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.

Need a tool? Don't buy - borrow!

Why buy a tool when you can borrow one from the St. Albert Tool Library (www.satls.org). Bridget Reschke, founder and volunteer executive directior of the library spoke to us about her inspiration for the library and how it operates. Membership fees are very reasonable and new members are most welcome. In addition to the tool library, this community-based non-profit also hosts Fix-It Cafés on a monthly basis at various locations throughout St. Albert. Bring in an item needing repair, share a coffee, and see if one of the volunteers can bring your item back to live. A wonderful community service! Thanks for sharing this information with us Bridget, and also thank you for the many volunteer hours you devote to the project! Shown thanking Bridget is Past District Governor Julius Buski.

Congratulations and Thank You - Ross Algar

Congratulations to Ross Algar, who received his PHF+4 pin from club president Jeff Hodgson (on the left) at this week's meeting. Ross is a former club president and ongoing Director of Community Service. Thank you for supporting our Foundation, Ross. Rotary - Doing Good in the World!

Another Great Program

Our speaker this week was Patrick Gibson, who shared with us a program, illustrated with his usual excellent photographs, of his visit to Greece this past fall. Patrick is a former president of Saint City and we always enjoy his presentations. Thanks for coming, Patrick - another great program! Shown thanking Patrick is Saint City's Director of International Service, Kathleen Soltys.

Ambassadorial Grants Scholarships

Rotary's Ambassadorial Grants Scholarship program enables clubs and districts to provide a fully funded post degree program for selected individuals. One of these is Kasia Fardoe, who spoke to our club at our January 7th meeting. Kasia is our district's third Ambassadorial Scholarship Grant recipient. (Our club helped support Amy Smith - the first recipient - a few years ago; Amy has now completed her studies in Australia). Kasia's grant is being coordinated by the Rotary Club of Camrose, with contributions from several other clubs. She told us about her travels and her current studies at the London School of Economics. Thanks for taking the time to speak to us, Kasia.

Rotary - Doing Good in the World.

Appetite to Achieve

Posted by Julius Buski on Nov 26, 2019

Saint City Rotary is a proud supporter of St. Albert Public School's Appetite to Achieve Program. The program provides nutrition for many of the system's students. Marianne Barrett, Deputy Superintendent for Program and Planning, St. Albert Public Schools, was at our meeting this week to provide us with an update on the program and receive our contribution. Shown with Marianne (center) and club treasurer Bonnie Huckabay and Ross Algar, Saint City's Director of Community Service. Rotary - Doing Good in the World!

A Great Funding Partnership

Posted by Julius Buski on Dec 03, 2019

Five years ago, the Government of Canada partnered with the The Rotary Foundation Canada to provide funding of $1.2 million annually as matching funds for Canadian clubs' global grants. At our meeting today, PDG Betty Screpnek, who co-chairs TRFC, provided us with a synopsis of this partnership, which is in its final year. Thanks for sharing this information with us, Betty, and for all your work on behalf of Rotary. Shown presenting Betty with her thank you certificate is Saint City's Director of Vocational Service, Chad Hierlmeier.

Teach a mother, Change the world

Posted by Julius Buski on Nov 19, 2019

"Teach a mother, change the world" is the mission of the Amarok Society. At this week's meeting, Gem Munro, co-founder of the Amarok Society talked to us about the school we are co-sponsoring in Bangladesh, along with the Rotary clubs of Stony Plain, Spruce Grove and Parkland After Dark. Gem and his wife Tanyss are wonderful role models in the quest for helping to improve education and living conditions in the poorest of the poor countries. Thank you for the work you do, Gem, and for bringing us up to date on "our" school. Shown thanking Gem is Chad Hierlmeier, Saint City's Director of Vocational Service. For more about the Amarok Society and their work, visit http://amaroksociety.org/wordpress/?fbclid=IwAR0XBaS1Kb2WOD8frIkLBqsTgj9080yAMipo9EgGxiyCHeeuaGpk0XZeu-U

Lead With Seeds

Posted by Julius Buski on Nov 12, 2019

A great presentation at this week's meeting by Bruce Anderson, one of the founders of Lead With Seeds (http://leadwithseeds.org/) Lead with Seeds group members have been working together since 2009 as a grass roots response to the plight of rural people in another part of the Western Hemisphere. Honduras is wracked with poverty, unemployment, and violence resulting from the North American drug trade. The poor have lost traditional lands and knowledge, and have paid the price required for monoculture, global warming (hurricanes), and other systemic challenges. Thank you for telling us the story and for the great work you and your colleagues are doing in the Honduras, Bruce. Shown thanking Bruce is Saint City's president-elect, Diane Ellis.

Youth Exchange - Connecting the World

Posted by Julius Buski on Oct 31, 2019

In 1958, Rotary International launched its full year youth exchange program. The program now provides a year-long exchange opportunity in a different country for approximately 8,000 students. It is truly a life-changing experience. Hanna Walsh, our speaker this week, related to us her experiences as a youth exchange student to Bolivia. Hanna is now looking forward to continuing her university studies in a program which will include courses in Argentina and Italy. Youth exchange truly connects the world.

Shown thanking Hanna for her presentation is Saint City Rotary's Director of Club Services, Lydia Hodgson.

The Youville Home Story

Posted by Julius Buski on Oct 11, 2019

Jamie Frunchak and Deborah McKinnon from the Youville Home in St. Albert attended our meeting this week to share the Youville Home Story. As a combination of the original nursing home built in 1963 and a new facility that opened in 2006, Youville Home provides long-term care in a cozy, home-like atmosphere. Thank you for sharing the news of these important programs with us, Jamie and Deborah. Shown in the photo Jamie (left), Diane Ellis - Saint City President-Elect (center), and Deborah (right).

Saint City Awarded 2018-19 Rotary Citation (Platinum Distinction)

Posted by Julius Buski on Oct 01, 2019

Saint city Rotary is honoured to have been awarded the Rotary International Citation for 2018-19, with Platinum Distinction. Shown presenting the award to Immediate Past President Nonie Buski is Past District Governor Julius Buski. Nonie extended appreciation to all Saint City Members for their work towards the award.

Explore the World With Saint City Rotary

Posted on Sep 24, 2019

Saint City Rotary invites you to explore the world with us in 2020:

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.

Clean and Living

Posted by Julius Buski on Sep 18, 2019

Coping with a child with addiction can be a challenging and heartbreaking journey for any parent, and even more so when the problem continues over years. But - there can be light at the end of the tunnel. At our meeting this week, Tom Halapatz spoke to us about he and his wife's personal experience with their son, and how that has resulted in them creating a program to help other parents. Thank you, Tom, for sharing your experience with us. Tom was thanked by Saint City President Jeff Hodgson (on the left).

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