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The Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup June 26th, 2021.

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Latest News:

David Daudi Laizer presented with the Paul Harris Award

Rotary Club of Willowdale is proud to have completed building three new classrooms at J. K. Nyerere Primary School.

The students are happy studying in their new classroom, at their new desks with lights on!

The students and teachers are very excited, and we are happy to continue with the construction of more classrooms during this summer of 2021.

Rotary Club of Willowdale is very proud of all the great people working on this project's success in Arusha, in Canada and other countries. A

special thanks to Fellow Rotarian Margaret with her family and friends, Fellow Rotarian Howard with his family and friends, and all Fellow Rotarian members contributing to this beautiful project. PEOPLE OF ACTION!

Click on this link to make donations to this project.

https://willowdalerotary.org/page/donate/

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Club President Notification:

One June 26th, 2021, Rotary Club of Willowdale held it's second virtual Turn Over event. Our President Stephen Phillips handed over the gavel to President Elect, Chungsen Leung. Rotary Club of Willowdale would like to extent it's utmost gratitude to all the members of the 2020-2021 Board of Directors. We are looking forward to a fantastic year and we await with great anticipation to meet our Fellow Rotarians in person again.

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KERALA

Computer project Phase 1 Completed!

Rotary Club of Willowdale is proud to have Fellow Rotarian Jobson lead this beautiful computer project for flood affected schools in Kerala, India.

Our Fellow Rotarian Jobson is happy and honoured to lead this project of re-building computer labs in Kerala, India schools which was washed away during the unprecedented flood in 2018. We are happy to announce completion of phase one. Jobson would like to thank his good friend

Anil Sankar

who was very instrumental on this idea and Sunil K Zachariah (Past Rotary Governor) for coordinating this project. Thank you to all donors and the Rotary Club of Willowdale, Canada for leading fund raising for this project. A sincere thanks to the Rotary Club of kalamassery and Rajagiri the reach/college of social sciences for executing and effectively administering this project.

The first phase is done, and the computers were delivered and received with great celebration!

PEOPLE OF ACTION!

THE GRATITUDE GARDENS:

Rotary Club of Willowdale is proud of this beautiful project led by our Fellow Rotarian Heather.

The Gratitude Gardens is a project dedicated to all the frontline workers during this COVID-19 pandemic.

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Join our Weekly Zoom meeting on Thursdays at 12:30 PM:

Meeting ID: 897 1020 3405

Passcode: 468311

Note: On the last Thursday of the month meeting is at 6:30 pm.

Evening Meeting ID:

817 0871 4166

Passcode: 593698

President Chungsen (C. S.) Leung

Jul 08, 2021 12:30 PM

Business/planning meeting

Effion Whyte, R.C. Kingston, Jamaica

Jul 15, 2021 12:30 PM

"Eyes on the Prize"

Stephen Baker

Jul 22, 2021 12:30 PM

Malaria in Columbia

Feel free to also invite a guest, either it be friend, someone from work, or a family member to our weekly Zoom meetings.

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Now that you’re equipped with an understanding of DEI, it’s time to consider the culture you want to create — ideally, it’s one that’s authentic to your brand and meets the needs of your community.

Make inclusivity a core part of what you do rather than just a one-time effort. You may have members who find the changes you’re making difficult, so it’s important to remember the values those changes are based on.

Planning for an Inclusive Future* 29 July, 11:00AM, CT Register Now:

https://rotary-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ifIEI5qIRxSE715hFT3vdg

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The Rotary Foundation Major Donor Crystal was created in recognition of Carol Barney. On the left side is engraved “Carol Melba Barney”

On the right side “The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International “.

This is a very beautiful piece of artwork and accompanies the Major Donor pins presented by the Rotary Foundation to Carol and Vern Barney.

Carol is Happy!

Welcome to our Club!

Service Above Self

We meet In Person

Thursdays at 12:30 PM

We meet weekly using Zoom
Willowdale, ON
Canada

District Site

Venue Map

Paul Harris Award Presented to David Daudi Laizer & Doug Dempsey Literacy Award Presented to Rotary Club of Willowdale

The Rotary Club of Willowdale honoured David Daudi Laizer with a Paul Harris Award, for his magnificent work at the J.K. Nyerere Primary school in Arusha, Tanzania. The Rotary Club of Willowdale recognizes that this ongoing, amazing project has been successful with the kind help of David Daudi Laizer, Margaret Adat and Riyaz Adat, without whom the project would never have got off the ground and developed into the ongoing and growing project so close to our hearts today.

