paul Harris Fellow?

To recognize a person as a Paul Harris Fellow it is a "recognition of exceptional service."

THANK YOU PAUL FARROW FOR YOU DEDICATION TO ROTARY. 45 YEARS OF PERFECT ATTENDANCE AND A PAUL HARRIS FELLOW. YOU ARE LEADING THE WAY AS TO WHAT A ROTARIAN IS.

Thank-You-Susan-Storie

The Rotary Club of London East would like to thank Susan Storie for all her amazing work as Area 4 - Assistant Governor. There were many times we called on her for her leadership and advice.

All the best to you Sue. We look forward to creating a good relationship with The Rotary Club of Hyde Park.

El Sistema Service Project

The Rotary Club of London East prepares meals for 40+ children and youth at El Sistema Aeolian one Tuesday per month.

We had 5 members helping with cooking, preparing the tables and cleaning up after the meal.

"Service above Self".

El Sistema Aeolian is part of a global movement designed to offer free universal access to an intensive collaborative music program.

Mission: The arts enlighten, inspire and transform individuals, helping us build strong, healthy and vibrant communities. El Sistema Aeolian provides an opportunity for children, youth and their communities to experience a free, intensive, innovative and accessible after school music program. We provide expert instruction in a nurturing, safe and inclusive environment allowing participants to develop their full social and musical potential.

Vision: We see a world in which all children and youth experience the joy and inspiration of music. The skills they will learn are transferable and include social engagement, inclusiveness, leadership, pursuit of excellence and creative learning styles. These skills and pathways will open new horizons and alternative pathways for these young people. It will assist them to achieve their full potential enrich our communities.

https://youtu.be/AmqeeCUepe4

Easter Seals - Woodeden Camp BBQ

Preparing for the hungry campers and staff

Wheels of Friendship for Progress

The container arrived Friday July 7th. Thank you Thomas Gunawan for helping us with the framework and teaching Cristian Hall-Berges the best way to load the bikes. Dennis Urbach for your time on Friday. Carolina Berges for your organization along with Susan Cassan. Peter Twynstra from the Rotary Club of Grand Bend for helping us with the understanding of how to pack a container to the brim. Patrick Briscoe wow you worked so hard the whole day filling every nook and cranny in the container. Ernesto Chahine and Ali Malayeri and the many other Rotarians and friends of Rotary that helped. Dagmar and Ruben for preparing the food. Todd McLeod for the backloader to move the heavy supplies.

What a day. The weather cooperated. The music was playing. We even had Rotarians singing. It was fellowship at its finest.

Thank you Werner Humann for introducing us to a project of this nature.

District 6330 Governor August 30, 2015

Please see the attached letter regarding sending bicycles to a third world country.

Werner writes...I have never been involved in a project of this kind, however, our club feels it can be achievable. I hear nothing but difficulties with logistics and other problems of how to approach or find a ROTARY Club in “a third world country” which could assist us. Our intent is to find a club which would be interested in creating an Industry of repairing donated bicycles.

Over the years I have heard much about the shipping of wheelchairs to the third world which only have a four year life span. I have never been convinced by asking questions that there are good wheelchair repair facilities in that country. If there is, however, this would be a perfect addition to create work and a livelihood for some people to gain a purpose in life for their family.

We feel at our club that proof of a positive interest is necessary for us to be convinced to go forward with this project.

Further more, I can see no problem to do this tenfold by involving a district. We live in a country, where if the brakes on a bicycle don’t work, it could be the case of purchasing a NEW bike and discard the old one.

I think it would be a very positive idea to attract new members since it has all the elements

“ to make it a better world”

Werner Humann

Representing the Rotary Club of London East

“ ROTARY International Bike Project “

Wheels of Friendship for Progress

East Rotary Club London East is proud to announce:

“Wheels of Friendship for Progress”

We started this sustainable project to help youngsters in a third world country get a bicycle to attend school, and to create a Center for learning to maintain the bicycles.

Just recently we were blessed to find Rotary Club - Durbanville in Cape Town, South Africa, and BEN BIKES (BIKE EMPOWERMENT NETWORK) http://www.benbikes.org.za/about.php, an organization that has created 16 Empowerment Centers and trained 55 individuals in bicycle mechanics. Ben Bikes has distributed 22,000 bicycles donated by different countries.

Our Club already has 250 used bicycles, donated by the community as well as wheels, tires and other parts to almost fully load a 40 Ft. shipping container.

The great work of all our fellow London East Rotary Members and friends has taken the project to this point. There is still work to be done and donations to be received!

We are aiming for Saturday, July 8^th to load the container for shipment. We are counting on the help of our members and friends that day.

This is where you come in!

There is still room for donations of another 25 used bikes; bicycle accessories such as cables, seats, baskets, bells etc.

