Friday the club was please to present : Fletcher Bootle was presented with his Paul Harris Fellow + 8 pin and Merle Hawryluk was presented with her Paul Harris Fellow + 1 pin

Cheque Presentations to the Grande Prairie Friendship Centre and Paul Harris Fellowship for the Side sisters in recognition of their work with Reading University.

Dave Johnson came to update the club the Youth Wellness Centre at the Composite High School. He happily shared quotes from facility and students on their experiences at the centre. It is safe to say this centre is making a real difference in the lives of students who need mental health assistance in our community......

It’s that time! Six years ago, the Rotary Jasper Trip started with around 30 people from a couple Clubs – last year we had over 110 people from 4 Grande Prairie Clubs!      

More Info...

The Grande Prairie Rotary Club has entered into the world of Facebook.

Welcome Doug and Jennifer, the newest members of the Grande Prairie Rotary Club...

Tim Meng - President of the Rotary Foundation gave a presentation on the Foundation and it's work done locally and internationally.  Tim issued a challenge to  each member to donate at least $10 this year....

More...

Our club execs take the podium to provide updates...

Last night all for Grande Prairie Clubs came together at the District Governor’s dinner.  Great company and good cheer was shared by all providing an opportunity for the local club members to mingle with other members.

What other Rotary Club has a member with a helicopter, willing to offer up a scenic tour of Grande Prairie?





Congratulation to Pauline Spinney from the Peace River Rotary Club; winner of the contest. Pauline's ticket was drawn at the Luau on Friday night.
She decided to take some of our Interact kids along for the ride.

Thanks to Roch and Gemini helicopter's for donating this prize to the District Conference.

Click here  for the full story in the Grande Prairie Daily Herald Tribune written by Graeme Bruce Herald

The Grande Prairie Composite High school is $50,000 closer to its counselling centre after the Grande Prairie Rotary Club presented the school with a cheque on Aug. 10.

The Health and Wellness Suite, which is currently under construction at the Comp, is the first of its kind in North America and will encompass academic counseling, health and medical services, social work, aboriginal issues and suicide prevention.

David Johnson, vice-principal of the Comp was on hand to accept the money during the club’s Friday meeting, and said the project will be available for all students in the area.

“If you’re living on your own, and you don’t have any parental support, who do you turn to for help?” he said. “Imagine that at 15, and it’s not uncommon.”

According to Bruce Beairsto, Rotary Club member and the main fundraiser for the project, they are about halfway to reaching the goal of $400,000.

Treasurer Pam French presented David Johnson and Bruce Bearisto a cheque for $50,000 for the Grande Prairie Comp Health and Wellness Suite.

On Friday August 10th,  Past President Dennis Young and Diana Mabbett made cheque presentations to a few local community groups.

GP Piranhas Swim Club

This group received a $5,000 donation to help them with the aquatic activities they provide for the youth in our community. More information on the group can be found here.



Hospital Auxiliary Foundation

As a thank you for the countless hours these ladies donated in helping with sell tickets for this year's Dream Home Lottery a cheque for $10,000 was issued.  These funds will allow the group to fulfill some of the items on the hospitals wish list. For some interesting history on the group click here

Congratulations to our 2012 Dream Home winners: Corinne McDonald and Wayne Petrowich with thier son Patrick and daughter Keely.  The family has moved into their new 3000 square foot home complete with four bedrooms , stunning kitchen,  home theatre room, billiards room and landscaped backyard.

Proceeds from the lottery help make dreams a reality here in Grande Prairie, click here to see the projects supported by the lottery. In addition the lottery also supports the QEII Hospital Foundation’s mission to enhance health care and education in our area.

Special thanks to Monarch Homes and all of the sponsors who generously donated materials for the lottery.

We are still totalling the results but it is looking like this year’s lottery along with the fifty-fifty draw has raised over a quarter of a million dollars.  

In the photo: Corinne McDonald and Wayne Petrowich, son Patrick and daughter Keely & President Lorraine



The family, President Lorraine, George Genio (site superintendent), Chad Merriman from Monarch Homes

Wow,  here is a donation of $33,500, presented by Rotarian Joel Park to Cool Aid Society (Helen Ficocelli; Exec Director) for completion of South side facility  and recognition of the support from Doug Nilsson from Nilsson Construction Ltd.

Great work Rotarians!  Newspaper story from the DHT:   

A recent donation from the Grande Prairie Rotary Club will help the local Cool Aid Society complete its south-side location, which is the newest building for the organization.

