Events

Zoom Meeting: 

Darlene Grasdal, our special speaker is Site Admin for Bethany College Side Gardens.

Bethany Care Foundation was one of the recipients from Sunrise Rotary spring community grant program 2025. Join us at the meeting where Darlene will share about the projects for their programming for Seniors and the Pathway of Opportunity Project.

JOIN US for a great time of food and fellowship! Everyone welcome, bring a friend... challenge everyone around you to support the blood giving lifeline :) 

Our guest speaker will be club member Johan Steenwyk presenting on his epic motorcycle trip to Iceland.   In July Johan was one of five riders with two guides that completed the "Fire & Ice" tour of Iceland.  The Edellweiss Motorcycle Tour company based in Austria only schedules two 10 day trips to Iceland due to challenging conditions on the coastal trip around the country.   Through slides and stories Johan will share his adventures and learnings.

Our Meeting Chair will be Ian Warwick with Dave Oxley as Sergeant at Arms.   Susan Walker is on Set Up.   Please join us.

Note that this is THE last opportunity to donate to the Rotary Foundation and Polio Plus.   Contact Ajoy Joseph asap.

Let's join Red Deer East Rotarians to help pack and sort food items at the Red Deer Food Bank

Let's celebrate the holidays with a Christmas holiday morning hot apple cider party (Dec. 17) where we will have a social time and complete the Youth HQ Gift bags.

The Rotary Club of Red Deer Sunrise is working with Youth HQ again this year to bring a touch of Christmas cheer to vulnerable teenagers in our community. Youth HQ hoped for 50 gift bags; 25 for gals and 25 for guys. We exceeded our target of 50 by 6 for a total of 56 bags!!  Thanks to Irina Peters and Bev Refugio for leading this initiative.   We need to complete the bags by adding the Tim Hortons $10 gift cards, toothpaste and toothbrust donated by Riverstone Dental and fluff the red or green tissue to ID the bags for a gal or a guy.  A festive snack compliments of your president will be provided.

There are two ways to help:  

1. Compile the bags yourself. Each bag to contain:

Pair of mitts/gloves, toque, neck-warmer/scarf, pair of socks, shower gel/shampoo, lip balm, deodorant, healthy treat like a pack of granola bars, a Christmas treat and a Christmas card signed by you. Please put supplies in a 10” X 13” gift bag.

Our Rotary elves will add toothbrush, tooth paste and floss plus a Tim Horton’s gift card. Bring your completed gift bag(s) to our Dec 17 Meeting aka the Elves' Meeting at Sunnybrook Farm. If you can't make the meeting to bring your completed bags, Judy-Ann has offered that they can be dropped off at Casa Gouda or she could come pick them up. 

OR 

2. Donate and we will do the shopping. With careful shopping we can do a bag for $25.00. E-transfer funds to rotarysunrise@shaw.ca before December 10, 2025.

Thank you for making a difference in a teenager’s Christmas!

Hello and Happy New Year!!  For our first Rotary Club of Red Deer Sunrise Blood Challenge Social we will be meeting at Las Palmeros.    JOIN US for a great time of food and fellowship.   Everyone welcome and bring a friend or two... challenge everyone in your circle of friends to make the RESOLUTION for 2026 to regularyly give blood.  Canadian Blood Services needs our ongoing support.

If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to Judy-Ann Wybenga at 403-318-8163, jawybenga@shaw.ca

Hello and Happy New Year to you ALL.    We might see you at Las Palmeros tonight the for first Wednesday of the month Rotary Club of Red Deer Sunrise Blood Challenge Social.   For our first in person meeting of the year next Wednesday we will have our our newest member Nicola Weimer share with us her career story and WHY Rotary.   There may also be time for us to share our New Year's resolutions and goals.   Our Sergeant at Arms for the month of January is Johan Steenwyk.   For our January 14th meeting it will be Ian Warwick and Judy-Ann on set up with some healthy snacks.    Please continue your new habit of confirming your attendance for our meetings.   Thanks very much and please connect with me directly if you have any questions or comments.   Ciao for now

Rotarians, friends, family and guests are all welcome to come help pack and sort food items at the Red Deer Food Bank.

Glenn Moore from Freedom Adventure Bus will join us on our ZOOM meeting and share about their unique, barrier-free charter and tour bus service operating primarily on Vancouver Island. They focus on providing group transportation and adventures for people of all abilities, including those using wheelchairs or mobility devices.  Check their website  

www.freedomadventurebus.com

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82519527696

Meeting ID: 825 1952 7696

Virtual via ZOOM https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86020961288

Check your email for the agenda and Reports document.   Information is also housed in ClubRunner under documents on the "HOME" screen.

