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Dryden Rotary

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Rotary Club Considering Launching ‘The Free Reading Program’

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The Rotary Club of Dryden is looking at launching ‘The Free Reading Program’ for students on their website.

Literacy Chair with the Rotary Club Lucille Ayers gave a presentation about the online program at the club’s virtual meeting on Wednesday.

‘Our executive has expressed interest in signing up as a host. ‘The Free Reading Program’ is a registered non profit organization that began 4 years ago as a pilot project of the Rotary Club of Scarborough.

The Rotary Club of Scarborough and ‘The Free Reading Program’ has helped upwards of 72 thousand of young readers since.

The program contains thousands of activities and Ayers explains the goal of the program.

“The program is free for students in reading levels K-6. It’s designed to supplement and reinforce fundamental reading skills. Students can gain access to it through a host rotary website.”

Ayers says a big advantage of the program is it’s free for rotary clubs to become a host of the program.

“All they require is the club’s logo. The club will receive branded portal access to the program with personalized pages and a link to the programs website, that can be posted on the club’s website.”

Ayers notes it can also be used by parents or those involved in literacy.

Several rotary members agreed the timing would be perfect, as many students are learning virtual this year due to COVID-19.

Next steps for the rotary club include promotion and gauging if there’s interest in the community to have this tool available on their website.

Ayers joined the Rotary club in December and has brought her passion for teaching and literacy, as she continues to volunteer at the Dryden Public Library.

The Free Reading Program was made to help address the immense need to impact literacy rates around the world and in communities.

To learn more about the Free Reading Program, watch the video below.

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Dryden Rotary Club Sends Congrats To 2020 Graduates

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The Rotary Club of Dryden would like to extend their congratulations to all the 2020 graduates from Dryden, Red Lake and Ignace high schools.

The Club says “Your work ethic, enthusiasm and juggling of schedules during this very challenging year has paid off. You have met this challenge with great success and should feel very proud of your accomplishments and adaptability.”

This year, thanks to the Dryden Rotary Charity Foundation, the Rotary Club of Dryden has donated 10 thousand dollars in scholarships to the 2020 graduating students.

Congratulations to the following winners:

Ignace High School:

A 1 thousand dollar bursary for Service Above Self was split three ways and awarded to Chloe Arbour, Jayna Ferrara, and Erica Pietila.

Red Lake District High School:

15 hundred dollars were awarded to both Isabella Maltais and Kyle Gelderland for the male and female student with the highest average in the Grade 12 graduating class.

Five hundred dollars each awarded to Reese Pattison and Wil Campbell for Service Above Self.

Dryden High School:

15 hundred dollars were awarded to both Tristan Stemkens-Mineault and Jessie Robinson for the male and female student with the highest average in the Grade 12 graduating class.

A 1 thousand dollar scholarship was awarded to Brooke MacKenzie, the DHS student chosen by the Rotary Club of Dryden to represent the Rotary Club, Dryden, and Canada as an International Ambassador during the upcoming academic year which unfortunately has been cancelled due to the pandemic.

5 hundred dollars each were awarded to Carter Loewen, Autumn Langford, Rachel Hart, and Nicholas Peters for Service Above Self.

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Healthy Food Programs A Hit At DFC In Dryden

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The Dryden Native Friendship Centre has become a leader in the community in providing kids with a healthy meal.

Executive Director Cheryl Edward talked about the importance of their Youth Nutrition Programs during a virtual Rotary Club meeting Wednesday.

“Kids in the Kitchen. Youth Food Boxes. Food Boxes Through the Schools and that’s within Open Roads, Dryden High School, that type of thing. And we also have weekend food boxes for some of our youth in these programs where food security is an issue.

Edward adds “We have Snack Corner here when we are open to the public. We do have fruits, vegetables and snacks available for anyone to pick-up.”

She notes they have individual programs for specific groups between the ages of 4 to 18 and all incorporate food and healthy snacks.

COVID-19 has forced the Native Friendship Centre to make some changes but Edward states they have been able to adjust.

Edward says one change saw staff buy goods to cook at home in order to host online classes for kids.

She says the the virtual teaching has been well received and they may continue the initiative once the pandemic clears.

Staff at the Centre have also been able to provide an average of 40-50 bagged lunches for families in need.

