Club Executives & Directors
President
Jason Van Stiphout
President Elect
Steve Kay
Vice President
Amy Barney
Secretary
Lynda Mayes
Treasurer
Kevin Miller
Director, Community Service
Lyle Goodin
Chair, New Member Committee
Chris Zelasko
Chair, Respite Care Program
Bonnie Seto
Director, Youth Service
Joe Solway
Director, International Service
Don Gleed
Director, Membership
Steve Code
Director, Fundraising & Special Events
Mike Desrochers
Director, Public Image & Branding
Amy Barney
Director, Club Administration
Eli Brooks
Immediate Past President
John Burns
Foundation Chair
Gord Wallace
Webmaster
Lyle Goodin
Mini Calendar
April 2020
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Speakers
Upcoming Speakers
Johanna de Boer and Phil Benner
Apr 07, 2020
Classification Talks

johanna and Phil will present their Classification Talks.

Reg Freethy and Fred Mandryk
Apr 14, 2020
Re-Classification Talks
Roberta Young Ransom
Apr 21, 2020
Indigenous Awareness Project
Past Speakers
Mark Woitzik
Mar 31, 2020
Brock Street Brewery
View entire list...
Public Information
Public Download Files
Rotary Links
 
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Bowmanville Rotary at Work and at Play
 
Welcome to the Rotary Club of Bowmanville Website

Join us for Breakfast as our Guest?

Bowmanville Rotary Club

Service Above Self

We meet Tuesdays at 7:15 AM
Clarington Beech Centre
26 Beech Avenue
Bowmanville, ON  L1C 3A2
Canada
Email:
bowmanville.rotary@gmail.com
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District Site
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Venue Map
 
Important Information Regarding Club Meetings During The Coronavirus Pandemic
A Message to Rotarians and Guests from Club President Van Stiphout and the Board of Directors
Posted by Lyle Goodin on Mar 27, 2020
Fellow Rotarians and Community Members;
 
As you know, the COVID-19 situation is developing very quickly.  Public health officials are now requiring Canadians to stay at home and to stop gathering together in a vital effort to slow down the spread of the disease.
 
In keeping with these requirements, we have cancelled ALL Club meetings until advised by authorities that it is safe to resume meeting.
 
Beginning with the meeting on March 31st, we will begin hosting virtual Club meetings.
 
Join the call on March 31st at 18:00 (note the change in time!).  Our guest will be Mayor Adrian Foster.
https://www.uberconference.com/nyrconsulting
Or join by phone at:  1-866-813-2784
No PIN needed.
 
 
Our News and Stories
Welcome to Rotary!

A Little Bit about Rotary 

Rotary International is the world's first service club organization with more than 1.2 million members in over 35,000 clubs worldwide.  Rotary club members are "People of Action".  They are your neighbours and friends.  They are problem-solvers who take action to create lasting change by volunteering locally, nationally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto "Service Above Self".  We are proud to be a part of this dynamic organization as we celebrate 95 years of service in our community.  Please take a few minutes to peruse our website and read our promotional brochure, "This is The Rotary Club of Bowmanville".

Are you a person of action who is interested in meaningful volunteer work?  Are you interested in joining Rotary?  For more information about Rotary and the Rotary Club of Bowmanville, please contact Steve Code by email at Steve.Code@freedom55financial.com.  Thank you.

Rotary Supports the Firehouse Youth Centre
Posted by Lyle Goodin on Jan 23, 2020
Veronica Breen and Paul Dobbs from the John Howard Society were the Rotary Club of Bowmanville's guest speakers on January 21, 2020.  Paul provided a historical overview of the John Howard Society and its work.  Veronica, the Executive Director of The Firehouse Youth Centre in Bowmanville, provided a review of the purpose and functioning of the Centre.  Veronica and Paul also answered numerous questions from the assembled Rotarians.  They also presented the Rotary Club of Bowmanville with a Certificate of Appreciation for the support the Club has provided to The Firehouse Youth Centre since its inception.  The Youth Service Committee of the Bowmanville Rotary Club presented The Firehouse Youth Centre with a cheque for $2,000.
 
