With the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, many Ukrainian citizens were driven from their homes and found their way to Canada and to Edmonton and area where they found peace and a warm welcome from Cherilyn Michaels and "Edmonton Hosts Ukrainians." Cherilyn began a grassroots volunteer Facebook group to help Ukrainians find a home/ host in Edmonton. To date with more than 25,000 members, they have hosted over 1,700 men, women and children.
Cherilyn coordinated connections between prospective/arrived newcomers and those who have stepped up as hosts. Never willing to turn down a request for help, Cherilyn’s support has been invaluable, not only for the Ukrainian newcomers but to their hosts and other volunteers. She inspired countless volunteers to participate in the Facebook group
The FB group provided
information and resources to newcomers and those investigating Edmonton as a destination.
Interactive forum where Ukrainians (both recent newcomers, and those not here yet) can ask questions and be assisted by locals.
a platform to ask for help about housing, jobs, childcare, how to move furniture, airport pickups, and local volunteers respond.
help in emergency situations and we respond and assist them.
Join us for our annual Beer and Pretzel Night, taking place on April 27, 2024, at the Rundle Park Family Centre in Edmonton. This event will showcase a beer and pretzel pairing, silent auction, live entertainment, and more, all in support of two remarkable organizations: The Balinda Children’s Foundation and Sunrise of Life.
Tickets $50. Use the discount code EARLYBIRD to get $10 off your ticket price until April 5.
Ukrainian resettlement is a major challenge in our community. 18,000 Ukrainian newcomers have arrived so far in Edmonton, with up to 10,000 estimated to arrive with the last of the CUAETS - Emergency temporary visa program. They must arrive by March 31/24 to receive work permits and the one-time Federal resettlement payment. Here is a link to learn more https://ca.news.yahoo.com/tens-thousands-ukrainians-expected-come-160527201.html
There are a number of areas in which Rotarians/Rotaractors can do to help out. We have provided links to learn more about each area. Read below and spread the word.
Rotary International established a Polio Plus society as a program to encourage donations to the eradication of polio around the world. For a minimum of $100 USD, you can become a member of this Society.
Wayne McCutcheon and Marilyn Mucha have made contributions along with their commitment and have recieved their pins and acknowledgement.
Want to make a contrition? No amount is too small. Every dollar helps.
The polio eradication campaign needs your help to reach every child. Thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, your contribution will be tripled. To donate, visit endpolio.org/donate.
Our Pints for Polio event netted $ 100 towards our club contribution and attracted a new donor - Terry Mucha to Polio Plus Society.
Thank you for everyone's participation.
Polio Plus Society - new members from YEG Passport
The latest new member of YEG Passport club was inducted at our Pints for Polio event Jan. 31 in the presence of our DG Brent.
Issa Kamara, originally from Sierra Leone, Issa with a Masters in Social work was sponsored by co-President Shelley Sabo. His role as Founder and CEO at Sinkunia Community Development Organization is how he became connected to our club with projects such as the Sinkinia Community garden. We look forward to him bringing his skills with youth and wordly experience to our club.
Please join us on January 19, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. to attend a Oil Kings hockey game to help raise money for Polio Plus. For every ticket purchased, $5.00 will be donated to Polio Plus.
Tickets are a total of $28 (online fee included) and we are hoping to have many Rotarians, their families and their friends to come out and help support this event.
We encourage everyone to wear their Red Polio Plus shirts if you have one, and if not please wear something with Rotary to bring awareness to Rotary.
Even if you can’t attend, please look at donating your tickets and giving them to someone who can attend - students, newcomers. We would like as many people as possible to make this a fun event.
Our Festive Feast on December 16, 2023 had more than an abundance of delectable dishes shared by our attendees. We also had a double induction of our newest members. Sami Zaman and Olesia Linkevich were officially inducted to the club by co-President Shelley and Membership chair Yvonne.
Olesia is a Ukrainian newcomer who fled the war and was hosted by member Marilyn Mucha. She has a masters in Psychology and works as an Executive recruiter at Gallagher's.
Sami came to Canada a number of years ago from Pakistan and is a project engineer. He is an active and eager volunteer and looks forward to doing more to make a difference in our community.
We welcome both into our fellowship and service circle.
