Club Information

Proud to also serve Puslinch Township

Guelph South

Come together as strangers, work together as friends
,

We meet Thursdays at 7:30 AM
Springfield Golf & Country Club
2054 Gordon Street
Guelph, ON  N1L1G6
Canada
Email:
info@guelphsouthrotary.ca
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District Site
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Venue Map
 
President's Message

Debbie Allen

member photo
I am thrilled to be this years President of the Rotary Club of Guelph South!
 
Being part of this incredible group has been such a pleasure for me.  I never thought doing my part would be so much fun!  I have always been civic minded, but until I joined this group, I looked at it as my duty!   Now it is the best part of my life!   This group accomplishes so much for such a small group and they do so with joy and determination.   I hope to live up to their standards and am excited about the year ahead!
 
Home Page Stories
ARNOLD BOLLIGER
We are sad to report that one of our Rotarians – member Arnold Bolliger – passed away on Saturday February 29th.  Arnold starting visiting us in 2007 and finally became a Rotarian, joining our Rotary club as a youthful 75 year old, in February 2008. Arnold contributed to the club in so many ways, serving on a number of different committees including Membership and Rotary Foundation.  Arnold was surprised and pleased to be honoured by the club with a Paul Harris Fellow in 2016.  He had one of the best attendance records of any member, was never without a smile on his face, and was a prolific fundraiser for worthy causes and events supported by the club.  It will take some getting used to, to seeing his usual chair empty at weekly meetings at Springfield Golf & Country Club.
 
RIP Arnold – thank you for your service to Rotary and our Rotary club - you will be missed.
 
(A photo album has been created, showing Arnold as a Rotarian through the years – see the frame on the right hand side of the club website, and the photo carousel on the left hand side)
Annual Pasta Dinner 2020
 
The Annual Pasta Dinner is in the books for 2020. We had a great turn out yet again and the food was amazing. Lots of hard work went into this event, especially from the kitchen staff volunteers that put in a 14 hour day! It's always great to see such an enthusiastic group of attendees from the community and of course, to raise money for great community organizations like Sunrise Therapeutic Riding Centre.
CHEQUE PRESENTATION
Presenting local charities we have chosen to give our fundraising dollars to is always a highlight of some of our Breakfast Meetings.  
Rotary Celebrating 100 Years in Guelph!
 
Rotary is celebrating 100 years in Guelph in 2020! There are now 4 clubs in the city, including ours, that all do great work putting service above self. Here's to 100 more!
 
2019 HOLIDAYS SCHEDULE
Posted on Dec 24, 2019

Holidays Schedule
Due to the upcoming Christmas and New Years holidays we will not be holding our regular weekly breakfast meetings at Springfield as usual....      

Regular Weekly Breakfast Meetings at Springfield Golf & Country Club are being cancelled for the upcoming weeks:

       DECEMBER 26th 2019

       JANUARY 2nd 2020

 Watch our website for more information on the weekly programs being planned starting on January 9th 2020.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year....
From all of the members of the Rotary Club of Guelph South 

 

Read more...
2020 Volunteer Appreciation Brunch
We are now accepting nominations for the 2020 event.
 
10 organizations, 100 volunteers, $10,000 in donations. 
 
Please visit the website www.rotaryVAB.org and nominate a deserving organization.
 
World Polio Day
Every October 24th Rotary International brings awareness to its End Polio Now Campaign by having Flag Raising Ceremonies around the world.  Since 1985 Rotary has been inoculating children in every country in order to eradicate this disease.  Today the world is 99.9% polio free with only two countries left reporting cases.  
Read more...
Lutherwood Visits the Club
Carla from Lutherwood attended our meeting on October 3 to give us the run down on the employment services they offer to newcomers to Canada. They are doing great work to help people with training, networking, and other employment support in the Waterloo Region and Wellington County. 
 
 
An individual record for Tour de Guelph 
Charlie Barnes has ridden in tne Tour de Guelph several times and, each year, he manages to convince an enormous number of friends and family to sponsor his ride.
 
In June 2019, Charlie achieved a new record - the largest sponsorship amount ever collected by a single rider in the 6-year history of the Tour de Guelph.  Charlie collected $8,500 in sponsorships!
 
Congratulations - and sincere thanks - from all of us.
 