“To finish the building what we needed is parking for parents to come in. To justify it in my mind for the kids is that they will now have a basketball court and a chalkboard for street chalk,” said Helen Ficocelli, executive director.

The society recently accepted a cheque for $33,500 to help with the project and Nilsson Construction Ltd. has stepped up to help with the building.

The Cool Aid Society is an after-school program that offers children aged six through 12 a safe place to hang out and make new friends. The programming relies heavily on contributions from the community, which allows them to keep things free.

“The fact that we’re free of charge really helps families. There are families in this community who have a lot and then there are others who are really struggling,” Ficocelli said.

I am attaching a letter we received from Jessica Manzo Andres.  She is a University Student in Mexico that our club is helping to support.  I have run her letter through Microsoft translator and cleaned it up as best as my limited Spanish would allow. She is a very bright young lady and it is gratifying to read her letters and see how our Club's support is helping her reach her potential. Greg Podmore

Hello godparents President Dennis, Rotary Greg, and members of the Rotary Club of Grande Prairie:

How have you have been? I hope very well, so you can feel the gratitude that I would like to convey through my letter, everything you do for supporting me so that I can finish my professional education is worthy of applause and a great recognition. I'm about to finish my sixth semester, already almost beginning final exams and the work that will make us crazy has returned to me and my colleagues. I'm not complaining, it is part of our training as professionals, all that stress we may have work for canalizaremos them positively so we operate more effectively and efficiently, as robots ...lol... a little exaggerated truth? But the teachers have told us that we canalicemos stress to expedite the work, we deal with things that our time yield more.

In my school there is a teacher who is very good with us, advises us on our future life, says that we must adapt to change, do not expect that solutions to fall from the sky, we should learn to look for them, and that encourages us to continue the fight to succeed.  It is quite right when he says that, change happens when we least expect and need to be prepared to not miss the opportunities that life can give us.  He recommended we read a book called "who moved my cheese"? The book talks about adapting to changes.  A very good book indeed. I recommend that you glance and nurture of information that is very useful for professional and personal life to me personally I liked this reading, and I presume them that this year I have been 4 books read completitos, and I'm going for more, this was one of my new year and glide purposes much, reading to increase my vocabulary and my general culture. By soon I say goodbye, is everything on my part, hope have a good month to already start this next, and succeed in all their professional and personal affairs?

Farewell:

Jessica Manzo Andres

Here is President Elect Lorraine Gabriel presenting a donation of $5000 to Rhonda Side to support the Grade 3 Reading University Program.  A great reason to sell Dream Home tickets!

More reasons include this newspaper headline: 

Rotary Club donates thousands to local organizations

By Graeme Bruce Herald-Tribune staff 

The Grande Prairie Rotary Club donated a substantial amount of money to two local organizations on Friday.

The 577 Squadron of the Air Cadet League of Canada was given $20,000 during the club’s regular Friday meeting on May 25 at the Rotary Room at the Quality Inn & Conference Centre.

The club has been giving support to the squadron throughout the squadron’s 59-year existence, and for commanding officer Capt Brandy Boychuk, the money is very welcome.

Ever wonder why we do bingos or sell Dream Home tickets?    So we can make our community even better.  here is another example of our small donations committee and your efforts at work.  Lorne Radbourne and his crew hand over a few more dollars!

Picture on the left: Carla Shkworak, Executive Director Grande Prairie and Area Safe Communities, $2000 to support carpet replacement in the Peace Country Safety Resource Centre.



Picture on the right: Ray Rupertus, Coordinator Client Services CNIB Grande Prairie, $500 to support programs and services for blind  and partially sighted children
in the Region.

Donation of $1000 to Goodwill Industries representative Brittany Trudeau to support staff recognition and social events.

Donation of $800 to Young Life representative Dylan Bressey to support summer camp scholarships for local teenagers
.

Dear Rotary Club of Grande Prairie,

 I have to apologize for slightly falling off the radar the last month or so! Life has been completely crazy, as everyone warned me it would be in the springtime! I’ll try to condense things, but be forewarned that this newsletter is probably going to be a pretty long one!

