News

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Listed below are some of the projects worked on, activities participated in, and speakers appeared at the club throughout the year. We try and ensure that there is a good mix of great speakers, volunteer effort, fellowship and business networking by all members.

Seniorizing

Posted by Julius Buski on Sep 11, 2019

Being a senior can also mean becoming withdrawn and needing new friendships and activities. That is the focus of Dawne Fowler's Seniorizing program. For five days a week, program participants take part in a variety of activities, Thank you Dawne, for coming to our meeting and telling us about this unique program. Shown thanking Dawne is Chad Hierlmeier, Sant City Rotary's Vocational Services Director.

Vietnam Trip

LoSeCa Foundation - Helping Adults with Disabilities

Posted by Julius Buski on Aug 30, 2019

The LoSeCa Foundation in St. Albert provides love, service and care for adults with disabilities. We were privileged this week to have LoSeCa's Executive Director, Carmen Horpestad, attend our meeting and outline the foundation's many programs for us. Thank you for the good you and your colleagues do in the world, Carmen! Shown thanking Carmen )(on the right) is Kathleen Soltys, Saint City's Director of International Service.

Nick Algar - Supporting the Rotary Foundation

Posted by Julius Buski on Aug 21, 2019

Congratulations to Saint City Rotarian Nick Algar, who received his PHF+1 pin at this week's meeting of our club. Thank you for your support of our foundation, Nick! Rotary - Doing Good in the World.

Shown presenting the pin to Nick (left) is club president Jeff Hodgson.

Experience Rotary - Attend the Ri Convention

Posted by Julius Buski on Jul 30, 2019

To really experience the international character of Rotary, attend an RI Convention. At our meeting this week, club president Jeff Hodgson and wife Lydia shared their experiences at the 2019 Hamburg Convention. Thank you Lydia and Jeff for sharing this experience with us! Shown thanking our speakers is club member Gennet Ghebremichael (center).

Amarok Society - Teach a Mother, Change the World

Posted by Julius Buski on Jul 24, 2019

"Teach a Mother, Change the World" is the mission of the Amarok Society's education program in Bangladesh. Each od the society's schools provides literacy training to 25 mothers, who then pass on the lessons to their children and others. Meaningful change. Saint City Rotary is proud to be a partner with several other clubs in supporting this important project. Our thanks to John Oldham, from the Spruce Grove Rotary Club (organizers of this cooperative support effort) from joining us at this week's meeting and telling us more about the project. Shown presenting John with our club's contribution is Nonie Buski, Saint City past president and Youth Services Chair. Interested in the work of Amarok? Here's the link to their website: http://amaroksociety.org/wordpress/

Wild North

Posted by Julius Buski

Wildlife care, wildlife rescue and wildlife education are the focus of the work done by Wild North., At our meeting this week, Graham Currie and Dale Gienow outlined for us the activities of this wonderful organization.. Shown thanking our two speakers (Graham on the left and Dale on the right) is club president-elect Diane Ellis.

Clean Scene - Working with Youth

Posted by Julius Buski on Jun 11, 2019

Clean Scene - working to educate youth about drug and crime issues. Since 2002, Clean Scene has worked with more than 350,000 youth around drug and crime issues. At our June 11th meeting we were delighted to have Mike Ryan, founder of Clean Scene, provide us an update on the critically important work of this organization. Saint City Rotary proudly supports Clean Scene programs at Sir George Simpson Jr. High School in St. Albert. Thanks for all you do, Mike! You are an outstanding Rotarian. Bonnie Huckabay, club treasurer, thanked Mike on behalf of the club.

Building Leadership Skills in our Youth

Posted by Julius Buski on Jun 04, 2019

Saint City Rotary is proud to support /youth leadership development programs such as RYLA and RYLE. At our meeting this week, St., Albert Catholic High School students Elise Frederickson and Karis Heigh provided us with an enthusiastic presentation on their recent RYLE (Rotary Youth Leadership Experience). They were accompanied by their teacher Paige Bontus. Shown in the photo are (left to right) Elise Frederickson, PDG Julius Buski (who thanked them on behalf of the club), teacher Paige Bontus, and Karis Heigh. Saint City Rotary - proud to support our young leaders of tomorrow.

Emily Taylor Legacy Project

Posted by Julius Buski on May 28, 2019

Helping youth at risk was the theme of a touching presentation at our meeting this week by Stephanie Taylor. Stephanie talked to us about the suicide of their teen age daughter, Emily, and how that spurred her and husband Rick to establish the Emily Taylor Legacy Project. Funds raised by their organization go directly to support CASA Foundation's mental health program for children, adolescents and their families. Their primary support is to CASA House which treats adolescents from all over central and northern Alberta. Thank you for sharing this story with us, Stephanie. Shown thanking Stephanie is Saint City Rotary president Nonie Buski (on the right).

The History of Polio

Posted by Julius Buski on May 22, 2019

The History of Polio was the title of an enthralling presentation at our meeting this week, by Dr. Mark Joffe. Dr. Joffe traced the history of the disease, with a particular focus on Edmonton, and reinforced for us once again, that we are very close to ridding the world of this dreaded virus. Thanks of sharing this fascinating story with us, Dr. Joffe. Shown thanking Dr. Joffe is Lydia Hodgson.