Guest Speaker Mary Turner, member of the Rotary Club of Olds and Past District Governor for our District in 2020-2021. She is now serving on the District Membership committee and would like to come and share resources with us to support our membership engagement.    Her focus is on member enrichment.  Our roundtable questions for discussion are:

What brought you to Rotary, why are you here, and what is yet to come?

Ian Warwick, Past President will be chairing this morning's meeting.  Our Sergeant at Arms is Johan Steenwyk.   The Set Up Crew is Frank Bauer and Susan Kmetiuk.

Reminder and please share with all past participants for awareness... This month's Rotary Club of Red Deer Sunrise Blood Challenge Social is planned for TIffany's Steakhouse.    JOIN US for a great time of food and fellowship.   Everyone welcome and bring a friend or two... challenge everyone in your circle of friends to become a regular blood donor.  Canadian Blood Services needs our ongoing support.

If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to Judy-Ann Wybenga at 403-318-8163, jawybenga@shaw.ca

Oodles of Chocolate -- Come and listen to this great story of owning and operating a Chocolate Store.  

Come visit us at C8, 5580 45th St, Red Dee

Our Sergeant at Arms is Frank Bauer with the Set Up Crew of Grant Burchnall and Susan Kmetiuk.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85826484768 

How lucky to have a virtual meeting scheduled this week so we can stay off the roads and just join the meeting virtually.   See you tomorrow on line !!

Our Speaker is Steve Fine,  Founder and President Melanoma Education Foundation Board Member, Rotary Club of Peabody, MA Landline: 978-535-3080"

The average onset age is 65 years but it can strike anyone from preteen to elderly. Melanoma is often lethal but, when found early, is curable in a short outpatient visit with no need for follow-up chemo or radiation. Since mid-June 2022 Steve has presented over 500 live Zoom presentations.  Steve has devoted the past 25 years to educating adults and teen students about self-detection and prevention of melanoma. 

This event is an opportunity to mix and mingle with local businesses in Red Deer.   Let's share our Club's successes with others and invite them to consider joining our club.   Let's make some new connections and do some networking.

Set Up is at 4 pm.  Contact Grant Burchnall directly if you can help with Set Up.  

Location:  Gameland Video Arcade and Leisure Centre  #13 7619 50 Ave

"This is Us"

We will be welcoming Samantha Shandal and Rebecca Gama into our club with an official induction ceremony led by Grant Burchnall.

We will have a round robin of updates from our Board Members,  present the proposed slate of Board positions for 2026/2027, brainstorm on speakers and topics for future meetings and discuss our Club's "brand,"   Attached for pre-reading is a 5 page Brand document authored by Grant Burchnall and a copy of our current 3 year strategic plan.

Sergeant at Arms:  Frank Bauer

Setup: Jeffery Dawson & Ajoy Joseph

Team up with the Sunrise Rotarians to raise money for the Red Deer Mustard Seed on their annual fundraiser walk. There will be an after-party (approx 6:30pm) at the home of Johan and Judy-Ann where Johan will be making his delicious pea soup. BYOB. Please register on Clubrunner to let our hosts know if you plan to attend. Everyone welcome!

Here's how it works. Click on the link below to take you to the team page of Rotary Club of Red Deer Sunrise and then either join the team to walk, or donate to the team if you choose not to walk. If you choose to join the team, you will complete the registration process with your personal information so that you can invite friends and family to sponsor you. Our goal is $2500 and every person who sponsors you will be contributing to our goal.

https://cnoy.w-ith.me/RotarySunrise

More information on the event

This month's Rotary Club of Red Deer Sunrise Blood Challenge Social is planned for It's All Greek to Me.    JOIN US for a great time of food and fellowship.   Everyone welcome and bring a friend or two... challenge everyone in your circle of friends to become a regular blood donor.  Canadian Blood Services needs our ongoing support.  http://give.blood.ca/goto/ROTARY_OUR-TEAM

Please join us for our in person meeting.

