Author: Marcel Mongeon

  • Speaker Schedule!

    Speaker Schedule!

    Tonic Rotary Welcomes Speakers


    March 16: Former MP David Christopherson, who was a parliamentary observer at seven elections in Ukraine, shared his insights and experiences into the fight for democracy and sovereignty in Ukraine.


    April 6: Jeff Anders, a co-founder of Aeon Studio Group, will tell us about the vision to turn a section of Hamilton’s north end into a bustling production hub for the creative industry, including film, television, fashion and more.

    Kim Martin


    May 4: Kim Martin, executive director of Hamilton’s Social Planning and Research Council, will give us an overview of SPRC’s important and evolving role.


    May 18: Offsite meeting! We’ll gather at McMaster Innovation Park for a tour and beer garden social to follow.

  • Rotary International statement on Ukraine conflict

    Rotary International statement on Ukraine conflict

    It is a tragic and sad time for the people of Ukraine and the world.
     
    At Rotary, we are deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation in Ukraine and the escalating loss of life and humanitarian hardship there. Continued military action against Ukraine will not only devastate the region, but also risk spreading tragic consequences across Europe and the world.
     
    As one of the world’s largest humanitarian organizations, we have made peace the cornerstone of our global mission. We join the international community in calling for an immediate cease fire, withdrawal of Russian forces, and a restoration of diplomatic efforts to resolve this conflict through dialogue.
     
    In the past decade, Rotary clubs in Ukraine, Russia and nearby countries have transcended national differences and have actively engaged in peace-building projects to promote goodwill and to marshal assistance for the victims of war and violence. Today, our thoughts are with our fellow Rotary members and others in Ukraine coping with these tragic events. Rotary International will do everything in its power to bring aid, support and peace to the region.
     
    Rotary International
    25-Feb-2022
  • Why Join Tonic

    By Cynthia Janzen, Membership Engagement and Recruitment

    I have been talking to some potential members lately about why Tonic: Rotary After Five is a good group to join. Here are just three benefits  of Rotary (believe me, there are more – this is just a quick hit):

    1. Leadership skills. I have been in Rotary 20 years and know that I have learned as much about leadership at Rotary as I ever did at work. For improving leadership skills, learning about group dynamics, honing presentation skills and much more, Rotary is tops. At Tonic, we go one better and have a pro bono consulting program, Rotary Advisers, for community organizations. At Tonic you can sharpen your skills all the more, while providing a great community service.
    2. Good feelings. It’s well known that volunteer work is a positive thing to do. Joining a club like Tonic takes all those good intentions and gives them focus, whether you are mentoring at-risk youth, supporting a food security program, or supporting an international scholar. You’ll feel better. You’ll BE better.
    3. Being part of something big. Rotary is an incredible force for good around the world.  And even if much of your efforts are at the local level, Rotary’s scope and impact is something to feel proud of.
  • New Years Message

    New Years Message

    As we enter a new calendar year its hard to focus on anything other than the impacts of Covid-19 and the Omicron variant on our daily lives. It is, however, key that we all maintain a positive outlook as we direct our energy towards helping those who are less able than we are to cope with their daily lives, let alone fight a pandemic on top of it. We need to lead by example, and do whatever we can to assist our community in working their way through this difficult time.

    We have made great progress over the past year in extending the reach of our small Club and plan to continue this in 2022. One of the promising areas we are working on is assisting the start-up of a satellite club in Botswana. It’s truly amazing what can be done over long distances through the power of technology. Bringing this project to fruition will not only assist in the personal growth of the satellite club members, but also in spreading the word on the work of Rotary on the African continent. Our Rotary Advisors team also continues its good work, and we have become the District leader on the subject of Scholarship Grants. These areas of success help round out the overall focus of the club this year, which is ‘Food Security’. We will continue to build on our support for community fridges, food banks, charity farm work, and related areas and look to increase our impact.

    In order to meet our Club goals a critical challenge for the Club is building our ‘bench strength’ for the future. We already have our Executive team identified for next year, however we need to add new members that can help build our knowledge, ability, and impact. For anyone reading this message who has a potential new member in mind please feel free to reach out to Cynthia Janzen who can assist you.

    I am privileged to be a member of such a dynamic Club and thank all our members for their hard work and dedication