Indeed a project recognized and honoured by our Rotary colleagues in District 7070. At the district year end celebration, the club was awarded the Doug Dempsey Literacy Award for our work with the J. K. Nyerere Primary School in Arusha Tanzania. The District 7070 award is due to the great work of our Fellow Rotarian Margaret Adat. Her great team is joined by her husband Riyaz Adat, David Daudi Laizer, Ms Mlay and the Rotary Club of Willowdale.

David was surprised with this beautiful video produced by Riyaz. David was thrilled! Here is his response:

“I would like to thank all members of Rotary Club for your appreciation and for trusting me to be your representative to

J. K. Nyerere Primary School. I know that it was not easy for you to believe and to trust on that. I thank you a lot. may all mighty bless the work of your hands”

We are very proud of this project and of the awards presented to David, Margaret and the Rotary Club of Willowdale.

Past President Stephen Phillips

Rotary Club of Willowdale would like to extent it's utmost gratitude for all the great contributions we received in 2020-2021. We are at the end of another Rotary year, and It was an honour to serve you as President. I am handing over the GAVEL to our President Elect Chungsen Leung.

Thank you everybody for a beautiful Virtual Turn Over meeting on June 26th, 2021. This was our second one, and I sincerely hope we will have the next one in person with all our Fellow Rotarians.

It's an understatement to mention that it was a very tough year for many! The Pandemic was a big lesson for all of us. The Rotary Club of Willowdale suffered the loss of great members and partners. Jan, Deborah and Carol, we will miss you forever!

Despite it all, people contributed to our projects, and for that we are grateful. Because of your kind donations, our projects were successful and made a significant difference in the life of many in Canada and abroad.

Thank you for contributing to: our Ham & Cheese project benefiting North York Salvation Army, our first Rotary Foundation Virtual Walk, our Food Bank benefiting North York Harvest Food Bank, The Phillips House project at the North York General Hospital, The Arusha School project in Tanzania Africa, The Kerala Schools Project in India -- offering computers to 15 schools in 4 districts, our Gratitude Garden project honouring our front line workers, SMILES benefiting locals and people in the Dominican Republic, and many more projects we are proud of.

I have no doubt that our projects will continue to be successful in the very capable hands of our magnificent team and new board members. Thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity to serve you, and a big thank to my family for all the great support during this past unprecedented year. Service Above All!

Welcome to our new President and Board 2021-2022

One June 26th, 2021, Rotary Club of Willowdale held it's second virtual Turn Over event.

Our President Stephen Phillips handed over the gavel to President Elect, Chungsen Leung.

We welcome our new President Chungsen Leung and his Board of Directors 2021-2022:

President

President-Elect

Secretary

Treasurer

Past President

Community Service

International Service

Foundation Chair

Membership Chair

Fundraising Chair

Club Administration

Assistant Treasurer

Public Imaging-Web Master

Uka Marchena

We are looking forward to continue navigating these special times we are living in, and we are counting on your support to continue with the good work. Our projects are important to our local communities as well as abroad.

Our committees are all set to go and our legacy projects are in good hands.

Working Committees:

Fund Raising	Heather Graeme (Chair/Coordinator) Jobson Easow Margaret Adat John Simpson (Ham & Cheese)
Speakers	Al Warren (Chair/Coordinator) Bill King Peter Vanek
International/Community Projects	Jobson Easow (Chair/Coordinator) Margaret Adat Heather Graeme
Environmental Initiatives	Stephen Philips (Chair/Coordinator) Chungsen Leung
Technical Support (Virtual Meetings)	Al Warren

Legacy Projects:

Arusha, Tanzania - Margaret Adat

Kerela, India - Jobson Easow

Salvation Army (Literacy & Christmas Luncheon) - Dae-Gun Kim

Gratitude Garden - Heather Graeme

Scouts Peace Award (new) - Heather Graeme

Tree Planting (environmental) - Stephen Philips

Water Projects - Peter Vanek

70^th Anniversary Celebration - Bill King (Coordinator) Stephen Philips

Thank you to our outgoing Board of Directors 2020-2021:

President

President-Elect

Secretary

Treasurer

Past President

Community Service

International Service

Foundation Chair

Membership Chair

Fundraising Chair

Club Administration

Assistant Treasurer

Public Relations

Successful Tree Give Away Project 2021

We are grateful to look back at a successful 2021 Tree Give Away event with our partner Bayview Village Association.

