On May 1, the Morinville Rotary Club was treated to an excellent presentation by Carter Hnatiw on his Nicaraguan trip with the "Me to We" Foundation and the Kindersley Rotary Club.  Carter is currently a grade 10 student at the Morinville Community High School.

The "Me to We" Foundation provides youth the opportunity to do volunteer work in Nicaragua on a school campus for children who have limited access to education.  Carter's group assisting in laying the foundations for a new school building.  Through participation in this program youth build and deepen leadership skills through global development workshops; learn Spanish and volunteer along side local community members; and, gain first hand experience of environmental conservation and rural development issues through guided hikes along volcanoes, walks through coffee and sugar plantations; and, a leadership workshop at a coastal retreat.

Carter ended his presentation by stating the trip was an awesome experience and would return to Nicaragua in a heartbeat.  He also stated he would like to assist in starting up an Interact Club at his high school in order to promote youth connecting with each other on a common goal and wanting to improve the health of the world.  He thanked the Club for giving him the chance to go to Nicaragua.

On April 24th, the Morinville Rotary Club was treated to Wendy McDonald's presentation, "A Fish Story".  Wendy is an accomplished trainer and adult educator with over twenty-five years experience in staff training and leadership development.  She is currently Development Director for the Alberta Association for Community Living.  She is a past President of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Mayfield.  Currently Wendy is a member of the Rotary District Training for Rotary District 5370 and Chair of the District 5370 Employment Partnership.

Wendy's presentation was on Pike's Place.  Pike's Place became famous without advertising but through making a decision to buy a business without any business experience.  During the first staff meting the owner asked what the staff wanted out of their jobs.  One staffer said he wanted to be famous and they all agreed.  The first action after this decision to be famous was to change the business name to "Famous".  Secondly, they decided to change how they treated each other and their customers.  The coached each other and held each other accountable on their conduct and customer service.  They adopted four rules that translated into a very successful business and improved the personal lives of the staff as well.

Play - They looked at how to become more efficient with how they moved and have fun doing it.  Play looks at how to bring the light side, energy and enthusiasm of ourselves to a task that has to be done.

Make their day - How are we making the day of our fellow workers and members.  What are we doing to make an exceptional experience.  Be  authentic.  Be intentional.

Be there (be present) - the electronic age is making this difficult.  You have to commit to this principle and choose to focus on where you are and who you are with.

Choose your attitude - (it's a simple choice) emotion is a physiological response, but behavior is a choice.  Ask yourself what you are contributing to or contaminating with your attitude.

Thank you Wendy for your inspiring words and encouragement!

On March 27th, the Morinville Rotary Club was treated to a presentation by Hanna Turner who spoke about her journey with the Canadian Association of Medical Teams Abroad to Ecuador.  Hanna and CAMTA members left on February 15, 2013.  The mission of the group was to provide orthopedic surgery to repair clubfoot and hip dislocation to children and adults.  By doing so, the patients were provided the opportunity to achieve mobility.  Hanna was kept very busy.  As a lay-person, her jobs were varied ... keeping the coffee room stocked and ready, shopping for groceries, setting up cell phones for team members, translating and sterilizing medical equipment.  Hanna stated the trip was the greatest experience of her life and solidified her plans to become a doctor.

Hanna thanked the Rotary Club of Morinville for its sponsorship.  She stated the CAMTA team was able to make a difference to so many people in need.  The opportunity to participate in this worthwhile endeavor has inspired her to give more!

At the Club's March 20th meeting, Morinville Community High School Principal, Todd Eistetter, presented information on the functions and impact the local School Resource Officer has on the school's students and family.  Also present were the School Resource Officer, Cst. C. Blackmore and Staff/Sgt. M. Mathias from the Morinville RCMP Detachment. 