March started off with a bang for me, as I had been asked to escort a friend of mine to the formal dance part of their graduation. It was similar to our Grand March as far as everyone getting dressed up, but that’s where the similarities ended. We had to go to a special class once a week for 5 weeks to learn this dance called “Lancier.” It’s a traditional Danish dance that’s been done as part of the graduation ceremony for as long as anyone can remember. It’s really fun and reminded me alot of Pride and Prejudice! My fellow exchange student from Canada, Jayme, was also asked to escort, so the two of us got to do the whole thing together! The big night was the first Friday in March and it was an incredible day! Jayme and I spent the day getting ready at her host family’s house and then went out for dinner with our dates before the dance part started. We had a lot of laughs and we all enjoyed each other’s company a lot! The dance part itself was pretty nerve-wracking. Our whole school was packed with family and friends, and I was so worried about messing up in front of everyone! But my partner told me repeatedly that it wasn’t a big deal and he wasn’t worried. In the end, he ended up messing up more than me! It was so much fun and I’m so glad that I got to participate in it! I’ll never forget it, that’s for sure!

Henry Kroeker and Fred Gardner depart from the GrandePrairie Tim Horton’s at 6:00 am on March 9th heading for Mazatlan Mexico alongwith 4 other emergency vehicles driven by Swan City and Sunrise Rotary members.

Thank you to Sean Sergeant and the employees for theirhelping to get the vehicle ready for the trip.

A nice history of the event was in Friday's newspaper. 

Local Rotarians bound for Mexican sister-city

Posted 3 days ago

For the 10th straight year, thanks to Rotary clubs in Grande Prairie, some villages in Mexico are about to get much-needed and much-appreciated vehicles.

Rotarians from all three GP clubs today begin a seven-day road trip to Mazatlan, Mexico, the Swan City’s sister city, where they will donate two fire trucks, a tanker, an ambulance, as well as a school bus to nearby villages in need.

On behalf of the Rotary Club of Grande Prairie  Dennis  Young  presents a $10,000 donation to Jacquie Aitken-Kish (director for PACE) to supportupgrades to office facilities to allow for additional youth and child services– a joint project between PACE/RCMP and Child & Family Services.

Funding for this would have come from our Dream Home proceeds from 2011.

PACE Mission Statement - Our mission is to provide a confident, caring approach to people in crisis.

 About us - PACE provides a wide range of crisis intervention, support and counselling services dealing with sexual abuse, sexual assault and child abuse. PACE opened its doors in 1981, and continues to grow and incorporate new programming in response to the needs of our region.

Each of the 3 Rotary Clubs in GP have donated $1667 to support travel costs for GP firefighters to train volunteer firefighters in Roatan, Honduras.

here Lorne Radbourne of the small donations committee makes his presentation to Dan Lemieux, Fire Chief for Grande Prairie Fire Department.   - The DHT newspaper did a nice story.

Local firefighters heading to Roatan

Trio to share skills with Caribbean island counterparts

Posted 5 days ago

Three local firefighters will spend a week in Central America training their Honduran counterparts on the island of Roatan at the end of the month.

Captains Terry Haughian and Jason Mazurkewich and Lieut. Ian Krauskopf, all members of the city’s fire department, will fly to the small island in the Caribbean to train local firefighters in a variety of areas, including airport firefighting, motor vehicle collision response and extrication, confined space work and a variety of emergency medical response facets including defibrillator use.

“(It’s) a chance to share some skills and hopefully teach some other firefighters who never had the benefit of all the training that we’ve had here in Grande Prairie,” said firefighter Todd Russell, president of the Grande Prairie Fire Fighters’ Association (GPFFA).

“It’s really nice to be able to share some of those skills.”

Dear Rotary Club of Grande Prairie,

 In comparison to my other monthly updates, this one will be fairly uneventful I’m sorry to say. At the end of January I got some form of infection that has taken its sweet time leaving! At first I thought it was a chest cold, and so I took a few days off of school to hopefully sleep it off, but unfortunately that didn’t help me too much. Being home too much drove me crazy, so every now and then I’d go to school, hang out with my class for a while, and then go home again to sleep and watch TV. After two weeks of this and still not feeling any better, I went and visited my first host dad who’s a doctor. He did a white blood cell test on me to check my infection level (he was sure it was some form of Bronchitis or lung infection) and explained to me after that if it were a simple cold my level would be at about an 8. My level was a 58. So he put me on some anti-infection pills that seem to be working, though I’m still not feeling my best. Anyway, right now I’m just working on getting healthy again , so my adventure-level has certainly decreased this month!