Urgently needed: used bicycle helmets, especially for children.

Cash donations welcome for our shipping costs. ($20 or more eligible for charitable tax receipt).

Call the number below to arrange drop off or pick up of donations.

Or, to volunteer your time from 8am-4pm, July 8, on loading day

Carolina Berges 226 927 5485

Thanks for your donations and help!

McIntosh Gallery

McIntosh Gallery - Located in the heart of Western University. The exhibit was Behind the Lines: Canada's Home Front During the First and Second World Wars.

Salvation Army Tree

Salvation Army London Ontario

Today our club visited the Salvation Army Village for Lunch and were able to see the tree our Club donated to provide shade on the grounds.

Thank you everyone involved in the organization of this event. The lunch was delicious and it was nice to be out in the community seeing how Rotary makes a difference.

Help Haiti

Thank you Bob Black fromThe Rotary Club of London (Downtown), for sharing your Haiti Project.

The Rotary Club of London (Downtown), Ontario, under the leadership of John Eberhard, eberhard@uwo.ca is expanding its existing generous support and partnership with the people of historic Aquin, Haiti. The Club has launched a multi-year, multi-club project to earn and win significant funds and contributions from all levels of Rotary International. For those who have never visited ...Haiti, Aquin is a city and commune of approx. 100,000 on the Caribbean seacoast, about three hours’ drive southwest of the capital Port-au-Prince. In an otherwise beautiful location, Aquin residents, farmers and fishermen are chronically poor, short of potable water and safe sanitation, and vulnerable to storms, floods, cholera, Zika, maternal and infant mortality.

To its credit, the city has a small Rotary club that John has ascertained is ready and willing to serve as local official host. Therefore, Rotary London members are visiting Canadian and American clubs this spring to explain the project – health, education, fishing, boat-building, mangoes, coffee, honeybees, vo-tech – and garner support to combine forces with Haitian Resource Development Foundation, hrdf.org based in Aquin, and other international donors such as the Kellogg Foundation, based in Michigan.

Bikes for Life Project

Update on Bikes for Life project from the

Durbanville Rotary Club, Cape Town, South Africa

It has been agreed with the Durbanville Rotary Club that they will receive the container, and pay for the customs brokerage, and land freight. Our responsibility is to load and pay for the ocean freight.

It is mosthttp://qhubeka.org/

From this point Tim Mosdell and Benbikes are the custodians of the container contents.

A portion of the bikes will be transported to Klipheuwel by Benbikes, and will be securely stored in their allocated container on site which will serve as their Bike store. Note that they have already identified likely candidates to run the Bike Store and will train each for approximately 3 weeks.

A portion of the bikes will be allocated to our 11 local Durbanville “Farm” Schools (+/- 10 each)

The remainder of the bikes will be allocated to existing Benbike projects around the Western Cape.

Benbikes, Josiah trust and we will supervise the ongoing functions of the Bike store in Klipheuwel.

Update on Bikes for Life project from the London East Rotary Club

In regards to the committees to be involved in the project, I would like to propose that a meeting with the following chairs is scheduled as soon as possible:

Shipment Deadline: End of June 2017

Fund raising: John Shaw,

Treasurer/Finance: Dagmar Wendt

International Service: Susan Cassan

Public Relations: Cris Hall-Berges; Bonnie Hudson, Ernesto Chahine

President and President Elect: Steve Dietrich and Debra Bodreau

Secretary: Bob Mann and Michelle De Ruiter

This “Petit Committee” Will define the activity steps to be taken to achieve the following goals and report on a weekly basis to the Club:

Create a campaign to obtain (used and new) bicycles accessories and helmets. Tools and tool sets.

Grant application from the district.

Quotes on the shipment, and document preparation

A Public Relations campaign to get our club known in the community for further projects.

Assistance from the Finance Department as to availability of funds for the shipment at the end of June, 2017.

Eva's Garden Party

Eva's Garden Party Summer 2016

Sue VanDuynhoven Ventriloquist

Two Rotarians, Tom Telfer and Werner Humann present Sue with a Paul Harris Fellow for her volunteer work. Sue has volunteered at the Thames Valley Children’s Centre for 8-10 years as well as one-on-one with sick and injured children at the Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario. She has spent many hours bringing joy to these children while they are going through rough times. Often the puppets become the sick child’s best friend.

Sue attended the Gala on Saturday evening, March 21st to be presented to Rotary International President Gary Whang during the Paul Harris Fellow recognitions.

Sue then treated us to a presentation. “Petunia” joined her and proceeded to tell us about her lack of a belly button and now that she is a doctor she is about to sew one on for herself! With incredible speed of conversation and interaction Sue and Petunia carried on quite the dialogue. Petunia has 44 “siblings”, each with its own skit and its own voice. What a gift that Sue has and that she shares it so freely with children. By the way, Sue also does performances that she gets paid for!