 
18th Anniversary!
Posted on Jul 31, 2019
July 31st 2019 marks the 18th anniversary of the chartering of Rotary Club of Guelph South (originally Rotary Club of Wellington South).  Our club – the newest of the 4 Guelph Rotary clubs – was sponsored by Rotary Club of Guelph-Trillium in order to service the growing south end of Guelph and neighbouring Puslinch Township. 
“Coming together as strangers, working together as friends”
The original group of 20 individuals, committed to Service Above Self, has grown and still counts 7 of the original Charter Members as members today. 
 
Charter President Bill Hammond + Presidents of the other 3 Guelph Rotary Clubs - 2001 Charter Celebration
The Charter Members plus Ralph Marziano (Rotary Club of Guelph-Trillium) - 2001 Charter Celebration
Our new Board of Directors 2019-2020
Welcome to our new Board of Directors for 2019-2020. They are (from left to right): Frank Oudesluys, David Turvey, Blaire Rennie, Hazel Dickie, Linda Craig, Peter Clark, Russ Powell, Linda Main and Debbie Allen.
 
 
2019-2020 ROTARY YEAR
Posted on Jul 01, 2019
July 1st marks the start of the new Rotary year, and that means a new President!  Deb Allen will lead our Rotary club for the next year, very much following the lead of Past President Linda Main whose term just ended and who had a most successful year.
2019 TOUR DE GUELPH
Posted on Jun 15, 2019
We meant it when we said this would be our biggest and best ride yet. We are announcing our BIGGEST Prize Promo yet for youth riders who fundraise!Guelph South Rotary member Bella Hodgkinson (a.k.a. Idabelle, a.k.a. Idie) has secured two children’s mountain bikes, courtesy of Canadian Tire Saskatoon East. 
 
Read more...
Camp Enterprise 2019 - Student visits club meeting
Matteo Furfaro, from Bishop Mac High School, was one of the Camp Enterprise students that attended the 2-day workshop at University of Waterloo in May.  He spoke to our members about his experience and of winning the team prize for best business model for a start-up organization. He told us that his biggest learning from this experience was the chance to be exposed to business leaders and how they manage complex business issues.
 
2019 Volunteer Appreciation Brunch
VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION BRUNCH
            The Rotary Club of Guelph South kicked off National Volunteer Week
With a Volunteer Appreciation Brunch at the Cutten Fields Club . One hundred volunteers from 10 local charities were recognized and honoured for their generous and dedicated hours of contribution to our community. Each charity also received $1,000. This years Recipients included Community of Hearts, Elderdogs, Foods4kids, Focus on Nature, My Kitty Café, Parish Nurse Program, Royal City Quilters, Rotaractors of U of G,
             The Seed and The Shoebox Project.  
Read more...
ROTARACTORS MAKE US PROUD
Posted on Mar 24, 2019
The University of Guelph's Rotaract Club held its annual Gala on March 2nd, and this year selected Food4Kids to be the beneficiary of the proceeds.
They attended our weekly meeting on March 21st to present $5,000 how amazing is that??
We are grateful to the Rotaractors for their support of this important project being championed in Guelph by the 4 Rotary Clubs.
 
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
Posted on Mar 21, 2019
We were thrilled to be able to formally induct 2 new members today: Martin Litchfield (sponsor Russ Powell) and Charlie Barnes (sponsor Linda Craig).  Both have a long tradition of volunteer service, and becoming Rotarians is a natural progression.
   (l-r: Russ Powell, Martin Litchfield, President Linda Main, Linda Craig, Charlie Barnes)
FOOD4KIDS GUELPH - New Website
Posted on Mar 10, 2019
We're pleased to announce that Food4Kids Guelph has received confirmation of its non-profit incorporation, and is in the process of getting its charitable status finalized.  This exciting news is accompanied by their new logo and new website www.food4kidsguelph.ca - we hope you'll check it out!
 
Tickets are still available for the April 2nd fundraiser breakfast being held at Cutten Fields.  Help us ensure that more kids have their weekend food needs met by attending the breakfast or making a donation.
 
