While COVID-19 has prevented the Flin Flon Rotary Club from meeting up and holding their normal events, a new executive group and new plans are on the way.
The club is already planning to have a new executive group take control as of July 1. President Jane Robillard will step down from her seat, with Doug Gawiak set to take over her spot. Robillard took over as club president last June, not long before Manitoba was hit by the second wave of COVID-19. As a result of that second wave, Robillard and other Rotary members have been unable to hold in-person meetings, volunteer at events or hold some of their major annual fundraisers.
“We are hoping that we will be able to meet in person and get out in the community once again. There will be no exchange student this year. All of our bursaries will be available for the grads,” Robillard said.
“We want our community to know that we are still here.”
The past year included the club adapting to current pandemic life by changing some of their typical events to incorporate safety measures. The club has overseen upgrades to Rotary Court, including new furnaces and air exchange vents, as well as funding for a identification clinic at the Lord’s Bounty Food Bank. Last fall, instead of holding their annual Lobster Night fundraiser, the club held a lobster “to go” night, prepared and either delivering or making the food available for pick-up. A similar plan took place over the holidays - with no possibility of holding the annual seniors’ Christmas party, the club put together gift baskets for seniors, including snacks, cards from schoolchildren and homemade masks, and dropped them off at their homes.
“It is challenge to keep a service club operating during a pandemic,” Robillard said.
“We were able to hold a few meetings in person over the summer but unfortunately we had no big events and missed our pancake breakfasts.”
Other major Rotary initiatives, including Operation Red Nose, were cancelled outright - some funding usually raised through Red Nose, which is given to local sports and youth groups, is still available for those groups and the club will be accepting applications.
The latest Rotary donation was a microwave for the Flin Flon Aboriginal Friendship Centre to be used for the centre’s cold weather shelter program over the winter months.
Looking back over her one-year run as club president, Robillard is frustrated with the circumstances surrounding the year but pleased with what the club was able to accomplish.
“I am thinking this is the worst year ever to be the president, but I want the community to know what we have been up to and know that we are still here to provide service for any projects that need us,” she said.
