HomeAbout RotaryHow to Become a RotarianAbout our ClubEventsNewsYouth Exchange ProgramScholarshipMiramichi Rotary Pond Hockey TournamentScott Knowles Memorial Hockey PoolWant to Donate?Contact UsMembers
News

Travel Exchange with Mexico

The Rotary Club of Newcastle, in collaboration with District 7810 is looking for local interested young professionals between the ages of 25 to 40 to be part of a Rotary Group Study Exchange to Mexico which will take place from April 6h to May 5th, 2012. During those four weeks, four chosen individuals, along with their Rotarian team leader, will visit the cities throug...hout Mexico discover their culture and institutions and also observe how their vocations are practised abroad. . Everyone will be safely housed in Rotary approved host families.

The Rotary Foundation provides for round-trip air travel and the hosting Rotarians will provide for meals, lodging and group travel within their district. The selected individuals are expected to cover their own personal expenses, passport, travel insurance and vaccinations, if required.

People interested in applying or wanting to know more about this great opportunity should contact Wally McLean at 625-8271 or email newcastlerotary@yahoo.ca. All completed applications must be received by November 10th.

Miramichi Therapeutic Riding Association

The Rotary Club of Newcastle is proud to sponsor the MTRA.  Rotarian Anna Gaston is a volunteer with the program and Club Members made a recent visit to see firsthand how it benefits the participants.

mtra.gif



Scholarship Wiinner Announced

The Rotary Club of Newcastle is pleased to announce that Stephanie Foley was awarded the 2011 Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $3500.  Stephanie graduated this June from Miramichi Valley High School and will be attending St. Francis Xavier University in the fall. 

The Scholarship Committee was impressed with the calibre of all the applicants, especially their volunteer efforts throughout the community and wishes them well as they further their studies.  The 2011 scholarship is in memory of Bob Wallace who was a member of the Rotary Club of Newcastle for over 40 years.

scholarship.gif
Stephanie Foley accepting scholarship from Wally McLean President of the Rotary Club of Newcastle



New Members Inducted

During a recent visit to the Rotary Club of Newcastle, District Governor Leigh Cummings inducted the 3 newest members of the club. Pictured left to right: District Governor Leigh Cummings of Houlton, Maine, new Rotarians Mike Hill, Ivy Lam, Daniel Rice and Club President Wally McLean.

newmembers.gif



Youth Exchange Students

The Rotary Club of Newcastle hosted 3 Short Term Youth Exchange students at a recent meeting.  Local students Emma Boulay and Julianna Hache traveled to France and Belgium respectively for 5 weeks to live with their host families.  Their exchange partners came to Miramichi for a visit as well.  All 3 young ladies agreed it was a wonderful experience to visit another country and learn about different cultures.

Rotary Clubs all over the world take part in this annual program.  Short term exchanges take place over the summer months and students ages 15 - 19 are eligible to apply through their local Rotary Club.  Long term exchanges are for one year and the student lives with host families and attends a local school.  For more information on these exchanges check out the website www.rotaryclubofnewcastle.org or email newcastlerotary@yahoo.ca

exchange-students.gif
Pictured left to right: Julianna Hache, Rotarian Dawn Waye, Emma Boulay and Ivanne Joly of France



Rotary Club of Newcastle supports Mango Kids Fun Run

mango-run-july-2011.gif

The Go for 42 and Mango Kids Fun Run was held on Sunday, July 3rd.  Students from kindergarten to grade 8 in School Districts 16, 9 and 11 participated.  A total of 260 crossed the finish line of the 2.2km run that hopefully instilled in them the joy of running and the value of physical activity.  Many of the students on Sunday were completing the final phase of the marathon challenge, to go a total of 42.2 kilometers, a challenge they had started at their schools earlier in the spring.


The Rotary Club of Newcastle were one of the  sponsors of the run and members were at the finish line to hand out water to the participants.



Application for 2011 Memorial Scholarship now available

The Rotary Club of Newcastle is accepting applications for the annual memorial scholarship The scholarship, in the amount of $3500, is awarded annually and graduating students from Miramichi Valley High School, North and South Esk Regional High School  and Carrefour Beausoleil are eligible to apply.  The Scholarship award criteria are modeled on the mission and values of Rotary.   