Edward stressed food security is a big issue in the population that they service and for some the NFC is the only resource that provides healthy food choices.

“Healthy foods are expensive and with food costs increasing many families resort to purchasing foods that are quick to prepare and less expensive. Unfortunately many of these foods are also not as healthy.”

Edward says a recent $2,500 donation from the Dryden Rotary Club has allowed them to provide healthy snacks and food for kids in our area.

She notes they always accept nutritious food donations and thanks everyone for their support.

The Dryden Native Friendship Centre also has a new phone number.

You can call 1-888-838-3632 for more information on NFC programming and services.

 

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Brazil Exchange Student Reflects On Time In Dryden

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A Rotary exchange student from Brazil is reflecting on her positive experience in Dryden and Canada as part of a year long exchange.

Loly Cartocci-Bazanelli reunited with Rotary members Wednesday in a virtual meeting.

Bazanelli stated she was able to enjoy a number of first time experiences including Trick or Treating, carving pumpkins, drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows, camping and swimming in a Canadian lake.

She also talked about what she studied when she was at Dryden High School.

“First semester I had literacy, drama, biology and leadership. The second semester I had math, chemistry, anthropology and English.”

Bazanelli says all of her host families were very welcoming and helped make her year enjoyable, even with the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Dryden Rotary Hosting Fundraising Breakfast

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A Canada Day tradition will continue in Dryden.

Dryden Rotary is organizing a contact free Pancake Breakfast Wednesday from 8:30am-11:00pm

Carl Eisener says the event is traditionally held at the Legion but it’s too difficult this year because of COVID-19 restrictions.

“The Native Friendship Centre. The kitchen is very close to the door and they have a drive thru parking lot where you can enter off of Queen Street and exit onto Van Horne and hopefully not tie up much traffic.

Eisener says “We are encouraging everyone to stay in their cars. To enter the parking lot at the Dryden Native Friendship Centre off of the Queen Street entrance.”

Volunteers will be there to collect your money and give you your breakfast.

For $6 you will get three pancakes, three sausages and a glass of orange juice.

All money stays in the community to support local projects.

Any left over food will be left at the Dryden Native Friendship Centre for their food programs.

To hear more from Carl Eisener, visit the Audio link below.

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Dryden Rotary Supporting School In Bangladesh

The Dryden Rotary Club’s support for the Amarok Society is showing results in the country of Bangladesh.

The club made donations to the organization which has led to a new “Dryden Rotary School” in Cox’s Bazaar in that country.

The school is situated in an area with very tiny slum dwellings but provides essential educational and literacy opportunities to mothers who become volunteer teachers for children.

Tanyss Munro provided an update to Rotary members Wednesday.

“Teachers will teach their class of 65 or 70 children for one hour. But the real teaching goes on in paid teaching after hours. And it’s called ‘Shadow Education.'”

Munro notes there are challenges as Bangladesh has a fair share of problems.

“For one thing it’s situated in the worlds largest delta. It might be beautiful but it sure is hard to not be flooded and they are subject to floods and to cyclones in a very big way.”

Munro notes the country has a higher population density than Canada.

“To get a sense of just how crowded it is. If you were to take the area between Ottawa and Windsor and go north as far as Algonquin Park. Put 170-million people. There we have Bangladesh.”

Cox's Bazar Dryden Wome… by Rayson Martyn on Scribd

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Dryden Rotary Steps Up To Help Still Me

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The Dragon Boats won’t be racing on the Wabigoon River this year but the generosity of the community never ends.

Dryden Rotary has made a $5,000 donation on behalf of the Kinsmen Club for the Still Me program at the Dryden Regional Health Centre.

Rotary member Mardi Plomp says it’s important to keep the fundraising for the critical cancer care program going.

“Alvin Saville who founded the Dragon Boat idea because his daughter Margaret had cancer 15 years ago. We thank him very much for the great idea and all the money that has been raised so far for the hospital.”

Plomp says the $5,000 is in memory of Margaret, who was a Rotary member and passed on from cancer.

The races have been a Canada Day tradition for the past 15 years but won’t be held this year because of COVID-19 restrictions.

Plomp says “We’re hoping that the other businesses and groups that have always taken part in the Dragon Boats and the people that have come to enjoy and watch the race would think of giving towards this so special cause.”