Thank you Heather and David for representing the Rotary Club of Willowdale during this event.

The Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup Was Awesome!

Our Rotary Club of Willowdale had a great end of the year event to close with.

The Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup project was part of the District 7070 district conference last June 26th, 2021, and our members enjoyed making a difference in our environment.

Always in Our Hearts

ALWAYS IN OUR HEARTS Jan, Deborah and Carol.

Missing you big time! 2020-2021 was a tough one!

Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup June 26th 2021

JOIN THE ROTARY CLUB OF WILLOWDALE GREAT LAKES WATERSHED CLEANUP TEAM. The more the merrier! Saturday 26th June 14.00 – 17.00 hrs. This will be the final activity of the Rotary year 20/21. Location: East Don Parkland on Cummer where the Don River crosses under the road. Call us and join as a volunteer on our team.

J. K. Nyerere Primary School - Textbooks For All

For the first time ever the students of J. K. Nyerere Primary School now have text books for all standards and all subjects thanks to a very generous donor to the Rotary Club of Willowdale. Thank you to this generous soul.

Click on this link to watch video.

https://www.facebook.com/jknyerereprimaryschool/videos/1737902863037750

Rotary Club of Willowdale is very proud of all the great people working on this project's success in Arusha, in Canada and other countries. A special thanks to Fellow Rotarian Margaret with her family and friends, Fellow Rotarian Howard with his family and friends, and all Fellow Rotarian members contributing to this beautiful project. PEOPLE OF ACTION!

Click on this link to make donations to this project.

https://willowdalerotary.org/page/donate/

Tree Give Away Event of Bayview Village Association & Rotary Club of Willowdale

The Rotary Club of Willowdale is proud to be part of this magnificent TREE GIVE AWAY project led by Bayview Village Association. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the pick up date and time was postponed. A new date is yet to be determined.

Bayview Village Association & Willowdale Rotary Club Tree...

Gratitude Gardens Project on the Radio

Rotary Club of Willowdale's Gratitide Gardens project dedicated to the frontline workers, was featured on CBC Radio One in the Metro Morning show.

CBC's Mary Wiens interviewed Heather Graeme, the project leader, together with very exited frontline workers. Thank you to everybody for making this project a success. Your donation to continue creating Gratitude Gardens is highly appreciated.

Please visit our donation page on our website.

https://www.facebook.com/RotaryClubOfWillowdale/videos/386086342523527

BVA News Featuring Gratitude Gardens

BVA News featured the Gratitude Gardens project of the Rotary Club of Willowdale.

https://www.bayviewvillage.org/p/BVA-News/article/Gratitude-Gardens-at-North-York-General-2117501841

New Books - Happy Kids in Arusha

New Books - Happy Kids!

The students at the J. K. Nyerere Primary School in Arusha, Tanzania, are enjoying their new books donated by the Rotary Club of Willowdale in North York, Ontario, Canada.

This is the first time in the history of the school that there are adequate text books for every subject and every standard/grade. Many thanks to a generous friend of the Rotary Club of Willowdale who made this happen.

Your support is always appreciated. Many thanks to all our friends and all that kindly supports Rotary Club of Willowdale's projects. Many thanks to Riyaz and Margaret for putting together this beautiful video.

Please click on this link to watch the video.

https://fb.watch/5k0ZZoskjy/

2021 Virtual Convention

Be There!

Posted by Rotary District 7070 on Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Enjoy The Construction Progress of 3 New Classrooms for J. K. Nyerere Primary School in Arusha, Tanzania

And The Great Work Continues!

Click on the following link and watch the construction progress.

https://fb.watch/5440V_UGUr/

First time adequate text books for every subject and every standard/grade

This is the first time in the history of the J. K. Nyerere Primary School, that there are adequate text books for every subject and every standard/grade.

Many thanks to a generous friend of the Rotary Club of Willowdale who made this happen.

Click on the link below to enjoy the video of the arrival of the books.

https://fb.watch/545yWNcOGB/

The Gratitude Gardens Are In Bloom!

It is the wish of The Rotary Club of Willowdale, that all the frontline workers are smiling and feeling happy with the Gratitude Gardens blooming around their work places in North York. The Covid-19 pandemic brought a lot of hardship and sadness to the World. Our wish is to give hope through nature and feel that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

In the fall of 2020, led by our fellow Rotarian Heather Graeme, the Rotary Club of Willowdale created the Gratitude Gardens in the area of Leslie and Sheppard Avenues, and in the Maddie's Healing Garden at the Phillips House located at North York General Hospital.

