There are now 110 Brain Bikes in 25 local schools. Some schools have funded the cost of bikes, and the remainder was funded by the Shuswap Rotary Club.

The genesis of the Club’s project evolved from the University of British Columbia's study on ‘Early Development Indicators’ of children in SD83. A pilot program was developed in 2017 with the Club’s purchase of 3 Brain Bikes placed in an elementary school and analysis of this initiative affirmed increased educational outcomes for a broad spectrum of children.

A critical component is ensuring teachers receive instruction on the effective use of Brain Bikes in the classroom.

Brain Bikes, which are available for students to use in the classroom, provide significant benefits for

learning and health. Exercise raising the heart rate stimulates the brain in a way that improves

memory, concentration, and attention. Exercise also helps to put the ‘feel good’ brain chemicals into

balance, which benefits children who are hyperactive, sad, or otherwise not in a learning mood.

When children discover that exercise helps with learning, feeling good, and self-esteem, they will choose to make exercise, a lifetime habit.

Annual R.J.Haney Cleanup

ANNUAL R.J. HANEY PARK CLEANUP

Our Rotary club had a great day at the annual Haney Heritage Park spring clean-up event. This is something that our club does every year and has only missed the last two years due to Covid 19. The clean-up was well attended with over 76 volunteers showing up with rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows, chain saws, and Bobcat loader. Our volunteers included the Girl Guides, our Interact club plus many friends of Rotary and a large contingent of Haney volunteers. A pizza lunch was very kindly supplied by Steve Genn from Pro Air here in Salmon Arm. Tara and Susan at Haney Heritage were very happy that the park is now spic and span and ready for the season.

All Ages Take Part

Computers for Kenya

Computers for Barani Primary School, Kenya

Cooperation between the Rotary Club of Mombasa Central, Kenya, and Shuswap Rotary, Salmon Arm is alive and well!

Twenty-eight Computers are being ready for shipment by President Kathy Dunfield and David Wooliams, committee member.

The computer room at Barani Primary has new windows to reduce dust and give longer life to the computers.

Shuswap Rotary also provides 20 scholarships for secondary students.

The plans are to maximize the use of the kitchen previously built.

Wifi is provided as part of this program as well as a new printer. The school and students are most appreciative of the efforts of our clubs.

Food Drive

Food Drive - Major Success

The people of Salmon Arm really came through to help our food banks.

The three Rotary Clubs in Salmon Arm worked together to coordinate the Food Drive. 75 members and friends were involved in delivering bags and then picking up full ones. The recipients are: The Salvation Army Food Bank, Second Harvest, The Safe society and the Sorrento Food Bank. They all benefitted from this drive. It is estimated that we collected over 12,000 lbs of food. This beats the previous food drive that collected 8500 lbs.

The three Rotary Clubs want to thank everyone for a very successful food drive.

This is a tri-club project to collect food for the Women's Shelter, Food Bank at the Salvation Army, the Second Harvest the food bank at Sorrento, & the food bank in Chase.

Supporting Shuswap Theatre

Donation to Shuswap Theatre's

Air Purification System

installed by ProAire

Doug Leatherdale, Shuswap Rotary Membership and Youth Programs Director, presents a cheque to Howard Delong of Shuswap Theatre's Board for their newly renovated

Air Purification System; Making audiences and performers safer.

On the left is Janice Ross, treasurer of Shuswap Rotary, and on the right are James Bowlby, Shuswap Rotary P. R., and Heather Stefanek, Theatre Board Member.

Shuswap Makers' Place

A Tour of the Shuswap Makers' Place

Our trip to the Makers' Place was great to see the newest, State of the Art equipment that Shuswap Rotary had donated through funds. Patrick Shea gave us a great tour, explaining lazer printing and other new machines in the workshop area.

