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Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
CLAY SAMIS
February 8
 
Victoria Weir
February 18
 
Join Date
CLAY SAMIS
February 14, 1997
26 years
 
Steven Sleightholm
February 16, 2022
1 year
 
Rudy Wagner
February 20, 2015
8 years
 
Speakers
Feb 22, 2023 7:00 AM
Inspirational Speaker
Mar 01, 2023 7:00 AM
Teaching in Sachigo Lake First Nation
Mar 08, 2023 7:00 AM
Habitat Northumberland
View entire list
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News
Brighton Rotary News Feb 15 2023
Members: 8 (Chris via Zoom from the sunny and hot Dominican)
 
Guests: Terri Lynn, Tina and Martin Vanderlaan
 
Special Announcement: Brighton Rotary won the adult Spelling Bee contest at the Trenton Rotary Club Monday night. R Daniel provided a brief or not so brief recap.
 
Correspondence:
 
1. Blue Imp playground cataloque
2. Thank you letter from the Brighton Christmas Hamper Team
3. Request for children's camp at Camp Kennebec
4. Thank you card from Brighton Public School for club support to the breakfast program.
5. The Club also received a cheque in the amount of $500. It turned out this was from Tricia Boehme.
 
DG Iosif’s weekly report:
 
 Having received no challenges to the Selection Committee’s decision, I am delighted to inform you that Niecy Dillon-Tyrovolas, from the Rotary Club of Whitby Sunrise, has been selected as the RI District 7070 District Governor for the Rotary Year 2025-26. Niecy will be a great addition to our District Governor Team joining me, IPDG Ron Dick, DGE John Burns and DGN Virginia O'Reilly.
Niecy Dillon-Tyrovolas is a dedicated community leader and volunteer who has spent her life giving back to those in need. Born and raised in Scarborough, Niecy’s passion for volunteer work began as a teenager when she served as a candy striper at Centenary Hospital.  Niecy joined the Rotary Club of Whitby Sunrise in 2013, Niecy has taken on numerous leadership roles, including serving as the Club Service Director and Foundation Director. Niecy was the club's (Covid) President serving an 18-month term from July 2020 - January 2022.  She has also been involved in various committees and events, including Fundraising, Fellowship, DEI, New Members Committee and the Whitby Sunrise Ribfest, which she co-chairs this year. 
Niecy’s contributions to Rotary have not gone unnoticed. She has received several awards, including the Paul Harris Recipient, The District 7070 Les Faludy Leadership Award 2020, The District 7070 Council of Past District Governors Award 2021, and the Spirit of Club Award 2022. Niecy became an Assistant Governor in 2022 and currently oversees the Durham Presidents Meetings.  She sits on the Rotary Leadership Institute Committee, and was the Foundation Walk Chair in 2022. Most recently she accepted the position of becoming the John Burns District Conference Chair.
In December 2022, Niecy married her best friend Chris Tyrovolas; they love spending time with their three daughters, exploring the community, meeting other Rotarians and hopefully being able to travel a bit more. 
Niecy is looking forward to her role as the District Governor in 2025-2026, where she wants to focus on Youth, Member Engagement, Foundation and most importantly, having fun!  With her commitment to serving the community and her passion for making a difference, Niecy is sure to leave a lasting impact on those around her. 
Please join me in CONGRATULATING our new District Governor Nominee Designate (DGND),Niecy Dillon-Tyrovolas, in her new role!
Congratulations Niecy!
 Rotary District 7070's Response to the Earthquake in Türkiye and Syria.
 This past week we have been witnessing the devastating earthquake disaster that struck Türkiye and Syria, over 33000 people have  died with many more injured, over 6000 homes and buildings destroyed. They are in immediate need of help! It is times like these that Rotarians across our district come together to make a difference.
Niecy, our DGND elect who has taken over the position of District 7070 Foundation Disaster Relief Chair from our dear friend, the late Michael Parker regarding Rotary District 7070's response to the Earthquake in Türkiye and Syria.
Toronto Club approved the set up for a matching campaign for ShelterBox Canada - Türkiye Earthquake Disaster Relief Program. Please click on the direct link below, to contribute to this campaign. 
Canada will match donations to the Canadian Red Cross Earthquake in Türkiye and Syria Appeal. Every donation made by individuals to the Canadian Red Cross between February 6 and 22, 2023, will be matched, up to a maximum of $10 million.  https://donate.redcross.ca/page/121799/donate/1?locale=en-CA 
Our District is working very closely with a Rotaract member who has connected with Rotary in Türkiye. They have set up a warehouse in Toronto where they are also accepting: new clothing, blankets, canned food, hygiene products etc.  
If you have any questions, please reach out to Niecy at: niecydillon@royallepage.ca  
 Upcoming Happenings in our District!
Veterans Working Group is looking for Members
Veterans Working Group @ the Rotary Club of Toronto. Is looking for other Veterans in our District that would like to join their meeting  this Thursday. For more info please contact Michael Morgan: michaelmorgan@rogers.com
 Help Raise Money to Clear Landmines in Ukraine
 Rotary Club of Parkdale-High Park-Humber
Time: February 17, 6:30 – 8 pm
Place: Roncesvalles UC, 240 Roncesvalles Ave. at Wright Ave.
Free Tickets: Eventbrite http://bit.ly/40dXlpT or at door:
  • Consul General Ukraine
  • Canadian Landmine Foundation
  • Kickoff to “The Night of a Thousand Dinners”
    •   Reception
 