Our wish is to bring cheer in the Spring of 2021 and beyond. The idea is to remind us of the dedication of all frontline workers in our community. Bringing cheer to all medical staff and essential workers in these stressful times, is something that is close to our hearts.

Rotary Club of Willowdale, with the help of Rotaract Club of Willowdale, planted narcissus bulbs in the fall of 2020 to bring some colour and cheer to those who have been in the frontline of the pandemic for more than a year. 300 bulbs were planted at Philipps House, part of NYGH. 1200 bulbs were planted at the medical building at 1333, Sheppard Avenue East.

This project was possible from donations made by the community and the Rotary family. All funds raised go back to community projects. Please support this project to show our gratitude.

You can still donate to this beautiful project and help us create more gardens around our community. Please go on our Donation page, and contribute by clicking on General Option and after filling in your details write in the comment box For The Gratitude Gardens. You can also go to this link: https://willowdalerotary.org/page/donate/

Thanks to The NYGH Hospital Foundation and Northwest Properties for partnering with us in this project.

THE BOOKS ARE IN!

For the first time ever the students of J. K. Nyerere Primary School now have text books for all standards and all subjects thanks to a very generous donor to the Rotary Club of Willowdale.

Rotary a Club of Willowdale is very proud of all the great people working on this project's success in Arusha, in Canada and many other countries around the World.

Click on the following link to watch the beautiful video made especially for us to enjoy the arrival of the books.

https://fb.watch/4IpbAt_Dqg/

Two Extra Classrooms Completed at Arusha School

Two classrooms are now complete thanks to the generosity of the members, friends and family of the Rotary Club of Willowdale.
Posted by JK Nyerere Primary School on Saturday, March 20, 2021

KERALA SCHOOLS PROJECT IN INDIA

Rotary Club of Willowdale is happy to be part of the Kerala Schools Project in India.

A beautiful project of over $29,000 CAD: Computers for 15 flood affected schools to help rebuild their IT labs.

This project is lead by our fellow Rotarian Jobson Easow. With the help of many kind people in Canada and abroad, this project completed it's first phase by delivering the first computers to the schools that were affected by the devastating floods in Kerala, India.

In 2019 a committee was formed at the Rotary Club of Willowdale in Canada, to start a project to re-build computer labs in 15 schools in Kerala. A fundraising event was organized and got commitment/support from 7 clubs. Many meetings were conducted between Willowdale and Indian Rotary club. The project applied for RI grant but was not successful, and the team decided to do this project in 3 phases. We are also thankful that in 2020 Kerala Rotary partner up with Rajagiri outreach in India, and the first schools are well equipped now to start rebuilding their IT labs. The Fundraising event in Canada in 2019, organized by Rotary Club of Willowdale's Jobson Easow, raised $29,000 CA. The Kalamassery Rotary Club added $2,000 US to the project. in early 2021, the first phase of this 3 part project was delivered to the first 8 schools in Kerala.

This IT lab infrastructure support project will allow 15 Kerala schools to get connected again.

Kerala is a small coastal state at the southern tip of India and was an idyllic tourist paradise until it was ravaged by unprecedented floods. The fury and ferocity of the rain and resulting floods was devastating for Kerala. The last time a flood of this magnitude occurred was in 1924.

The current floods could be described as the ‘flood of the century’ and it claimed almost 500 lives. The floods have caused immeasurable misery and suffering for the people of Kerala and the scale of destruction and devastation in Kerala is massive. Entire villages have been evacuated and bridges, roads and other infrastructure have been completely destroyed. Over a million people were displaced and it will set Kerala back by decades, at least two according to experts. The damage is estimated in the range of USD 6 to 10 billion. More than 25,000 kilometres of roads along with over 200 bridges have been destroyed or damaged, while estimates of the number of houses to be rebuilt vary from 50,000 to 100,000.

Tourism and agriculture sectors in the state have been badly affected. Needless to say, many people have lost their livelihoods. It is estimated that over 3 million people have lost their livelihood. Several medical facilities in the state have been damaged and health authorities are concerned about the risk of communicable diseases as the flood water recedes.

Rotary Club Willowdale (Canada) with the help of Rotary Club Kalamassery (Kerala) had undertaken the initiative to re-build computer labs in 15 schools of 4 districts in 3 phases.

Happy to report that the Phase 1 of this project is completed. The first 8 schools received their IT lab equipment in early 2021. Awesome job everybody!

