Meeting Recording
A recording of Today’s Meeting can be found
here.
President's Comments
President Adrian commented on how busy the club has been lately, particularly within the last few weeks and how proud he is of all of the members of the club which is helping to celebrate our Legacy and to continue to keep our Promise.
Guests
Tova Davidson, our guest speaker, Executive Director of Sustainable Waterloo-Region
Bell Ringer(s)
As a result of our very busy week last week we have three groups of Bell Ringers!
Bell Ringers #1, The Car Draw Lottery Committee.
Bell Ringers #2: The On Line Auction Committee.
Bell Ringers #3: The Sip n’ Shop Volunteers.
Appreciation is extended to all members who participated and supported the above club activities.
Happy Jar
Shawky Fahel is happy that the Winter Wonderland in Waterloo Park will be opening again on December 1 and that it will be the 27th annual event. He is proud of the fact that we was able to arrange to have a Nativity Scene carved by Palestinian Christians and donated to the festival for its inaugural year and has been on display ever year since.
Cheryl Ewing was very happy to have been on a Rotary float in the Halifax Santa Claus Parade on the weekend along with other members of the Halifax North-West Club and two visiting Rotarians from Australia.
Karen Redman was pleased and proud to have been a part of the Ushering in of Hanukah in the region this past weekend and was delighted with the fabulous light show.
Louise Gardiner was happy to announce that our club is sponsoring a Women in Communication and Technology component of next year’s International Women’s Day celebrations. She will be reaching out to members to assist with the organization. Louise was also happy that their grandchildren have received their first COVID-19 vaccination and that the experience at the Grand River Hospital was so Positive. They are offering vaccination-beau-bears for just $16, which is a great gift for all the children who are bravely getting vaccinated! They can be ordered here:
Grand River Hospital Foundation - Vaccinated Beau Bear
Neil Swayze is much relieved and happy that the Online Auction for this year is just about concluded and that initial indicators are that it will be a very successful event.
Paul Rostrup was happy to have been able to drive to Toronto on Sunday, despite the weather to visit with their son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter.
President Adrian was please to let members know that his recovery from back surgery is getting back on track, and thanked all who sent well wishes and let him know he was in their thoughts.
Club Announcements
The Car Lottery committee is pleased to announce that the winner of our first online car lottery is James Whitehead of London Ontario (ticket number: 99323001)
Notice of Proposal for Membership
The Board has approved the application for membership in our club from Fauzia Mazhar, as a Primary Corporate Member, from the Coalition of Muslim Women of KW with the classification of Not-For Profit Management; and Mehreen Shahid as an alternate, Corporate Member, from the Coalition of Muslim Women of KW with the classification of Not-For Profit Management; proposed by Ernie Ginsler. Any member who objects to either of these individuals being inducted into our club needs to indicate so in writing to the club secretary no later than Thursday, December 9, 2021, stating the reasons for the objection.
Catch The Ace
Catch the Ace KW is back and we are into Week #3. Last week our winner was Christel W, with all the details in the weekly
video. The progressive jackpot is
$9,999, thanks to the support of our prize sponsors, Freure Homes and Polocorp. Tickets are on sale now! The deadline as always is Wednesday at Midnight. Don't forget that you have to purchase a ticket the week of the draw to qualify for both the weekly and progressive jackpot!
People of Action Opportunity
People of Action - Kitchener Rotary has a tremendous opportunity to work with a local Indigenous Peoples group in our community called
Healing of the Seven Generations Indigenous Group. Our Indigenous Committee Chair, Lew Ford, met with Donna Dubois their CEO and they are in urgent need of funds to assist 300+ families and children in our community over the holiday season. The funds will purchase gift cards for the families to assist them with holiday dinners and gifts items that will surely make a child very happy over Christmas.
Kitchener Rotary will be donating $1,000 to support this wonderful cause and we are also asking our members and friends of Rotary to please help us increase our giving. If you are interested in donating please email
ford.lew@gmail.com and we will arrange payment (Rotary members can choose to have us bill their Rotary accounts – a tax receipt will be issued though Family & Children Services)
Neil Swayze asked that all members who have not yet returned the Online Auction Lawn Signs do so. He will be at the warehouse (123 Ottawa Street, South) on Tuesday between 2:00 and 3:00. If this does not work for you please contact him directly to arrange to drop them off as his home.
