Our resident technical expert, Mr. Panabaker was unable to be with us today and as a result we weren't completely set up as we usually are. Nonetheless when President Doug proposed substituting a Land Acknowledgement for O Canada, members present made their desire to sing well known. Thus an acapella rendition of O Canada was sung - not going to win awards but notable for its enthusiasm nonetheless!
There were 19 members present today with none online due to the aforementioned technical difficulties.
This was a business meeting and featured the Program Committee.
Next week: No meeting due to statutory holiday.
Upcoming Meetings:
September 14 - Victims Service volunteer Colleen Bosch and service dog Glory
September 21 - District Governor visit
September 28 - Natalie Sauer and members of our club giving a retrospective review of the Special Olympics
ROTARY AT MEDICINE HAT LEVEL: MONARCH 1911 SOCIETY
The Monarch is hosting two musical events that might interest Rotarians:
Our club will try to keep track of events on at the Monarch, and will give members a heads-up about opportunities to serve. If you are interested in volunteering at the Monarch, please let Rotarian Janessa Anderson know (403-952-1907) and she will provide details of available shifts and responsibilities.
Volunteering at a show is a great way to connect with the community and support our historic local landmark.
Ideas for Future Programs
The Rotary Club's Program Committee members are Jillian Koch (jkoch@jmhca.com), Margie Booyens (margiebooyens@gmail.com), Alain Guerard (aguerard@telus.net), Sharon Hayward (sharon.hayward@medicinehatymca.ca).
PLEASE NOTE: Suggestions for club meeting programs are always welcomed and appreciated! Keep on giving us your ideas! You don't have to wait for a survey to give us your input!
Today was a business meeting and we did not host a guest speaker. Instead, members of our Program Committee shared the results of the member survey circulated earlier this summer and engaged the members present today in a structured brainstorming session on what our future meetings may look like. The Program Committee consists of Sharon Hayward, Margie Booyens, Alain Guerard and Jillian Koch with Margie and Sharon on hand to share the survey results and lead the brainstorming exercise.
Seventeen members responded to the survey and informed the results.
Favorite presenters and topics in the past year include:
Raegan Weeks
Linnsie Clark
Classification Talks
Working visits to organizations like Prairie Gleaners
Ideas and suggestions provided included:
Regular Board Executive and Committee Reports
Presentations from other service clubs
Hands on work at local resources in lieu of regular meetings ie food bank
Other feedback received:
Interact club annual meeting
Music Festival regular updates
More education on all facets of Rotary
A proposed club program cycle was presented with a rotation of various activities, speakers, etc. For example, make business meetings every 6 weeks. Cycle hands on meetings, visits to a community resources, rotary learning, evening meetings with other clubs and so on. This was well received by members present.
The brainstorming exercise asked three questions pertaining to community resource visits, service/hands on meetings to community resources and Rotary learning topics. The ideas were fast and furious and provided the committee with a rich basket of information to work with in coming months.
Thank you to the members present today for their original and insightful ideas and feedback!
ATTENDANCE: 19 members attended the meeting in person.
GUESTS:
None today
MEETING DRAW:
Doug Fleming was the lucky winner of a bottle of wine.
BIRTHDAYS:
Vujovic, Milan - September4
Bide,Dick - September5
Walcer, Kevin - September24
Sakamoto,Stan - September30
ROTARY ANNIVERSARIES:
Brand,Dieter - 32years, Sep.011994
Andjelic,Brian - 1 year, Sep.152025
WEDDING ANNIVERSARY ROSE RUNNER FOR AUGUST 2026:
The Rose Runner for August is Nadia Deenen.
NEW MINUTES AND REMINDERS:
NEXT BINGO - Dave Stalwick“Its not always about bingo, but in this case, its about bingo”advised that our next bingo will be on Thursday evening, September 3rd, and we have a full team of volunteers!
Pictured is a hard at work Newsletter Editor - underrated, under appreciated and over worked is the life of the editors!
ROTARY CLUB OF MEDICINE HAT DINNER CLUB: Odessa Vermee has taken over responsibility for organizing our Dinner Club. Thank you, Odessa! Please sign up with Odessa if you are interested in hosting a dinner in your home!
ROTARY CASINO: Ken Zollner has received the necessary AGLC license for our casino on Sept 22-23, 2026. A full team for that event has been assembled.
THE 2026 TERRY FOX RUN: SUNDAY 20 SEPTEMBER:10:30: 46 years ago, Terry Fox crossed Canada, running on an artificial leg, to raise money for cancer. The annual run is organized by Keith Walker and the Sunrise Rotary Club have, over the years, raised $70,000. So this year, the Terry Fox run is once again around the Rotary Sunrise Trail (Medicine Hat College campus), 3km, no hills, starting at 10:30am. Do join in! You don't have to run, you can walk! Form a team to participate and have fun! Please register: terryfox.org. You can donate on this website or at the start of the race.
NEW GENERATIONS SERVICE EXCHANGE PROGRAM PARTICIPANT - Davi Pereira from Brazil is coming to Medicine Hat from beginning of January until the end of February 2027. Terry Brekko and the Craciun family are hosting Davi. However, additional host families - even for just a one week period each - would be great. You could also opt to have Davi just for a weekend, a meal and/or a day trip. Please contact Margie Booyens (403.952.7340) for more information. Davi is studying to become a school teacher.
Citizens Walk About
MEETING WITH DG AT THE MONARCH: All Rotarians in Medicine Hat are invited to gather at The Monarch on Thursday 10 September at 7pm to meet with DIstrict Governor Darcy Mykytyshyn
MEETING OF OUR CLUB WITH DG: DG Darcy will be attending our club meeting on Monday 21 September at noon.
DISTRICT GRANT WEBINAR: Online, on Saturday 24 October, from 9-12. Our club needs at least one member to participant in order for the club to qualify for grant applications - but anyone interested in District grants is welcome to register.
CLUB MEMBERSHIP COMMITEE: Board member and Membership Committee chair, Nadia Deenen, announced that the club Membership Committee will be meeting on the third Monday of every month, at 7pm, in the CORE meeting room, downstairs. Next meeting: Monday 21 September.
Family of Rotary:
Deb Panabaker, wife of Dave Panabaker, had surgery on Monday 24 August. She will be in hospital recovering for the rest of the week.She is recovering at home and doing well!
Deb Best was in hospital and is on the mend at home now.
To all, our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Please keep a Board Member informed about members health and/or any other changes, so that information can be provided to the club through the Weekly News.
Our first meeting of every month is a business meeting, but all meetings are both in person and available on ZOOM. Check the club calendar, which is usually up to date for our meeting locations and program.