Gratitude Gardens 2020-2021

GREAT NEWS FROM ARUSHA SCHOOL IN TANZANIA AFRICA

GREAT NEWS FROM ARUSHA SCHOOL

Winter Issue Feb 2021

J.K. NYERERE SCHOOL, ARUSHA TANZANIA

This project began by chance when a fellow Rotarian, Margaret Adat, took a family trip to Tanzania in 2007. As a family, they decided to donate to a local school, J.K. Nyerere Primary School. What happened next is a testament to the results people can achieve when they live and follow Service Above Self, one of Rotary’s two mottoes.

Picture: Crowded classrooms, shortage of books

Picture: Semi-completed classrooms

Pictures: Construction currently underway to build additional classroom

The Adat family did donate to J.K. Nyerere Primary School nearly 14 years ago. And the impact that visit had on them inspired them to ask friends, family, colleagues, community members and the Rotary Club of Willowdale to support students, teachers and the infrastructure of a once neglected school.

The impact that our club has made in thousands of students and family’s lives in Arusha is nothing short of incredible. Since 2013, the Rotary Club of Willowdale has raised over $100,000 in support of J.K. Nyerere Primary School. Some recent initiatives include:

· Completing the construction of 3 classrooms due to overcrowding

· Adding another water tank to provide adequate water

· Ongoing repairs, including painting and purchasing supplies (desks, blackboards, etc.)

· Finishing the construction of the teacher’s residence to improve the school’s security

· Feeding students during national examinations (Standard 4 and Standard 7)

During the most recent Standard 7, the entrance examination for secondary school, 99% of students from J.K Nyerere Primary School passed. The school is now ranked 36th in the school district, a leap forward from it’s previous ranking of 69th, and a clear indication that our efforts are making a difference.

Feeding grade 7 students during naTonal examination period.

Rotary Club of Willowdale is very proud of this project and would like to thank our fellow Rotarian Margaret Adat and family for leading this project since 2013 in an extraordinary manner. SERVICE ABOVE SELF!

Enjoy the J.K. Nyerere Primary School in Arusha video, and get inspired to help us keep their students' dreams alive.

Go to our Donate button on our home page and contribute to this beautiful project.

The students aspirations

SMILES FOUNDATION RECOGNITION

ROTARY CLUB OF WILLOWDALE RECOGNIZED BY SMILES FOUNDATION

In a kind letter directed to our club's President, the SMILES Foundation recognized our Rotary Club of Willowdale for its contribution in 2020. Our club donated to SMILES Foundation for many years, and we are very proud to be considered a valued partner in their annual projects.

Highlights of Letter from SMILES Foundation to Rotary Club of Willowdale:

I wanted to personally reach out and express our gratitude for your generous donation in 2020. Your support has helped us continue the very important work with the less fortunate in the Dominican Republic.
We have attached your 2020 Donor Recognition certificate that we hope you will print and proudly display in your office.
As the world continues to go through unprecedented and challenging times, Smiles Foundation strives to keep up our operations in the Dominican Republic in the midst of the pandemic.
I hope that together we can continue and make a difference shaping this world into a better place for everyone. Thank you for your partnership... ...and your invaluable effort to better our humanity.
SUE RAINVILLE (she/her)
Director of Donor Relations and Communications

Over 38 Thousand Dollars Donated to NYG Foundation for The Phillips House & Maddie's Healing Garden

THANK YOU! Jan would be proud.

Over 38 thousand Canadian Dollars was recently presented to North York General Foundation for The Phillips House and Maddie's Healing Garden. A total of $36,165 plus $2,289 was raised, which last amount was directly send by kind people honouring Jan Siegel's wish for her funeral to donate to NYGH Foundation. The funds were raised within various Rotary clubs of district 7070 and private sector. This facility is the home of North York General Hospital's child and adolescent outpatient mental health program. Our beloved Immediate Past President Janis D. Siegel started this project in 2019. Jan passed away in July of 2020 after a courageous fight with cancer. The Phillips House project and the cheque ceremony was dedicated to Janis, honouring her great work and dedication to this project and many others.

In 2019 the Rotary Club of Willowdale, together with Rotary Club of North York and Rotary Club of York, presented this beautiful fundraising project to the Rotary District 7070, and many clubs joined to make this project a reality.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the planned Celebrity Dinner event could not take place on November 6th, 2020. A heartfelt and touching virtual cheque ceremony took place with just a few people outside of The Phillips House and many others from District 7070 joined via Zoom.