The Rotary Club of Milton

The Rotary Club of Milton is a local service club in Milton, Ontario, Canada. The club was chartered on January 22, 1947. Members meet weekly to engage in professional development, fellowship as an avenue to service, maintaining high ethical standards in personal and business dealings and to promote international peace through a gathering of business and professional men and women. A long-standing tradition for the Milton Rotary Club is its support of the Milton blood donor clinics.
The club participates in a Rotary International pilot program that supports member diversity by allowing the club to hold two weekly meetings via a satellite club instead of one.
Demographics
The demographics of the Milton club are unusual among Rotary clubs:
:* Situated in Milton, Ontario, the fastest growing community in Canada since 2001 (71.4% growth 2001-2006 and 56.4% growth 2006-2011), in one of the largest population concentrations in North America, southern Ontario's Golden Horseshoe, giving it explosive potential for membership growth (in six months club membership has grown by 30%). This is bucking worldwide trends as many clubs' membership numbers are in complete "freefall".
:* Selected to be one of fewer than 200 clubs worldwide (0.0058% of all clubs) to participate in a Rotary International pilot program that supports member diversity by allowing the club to hold two weekly meetings via a satellite club instead of one (a breakfast meeting and a supper meeting) to attract different types of members (small business owners vs. commuting professionals). As a result the Milton club's membership is now 35% female and 17% visible minorities. Prior to 1990, the club was 100% white male Rotarians.
:* For its early adoption among Rotary clubs and widespread, effective use of social media ( , Facebook, Twitter, Website, etc.)
:* For selecting one of the youngest club presidents in Rotary International for the 2014-2015 year who will be aged 31 by the time of office. Worldwide members under the age of 39 years old make up only 11% of total global membership.
Activities
In 2012, the Milton Rotary Club celebrated its 65th anniversary. Key moments in the club's history include:
1940s
The Rotary Club of Milton was formed in January 1947. Charter members included Dr. Frederick Ernest Babcock who was a veteran of World War I and [http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thestar/obituary.aspx?njames-michael-ledwith-mike&pid143937955&fhid=2830#fbLoggedOut Mike Ledwith] who stayed with the club for decades and became Milton mayor in 1957. With veterans playing a big role in the formation of the club, Milton Rotarians continue to honour all veterans on Remembrance Day each year.
1950s
In 1951 members purchased the land where Rotary Park is now situated. The park located north of Mill St. is presently home to two baseball diamonds, tennis courts, a playground and the Rotary pool. Demolition of the pool was proposed, but after an initial public outcry, the pool was re-opened in 2004. . Later events in the park raised additional money to improve facilities further. In 1956, the former Champion Publisher Jim Dills serves as Milton Rotary President, the youngest president in Rotary International. Dills would later receive the Milton Rotary Club's prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Award for his community work.
1960s
In the mid 60's new steps to the Rotary Park were installed with funding raised primarily through Rotary efforts. In 1967 the Rotary Club contributed approximately $4,000 on top of the $10,000 previously raised to furnish the front lobby of the Milton District Hospital.
1970s
In the 1970s, under the leadership of the Rotary Club a Milton Music Society is established.In the mid-70s, the Milton Club begins a funding commitment to help create the Credit Valley Treatment Centre for Handicapped Children, with the Rotorama Carnival raising over $7,000 for this cause. This project continues with support for the Easter Seals campaign and muscular dystrophy for many years.
1980s
In the 1980s, Milton Rotary undertakes the restoration of John Martin House, making use of independently raised funds and grants from the Town, as well as a great deal of hands on commitment. In the late 80's, Rotarians help purchase a handicapped van, designed to transport disabled individuals and initiate the Geared to Income Housing Project on Bronte Street. Four years later, the club guarantees a four year financial donation commitment to Halton Women's Place Shelter. The following year the club supports the establishment of a youth drop-in centre on Mill Street. It's now called The Deck. In 1996 the club plays a key role in organizing Milton's Canada Day festivitiesand of the Milton Santa Claus Parade. In 1998, the club creates a program called "The Gift of Knowledge", awarding scholarships to Milton high school students. From the 2002 to 2012 school years, $60,000 is awarded in scholarships and bursaries. And in 1999 Carolyn Keyworth becomes the club's first female president. (In 2013 one-third of the club's members are female.)
2000s
In 2002 the club reaches 35 years of exchanging a Milton high school student with an international student. In 2006, Milton Rotarians send a container of 280 wheelchairs to Mexico to help give people more freedom. Rotarian Dale Devlin travels to Mexico to help with distribution. The following year, the club donates $25,000 toward the purchase of a CT scanner at Milton District Hospital. In 2008, four Milton Rotarians travel to India at their own expense to help with four major projects the club had assisted funding - a handicapped van in Bangalore, a tribal school north of Mumbai, a community library in Agra, and a school in Mumbai where 200 benches for classrooms were donated. In 2009 the club donates a van to Community Living North Halton, a local organization who supports developmentally disabled individuals. In 2009 the club sends a container of supplies to a Rwanda school for deaf children. It also participates in the ShelterBox program.
2010s
In 2010 the club fundraises and donates $11,000 to help build an accessible playground for The Darling Home for Kids, which was previously known as Rose Cherry's Home, named after Don Cherry's wife. Part of this money is raised from an annual dance and the rest from an annual online auction. The auction has always been prominent in the town, first it is run as a TV only auction aired by the local Cogeco station and later morphing into an online-only fundraiser. In 2010 two Milton Rotarians travel to India to help inoculate children against polio as part of Rotary's Polio Plus Program. In 2012, the club gives a personal dictionary to every grade 3 student in Milton public schools to promote literacy. A few months later the club gives $20,000 to Milton and international charities. The majority goes to scholarships and bursaries to Milton high school students as well as the dictionary program, The Deck After Hours Youth Drop-In Centre, Windrush Stables Therapeutic Riding Program, The Lighthouse program for grieving children, Shelterbox Canada, Literacy North Halton and the Rotary Youth Leadership program. Also donated is $5,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters to support a Milton after-school homework program. In May 2012, Milton Rotarian Len Lee organizes the . Rotarians host a barbecue to feed volunteers. That same month The Rotaract Club of Milton is chartered, a new club for professionals and students aged 18 to 35. In 2012, the club begins holding meetings at Community Living North Halton's board room to help that charitable organization and its catering business. In December 2012, the club launches second meeting time at 7:30 am on Friday mornings to attract small business owners, commuters, and community-minded Miltonians.
Prominent Supporters
Notable supporters over the years include Walter Gretzky , father of hockey star Wayne Gretzky, and Douglas Porter, chief economist at the Bank of Montreal, who has been a guest speaker multiple times at club events.

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