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Russell Hampton
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Editor's Notes

 
Well, November certainly crept up to us very suddenly. One kinda wants to hold hold your breath for what the 2020 finale will bring. In Edmonton at least we have an extended fall, which is quite pleasant.
 
I just reserved my seats for the Step up to the Plate event on the 16th. Have you? It is always one of those event that never fail to bring fun, joy, and good food to the guests while building capacity for our club to spread some more goodwill to Downtown Edmonton.
 
Urgent vacancy for a co-editor for this Newsletter - someone with imagination and a good sense of humour. Please email me.
 
And my last thought today is - this year was one of the world's most epic "horrible years", however,. there were worse times.
 
Going into November...
 
In Rotary Service
 
Marderé
Speakers
Nov 02, 2020 12:00 PM
Anna Wieczorek, Rotary Club of Warsaw Poland
Project "Good Start" - Update on legacy work by RC of Edmonton and RC of Warsaw City Poland
Nov 09, 2020 12:00 PM
Remembrance Day Celebration - John Chalmers
75 years from end of World War II, Edmonton connections
Nov 16, 2020 11:30 AM
Step Up to the Plate
Focus on Homelessness - Stories of Hope, and How we can help
Nov 23, 2020 12:00 PM
RI Foundation - Global Grants recipients
Rotary International Foundation Day (and month of November)
Nov 30, 2020 12:00 PM
Neil Lang / Brian Edwards
RC of Edmonton - AGM
Dec 07, 2020 12:00 PM
Gwen Randall-Young
Mental health in these times of ongoing Covid-19 pandemic
View entire list
Executives & Directors
President
Brian Edwards
 
President Elect
Irene Makar
 
Secretary
John Norton
 
Treasurer
Atee Baber
 
Past President
Neil Lang
 
Director - Communication & Web Admin
Marderé Birkill
 
Director - Fundraising
Melinda Noyes
 
Director - Youth Services
Al Hoeft
 
Director - Community Services
Dennis Brown
 
Director - Vocational Services
John Wojcicki
 
Director - International Services
Jim Saunderson
 
Director - Special Projects
Sean Price
 
Chair Rotary Foundation
Rod Karius
 
Chair, Membership
Al Hoeft
 
RYE Inbound Counsellor
Neil Lang
 
RYE Outbound Counsellor
Brian Edwards
 
Chair - Youth Services
Al Hoeft
 
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Marie Ulveland
November 7
 
David Xiao
November 17
 
Del Dilkie
November 17
 
Anniversaries
Brian Edwards
Ann Edwards
November 2
 
Note from the President
Welcome to November, our key FUNDRAISING month in the Rotary calendar. Rotarians are “People of action”. In the household where I grew up the saying was:
All the kind words and all the good wishes, Don’t count for as much as help with the dishes.
 
So, I ask for your help with the dishes.
Being a Rotarian means many things, as we each have our own concept of “Service Above Self”. I see us providing a “hand up” to those in our community who require some guidance to be successful. It may be a donation of time to help the club function, or to a charitable endeavor. It may be one’s talents and contacts in the community to help a project succeed. Or it may be financial support to a cause of your choice. I know that I can’t do it all so my contribution will vary over time. All is valued, all is appreciated.
 
We have a Casino volunteer event Nov 12, 13 where many have come forward. This opportunity is the foundation (pun intended) of our fundraising for the club.
 
Our signature fall event, “Step Up to the Plate” is on Monday, November 16th.
It is an enhanced regular meeting, with inspiring speakers and entertainment.
Online auction of great items and online 50:50 are part of the event.
Our theme is support for the homeless in Edmonton, putting meaning to our slogan of “Downtown with a Purpose”. Funds raised are targeted for Boyle McCauley Health Centre, a national leading organization for providing a broad range of services. They both care for and provide guide to those at risk and on the margins of our community.
You can connect virtually / online or in-person as suits for you.
Have you bought your ticket? Or a table for 6?
Invited a friend who wonders just “What is Rotary”?
 
November is Foundation Month.  We will be hearing from and about the RI Foundation. We will be hearing from an Edmonton student who we are sponsoring and working with other clubs in the District for a Global Grant – Scholarship for graduate studies.
Anna-Marie will be studying, and in the future will be a leader in the field of peace and conflict resolution.
 
How will the year further unfold?
This year’s theme of “Rotary Opens Opportunities” is very apt.
 
What does “Service Above Self” mean to you?
 
Rotary is needed ever the more in our community.
Stories
Step Up tp the Plate
Just two weeks from today, the Rotary Club of Edmonton will host its signature annual fundraiser, Step Up to the Plate. With opportunities to attend either virtually or in-person, you aren't going to want to miss Mayor Iveson and Joe Roberts, Skid Row CEO, addressing Edmonton's homelessness issues.
 
Kids on Track Update

Kids On Track is a community-building organization that provides hope, direction, and ongoing support for children, youth, & their parents.

 
Kids On Track is so very grateful to the Rotary Club of Edmonton for your donation of $2,500 for our 2020 summer programming. Thank you for your ongoing support for this the 4th year, of programs for families in need.
Despite an occasional rainy day, Kids On Track was successful in running meaningful and impactful outdoor programs while working within covid-19 guidelines. Families and children were in desperate need of community and programming at a time when very few organizations were offering anything. We overcame challenges such as a lack of available activity venues and concerns regarding social distancing by offering very creative and centralized activities at Kids On Track and in local area parks and outdoor COVID safe venues such as Snow Valley Aerial Park, the Alfred H. Savage Centre, and the Edmonton Corn Maze.
 
All Kids On Track activities were fully inclusive and they were attended by kids and youth from families facing challenges; including low-income families who have been especially impacted by COVID19, children with disabilities, and kids and youth from foster homes through a partnership with Crossroads Family Services and Family Solutions Group.
 
One family who attended a Kids On Track event for the first time, brought their autistic son to our Container Gardening Workshop and the parents were thrilled to have a place to come to enjoy activities as a family.
 
Family Programming
Due to the new requirements for day camps to operate in Phase 1 of the COVID-19 response, Kids On Track decided to not offer day camps for children in summer 2020. Parents with children were desperate for support over the summer, and in response, Kids On Track offered extensive outdoor activities for children with their parents in attendance through our Active Families program. Feedback from parents was extremely positive, and KOT was encouraged to “keep on seeking ways to think outside the box to allow this type of great programming in these weird times.”
 
On weekdays in summer, Kids On Track offered outdoor active games, biking, and field games, crafts, nature activities, learning workshops, and field trips to parks and other outdoor venues. We also offered on 8 Saturdays of “Active Families activities” including Container Gardening Workshops, Nature Extravaganzas, Saskatoon Picking and Pie Making, Tie-dying Workshops, and visits to the Edmonton Corn Maze.