President-Elect Jennifer Jones inaugurates her presidential term with an epic tour of her home and native land

On 17 June, RI President-elect Jennifer Jones will begin a tour of Canada. And when Jennifer Jones tours Canada, she tours Canada. From Lake Erie to the Arctic Ocean, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific, Jones will spend more than three weeks introducing herself to members of Rotary in Canada — and to anyone else who wants to come out and say hello.

"We have three coasts in Canada," says Carol Tichelman, the national tour chair, "and Jennifer will be traveling from coast to coast to coast. And we have many cross-border districts," she adds, referencing those Rotary districts with clubs in both Canada and the United States. "But Rotary is borderless, and any and all are welcome."

Jones' plans for the Canada tour and the Imagine Impact Tour that will follow took shape during conversations with her husband, Nick Krayacich. "As a way of focusing our presidential travel, we decided to create a global impact tour to showcase projects and programs of significance across the Rotary world," she says. "When we share our stories, like-minded people want to join with us. This tour provides an opportunity for others to see themselves reflected in our actions, and perhaps they will want to learn more about Rotary."

Each stop — or "hub," as the organizers characterize it — will provide occasions to participate in local projects. "The focus is on service," says Tichelman. "All of the hubs are going to be exciting in their own right. There is so much about Jennifer's tour that promises to be wonderful."

"But these events are not just for Rotarians," insists Chris Offer, who helped plan events in Vancouver. "At each of the stops along the tour, they are for anyone who can get to these hub areas."

"The best part of this tour is that it is going to energize us for the year ahead," Jones says. "While this is the first leg of the Imagine Impact Tour, there is nothing that can't be accomplished when Rotary members unite — and we are ready to get started!"

By Conley Publishing Group

CEDARBURG — CITGO Super Sales in Grafton and Cedarburg donated 10 cents to Mel’s Charities for every gallon pumped at specially marked Spirit Pumps from Nov. 15, 2021, until May 15, 2022. Customers also saved by using CITGO Cash Cards and the Club CITGO App.

In addition to the gas promotion, customers stuffed the CITGO SuperSales piggy bank and purchased Mel’s Charities cookies inside the stores. The Pump it Up for Mel’s campaign raised over $3,000 — all of which will be returned to the community.

“We love that Mel’s keeps the contributions local,” said Tom Gall from Super Sales CITGO. “Everything in our world is becoming corporate and to be able to keep the donations in our own hometown is important, especially for our two locally owned and operated stations.”

Tom “Mel” Stanton, Executive Director of Mel’s Charities, added, “We continue to be blown away by the support from the business community in Ozaukee County. Thanks to the generosity of CITGO SuperSales, the ‘Pump it Up for Mel’s’ event gave customers a great opportunity to fuel our mission with every gallon they bought.”

CITGO Super Sales will run this promotion again this summer and fall at their Grafton location.

To learn more about Mel’s Charities, visit www.melscharities.org.

When Canada suspended the export of potatoes to the United States from Prince Edward Island because of a fungus found in two fields, Rotarians in Ontario rallied to help farmers offset their losses. Dozens of clubs coordinated the purchase, transport, and distribution of the still-edible crops to food banks.

The Rotary Club of Bracebridge began the effort, tapping local government connections to arrange for a provincial grant of about US$9,000 to cover the acquisition and transport of 4,000 10-pound bags of potatoes from one of the growers. 

On 19 February, members of five area Rotary clubs and one Rotaract club gathered in a warehouse to offload the spuds, sort the bags, and deliver them to 14 food pantries. Some 800 miles away, at his family farm near Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Rick Sanderson marvels at the thoughtfulness of those who worked with him to salvage a portion of his harvest. “I just really appreciate Rotary helping us out here in the time of need,” Sanderson says.