Membership News Nov 16, 2025 (Nov. 16, 2025)

Next Meeting

At our next meeting on November 19, we’ll welcome recipients of the Buski Lakhani bursaries as they share their experiences volunteering abroad through medical brigades in Panama and Guatemala. It’s a great opportunity to hear firsthand how these initiatives support communities and develop young leaders.

Remember: our meetings are open to non-members too! If you have a friend who would like to participate, be sure to invite them.

For those who cannot attend in person, the Zoom login for the meeting is Meeting ID 780 222 3440 Passcode Mayfield

Last Meeting Recap

At our last meeting, we welcomed Crystal Thompson Kootenay, an inspiring speaker and proud member of the Alexander First Nation. A first-generation residential school survivor with an Indigenous Bachelor of Social Work and 13 years of sobriety, Crystal shared her powerful story of resilience and service.

She taught members how to smudge, spoke openly about her challenging childhood, and reflected on the experiences that shaped her into the leader she is today. Crystal also highlighted her work with Native Counselling Services of Alberta, particularly in housing support. The session was both meaningful and grounding for everyone who attended.

Operation Friendship Senior Society

We collected 75 pairs of socks for Operation Friendship Senior Society!
Thank you to everyone who donated and helped us support seniors in our community. Your generosity truly makes a difference.

Fork It Over 2026

Planning ‘Fork It Over’ (FIO) 2026 has now begun. Today, we have a few immediate questions for your consideration:

Dates: We are looking at May 2 or 9 and October 17. Please advise if there are any of these dates when you would not be available, and if there is one of these dates which is preferable.
Committee: Many hands make light work, and we are looking for committee members to help in the planning and organizing of this event. We have openings for committee chair, sponsorships, logistics, communications, auction, Brightview liaison, decorating...
Changes: If you have attended FIO in the past and have suggestions for improvement, please provide your comments.

To share your feedback, click here.

If you are new to the club, you are now asking, “What is FIO?”. FIO is our major fundraiser, a dinner and auction that generates $30,000 - $50,000. Early in 2025, we surveyed members to ask about the type and frequency of fundraising activities in which they would like to participate. The consensus was that FIO should be continued, but perhaps not yearly. Consequently, we launched FIO 2.0, which was basically a request for donations. Through this campaign, we raised $10,686, most of which is unrestricted. For 2026, based on the survey results, we will continue with the dinner and auction format.

Rotary connections that change lives!

During his recent visit to Uganda, Club President Arif had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Oscar Ogwang in Kampala.

Dr. Ogwang was supported by the Rotary Club of Edmonton Mayfield to travel to Edmonton for surgical training. Since completing his studies, he has been working with vulnerable populations in northern Uganda, continuing the spirit of service that Rotary inspires.

Through the connections he built in Canada, Dr. Ogwang was invited to join the Canadian Association for Global Health (CAGH) MentorNet Program, which pairs young professionals with Canadian mentors. He has also been invited to Brazil for additional surgical training, which he plans to undertake early next year.

Rotary connections continue to create global impact — one relationship at a time.

Upcoming Events

Brightview School Holiday Lunch – Volunteers Needed

Date: December 13, 2025
Time: 11:30 - 13:30
Location: Brightview School (15425–106 Avenue)

Our annual Holiday Lunch at Brightview School is coming up on Monday, December 15.

This event is a favourite for many of our members. It’s always heartwarming to see the festive smiles of the students and staff. If you can join us, come share in the joy and help us serve lunch. Don’t forget to wear your Rotary shirt!

Share Your Rotary Story!

Every Rotarian has a story, whether you are just starting your journey or have decades of experiences that have shaped your service and leadership. Your moments of connection, challenge, and purpose are what make Rotary truly extraordinary.

We invite all members to craft a Personal Expression Statement celebrating the impact Rotary has had in your life and the difference you’ve made through Rotary.

Your Task (200 words or less):

If you’re new to Rotary, reflect on your inspiration—your “why.”
If you’re a seasoned member, reflect on your journey: your first sparks of interest, experiences that shaped your growth, challenges that became opportunities, and your contributions to local and global communities.

Use this link to submit your story.

Your story matters, and this is your chance to capture your Rotary journey and inspire others!

How can we tell our story?

If you are working on a project or event or if you want to share your Rotary journey with others, we want to hear about it. And if you attend an event, take pictures or videos and send them to Victoria. We will use these for social media and bulletin posts.

Are you an established professional who wants to make positive changes in your community and the world? Our club members are dedicated people who share a passion for community service and friendship.

We invite you to join us at an upcoming meeting.