The Rotary Club of Mississauga welcomes six new members. Rotary is an international membership organization made up of people who share a passion for and commitment to enhancing communities and improving lives across the world. Rotary clubs exist in almost every country. Our members change lives locally and connect with other clubs to work on international projects that address today’s most pressing challenges.
After a long Covid break and pent up demand the Rotary Club of Mississauga Annual Lobster Fest is back on Saturday June 3. Rotarians and Guests know this event very well. If you have not experienced a Lobster Fest before you are in for a pleasant treat. This is a 1-night extravaganza all you can eat lobster and chicken dinner. There will be a cash bar, raffle drawings, music and dancing.
Hazel McCallion was known to us all as the longest standing Mayor of Mississauga or, as she preferred to be called, Hurricane Hazel. She was a supporter of Community Service and the Rotary Club of Mississauga. Hazel knew that we are at our best when we support each other, especially through philanthropy and volunteering. Hazel left us just a few weeks before her 102nd birthday, leaving a legacy of accomplishments after a remarkable career that shaped the City of Mississauga we know today.
Rotary Club of Mississauga supports the HPIC's mission with hands on assistance in packing boxes of medicine and vitamins to be sent to earthquake devastated Turkey and Syria, war zone Ukraine and provided funding to assist in funding the cost of shipping the goods. The partnership with the Rotary Club of Mississauga means so much to us! I am also happy to report that we raise $6,000 as part of the Christmas event which means delivering $60,000 in medicines to people in need.
RCOM is proud to support I Challenge Diabetes, a great Youth Summer Camp program held here in Mississauga.
I Challenge Diabetes fosters a community of people with Type 1 Diabetes who, through experiential education and adventure, provide each other with the skills and confidence to overcome the daily challenges and create a new expectation for what we can accomplish.
District 7080 Peace Initiatives. The pursuit of peace is everybody’s business. Conrad Grebel is Canada’s longest standing Peace and Conflict Studies program.
The Peace/ Environment with the help of the Community Services Committee and our club donated $1,000.00. We helped raise $65,000! The largest ever donation at the the Breakfast with Santa fundraiser in Mississauga.
Congratulations to new RCOM member, Moya MacKinnon, Senior Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and External Relations of Achev for launching the Women Services Pillar of Support for offering a wide range of programming tailored specifically for women and girls. Achev's programs and services can help develop valuable skills, connect with community, and support with employment goals. Achev’s knowledgeable staff offer personalized wrap-around supports to ensure women and girls success and participation. Learn more about this important program for Newcomers and Racialized Women and Girls and other fine services Achev provides to Mississauga residents and beyond.
Linden King receives the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Pin and the Chairman's Award for The Credits for his work in the community. As Linden says, This was a Blessed and Humble weekend.
Linden King was recognized by Sonia Sidhu, Member of Parliament for Brampton South for his work in the community and was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee pin. Linden would like to thank the Honourable Senator Victor Oh for selecting him to receive one of sixty Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medallion for his dedication of service to the community and country.
Rotary Peace Corner opened officially on July 25, 2022. The Peace Corner is a quite nook for all to contemplate inner and outer peace in the environmentally sensitive area of Willowvale Fields Park in Mississauga.
The presentation of Paul Harris Fellow recognition is The Rotary Foundation's way of expressing its appreciation for a substantial contribution to its humanitarian and educational programs.
The Rotary Club of Mississauga supports the Arts by attending the Mississauga Symphony Orchestras (MSO) April 2 concert. It was a great evening full of classical music and Bolero for all of those who attended. John Barnum, previous member of our club, and former Music Director and Conductor was there to present the 2022 John Barnum Service Award to "Peggy Hills".
Armagh is a second stage, transitional supportive housing programme. Unlike a first stage or crisis shelter (which responds to short-term emergencies) we offer secure and affordable housing to abused women, with or without children, for extended periods of time.
