GOLFERS... SPONSORS... SIGN UP TODAY... ROTARY IS LOOKING FOR A FEW GREAT SUPPORTERS... HELP ROTARY RESPOND TO COMMUNITY NEEDS... HEALTH; EDUCATION; SPORTS; EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND MORE... THE LIST IS VERY LONG... THIS YEAR ITS TO SUPPORT THE LEADERSHIP OF OKOTOKS AND THE MD FOOTHILLS WITH THE COMPLETION OF A MULTI USE 'FIELD HOUSE'...

IT ALL HAPPENS JUNE 1... HAVE YOU GOT YOUR CART KIT... HAVE YOU REGISTERED... DO YOU WANT TO BE SPONSOR

GET IN TOUCH WITH ANDREW NORTHRUP AT CARCRAFT CARSTAR IN OKOTOKS...

In a little Town in South West Mexico 6 Okotoks Rotarians along with 4 spouses partnered with members of the Sylvan Lake and Red Deer Rotary Clubs to bring over 300 Wheel Chairs to needed people in the southern parts of Mexico around Huatalco. The clubs raised the money, purchased the chairs, shipped them off to Mexico and then travelled to Mexico to unpack and assemble the Chairs. They ten did work days helping people get a chair and teaching them how to manage them.

The picturse show our Rotarians at work helping...

• 80-yr-old Nicolesa Bta Diaz took a four hour bus ride to get her wheelchair

• President Kino of the Huatalco Rotary shows parents how to take their son up and down stairs

• Neil Swenrude, 10 year veteran of the wheelchair program from Sylvan Lake left, with Lynn Peterson, first time wheelchair volunteer with the Okotoks Rotary lift a recipient into her new chair

Did you know that Rotary International has made it a mission to eradicate polio from the entire world?  And that there are only three countries left in which polio exists? The last country to capitulate was India, after many years of delivering the vaccine. In February, 2012, the country celebrated one full year polio free. 

In today’s world, many of us don’t understand the crippling effects of polio.  The virus attacks the intestinal tract, causing general illness and flu-like symptoms, but in its worst form, the virus migrates from the intestine and may affect the nerves governing the muscles in the limbs and the muscles necessary for breathing, causing respiratory difficulty and paralysis of the arms and legs. It can even cause death.

In the Western Hemisphere we began to use the vaccine as soon as it became available in the mid-fifties, and for many years we’ve not seen anyone with the disease. The rest of the world was not as fortunate, but with concerted efforts, only a few countries remain a challenge. Although immunization efforts continue, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria are still infected.  Change in these countries is difficult due to cultural or religious barriers and/or civil unrest.  But when compared to the entire world, we have almost reached our goal. You will see evidence of the current campaign, which states, “We are ‘this close’ to ending polio.

One of the faces you will see in these ads is that of Bill Gates. He donated $350 million to the cause, and challenged Rotary International to match it.  Rotary’s initial pledge, set in 2009, was to raise $200 million for polio eradication. To date, Rotary has contributed $164.5 million to the cause in India, and more than $1 billion worldwide.

This money comes from fundraisers in individual clubs all over the world.

Here in Okotoks, the Rotary club is selling poinsettias to brighten your holiday season.  Why not celebrate World Polio Day on October 24^th by ordering your plants? All of the proceeds will go toward this global initiative. We are using a local supplier, and offering two sizes of the plant. For $15, a stunning poinsettia, and for $20, a beautiful plant laced with tropicals.  To place your order, call (403) 938-9951 or e-mail jefffoss@telusplanet.net.   

As part of an international experiment, a satellite meeting has been created for young professionals, bringing the current membership to 52. Our local Rotarians are the only club in Canada participating in this unique pilot program.

Rotary generates funding for community projects and charitable organizations, and you’d be surprised at the variety of ways we do it.

Last month, we held the 23^rd Annual Soap Box Derby on the Crystal Ridge hill, with a whopping 92 participants. This successful event sparks amazing community participation with parents and businesses alike sponsoring the homemade cars.  This year’s race brought in $7,500.  

This month, we ran our annual golf tournament with hot sunny weather, and a lot of fun.  The results? Ten thousand dollars was given to KidSport, an organization dedicated to financially helping families register their children in sports programs.  An additional ten thousand went to Rowan House, an emergency shelter for women in the Foothills area.

These are events you read about in the paper, but what about the work you may not know about?  Here’s what happened. Some Rotary reps went to a cattle auction. They bought a steer and sold the best cuts.  The rest went into hamburger, as did the money they made on the better cuts, and the Okotoks Food Bank benefitted by 400 pounds of fresh ground meat.

Next month we look forward to providing food at the Highland Games, and any proceeds from that gargantuan endeavour will be donated back to this high profile event.