Ross Newkirk, chair of the Kitchener Rotary Club Charitable Foundation (KRCCF), let members know that the Foundation is in the process of selecting and electing new members of their board and invited any interested member to contact him at
newkirk.ross@gmail.com
President Adrian highlighted the event at KidsAbility on Saturday when the winner of the Car Lottery was drawn. The determination of the winner of the online fundraiser was done by the pushing of a button, and who better to push that button than Grayson, the current KidsAbility Ambassador. In turns out the Grayson was also the one to have selected the paper ticket in our last physical draw two years ago. Grayson is absolutely delighted to have been able to play his part in our Car Draw/Lottery events.
Program Highlights
Our Speaker today was Tova Davidson, Executive Director of Sustainable Waterloo-Region. We were pleased today that Mike Morrice, MP was able to join us today and express his thanks and appreciation for all that Tova is doing to lead the critical work of this important organization She was introduced by Karen Redman.
Tova leads Sustainable Waterloo under the Board of Directors, by developing their strategic direction, supporting team members and is responsible for building key relationships throughout Waterloo region. She brings her experience in public relations and communications to creatively approach sustainability opportunities. Paired with her business background she is primed to collaborate with top organizations in Waterloo Region to drive change locally and provincially. Having been selected by The Guelph Mercury for Top 40 Under 40, and the recipient of the Mayor’s Award of Excellence, Tova leads by example while inspiring others to do the same.
Tova began by providing some key facts on the current situation re Climate Change:
- The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says we now have 8 years to cut global emissions by 45% or face irrevocable climate disaster
- Canada is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world. The impacts of climate change are here, they are real and they are urgent.
- Canada has the highest per capita emissions of the G20, three times the average.
- Canada’s emission increase is the greatest since the G7 met in Paris
- Today, Canada is the only G7 nation still emitting above our 1990 levels and we are the only one that has increased emissions over the last decade
- The Tonnes of C02 Emissions per Gigajoule of Energy emitted by Natural Gas and Gasoline are 30 times that of electricity
Tova stressed that there is much more to the issue of Climate Change and sustainable living than technology as illustrated by the United Nations 17 goals to transform our world. The Sustainable Development Goals are:
- No Poverty
- Zero Hunger
- Good Health and wellbeing
- Qualit6y Education
- Gender Equity
- Clean Water and Sanitation
- Affordable and Clean Energy
- Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Reduced Inequalities
- Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Responsible Consumption and Production
- Climate Action
- Life Below Water
- Life On Land
- Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
- Partnerships for the Goals
In 2020, the number of the world’s largest companies committing to net-zero emissions targets, meaning they will eliminate as much of the greenhouse gases as they produce, tripled to 1,500 from the start of the year. Sustainable Waterloo Region is helping local businesses to reduce their carbon emissions.
The Path to Net Zero
- Understand your company’s carbon footprint and climate-risk exposure
- By 2025 climate assessments will be mandatory across all UK sectors
2. Embrace sustainability at executive and board levels
- Stress test business plans for rapid transitions scenarios
- Switch operations to green energy
- Switch to green energy
- Upgrade vehicle fleet to EV’s
- Identify and reduce Scope 3 emissions sources in your supply chain
- Join business-focused organizations committee to sustainability
- For example:
- EP100 – edie’s Sustainable Leaders Club
- RE100 – World Business Council on Sustainable Development
Climate Action WR, a program of Sustainable Waterloo-Region has set a gaol that an 80% of carbon emissions will be reached by 2050.
- Endorsed by all 8 area municipalities
- Local Strategy to reach 30% by 2030
- Short term target is 50% reduced by 2030
- Partnerships with other community organizations
- Short term target already completed
- Unique model in Canada
Regional Sustainability Initiative
For 2020:
28 Carbon Targets were set
3 Water Targets were set
7 Waste Diversion Targets were set
The goal was a reduction of 78,086 Tonnes of Carbon emissions
The result was a reduction of 81,514 Tonnes – Equivalent to taking 18,299 cars off the road
Why should companies invest in emissions reduction?
- Reduced Operating Costs
- Risk Management
- Green Branding
- Employee Retention & Attraction
- Increased Innovation
- Reduced Parking Demands and Costs
- Increased Employee Satisfaction & Retention
- Increased Access to Top Employees
- Positive Corporate Exposure & Leadership
- Healthier, Happier, More Productive Employees
Five Lessons Learned so Far
- Hold tight to your vision
- Measure what matters - manage what you measure
- Partnership is essential
- Intersectionality is reality
- Be bold - big things are possible
Contacts:
519-603-2223
Closing Remarks & Reminders
All members are asked to please consider supporting the campaign to help members of our Indigenous community, to support the new Catch the Ace and to attend our Holiday social on Monday, December 13th. Pie Purveyors are also needed!