The Peel Learning Foundation is a community-based, charitable organization that raises funds to enable Peel District School Board students to achieve personal excellence by providing resources that help them overcome barriers. They focus on literacy, numeracy and essential skills services that help individuals achieve goals related to further education and training, employment or apprenticeship. The Student Backpack Program provides backpacks filled with necessary school supplies so students in need can fully participate in coursework. 600 students from kindergarten to Grade 12 will received backpacks through this program.
The donation of $2,500 will help to purchase materials to construct a bat aviary – a specialized enclosure to house sick, injured and orphaned wild bats admitted to Toronto Wildlife Centre. This will provide the final step in rehabilitating these vulnerable species, giving them the chance to prepare for a healthy like back in the wild!
The donation of $3,000 will be utilized for casework management at the Mississauga location, as well as direct supplies for bed linen, clothing, food, hygiene and essential supplies for women and children. Women and children experiencing or at risk of homelessness. People experiencing domestic or gender-based violence.
In March 2020, COVID-19 suddenly arrived in Canada leaving hospitals and Long Term Care Homes in need of more Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). At the start of the Pandemic the Rotary Club of Mississauga donated $7,500 to the Trillium Health Centre to help fund their need of PPE. In September, after our Ribfest Drive Thru fundraiser, the club donated an additional $7,500 to help with the on-going need for PPE.
A Mississauga based organization that has provided a broad range of supports to survivors of violence and contributed to thought leadership on how to eradicate gender-based violence for almost 40 years. For decades, we have tirelessly fought to raise awareness of — and end — individualized and systemic violence in our communities.
Mississauga Rotary’s grant of $5000 will be used to Adopt-A-Room and have an immeasurable impact on survivors and their children residing at Embrave. These funds will enable us to ensure that survivors who turn to Embrave for shelter are welcomed into a bright, welcoming space outfitted with all the comforts of a family home. Specifically, the funds will be used to provide furnishings, renovations, and maintenance (on an as-needed basis) for one year for the congregate Living Room at one of our shelter locations. The Rotary Mississauga gift will provide survivors with an opportunity to focus on what’s most important—their well-being and their futures.
The Active Adult Centre of Mississauga (formerly known as Square One Older Adult Centre) has been a fixture in the City for many years, enriching the lives of seniors for close to three decades. In 2019 alone, our Centre delivered more than 3,000 diverse, accessible and affordable classes, programs, trips and events with the help of 174 volunteers who contributed 28132 hours of their time, energy and talent. Over 60,950 visits from members and guests were welcomed in 2019.
Mississauga Rotary grant of $3500 will help community seniors and vulnerable older adults to maintain and safety and social inclusion and will provide expert led exercise programming to over 500 seniors.
East Mississauga Community Health Centre (CHC) is a satellite of the Lakeshore Area Multi-service Project (LAMP), a community-based health centre, primarily funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care. LAMP provides medical and social services and advocacy for clients and works as a client advocate; the priority population are isolated seniors, refugee claimants, LGBTQ+ adults and youth, women facing domestic violence, indigenous community and clients with mental health issues.
Clients face financial hardships and are unable to afford basic necessities such as, food insecurity, shelter, winter clothing, medication and transportation. Pre-Covid-19, LAMP was raising funds through special events and donations to cover the incidental costs to their clients that is not covered by their government funders. Due to the inability to raise these funds at this time, LAMP has requested a donation to Assist homeless clients, provide transportation fee to attend mental health counselling, provide food voucher for clients facing food insecurity due to loss of employment, paying for medication while waiting for benefits, to purchase clothing for job interviews.
Rotary areas of focus include Peace and Conflict Resolution, Basic Education and Literacy, Water and Sanitation, Maternal and Child Health, Disease Prevention and Treatment and Community Development. In 2020 we have added a 7th focus "The Environment". The Rotary Club of Mississauga has been active on Earth Day for the past few years. We will post our 2021 Environment and Peace Program soon.
The Riverwood Conservancy
The Riverwood Conservancy is the charity that provides programs and direction for Riverwood – the 150-acre, urban nature preserve situated on the shores of the Credit River in Mississauga. Working together with like-minded groups and individuals, our mission is to enable people of all cultures, ages, and abilities to respectfully connect with nature and learn about the importance of protecting, conserving and restoring natural spaces for the well-being of future generations – all while experiencing the beauty of the Riverwood gardens.
