Rotary Club of Bramalea

FORMATION OF THE CLUB I N FEBRUARY, 1965, THE WORK OF THE EXPANSION COMMITTEE OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF BRAMPTON CAME TO A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION. .A NEW CLUB IN THE MALTON-BRAMPTON AREA WAS CREATED. TWENTY SEVEN CHARTER MEMBERS, UNITED IN THEIR DESIRE TO SERVE THE LOCAL AND WORLD COMMUNITIES, JOINED TOGETHER TO FORM THE ROTARY CLUB OF BRAMALEA . IN THE FOLLOWING QUARTER CENTURY, OVER 150 INDIVIDUALS, SHARING THE ROTARY IDEAL OF "SERVICE ABOVE SELF", HAVE ENTHUSIASTICALLY GIVEN THEIR TIME, ENERGY AND EXPERTISE TO PROMOTE MANY WORTH WHILE CAUSES. INTERNATIONAL SERVICE IN THE WORLD ARENA, THE ROTARY CLUB OF BRAMALEA IS ONE OF MORE THAN 23,000 CLUBS IN 162 LANDS TO PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN SERVICE AND TO PROMOTE HIGH ETHICAL STANDARDS IN ALL VOCATIONS. THROUGH DONATIONS TO ROTARY INTERNATIONAL, THE POWER OF OVER A MILLION MEMBERS WITH COMMON GOALS MAKES POSSIBLE MANY REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS. ROTARY INTERNATIONAL HAS RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM BRAMALEA FOR NUMEROUS CAUSES TO DELIVER THE MANY INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS, ROTARIANS HAVE RAISED HUNDREDS OF MILLIOMS OF DOLLARS FOR THOUSANDS OF SCHOLARSHIPS, UNIVERSITY TEACHER GRANTS, GROUP STUDY EXCHANGES AND SPECIAL GRANTS WHICH ARE ADMINISTERED BY THE ROTARY FOUNDATION. ROTARY'S 3H-PROGRAM ( HEALTH, HUNGER AND HUMANITY ) MARSHALS RESOURCES AND MANPOWER FOR LARGE-SCALE HUMANITARIAN PROJECTS. CURRENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE MAJOR HEALTH CARE, AGRICULTURAL, WATER AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS ON FOUR CONTINENTS, OPERATION EYESIGHT AND SLEEPING CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD. POLIO PLUS, A PROGRAM TO ERADICATE POLIO AND SEVERAL OTHER DISEASES BY THE YEAR 2000, WAS ENTHUSIASTICALLY EMBRACED BY ROTARIANS IN MANY NATIONS. OVER 250 MILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN RAISED AND THE INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM IS PROCEEDING AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. IN ITS' 25TH. ANNIVERSARY YEAR, THE ROTARY CLUB OF BRAMALEA WAS PROUD TO PARTICIPATE IN A STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM; IN 1990-1991 ROTARY FAMILIES HOSTED A YOUNG STUDENT FROM AUSTRALIA, JENNIFER MCCLURE FOR ONE YEAR, OUR OUT GOING STUDENT, HEIDI LAUKNER WAS HOSTED BY CLUBS IN GERMANY THIS SAME YEAR. IN 1991-1992 ROTARY FAMILIES HOSTED A YOUNG EXCHANGE STUDENT FROM JAPAN, YUKO FUMURO, ALSO SENDING A STUDENT, LUCY THOM TO AUSTRALIA THE SAME YEAR IN 1992 THE CLUB MEMBERS DECIDED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEAF STUDENT EXCHANGE AND ARE STILL INVOLVED IN THIS VERY WORTHWHILE PROJECT. THE CLUBS' FIRST DEAF EXCHANGE STUDENT WAS STEPHEN NICHOLSON 1992-1993. THE FIRST OUT GOING DEAF STUDENT, SALLY WALL, WAS HOSTED BY CLUBS IN AUSTRALIA 1993-1994. THE FOLLOWING YEARS-1994-1995 WE HOSTED LUIS SAVID BASALDUA FROM ARGENTINA OUR OUT GOING STUDENT WAS WENDY MCNUTT. 1995-1996 OUR OUT GOING STUDENT, BRENDA LUSSIER HOSTED BY CLUBS IN ARGENTINA. 1996-1997 OUR CLUB HOSTED, KATRIN MULLER FROM GERMANY AND OUR OUT GOING STUDENT, SALLY PHAIR HOSTED BY CLUBS IN GERMANY. 1997-1998 OUR OUT GOING STUDENT, ROCHELLE MCLAREN WILL BE HOSTED BY CLUBS IN FINLAND. COMMUNITY SERVICE WHILE THE SUPPORT OF INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS BY BRAMALEA ROTARIANS IS IMPRESSIVE, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE EFFORT, BOTH FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL, HAS BEEN DIRECTED TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. ONE OF THE EARLY PROGRAMS WAS THE BUILDING OF A WADING POOL IN EARNSCLIFFE PARK. