Letters to the Editor
Rotary Club of Chatham Sunrise
Letter to the Editor:
The Chatham Sunrise Rotary Club would like to extend sincere appreciation to the citizens of Chatham-Kent for the support given to our second annual Rotary Ribfest held at Tecumseh Park July 9, 10, 11.
Chatham Sunrise Rotary is committed to the sponsorship and support of community and international projects which include the Sunrise Rotary Trail, the YMCA mini-van, Literary Angels at the Public Library, and the new YMCA. Internationally, Rotarians from Chatham Sunrise travel to India to assist with Polio vaccinations and the Dominican Republic to help develop clean water sources.
Chatham Sunrise Rotary has committed $ 50 000 to the new YMCA over the next five years. To be able to provide this kind of support we must engage the community and that is the purpose of the Rotary Ribfest. It allows Rotary to give something to the community while seeking their financial support of our projects. The planning and delivery of an event the magnitude of the Rotary Ribfest requires months of planning by a steering committee made up of dedicated Rotarians and headed up by tireless co-chairs. Co-chairs of this event are Mark Jenkins and Matt Jenkins, two hard working volunteer Rotarians with excellent organizational skills. Of course with less that forty members it is necessary to enlist community volunteer support to assist with most aspects of the weekend. Sunrise Rotary would like to thank the Municipality of Chatham-Kent for providing much needed assistance and the use of Tecumseh Park, the scores of local residents who signed on to help with various chores through our chathamribfest.com web site and the hard-working helpers from the Ontario Works Program and Community Living.
To make it all happen, Rotary needs sponsorship and we thank SACWAL Flooring Centres for sponsoring the Kids Zone, CK Child, Chatham - Kent Energy the entertainment, Schinkel’s Meats, the amateur cook-off, Tatro Trucks, and many others. Community Futures Development Corporation of Chatham-Kent also assisted.
Media support for the Rotary Ribfest was amazing and truly contributed to the success of the event. Blackburn Radio, CKXS Wallaceburg, Chatham Daily News, Daily Post, CK Times, Chatham This Week all contributed time and effort to promote the Ribfest as a major community event.
Chatham Sunrise Rotary will be looking forward to the Third Annual Rotary Ribfest July 8 - 10, 2011 and once again asking for the support of the people of Chatham-Kent as we work together toward the improvement of our community. Please check the club website for more information about the efforts of the Chatham Sunrise Rotary Club.
Doug Swant
President
Chatham Sunrise Rotary
www.rotarysunrise.com