Community Support for the Food Bank

Shuswap Rotary Supports the Salvation Army Foodbank

Past President MJ Beresan, and Rita Gregor present a cheque to Lieutenant Joel Torrens

to help continue the wonderful work of the Salvation Army Food

National Polio Day

Polio Campaigners Visit Shuswap Rotary

Ross and Fiona Harris get set up for their presentation on October 12

District Governor's Visit

Dinner Meeting at the Green Space

Shuswap Rotary President Kathy Dunfield;

District 5060 Governor Richard De Rock;

Robyn De Rock and Assistant Governor Penny Brown

R.J. Haney Heritage Park Children's Playground

When R.J. Heritage Park asked Shuswap Rotary to Build a Children's Playground, We said "Yes!"

First Meeting In Person

FIRST MEETING IN PERSON NEW VENUE: GREEN SPACE AT FIRST ( 5TH at Okanagan.)

e spacious

Our first meeting in our new Venue with our new President Kathy Dunfield in the chair.

Beside her is our new treasurer, Janice Ross. On the far right is Past president John Hansen.
The spacious hall of the newly renovated Green space at First, allows for room for new members.

Summer Fun- Ice Cream on the Wharf

We are a fun loving club. Supporting our community and enjoying fellowship!

Inauguration 2021-2022

INAUGURATION

2021-2022

Outdoors, distancing, happy to be together!

Present and New Officers

Gene Tymkiw, Rotary International; Dave Woolliams, Past Treasurer; Andrée Maxwell, Past Secretary; James Bowlby, Public Image; Janice Ross, Treasurer;

Sherry Gilmore, Community Service; Doug Cole, Club Service; Doug Leatherdale, Membership & Youth; Kathy Dunfield, President Elect;

Fred Goodman, Rotary Foundation; John Hansen, Outgoing Past President; M.J. Berezan, Past President and Community Service; Mark Ellis, Past Fund Raising; Absent, Ralph Owens, Sergeant at Arms.

Shuswap Rotary held the Annual Induction on Tuesday, June 22 in the lovely yard of members Mike and Jody Boudreau. The event was catered by Chase Rotary who provided a delicious steak dinner. Richard De Rock, our District Governor, was on hand via Zoom, and Penny Brown, our Assistant District Governor was present in person. Speakers included both Richard and Penny, as well as outgoing president MJ Berezan and incoming president Kathy Dunfield. We are all looking forward to the next year, which we hope will bring meetings and socials at in-person gatherings, as well as fundraisers in-person to support the community in moving past the covid year.

CANOE BEACH TREE PLANTING

Shuswap Rotarians love to get outdoors to work on a project. That is just what happened when the opportunity to beautify the Canoe Beach Park by planting 15 oak trees was presented to them. This project was made possible due to the gift of these trees by Maarten Albricht. Over 20 Rotarians and friends worked on Saturday April 24.Seen here are several groups of 4 working together to dig holes, plant young trees and water them. Shuswap Rotary consulted with The City of Salmon Arm in the location of these trees.

THE MIRELLA PROJECT

Guest speaker - Mirella Ramsey

The Mirella Project

Mirella’s project is building a community by saving the environment

Mirella’s idea began 3 years ago while she attended university – in Mirella’s geography course, she heard more bad news than goods news.

Mirella asked herself, what can I do to influence change in a positive manner?

She wants to influence people into creating sustainable habits – climate change has to be personal and achievable with small sustainable daily steps

Mirella is developing an smart phone application and hopefully, it will be ready in the fall

She spoke about the importance of having social media eco-influencers

Mirella is passionate about people and the environment

Mirella presented her video – Mirella thanked Rotary and Jim Grieve for their financial contributions towards the production of the video

ASTRONOMY - LUIGI ORNAGHI

Guest Speaker: Luigi Ornaghi

Luigi’s interest in astronomy began as a young man and he joined a club in Torino, Italy. In 2004, he owned a restaurant in the Alps and he applied for a grant through a nonprofit organization for an observatory. The observatory was built in the Alps, 7000 metres with a sliding roof biggest cost is the sliding roof and a 16 inch telescope.

Luigi has been in Canada for four years and he sees an opportunity for an observatory in the Shuswap because of little light pollution in the night sky. This observatory would see a sliding roof where people view the night sky from the home computer. Luigi is looking for assistance in making connections with people who are interested in astronomy and donating money for an observatory.

