Aerial View of Sirenis Tropical Suites, Punta Cana

Stay for 1 week at the All Inclusive 4-star resort located on the beautiful white sand Macao Beach. Includes flight from Toronto, transfers to/from hotel, 3 meals daily plus snacks, all drinks (domestic brands, domestic beer, house wine), non-motorized water sports, tennis, daily activities & evening entertainment.

Blackout dates are Dec. 10th to Jan. 20th and March 20th to April 10th. Must be used during 2010. Successful bidders are responsible for taxes, approx. $320 per person.

Item is up for auction at 10pm on Saturday November 21st.

About the Hotel

The Sirenis Tropical Suites is part of a 5-star hotel complex situated on the eastern side of the Dominican Republic, on the Uvero Alto-Macao beach in Punta Cana, in the Higüey region.

The hotel offers 2 magnificent swimming pools, 2 separate children’s pools and sun terraces. Fun is assured thanks to the entertainment area, the children’s mini club with outdoor and indoor game areas and the El Bonche discotheque.

Furthermore, a buffet restaurant and a panoramic beach restaurant are available, offering 7 different dining options (Chinese, Pizza and Pasta, Steak House, Mexican, Fish and Seafood, French crêperie and Vegetarian). Also, the hotel counts with 6 bars, one featuring a game area with billiards and video games.

This year, the auction will be broadcast on Rogers TV (cable 10) on Friday, November 20th 7pm to midnight and on Saturday November 21st 10am to midnight. We’ll have a short break between 4pm and 7pm to watch the Marlies game.

Be sure to review the items up for auction this year, we have many great items. And as always, bid early, and bid often!

Keep your eye out on this website as we get closer to the auction. If you only want to see posts about the auction, bookmark the auction tag page. You can also subscribe to our mailing list. We’ll be sending out reminder e-mails as the auction date approaches.

Doug recounted how he first learned about Rotary. A former student’s parent invited him to attend a club meeting when he was a new Principal at a Whitby school. The club’s unofficial motto at the time was “get your ask in gear.” To get new members, just ask and they may well chose to join. He encouraged us as Rotarians to believe and lead by example.

As president of his club, he traveled to Consuelo, Dominican Republic and learned about the programs that his club was supporting there. He also learned more about local conditions and needs.

As assistant D.G. he has learned how each club is different and in their own unique fashion, have contributed to the character of Rotary International.

Doug reminded us that this year’s Rotary International  motto is “the future of Rotary is in your hands,” and described several objectives for the year:

• Polio eradication (with a renewed emphasis)
• Clean sustainable water access
• Health and hunger
• Literacy

District Governor Doug also described his goals for the 2009-2010 District 7070 year:

• HIV/AIDS – The continuation of a 5 year program
• Micro Finance – a hands up not a hand out approach
• Rotary at Work – get Rotarians talking about their vocation

Doug highly recommends attending both district and international conferences. This year’s 7070 District Conference is at Blue Mountain Resort from October 16 to 18. The 2010 International Conference is in Montreal from June 20 to 23 2010.

And in closing, Doug reminded us that the future of Rotary is youth. We should consider starting a Rotoract or Interact chapter in East York.

2009-2010 RI President John Kenny

It was estimated that approximately 19,000 people attended this year’s conference in Birmingham, England. Strong numbers, considering the current Global Economic Environment. Numbers like this strongly suggest that Rotarians from around the world are truly committed to the many causes of Rotary and the continuation of such a worth while organization…”The future of Rotary is in our Hands.”

This was my second International Conference, and once again I was in awe of the number of people in attendance. The dedication and commitment demonstrated by everyone – to the thousands of projects around the world – is truly inspiring. It is at these conferences where you meet and learn about Rotarians who travel around the world working on projects that “make dreams real.” Ordinary everyday people like ourselves travelling to parts of the world where up until recently they have not had access to clean water, where the opportunity to attend school was just a dream, where people live on less than a dollar a day. The stories I heard were both incredibly heartwarming and incredibly heartbreaking, from a couple who watched the faces of children light up when the first spurt of water was pumped from a well, to the devastating feelings of helplessness when a child dies in your arms. Attending an International Conference makes you realize what our potential as Rotarians can be to change the way people live…by really making dreams real!

Next year’s conference is in Montreal from June 20th to June 23rd, I strongly recommend everyone try to attend, it will truly reinforce the impact that we as Rotarians can make in the world both locally and internationally!

Kim Brown

Pictured from left to right:

• Brian Smith, President and CEO of WoodGreen Community Services
• Pam McConnell,  Toronto City Councillors, Ward 28 Toronto Centre-Rosedale
• The Honorable Peter Kent, MP for Thornhill
• Kathleen Wynne,  MPP for Don Valley West

East York Rotarians posing in front of an Overnight Suite for the Alzheimer Day Programme

On Thursday, June 25, 2009, members of the Rotary Club of East York joined Providence Healthcare in the opening celebration of the newly located Alzheimer Day Program (ADP). It was a special moment for the members as it was their first opportunity to see how their generous donation of  $50,000 was used towards an ‘Overnight Suite’ in the ADP.

The ADP has been designed to provide clients with the comforts of a “home away from home” in a compassionate environment, where their dignity and privacy is respected. Overnight Suites are essential to the well being of ADP clients. They offer a quiet space for individuals to lay their heads down during their stay in the ADP. The Suite is furnished with a Hill-Rom bed with an ultra-comfortable gel mattress and a ceiling lift for clients who have mobility needs.

Providence Healthcare’s Alzheimer Day Program is nationally acclaimed and Ontario’s first program to offer services within the 24-hour clock, providing therapeutic activities and caregiver education and support. The ADP provides family and client-centred service in a warm and caring environment. Regular recreation activities include gardening, woodworking and baking. A beautiful healing garden and therapeutic pets add to the peaceful atmosphere.