(L to R) Veronica Breen, Joe Solway, and Paul Dobbs
Annual Meeting of The  Septua- Octo- Nonagenarian Society
The 9th Annual Meeting of the Rotary Club of Bowmanville's Septua- Octa- Nonagenarian Society (SONS for short) was hosted by Fred and Debbie Mandryk at the Bowmanville Family Restaurant on Friday January 3, 2020.  Following an introductory welcome to the assembled #genarians and their spouses by Fred, the first order of business was to update the name of the Society to include those Rotarians who have entered their nineties.  Fred then welcomed new members John Burns, Pauline Calvert, Denis Beaulieu, and Renee Bos and presented them with membership certificates.  A delightful time of conversation and fellowship transpired over lunch.  The membership extends it thanks to Fred and Debbie for hosting.
 
The Way Too Cool members of the Septua- Octa- Nonagenarian Society
Bowmanville Rotary delivers plush toys to Lakeridge Health Bowmanville's Emergency Department
Posted by Lyle Goodin on Dec 17, 2019
No one ever wants to end up in the Emergency Department, especially if it is a child and it is during the Christmas Holidays.  So, how can a necessary scary visit be made a little less stressful?  It started last year with a text message from the husband of one of the Emergency Department nurses (Jodi C.) at Lakeridge Health Bowmanville asking on behalf of his wife if Rotary could help by providing a few plush toys to comfort children who were unfortunate enough to find themselves in the ER during the holidays.  Rotary members scrambled together about 120 plush toys that we were able to deliver just in time for the holidays.  This year Bowmanville Rotarians were prepared and with a huge boost from one of our members (thank you Dave S.) and the help of the ER staff, we were able to deliver over 260 plush toys to last through the holidays and a bit beyond.  It is our hope that this can become one of our annual traditions.  We wish to extend our heart-felt thanks to everyone at Lakeridge Health Bowmanville for the care and compassion they deliver throughout the year and for this opportunity for Rotary to give back to our community.  Merry Christmas and All the Very Best for the New Year to one and all.
 
Bowmanville Rotary's Christmas Tree Sales a Sellout Success
Posted by Lyle Goodin on Dec 18, 2019
Wow, 550 fresh cut Ontario Christmas Trees gone in just three weeks!  A heart-felt THANK YOU to the residents of Clarington for once again making our annual Christmas Tree sales such an amazing success.  And as most of you already know, the best part is that the funds raised will go toward our charitable endeavours in our community.  From all of us in the Rotary Club of Bowmanville to all of you, have a Very Merry Christmas and All the Very Best for 2020.
 
Meet Donna King, our Newest Member
Posted by Lyle Goodin on Dec 19, 2019
Donna is the owner and CEO of Sandpiper Distributing Inc., which she started in 2009.  Sandpiper is a small family-run company that markets several household items to retail outlets and wholesale companies around the world.  Their “star product” is the Euroscrubby, a durable cleaning cloth imported from Europe.  The Euroscrubby is warehoused here in Canada and they export it to the U.K., New Zealand, Australia, and the U.S.
 
Donna's hobbies include travel, especially cruises, gardening,  good food, good wine and flipping houses with her two sons.  Last year Donna moved from Port Hope to Bowmanville and considered joining Rotary at the recommendation of friends who are Rotarians in  Port Hope and Cobourg.

Donna is looking forward to being of service to her new community and finding her niche in our local club.


(L to R) Jason Van Stiphout, Rachel Boyd, Donna King, Chris Zelasko, and Doug Sirrs

Annual Rotary Children's Christmas Party a Heart-Warming Success
Posted by Lyle Goodin on Dec 03, 2019
Despite some very uncooperative weather, the annual Rotary Children's Christmas Party, held at the Clarington Beech Centre on Sunday December 1st, was a wonderful heart-warming event.  Organized by a team led by Rotarians Chris Zelasko and Rachel Boyd, the party featured a display and presentation by Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue, entertainment by magician Magic Al, amazing face painting by Janet Lange, pictures with Santa by Hunter's Sports Photography, a sumptuous turkey dinner with all the fixin's catered by Massey House Restaurant, and (of course) a visit from Santa Claus.  Three of our Summer Respite Care Givers were able to attend and serve as Santa's elves for the distribution of gifts to the children. To view more photos of this wonderful party, please follow the link to visit the Photo Album.
 