The benefits of the School Resource Officer reverberates from the school out into the community.  Often incidents happen in the community and have the to potential to spill over into the school community.  Many times the community does not hear about incidents and therefore do not hear about the positive impact the School Resource Officer has in solving these incidents.  Through Todd's presentation the Club learned that without the vital position of the School Resource Officer, the positive outcomes for the school's students and families would become infrequent.  The Club also learned that with the current fiscal challenges, the school is looking for assistance from the community to fund the School Resource Officer position.  A total of $34,000 comes directly out of the school's budget.  Mr. Eistetter indicated any financial support from the community would be greatly appreciated.

The Club appreciated the opportunity to hear and learn about the School Resource Officer and the impact this position has on the school community as well as the community at large.

On March 13th Club members were treated to a classification presentation by Carol Haley.  Carol is a local girl, born and raised in a community to the west of Morinville.  After graduating from NAIT, Carol embarked on a 35 year journey in a science career with a small regional company that has grown over the years to a national company and just recently was bought out by a competitor. This has now allowed the company to move to the status of an international company with world wide sales in the billions of dollars.  Carol has worked her way through the company and is now Regional Manager of a territory that spans northern Alberta all the way to northwestern Ontario and she has thirteen representatives working for her.

Carol is now experiencing the "empty nest" as her three sons have moved from the family home and are on their way to various careers.  She views life as an adventure and is hoping to do more world traveling.  Carol would also like to get more involved in volunteering and giving back to the community through local activities and the Rotary.  She is looking forward to learning more about the Rotary and becoming more involved.

On February 27, 2013 Morinville Rotary Club's President Elect, L. Kilian and member sponsor, M. French welcomed New Inductee, Doris Jolicoeur.  Welcome Doris!

On February 6, 2013 guest presenter Simon Boersma spoke to the Club about The Flying Doctors of Canada.  Simon is with the local company Pleasant Homes.  His presentation on philanthropy and The Flying Doctors of Canada was both passionate and inspirational.   Club member K. Sandmaier was so inspired she challenged Club members to match her donation of $100 to The Flying Doctors of Canada.  The Club rose to the challenge and that morning raised $1,010 for The Flying Doctors of Canada!

For further information about The Flying Doctors of Canada, please check out the organization's website  www.flyingdoctors.ca

The Rotary Club of Morinville has sponsored H. Turner in her trip to Equador in 2013 with the Canadian Association of Medical Teams Abroad (CAMTA).  H. Turner is a third generation Sturgeon County resident.  She has been a member of the Namao Trail Busters 4-H Club for seven years.  She graduated from Sturgeon Composite High School and is currently in her third year of science at the University of Alberta -  with a major in Biological Science and a minor in Spanish Language and Culture.  At the U of A she is a Campus Ambassador.  In her free time she enjoys backpacking in the mountains, coaching basketball and meeting new people.

The CAMTA is a team comprised solely of volunteers and the mission of the group is to provide orthopedic surgery to repair clubfoot and hip dislocation repair to children and adults.  The group provides this service primarily in Ecuador.

The Morinville Rotary Club wishes CAMTA and H. Turner much success down in Equador and looks forward to receiving an update from H. Turner upon her return.

At the October 18, 2012 Morinville Chamber of Commerce Gala and Awards Night, the Rotary Club of Morinville was honoured to receive the Chamber's Community Service Award.

The Club is active in building and maintaining a number of local parks, including its signature Rotary Park and the Splash Park.  Under the guidance of Rotarian Joel Chevalier, the Club is currently looking at several major improvements to its Rotary Park that could take a few years to complete if approved.  The Club is also a huge supporter of local youth and recently sent four students off to Rotary International's RYPEN, RYLA, Adventures in Technology, Adventures in Citizenship and Adventures in Agriculture.  The Club also sponsors service awards in the local schools.

 (Pictured are President John Wasmuth and Rotarian Joel Chevalier with the Morinville's Chamber of Commerce - Community Service Award.)

Guest speakers:  Christie Johnson, Henry Mdyetsenith and Christie’s proud parents Larry & Donna Johnson. 

Christie Johnson and Henry Mdyetsenith spoke to us on the Malawi School for Girls.