"Giving a Future to Vulnerable Children and Rural Women and Youth"
April 2023 marked the launch of an impactful initiative, "Giving a Future to Vulnerable Children and Rural Women and Youth," led by the Rotary Club of Moshi in Tanzania, in partnership with the Rotary Club of YEG Passport in Canada. This venture, funded through a Global Grant, is a testament to the effectiveness of community-driven development, fully conceptualized by the communities in Tanzania.
Rotary club of Edmonton Mayfield had their casino this past September and needed extra workers. Our club members stepped up but in the end, they only needed one shift filled. Former Mayfield Rotarian - Marilyn Mucha did that shift and negotiated that some funds be shared with our club. We just received word that they received their proceeds and have offered $ 1000 to YEG Passport Rotary club projects that are eligible per AGLC rules. Partnership pays. We hope to continue such collaborations with other clubs - true to the "passport" style of club that we are.
Stay tuned for discussions on where we want to apply these funds.
Newest Club member Pepe Villarreal at the Rotary District 5370 Fall Assembly. Pepe is from Mexico and proudly represents his homeland in our club! YEG passport club received this citation for "helping imagine Rotary in the lives of people all over the world." and accomplishing its goals for the year just ended 2022-23.
For many years the stories of Black veterans were not shared in the mainstream media or textbooks. A website has been established as a small step in ensuring these important stories are shared with the accuracy and the respect these veterans deserve. to raise awareness of the contribution made by Black Canadians who served in the Canadian Military during conflict and in peacetime. The site is a tool for educators, students and those interested in learning about the tradition of service with the Black Canadian community.
Black Canadians have a long tradition of service to Canada. All served with distinction and in some cases made the ultimate sacrifice. This Remembrance day, read more about those who served in WWI, WWII, Korea and Bosnia. https://www.blackcanadianveterans.com/
Listen to two students who attended RYLA ( Rotary Youth Leadership) session on Sept 30. Miriam was sponsored by our club. Jana H. also attended RYLA and is leading an effort to start an Interact club at EastGlen High with help from YEG Passport club members John V and Mark L.
Listen to the impact RYLA has on our youth participants
FALL ASSEMBLY 2023-24 is coming up on on Saturday, November 18th - Don't forget to register!
With the theme Inspiration – Learning – Inclusion, we will gather both in person and virtually at the Château Louis Conference Centre and Hotel, 11727Kingsway NW in Edmonton. A light breakfast will be available at 8:30 AM, with program from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, including lunch.
The Assembly is open to all Rotarians and Rotaracts.
We highly encourage Presidents-elect and their leadership teams to attend as the start of PELA training. Registration is free for Presidents-elect. Registration is $60 for Rotarians / Rotaracts attending in person and $25 for attending online.
The Sinkunia Community Garden was overflowing with an abundant harvest and numerous helping hands. Saturday, September 23 was a warm, sunny day and the fields were revealing their bounty - beans, squash, potatoes, cucumbers, carrots, tomatos and chard were just some of the crops uncovered.
Rotarians from YEG Passport and Edmonton NorthEast clubs along with Sinkunia families worked side by side to gather the crop to make available to those in the community. It was a sharing atmosphere of food, comraderie and many smiles. The CommuniTea van also joined in to offer some refreshments and a board to catch messages of hope.
Hope is the message that Rotary is expressing in its theme for this year. And the garden gave all the participants hope of food sustainability. More pictures in our Photo album.
The Sinkunia Heritage Festival is on Saturday, July 8 at the garden area at the back of the St. Francis Centre at 6770-129 Avenue. Rotarians will be joining the fun by 2pm. DG Brent Collingwood confirmed he will attend. Sinkunia created this volunteer sign up if you can help out or just come for some food and fun. Rotary is organizing a book giveaway for elementary school students.
Along with the club of NE Edmonton and Edmonton West, we can be proud of how we have supported Sinkunia in many ways. They are also addressing mental health issues among black youth and creating a safe space for kids to know who they are and where they come from.
The Sihle-Sizwe Vineyard Marimba Band is also performing and are friends of Edmonton West too.
Annually the Rotary clubs of the Edmonton area honour nominees because they live lives that are consistent with the four-way test and exemplify Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self.” This year May 18, 2023 is the date for the event to be held at Chateau Louis Conference Center 11727 Kingsway Avenue NW at 6 pm. Tickets are $ 75.