Santa and his Elves (L to R) Charlotte, Laura, Santa, and Abby
 
L to R Kelly, Ryan, and Mark
 
Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue with an Animal Friend
First Annual Pumpkin Parade A Tremendous Success
Posted by Lyle Goodin on Nov 05, 2019
The First Annual Pumpkin Parade featured over 200 JacK-O-Lanterns lining the walkway and veranda of the Clarington Museum's Waverley Place.  Organized by Bowmanville High School student James Chocorlan with Rotary's financial support, the event brought out a throng of adults and children to view the amazing array of Jack-O-Lantern ideas from the very comical to the down right scary.  The event was also designed to support the local Salvation Army Food Bank by requesting a donation of non-perishable food items from the attendees.  The local Boy Scouts also participated by selling snacks as a fundraiser for their troop.  All in all this was indeed a tremendous success for a first time event and we at Rotary wish to congratulate James, his family, and his friends for the amazing effort they put into making it happen.  We also would like to see this event continue and will assist in any way we can.  Thank you to everyone who participated by bring their Jack-O-Lantern, donating to the Salvation Army Food Bank, or simply attended the event.  Our thanks as well to Clarington Museum and Archives for hosting the event and to the Municipality for arranging for the composting of the pumpkins.
 
Jack-O-Lanterns line the Walkway at Waverley Place
 
Really Spooky!!!
Read more...
Rotary Donates to VAC for the Kid's Outdoor Art Festival
Posted by Joe Solway on Oct 25, 2019
Dionne Powlenzuk, Executive Director of the Clarington Visual Arts Centre, receives a cheque from Joe Solway of behalf of the Rotary Club of Bowmanville's Youth Services Committee.  Our Rotary Club will once again be a sponsor of the Kid's Outdoor Art Festival (formerly Picasso's Picnic), held every summer at the VAC.  The Festival features some of the top young artists and performers in Clarington.
 
Dionne Powlenzuk with Rotarian Joe Solway
Bowmanville Rotary Supports PFLAG
Posted by Joe Solway on Oct 17, 2019
The Bowmanville Rotary Club's Youth Service Committee presented a $500 cheque to PFLAG beside the Rainbow crosswalk at John M. James Public School on Mearns Ave. Our club was one of the original sponsors of the crosswalk which was a grassroots initiative of PFLAG and others in the community that was installed last spring. The funding is earmarked for the organization's Camp Rainbow Phoenix, a residential-style summer leadership program for youth ages 13 to 17. PFLAG supports LGBTQ people and their families.
 
(L to R) Alison Ridding, Rotarian and Youth Service Director Joe Solway, Bowmanville Rotary Club President Jason Van Stiphout, Jordan McCormack and Erica Montgomery of PFLAG Durham Region
Bowmanville Rotarian Bob Stevens leaves Club after 69 Years of "Service Above Self"
Posted by Lyle Goodin on Sep 26, 2019
Bowmanville Rotarian Bob Stevens, who has left the Club after almost 69 years to spend more time with his wife, Jean, was honoured during the Four-Club meeting held at the Oshawa Golf and Curling Club on September 24, 2019.  Bob joined the Rotary Club of Bowmanville on December 8, 1950 and has had perfect or near perfect attendance at the weekly meetings every year since.  Bowmanville Rotary President Jason Van Stiphout introduced Jean and Bob and announced that Bob had been inducted back to the Club as an Honourary Member.  He's not getting away that easily!  Jason was also pleased to be able to present Bob with a Paul Harris Fellowship +8 which recognizes Bob's generous contribution of over $9,000 US to The Rotary Foundation.
 