For further information: Cathy Borg at 647 761-3306
WORLD UNDERSTANDING AND PEACE DAY SYMPOSIUM
You are cordially invited to an incredible Peace Symposium with music, art and incredible speakers on Thursday Febraury 23, 2023 at 7:00p.m. where you will hear Nobel Prize Winner Ouided Bouchamaoui who will join us all the way from Tunis, different entities that Rotary International is collaborating with to promote peace such as Mediators without Borders, The Peace and Economic Peace Centre, Rotary Inter-Country Committees (RotaryICC) and learn about how Rotary is collaborating with these different entities to extend peace and understanding around the world. Register today: https://rotary7070.org/event/world-understanding-and-peace-day-conference/
International Women's Day Celebration 2023
Come embrace women and equity in the district as we celebrate the women of Rotary District 7070! We gather March 8th @ 6pm in the Rotary Global Classroom at Durham College in a hybrid setting (In person and online) to celebrate fellowship and hear from female leaders of Rotary District 7070. Reception from 6 to 7 pm. Broadcast starts at 7 pm. Register here: https://rotary7070.org/event/international-women-s-day-celebration-2023/
Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup
 Our 3rd Annual Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup Event (GLWC) is quickly approaching!  Please mark your calendar for Saturday April 22 (Earth Day).  More information to come from your District Environmental Action Committee. Thank you - Dan Coombes - Chair GLWC (dancoombes4@gmail.com)
 Rotary Clubs in District 7070 -TAKE NOTE!!

The 2023 Rotary Youth Leadership Symposium (RYLS) is taking place, May 11-14, 2023 at the Ganaraska Forest Centre!  The 3-night experience is geared toward youth between the ages of 17-23 and will offer an inspiring program including: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Reconciliation and Land Based Education, Hands-on Activities, Group Dynamics, Public Speaking, Outdoor Survival and GPS Geocache adventures along with campfires, friendship and tons of fun and learning!!!  All this for only $375 per participant which covers all programs, accommodation, and meals.  Rotary Clubs are encouraged to find and sponsor eligible participants within their community, as well as members of the Rotaract and Interact Clubs that they host.  There are only 30 spots available!  Applications and further information for RYLS 2023 can now be found at this link:   https://rotary7070.org/stories/rotary-youth-leadership-symposium-(ryls)-is-may-11-14-2023-apply-today Due date for submission is March 10, 2023. #rotary7070
ach year on February 14th, many people exchange cards, candy, gifts or flowers with their special “valentine.” The day of romance we call Valentine’s Day is named for a Christian martyr and dates back to the 5th century. There are many reasons to fall in Love with Rotary. Make Valentine’s Day even more special when you fall in Love with Rotary & Love a Rotarian.
Have a great week! 
Cheers,
DG Iosif
Final thought:
For Sale: Parachute. Only used once, never opened.
 
 
Smile: blush
 
No time to smile today.
 
Announcements:
  • Outbound youth exchange student has first orientation weekend March 3 to 5 in Mattawa's Ecology Centre. There will be 18 inbound and outbound students from two districts.
  • Next board meeting will be held at R Steve B's home on Tuesday February 21 at 6:30pm
  • We are looking for speakers for March
  • R Joyce advised that Elizabeth is in Zambia.
  • Next bottle drive possible April 15
  • No Frills raffle possible before May long weekend. R Daniel will prepare letter from club to Chris and Angela at No Frills.
  • R Chris noted that Lion's are having a fund raiser for local boy Mason and wondering if Rotary can help?
  • Request for support for Relay for Life.
Song: The Old Gray Mare
 
Sharing Pot: $15 won by Terri Lynn who donated it back to the Club
 
Happy Bucks: .to be back home and into routine, vacation nice but?, Tina and Martin and what they do, saving a life, not a lot of happiness but contentment, for the presentation, wonderful what they do, looking forward to impact, drive home after work in the light, with grand kids on the weekend, keep up the great work.
 
Rotary Minute:
 
Paul Harris
Paul Harris was born April 19, 1868 in Racine, Wisconsin. At age three, when his family fell on hard times, Paul was moved with a sibling to Vermont to live with his paternal grandparents, Howard and Pamela Harris.
 
