Home Page | Rotary District 5550

Fred Wright District Governor 2019 – 2020
Email: fred.wright2020@gmail.com;

Phone: (807-219-1727)

“Rotary Connects the World” is our Rotary International Theme this year. Through positive peace, starting with ourselves, we can connect in meaningful ways with each other and the world.

I grew up believing that I could do anything that I put my mind to. Life challenged that often, but I learned not to say can’t and recently came across a great way to look at this. Rather than saying something cannot be done, let us say: “What if we do?” *

It is a humbling honour to serve you, our District Governor Team and our District Board. In serving you this year I hope that you will help us all to see what if we do.

*Guiding principle for Thankyou (an Australian Social Enterprise) developed by Daniel Flynn and his team, keynote speaker at the Rotary International Convention in Hamburg, Germany

RFE with D3040 Central India

The RFE with D3040 Central India took place from June 29 to July 11, 2019. The visiting Team of 4 Couples were hosted by RC Winnipeg, RC Sioux Lookout, RC Kenora and RC Brandon for 3 days each. Thanks to the Clubs and the Home Hosts. Everyone reported having a super awesome time.

L to R are: Rtn Kirandeep and Rtn Sukhdev Ghuman, IW Ragini & Rtn Suneel Bhargava, Mayor Doug & Rtn Cherry Lawrance, Rtn Tejesh & Rtn Archana Mehta, Rtn Mamta & Satish Bhasin.

To view pictures from both here in Canada and during the team for District 5550's time in India click here.

April 2019 LitRag

April 2019 Rotary Literacy Newsletter features District 5550. "The Literacy activities of our own Rotary District 5550 are featured in the article on pages 1, 2, and 3 of this issue". Click here to read the newsletter.

Inner Wheel Launches New Web site

Inner Wheel in Canada has launched their new web site on Mother's Day 2019.

You’ll find all most interesting and inspiring to learn how—in different ways and with common ideals—the Inner Wheel women of Canada live our mandates:

To celebrate true friendship

To encourage ideals of personal service

To foster international understanding

2019 Rotary Friendship Exchanges to Australia

District 5550 Rotarians have travelled down under for fellowship with Rotarians from District 9780 and District 9800. District 9800 Rotary members will be hosted in Canada August 6 to 21st this summer and Rotary members from District 9780 will be in Canada August 15 to 29th. Rotary members from across District 5550 will have the opportunity to share their work and fellowship with Rotarians from down under.

Team A-Australia – Outbound to D9780 Australia March 7-21, 2019

(L to R) Front Row: Verna Hryhorchuk (RC Winnipeg Downtown), Carol Pelton (RC Winnipeg West)

Middle Row: Carol Twyver, Lawrence Durante (RC Sioux Lookout), Don Schmall (RC Neepawa), Les Mewis (RC Prince Albert) Back Row: Bob Twyver (RC Prince Albert), Lori Durante, Susan Schmall, Jackie Mewis

Team B-Australia – Outbound to D9800 Australia March 17-31, 2019

(L to R as Couples) Frank & Nancy Cosway (RC Winnipeg Downtown), Donna & Murray Newton (RC Neepawa), Joyce & Wayne Claggett (RC Melfort), Lynn & Duane Chipley (RC Estevan), Eileen & Chris Clinton (RC Prince Albert)

Handbags of Hope Drive a Huge Success

Handbags of Hope is an organization that provides handbags and essential items to women in woman’s shelters in the province. Their goal is to uplift and encourage women of all ages who have had the courage to leave abusive and unhealthy relationships, as well as those in transition as a result of poverty and life challenges.

In March, a challenge went out to the Rotary clubs of District 5550, which extends from Sioux Lookout, Ontario in the east, to Flin Flon in the north, to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in the east. The challenge was to collect handbags and essential items like socks, mitts/gloves, hats/toques, shampoo/conditioner/soap, feminine hygiene products, deodorant, brush/comb, Kleenex, granola bars, tea, soup packages, gum, or a piece of pre-loved jewelry. The collected items were to be brought to the district conference held from May 2-4 where they would be sorted and distributed to shelters.

The Rotary Club of Neepawa recognized the value of this program and reached out to the community to help meet this challenge. The club put up posters and promoted the idea on social media. The Banner helped get the word out by running an article promoting the cause. Handbags and items started trickling in, then as the word spread, started pouring in. The community collected over 150 handbags and enough supplies to fill a half ton truck.

Local organizer Ron Nordstrom says, “We were hoping to collect 30-50 handbags and a few boxes of supplies. We were proud of and overwhelmed by the generosity of the community for this worthy cause. The small town spirit of helping those in need is evident. Thank you for your support Neepawa!”

Mandy Kwasnica of the Rotary Club of Winnipeg Charleswood organized this challenge for the district. She reports, “This flash project for Handbags of Hope was an overwhelming success. The generosity shown by Rotarians and their communities was incredible. Special thanks to the town of Neepawa who had the largest quantity of donations brought in. These handbags and the other donations received are going to have a major impact to those in need.”

The need for the items in the purses exists all year round and donations will be stored and distributed as needed.

South Eastman Rotary Club Supports D.A.R.E. For Twenty Years

For over twenty years, South Eastman Rotary Club has been solely funding the D.A.R.E. Program across Southeast Manitoba. Their annual fundraising drive has raised over $100,000 since its beginning in 2000, and continues to grow in revenue each year.

The Drug Abuse Resistance Program is a twelve week course offered in classrooms by the RCMP Community Liaison Officer to grade 6 and grade 8 students across the southeast, with more schools requesting the program each year. In 2018, the program saw 1,100 students learn facts on drugs, alcohol, tobacco, anti-bullying, how to be a good citizen, effective communication, effective listening, health networks, and anti-sexting, all while working in collaboration and unity with their classmates.

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