The Rotary Club of Peterborough has followed through on its commitment to donate $100,000 to Camp Kawartha in Douro-Dummer.
During the club’s meeting on Monday (June 24), outgoing president Betty Halman-Plumley presented a final cheque for $25,000 to Camp Kawartha’s executive director Jacob Rodenburg.
The $100,000 pledge was made in 2021 as part of the Rotary Club of Peterborough’s centennial celebration project. The money specifically supported the construction of the new Camp Kawartha Health Centre, an eco-friendly straw bale building. Rodenburg told the club the goal was to create a building that was healthy inside and out.
“The centre not only serves the health needs of Camp Kawartha kids, it also demonstrates what’s possible in regenerative green building,” Rodenburg said in a media release.
Camp Kawartha is located on the shores of Clear Lake in Douro-Dummer. The health centre is a 1,200-square-foot structure that was designed to have net-zero energy costs, zero toxins, zero fossil fuel use and zero waste output — all adding up to a zero-carbon footprint. The health centre has a fully equipped clinic with first aid supplies, over-the-counter medications, as well as patient assessment tools — including a blood pressure cuff, a thermometer, stethoscopes, an oxygen saturation probe, and more. The camp nurse or paramedic lives in the health centre throughout the summer. There are three wellness rooms for campers who need rest or require a quiet space to decompress.
The centre supports the health care needs of campers and day visitors and also serves as a “teaching building,” enhancing the environmental education programming offered annually to some 16,000 campers, students, and adults.
The Rotary Club has a long history of supporting Camp Kawartha, which was founded by Rotary more than a century ago.
“Rotary has always been involved with programming to develop the youth of today to be the leaders of tomorrow and that is what Camp Kawartha programming is all about,” said Rotarian Jim Coyle, a past president.
Also during the recent meeting, Halman-Plumley handed over the chains of office to incoming president Ken Seim.
The term-end celebration also included awarding the “Breakfast Cup” to one of the five Prince of Wales Breakfast Club volunteer groups. Every morning last week, each group prepared a special breakfast for the young breakfast club patrons. The meals were judged by a panel of school staff and students with points for presentation, nutrition, and taste. The “Thursday Team” took home the trophy for their deluxe breakfast buffet that consisted of homemade macaroni and cheese, devilled eggs, heart-shaped watermelon pops and more.
Meanwhile, two Peterborough residents were voted as Rotarians of The Year during the June 24 meeting. Former radio personality and current real estate agent Catherine Hanarahan and Grady’s Feet Essentials owner Tony Grady “have made significant contributions to the success of our club,” the Rotary Club of Peterborough noted in a social media post.
Hanarahan and Grady are both on the board of directors and are dedicated volunteers with bingo and the Prince of Wales Breakfast Club program.
Hanarahan chaired the Rotary Spelling Bee committee, which organized the popular media vs Rotarians spelling bee and the televised spelling bee finals for students. She was also actively involved with the Carl Oake Rotary Swim and, in her role as communications chair, used her media skills to spread the word about Rotary.
Grady took on the roles of both treasurer, ensuring the books were balanced and streamlining coordination with Rotary’s foundation and fundraising committees, and sergeant at arms, finding a new venue for Rotary meetings and ensuring the meetings ran smoothly including the food.
The Rotary Club of Peterborough was established in 1921 and currently has just more than 70 members.
Throughout its history, the club has supported many local and international activities and events, from its early sponsorship of Five Counties Children’s Centre, The Rotary Spelling Bee, and The Prince of Wales Breakfast Club programs, to worldwide efforts in polio eradication, clean water, world peace, and literacy.
The Rotary Club of Peterborough, which usually meets for lunch two Mondays per month, is one of more than 46,000 clubs, with 1.4 million members around the world. The club celebrated its 100th anniversary on April 1, 2021.
– with files from Paul Rellinger / kawarthaNOW