Special Guest:   Janessa McCormack, Youth HQ 50th Anniversary Celebrations  

Set Up:  Dwaine Souveny

Sargeant at Arms:  Susan Walker

Classification Speech:  Rebecca Gama

Note:  meeting fee is $10 per person

Inviting all Rotarians to the third annual All Clubs Social on March 15. (see attached poster)

Our Rotary club could win bragging rights if we can bring home the win!! (no competition here right?) lol

For this contest - all bakers are challenged to bring some fine desserts for everyone to try.   Judging will be done by your peers - and truthfully - as long as we are eating yummy desserts there really can be no losers.

Details:   When: - March 15th, 2026    5pm - 8pm.

                Where: - Eastview Community Hall - 120 Ellenwood Drive, Red Deer

                Cost: - your choice - you can pay a $20 entry fee - OR - you can bring a dessert.  

Details:

The dessert must be able to give a small sample only - so you don't have to plan on feeding all of us, just a bite for those who want to try.

Dessert can be any sweet treat that you choose - cookies, baked goods, cakes, trifle, pie - bring your favourite! 

Entry fee - $20 cash at the door please.  The $20 pays for the hall rental, the meal, the non alcoholic drinks and the prizes.  

Other details:

We will have some chili and buns, and a meat/cheese platter there so that we have a bit of savoury before filling up on sugar.

There will be a cash bar - beer and wine only - $5 per drink.

There will be water and some non alcoholic drinks.

PLEASE RSVP by March 11 by registering in this ClubRunner event posting - with your intention of being a guest or a dessert entry.  Judy-Ann will let the planning committee know how many from our club will be attending.

Needed: 

Volunteers for set up and clean up.    Please Judy-Ann know if you want to help and. Volunteers should arrive at 4pm to set up tables and snacks.    We also need a few people to put the tables away and give the floor a quick sweep and mop before handing the keys back in.  

For those who have not attended before - it will be a great casual evening of fellowship and everyone who attends is a judge - try as many desserts as you like, and pick your three favourites - judging takes place once we have all had the chance to mark our ballots.  Hope to see you there!  Sharon Moffat and Aliesha Shuparsky

Rotarians, friends, family and guests are all welcome to come help pack and sort food items at the Red Deer Food Bank

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85082555573

DISCON 2026 CELEBRATE:   Bryce Weidman, Chair and Manon Mitchell, District 5360 will be joining us to give us all the details about the upcoming District Conference happening right here in Red Deer from May 1 - 3. 

Speaker:   Erin Peden, CEO of Community Foundation of Central Alberta

For 35 years, the Community Foundation of Central Alberta has helped form the social infrastructure of our region, providing a steady backdrop for community growth and care. These days, CFCAB is intentionally stepping forward from that backdrop to play a more active, catalytic role in driving innovation and systemic change across Central Alberta. Much like Rotary, we believe in service above self and in strengthening communities by investing in people, ideas, and partnerships that create lasting impact, turning generosity into permanent endowments and support for bold, emerging solutions. As a trusted community convenor, we work alongside service providers, donors, and local organizations to listen for community needs and connect resources where they can do the most good.

Our Sergeant at Arms is Susan Walker.  Set Up Team is The Oxleys.

Meeting fee is $10 per person

This month's Rotary Club of Red Deer Sunrise Blood Challenge Social is planned at Shiso Restaurant.    JOIN US for a great time of food and fellowship.   Everyone welcome and bring a friend or two... challenge everyone in your circle of friends to become a regular blood donor.  Canadian Blood Services needs our ongoing support.  http://give.blood.ca/goto/ROTARY_OUR-TEAM

Guest Speaker Gina Belich from Inclusion Alberta will be presenting.

TBA

Guest Speaker Richelle Miller from Alberta Precision Laboratories

Let's have some fun! Come at 5:30pm to join us for an 'a la carte' meal and some bowling fun at 7pm. Please indicate in your registration if you are NOT wanting to bowl as we have to reserve lanes for bowling. Pricing for bowling is $22.50 for two games & shoe rental. Bring your spouse, friend or neighbor!

This is the link for the conference website.  I will try and keep this updated as more information is released.

 Click here to view all conference information on the District website

This month's Rotary Club of Red Deer Sunrise Blood Challenge Social is planned at TBA.    JOIN US for a great time of food and fellowship.   Everyone welcome and bring a friend or two... challenge everyone in your circle of friends to become a regular blood donor.  Canadian Blood Services needs our ongoing support.  http://give.blood.ca/goto/ROTARY_OUR-TEAM

Guest Speaker Sue Carmichael from Red Deer Public Schools Reading College Program 

More info

Guest speaker Tim Creedon of Rotary Club of Mahone Bay NS