The Enabling Garden engaged 737 children and youth from special education classes in 2019. The garden is fully-accessible so those using wheelchairs and walkers can access the raised planters, but programs scheduled during inclement weather can lead to problems.
The Mississauga Rotary Grant of $2,750 will be used Teaching tools and equipment to enrich hands on and virtual programs for persons with disabilities in the Enabling Garden programming.
COVID-19 has been particularly hard on the Long Term Care Homes. Workers in the Long Term Care homes have been under substantial stress trying ensure that all of their residents were taken care of to the best of their ability. While dealing with the stress they also are managing their own families and lives while being potential exposed to the virus. In October 2020, as an appreciation for their work, the Rotary Club of Mississauga delivered brownies and cake to all of the 1,500 Long Term Care Workers in the City of Mississauga.
Rotary Club of Mississauga supports Orchestras Mississauga in the amount of $1,500to support concerts to be provided virtually in February and March. No in person concerts can be performed, as a result of the pandemic, effecting the ability for MSO to raise funds through ticket sales, etc.
MSO is currently working through the production of a series of interactive Zoom presentations with Denis Mastromonaco leading the discussion. These will cover a range of topics including but not limited to: "Things you didn't know about Mozart" on Wednesday, January 27th, 2021 (Mozart's 265th birthday)."An annotated look at MSO's Beethoven" TBA during February or March, featuring our Concert Master Corey Gemmell, and Maestro Denis Mastromonaco. More topics and hopefully another concert presentation will be added as we move forward through this challenging season. As you can imagine, there are costs associated with these online virtual presentations that are specific to the current day.
Eden Food for Change serves over 500 low-income families every month through our Food Bank programs. When you donate you are providing families with fresh food including eggs, milk, meat and produce.
Founded in 2009, 'Twas The Bite Before Christmas comes together each year with Mississauga communities to make a difference because fighting hunger is our biggest priority, feeding hope is what we give to those in need and empowering people in need is the legacy we hope to leave behind.
Peel Children’s Aid Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable children and youth and disadvantaged families, in Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon who are involved with Peel Children’s Aid.
Deen Support Services isa registered charity provides direct programming and services to families and individuals living with disabilities. They operate a community-based model from Muneeba Centre, in Mississauga. The Funding was used towards the material and labour costs to build a glass porch enclosure at the front entrance of their flagship location. The porch enclosure will protect participants from harsh weather conditions, especially important under the pandemic during the winter when colds/flu are circulating. It will also keep snow/rain away from the entrance and provide a safe/secure space for participants to wait for their rides.
Newcomers of Peel help with daily life when adjusting to a new community. The funds will be used to purchase 12 Chrome Book to use in the virtual or in-person classes. The funds will close opportunity gaps or children who face a greater risk of poverty, marginalization because of systemic barriers to equal access, opportunities and resources due to disadvantage and discrimination.
Liberty for Youth assists at-risk youth with daily challenges often under tragic situations. The teens we serve are not bad individuals but victims of life’s difficult circumstances. They help them navigate these challenges through mentorship.
Rotary areas of focus include Peace and Conflict Resolution, Basic Education and Literacy, Water and Sanitation, Maternal and Child Health, Disease Prevention and Treatment and Community Development.
Incoming Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta urged members to become more involved in service projects, saying that caring for and serving others is the best way to live because it changes not only other people’s lives, but also our own.
The funds we raise go to the community both locally and worldwide. Our major fundraiser is a July 4 day Ribfest which we run with the Mississauga West Rotary Club. We regularly get over 100,000 visitors to this community event! Our June Lobsterfest has sold-out for years, but we can always find a seat for the all-you-can-eat Lobster-chicken feast!
The Free Reading Program is a free online literacy program. The program serves children and improves literacy through fundamental skills reinforcement activities. Students can begin learning at any level and progress when they feel confident. We want students to gain the confidence and skills they need to be successful and motivated readers.
