Posted by Shelly Duben on Feb 28, 2019
 
JD Brunton is proud to serve this year as the President of the Rotary Club of Parry Sound. The 29 members of this club volunteer their time, talent and resources in order to remedy vital community needs.
 
The club’s main focus right now is a new major club fundraiser. The club has taken over a 3-Pitch tournament from the RACH (Rallying Against Cancer Hardcore). This 2 day fun themed event has raised over $1 million over the past 15 years. The Parry Sound Rotary “Strike Against Cancer” 3-Pitch Tournament will continue with the same format -two bands, silent auction, concession, kiddies’ fun, pickerel fish dinner and 3 pitch baseball where the winner can claim bragging rights! The club will use the proceeds from the tournament to support Cancer Care at the West Parry Sound Health Centre as well as other club projects. Their goal is to donate $70 000 to cancer care. Registration opened online on February 14th at 9am at www.ps3pitch.com.
They invite and challenge all District 7010 Rotarians to dust off their ball gloves and join them in Parry Sound for a fun time on June 14th and 15th. Registration is open to the first 31 teams! Another great club fundraiser is their annual “Taste and Toast” spring gala where guests enjoy an evening of wine, beer, spirits and fun. This year’s gala is on April 27th. Through the sale of their Cash Calendars, they are also able to support Hospice West Parry Sound. This club definitely finds a variety of ways to raise funds and support projects in their community.
 
The Rotary Club of Parry Sound partnered once again with RBC, Harry’s No Frills, The Salvation Army, Crofter’s, and the Orillia Silver Band to donate Christmas Turkey Hampers to 100 families in their area who needed some extra help at Christmas. See Rotarians in action at https://www.facebook.com/PSNorthStar/videos/271915153682271/. They also support local youth through the Parry Sound Public School Winter Wear. Donations of new and good used condition snowsuits, boots and water proof mittens were collected at Parry Sound Public School, then families are invited to attend the Winter Wear event where they can get free warm winter wear for their children.
 
Parry Sound Rotarians are hoping to build a Rotary Splash Pad in their community at Waubuno Beach. They have been raising funds and are trying to get local government to support the development if this family attraction.
 
The Rotary Club of Parry Sound is well known for their role in the annual Parry Sound Dragon Boat Festival. The club is proud to present community groups and businesses with an opportunity for team building, cooperation and fund raising in a great outdoor setting. Dragon boats are the largest flat water racing canoes in the world. Constructed of fiberglass with air chambers, the 40 foot boats are stable and will not sink. 20 paddlers, a drummer and a steersperson lead to exciting photo finishes in many races. Dragon boat festivals take place around the world.
 
Internationally, the club has recently supported the District International Project, R.E.L.A.Y. (Rotarians Enhancing Learning of African Youth). In fact, one of their club members joined the R.E.L.A.Y. team in Zambia in March 2018 to help build a new 3 classroom school house and work with the children and teachers at the school.
 
If you are ever in the Parry Sound area, please consider doing a make-up at the Rotary Club of Parry Sound. Meetings take place on Tuesdays at 11:50am at Wellington's Restaurant at 105 James Street in Parry Sound.
 
Visit our "Spotlight on Service" Page for more messages about other clubs.