Jean and Bob Stevens are introduced by Bowmanville Rotary President Jason Van Stiphout
 
Bowmanville Rotary President pins Bob Stevens' Paul Harris Fellowship +8 to his lapel
Read more...
Bowmanville Rotary Club Receives ShelterBox Silver Hero Award
Posted by Lyle Goodin on Sep 27, 2019
During the Four-Club Rotary meeting on September 24, 2019, ShelterBox Canada Ambassador Geoffrey Lloyd presented Bowmanville Rotary's Past President John Burns with a Silver Hero Award in recognition of the Club's contributions to the ShelterBox program.  ShelterBox Canada delivers the essentials people need to begin rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of a disaster.  For more information about ShelterBox Canada or to donate to the Hurricane Dorian relief effort, please visit their website by following this link.
ShelterBox Canada Ambassador Geoffrey Lloyd presents a Silver Hero Award to Past President John Burns
Bowmanville Respite Care Program Successfully Wraps Up Its 22nd Year
Posted by Lyle Goodin on Aug 25, 2019
The Summer Respite Care Program is one of the Rotary Club of Bowmanville’s signature programs.  The Bowmanville Rotary Club has had a long history of support for children with special needs and their families.  Recognizing that families with special needs children deserve some respite, especially during the summer months when children are not in school, the Bowmanville Rotary Club has for 22 years offered a Summer Respite Care Program that provides both home care and experiences for children with special needs.
 
The program began in 1998 with three families enrolled and has grown to include over thirty-one families with thirty-five children ranging in age from 3 to 25+.  The program involves one of the Club’s student respite care givers spending quality time with the special needs child and providing social, educational and recreational activities appropriate for the child.
 
Not only does the Summer Respite Care Program provide respite for the families and quality care for the children, it also provides meaningful career-related summer jobs for the five college and university students we hire.
 
This year the Summer Respite Care Program ran for ten weeks from June 17, 2019 to August 23, 2019.  The very successful Program was funded in part by a grant from the Canada Summer Jobs Program administered through Service Canada and by the Rotary Club of Bowmanville.  A family could request preferred hours to meet their particular needs during the summer.  The level of support available depended upon the funding available; however, the Rotary Club tried to provide between four to eight hours of respite care per week per child at a nominal cost of two dollars per hour of care.
 
This year's amazing Respite Care Givers and the Rotary support team are pictured below.
 
(L to R) Community Service Director Lyle Goodin, Program Supervisor Bonnie Seto, Program Coordinator Charlotte Timperley, Respite Care Givers Laura Gazley, Megan Lugtenburg, Emily Lehman, Abigail Heslop, and ADG John Burns
The "Give a Mill for Bill" Challenge
Posted by Lyle Goodin on Aug 07, 2019
Oshawa Rotarian Ted Morrison was the speaker at Bowmanville Rotary's August 6th, 2019 meeting.  Ted's message was a challenge to all Rotarians in District 7070 to give $1,000,000 to The Rotary Foundation (TRF) this year in memory of Cobourg Rotarian Bill Patchett - Give a Mill for Bill.
 
Bill Patchett was a consummate Rotarian who, through his charm, wit, and unceasing efforts as District Chair of TRF, cajoled District 7070 into becoming one of the top contributors in North America to The Rotary Foundation.  The "Bill Patchett Salute" became a friendly way of teasing Bill.
 
Bill will be dearly missed by those who knew and admired him.  Bill's obituary may be found by following this link.
 
(L to R) Bowmanville Rotary Vice President Steve Kay with Oshawa Rotarian Ted Morrison
Bowmanville Rotary supports WindReach Farm
Posted by Lyle Goodin on Aug 07, 2019
The Rotary Club of Bowmanville was delighted to help WindReach Farm provide seven of its "Beyond the Farm Gate" program to the residents of Bethesda House with a grant of $2,100.  The "Beyond the Farm Gate" program allows WindReach Farm to take its educational and therapeutic programs to groups that may have difficulty accessing the Farm due to a lack of resources or other barriers.  For further information about WindReach Farm and the programs it offers, please visit the website by following this link.
 