The nominee from the YEG Passport Rotary club is Patricia Gumbo is the volunteer Executive Director for the Sihle-Sizwe Vineyard Organization. and also works for DATS.
She leads projects in both Edmonton and Zimbabwe. The youth Marimba band project uses music for youth development. The Marimba is like a giant xylophone with large wooden keys. The organization's youth marimba band brings joy and hope wherever they play. Recent performances included at a local junior high's anti-racsim day and for seniors and youth in affordable housing. The band's performances spawn spontaneous dance parties.
With the current chair - Shelley taking on co-Presidency starting July1, our club needs someone to chair this committee, with a minimal commitment of identifying volunteer opportunities from other Clubs that we can sign up for. Many members can be part of the committee to take on individual service opportunities.
For a long-term project, a recommendation will be put forward to support the Indigenous-led Niginan Housing organization. They have two projects close to the Bosco Centre where Sinkunia resides and the NE Club is building good relations with both organizations. EVERY MEMBER NEEDS TO BE ACTIVE IN ONE COMMITTEE. This is one area where you can get involved.
YEG Passport Rotary Club is excited to partner with two organizations this year in hosting a fundraising event on April 29, 2023. This event hosted in Edmonton Alberta at the Rundle Park Family Centre will feature beer and pretzel pairing, silent auction, live entertainment and more! The Balinda Children’s Foundation and Sunrise of Life align with our club values in the work they do, by empowering local leaders in bringing about change in their communities. You can learn more at:
Integrity awards are for non-Rotarians that are making a difference in our society ( preferably beyond their paid job) Please bring your Integrity Awards nomination forward by April 8th or endorse the one we have below via email. The 2023 Integrity Awards Gala Dinner will be held Thursday May 18 at the Chateau Louis Conference Centre 11727 Kingsway Avenue NW in Edmonton. A club our size pays $300 to participate with two comp tickets for the nominee and her guest. Additional tickets are $75.
We have one nominee so far:
Patricia Gumbo is the volunteer Executive Director for the Sihle-Sizwe Vineyard Organization. and also works for the Disabled Adults Transit Service (DATS).
She leads community projects in both Edmonton and Zimbabwe. The Edmonton based youth Marimba band uses music for youth development and building unity across difference. The Marimba is like a giant xylophone with large wooden keys. The organization's youth marimba band brings joy and hope wherever they play. Recent performances included at a local junior high's anti-racsim day and for seniors and youth in affordable housing. Spontaneous dance parties break out.
See attached form for submission. - send to Shelley@yegpassportrotary.com
TIME SENSITIVE - Integrity award nomination by April 8
Chris Chukwunta, YEG Passport Rotary Club member and Co-President-Elect, was invited to a reception at Buckingham Palace by King Charles III on the occasion of the Commonwealth Day held March 13, 2023 - 10th anniversary of the Commonwealth Charter.
This was the first Commonwealth Day presided over by His Majesty King Charles III as King and Head of the Commonwealth, so the King was delighted to host leaders from the 56 Commonwealth member countries and major organisations to this reception at Buckingham Palace.
In our second group of My Vocational Spotlight videos, Chris interviews President-Elect Tom Kuperus, International Services Director Kavitha Jayachandran, and Past-President Markus Muhs. All three have devoted themselves to international service through Rotary.
Our Vocational Committee, made up of John Vrolijk and Chris Chukwanta, has started a fun new series of videos exploring each of our members' vocations and how they got there.
A former Rotaract club of Agbora, Nigeria President in 2002-3, Femi Fasinu was inducted a new member of YEG Passport club on November 13, 2019 by District Governor Tracey Vavrek. Femi is trained in Health leadership and works as a social worker. His previous Rotary involvement and work in Nigeria with led him to be engaged with the UN Population Fund as a youth advocate. He was also has a background in youth development, especially in reproductive health, HIV/AIDS awareness and cure research.
Femi is a keen volunteer and presently in the process of bringing his wife and three daughters to come to Edmonton.