Rotary is an international organization that believes in Service First.  If you’d like to visit a meeting, you’re welcome anytime. Wednesday’s meeting begins at 6:30 at Crystal Ridge Golf Club and includes dinner for $20.  The young professionals meet Thursdays at 5:15 at Rylie’s Cattle Barn for appetizers at five dollars. Find more information at okotoksrotary.ca

Peg Ainsley is a Rotarian and a freelance writer in Okotoks.

On February 29th we were delighted to have Lauren Ingalls join us from the Foothills Foundation.  The Foothills Foundation has been providing affordable housing options for seniors in the foothills region since 1950.  The Foundation operates three supportive living centres in each of the communities of Okotoks, Black Diamond and High River.  The lodges provide hotel style accommodation, meals, basic room furnishings, weekly housekeeping, recreation, 24 hour non medical monitoring and referral to community based services. Starting in the 1990’s the Foundation also expanded its programs to include independent living and family housing for low and moderate income seniors and families. In total the Foundation provides accommodation to 391 seniors and 47 families in 350 units, and financial rent support to another 175 households. The average senior in the lodge program has income under $26,000 and pays $13,100 annually toward rent in 2012.

The Foothills Foundation is currently undertaking a project to replace the dining room tables and chairs at the Sandstone Lodge in Okotoks.  To date the Foundation has raised funds totalling $23,300. The cost to replace the chairs and table is $33,300 leaving a shortfall of $10,000.

For more information you can contact Lauren at 403-652-8600 or lingalls@foothillsfdtn.org

The Rotary Club of Okotoks now has fifty members.

With the induction of 8 new members into the Satellite Club last week the total membership of the Rotary club of Okotoks is 50! (42 active and 8 honorary members)

Congratulations to all the new members and the membership committee.

Canadian Rotarian and polio survivor Ramesh Ferris met with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Pakistani Prime Minister Raza Gilani, and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard immediately following an announcement of a $90 million contribution to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

Throughout the world of Rotary Clubs; 200 Clubs were granted the ability to organize a “Rotary Satellite Program”.  In this 3 year pilot program, the Okotoks Rotary Club is working through the process to create a special “Satellite Club” geared to meet the volunteer needs of its region’s young professionals.  The new group will meet on a different day, likely an early evening 5-6 pm or morning 7-8am.  The Satellite Club will work along with the existing Chartered Okotoks Rotary Club; also within the guide lines that all Rotary Clubs follow. 

On Oct 12, 2011, while entertaining the District Governor Mike French, seven of the initial twelve new members were inducted into Rotary.  The Okotoks Rotary Club President Marvin Pawlivsky, Membership Committee Director Brandon Mohr and Club Treasurer Lynn Peterson were on hand to initially welcome the new members to the Okotoks Rotary Club and Satellite Club, Program.   President Marvin Pawlivsky expressed his feeling of excitement to have seven new members sworn in at one time and made positive comments of the program.  The Okotoks Rotary Club is honoured to have had District Governor Mike French in attendance to perform this momentous event.

New Members in attendance... Corinne Finnie; Ana McFadyen; Tanya Thorn; Jason McFarlane; Greg Aimer; Matt Rockley; Kerri Van Hell...  Unavailable for the ceremony were Rob Bolton; Lee Watkins; John Barlow; Nick Ruigrok and Josh Kulbaba.  Membership Director Brandon Mohr commented that we are excited about where we are this quickly and is looking forward to hosting many more of our young professionals and hopefully having them join this great organization and program.  He welcomes anyone in the community to not hesitate contacting any of our club members to find out how they can get more involved with Rotary and about their commitment requirements should they join. 

Join in the celebrations as Alberta honours its small businesses in and around the week of October 16 to 22, 2011 – recognized nation-wide as Small Business Week. Every year, The Business Link and the Alberta Chambers of Commerce work together to promote Small Business Week events in Alberta.

Small Business Week is a national annual celebration organized by the Business Development Bank of Canada in cooperation with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce during the latter part of October.

It pays tribute to the significant contribution that small and medium-sized business owners make to our economy and gives them an opportunity to network with those interested in small business and dedicated to its development.  

This news story was taken from www.canadabusiness.ab.ca

We gathered in the beautiful amphitheatre for the closing ceremonies, sitting in the beautiful pine forest surrounding the camp.  It was obvious that the teams were excited as the awards were handed out for innovation, leadership, etc.  However, there was a feeling that every one was a winner,  They had shared a week of hard work, learning, and fun,  I think I saw it all expressed as we were leaving and went one final time to the great hall for a drink.  There simply was not enough Kleenex to go around as campers were saying goodbye to one another.