(L to R) Rotarian Gord Wallace, Kate Bird - WindReach Farm, Sara Cosway - WindReach Farm, Rotarian Lyle Goodin
President Jason Van Stiphout Introduces the 2019-2020 Bowmanville Rotary Club Board
Posted by Lyle Goodin on Jul 10, 2019
The Rotary Club of Bowmanville held its annual "changing of the guard" on June 25, 2019 at the home of incoming president Jason Van Stiphout.  The event was held in the evening with a BBQ and the changeover ceremony during which outgoing President John Burns turned over the reins to Jason.  Steve Kay became our new Vice President with Sandy MacLean remaining as Treasurer and Lynda Mayes as Club Secretary.  The members of the 2010-2020 Board of Directors are Eli Brooks - Club Administration, Amy Barney - Public Relations and Branding, Mike Desrochers - Fundraising and Special Events, Steve Code - Membership, Joe Solway - Youth Service, Don Gleed - International Service, and Lyle Goodin - Community Service.  Gord Wallace and Fred Mandryk will be co-chairing The Rotary Foundation committee.  Chris Zelasko is chair of the New Member Committee and Bonnie Seto will continue as Supervisor for the Bowmanville Rotary Respite Care Program.  For photos of the event, please visit the photo gallery by following this link.
 
Rotary Club of Bowmanville Officers, Directors, and Chairs for 2019-2020
Bowmanville Rotary Donates $50,000 to Durham Region Hospice - Clarington
Posted by Lyle Goodin on Jun 20, 2019
The Rotary Club of Bowmanville is delighted to announce that it has donated a total of $50,000 toward the construction of a hospice in Clarington.  The funds are intended to not only assist with the fundraising initiative to build the hospice but also to provide namng rights to one of the rooms in the hospice.  The room will be dedicated to the memory of Mary and Vincent Fletcher of Bowmanville.  Vince Fletcher was a very active Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow.  Following his passing, his wife Mary continued their dedication to Rotary by giving $2,500 each year to support Rotary's Chriistmas Party for children with special needs and their families.  Upon her death, Mary bequithed $196,000 to the Rotary Club of Bowmanville.  The funds have been invested and it is the intention of the Bowmanville Rotary Club to fund one major community initiative each year for five years.  The contribution toward the Durham Region Hospice - Clarington is our first such initiative.  For more information about Durham Region Hospice - Clarington or to donate toward the Clarington Hospice, please visit their website by following this link.
 
Bowmanville Rotary President John Burns (C) presents a cheque to hospice advocate Marian Timmermans (L) and Donna McFarlane (R), Senior Advisor, Durham Region Hospice
Mary Fletcher Makes Major Donation to Bowmanville Rotary
Posted by Lyle Goodin
Vince Fletcher was a long time member of the Rotary Club of Bowmanville and along with his wife, Mary, they were great supporters of Rotary.  Both Mary and Vince were Paul Harris Fellows.  Following Vince's passing, Mary continued to support the Bowmanville Rotary Club's Children's Christmas Party with an annual donation of $2,500.  Mary Fletcher passed away in April 2018 and is truly missed by those who knew her.  The Rotary Club of Bowmanville was surprised and delighted to learn that Mary's will provided for a substantial donation to the Club.  During our September 18, 2018 meeting former Club member Don Hutton, a long time friend of Mary's, attended to announce that Mary was leaving the sum of $296,000 to the Club.  The Club will take some time to consider how to appropriately disburse the funds.  The Finance Committee will entertain suggestions from Club members and all members will be involved in making the decisions.  It is anticipated that distribution of the funds will take place over several years as worthwhile projects are identified.  
 
                     (L to R) President John Burns, Don Hutton, Rotarian Tim Funchion
Bono's Message to Rotary Members
Posted by Lyle Goodin on Sep 05, 2014

Bono, lead singer and front man for the rock band U2, is well known for his humanitarian work.  In this brief video Bono pays tribute to Rotarians and their belief in their motto of "Service Above Self".