Thanks to a successful partnership with Odd Company Brewing in Oliver Exchange in Edmonton, YEG Passport Rotary club held a first ever " Pints for Polio" event on Oct. 30, 2019 to raise awareness and funds for Rotary International's global polio eradication campaign. With only Afganistan and Pakistan remaining endemic, all funds raised by Rotarians are matched 2 to 1 by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to reach the most difficult areas of these countries and to rid the world of this deadly and crippling disease.
Pictured are Len Chanasyk and spouse Marilyn Mucha ( Assistant Governor to YEG Passport club), members Ashley Meek, Wayne McCutcheon, President Markus Muhs and President Elect Gord Sheppard. Many other members and their guests enjoyed some excellent local craft beer and snacks. Huge thank you to Odd Company and co-owner Brett Loree for sharing proceeds from all beer purchased towards the cause and to Wayne for organizing the super event.
Building housing for the needy -YEG Passport Rotary club makes a difference
On August 7, 2019 a team from YEG Passport including Kathy Hawkesworth, Anne McAthey, Wayne McCutcheon, Andre Peters and Joy Pfannmuller convened at Carter Place 2216 24 St. for a day of home building with Habitat for Humanity.
The volunteering was from 8.30 am to 3.30 pm. starting with the site supervisor giving a briefing on the safety features that we had to follow at the construction site and the importance of wearing our safety gear like Hard Hats, Gloves, Steel Toed Boots and safety glasses. We were introduced to the construction crew and who would be in charge of our group. Our group was divided in two; one group was digging up some window wells and to reinstall them, the other group was involved in landscaping activities. In between our shifts we had two coffee breaks and a lunch break provided by Habitat For Humanity which gave us a good time to socialize with the other volunteers and the construction crew. On the whole, we had a great time even though it involved a lot of manual work and it was a pretty hot day.
Part of improving the Rotary experience is making sure that members have the tools they need to run their clubs, learn new skills, apply for grant funding, and quickly, securely, and easily contribute to The Rotary Foundation.
We listened to ideas from members and enhanced several online tools to better meet members’ needs. Tools that now offer a better user experience include:
Rotary Club Central: Clubs use Rotary Club Central to set strategic and measurable goals each year. Almost 20,000 clubs have set goals in 2018-19.
The Learning Center: Launched in August, Rotary’s new online learning platform offers more materials and has made learning more fun. The site includes features like virtual badges that users can earn by completing courses, dashboards that track their progress, and coming soon, social learning in which members can share documents on course topics. More than 350 courses are offered in 20 languages.
The Grant Center: This is where clubs go to manage their grants from The Rotary Foundation from application to final report. This year, we redesigned the district grant application to make it easier to use.
Making an online donation: Donors can now donate quickly and securely from their mobile devices and receive immediate acknowledgment of their contributions. It’s also easier now for club officers to give on behalf of their club or its members.
Building on the success of these projects, we have already started enhancing other digital tools:
Peer-to-peer online giving will empower Rotary’s donors to raise money for The Rotary Foundation on social media. Soon, you’ll be able to use your personal and social networks to raise funds to honor important events like birthdays or participation in athletic events.
My Rotary will be easier to navigate and search from any device. Club and district leaders will be able to manage their information quickly and easily while staying connected with Rotary. This will allow you to focus on what matters: serving your clubs, your members, and your community.
Want to know more? Ask your club for insights into these tools or email your Club Assistant Governor mgmucha@shaw.ca
A sunny Saturday morning saw YEG Passport club members and family add almost a dozen“Rotarians At Work" join the Edmonton West club planting trees in Brookside. This initiative is a partnership with the City of Edmonton's Root for Trees project that supplies the shovels, gloves and young trees and bushes for increased tree coverage in neighbourhoods around the city.
This event is great fun and fellowship while beautifying our community for generations to come. Thankfully the weather cooperated and the previous rains made the digging a little easier too. Huge thanks to Guiscela, Mark L., Tom K., Kathy H and husband Gary, Clarissa R. and husband Shawn, Don W., Ryan L. and friend of the club and prospective member Tobi O. and her children.
Rotary International's annual convention was in Hamburg, Germany this year. Since I have family in Hamburg anyway, whom I haven't visited in 6 years, I took the opportunity to make this my first RI conference visit, the 110th international conference in Rotary's history.
