Welcome

Meeting Notes

 REGULAR MEETING:   November 4, 2025

                                    Meeting Chair:  Alan Fielding                                        

Our meeting opened with a welcome to the members present, both in person and online.  Thirteen members attended in person with 6 members online.

We continued with the singing of O Canada and the Treaty 6 recognition.

Announcements/Updates:

  • Rotary Cares raffle tickets for 2026 are available to be sold and purchased-see Lou
  • Rotary supports the Camrose community in many ways, big and small. Upcoming activities and volunteer opportunities are:
    • November 9: Free Family Swim at the Ramada Hotel from 1-4.
    • November 17: Food Bank clean-up starting at 12:30
    • Contact Shirley Bergsma (bergsma.ts@gmail.com) to volunteer for the first 2 opportunities.
    • Cozy Community Coat Closet - There are multiple shift afternoon shifts (Tuesdays and Thursdays) available for December. If you would like to volunteer please call Tia at FCSS - 780-673-1350. You must specify that you are with Rotary.
  • Rotary Camrose worked a Casino last Sunday/Monday.  Thanks to Kim for organizing the event and thanks to the 10 volunteers who came to work. We will receive our funds in about 3-4 months time. Proceeds likely to be around $20,000 as usual.
  • Pints for Polio Fundraiser:  Take a Bite out of Polio. Punch cards for free appetizers at 9 local restaurants and breweries will be sold for $30 each with proceeds going to PolioPlus. Cards are on sale now and are valid until April 2026.  See Tina, Lou, Jenn, Destiny or Lisa to purchase your card.
  • “The Bench Project” Larry presented to the Arts Council, he will next meet with the City Council Committee of the Whole sometime later this fall or winter.

Guest Speakers – Changing Ways - Family Violence

Adan Shaikh told us November is “Family Violence Month” and for this reason Abby Ness and Nick Breugom from Changing Way (an FCSS Program) had been invited to speak to us about their programs.

Changing Ways  focus is on reducing family and gender-based violence by fostering positive change through free connection to supports and services for individuals and families.  Their primary area is Camrose and Camrose County.   

Daneille Ostafichuk is the Program Manager.  Abby and Nick are Program Coordinators.  They are each responsible for specific programs.  Abby: Growth Circle for Women, Choices for Men, Anger Management.  Nick’s focus is on men and boys: Momentum (boys in school), Youth Anger Management, 1 on 1 Support (which is a group not individual counselling), Solid Ground, Caring Dads, Workshops, HEROES, Taming Worry, Dragons.  They both provide information services and referral.    

This month, to get people talking about Family Violence, they are having two events: The Craft Family Event November 21 where there will be activities for families with children, and a Webinar November 26 on technology facilitated violence.

Family violence is very common and is always preventable. It can impact anyone. There are many types: physical, emotional, verbal, spiritual, financial, social and more.  It can affect any sex and any age. 

There are many signs of family violence including change of personality, becoming withdrawn, jumpy or fearful.  Children may start bed wetting, using baby talk, having nightmares, becoming hypervigilant, socially withdrawn, exhibit bullying, increasing anxiety or depression.

If you suspect family violence you can help by letting them know you are concerned and open to discussion.  Let them know you believe them, validate their feelings, offer help to get supports, thank them for trusting you, respect their privacy and do not make demands especially of reporting. 

Statistically rural communities have twice the reported incidence of Family Violence to urban areas.  Males are twice as likely to be perpetrators and ½ as likely to be victims. The biggest age group affected is 28 to 44.  Men over age 65 are more likely to be affected than women.

They handed out brochures on the Changing Ways Programs.

Allan thanked them and told them of the Polio Plus donation to vaccinate 30 kids in Pakistan and Afghanistan.  They will be sent certificates denoting this.

Happy Bucks

  • Patrice fell on her trip to Las Vegas.  She suffered a concussion and was hospitalized for 3 days.  She is improving but has not fully recovered.
  • For a visit to Calgary to see his son and brother-in-law who is recently a widower.
  • For his wife distributing Days for Girls kits in India, she has sent pictures.  She said the first distributions were amazing (Rob)
  • For surviving a house move (Odell)

Foundation Moment – Rob

November is Foundation Month Rob reminded us that a portion of donations comes back to our club for projects like Days for Girls, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, and our Scholarships. Tim is going to the Awards banquet this Friday. Daybreak Rotary is tied for an award for the highest per capita donations to the Foundation Annual Fund.

Next meeting– – Tuesday, November 18 at 6:00pm. Zoom will start at 6:45.  Supper by Strada.  We will be having a presentation about an interesting project called Soles 4 Souls. The project is all about collecting gently used shoes and getting them to kids and families in need. This group had a booth at the Calgary Convention, and their program sounds like a good fit for Camrose.  NO MEETING NEXT WEEK – NOVEMBER 11 REMEMBRANCE DAY HOLIDAY—Attend the Remembrance Day Service at the CRE.  There will be a Board Meeting here on November 12 at Noon.  Bring your own lunch.

Meeting Closed with the 4-Way Test.

Sincere thanks to John Stoddart for looking after registrations, Alan Fielding for chairing this meeting, Varghese Manaloor and Morris Henderson for looking after Zoom and Odell Olson for taking notes at the meeting. High 5 to Shirley Bergsma for room set up and baking muffins and loaves for us to enjoy. Hope to see you in 2 weeks!

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