BRAIN BIKES CONTINUE

Thanks to Lorne Reimer of FridayAM

CHRISTMAS DINNER FOR SALMON ARM

Members of the three Salmon Arm Rotary clubs, First United Church, Broadview Evangelical Free church and Second Harvest teamed up to provide more than 600 individual meals to those in need on Christmas. Some of the many volunteers, Dan McPherson, Ron Hooper, Vahlleri Semeniuk, Lloyd Nakagawa, Lis Leach, Norm Brown, Rob Hislop and Patrick Webb take time out at the Evangelical Free church, a meal pick-up point, for a photo on Friday, Dec. 25, 2020. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)

More than 600 meals made their COVID-safe way to Salmon Arm residents in need on Christmas Day, thanks to an abundance of caring volunteers.

Salmon Arm’s three Rotary Clubs, as well as Second Harvest, the First United Church and Broadview Evangelical Free Church, donated funds to pay for the food, the meals were cooked and put together by the churches, and volunteers from all the groups pitched in to distribute the packages.

Norm Brown, president of the Rotary Club of Salmon Arm, said the idea was born when a Penticton Rotary Club used a similar system for a lobster dinner.

The work in the Shuswap, following pandemic protocols, started about a month and a half before Christmas, with everything coming together in just five weeks.

“All three clubs jumped on it. We had volunteers – we had to turn them away, we had more than enough,” said Brown.

A total of 620 Christmas dinners-to-go were produced.

OVER $530,000 TO COMMUNITY & INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS!

Over the past four years the Shuswap Rotary Club has invested $530,000 in community and international programs. This was made possible largely from the generous support of local businesses and donors to the Club’s annual fundraising auctions.

Of the total contributions, $366,000 was dispensed within our community to: Youth Programs - $122,500; Seniors & People with Disabilities - $82,500; Food Banks & Families in Need - $72,500; Community Organizations - $75,000; and The Arts - $13,600.

The remaining $165,000 supported: Rotary International’s program to eradicate Polio; our Club’s Barani school project in Kenya providing student lunches, classroom computers/internet, and High School sponsorships; Health & Water initiatives in Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti & South Africa; as well as Rotary programs that promote world peace and understanding.

If you would like to know more about our Club or are interested in making a donation, feel free to contact us at www.shuswaprotary.org or on Facebook @ShuswapRotary.

SHUSWAP ROTARY CLUB DONATES $5000 TO SHUSWAP HOSPICE SOCIETY

(L – R) Fred Goodman, Foundation Director; Cookie Langenfeld, Executive Director, Shuswap Hospice Society; MJ Berezan, President; Sherry Gilroy, Community Service Director

The Shuswap Rotary Club continued its support to Salmon Arm non-profit organizations with a $5000 donation to the Shuswap Hospice Society on October 21, 2020 with funds from a BC Gaming Grant. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Shuswap Hospice Society has experienced a significant increase in demand for its services. The Shuswap Rotary Club has long been a financial supporter of the Shuswap Hospice Society and its ‘Dancing with the Shuswap Stars’ fundraiser.

So far in this Rotary year, our Club focus has been on supporting Community Food Banks, the S.A.F.E. Society, Shuswap Family Center, Shuswap Hospice Society and our Club’s School Food Program.

Adam Meikle Banner Painting

Shuswap Rotary Club is extremely honoured to be able to use Adam Meikle’s painting of Salmon Arm’s wharf as a banner on our website. Mr. Meikle is the owner/operator with his wife Jenna of Meikle’s Social Art House on Lakeshore Drive. His talent as an artist is evident to anyone who has purchased one of his paintings or has visited his studio. Adam has been instrumental, with the vision of Bill Laird, in creating the following: the Giraffe at Westgate Market, the Monarch Butterflies on the Monarch Building, The Largest Treble Clef in the World, and the Osprey Mural on Hudson Street. Adam is a wonderful asset to Salmon Arm and has made a real impression in the few years he and his family have been here.

