WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO:

ROTARY – People of Action

Rotary is where neighbours, friends, and problem-solvers share ideas, join leaders, and take action to create lasting change.

We're made up of local business, professional, and civic leaders. 

We meet regularly, get to know each other, form friendships and through that, we're able to get things done in our community. 

It's up to YOU.............Join leaders in our community

Be sure to share this with all of your friends and associates and ask them to get in touch with our Club President Sue MacKinnon at 905-391-1501 or our Club Past President Lennis Trotter at 905-985-0963.

You are invited to our next Rotary meeting. You may wish to become a Rotarian. Dinner is on us. Isn't it time to give back to your community?.

2020-21 ROTARY THEME: “ROTARY OPENS OPPORTUNITIES”

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT:  Holger Knaack – Rotary Club of Herzogtum Lauenburg-Mölln, Germany

R.I. DISTRICT 7070 GOVERNOR:         Mark Chipman - Rotary Club of Whitby Sunrise in Whitby, Ontario, Canada

ASSISTANT DISTRICT 7070 GOVERNOR: John Burns – Rotary Club of Bowmanville in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada

THE OBJECT OF ROTARY

is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

FIRST The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;

SECOND High ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful

occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society;

THIRD The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life;

FOURTH The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of

business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

Rotary Code of Conduct provides a framework for ethical behaviour that all Rotarians can use, together with The Four-Way Test, in their business and professional activities.

ROTARY CODE OF CONDUCT

As a Rotarian, I will

1. Exemplify the core value of integrity in all behaviours and activities

2. Use my vocational experience and talents to serve in Rotary

3. Conduct all of my personal, business, and professional affairs ethically, encouraging and fostering high ethical standards as an example to others

4. Be fair in all dealings with others and treat them with the respect due to them as fellow human beings

5. Promote recognition and respect for all occupations which are useful to society

6. Offer my vocational talents: to provide opportunities for young people, to work for the relief of the special needs of others, and to improve the quality of life in my community

7. Honour the trust that Rotary and fellow Rotarians provide and not do anything that will bring disfavour or reflect adversely on Rotary or fellow Rotarians

8. Not seek from a fellow Rotarian a privilege or advantage not normally accorded others in a business or professional relationship

THE ROTARY FOUR-WAY TEST

of things we think, say and do:

1. Is it the truth

2. Is it fair to all concerned?

3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?

4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

MINUTES OF ZOOM MEETING :  Tuesday, July 14, 2020

                                  Editor: Hilda Finnigan

BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES  

July  8  - Happy Birthday to Kay Hurren         

July  8 – Happy Anniversary to Caroline & Robert Kipling

July 11  - Happy Anniversary to Florin & Roxana Popa

July 11  - Happy Anniversary to Colin & Elizabeth Carrie

July 17 – Happy Birthday to Linda Porritt  

July 25 – Happy Birthday to Esther Trotter

July 31 – Happy Birthday to Greg McDowell

On the Zoom Call Tonight:

Hilda Finnigan,  David Andrews, David Penny, Janice Coupland, Kris Sachdeva, Sue McKinnon, Robert Kipling,  Tim Dwyre, Lennis Trotter,  Bob Koski, Robbie Larocque, Ana Rejab, Linda Porritt, Devon Biddle, Al Finnigan, David Mankiewicz, Colin Carrie,

Guest : Richard Mewhinney, our guest speaker, member of the Rotary Club of Newmarket , and District 7070 Chair of the Areas of Focus Action Committee and our District 7070 Assistant Givernor John Burns

President Sue MacKinnon started the meeting at 7:02 pm  and welcomed everyone !!!

AGAIN, THANK YOU TO: our very own Oshawa-Parkwood Rotarian Eric Guernsey for arranging the Zoom Meeting sharing with Heather McMillan, Executive Director of the Durham Workforce Authority, The Durham Workforce Authority is the acknowledged provider of local workforce information and champion of workforce development initiatives unique to Durham Region. Their Mission is to produce and offer comprehensive Labour Market Information to our stakeholders, to facilitate workforce solutions by engaging community partners and employers and to encourage development and maintenance of a sustainable and dynamic workforce.. It was so nice to be able to have a whole hour for our Zoom meeting. We thank you both and hope we can continue in July.

PRESIDENT SUE’S OPENING REMARKS:

President Sue welcomed everyone to our meeting tonight.