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE CLUB TOOK ON THE MAJOR PROJECT OF SUPERVISING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CHINQUACOUSY CURLING CLUB. BRAMALEA ROTARIANS SUPPORTED THE PURCHASE OF A VEHICLE FOR THE RED CROSS, GAVE CHRISTMAS DONATIONS TO THE SALVATION ARMY, BUILT PARK BENCHES AND PROVIDED A PROJECTOR FOR THE LIBRARY. LOCAL YOUTH HAS RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM BRAMALEA ROTARY IN THE FORM OF NUMEROUS ACADEMIC AND VOCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS, DRAMA AWARDS, COUNTLESS APPEARANCES BY ROTARIANS AT CAREER DAYS AT VARIOUS SCHOOLS, A ROTARY BINDER PROGRAM, BAND INSTRUMENTS FOR A LOCAL SCHOOL, MANY PERSONAL COUNSELING SESSIONS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN SEARCH OF A CAREER, JOB SHADOW PROGRAMS, SUPPORT FOR HOCKEY, BASEBALL, SOFTBALL AND OTHER TEAM SPORTS. ADVENTURE IN CITIZENSHIP, A PROGRAM TO GIVE OUTSTANDING YOUNG CANADIANS AN INTRODUCTION TO THE POLITICAL PROCESS, AS WELL AS,ADVENTURE IN INDUSTRIALIZATION, A PROGRAM TO PROVIDE AN INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS, HAVE GIVEN LOCAL YOUTHS RARE AND VALUABLE INSIGHTS AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THEIR PEERS FROM ACROSS OUR NATION. RYLA, THE ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS PROGRAM HAS HELPED TO DEVELOPE CITIZENSHIP AND LEADERSHIP QUALITIES IN LOCAL YOUNG PEOPLE. STUDENTS WERE SENT TO THE WORLD STUDENT AFFAIRS SEMINAR IN MILWAUKEE, USA. THE ROTARY CLUB OF BRAMALEA HAS PROVIDED SUPPORT TO BOTH THE BIG BROTHERS AND SISTERS ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY. SENIOR CITIZENS HAVE BENEFITED BY THE SUPPORT OF THE ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET, THEATRE NIGHTS AND CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDING FOR THE KNIGHTSBRIDGE SENIOR CITIZENS CENTRE. THE LESS FORTUNATE IN OUR SOCIETY HAVE BEEN HELPED BY ROTARIANS' FUNDING OF SPEECH THERAPY AND REMEDIAL READING PROJECTS, RIDING PROGRAMS FOR THE HANDICAPPED, EMERGENCY HELP FOR FIRE VICTIMS, AS WELL AS, FOR THOSE NEEDING COSTLY MEDICAL HELP BEYOND THEIR FAMILY MEANS. PROJECT LIFELINE, ADMINISTERED BY PEEL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, WITH FINANCIAL AND MANAGERIAL SUPPORT FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF BRAMALEA WAS A MAJOR COMMUNITY PROJECT. WITH THE HELP OF AN ELECTRONIC ALARM SYSTEM, THE ELDERLY OR INFIRM PARTICIPANTS IN PROJECT LIFELINE HAVE THE OPTION OF REMAINING AT HOME, RATHER THAN BEING INSTITUTIONALIZED. THE CLUB SPENT IN EXCESS OF $125,000.00 TO HELP PROVIDE 140 SUBSCRIBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES PEACE OF MIND AND THE CONFIDENCE TO STAY IN FAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS. AN UNKNOWN, BUT VERY SIGNIFICANT SAVING TO TAXPAYERS HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY PROJECT LIFELINE, A PROGRAM WHICH IS HELPING TO REDUCE THE USE OF SCARCE AND EXPENSIVE HOSPITAL AND OTHER INSTITUTIONAL FACILITIES. BRAMALEA ROTARY CLUB ALSO SUPPORT THE SALVATION ARMY FOOD BANK, FUNDING FOR WALK-IN FREEZERS AND WALK-IN REFRIGERATOR, PROVIDE 5 SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN EAST BRAMPTON WITH RAY GIBSON SCHOLARSHIPS, A COMPLETE SET OF MECHANICS TOOLS ARE GIVEN TO A GRADUATE OF NORTH PARK SECONDARY SCHOOL UNDER THE ANNUAL TOOLS AWARD PROGRAM. D.A.R.E. IS A PROJECT THAT WAS STARTED BY THE BRAMALEA ROTARY CLUB IN THIS AREA AND NOW HAS GONE RIGHT ACROSS CANADA. THE CLUB PROVIDED A NEW COMPUTER FOR NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH, WE PARTICIPATE IN THE DREAM COME TRUE VISITS TO DISNEY WORLD, DONATE HAMS TO THE KNIGHTS TABEL AT CHRISTMAS. CITY OF BRAMPTON RECREATIONAL PATHS, PROVIDE MEDALS & T-SHIRTS FOR THE PEEL SKILLS COMPETITIONS AND PARTICIPATE IN THE BRAMPTON