Although Fran and I would like to wish everyone a joyous and safe holiday season we were first and foremost saddened to hear the news of the passing of two Rotarian partners in the last two weeks.

Hence we extend our condolences to Past District Governor (PDG) Harold Empe and to Gary Morrish of The Rotary Club of The Pas. Both of these men are long standing and respected Rotarians. Both we know, will miss the support of their partners. We can assure them that they will continue to have that support in the Rotary world.

Selkirk 75thOn a more pleasant note, we congratulate the Rotaract Club of Regina Auxillium. They had a wonderful event which raised over $3,000.00 towards Polio. GOOD on you!

Paul Harris Fellow award honourees Doug Chorney, Al Hares, Edward Hotchkiss, and Dan Thorsteinson pose for a photo at the Rotary Club of Selkirk’s 75th anniversary gala dinner held in Lockport Nov. 17. (BROOK JONES/SELKIRK JOURNAL/QMI AGENCY)

We also attended the 75th anniversary of the Rotary Club of Selkirk.It was a very nice evening with accolades presented by several community leaders. Amongst their many service projects this club is a big supporter of World Peace Partners. David Newman spoke to that and was proud to have one of the program’s students share her success story with us.

Fran and I do wish everyone a joyous and safe holiday season. Although we are not looking at a new Rotary year; the calendar new year will begin many new experiences for Rotarians. Our District governors: elect, nominee, and nominee designate will be working on their “new years" to come. We wish them well.

Thank you all for your continued support and have a great New Year!

Gimli Rotarian, Ken Krebs Nominated as District Governor for 2015-2016

Congratulations to Ken and Donna Krebs 

Ken & Donna Krebs

Ken Krebs has been chosen to be the District Governor of District 5550 for the Rotary year 2015-2016. We are confident that Ken will more than fill the role.

Fran and I wish Ken and Donna an interesting, educational, and exciting future. There will be many challenging and fun adventures over the next two years leading up to this position.  Do your best to enjoy them all.

We can now call Ken "Mr. DGND"

On behalf of the members of District 5550 thank you for what you have done and will be doing for the good of Rotary.

 

District 5550 Rotarians Prominent in Movember Movement to Raise Funds for Prostate Cancer Research and Mens' Mental Health

When Dryden Rotarian and District 5550 Communications Director, John Borst, asked me at the last moment if he could use the ClubRunner software to raise funds for prostate cancer research I quickly replied yes.

The response was very positive so I asked him to share the results with you because I suspect next year this could become quite a competition among our District 5550 clubs and within Rotary in Canada.

Total Amount for all countries raised by 1,125,529 participants for the Movember Foundation as of December 9, 2012 is $122,074,491

On Dec 6th the CBC reported the top individual fundraiser as Reed Ludwig of Medstead, Saskatchewan (located about 170 kilometres west of Movember Safeway Prince Albert) with donations of $96,321. However on December 9th Bill Doherty of the Walton Group, headquartered out of Calgary, is the leader with $166,690.00. The third ($90,791), fourth ($75,200) and fifth ($47,994) biggest individual fundraisers are also from Canada.

It should be no surprise then to find Canada as the top fundraiser among the world’s nations with $38,910,315 in contributions. Other countries raising in excess of one million dollars are: the United Kingdom- $30,692,665; Australia- $24,916,480; USA- $19,140,244; Ireland- $1,900,414 and New Zealand- $1,173,552.

Canadian Rotarians were also the only Rotarians to really organize themselves into a “Network” for purpose of injecting a little competition. Fifteen clubs from across Canada registered and together raised $19,730.00. District 7040’s Iqaluit “Mo’tary” as they called themselves beat all comers by raising $5,617.00. District 5550’s Dryden Rotary came second with $3,157.00, while Saskatoon’s Meewasin club raised $1,400. However, on December 7th I received an e-mail from Brian Martin of the Prince Albert club. Brian led a group which raise $1,055 in honour of their current President, Clint Thierman, who had prostate cancer three years ago. Even though the group was not under the Rotary banner, it does mean that District 5550 collectively raised $5,612.00 just shy of District 7040’s total.

The Movember program places everyone who raises $1000.00 or more in the “Platinum Club”. Four Rotarians from Canada achieved that standard. Among the 62 Rotarians District 5550’s John Borst topped out at $2030.00.

Rotary Friendship Exchange to the State of New Mexico is a “GO!”

On December 3rd, Kevin Wilson, chair of our Rotary Friendship Exchange team sent me the following message.

 

I am pleased to report that the New Mexico Friendship Exchange is going ahead. At the moment, the team includes one couple and three singles. However, there is a good chance that an additional couple will join them. My contact in New Mexico is aware that the team is smaller than usual, but she is OK with that. As you know from experience the team is bound to have a wonderful time. 

 

Kevin would also like to compile a list of all District Rotarians who have participated in a Friendship Exchange. If you are one of those Rotarians please contact Kevin at kevin.wilson@usask.ca  or watch for a bulletin in the near future.