PORT HAWKESBURY - A longtime volunteer organization dedicated to assisting the Strait of Canso's less fortunate is struggling to re-imagine its major public fundraisers, as social-distancing regulations connected to the COVID-19 pandemic continue to affect daily life in Nova Scotia.

Michele Tabensky became the new president of the Port Hawkesbury Rotary Club in July. Tabensky's four years in the club have seen her launch several key fundraisers, including the annual "Chase The Leprechaun" prize draw that ties into a full-on Irish music session every St. Patrick's Day, and a number of New Year's Eve fundraising dances that the club has held in conjunction with the James Poirier Legacy Scholarship Fund. 

Speaking to TELILE 24/7 host Adam Cooke, Tabensky stressed the importance of developing new fundraisers for the Port Hawkesbury Rotary Club following the demise of its traditional June golf tournament three years ago.

However, while Chase The Leprechaun 2020 took place just days before Nova Scotia entered lockdown mode in mid-March, other fundraising activities are now on hold, hampering the Rotary Club's ability to make contributions to individuals, groups and organizations that cannot always depend on other financial sources to meet their needs. 

Tabensky noted that her 12-member club, and similar service groups in Port Hawkesbury and the surrounding area, will have to use imaginative means to stage scaled-down and/or virtual online versions of the major public events that used to serve as their key fundraisers and attention-getters.