Each year since 2013, the Rotary Club of Mississauga donates 45-50 Baby Kits for new mothers in need.
These kits are distributed to The DAM (Youth Drop in Centre), The Open Door (drop in centre at Square 1) and The Vita Centre for Pregnant & Parenting Youth.
Are YOU the Missing Piece? For more information, look at www.rotary.org and right here, in Mississauga, contact our Membership Director at membership@rotaryclubofmissisauga.com . Click on More to see why YOU ARE THE MISSING PIECE.
The Paul Harris Fellow committee are looking for Community candidates for Paul Harris awards.
Do you know of people who have 'given' and 'volunteered' for our community who are not high profile in name but indeed? We want to honour them. There are Applications at the front desk for anyone wishing to nominate someone. Please hand the completed application to Helga Noyes. The Paul Harris Committee will be meeting early in April to consider possible recipients of this important award. DEADLINE for applications is the first Friday in April. Thank you.
This week we welcomed Natalie Hart as our guest speaker. Natalie has worked with us as our RibFest co-ordinator since early in 2015 and is an honorary member of both our Club and Mississauga West.
Natalie's background in community activities began at an early age hulling strawberries to which she is now allergic! Undeterred, in her early twenties she joined her first Board, as secretary, of the Erin Mills Baseball Association. This was the beginning of her her long history of community giving irrespective of where she resided.
Natalie's professional career carried on a family tradition in banking that led her away from the GTA to commercial banking and personal wealth management in the Ottawa Valley and then Leamington with the Royal Bank. Along the way Natalie kept her community activism alive by enjoying senior roles with various local Chambers of Commerce and other community events.
Eventually, she returned home to Mississauga, after a thirteen year absence, and reunited with the Mahoney (Steve, Katie and more recently Matt) family and their political campaigns. Helping out on political campaigns gradually became a dominant theme in her life. Natalie subsequently engaged in campaigns at all levels (municipal, provincial, and federal) of government with a variety of politicians. In this process she has savoured both the joys of victory and the bitterness of defeat.
Natalie explained that these campaigns require not only a specific area of expertise but a great deal of energy, versatility and resilience. As she aptly described her multiple roles have led her to become outstanding in the use of a sledgehammer (for signs), to make rapid rapid clothing changes as she moves from a Mosque to a Mass, and how to drink endless cups of coffee on the run in lieu of a decent meal.
Eventually these activities led her to join with us via her role in RibFest. This role allows her to use her many organizational skills, and utilize the huge number of important contacts she has throughout the GTA and in the city she loves to call home.
We thank Natalie for her delightful presentation and the excellent skill set she brings to our major fundraiser, and to our Club.
A quick update on a few other issues:
Feb 3: our Italian night is now only $50 thanks to Pat's hard bargaining. It is still not too late to join us.
Feb 26-March 6: our hands on project in Mexico is scheduled and ready for your help. There is still room if you want to join us.
See you all next Tuesday when we have Carolyn Ferguson from Rotary International to bring us up to date on the workings of the Foundation.
(editor not responsible for misspelling of names due to unreadable names on the sign in sheets)
Make-ups:
(the editor greatly appreciates all the make-ups!)
Thank you to those who reported make-ups. There are a lot of make-ups not being marked in, such as members attending the Ribfest meetings, the committee meetings before and after the Rotary meeting, the existing and new board meetings. These all count as a make-up.
Regular Attendance at club meetings is at the very heart of Rotary fellowship and engagement. Recognizing that there will be times when attending a Tuesday lunch time session just will not be possible, members are urged to do a make-up by visiting another club or an on-line 'e-club' such as Rotary E-Club One www.rotaryeclubone.com. or The e-Club of New York at www.rotaryeclubny1.com. And, don't forget to record your make-ups - either on the sheet at weekly meetings or by email to Helga.
Sharethe gift of Rotary with others. Bring along a friend or colleague and introduce her/ him to a world of opportunity.
