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Guest Speaker 02 Dec ‘25 - Twilight Quilters’ Guild - Ideas in Quilting

On Tuesday morning, 02 Dec 2025, Dave Douglas welcomed Melanie Douglas, Brenda Bradshaw, Diane Luke & Mary McKenzie as our Guest Speakers. At our hybrid (ie live attendance at R83 with zoom remote attendance) session, they provided a very interesting display of their work and spoke to us about their involvement with the Twilight Quilters' Guild. Melanie introduced the group and the Guild providing an overview of their history, aims and connections to the volunteer community; Brenda provided some historical perspective and interesting family connections; Diane spoke to quilt-making design and techniques as well as how they manage their sessions; and Mary concluded with stories of their success at shows and competitions. Phew! … who knew!

It was a fascinating insight into a very interesting recreation - such a well-crafted presentation, befitting the well-crafted nature of their product.

Co-President Ross Gowan offered appreciative remarks in thanking the group for their artistic skill, passion and work within the community. The group was then presented with an expression of our thanks by noting that we had, in their names, restored the sight of a 17-month old boy from Zambia as part of of our Operation Eyesight support.

Coats for Kids & Adults 2025

About thirty years ago, Sunriser Randy Bridge exploited his close connections to Burtol Cleaners to give birth to ‘Coats for Kids’.

So, once again, the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise, in collaboration with Peerless Cleaners, the Langton Knitters and the First Baptist Church have organized our ongoing Coats for Kids community support event. With the support of many players and the involvement of local church and school groups, we collected almost over 800 coats. Our friends at the Langton Knitters donated a huge variety of knitted products for kids and infants. Russ and Elisa Wilson, owners of Peerless Cleaners ensured that all of the products were cleaned and hygienically prepared for give-away.

At the actual event on 22 Nov, about one half of coats were distribributed. We then bagged the balance of the products, all of which will be going to local schools, churches, Church Out Serving and the Family Resource Centre.

We like to think that the RCNS supplied a lot of warmth to many Norfolk families this morning. As a result, we want to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to the Rotarians, family and friends who helped with unloading the trucks, setting up on Friday, welcoming and assisting guests on Saturday and distributing the overflow to the various centres this coming week. This event could not happen without you - always ‘Service above Self’.

All of this community support continues to be co-ordinated by our own Bettyann Carty who writes in that, "We are so grateful for the contribution that Peerless Cleaners make to this project. Moreover, I really appreciate the support from the volunteer teams Friday & Saturday. My heartfelt thanks goes out to everyone."

Please go to the 'Read more ...' tab for a photo of our own group taken during the Saturday morning open house. Click here for a few more photos of the event.

District Recognition Awards

Recently, Rotary District 7090 presented their annual recognition awards to qualifying Clubs. As one of 66 Clubs in District 7090, the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise was honoured to receive the following citations;

District 7090 Lighthouse Award - our Club achieved the required number of goals for the Rotary Club Excellence Award and then completed a specific number of additional activities, such as participating in district-led training, engaging in community service, and using social media to promote Rotary. We were one of only six Clubs to be so-recognized.
Rotary Club Excellence Award - our Club completed the necessary 13 qualifications (see Club Central) for the Rotary Club Excellence Award (previously the Rotary Citation).
End-Polio Now Appreciation Award - our Club exceeded the expectations in support of the End Polio Now programs.

Receiving the awards on behalf of our Club are Co-Presidents Mary Mercato and Ross Gowan.

Youth Services Exchange Student Celebration

Rudi Atkinson (Youth Svc RCNS), Richard, Rasmus, Daniel, Amber McKnight (Youth Svc RCS)

This year, our local Rotary Clubs are sponsoring three outbound exchange students and three inbound exchange students. All of this is being managed by our Youth Service Committees headed up by Rudi Atkinson (RCNS) and Amber McKnight (RCS). Of course, this challenging student-related task requires participation, funding and personal support to make it work as well as it does. Addressing these needs, the THE RCNS and RCS organized a special, internationally-themed, cocktail dinner event highlighted by food and drink from the inbound student home countries (Denmark, Germany, Spain). This event served to recognize those who are participating as well as those who are hosting the students and managing the program and to contribute to the fundraising need. Our Youth Service teams report a terrific success on all fronts! Go to the ‘Read more …’ tab to find out additional details and see a few selected photos. Go to this link to see a folder with photos taken during the evening. BZ.

PH Awards '25 - Community Recognition

One of the three ways that a Paul Harris Fellowship may be awarded is for the parent club to use its Foundation contribution points to nominate a particular member of its own club or the community at large. On 26 August 2025, at our Welcome Back BBQ, the RCNS took the opportunity to recognize a truly wonderful family team within our Norfolk community, two selfless people who have distinguished themselves in exactly the light that Paul Harris had envisaged.

As sponsored & introduced by our Public Image Chair Jim Simpson, we honoured Ian and Judy Ann Macaulay. After our supper and to their complete surprise (bordering on shock!), the award sponsor called the Macaulays to the front and provided an overview of their considerable contributions to their church, their club and to the community in general. By going to the 'Read more ...' tab, you can read the citations used to overview the contributions the Macaulays have made to their community(s). At the attached picture, we note the presentation with several Sunrisers in attendance including (l to r); Co-President Mary Mercato, Judy Ann & Ian, PI Chair Jim Simpson and Co-President Ross Gowan. Additional photos of the evening and the presentation can be found at this link.

