Rotary Poker Walk and International Service

President Shannon was pleased to have John Smale, Chair of the Rotary Poker Walk for HIV/Aids and Dr. Ruth Mathieson, Chair of International Service as our guest speakers to share how monies are raised and spent, locally and internationally.  First off, John thanked everyone for 11 great years of fundraising support as a walker on a team, a corporate sponsor or a pledge supporter, helping the Rotary Club of Belleville to raise over $750,000 over the past 10 years.  A great achievement, but now in the 11th year, the fundraising committee is making some changes to re-invigorate the committee and their supports.  The 5 km walk along the Belleville trails will become a "virtual" walk happening in one big room at the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre.  The theme is still around building the best 5 card poker hand, with some interesting twists.  There will be 7 stations set up around the room with a Rotarian captain at each table where teams will circulate and receive one card at each stop along the way.  After they make their 5 best cards into a poker hand, they can enhance their changes of winning by playing "Round the Ribbon", a board game designed to engage and educate people about HIV/AIDS.  When a team answers 3 questions correctly, they are awarded an additional playing cad to better their poker hand.  People will learn a lot and have fun along the way.  John reminded everyone that it is not just about those infected, but also those affected, including orphaned children and the grandmothers raising them in Africa or those caring for their loves ones right in our community.  Please mark Saturday, April 29th on your calendar to take part in the fully refreshed 2017 Rotary Poker Walk for HIV/AIDS and please share the weekly email stories, the success stories of the positive impact on people's lives, where the money has been spent with friends and help build the Rotary brand.  It's very easy to make a donation on line.  All you have to do is hit "make a donation now" button and voila, you will receive an automatic tax receipt for a pledge of $20 or more.  The Committee is looking for more helping hands and fresh ideas, so please join this hard-working and focused Committee and have some fun along the way.

 

Dr. Ruth Mathieson as the Chair of the Aids Action Committee, helps to decide where the money raised gets spent.  She has a great committee -- Amy Doyle, Lola Reid Allin, Marg Wagner, Elizabeth Grew, Anne Cunningham, Sandie Sidsworth, Sonia King.  With a budget of $28,000 to spend the committee is kept busy to spread the money locally and internationally in order to cover many worthy causes.  Locally, $3,450 was donated to All Together Housing to build a ramp for the home where 5 male clients are living with HIV.  Money was donated to HARS and Casey House to buy Christmas presents for their most needy clients living with HIV.  The Committee also supports Dr. Paul Thistle and his family at the Karanda Hospital in Zimbabwe where he volunteers.  Between our Club and a District Grant a second hand van was purchased for the Matangwe Clinic to transport sick as well as provide transportation for staff and to act as a hearse.

 

The International Service Committee under the leadership of Dr. Ruth has a budget of $44,000 and it is a privilege to be able to assist financially in many needed ventures by supporting initiatives such as Kids Against Hunger, War Child and Shelter Boxes for the Syrian refugees.  In Mexico, funds were provided to complete the Yo'onik Community Learning Centre in Chiapas (pictured).  The Committee also supported residents of Fort McMurray following the devastating forest fire in Alberta.  Manfred Sohn and Al Koudsi are two committee members and help out wherever they can.  Through Al Koudsi's connections with a Lebanon Club, we were able to help Syrian refugees and provide water and sanitation at a school there.  Dr. Ruth thanked everyone for their continuous support of these many projects and considers it an honour that the members trust the decisions being made.

 

(renovations to primary school in Matangwe, Kenya)