Helga Noyes tried her luck to pick the Jack of Hearts. She picked the 10 of spades. Next week it starts at $1,289.00.Just a reminder that this is only for members in our club. If anyone outside our club buys a ticket, and if that card is drawn that person wins $100.00.
On April 28th, on Tuesday evening I was asked to be a judge at the annual Peel District School Board "Excellence In Eloquence", Peel's annual junior-intermediate public-speaking challenge and Rotary is one of the proud sponsors of this event. A few of you have already experienced being a judge at this speaking contest. This event is now in its 13th year. The Junior Semi-Finals were held on Thursday, April 28th which was held at Hazel McCallion's Senior Public School. The room was packed with parents, grandparents and siblings. The Finals were held this past Tuesday evening and I hope one of you were able to be a judge.
The speeches were judged based on Peel's oral language scales and the Ontario Language curriculum. Voice, facial expressions, mannerisms, organization, and content were important components of this evaluation. A mark of zero for None, never, or no effectiveness ranged to a four for all consistently, high degree of effectiveness. I found it difficult to give marks at times. They were all great speeches. There was even a timer. 1 point off was given for 5 seconds under 3 minutes and 1 point off for every 5 seconds over 5 minutes. At this evenings speeches there were no deductions taken off by any student. The top two students from the semi finals were automatically entered in the finals. From the finals one student advances to the Provincials. I sure hope it was one from the semi finals.
It was great to see many Fellow Rotarians with their guest(s) on Saturday Night at the PRESIDENT'S GALA. A big 'Thank You' for all who introduced recipients of a Paul Harris Fellow Award or any of the Night's activities. 1st up was Steve Ferguson who gave a speech, honouring Steve Crawford (PH+1). Tom McPherson gave a speech honouring Jan Gerrard (PH+5) who did not see that one coming!, and finally Jan Gerrard gave a speech, honouring Arnold Santos (1st PH). There was great Rotary fellowship! The DJ was great, the magician was amazing and Elaine Charal who did analyses on our handwriting.
There were some special guests in attendance at this year's President's Gala. Her Worship Mayor Bonnie Crombie and her husband Brian Crombie, District Governor Patsy Marshall and her husband Jim, Eileen Keown, Mississauga Orchestra (guest of Luis Moreno), Lalita, known as "Milk", our inbound exchange student, Mary Clarke (wife of the late David Pallett), Gloria and Richard Clarke (host parents), Alan and Sheila Fyfe (Rotarians from the City Centre Club) that hosts our inbound students jointly) and we cannot forget our very own past District Governor, Bernd Dinnert.
This celebration was to celebrate Mark Jeffreys as the President and to celebrate the Club as a whole. Without you all I could not have had such a successful year. This celebration was also a celebration of the outstanding "Service Above Self" work that we as Rotarians do, year in and year out.
I'd also would like to thank the Gala committee, who I could not have done without. All made this such a great event this year. They are (in alphabetical order): Antoinette Freeman, Julie Grabb, Lori Ingels, Marshia Hopmans, Steve Leitch, Tom McAuliffe, Helga Noyes, Timothy Whitehead, Merle Zoerb, and yes even our President, Mark Jeffreys helped out on the committee.
Also, would like to thank Pat Manna who treated each lady to a corsage for the wrist. They were beautiful. The flowers that wer presented to Leslie Jeffreys was also from Pat Mann. Lastly I would like to thank the Mississaugua Golf & Country Club. They work very hard serving and making the evening such a huge success.
Lobsterfest is only FOUR WEEKS away! Tom and Tony would like everyone to sell, sell and sell those tickets! Tax receipts available for a portion of the ticket. Tables of 10 can only be reserved by handing in your cheque to Murray and advising Tom.
The Lobsterfest is scheduled for Saturday, June 6th. The location is at the St. John's Hall located at 2185 Stavebank Road, Mississauga. Please mark this date on your calendar.
Also donations from Rotarians for the always successful raffle would be most appreciated. Please let Tony Collings know if you have any items.
If Rotarians have sons or daughters and their friends who would be available to help with serving the meal, please see Riki. He will be handling the volunteers.