While living in Vermont, he attended Black River Academy in Ludlow, but was expelled after only a short time. At his secondary school in Rutland, he was known as a prankster. After secondary school, he attended the University of Vermont. In 1886, he was expelled in an incident involving a secret society. In the fall of 1887, he attended Princeton University.
Due to the death of his grandfather in the spring of 1888, he did not return to school the following fall. Harris soon moved to Des Moines, Iowa, where he was apprenticed at a local law firm. After completing his apprenticeship, he studied law at the University of Iowa. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in June 1891. However, for the next five years, he worked odd jobs: for a newspaper as a salesman and a reporter, on fruit farms, as an actor and cowboy, and on cattle ships that traveled to Europe. In 1896, Harris moved to Chicago, eventually settling in the Morgan Park neighborhood, where he lived the rest of his life (except for spending summers in Michigan and winters in Alabama during his later years).
It was 2 July 1910 in Chicago that Harris married Jean Thomson, a Scotswoman whom he had met at a local nature club. Jean traveled the world with Harris in support of Rotary. She helped to make women an important part of Rotary, eventually leading to all Rotary Clubs admitting women as full members. The couple never had any children.
Harris sought meaningful personal and spiritual relationships in addition to his professional achievements. He attended religious services on Sundays but visited many different churches rather than aligning himself with one congregation. Later in his life, he said that his religious affiliations were, like himself, difficult to label:
I really have no church affiliations … I am not easily classified; that is to say my convictions are not that of that definite nature essential to whole-hearted affiliation with the general run of churches. … Of course, these days one can hear the best of preaching over the radio and I generally hear three or four sermons every Sunday.
Stories
New Life Women's Home
R Joyce introduced Tina and Martin Vanderlaan:
 
Martin and Tina first began their work with New Life Women’s Home in 2020 after completing three years of intensive training in the operations of a faith-based residential recovery campus in New Brunswick.
Their journey to becoming leaders in addiction ministry began 25 years ago, when Martin was first drawn to supporting people living with substance use problems.
Then, in 2016, they received a text from their eldest daughter that changed their lives forever. It read, “Dan needs help. I can’t do it. I don’t know what to do anymore. He hasn’t done coke for a few days, but he’s replaced that with Percocet. He’s going to end up killing himself.”
Martin connected Dan to a recovery centre in New Brunswick dedicated to helping individuals with drug and alcohol problems. This was a pivotal moment: God had led them here to equip them to start their own ministry back home.
For the next three years, Martin and Tina developed a thorough understanding of addiction and learned how to minister to people facing substance use problems.
When New Life Women’s Home asked Martin to take the lead as Executive Director in May of 2020, it was clear that God was at work, directing them to step into their ministry.
With Tina taking on Marketing and Donor Relations, the two along with their team are working to build on the foundations that were laid over thirty years ago. Together, they’re leading a renewed vision for providing healing ministry to people whose lives have been seriously impacted by substance use and other life-controlling problems.
A new campus is set to open late spring of 2023!
 
 
 
Martin gave a little more background of himself and Tina. Martin grew up in Brighton, working for his uncle Al and then Len Kuipers before going out on his own. Tina was from the Hamilton / Cayuga area before moving to Brighton at age 12.
 
They provided a brief history of New Life Girl's Home in Consecon started 30 years ago primarily as a home for unwed mothers. However, the home in Consecon needed to be replaced and was determined that it would take too much to fix. So they started to look for a new location. The purpose of the home also evolved to one focusing on addiction. They found a new location in Plainfield on Thrasher Road north of Belleville. Next to the Frink Centre.
 
The program has developed into a 12 month program focusing on a New Life, New Faith and New Hope.
 
The new location is more of a 'campus' rather than just a lot. With walking trails, some seclusion but still only 15minutes from Town and services.
 
They hope to add a men's campus in the future, but one step at a time.
 
No child grows up wanting to be addicted. We all know someone affected by addiction of some kind. Their daughter's boy friend out east are adults and Tina and Martin decided to walk with them through this journey.
 
There has been a huge increase in deaths due to opiods, 480% increase. All people have worth, all have family and friends who love and care for them. Many deaths result from ATV and boating accidents while using or under the influence.
 
Our area is above the average in terms of use and deaths.
 
Tina and Martin did intensive training at the Village of Hope in New Brunswick. We can't rescue people, only love them and walk with them. The reasons are many; childhood trauma, generational issues, a need to belong, to have purpose. Some take substances to cope.
 
What brings change? Hitting rock bottom, to loose everything. The pain of change has to be less than staying the course they are on. Desperation.
 
There are faith based programs and government programs. It is a hard path, no easy solutions. But the person has to be removed from the environment they are in. They have a 12 month program but people can apply for a second 12 months.
There is a physical detox and a mental detox. The physical is a couple hard weeks, but the mental has to change habits. The individual needs to take responsibility.
 
There new campus is 42 acres. They are finishing the main lodge and plan to build dorms, have animals and garden, work shops and class rooms. They need to have purpose and routine in their lives, and faith.
 
Tina and Martin shared a short video of the building of the main lodge. They plan to open this spring and grow. They are approved for up to 22 clients. Some staff will live on campus. Initially likely start with about 6.
 
There is no government funds, all donations.
 
R Daniel thanked Tina and Martin for their presentation and their work.
 
Service Above Self