Kevin de Groot is proud to serve this year as the President of the Rotary Club of Wasaga Beach and Area. This is a small but very busy club whose members are trying every day to serve and be an inspiration to their community. One of the club’s main fundraisers is the Annual Corvette Lottery. They give away a brand new Corvette every year. The Early Bird Draw takes place in early July and the main event is in September. Last year, the winner was a Wasaga Beach resident who was presented her keys at their wrap up party in September. They have a team of 7 dedicated Rotarians who work year round on the Corvette committee, however it is the responsibility of every Club member to sell Corvette tickets from May -September each year. This Corvette Lottery raises $80,000 annually for local charities. Just last year, they issued cheques to the following charities at their wrap-up event: Collingwood General and Marine Hospital Foundation; Royal Victoria Hospital of Barrie Foundation; Friends of Nancy Island Historic Site and Wasaga Beach Park; 714 Wasaga Beach R.C. (Air) Cadet Squadron Sponsoring Committee; Strong Kids Campaign, YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka; Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Georgian Triangle; Habitat for Humanity South Georgian Bay; Wasaga Beach Ministerial Food Bank; Georgian Bay Humane Society; Hospice Georgian Triangle; My Friends House; Junior Achievement; Gilda’s House; and First Robotics Canada. To find out how to get a ticket for this year’s Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe, visit https://www.corvettelottery.com/.
The Rotary Club of Wasaga and Area Beach raises further funds through its Annual Gala. This year is the 26th Gala and the theme is “That's Amore!”. Club members are hoping to match or beat the $20,000.00 they raised last year. These funds are used to support Rotary Youth Exchange, RYLA, local school projects, and more. If you’re looking for a fun night out, consider attending the “That’s Amore Gala” on May 11th.
In October, club members participated in the Polio Bike/Hike with the Collingwood clubs, and all that attended had an amazing time raising funds for Polio Awareness. In November, Wasaga Beach Rotarians participated in the World War I 100th Anniversary Dinner along with the Stayner Legion. They helped host the event and serve dinner to all veterans that attended the celebration. This past December, they participated in the Wasaga Beach Christmas Parade. They showcased their beautifully wrapped trailer and handed out candy..jpg)
Right now, club members are gearing up for their annual Easter Hampers project. They assemble and distribute food and chocolate to 300 families so that they can make their own Easter dinner. The club partnered with the food bank to ensure that all families in need received a hamper. This year they are also providing crock pots and recipes with the hamper delivery. This is a great event in which club members involve their own families.
Internationally, the Rotary Club of Wasaga Beach is very active. HHART missions are supported, organized and led by Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Wasaga Beach. HHART stands for Hispaniola Humanitarian Assistance and Relief Team. The team's primary mission is to improve the lives of poor and disadvantaged people (primarily of Haitian heritage) living near Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic by providing much needed medical, dental and other forms of humanitarian assistance. In January, the Club was very busy getting their supplies and team members ready for their next HHART mission. Their volunteers made a significant impact, helping impoverished villagers with medical, dental, community projects, solar lights installation and roof rehabilitation. Many hours of work, fellowship, fun, organizing, packing and planning go into this amazing Mission initiative. For more information, visit http://www.hhart.org/ or read the article written about their most recent mission at https://www.collingwoodtoday.ca/local-news/wasaga-rotarians-part-of-11th-mission-to-dominican-9-photos-850443. The club is also a strong supporter of the Rotary Youth Exchange program. This year, they welcomed Caroline Straub from Switzerland.
If you are ever in the Wasaga Beach area, please consider doing a make-up at the Rotary Club of Wasaga Beach and Area. Monday meetings typically in the Oakview Room at The RecPlex at 1724 Mosley Street, Wasaga Beach. Please confirm time and location in the Upcoming Events section of their website.
Visit our "Spotlight on Service" Page for more messages about other clubs.