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Rotary Club of Cataraqui-Kingston

The Courier

February 2nd, 2021
 
We meet every Tuesday 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
At present we meet via Zoom.
When in person meetings resume,please join us at Odd Fellows Hall, 218 Concession Street, Kingston ON.

The Rotary Four Way Test

Is it the truth?  Is it fair to all concerned?  Will it build goodwill and better friendships?  Will it be beneficial to all concerned

Rotary Reflection

For food in a world where many walk in hunger
For peace in a world where many walk in fear
For friends in a world where many walk alone
And for the opportunity to serve others through Rotary,
May we be truly thankful!

The Loyal Toast 

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Queen of Canada!

Acknowledgement of Territory

We are gathered on traditional Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Territory. we are grateful to be able to join together in Rotary Fellowship on these lands.
Speakers
Feb 02, 2021 7:00 AM
Update on the Rotary FAR Project--Mentoring Pathways Graduates
Feb 16, 2021 7:00 AM
Providing Vital Services To Women In Need
Mar 02, 2021 7:00 AM
March is Nutrition Month!
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News
Speaker January 26th - Melissa Larkin, Darkspark
 
Robert Reid introduced Melissa Larkin, Co-founder and Director of Darkspark, this morning. Melissa is a vocalist and songwriter with an impressive resume. Darkspark received  assistance from our National Committee for two projects in 2017 and 2019. Melissa was here this morning to tell us about that project and what's coming up for Darkspark.
 
Melissa began with a thank-you for our donation, which came at a critical point in time and has helped launch them on to new heights. She also gave us some background on Darkspark. They started in 2013 and ran on and off until 2016 when they were incorporated. Melissa and her partner D'ari Lisle, a music producer, were asked to teach a history unit at the Quinte Mohawk School - a cross cultural look at colonialism which challenged grade 7 and 8 students to express themselves through song and digital story telling. The program caught the attention of the Federal Government and they received funding to travel to 16 locations across Canada to replicate the program in 2017 and 2018, and the program became Four Directions. The instruction was intergenerational, with an elder always present. The 5 day program challenged students to create 11 short documentaries and 48 songs which were shared millions of times on social media. Our National Committee contributed to the Tyendinaga stop on the tour.
Why song and digital storytelling? Melissa that kids are addicted to pop culture, so why not harness that and turn it toward social change.  The students talked about many issues and turned them into songs - a natural fit.
 
Then came Throw Down Your Arms (https://darkspark.org/throw-down-your-arms/), a project about gun violence and youth in cooperation with Students on Ice. Run out of Ottawa, 80 kids spent two weeks on a ship in Canada's Arctic, where Darkspark set up a recording studio and recorded songs about the youths' experience.  Fortunately for Darkspark, two youth from Chicago sponsored by the Obama Foundation were on board, as well as ambassadors for the Foundation.  That connection let to the next project - Versions (https://darkspark.org/versions/). The National Committee also contributed to this project.
 
Versioning (which began in Jamaica) is a common practice in Rap and Hip-Hop, where a musician lays down a beat track and then other artists build on that base with vocals or other instrumentation. The focus of the music for Versions will be racism and anti-discrimination. This ambitious program had to be radically changed because of Covid.  Instead of meeting physically, 30 youth 16 to 24 years of age will participate in a 5 day virtual summit, then have monthly meetings during a 12 month fellowship.  Famous artists will be helping out and acting as mentors, and Band Lab is a partner helping with technology. This ambitious project is in development right now. Darkspark will leverage how music connects people, creating a docuseries and an anti-racism tool kit for educators.
 
Darkspark has grown from a small local initiative to a multi-country internationally lauded organization. In 2019 they received the International Innovation Award from the United Nations. Truly an impressive group that our Club has been privileged to be a part of.
 
Questions?
Greg M - What is your selection process?
This developed organically with the Four Directions Project, and the gun violence project selection process was informed by the youth we were working with.
 
Bill E - What is the measured impact?
Four Directions was formally evaluated.  Students deemed it 'life changing' and said 'this was the first time I heard about colonialism issues in Canada'. Many of the youth involved have changed life goals, choosing to pursue studies in social justice and similar areas of study.
 
Greta - How many Canadian youth are involved in Versions? Where does the name Darkspark come from?
15 of the 30 youth in Versions will be Canadian. Darkspark came from another project called Darklark.  Given the focus of the education, the idea of a Spark in the Dark seemed appropriate.
 
Robert - Where do you get funds?
From multiple sources - the government, the Red Cross, but mainly from fundraising and grant writing, and reaching out to Clubs like ours.  We are working toward charitable status. The Kingston Community Foundation has a link. (Melissa also specifically thanked Elizabeth Cohoe for promoting our Club's support - Melissa says 'you were the spark')
 
John G - Who helps you?
We have a small permanent staff, and a volunteer board who really help with grant writing.
 
Greg Mumford thanked Melissa for her presentation today. Youth learning about themselves and their history really increases there self confidence and Darkspark is helping so much.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Read more...

Virtual Meeting Report January 26th, 2021

Attendance

 
Guests: Leslie Frise, and Joyce Lee , guests of the club; Melissa Larkin, guest speaker.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Past Rotarians;  Hakeem Subair, former C-K Rotary member.

