We have had Julio Grazioso speak to our club last year and it was great to hear his update regarding the WASH programs. He has been a very involved Rotarian for many years and his dedication to improving the lives of people in Guatemala is so impactful. We head about the importance of having proper washroom facilities and how water is being made more available through solar energy as well. Great presentation!
Monday March 9th is our Annual Great Student Awards event. We are holding the event at the Grande so enter from Main St. Start time is noon. So looking forward to hearing about the students from around our community that have been chosen to receive the award this year. It is definitely a high-light of our program to meet these incredible young people and hope they go on to inspire the “Service Above Self” to others for many years to come!
Our Youth Exchange student, Tala Woodhouse, will be there as well. She will be going to Taiwan for her exchange and we should be hearing about the incoming exchange student in the next few weeks. Please think about being a host family for the exchange program - if you can open your home for 3 months to host an exchange student, please let either Bill Hagborg, Gisele Lynch or myself know. This is one of Rotary's best programs and in order to make it successful, we do need host families for the incoming students. The experience will be such a benefit to both you and the student. ____________________________________________________________________________________
March 16 meeting will be an offsite meeting to visit the HANDS autism services office for a tour of the new youth lounge that our club supported. A light lunch will be offered. Please note the address shown below.
NAME TAGS…..as announced via email and in previous bulletins, we should all have our name tags on for the meetings and when we are representing Rotary in the community. There will be a storage box for name tags so if you wish to keep it in the Map Room, we can do that. Please let Jeff Celentano know if you are missing your name tag and need to order one or just want to have a second one to keep in the car with you….. please do wear your name tag to all meetings!
The board will be meeting to review budget items for next year so it is important to all committee chairs/directors to ensure that you let President Jeff know as soon as possible what your committee plans are for spending for next year so we can put it into the budget lines. If a committee does not have a budget submitted then the board can only assume there will be no funds needed for that committee. If you have any questions or need any guidance in putting together your budget request/needs, please do ask your Director or President Jeff. The deadline for submitting your budget to President Jeff is March 19th.
Our friends at the Nipissing Club have extended an invitation to us for a few events they have planned. Please take a look at what they have planned and if you wish to join, please contact as per below.
There's something for everyone!
1. Maple Syrup Tapping Experience
Tentative Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 Meeting Time: 1:00 PM Meeting Location: Tim Hortons – Seymour St, North Bay, ON. Participants will gather at the above location and travel together to the maple tapping site near Birch Hill Rd, Corbeil, ON P0H. Approximate Hiking Distance: 2.5 km Estimated Total Duration (including travel): Approximately 2.5 hours
This event offers a hands-on educational experience celebrating a significant Canadian seasonal tradition. It provides an excellent opportunity for experiential learning, outdoor engagement, and team bonding. We are hopeful for favorable early spring weather conditions to enhance the experience, and weather updates will be monitored closer to the event to ensure participant comfort and safety.
2. Nature Hiking
Tentative Date: Wednesday, March 23, 2026 (to be confirmed) Meeting Time: 10:00 AM (or update if you prefer another time) Location: Laurier Woods Secondary Access. 729 Laurier Ave, North Bay, ON P1B 1V4 Approximate Hiking Distance: 2.5 km Estimated Duration: 75–90 minutes (approximately 1.5 hours)
This guided outdoor activity is intended to promote wellness, mindfulness, and connection with nature. It will encourage informal dialogue, physical activity, and member interaction in a relaxed outdoor setting. Weather conditions will be reviewed closer to the date, and any necessary updates will be communicated to participants. I will update you as details about the Nature Hike are confirmed.
3. Pickleball Night
Date: To Be Confirmed Time: To Be Confirmed Location: To Be Confirmed Estimated Duration: Approximately 90 minutes (1.5 hours)
This indoor recreational evening will focus on active participation, inclusivity, and friendly competition while strengthening camaraderie among members. I will update you as additional details about the Pickleball Night are available.
These events reflect our commitment to balanced programming that blends education, wellness, recreation, and community spirit within our club community.
President Jeff sent out an email regarding an opportunity for our club to make a meaningful impact in our community. This is the 10th annual menstrual hygiene campaign. Please help out by bringing to our meetings for the next few weeks the following:
Financial donations are also appreciated as if there is a shortage in an area, the donations will go to fill that void. There is a challenge issued to the Nipissing Club so will be interesting to see which club collects the most number of items! Thank you to our member, Tamika Daniels, for bringing this great opportunity to our club. Your support will directly help people in our community—whether they are living in poverty, fleeing domestic violence, or simply don’t have access to hygiene products. Let’s see what we can accomplish together!
Two committees are looking for members to help out. We have started up the Peace Committee (we have a Peace Pole in the Rotary Garden) and Mukti Suvedi has agreed to chair the committee. If you would like to learn more/join this committee, please reach out to Mukti.
The Bingo committee is in need of a member or two that can spare 2-3 hours on about 4 Thursday mornings in a 4 month period to deliver Bingo envelopes to a number of retailers in North Bay. We do sell the Bingo game envelopes through retailers so being able to deliver them is the only way we earn income from the Bingo. If you are able to help out, please let Jeff Serran (Bingo Chair) or Bill Guilfoyle (Avenue Director) know.