As Rotarians, we are privileged to recognize selfless & generous community leaders such as Ian & Judy Ann. As Jim concluded in his remraks, the Macaulays are model, yet modest citizens that emulate every good value Rotary stands for and are more-than-worthy of Paul Harris Fellowship Awards for their "Service Above Self'. Congratulations to both!

Again in 2025; The Dragons Invaded and We Slayed Them

Evidently, the 'Dragons' like it hot ... not even the most serious heat-wave in recent memory could dampen the energy for 24 DragonBoat teams (over 500 paddlers) brought to the Dragon Boat Festival in Waterford, Sunday 22 June 2025.

Sponsored once again by the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise (RCNS) and the Cancer Resource Support Program (CSRP), this annual, community event is a major fundraiser for both organizations. Well-over 30 volunteers were onsite including Rotary Sunrisers, CSRP members, family, friends and students.

On Race Day, the heats started at 9am and finished up around 4pm. In spite of the record temperatures, spirits ran high throughout the park with many moving to the great music provided and the cheering as race times and winners were announced. Everyone was kept nourished with the local food vendors onsite and entertained with music all day long. Again this year, we arranged for formal team pictures to be taken behind the wooden dragon boat and paddles made by Abel Enterprises. Again his year, a highlight of the day was the carnation ceremony to remember all those currently battling breast cancer, those in remission and those who have died.

Go to the 'Read more ...' tab for more on this story, the participating teams, notes of our appreciation, our connection to the CSRP and more.

Until next year - Paddles Up! (or maybe down for a wee rest)

Happy Trails in Norfolk County

"A speaker at a Rotary meeting sparked an initiative that led to a valued legacy project by the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise (RCNS) and for our community. In 2008 the RCNS hosted a speaker from Norfolk County’s Planning & Economic Development Department to speak about the County’s new Strategic Plan. One of the goals identified in that plan was for the County to develop a walking and cycling trail through Simcoe on the historical Lake Erie and Northern Railway line. Following that meeting, and some discussion by the RCNS Board, we told the County “We can help with that!” And help we did, to the betterment of our community."

See how we went about this at the 'Read more ...' tab. Watch the video to see how much fun we have with this task!

CTA Licence Progress & Results

Following nine, successfully-concluded licences of our ever-popular Catch the Ace (CTA) fundraiser, the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise, with the support of the Port Dover Legion Branch 158, will be re-starting the game on Friday 09 May '25. This new start will be our tenth licence and it will conclude once the Ace of Spade is finally drawn later in the year.

Once a licence is concluded, a summary of the results is generated. This summary information is then shared with the local print media and can also be found on this web-site - ie see our FUNdraiser Tab at the top of this website to see the results from our eighth completed licence.

For those who follow the CTA game on a more regular basis, the best way to stay abreast of the current results is to visit our FaceBook site. You may find an image of our FB Page as a panel on this web-page or you may wish to visit our FB Page by clicking on this link. Alternatively, the results are also posted to our weekly RCNS Bulletin (the 'Sunriser'). Normally, it is released to our members and friends on a weekly basis. If you are not a subscriber and you might wish to join the mailing list, please see the 'RCNS Bulletin Subscribe' panel as given at this website.

Monthly Committee Meetings
Dec. 09, 2025 7:15 a.m.
RCNS Catch the Ace (CTA); Licence #10
Royal Canadian legion

Dec. 12, 2025 7:15 p.m.
RCNS Christmas Party
Steve & Jane Malo's Home

Dec. 13, 2025 6:00 p.m.
RCNS Annual Meeting; Election of Officer Slate
Dec. 16, 2025 7:00 a.m.
RCNS Board Directors Meeting (InPerson)
Dec. 16, 2025 8:00 a.m.
RCNS Catch the Ace (CTA); Licence #10
Royal Canadian legion

Dec. 19, 2025 7:15 p.m.

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Jan. 20, 2026 7:00 a.m.

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Jan. 27, 2026 7:00 a.m.

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Feb. 03, 2026 7:00 a.m.

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Feb. 24, 2026 7:00 a.m.

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Mar. 03, 2026 7:00 a.m.

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View entire list...

https://www.facebook.com/RotaryNorfolkSunrise

HOW WE GOVERN OURSELVES

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HOW WE GUIDE OURSELVES

HandBook '25

Action Plan '24-'25

Our Leaders

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THANK YOU FROM THE ROTARY FOUNDATION

Rotary Foundation

As we begin year two of our co-presidency, we will stay the course with a few exciting and innovating ideas. This past year we hosted a very successful Invasion of the Dragons Festival, made a generous donation to the Norfolk Haldimand Community Hospice, planted 120 trees and supported many other organizations and projects in our community and abroad. With community projects/service and youth in the forefront for the coming year, we are committed to making a difference locally and globally. We are truly thankful to our fellow Sunrisers for their dedication and support.

If you are interested in Service Above Self, this very dynamic and engaged Club invites you to join us at one of our meetings and get to know us. Be part of the good of our community.

Mary