The Rotary District Conference will be in Grande Prairie this fall - Sept 21 - 23

As part of the makingthe 2012 District Conference in Grande Prairie more accessible for Rotariansand at the same time, encourage fellowship and fun, we would like to offer aHome Stay Program and we need Grande Prairie Rotarians to register as Hosts!

The following is from my Blog - a few notes about our incredible experience in San Diegio.  Kevin.

We just finished a week at Rotary’s International Assembly in San Diego.  The event was one of the last steps in the journey towards a year of being District Governor starting July 1, 2012.   All 530 District Governors Elect attended for a week of intense training, idea sharing and education.   It was a week of little sleep and long days for DGE’s and spouses.  There were many highlights.  One was finding out Rotary’s commitment to raise 200 million dollars by June 30, 2012 to help in the fight to eradicate polio was met – last week!  The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation challenged Rotarians to raise that 200 million when they contributed 355 million towards Rotary’s efforts to end polio.   The CEO of the Gates Foundation was there and was so pleased with this news – announced the contribution of another $50 million to Rotary’s efforts. We still have a way to go – but we are down to THREE endemic countries – India being declared polio free for one year now just 2 weeks ago.

Member  Lyle Carlstrom was in Panama where he came across Rotarians who explained a need for assistance from our Rotary Club.  A bridge was needed for their community.    Our club contributed $5000 and another $2500 of Rotary Foundation dollars was used.    More reasons we are all happy to support the Foundation.  Pictures and explenation below. 

The Rotary Club of Grande Prairie has partnered with the Rotary Club of San Miguel de Oruro and Save the Children to provide “Child Friendly Schools” to the indigenous people of the Bolivian High Plateau.  We have worked closely with JAKISA, which is the umbrella organization that serves the indigenous people of the region.

 The Child Friendly Schools concept is:

The program has three phases.  In phase 1, we provided teacher training, library facilities, books, desks and backpacks full of school supplies (sourced locally).  A group of Rotarians traveled there in spring 2009 to deliver the backpacks to the schools.  In phase 2, we tackled the sanitation issues at the schools.  Latrines were built or significantly improved in 16 communities and hygiene training was provided to the teachers.  Phase 3 is yet to be determined, but will be done in consultation with Rotary, Save the Children and JAKISA.

Harry Sandhu and I are in Belize looking at the Literacy program our District sponsors.

You can see a few pictures and notes here.

The story of day three looks like this:   "Today we drove for 2 hours or so of gravel to the border of Guatemala. We ended up at a small village where the Rotary Club of Camrose has adopted a school of 100 students. A while ago the school principal would have provided a"wish list" of supplies. We provided today. We met the principal, 2 teachers and the 100 students who were a joy. We left books and a globe (!) and a few other goodies. It would be easy to ship all this via Rotary to the school but it is pretty cool to do in person sometimes as well"

The new Multiplex opens in early December.   It proudly bosts Rotary  with all the clubs chipping in financially.

When everyone comes in they will see the Rotary logo built into the floor ceramics.  The text reads "Rotary Clubs Of Grande Prairie".  The area is called "Rotary Way". 

The last time Grande Prairie hosted a District Conference was in 1958! Past President Karen Munjak found some great newspaper headlines.  Read the 1958 newspaper story here.  Fun reading. 

Dear Rotarians,How are you all in the (cold) Grande Prairie? Is it snowing there already? I remember my arrival on August the 26th 2004 and one week later there was snow falling from the sky. I only thought, “Oh my god, where am I?” But I enjoyed every second of my exchange year there, because you all made it such a great experience for me. THANK YOU sooooo much for that!For those who don´t know/remember me: I´m Tanja from Austria. I was the exchange student from August 2004 until July 2005. I went to the Composite High School and I have always enjoyed playing the flute and the drum. (image - Tanja harvesting grapes)

 Photo:   President Dennis Young and winner Howard McPherson look at Howard's winning ticket.

Howard McPherson is currently a quiet 78 year old living in Dieppe Manor senior home.  That all changed when President Dennis called him to tell him he has won the Dream Home!  And YES he is moving in.   As soon as possible!  Who wouldn't?

McPherson is the winner of the Dream Home Lottery - but the community is just as much a winner.  The lottery netted an estimated $250,000.  The first 50,000 of that will go to the QEII Hospital Foundation.  The balance is for Rotary projects.

Rotarians put in thousands of hours since March.  A committee led by Derek Hall and Glenn Keddie was assisted by people like Henry Kroeker,  Karen Munjak, Carol McLevin,  Doug Henderson and other Rotarians. 