India Trip Information Night

Posted on May 07, 2019

China Trip Information Night

Posted on May 07, 2019

Experience China this fall

Experience China this fall with Saint City Rotary. Great price for all-inclusive 11 day trip, including viewing the Terra Cotta warriors.

See China - plus Yantze River Cruise

Join Saint City Rotary in this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Experience China and enjoy the Yangtze River Cruise.

Dr. Seuss and Kathleen

Posted by Julius Buski on May 02, 2019

A refreshing classification talk - with the help of Dr. Seuss. Our newest member, Kathleen Soltys, shared her classification talk with us this week, using quotes from Dr. Seuss as an anchor, and proved once again that these are indeed some of our most interesting programs. Thanks for a very interesting presentation, Kathleen and welcome to our club! Kathleen was thanked by club secretary Linda Perras (left).

Shelter Box - An Outstanding Rotary Partner

Posted by Julius Buski on Apr 25, 2019

Shelter Box - A Rotary Affiliated Program doing good in the world. Our guest speaker this week was Bernie Kreiner, who shared with us the Shelter Box story and encouraged us to continue making club and individual contributions to this highly effective and respected emergency disaster relief organization. Thanks for your excellent presentation, Bernie. To learn more about the program, click on this link:

https://www.shelterboxcanada.org/

Sidekicks Mentorship Program

Posted by Julius Buski

A most interesting presentation at today's meeting by Michelle Veran, Executive Director of Sidekicks Mentorship. A St. Albert based and developed program, Sidekicks Mentoring matches community volunteers to school-aged children between the ages of 6 to 16 with the goal of providing these children with positive mentors and role models to be their friends. Sidekicks is a program of the St. Albert Community Information Centre and a great example of doing good in the world. Thanks for sharing this information with us, Michelle.

Shown presenting a certificate of appreciation to Michelle is club president Nonie Buski (on the left).

Aerial Photography - A Fascinating Hobby

Posted by Julius Buski on Apr 04, 2019

A fascinating program this week by our former member and club president Patrick Gibson. Patrick has taken up a new hobby, drone aerial photography. Patrick showed us some amazing photos and video footage shot by him. Thanks for sharing, Patrick. I think you may have whetted an interest in drone photography on the par

t of at least a couple of our members. Shown thanking Patrick is our community services director, Ross Algar (on the left).

Welcome to our Newest Member - Kathleen Soltys

Posted by Julius Buski on Mar 28, 2019

Welcome to our newest member, Kathleen Soltys, who was inducted into our club at our March 26 Meeting. Kathleen's classification is nursing. Shown with Kathleen is her sponsor, Lydia Hodgson (on the left).

St. Albert Seniors Association - Something for Everyone

Posted by Julius Buski on Mar 19, 2019

Jan Tworek and Carol Aucoin shared with us this evening the many program offerings by the St. Albert Seniors Association. Truly something for everyone. Shown thanking our speakers is Ross Algar, Saint City's Community Services Director.

Women's Shelters - Serving our Community

Posted by Julius Buski on Feb 27, 2019

Great presentation at our meeting this week by Jan Reimer, Executive Director of ACWS (Alberta Council of Women's Shelters). Among other things we learned that:

-10,390 women, children and seniors were sheltered in 2017-18;

- 16,722 women, children and seniors were turned away in 2017-18 due to lack of capacity;

- there were 58,117 crisis calls to shelters in the same period and;

- 8,879 junior and senior high school students were reached through the ACWS Leading Change Call to Action program.

Many thanks for speaking to us, Jan, and for this very important work you do!

Shown in the photo thanking Jan is Nick Algar, one of our club directors.

St. Albert History - Part 2

Posted by Julius Buski on Feb 12, 2019

We were delighted to have Ray Pinco back with us this week to continue relating some of St. Albert's history. Shown thanking Ray is Club Administration Co-Director Lydia Hodgson.

District 5370 Youth Programs in Great Shape!

Posted by Julius Buski on Jan 29, 2019

We were delighted to have District 5370 Youth Services Chair (and the District's Rotarian of the Year for 2017-18), Tamara Larson, speak to us about the District's Youth Programs at today's meeting.. There are presently 52+ Interact clubs and 9 Rotaract clubs in our district, which surpasses in total the 57 Rotary clubs! Tamara provided us with an interesting update on RYLA, RYLE and RYPEN, as well as an exciting collaboration with the Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg. Thank you for sharing this with us, Tamara. In recognition of Tamara's participation, the Saint City Rotary Club will be making a donation to Rotary's PolioPlus program in her name. Shown presenting the thank you certificate to Tamara is Lydia Hodgson (left), the club's co-director of Club Administration.

(Special thanks to Jeff Hodgson for serving as our official photographer for this and many other photos in our posts).

Lifelong Learning

Posted by Julius Buski on Feb 06, 2019

Keep learning....stay connected. That was the message David Winfield brought to us at our meeting this week, when he spoke about ELLA (Edmonton Lifelong Learners Association). ELLA is once again offering a variety of courses during the 2019 Spring Session - April 29 to May 17. You can find out more at www.m-ella.com. Thank you for a most interesting presentation, David.

Shown thanking David (on the right) is PDG Julius Buski.