Good Luck with you selling, Lets make this the biggest year yet.
PYGMALIONBy George Bernard Shaw - Sunday, June 21, 2015
The Niagara-On-The-Lake / Lewiston Rotary Clubs invite us to join them for an evening of great theatre featuring….
6:45 pm Garden Party, includes refreshments, food and entertainment 8:00 pm Curtains up! The Show Begins!
Date: Sunday, June 21st Evening Performance Price: $89.00 per person
Location: Festival Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Contact Jan Gerrard to reserve your seats. Tickets are non-refundable once ordered. Please order early to ensure best seating. Call: 905-826-5099 after 6:00 e-mail: jangerrard@sympatico.ca
Rotary International currently has a competition for Rotary videos and the Kitchener club has the only entry from D7080 and we need your help in voting for it. The winner will be featured on Rotary.org, the digital edition of the Rotarian mag and on Rotary's social media channels. We need at least another 200 votes to win. Voting ends on MONDAY!
Bruce Aylward is a Canadian physician and epidemiologist who leads the polio programme at the WHO, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). Earlier this year he gave a presentation at TED that is well worth watching. This link has also been included in our "Links" section.
The Rotary Club of Mississauga was chartered on April 23rd 1954 as the Rotary Club of Cooksville. Today, our city is blessed with a total of nine Rotary clubs comprising business and professional women and men who have accepted the Rotary philosophy for life - based on 'Service Above Self'. Each club is autonomous and chooses it's own service and fundraising projects. However, sometimes clubs cooperate or share projects. All operate as member clubs of Rotary International . Clubs each meet at different times and on different days and thus, if you might be interested in joining us, you can likely find a suitable time and location -- see below:click on club names under 'club links' to access the various websites.
Have you ever thought about joining the world's first and oldest service club? Have you wondered what it's all about? Consider this your invitation to be a guest at one of our regular Tuesday meetings for a first-hand glance into the world of Rotary.
The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to support the efforts of Rotary International in the fulfillment of the Object of Rotary, Rotary's mission, and the achievement of world understanding and peace through local, national, and international humanitarian, educational, and cultural programs.
We are excited to announce an opportunity to honor David, his life, his work and his passion for Hockey. Mark your calendars for our first “David Pallett Memorial Golf Tournament” at Piper’s Heath Golf Club on Monday, September 30, 2013. Proceeds from the tournament will go directly towards the “David Pallett Hockey Scholarship” at the University of Guelph. The scholarship will be awarded to a student-athlete that shows exceptional promise and leadership in and plays hockey at the University of Guelph.
This Rotary Club (and Rotary International) supports the pursuit of the United nations MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS and urges others to do so. Ask questions; lobby your MP and MPP. Be proactive!
What are the UN Development Goals? -- click on 'more'
The Declaration of Rotarians in Businesses and Professions was adopted by the Rotary International Council on Legislation in 1989 to provide more specific guidelines for the high ethical standards called for in the Object of Rotary:
Rotary International, the world's first service club organization, is made-up of some 33,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. It's members form a global network of business, professional and community leaders who volunteer their time and talents to serve their communities around the world.
Refer to Rotary Basics for a comprehensive, multimedia overview of what Rotary is all about. Please, then attend a meeting of our club for a first-hand look at us.
From the earliest days of the organization, Rotarians were concerned with promoting high ethical standards in their professional lives. One of the world's most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics is The Four-Way Test, which was created in 1932 by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor (who later served as RI president) when he was asked to take charge of a company that was facing bankruptcy.
This 24-word test for employees to follow in their business and professional lives became the guide for sales, production, advertising, and all relations with dealers and customers, and the survival of the company is credited to this simple philosophy. Adopted by Rotary in 1943, The Four-Way Test has been translated into more than a hundred languages and published in thousands of ways. It asks the following four questions:
"Of the things we think, say or do:
Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Armagh is a second stage, transitional supportive housing programme. Unlike a first stage or crisis shelter (which responds to short-term emergencies) we offer secure and affordable housing to abused women, with or without children, for extended periods of time.