 
 
FOOD4KIDS FUNDRAISER - April 2, 2019
Posted on Mar 25, 2019
Tickets are now available SOLD OUT for the upcoming fundraiser in support of the @Food4KidsWW program in Guelph-Wellington-Dufferin. Help the Rotary clubs in Guelph as they address the issue of the 1500-1800 children in local schools who experience severe food insecurity in their homes.  Thanks to everyone for their support!
Many local school children already benefit from weekday, in-school nourishment programs such as breakfasts, snacks and/or lunches that are available to all children in the school.  But for the children facing severe food insecurity at home, there is a serious gap in their access to food over weekends and during school holidays.  Local food banks and food pantries are not able to cover this gap adequately, despite their best efforts due to the inability of families to access the food they require.  When children are nourished consistently their opportunities for a better future increase and their health and well-being are positively affected. They feel like they belong in their environment, whether it is the school classroom, playground or in the greater community.
 
Join us for breakfast, donate a silent auction item or become an event sponsor....contact us for more information and THANK YOU!
MOST SUCCESSFUL PASTA DINNER EVER!
Posted on Feb 11, 2019
On February 8th 2019 we hosted our annual fundraiser to benefit Sunrise Therapeutic Riding & Learning Centre, along with other worthwhile Rotary projects. 
The sell-out crowd of 240 guests enjoyed delicious all-you-can eat food, fellowship, door prizes, raffles and a silent auction boasting a wide range of items to be bid on.
While final numbers aren't in yet it's looking as if net proceeds will exceed $9,000 - a record for this event.
We are so grateful to the table sponsors along with the donors of silent auction/raffle/door prize items.   
Their generosity went a long way towards making this event the huge success it was.
 
We used the event as an opportunity to make a $5,000 donation to Sunrise Therapeutic Riding & Learning Centre, along with a $2,800 donation to Childrens' Help for Uganda.
    
 
A photo album is on the club website home page (right side) along with a photo carousel (left side).  Thanks to the volunteers, sponsors, prize donors and especially our guests!
GivingThursday
Posted on Nov 30, 2018
Our Rotary meeting theme this week was "GivingThursday" and we spent it donating contents & packing 10 Christmas Gift Bags for @ChalmersCentre, which we do every year, along with something new this year - 5 shoeboxes for @ShoeboxGuelph #ShoeboxProject.  Great fun & felt good too!  
 
As usual our members enthusiastically participated, both with the donated goods and the packing of the gift packages.  Guest Nicole Greco jumped right in there as well, helping with the packing and taking left over donated goods to Hope House for us...thanks Nicole!
TOUR DE GUELPH FUNDS - NEW CT SCANNER
Posted on Oct 30, 2018

This week Guelph General Hospital had its official ribbon-cutting for its new CT Scanner. Marianne Walker, GGH president and CEO, said the machine will improve the quality of care, create increased efficiency and will save money.

The previous CT scanner was 13 years old and performed over 300,000 scans. It frequently broke down and need repairs. It will be refurbished and used in a developing country. A year ago the hospital put a new CT scanner at the top of its wish list.

Cost of just under $1 million was paid for primarily through donations and fundraising in the community, including the Tour de Guelph community cycling event.

Rotary Club of Guelph South President Linda Main represented the club at the ribbon cutting ceremony.

   

Thanks to everyone that supported Tour de Guelph, YOU were part of this too!

Club Leadership Team
President
Debbie Allen
President-Elect
Russell Powell
Past President
Linda Main
Secretary
Linda Main
Treasurer
Peter Clark
Club Service Chair
Linda Craig
Community Service Chair
Linda Craig
International Service Chair
Linda Craig
Vocational Service Chair
Russell Powell
Youth Service Chair
Hazel Dickie
Foundation Chair
Karen Curtis
Sergeant-at-Arms
Frank Oudesluys
Membership Chair
Russell Powell
Public Relations Chair
Brian Cowan
Director
Hazel Dickie
Director
Blaire Rennie
Director
David Turvey
Other
Ann Caine
PHOTO CAROUSEL: Rotarian Arnold Bolliger     (Apr 20,1932-Feb 29, 2020)
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Speakers
Diana Boal
Apr 09, 2020
Executive Director, Shelldale Family Gateway

Shelldale Family Gateway is a charitable organization that aims to enrich the quality of life for everyone it serves. They offer programs and support for individuals and families in over 30 languages. The Shelldale Centre in Guelph is a community hub for various services and organizations, providing an integrated service model through experienced staff and hundreds of dedicated volunteers. 

Shelldale Family Gateway is a provider of EarlyON programs (for ages 0-6)  through the County of Wellington, as well as specialized services through grants and donations designed specifically to support  the unique needs of children, youth, and families in Guelph’s Onward Willow neighbourhood.

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