The RCNS is pleased to announce the award of a $75,000 Rotary Global Grant to foster Peace and Reconciliation. The grant, with supporting funding from Rotary clubs in Brantford, St Catharines, Hamilton–Stony Creek, Niagara Falls and Toronto area clubs and International club South Portland Cape Elizabeth, Maine is in support of the upcoming Youth to Youth (Y2Y) Truth and Reconciliation Experience to be held at Chiefswood Park in Ohsweken (near Brantford) March 22-29.  
The Y2Y gathering brings 25 Indigenous and 25  non-Indigenous youth leaders from all across Canada together for a week of cultural teachings and reconciliation sharing circles.  The experience starts with the truth about residential schools with Phyllis Webstad, founder of Orange Shirt Society, then provides teaching on peace treaties, illustrated by wampum belts, and provides hands-on cultural learning making wampum belts and traditional rattles.  There will be many Elders and Knowledge Keepers, including Diane Longboat, Ken Maracle, Norma Jacobs and Frank Miller (Tehahenteh) with deep understanding of Haudenaunee culture and traditional knowledge to provide teachings to participants.
The global grant funding is targeted to the unique nature of this year’s program as it will held entirely on reserve at Six Nations Chiefswood Park, and the food for the program will be by Indigenous chefs adding a immersive element to the event which is now in its fourth year. 
”We are very pleased to be hosting this year’s gathering at Six Nations and thrilled to have youth leaders from across Canada working together for true reconcilation,” say Jim and Marjorie Dawson, co-chairs of the Rotary District 7090 Honouring Indigenous Peoples (HIP) committee.

In the spring of 1996, a new Rotary Club, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Simcoe, appeared on the Norfolk scene. The aim was to expand opportunities for Norfolk residents wanting to serve locally & internationally by participating in Rotary programs and activities. On May 16, 1996 the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise (RCNS) received its Charter from Rotary International (RI) and began its own record of  "Service above Self”.
The RCNS's current success is rooted in the work of the initial, charter group of 54 Sunrisers; some of whom are still with the Club (as shown in bold font). That group included; Debra Abbott-Greenfield, Mark Boerkamp, Randy Bridge, Dave Brown. Cam Carter, Tony Cheung, Rhonda Clarke-Bruyn, Randy Coates, Robert Cole, Joan Davidson, Mike Dickenson, Yvonne DiPietro, Charlie Douglas, Dave Douglas, Keith Flexman, Mike Fredericks, Blair Harrison, Al Harrington, Mike Heirwegh, Gary Hepburn, Steve Jackson, Keith Jones, Janet Kazakevicious, Terri Kristman, Carrol Lambert, Doris Long, Steve Malo, John Matecsa, Scott Morris, Dave Murphy, Linda Newbury, Kim Novak, Jeff O'Donnell, Jim Peters, John Race, Keith Rainey, Peter Rasokas, Mike Redden, Barry Robinson, Eric Rustan, George Santos, Doug Slade, Bryan Slaney, Tony Suprun, Dawn Swaenpoel, Shawn Swarts, Gerry Townsend, John Verbakel, John Wallace, Peter Wheatley, Carolyn Wiens and Wayne Wormald. 
Over the course of the year, our plan is to celebrate in style; to celebrate our community presence and to celebrate the way in which we have worked in our community to make things better.  
Stay tuned to our media sites for more information on this anniversary.

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.