YEG Passort Rotary club is one step closer to being official. Charter documents were signed by President Markus Muhs, Secretary Anne McAthey and District Governor Ingrid Neitsch and witnessed by club advisor and member of sponsor club RC of Edmonton Whyte Ave Marilyn Mucha at the District office on Friday, May 10, 2019.
The Charter application included the information on the 20 Charter members. A celebration of the Charter will be set once we receive final approval from RI. Tentatively the date is set for Thursday, June 20. Charter night is when all members will be officially inducted. Spouses and family will be invited as well as other clubs in our District.
Stay posted. This will be an exciting milestone for the first Passport club in our District AND Alberta.
Today as I was preparing to send an End Polio Now update to all of the districts in Zone 24 W, I received an e-mail from Mike McGovern, Rotary's International Polio Plus Chair. He was sharing the disturbing news that in the last two weeks four polio workers were killed in Pakistan and a propaganda program against polio vaccinations in that country has created hysteria that led to tens of thousands of children needlessly going to hospital. There are news stories circulating regarding the current polio eradication efforts in Pakistan and Rotary and its partners are doing all that is humanly possible to address the many situations. If you have any further questions about the current situation please contact me as End Polio Now Coordinators are kept well informed.
Mike also shared that three new cases of wild polio virus were confirmed in Afghanistan last week and two new cases in the lab in Pakistan were confirmed this week. Thus we have gone from 9 cases this year to 12 officially and two more known. The message we are being asked to share with Rotarians is to emphasize our long term progress, to highlight the African progress (Africa is expected to be declared polio free by August 2019) and to indicate we have challenges in Pakistan and Afghanistan which are being addressed by Rotary leaders.
Cyclone Idai has torn through Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, destroying homes and livelihoods.
According to the UN, this devastating cyclone may be the worst ever disaster to hit the southern hemisphere.
Thousands of families urgently need shelter and support
Rotary member and @ShelterBox response volunteer Liz Odell provides an update on the response to #CycloneIdai and how working with Rotary contacts in-country is helping to assess the need.
Music has been an important part of leading an ordinary life for students at the Music School for Children With Disabilities in Honor of Paul Harris in Lublin, Poland. Founded by Rotary members, the school serves 20 students with various disabilities, including Down syndrome, autism, and visual impairments. The Rotary Club of Lublin-Centrum-Maria Curie-Sklodowska has provided funding with help from Rotary Foundation Matching Grants and the Henryk Wieniawski Musical Society, which houses the school.
After their son Mateusz was born with underdeveloped eyes, Mariusz and Joanna Kania looked for ways to help him be active. When he showed an aptitude for music, they looked for a teacher and were thrilled to find the Paul Harris music school.
For years, Angalia Bianca had slept in abandoned buildings throughout Chicago. She stole. She did drugs. She spent time in and out of jail for forgery, theft, trespassing, and possession of narcotics. But after she landed in prison for the seventh time, something changed -- Bianca knew she wanted a better life. She just didn’t know how to make it happen.
After serving her time, Bianca sought help from a local homeless organization, A Safe Haven, and moved to its shelter in the Rogers Park neighborhood. Bianca followed the program closely -- she attended all the required meetings, passed drug tests, and volunteered at every opportunity.
What is it like taking a large team to Africa? It has probably been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. In mid February, I began leading Rotary members from all over the East Coast of the United States through Ghana. I’ve tried to give the team a warm Ghanaian welcome like I’ve received on my earlier trips. A large trip is a real blessing because each person sees Ghana and our work in a different way.
A highlight for the team was greeting the chief of Sagadugu. The team got excited about buying goats and food for children in the villages where I support eight churches. It was good to see the pastors of most of the eight churches, and I had to explain that we were just passing through on our way to Bolgatanga.
Throughout India and around the world, Rotary clubs are celebrating a major milestone: India has gone three years without a new case of polio. The last reported case was a two-year-old girl in West Bengal on 13 January 2011. To mark this historic triumph, Rotary clubs illuminated landmarks and iconic structures throughout the country with four simple but powerful words, "India is polio free."
The three-year achievement sets the stage for polio-free certification of the entire Southeast Asia region by the World Health Organization. The Indian government also plans to convene a polio summit in February to commemorate this victory in the global effort to eradicate polio.