Next Meeting  - Nov 5

At our next meeting, we’ll welcome Crystal Thompson Kootenay, an inspiring speaker and proud member of the Alexander First Nation. A first-generation residential school survivor, Crystal holds an Indigenous Bachelor of Social Work and celebrates 13 years of sobriety, a journey that has shaped her into a compassionate leader and advocate for healing.

As a Program Manager with Native Counselling Services of Alberta, Crystal leads Indigenous-led, recovery-oriented initiatives that focus on community well-being. Her remarkable contributions have been recognized with the King Charles III Coronation Medal and the Rotary Integrity Award.

Rooted in Cree teachings, Crystal shares wisdom grounded in kindness, love, and acceptance, inspiring others to walk their own path of resilience and service.

This will be an inspiring and thought-provoking session. We encourage you to attend and invite others who may be interested.

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 had the pleasure of hearing from Libby Weir, Chair of the District Rotary Foundation. Libby shared meaningful insights about how the Foundation turns our club’s contributions into real, lasting change, both in our local communities and around the world.

The Rotary Foundation is the charitable arm of Rotary International, funding projects that promote health, education, environmental protection, poverty reduction, peacebuilding, and disaster relief. It is powered entirely by the generosity of Rotarians and friends who believe in building a better, more peaceful world.

We had 18 people in attendance and were happy to welcome a visiting Rotarian from the Rotary Club of Sri Ganganagar. 

Member Spotlight

Past President Mike Brandingen has rejoined Rotary, this time with the IMPACT Club!

Mike was an active member of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Mayfield from 2000 to 2022, serving as Club President and leading countless service and fundraising projects. Many will remember his legendary “Bayou BBQ for 12,” a fan-favourite auction item that raised big dollars for great causes year after year.

After some time away (and a few life changes), Mike has found his Rotary home again through IMPACT’s flexible, action-focused format.

Welcome back, Mike! We’re thrilled to have you with us again.

Pints for Polio

Thanks to everyone who came out to Odd Company Brewing to share a pint (or two) for a great cause! Every beer poured supports Rotary’s mission to end polio worldwide, and with the Gates Foundation matching every dollar three times, your impact goes even further. 

We’re so grateful for the energy, laughter, and support. It’s always inspiring to see what we can achieve together.

Sophia's letter

Sophia is a bright student our club is proud to sponsor through HEAL International, as she pursues her Bachelor of Science (Education) at Mountains of the Moon University in Fort Portal, Uganda.

Her journey is especially meaningful because Sophia graduated from St. Lawrence Secondary School, a school our club helped build in 2017. Now, she’s building her own future through education.

She recently shared a heartfelt letter about how this support is changing her life. This is a powerful reminder of the real impact your contributions make. 

Upcoming Events

Lead with Seeds Fall Fundraiser

Date: November 6, 2025
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Blue Chair Café

Last call to join the Lead with Seeds fundraiser. If you’d like to reserve your tickets, please send your e-transfer directly to Susan at susan.slabyj@gmail.com. Don’t miss this chance to support an incredible cause and enjoy a great evening together!

Inclusion Alberta’s Annual Breakfast Fundraiser

Date: November 19, 2025
Time: 7:30 – 8:30 a.m.
Location: Edmonton Inn & Conference Centre

Inclusion Alberta’s Changing Lives, Changing Communities annual breakfast fundraiser is coming up soon, and all are invited to take part in this meaningful event.

This inspiring morning brings together community allies to help raise both awareness and funds in support of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

Members and friends are encouraged to attend and consider becoming Table Captains, inviting others from their networks to join them. A Table Captain Kickoff will also be held online on October 22 (12:00–1:00 p.m.) to share more details and responsibilities.

You can find an invitation with full details here.

Get to Know Rotary 

The Edmonton Sunrise Rotary Club has tentatively booked the private room at P.F. Chang’s (6303 Currents Dr NW, Edmonton) to host a Rotary Information Evening on November 20, 2025.

They’ll also be collecting food donations for the Edmonton Veterans Association. Tickets are $20 + GST, with a cash bar available.

The District will have an information table at the event, and we are invited to host a table as well. Please bring your ideas to our next meeting so we can discuss if we’d like to participate.

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.