Applicants who demonstrate service and commitment to school and to community, solid academic achievement in high school, participation and achievement in athletic, arts and/or cultural activities and leadership skills will be considered favorably.  Applicants must be applying to enroll in a post-secondary institution to start Fall term 2011 to study fulltime in any field.  Applications must be postmarked by Friday, April 15, 2011, and the recipient will be announced by June 1st.  Application forms will be available from the Principal and Guidance Offices at the 3 schools or it can be downloaded from the club’s website at www.rotaryclubofnewcastle.org 


The 2011 Memorial Scholarship will honour the late Bob Wallace, a past president of the Rotary Club of Newcastle and a Paul Harris Fellow.  Bob Wallace was the longest serving Rotarian in the history of the Rotary Club of Newcastle, having been a member for over 40 year. Bob was a Second World War veteran having served in the radio service in Gaspé. He Moved to Miramichi where he was a Radio pioneer being the General Manager for CKMR, Miramichi's first radio station.



Interact Clubs receive Community Service Award

2010youthcommunityservice.JPG

The JMH Memorial High School and Miramichi Valley High School Interact Clubs received the City of Miramichi’s Community Service Award for Youth Volunteers at the 2011 New Year’s Levee.  The award is presented in recognition and acknowledgement of outstanding voluntary contributions of young people to their community.  The clubs were honored for community service projects including door-to-door canvassing on Halloween night for donations to the local food bank.  Over 5000 items were collected through their efforts.

Pictured above are: Center Mayor Gerry Cormier, Stephanie Foley (left) President, MVHS Interact Club, Tyson Theriault (right) JMH Interact Club, Faculty Advisor with members of the MVHS Interact Club



Banner Exchange in Dublin Ireland

bannerdublin.jpg

Francis Malley, a member of the Rotary Club of Newcastle, attended a meeting of the Rotary Club of Dublin on a recent trip to Ireland.  He is pictured here exchanging banners with Randal Gray, President of the Dublin Club.



Big Canoe Challenge

teamrotary.jpg

Seven Newcastle Rotarians took a practice run in the voyageur canoe in preparation for the Big Canoe Challenge on Sunday, September.  Organizers of the event Wendy Comeau, Tim Humes and Kevin Silliker were on hand to guide the team. 

The Big Canoe Challenge is a fundraiser for the Beaubears Island Interpretive Centre.  The Rotary Club of Newcastle will be hosting a Community Corn Boil/BBQ in conjunction with the event.  The Rotary Club is celebrating 100 years of Rotary in Canada by thanking the community for their continued support.

Check out our Flickr account for more photos.

New Members Inducted

inductionannajaime.jpg
President Dawn Waye, new Rotarians Jaime Dunn and Anna Gaston and Secretary Wally McLean

Two new members were inducted into the Rotary Club of Newcastle.  Jaime Dunn and Anna Gaston were inducted at a gathering on September 15th.

Rotary Club of Newcastle Scholarship Awarded

janeskevonkeman.jpg
Francis Malley, Janeske Vonkeman, District Governor John Carkner

Janeska Vonkeman, a 2010 graduate of MVHS was presented with the Rotary Club of Newcastle Memorial Scholarship.  This year’s scholarship is in memory of Ian Buyers, a former member of the club.  The $3500 scholarship is awarded annually to the applicant that demonstrates service and commitment to school and to community, solid academic achievement in high school, participation and achievement in athletics, arts and/or cultural activities and leadership skills. 

Youth Merit Award Presented

jacobtozer.jpg
(l-r) District Governor John Carkner, Jacob Tozer, Dawn Waye

Jacob Tozer, a 2010 graduate of NSER was chosen as 1 of 3 recipients of a Youth Merit Award from Rotary District 7810.  Jacob received one of the $1000 runner up awards.  Students are nominated by their school Principal for exemplifying the Rotary ideals of service, dependability and leadership - amongst their peers and within their schools, communities and families.  The awards are presented annually. 

Dr. Linda Hudson awarded “Service Above Self”
Second ever District recipient of prestigious award from Rotary International

2010 Linda Hudson Service Above Self

SAINT JOHN - Rotary District Governor Gordon Dempsey is pleased to announce that Dr. Linda Hudson of Miramichi is the recipient of a prestigious "Service Above Self" award from Rotary International. This is only the second time in its history it has been awarded to a Rotarian from District 7810.

Created in 1991, the "Service Above Self" award is Rotary's highest honor for individual Rotarians. This award recognizes up to 150 Rotarians annually who have demonstrated exemplary humanitarian service, with an emphasis on personal volunteer efforts and active involvement in helping others through Rotary. The award can only be presented by the current Rotary International President or their delegate. District Governor Dempsey was "pleased to have nominated a candidate of this calibre. Linda is a positive and caring individual from whom we can all learn."

A native of Newfoundland and a graduate of Memorial University's Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Hudson has been a very active member of the Rotary Club of Newcastle since 2003. Despite a busy medical practice, she is very involved with the Miramichi Rotary Pond Hockey Tournament, helping to set up, serve food throughout the weekend, and tear down at the end. She is Chair of the club's Foundation Committee, with donations to the "Every Rotarian Every Year" campaign on the rise under her leadership After raising four children of her own, Dr. Hudson has continued to host exchange students from China, Sweden, and Mexico. She has also organized fund-raising activities for international youth exchanges, Camp Rotary and Shelter Box (http://www.shelterboxcanada.org/). Dr. Hudson is a previous Paul Harris Fellow recipient.