Congratulations Rotarians! 

For a complete list of winners and pictures of the home etc visit the Dream Home site

Rotarian Kevin Hilgers received this award from President Karen Munjak at the Change Over meeting.  

This citation program provides a way for Rotary clubs to personally recognize one club member for his or her outstanding efforts in the five Avenues of Service. A club member must have demonstrated support of the Object of Rotary through active participation in each of the five Avenues of Service: Club, Vocational, Community, International, and New Generations.

Here is a heart warming video featuring local youth - including Sexsmith Interact.  This is the Club we sponsored! 

The plaque says it all. 

“In recognition of the Club’s exemplary commitment tosupport and fund the District 5370 Rotary Employment Partnership in GrandePrairie, which has sustained hope and opportunity for adults with developmentaldisabilities and their families.”

President Karen accepted the award on behalf of the Club Friday in Edmonton Friday, April 8.   The award was presented by President of the AACL Barb MacIntyre.  

Finally!  Member Mac Henderson did a great job getting 60 years of history online.  It is now on our web site www.gprotary.com     Look under "About us".  In fact - it would be appreciated if you could review and check for items you would like to see added, or altered or adjusted.  Maybe you have stories that should be a part of our pemanent record

Click here for our HISTORY PAGE

Mac Henderson did the work - I posted online.  If you see changes needed - please email me

Kevin Hilgers

When Rotary Exchange Student Karly Hilgers had to return home from her year in Japan due to the earthquake, Rotarians in Brazil offered to take any exchange student returning from Japan.  Karly signed up and she is on the way to Brazil.  At the same time Club President Karen said out loud "What about the exchange students from Brazil who have to come home from Japan?" Word was sent to Brazil that the 3 Grande Prairie Clubs would take students from Brazil.  There were just a few exchange students from Brazil in Japan at the time the earthquake hit, one quickly took the opportunity to finish the exchange year in Grande Prairie.   Our Club will host Luiza from early May till late July.  She will stay with Munjak family.  Luiza is from a Rotary family as well.  Luiza will attend grade 11 at PWA who jumped at the opportunity to have Luiza as a student.   It's believed to be the first  time our club has had TWO exchange students.  

Join us April 15 for food, fun and fellowship as our Rotary club celebrates 60 years in Grande Prairie.  The event is sure to be a lot of fun! 

Where: Quality Inn

When: 7 - 11 pm (Program starts at 7:30 pm with a Dance to follow)

Cost: $30/person

Members: This is an attendance meeting - tickets will be added to your Rotary invoice

Guests: Tickets are available for sale; please call Karen at 780.814.7474

Dress:  Come dressed in any decade but this one! 

Spouses and guests are welcome!

Originally printed in District 5370 January 08 Newsletter, available in it's entirety HERE

I am writing from Kona Hawaii, and hope to do a make up this week. Hence, my thoughts. A fellow Rotarian in Grande Prairie attended a make-up meeting in Winnipeg and was surprised that not only did the club not announce him as a guest - they didn't even ask his name at sign in! It made me think how easy it is for all of us to slip into the habit of not making welcoming guests a priority in our clubs. How is your club doing?

Note - Originally printed in 5370 District Newsletter. Editor Kevin Hilgers, also on Board of Directors Rotary International District 5370

Good question.  Is it the membership chair?  The executive?  Is it seasoned long term Rotarians?  Before I answer - a fact.  In North America Rotary is on the decline.  In fact our current President Wilf Wilkinson said in Vancouver "Without new members, nothing else matters.  Without our youth and new members, it will only take a few decades for Rotary to disappear" .  Pretty dramatic words isn't it?  Here's what I like to mention to clubs when we discuss membership growth.     

*** Cheryl did a bang up job on a brochure for prospective new members.  It's printed and will be in the cupboard at Rotary - and explains in 2 pages about our club,  Rotary, and it's obligations and priveledges.   A great introduction for prospective members.  You can also DOWNLOAD it Watch for the link called   Prospective Member E-Club Brochure under DOWNLOADS o our web site at www.gprotary.com

The "New Member Proposal Form" is available on our web site  www.gprotary.com 
Look under downloads on our web site ---  or simply hit:  PROPOSAL FORM - and the form will open in your computer.  Try and fill out digitally, save in your computer and send via email. This makes everyone's job much easier.