Member Sharing

 

Fun Master - Rick Fiedorec

Rick decided that there would be no fines, except a special one for Ron Pols (reason not disclosed)

Happy/Sad Bucks

Ana Sutherland - glad to be cleaning up stuff from Oddfellows
John Gale - a chance to throw some old stuff out, plus my knee surgery is now scheduled.
Heather Nogrady - Joe Biden is the new President!
Ron Pols - I also cleaned up, purging old work files
Sean Goodall - happy the all my family is healthy, especially because some are working in health care.
Bill Egnatoff - happy to be part of this group - our work with polio and Darkspark shows we are a revitalized club
Robert Reid - thanks to Elizabeth Cohoe and Darkspark, and happy for the way the National Committee works.
Leslie Frise - thanks for the positivity and for living in Kingston.
Greta - I've heard from my former club, and they would like a joint meeting.
Ed - I hosted my grandson on the weekend, he is mentoring me in the ways of the Jedi, including using a light saber.
Joyce - happy there is a new President.

Announcements

Ana Sutherland:

With the new area of focus on the environment, there will be a District wide event on April 24th in celebration of Earth Day - the Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup. The Kingston club is the local lead on the project, and there is a meeting January 27th to start discussions. Robert Reid and Sean will attend. FYI, we have snappy new Rotary vests when we go out for and activity like this. Go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/814977885733650 to learn more.
 
 
New members will be inducted next week!!!!!!
 
 
National Committee meeting January 27th
Presidents’ Council January 28th, all welcome
 
 
President John Gale
This Saturday we will meet to remove materials from the Oddfellows Hall. More to follow.
 
Ron Pols will lead a committee studying the format of our meetings post-Covid. All members can participate in shaping the club, especially new members.
 
There will be a world-wide 24 hour Rotary meeting on April 19th Paul Harris' birthday, quarterbacked by clubs in India. Details to follow.
 
 
Elizabeth Cohoe
Dina the dog, who we sponsored through Kingston 4 Paws (K4P), continues her training despite in-person (in-dog?) classes being cancelled. Elizabeth should us a short video of Dina with her foster family, which will hands down be the cutest thing we have seen today.
 
Bill Egnatoff
Bill reminded us that each recipient like K4P has a liaison person in the club. Kingston Interval House will speak to the club soon. Our club will not be integrating with the Kingston Club for grants in this centennial year because of logistical challenges. We are forging new links with the new Rotaract Club in town. Lastly, the mandate of the local committee is evolving, and we are all welcome to be part of the process.
 
DG Hadi Mortada - Foundation Moment

Words from a Past Rotary Global Grant Scholar

“During my time as a Rotary scholar, I learned to look at development differently. We often think of international aid in terms of poverty reduction, and we often see poverty reduction in terms of dollars spent and earned. The anthropology of development aims to analyze global aid in another way. We pay particular attention to how initiatives play out on the ground to determine just what local communities’ needs are and how those needs might be met sustainably and, eventually, autonomously…Rotarians understand that to have the most impact, we need to learn from other cultures. As global grant scholars, that’s what we aim to do – during our studies, and afterward.”

Levi Vonk, Global Grant Scholar and Fulbright fellow to Mexico.

Learn more about Levi’s story in The Rotarian, https://www.rotary.org/en/rotary-global-scholar-helps-migrant-workers-shelters.

 
 

From the Membership Committee

The following three people have applied to membership with Cataraqui Rotary Club.  Members of the executive have approved all three. Any members with input should contact Ana Sutherland, Membership Director, within 14 days.
 
Members will be provided with complete biographies for all candidates via email.
 
Leslie Frise grew up in Peterborough and attended McMaster University and St. Lawrence College.  She is married to retired teacher Lloyd Lockington and has two children.  Leslie has worked for Correctional Service of Canada, the State Group, and most recently as a Regional Information Coordinator for Infrastructure Ontario. Her interests are cottaging, gardening, reading, current events and travelling. Leslie is transitioning to retirement and wants to give back to the community.
 
Joyce Yee’s family moved to Kingston 65 years ago when Joyce was just one year old.  Her family ran a restaurant called the London Café (where Phase Two is now located). Joyce has worked as a costumer for theatres all over Canada. Joyce has also worked in retail and real estate.  She has a wide range of interests from alternative energy to construction. Joyce is now retired and wants to join Rotary.
 
Lise Coghlan is a former member of Cataraqui Rotary Club who grew up in Montreal. She has over 40 years experience in the travel industry and has earned many different certifications in her industry. Lise’s interests are art projects and knitting. Her specialty is small group travel and private tours.

Chase the Ace!

John (unlucky) Farrow won the draw again, but no joy, so the pot lives.
 
Meeting notes by John Farrow
Duty Roster
Rotary Club of Cataraqui-Kingston
Guests are Welcome
Odd Fellows Hall - 218 Concession Street, Kingston, Ont 7:00 am
Registration and Greeting
Members:
Guest:
Greeter:
Hall and Kitchen setup:
Hall and Kitchen clean up:
7:15 Call to Order and Welcome Ana Sutherland
7:16 Rotary Invocation and Toast to the Queen
7:17 Breakfast Parade
7:35 Welcoming of Guests and Visiting Rotarians
7:38 Announcements and Board Positions
7:43 Fun Master
7:55 Speaker Intro
8:00 Speaker "
8:18 Draw
8:19 Adjournment Ana Sutherland
Scribe:
Piano: Terry Hicks

Announcements


July 19th, 2020 - Rotary Centennial Birthday Party at Rotary Park
Sept 19, 2020 - Tree Planting - Rotary Park - Rotarians to assist in planting 100 trees
June 25th, 2021 - Rotary Anniversary Gala, St. Lawrence College