COMMUNITY LIVING BOWL-A-THON. DISTRICT ACTIVITIES IN 1973, WHILE STILL A YOUNG AND RELATIVELY SMALL CLUB, BRAMALEA ROTARIANS ORGANIZED AND HOSTED THE ROTARY DISTRICT 707 CONFERENCE. RAY GIBSON, OUR FIRST PRESIDENT AND THE LEADING INFLUENCE IN THE FOUNDING OF THE CLUB, HAD BEEN ELECTED TO SERVE AS DISTRICT GOVERNOR, A POSITION WHICH HE FILLED WITH GREAT DISTINCTION. EXACTLY 20 YEARS LATER, IN 1993 PAST PRESIDENT DR. TERRY PALMAY, WAS ELECTED TO SERVE AS DISTRICT GOVERNOR, AND ONCE AGAIN THE ROTARY CLUB OF BRAMALEA, WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE OTHER THREE ROTARY CLUBS IN BRAMPTON ORGANIZED AND HOSTED THE ROTARY DISTRICT 7080 CONFERENCE. BRAMALEA ROTARY CLUB HAS HOSTED THE DISTRICT SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND HAS TAKEN PART IN MANY OTHER DISTRICT AND TRI-CLUB AND QUAD-CLUB ACTIVITIES WITH OTHER AREA CLUBS. FUND RAISING TO GENERATE MONEY FOR PROJECTS, AND TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FELLOWSHIP, THE BRAMALEA ROTARIANS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS FUND RAISING PROJECTS. THESE ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN VARIED AND INTERESTING; A CIRCUS AT VICTORIA PARK, A CHOIR CONCERT, GALA NIGHTS, BEER GARDENS, TRIP RAFFLES, SALE OF ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS, THE COMPILING , PRODUCTION AND SALE OF A COOK BOOK, CHRISTMAS HAMS AND A GARAGE SALE. IN RECENT YEARS, BINGO HAS PROVIDED MOST OF THE INCOME. BRAMALEA ROTARIANS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN JOINT FUND RAISING PROJECTS WITH OTHER FUND RAISING ORGANIZATIONS. FOR MANY YEARS, A SKATE-A-THON, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CHINQUACOUSY MINOR HOCKEY ASSOCIATION WAS THE MAJOR ACTIVITY. AN ANNUAL "POOR BOY LUNCHEON" WAS ORGANIZED TO START THE FUND RAISING CAMPAIGN OF THE CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY IN OUR COMMUNITY. ROTARIANS AND MEMBERS OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBAS HELP TO PLAN AND STAFF THE ANNUAL POLAR CHILI OPEN GOLF TOURNAMENT FOR THE PEEL LUNG ASSOCIATION. IN THE YEARS 1988-1999 THE RAY GIBSON SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS FUND WAS SET UP . THIS FUND AWARDS $1000.00 EACH TO A NUMBER OF YOUNG STUDENTS. OUR LOBSTER PICNIC WAS ORGANIZED AND HOSTED BY RANDY KERMAN. RUSS BEGAN ORGANIZED OUR ROTARY QUAD CLUB GOLF TOURNAMENT. THE MEMBERS OF THE CLUB SOLD FLASHLIGHTS AT THE ANNUAL SANTA CLAUSE PARADE, FROM WHICH WE DONATED $1,200.00 TO THE ROTARY CLUB OF HEART LAKE FOR ITS BREAKFAST FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM. WE HOUSED AND HOSTED THE SOUTH AFRICAN RAINBOE TEAM FROM SOUTH AFRICA FOR ONE WEEK. WE ALSO ORGANIZED THEIR FAIRWELL BANQUET FOR THE DISTRICT. WE PARTICIPATED IN A BOOK AND COMPUTER DRIVE FOR SOUTH AFRICA AND ALSO DONATED $1000.00 TOWARDS THE SHIPMENT OF THE BOOKS. WE PURCHASED A SPECIAL SWIVEL CAR SEAT AT A COST OF $3,500.00, WE ARE CURRENTLY LEASING IT FOR $1.00 PER YEAR TO A NEEDY PERSON. DANNIE WILSON ORGANIZED A SPECIAL EVENING AT STAGE WEST. DAVE MCGREGOR ARGANIZED OUR ANNUAL RACE TRACK OUTING. iRVING fOX ORGANIZED A SPECIAL WEEKEND AT HIS COTTAGE. PEGGY PATCHETT ORGANIZED AND WAS OUR TEAM LEADER FOR THE AIR CANADA DREAMS TAKE FLIGHT PROJECT. WE DONATED A NUMBER OF HOCKEY TICKETS TO BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS AS WELL AS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. WE DONATED $550.00 TO RYLA FOR THEIR PROGRAM. WE DONATED $2000.00 FOR A SPECIAL POOL WHEEL CHAIR DEVICE. WE DONATED $1500.00 TO SALVATION ARMY CHRISTMAS FUND. WE CANVASSED DOOR TO DOOR FOR THE ANNUAL RED SHIELD APPEAL. WE DONATED NEARLY $5000.00 TO ROTARY INTERNATIONAL FOR THEIR IMPORTANT PROGRAMS. WE ORGANIZED THE ANNUAL SENIORS' PICNIC, HOSTING 850 SENIORS AT A COST OF $13,000.00.