District Rotaract Newsletter

Anyone wishing to submit an article for the newsletter is welcome and encouraged to do so. The articles must be print ready with no editing needed. Pictures may also be submitted, but must be of a high quality with a note attached to describe who / what's happening in the photo.

The submission deadline for the summer issue will be June 1, 2008.

For the Spring 2008 Newsletter, please click here.

Cheryl LukenCo-Chair,
Rotaract District Committee
coach@persona.ca

40th Anniversary Mixer

Rotaract Elections‏

Hello Rotaractors!

Preparations are underway for a new Rotaract year beginning July 1st.

This is a perfect opportunity for new members to take on a leadership role with the club, or for former members to rededicate themselves to Rotaract by renewing their membership!

As many of you know, our incoming Club President has already been determined (Gabrielle Boulet was named our President-elect at this time last year).

However, there are still executive positions to be filled:

Secretary – responsible for taking meeting minutes, tracking attendance, checking the mailbox, club correspondence, etc.

Treasurer – responsible for ongoing tracking of the club’s general finances & coordinating with the Duck Race coordinator for any lottery issues.

President-Elect – responsible for chairing meetings when the President is unable, and assisting the President throughout the year in preparation to take over the Presidency on July 1, 2009.

We will be reviewing the details of these positions, and the election process at the next GENERAL club meeting, TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2008.

Nominations will be accepted at the meeting: Tuesday, March 25th

Election of the club’s Executive will be made at the meeting: Tuesday, April 8th.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call or email.

Michelle Dupont
President – GP Rotaract Club

ROAD TRIP

As many of you know, the Chamber of Commerce Provincial Election Forum is scheduled for next Tuesday, February 26.

Though this would typically be a regular meeting for our club - this Tuesday Rotaract takes a field trip!

Where: Holiday Inn - 9816 - 107 Street, Grande Prairie

When: 6:30 PM

What: All Candidates Forum from both Wapiti/Smoky Constituencies.

Post-forum discussion and drinks: 8:30 PM to 9:00 at Barcelona's

On a side note if you require additional information on the upcoming March 3, 2008 Alberta Election, click here

February 12, 2008 Minutes

Attending: Jacqueline, Cheryl, Kendra, Jeff, Miranda, Cory, Ashley, Cedrick, Michelle, Gab, Kathleen, Bill, Darrell
New members attending: Becky Watson, Sandra Easton, Sarah Davison
Guests: Travis (last name unknown), Alan Kuechle - past president Swan City club

Minutes: Approval motioned by Gabrielle, seconded by Jacqueline
Agenda: Approval motioned by Cheryl, seconded by Kendra

Review of past items

Parcel of Culture
Okay... the previous minutes said this meeting, Feb. 12 was the drop dead deadline for bringing items ... yaaa.... ignore that.
The next general meeting, really, truly, honestly ....(well, maybe) that’s the drop dead deadline for bringing items.
The parcel will be shipped to a Rotaract Club in Nigeria as part of a cultural exchange where they will learn that in Grande Prairie we’re great at a lot of things... returning our mail... well we’re slow learners.....

District Rotaract Chair
Congratulations to Cheryl who was voted by the district to the executive position - everyone act like Kermit the Frog, throw your hands in the air, throw your head back and yell yaaaaaaaa while running off stage (if we had a stage)!!!! If you don’t remember The Muppet Show, I recommend professional counselling.

Duck Race
The application has been sent in to Alberta Gaming. Now awaiting approval.
In April, all club members will be needed on a day for duck sorting. Date TBD.

Rotary District Bonspiel
Three provinces will be represented, several hundred Rotarians expected.
Rotaract will run registration desk and field one team on the ice. Once again, if you can volunteer at the registration desk, show up Thursday night. Call or e-mail Michelle with any questions. Drivers are also wanted, contact Cedrick.

New Business

Club Open House
Rotaract 40th anniversary to happen in March. Club decides that general meeting on March 11 will be open house to showcase the club and our activities. Invite any and all friends and people interested in the club. Event will be promoted around town - same bat-time, same bat-channel.

Volunteer Services Bureau presentation
Kathleen was named Volunteer of the Week for her work with The Community Village and Rotaract. Jacqueline makes presentation of award to Kathleen.
Once again, do the Kermit for Kathleen - yaaaaaa......
For anyone interested in the program, anyone can nominate a volunteer. Contact Jacq for more information.

January 22, 2008 Minutes

Attending: Gabrielle (acting at meeting chairwoman), Jacqueline, Ashley, Bill, Cedrick, Miranda, Dale, Darrell
Guests: Sara Davidson, Daniel Rook, Vaughn Marillier, Colleen Tarrant (Sunrise Club President), Sandra Easton, Allison Pitcher, Becky (last name unknown), Jarrett (last name unknown), Claire (last name unknown)

1. Adoption of Agenda: Motion to adopt by Bill, second by Jacqueline - Passed
2. Adoption of past minutes: Motion to adopt by Ashley, second Miranda - passed

3. Review past items

Duck Race
Final steps being taken on application. Committee anticipates submitting application to the government before next general meeting.

In short - our ducks are in a row (yes I went there)...

District Bonspiel (bonspeil? I never know)
Clear the track, here comes.... the Rotaract curling team
Bill, Darrell (Cheryl maybe) agree to make fools of themselves (I mean display their skills) as members of the our club’s curling team under the actual talented leadership of Ashley.
Colleen Tarrant as chair of the event give a description of the event to our guests. There are 48 teams expected, couple hundred Rotarians from across northern Alberta, B.C. and the Territories.
Still seeking volunteers who can offer any time to help at the registration table and volunteer drivers. If you can drive (and we all know that’s a questionable skill in this city) talk to Cedrick as he is coordinating driving.

Membership Director
As previously discussed Jacqueline stepping down as Membership Director to focus on family time. Ashley has formally agreed to take over the spot.

Parcel of Culture
Enough is enough, next general meeting is the DEADLINE for bringing any items for the parcel to be sent to club in Nigeria. Keep it small but bring something that represents the city and Rotaract.

New Items

February Social Event
Darrell to organize. An e-mail will be sent out with details on event.

Meeting end with round table and greeting guests. Next general meeting - Feb. 12, 2008.

Box of Culture Pictures

At the meeting on October 23rd the club took time to open the Box of Culture. The pictures are just making it up now.

The Box of Culture is an international project of the FUTA Rotarct Club in Rotary District 9130, Nigeria. They packed a box full of Rotaract info, pictures and cultural products from their home and sent it to our club.


The box was actually a small parcel, but we were in for a surprise when we saw how much was squeezed in there!


President Michelle did the honours opening the package...


.. and right away was intrigued with what was inside.


We were excited to see everything from Rotaract bumper stickers....


.... to certificates....


... to district newspapers!


All in all that little package had a lot of culture stuffed in there! It was impressive to see how organized Rotaract is in District 9130. Considering that we only have 4 clubs in our district it was eye opening to see so many events and materials produced by Rotaractors.

Also in the parcel were CDs with pictures of events from the FUTA club - which we posted to our Grande Prairie Rotaract group on Facebook.

Next up is our return package for FUTA! Don't forget next meeting is the last opportunity to contribute something.