Rotary Fun Day & BBQ

To all Area #4 Rotarians:

September 12th 2015, save the date.

2015 Modo

2017-2018 Theme

In 2017-18, we’ll answer the question “What is Rotary?” with RI President-elect Ian H.S. Riseley’s theme, Rotary: Making a Difference. “Whether we’re building a new playground or a new school, improving medical care or sanitation, training conflict mediators or midwives, we know that the work we do will change people’s lives — in ways large and small — for the better.”

RID 3292 Disaster Relief - Nepal

Posted by DG Rabindra Piya

RID 3292 Disaster Relief - Nepal

After an emergency meeting held amongst immediate Task Force Rotarians in Kathmandu on Sunday, April 26^th, we have made the following tasks to be put into force immediately for the affected. I humbly request you to willingly help support Rotary’s Disaster Relief Fund financially or by kind and immediately inform us upon how you have executed your reach to us.

Immediate Temporary Relief:

1. Blankets 15,000 pcs
2. Tent material 10,000 pcs
3. Dry Food (instant noodles, beaten rice ).......

RGHF's OUR FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER #159

Posted by Jeetendra Sharma

DGs and club presidents please pass forward this issue to your grass-root Rotarians. It is important that all Rotarians read our RGHF features. "RGHF's Our Foundation Newsletter," and "What Paul Harris Said." A "forward" link is also found below.

RGHF's OUR FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER #159

Click here for PDF then please click on the month, next to the "new" icon, for the current PDF issue. Past issues are also found here.

Jeetendra Basudeo Sharma,
Editor in Chief

Dear

A great initiative by the Rotary Foundation Trustees to review the new grant model introduced under the Future Vision Plan.

TRF Trustee John Kenny has appointed an independent committee of four past RI Presidents, and they are inviting sharing of experiences and feedback on the Areas of focus and the District and Global Grants.

PRIP Bill Boyd will serve as the Chair and his thoughts are "What is encouraging is that we are getting messages from Rotarians which because they are in narrative form are thoughts that would not be revealed in a survey. There is a mountain of work ahead but the constant thread is that the changes were worthwhile but we can make them better".

Such inputs ...

Making a difference with Rotary

Posted by Rotary International

Get ready to feel the Rotary love as we will hear heart warming stories or Rotary help around the world!

For more amazing videos from around the world in many languages, follow this link;

https://vimeo.com/rotary/videos/all/sort:plays/format:thumbnail

Bringing our youth programs closer to Rotary

Posted by Martin Ward

In any given year, more than 500,000 young people participate in Rotaract, Interact, RYLA, Rotary Youth Exchange, and New Generations Service Exchange. These programs have made a positive difference in our world for decades. We’ve developed leaders through RYLA, built international understanding through Rotary Youth Exchange, and worked side-by-side with Interactors and Rotaractors to take action in our communities. But, just like Rotary, these programs have never received the recognition they deserve. Members of the public often don’t know about our programs, why they matter, and how they are connected to Rotary’s story.

Canadian MP celebrates Rotary's 110th birthday.

Bill Gates Receives First “Dr. Bob Scott Award”

Posted by Hans Granholm

District 7070 in southern Ontario, home District to Bob Scott, has created the Bob Scott Disease Prevention Award to be presented to an individual or organization that is making a difference in the fight against disease. The first recipient of the award is Bill Gates, who was on hand to receive it late last month.

Rotary District 7070 named the award to honor Dr. Bob Scott, past PolioPlus Chair and past RI vice president, for his work as Rotary’s global ambassador in support of Rotary’s fight to end polio. During his eight years as RI PolioPlus Chair, Bob and his wife Ann traveled thousands of miles around the globe. He is credited with having raised millions of dollars from world leaders in the fight to end polio.

How secure is all this data?

Posted by Cristian Hall-Berges on Nov 25, 2014

No need to worry. ClubRunner secures all your private information using the latest security technologies.

Don't forget the eBulletin!

Posted by Cristian Hall-Berges on Nov 25, 2014

ClubRunner makes it easy to publish your eBulletin, and send to all your members and friends.

Welcome to our new website!

Posted by Cristian Hall-Berges on Nov 25, 2014

We are all excited to see how ClubRunner will revolutionize the way we manage our day to day club activities, as well as communicate more effectively.

Quote of the Week - Who Said It?

Posted by Steve Dietrich on Jul 06, 2008

We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world.

Thought for the Week - Who Said It?

Posted by Steve Dietrich on Jul 06, 2008

An optimist is the human personification of spring.

Mark Your Calendars!

Posted by Steve Dietrich on Jul 06, 2008

Here you can post little tidbits of information, reminders, or anything else!

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