A MOMENT OF REFLECTION:

We then took 10 seconds of silence to think about how great a country we live in.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Ted  reminded all of us to tell our friends and neighbours that there is still time to make a donation to our Rotary Cub to help fight COVID-19 right here in Oshawa and our club will match their donation. Thank you to Kim and Sandy for their excellent half page ad in the May 13 and May 20 editions of The Oshawa Express and the news article in the May 20 edition, announcing our big fundraiser to fight COVID-19 here in our community. Thank you for the news article too announcing the matching funds donation. Our Rotary Club will match dollar for dollar, up to a maximum of $5,000, all money received from the public to go local community organizations to help them fight the COVID-19 pandemic. As individuals, we all can make a donation to help get to the $5,000 mark, and our club will match that.

MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS:

President Sue also noted a few more events too:

July 17, 18 and 19 – The Rotary Club of Ajax is having their virtual Ribfest at Ajax Downs. They are looking for some volunteers and also your rib order. Please let President Sue know if you can help. You place your order on line and then go and pick up your ribs. Ajax Rotary is pleased to announce Durham Region’s first drive thru Ribfest! With the Pickering Ribfest being cancelled for 2020, the Rotary Club of Ajax wanted to ensure they could still support local community organizations, so the Ajax Rotary Drive Thru Ribfest was created! All funds raised go to local charities and community organizations. The event will be held at the Ajax Downs parking lot. You will be able to select from 1 of 4 amazing Ribbers who will be on site. Place your order, pay and pick up your ribs. You can then choose from some of our other vendors such as Ontario Corn Roasters, french fries, fresh lemonade, Tiny Tim Donuts and soft ice cream. This is a Drive Thru event only so eating food will not be allowed on site. Drive home to enjoy your amazing dinner! Thanks for supporting local charities! The ribfest will run from noon to 8pm on July 17th, 18th, and 19th.. Share this event and type "shared" in the comments and your name will be entered in a draw for one of two dinners for 4! You can also be entered in another draw for one of two dinners for 4 by joining our mailing list at http://eepurl.com/b65JGX

July 21 – Regular Weekly Zoom Meeting 7 PM – A CLUB BUSINESS MEETING FOR ALL CLUB MEMBERS: Bottle Drive Wrap Up;  PLUS bring your thoughts about our club – what do you like? , what would you like to see changed or done differently? What new things would you like to see?

July 25 - Kids Safety Village Board and Committee Zoom Meeting

July 29 – Rotary Club Board of Directors Zoom Meeting at 6:30 PM – On Finances -

 Rotary District 7070 Virtual Walk for AIDS  and Community Health will take place on July 29 at 7 PM. Please register on the District 7070 Website https://rotary7070.org/event/district-7070-rotary-aids---community-health-walk/

President Sue MacKinnon is working with Trish Best, President of the Rotary Club  of Oshawa on a joint venture fund raiser … A Bottle Drive in Oshawa for July 18. The Rotary Bottle Drives have been very successful in Bowmanville, Whtiby and Ajax over the last few weekends. Loyts of details sent out this week by President Sue. Thank you.  The more volunteers we have, the better the ratio of the profits to be split.   Please contact Sue TODAY.

Be sure to see the event on our Club’s Facebook Page and also in the posting on our Facebook Page.

Treasurer Devon Biddle: Dues are Due. Very soon, you will receive an invoice from our Treasurer for the 2020-21 Rotary Dues. The Annual Dues will be $230.00. At the same time, you will have the option to make a donation to The Rotary Foundation Annual Programs Fund of $100 and a donation to The Rotary Foundation PolioPlus Funds for $20 (or more if you wish). You will be credited towards your next Paul Harris Fellow Award. Please pay your dues promptly when you get your invoice, by mailing or dropping off your cheque (or cash) , payable to the Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood, to 96 King Street East, Oshawa L1H 1B6.  Thank you everyone. We have already received our invoice from Rotary International.

GUEST SPEAKER:  RICHARD MEWHINNEY – WATER PROJECT IN ONGUTOI, UGANDA

Kris Sachdeva introduced Richard Mewhinney. Richard was born in Toronto and grew up in Scarborough where he attended Public and Secondary school as well as University of Toronto Scarborough Campus.  Richard graduated in 1981 with a major in economics and a minor in computer science.  Richard married Elizabeth in 1985 and now lives in Newmarket.  Richard and Elizabeth have also hosted 7 international exchange students for a year at a time. Richard is currently self employed as a licensed Mortgage Broker with Homeguard Funding Ltd. and primarily specializes in residential and small commercial financing.  Prior to the mortgage industry, Richard spent 31 years in the insurance and reinsurance market, Richard was the Assistant Vice President of Administration for a small reinsurance company in Toronto specializing in US Medical.

Richard has always been passionate about community involvement serving as a member of the Scarborough campus Alumni association, worked on multiple political campaigns at all levels of government and taught the Boating Course for the Canadian Power Squadron in Newmarket.  Richard also served as the Ontario Regional president for AFS Intercultural programs facilitating International student exchange throughout Ontario. 