Community Garden Work

Shuswap Rotary members have been volunteering at the the Shuswap Community Teaching Garden, including Sherry Gilroy, Rita Greggor, MJ Berezan, John and Elaine Hansen.

The Shuswap Community Teaching Garden was developed by the Shuswap Family Centre. The food produced supports 2nd Harvest and the SAFE society. There are a few areas set aside for individual folks who plant, weed and harvest for themselves.

Volunteers are welcome. Everyone who volunteers needs to sign a liability waiver and to sign in each day they attend the garden. Shuswap Rotary helps out at 8:30am every first and third Tuesday and every second and fourth Sunday at 8:30 am.Melanie is the coordinator. She is usually there Tuesday mornings. The other 2 Rotary Clubs in Salmon Arm are also volunteering.

8 Paul Harris Fellowships Awarded

Shuswap Rotary presented five members of the club with Paul Harris Fellowship Awards at the induction meeting on June 23, 2020. Three more Paul Harris Fellowship Awards have been also awarded this summer.

Janice Ross Fred Goodman Dave Woolliams

Eddie Turner

Five of the awards were based on their personal contributions to the Rotary Foundation. Janice Ross received a 'Paul Harris Fellow +1' which means it was her second PHF recognition. Fred Goodman received a 'Paul Harris Fellow +7' which means it was his 8th recognition. Dave Woolliams received a 'Paul Harris Fellow + 6', Dr. Eddie Turner received a 'Paul Harris Fellow +2', and Ralph Owens (not pictured) received a 'Paul Harris Fellow +3.

The other three PHFs were identified by a committee based on their significant contributions to the club and Rotary. The club presented PHFs are for Rob McKibbon, Mark Ellis, and John Hansen.

Rob McKibbon has just stepped down as RYE director after 6 years and after hosting a multitude of exchange students. Exchange students were very lucky to have Rob and Lynn as their host parents because they each got treated like a combination of family and royalty. He and his wife Lynn have been tireless supporters of Rotary and the youth exchange program since he joined Rotary in 2011. Rob served as president of the club in 2014-15 and he maintains our club Facebook page. He has also been a huge supporter of our fundraising auction acting as its MC the past few years. Rob has a valuable special ability to get generous auction supporters and donors to help make our auctions a huge success.

Mark Ellis has been highly involved in our Barani project in Kenya. He is passionate about helping the children who benefit from our Barani project. He travelled with 5 other club members in 2017 to visit Barani school and our sponsored students. He has also chaired the Barani committee. As fundraising chair he has overseen several very successful auctions which have enabled our club to be very generous in offering services locally and internationally. Mark has also served as president of the club.

John Hansen has served as our club president this year after helping out in a big way with this position in the previous two years. John has done an incredible job in transitioning and guiding us through this new world that we are now experiencing.John has served on the Barani committee and works tirelessly behind the scenes in many capacities as well as to help make our auctions a success, and gives our auctions some class by appearing in a tuxedo every year!

Congratulations and many thanks to all 8 Paul Harris Fellowship recipients for their contributions to Rotary.

Feeding Kenyan Students

Shuswap Rotary sponsors 20 Kenyan secondary students at various secondary schools. These students were sent home from their boarding schools at the start of the pandemic, and will miss the entire Term 2 before they can hopefully return to school September 1. These are students from poor families who would not go to school without help. They have sponsorship guidelines that must be met to ensure continued sponsorship. Shuswap Rotary decided to use the money we have set aside for Term 2 fees to support these students in this difficult time. We are providing maize flour and beans, two staples of the Kenyan diet. The photos show some of our students as they are receiving this assistance in May.

Update - we have also distributed food in June, photos of this are in the Photo Albums, located on the upper right side of this web page. Click on 2020 Barani Food Distribution.

Safe House Rotary Donation

Shuswap Rotary is presenting a cheque to S.A.F.E Society for help during the COVID-19 pandemic. The need has increased significantly and the funds were greatly appreciated. Shown in the photo, left to right are Paige Hilland and Jane Shirley (SAFE Society) and Sherry Gilroy (Shuswap Rotary).

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