Prior to becoming a Rotarian, Dr. Hudson and her husband Dr. Carl Hudson travelled to Papua New Guinea many times in humanitarian roles relating to health care. They have fund raised for such trips to bring needed supplies and equipment to reach many of the remote areas. Through "Doctors Without Borders" they assisted with fund raisers to help out in other third world countries. In 2007, Dr. Hudson participated on a team helping to establish medical services for impoverished villages on Haiti's north coast - today a permanent medical clinic operates from this location.

On a local level, Dr. Linda Hudson was instrumental in starting an addictions recovery clinic for the Miramichi area. Prior to public funding being committed, she rallied other health care professionals to assist patients with opiate addictions. She was one of the key stakeholders who lobbied for a provincially funded methodone clinic for Miramichi and the surrounding area. Today, she remains one of the primary physicians for this clinic and serves on provincial and national advisory committees for addictions.

Rotary Club of Newcastle President, Michel Lafrance, was pleased to be present when his fellow Rotarian and friend received this recognition. "You don't get this award for giving a lot of money to Rotary or for doing a good job as an executive member. This award goes to a kind individual who is doing more than their share to make this world a better place", says Lafrance. "We are so very happy to include her as a member of our club."

Rotary District 7810 (http://www.ridist7810.org/) includes almost 1300 members from 40 Rotary Clubs in New Brunswick and part of Maine. Rotary International (http://www.rotary.org/) includes more than 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide.

Rotary Club of Newcastle donates instruments to Miramichi Valley High School Music Program

mvhsconcertband.jpg
MVHS Music Students and Concert Band Members with Teacher Elizabether Walker (far right)

Students from the Miramichi Valley High School Concert Band proudly displayed several new instruments during their recent spring concert. These instruments were purchased using a donation from the Rotary Club of Newcastle. Club President Dawn Waye was pleased to attend the concert and see how the instruments were utilized. "It is very rewarding as a Rotarian to see our fund raising dollars in action in the community helping to enrich lives." Funding for the donation came from net proceeds of the Pond Hockey project. Band Director Elizabeth Walker said "the students and myself are very happy with the support provided to us from the Rotary Club".

mvhsinstruments.jpg
Rotarian Herman Koops (left), MVHS Students and Rotarian Dawn Waye (right)

Rotary Club of Newcastle supports Hospital Foundation’s Urology Care Technology Campaign - April 2010

mrhf.jpg

The Rotary Club of Newcastle has donated $10,000 to help support the Miramichi Regional Hospital Foundation’s Urology Care Technology Campaign with a goal to purchase two pieces of urology equipment.  The Green Light Laser is used mostly for non invasive removal of the prostate from the inside and will enable surgeons to perform surgery resulting in virtually no postoperative bleeding, and decrease hospital stay for the patient. The Urodynamic System is used to evaluate the lower urinary tract system providing patients the benefit of having the tests completed locally and receiving immediate care plans.


 
“The funds were raised from our annual Pond Hockey Tournament held in February and provided a fun opportunity for the boys of winter to help contribute to their future health care needs.  Since its start in 2005, this tournament has raised and donated over $144,000 to various community causes.  The success of our event is attributed to the incredible support from the volunteers, the players, the sponsors and the spectators”, said Rotary Club of Newcastle Treasurer Wayne Carpenter. “We are pleased to support the Miramichi Regional Hospital Foundation in its efforts to provide enhanced health care services so that we as local patients can benefit by receiving the optimum level of care.” 

“We appreciate the strong support that we receive from the Newcastle Rotary Club”, said Miramichi Regional Hospital Foundation’s Executive Director Joanne Sellars, “their donation will assist us in our efforts to provide quality health care services to Miramichi and surrounding area patients.”
 

If your or your organization is interested in assisting the Miramichi Regional Hospital Foundation purchase Urology care equipment, call the office at 506-627-7555.

Rotary Club of Newcastle donates bedkits

scawchildrenweb.jpg

The Rotary Club of Newcastle purchased 30 bedkits through the Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW) program.  SCAW donations provide bedkits to children of any race and/or religion who will benefit the most; typically being located in underdeveloped and developing countries.  The bedkits from the local club went to children in Kolkata, India.
 

No portion of a bedkit donation is spent on administration — 100% reaches a needy child. Each $35 donation (Canadian funds) provides a bedkit that consists of a mat or mattress, pillow, sheet, blanket, mosquito net (if applicable), clothes outfit, towel and school supplies. Bedkit contents vary from country to country depending upon local needs.