Richard has since served on many municipal committees and the community liaison committee for York Regional Police in District 1.  In 2004 Richard was asked to join the inaugural board of directors for INN from the Cold an emergency homeless shelter in Newmarket.  Through the support of the Rotary Club of Newmarket, Richard joined Rotary in 2007 and became President of the Newmarket club in 2009.  Richard was an Assistant Governor for District 7070 from 2011 – 2014 and is currently the District 7070 Water and Sanitation chair 2015-present previously the District 7070 Literacy Chair for 2014-2015.  Richard is now a member of the District 7070 Leadership team in 2020-2022 in the role as Action and Partnership Committees Coordinator to oversee and assist all of the Rotary Area of Focus Committees.  Richard has also participated with RADAR (Rotary’s AIDS action group).

In 2009 Richard made his first trip to Uganda and has returned to Uganda 24 times, most recently December 2019. This was Richard’s twenty fourth time to Uganda to continue implementing  a unique rain water collection system for drip irrigation in an orange orchard where the revenue generated will provide long term free health care for this community and region.   Richard believes that experiences working in Africa provide great insight into how to serve his clients with respect and understanding throughout the process and with integrity.

Awards & Recognitions:

2005 – Town of Newmarket 125^th Anniversary - Community Volunteer Ambassador Recognition

2009 – Nelson Mandela Humanitarian Service Award

2011 – Rotary District 7070 – Council of Past District Governors Award

Water Collection for Sustainability is a project in North Eastern Uganda located on the site of the Ongutoi Health Centre.  The principle is easily understood, create a rainwater collections system for drip irrigation to an orange orchard where the revenue will return to the Health Centre for free health care long term.  We are currently in pilot phase and are closing in on the completion but, we need your help. Amazing progress over the current Rotary year where the water collection platform was expanded to twice the original size and 5 additional 16,000 litre Crestanks were installed increasing water storage to 244,000 litres of water.

Amazing progress over the current Rotary year where the water collection platform was expanded to twice the original size and 5 additional 16,000 litre Crestanks were installed increasing water storage to 244,000 litres of water.

In the Rotary Year 2020-2021, we will be applying for a District Grant to complete the development at the pilot site so we can move towards developing the Global Grant Proposal.  We need the assistance of clubs to achieve that goal, the budget is $22,500.00 however, an Anonymous Rotarian Donor has stepped forward to match cumulative club contributions up to $6,500.00. If your club can contribute $500.00 or $1000.00 towards the $8,000.00 required from clubs’ we can achieve that goal.

With the current COVID-19 challenges the District Grant may or may not materialize but, the project is scalable with the budget may alter and will proceed regardless with a minimum objective of completing no less than 60 percent of the proposed objective.

This project received the spotlight in the May 2020 WASRAG Newsletter, for more information you may refer to the article below and follow the links.

Ongutoi Health Centre Water Collection for Sustainability 

International Partner - Rotary Club of Newmarket

Since 2009, the Rotary Club of Newmarket has been supporting the Ongutoi Health Centre, located in North Eastern Uganda through a variety of projects. They have completed one phase of a water collection system, and now are embarking on a planned further expansion of this important water resource for this medical facility. Information on their project can be found here .

The excellent video they produced in conjunction with their partner High Adventure highlights the work they have completed and the work that is planned. They are looking for partners to help them with the next phase of the project. For more details and to get involved contact Richard Mewhinney .

Be sure to read this link for more details on this water project in Uganda and the Ongutoi Health Centre. Here is a link: 

https://rotary7070.org/stories/water-collection-for-sustainability-project-in-uganda-%E2%80%93-pilot-needs-district-7070-rotary-clubs-help-in-2020-21/

Richard Mewhinney

For more information contact;

Rtn Richard Mewhinney

Rotary Club of Newmarket

416-418-6646 or rmewhinney@roger.com

President Sue closed meeting at 8:00 pm.

NEXT MEETINGS:

Topic: Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood Weekly Meetings
Time: 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

        Every week on Tue,
       
        July 21, 2020   07:00 PM
        July 28, 2020   07:00 PM
        Aug   4, 2020   07:00 PM

        Aug 11, 2020   07:00 PM

        Aug 18, 2020   07:00 PM

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IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT, MAKE UP: Go online at www.rotary.org go to the club locator and find a club or clubs near your destination. Or you can add the free App Rotary Club Locator to your phone for instant look up of any club in the world. Please mail or fax your make-ups to Secretary Robbie Larocque, or give your make-up card to the attendance/registration officer at the next club meeting.