Dryden Kinsmen member Brad Coles says “Due to the situation that we are in with COVID we had to cancel it. And we we’re kind of concerned on how we would fund the program. Rotary has come through to at least give us some money towards the Still Me to keep it going for this year.”

Coles adds “Anybody who can contribute or can help out. That’s the people that have helped us out throughout the last 15 years doing the event. If it wasn’t for the sponsors, the teams, the participants and the people behind the scenes, we wouldn’t be able to put on the event.”

Timbermax, a regular participant on race day, has made a $1,000 donation.

Still Me was created from the concept that if a person living with cancer can be helped to look good, their improved self image will help them to approach cancer and it’s treatment with greater confidence.

To hear more from Mardi Plomp and Brad Coles, visit the Audio link below.

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Bees Important In Day To Day Life

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Dryden’s Ann Puddicombe says bees play an important part in the food supply and ecosystem in northwestern Ontario.

She made a virtual presentation to members of Dryden Rotary Wednesday.

Puddicombe says bumblebees are great pollinators and are necessary for many of the foods we enjoy in day to day life.

She notes bumblebees will only sting you if you seriously agitate them.

Puddicombe says there are various other bees in our area including honey, carpenter and leaf cutter bees.

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Audio: Dryden Rotary Hits $2-Million Mark In Bingo Donations

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Thanks to you $2-million has been raised since 2004/2005 through Dryden Rotary Radio Bingo on CKDR.

The club hit $1 million in 2014 and this new milestone was reached in about half that time.

Roger Gould says a number of local organizations have benefited as a result.

Major donations since 2004 include:

-Christmas Cheer including Dryden, Ignace, Ear Falls and Red Lake: $113,500
-Entertainment Series (Dryden and Red Lake): $71,034
-Dryden Food Bank: $122,500
-Scholarships including Dryden, Ignace and Red Lake: $127,500
-Dryden Regional Health Centre: $362,500
-Red Lake Margaret Cochenour Memorial Hospital: $85,850
-Meno Ya Win Health Centre in Sioux Lookout: $34,816
-Mary Berglund Health Centre in Ignace: $21,500
-Second Chance Pet Network: $19,450
-Tamarac House: $81,000

Sioux Lookout receives an amount proportionate to their annual card sales which they distribute based on the decision of their Rotary Club but based on Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario rules.

Some of their main charities receiving donations are the Sioux Lookout Out of the Cold program and books and a breakfast program for the Sioux North High School.

Roger Gould says even a shortened season didn’t slow them down.

“No matter what. We still had 21,015 cards sold this past year. Last year was 26,179 cards sold. So with everything that has happened with COVID we still did pretty good. Unfortunately we weren’t there for the people though.”

Normally there are 26 games a season and Rotary was able to host 21 games this season.

In ten years, card sales have gradually increased by over 7,000 per year.

Joanne Kusnick initiated Rotary Radio Bingo and she talks about they wanted to offer the service.

“We are good people who want to do good things for our communities and really for the world. If Rotary could help with this pandemic, we would be the first people up to bat to say what can we do. Rotary is all about giving back and helping your fellow man.”

Kusnick says they couldn’t reach the $2-million achievement without the ongoing support of vendors and all of those across the region who play.

“We’ve increased the players by ten-fold from 2004 until now. Everybody is supporting us because they see what we give back and how much we’ve achieved in helping our communities.”

Kusnick and Gould say the Rotary Club is anxious to once again offer Bingo every Thursday this Fall.

It requires at least 370 volunteer hours a season.

To hear more from Roger Gould and Joanne Kusnick, visit the Audio link below.

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Dryden Rotary Supporting Four Local Groups

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More funding is coming for area organizations and causes thanks to the Dryden Rotary Charity Foundation.

The Dryden Food Bank is seeing the biggest donation at $17,500 for their cargo van campaign as well as the purchase of food.

The Dryden Health Network is getting $10,000 to purchase defibrillators.

The Second Chance Pet Network is receiving $2,000 towards an animal incubator.

The Dryden Native Friendship Centre is getting $2,500 for their youth food programs.

The funds are made possible through Rotary Radio Bingo that broadcasts on CKDR.

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