Since its founding by Murray and Margaret Dryden in 1970, SCAW has raised over $20 million to provide bedkits for over 900,000 children in 33 countries. In 2009 we will have reached our millionth child.
 


Every child is photographed with the bedkit, showing the donor's name/country (or special occasion message) on a label.  Each photograph is then mailed back to the original donor, providing a timeless way for the donor to remember the child who so greatly benefited from their generosity.


For more information on this charity check out their website at www.scaw.org or call them toll free at 1-866-321-1841.

The Miramichi Rotary Pond Hockey tournament was started in 2005 to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of Rotary International. It promotes the City of Miramichi as a winter tourism destination, and allows for some fun and exercise. It is a major fund- raiser for the Rotary Club of Newcastle.

Since 2005 the Miramichi Rotary Pond Hockey Tournament has raised & donated:

Money towards the displays at the Eco Centre.

Our participation in Hockeyville
Canada resulted in a $10,000 donation from Kraft Canada to Food Bank Miramichi.

We donated money to the Gretna Green Boy Scouts, to the 315 Air Cadet Squadron and to the Miramichi Therapeutic Riding Association. We have helped send local campers to
Camp Rotary in Fredericton. We donated to Mango Kids Fun Run, to the Women Emergency Shelter and to Literacy New Brunswick.

We purchased a portable Jaws of Life, a projector & screen for the fire department as a small thank you for their involvement in this tournament.
We recently donated money to two local schools, one for the purchase of mountain bikes & repairs to cross-country skis & snow shoes and the other towards musical instruments.

From this year’s tournament we will donate $10,000 to the Miramichi Regional Hospital towards their Histology Department.


From 2005 to 2009 this tournament has raised and donated over $144,000. 
All this is only possible thanks to the incredible support for this event from the volunteers, the players, the sponsors and the spectators.

October 2009 - Rotary Club of Newcastle donates bikes
 

Croft Elementary School students are very busy these days and getting plenty of exercise too; thanks in large part to a generous donation from the Rotary Club of Newcastle. With twelve new mountain bikes purchased from Incline Sports, boys and girls in grades three through five spend their noon hours riding Croft's Forest Classroom Trails. With the addition of these new bikes a total of 24 mountain bikes are available each day for students to enjoy. The new bikes will also allow for full class instruction to occur during regularly scheduled Phys. Ed. classes.

With winter now only weeks away the students of Croft are also preparing for the upcoming snowshoeing and skiing season. Thanks to the Rotary Club, upgrades to the school's skis and snowshoes will also be happening soon.

 

The donation was made through proceeds from the Miramichi Rotary Pond Hockey Tournament.  Next year’s tournament is slated for February 5 – 7.  For more information or to register a team check out the website at www.miramichirotarypondhockey.com

bikescroft.jpg
Rotarian Frank Aridano, Croft Principal Mark Donovan and Rotarian Wally McLean pose with students

Miramichi Rotary Pond Hockey Tournament named Best Winter Festival in Canada

Rotary Club Donates Jaws of Life
May 6, 2008

The annual pond hockey tournament, a major fund raising project for the Rotary Club of Newcastle, requires hundreds of volunteer hours. Members of the Miramichi Volunteer Fire Fighters provide a substantial number of hours helping to prepare and maintain the ice at French Fort Cove each year.  Recently the Pond Hockey Committee purchased new Jaws of Life equipment for the fire department to help with auto extrication.

jaws-of-life.jpg
Geri Mahoney, Bruce McKinley, Donna Daley, Bill Bowie

dcaward.jpg

Local Rotary Clubs Awarded for Community Service

 

The Rotary Clubs of Newcastle and Chatham were presented with the Tom Nelson Award for Community Service at the District 7810 Rotary Conference held June 2-4, 2006 in Presque Isle, Maine.  The award, presented by District Governor Brett Varnum is “in recognition of the combined efforts during the 2005-2006 Rotary year to serve their communities.”

 

The two Miramichi clubs worked on a number of projects both independently and cooperatively.  The Miramichi Rotary Pond Hockey Tournament hosted by the Newcastle Club along with the Hummer ticket sales by the Chatham Club have raised funds to help with the construction of the French Fort Cove Eco Centre project.  Other community service projects that have been helped through the efforts of the clubs include the Miramichi Rotary Music Festival, Rotary Youth Exchange Program and sponsoring campers to Camp Rotary at Grand Lake.

Pictured below are local Rotarians receiving the Tom Nelson Award.

Front (l-r): Michael Lavign and Ron Cronkhite

Back (l-r): Dawn Waye, Pauline Sweezey, Pat Hayes, Gina Skidd