Serving Locally and Globally since 1921

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Rotary is a worldwide organization of more than 1.3 million business, professional, and community leaders in 200 countries, who make a difference in the communities in which they live. Rotarians provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Clubs are non-political, non-religious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds. As signified by the motto Service Above Self, Rotary's main objective is service - in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world.

 

Together, we lead change in our own backyards and across the world.

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The conference was held on April 6th in Niagara Falls with a focus on volunteering.  Our club was represented by President Jackie, Valerie Vanderhoeven, Rob and Nora De Petris, Sharon and Duncan Willock and Amin Osmani.  Duncan and Amin were on the organizing committee.  Bits, Bites and Benevolence was the fundraiser held on the Friday evening.  There were games and karaoke. The highlight was Stompin Rob’s rendition of “Sudbury Saturday Night.”  The conference, chaired by DG  David Alexander focused on attracting and engaging volunteers in these times.  Speakers included Lauren Ott, a leader in Social Impact, Jim Anderson, Peace activist and Ian Mc Cann Meridian’s Manager of Social Impact and Partnerships.  Our district’s Exchange Students were well represented, marching into the conference with their flags.  Students from our Interact Clubs also participated. The conference ended with an evening of fellowship including Bocce Ball and “Name that Tune.” Some of us dated ourselves by our knowledge of hits from the 70’s and 80’s.

 
This year’s cleanup coincided with Earth Day 2025, and I’m excited to share that our Rotary Club of St. Catharines once again be participated.  Rather than organizing our own site, our Community Service Committee decided to join forces with the Rotary Club of St. Catharines Lakeshore for their cleanup event. This was a great opportunity to build Rotary fellowship while contributing to a cleaner, healthier environment right here at home.
A special thank you to Jackie, Melissa, and Grace for their dedication and participation in this meaningful initiative. Their efforts help make a lasting impact in our community, and we appreciate their commitment to creating a cleaner and greener St. Catharines!
The final Auction numbers are in: $39142.47.
Congratulations to all who made this year another big success. We cannot do the good works in the community without fundraising events like this. WELL DONE!
By the numbers: Our Club had:
29 shifts at the warehouse - 12 different members + partners volunteering
$60,280 Value of items donated - $33,206 bids = 55% value ratio
$ 7,450 Cash Donations
31 Club Members solicited items for donation.
 
Look for our follow up survey coming in January. We Review ALL comments to make recommendations of improvements for next year.
 
Thanks again for your support and participation.
 
Julie Grabb
RC St. Catharines Auction Chair
 
What a great success the Great Holiday Food Drive was this year.  President Jackie and friend Lori deliver the food and toys collected by Rotary Club members to the Community Care Food and Toy Drive on December 13th!
Rotarian April Feasby, Goodwill President Karen Drobnich and Rotary President Jackie Van Lankveld.
 
This is a very fitting time of year to present this posthumous Paul Harris Fellow in memory of Laura Hills, as we “wrap up” Rotary Auction.
 For those of you who didn’t know Laura she absolutely “Loved” the auction!! 
 As Laura rose to become CEO at Goodwill, she too took on a more active role in Rotary becoming our Treasurer in 2014, a role she retained until her passing in 2019.    When Goodwill moved their offices from Church Street to their current location on Ridley Road, it was Laura who ensured that our Rotary Office would move with the Goodwill Office and continue a have a place to call home and a “roof over our heads”.  
Thus, it is appropriate as we presented this Paul Harris Award to Karen Drobnich CEO along with Laura’s Goodwill family and her Rotary family attending today, that Laura’s enduring love of these “families” will continue to live on forever!
 
President Jackie presented an appreciation certificate to Goodwill Niagara who were our guests at the Holiday Lunch fellowship on December 19th.  Goodwill has been assisting our club for many years with administrative space for our Rotary Office as well as storage. They also very generously support our fundraising throughout the year.
 
  Goodwill has been an incredible support for 19+years in so many ways and we truly appreciate everything they do for our club. we were thrilled to honour them at our holiday lunch on December 19th.
Members of the Rotary Club of St. Catharines, St. Catharines South, St. Catharine's Lakeshore and Interact Club from Collegiate High School gathered together to raise the flag and awareness of the End Polio Now campaign that is spearheaded by Rotary International. They were joined by Councillor Mark Stevens who gave some opening remarks along with our President Jackie and Interact President Rahaf Rifa who gave some remarks on behalf of the interact club highlighting the clubs' efforts to raise funds and awareness to support the campaign. 
 
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