Today’s meeting began in the usual fashion with grace said by Chris Bangham.  Don Shaw started O Canada followed by a toast to Her Majesty The Queen and Canada.
           
The head table included:  Janet Johnston, Tania Lutz, President Elect Tom Arkell, Henry Becker, Betty-Lou Souter and Kelly Buckley.  Kelly introduced the following guests: Bob Bruce from the Waterdown Rotary Club and Serge Paquin guest of Roger Segalin. 

Literacy was the committee in the spotlight today.  Betty-Lou gave an overview of the committee activities.  Betty and Janet Johnston have worked hard to establish this committee and their hard work paid off with a District award in 06.  All of our clubs speakers are thanked by recognition of a donation on their behalf to a literacy project.  March is literacy month and in keeping with this our club will be having a book drive on March 8th.

Pat Rooney, Lezlie Murch and Ken Wright all celebrated birthdays this week.

Lezlie Murch, Ken Wright and Pat Rooney

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. Tom Arkell announced the board meeting highlights which included the acceptance with regret the resignation of Christina Pentlichuk.  A leave of absence was granted to Doug Geddie.
   
   

   Acting President Tom Arkell

   
   
   
2. Betty-Lou had the honour of awarding a Paul Harris Fellowship Award to our own Tim Rigby.  Tim was the former Mayor of St Catharines and was recognized for his hard work and commitment to the improvement of our city.  Highlights of Tim tenure include the market square and the four pad arena complex.  This the second PH award bestowed on Tim.  He received his first award along with John Lehnen for their work on the World Rowing competition in 1999.  Tim thanked the club and its members for the recognition.
   
   

   Above: Tim Rigby's Standing Ovations Below: Tim Rigby

   
   
3. Bob Bruce followed Betty-Lou by awarding PH awards to Eugene Gillies and Brian St Hilaire for their hard work and countless hours spent of the two zone institute “summit at the falls” last September.
   
   

   PDG - Bob Bruce

   PDG Bob Bruce, PHF Brian St Hilaire, PHF Eugene Gillies and Tom Arkell

   
   
   
4. Henry Klassen presented our club with a certificate to recognize our contributions toward a sanctuary for children in South Africa.
   
   
   

   Above: Harry Klassen with Tom Arkell Center: Mama Lumka's Certificate Below: Harry Klassen

   
   
5. Chris Blake is looking for volunteers to help with the establishment of an “Early act” club in St Catharines in conjunction with the am club.  Early act is a youth leadership program set up in elementary schools.
   
   

   Chris Blake

   
   
   
6. John Snowling announced that the membership committee meeting that was to be held on February 26th has been cancelled and rescheduled for March 5th at 5 pm at George Darte’s establishment.  John also announced that our club had the best attendance at last week’s ski day.

John Snowling

HAPPY DOLLARS

• Mary Margaret Murphy led off happy dollars by saying she was happy that Rick Evan was able to fit her with some new glasses.  Mary Margaret also told a joke but I can’t repeat it because it reflected badly upon a much maligned group of members.
  
  

  Mary Margaret Murphy

  
  
  
• Liz Palmieri was happy to recognize our newest PH award winners.
• Bala Kathiresan was happy to announce that the bid process has begun for the new hospital.
• Jane Rufrano was happy to announce that the Shaver Hospital is getting 15 new much needed beds in the rehab centre.
• John Crossingham was glad that John Snowling was scared off by all the snow on ski day.
• Lezlie Murch recognized that rotary celebrated its 102nd birthday this week.
• George Doty told a joke that you could sink your teeth into.
• Eugene Gillies thanked the club for the PH award.
• Greg Darte acknowledged the PH winners.  He was also happy to be back from New York City - sometimes the big apple can take a bite out of you.
  
  
  

  Betty Lou Souter

  
  
• Betty-Lou was happy that George Darte unselfishly donated a car to community care.

50/50:

Lucky Picker Betty Lou Souter and Greg Darte

  Greg Darte let Betty-Lou draw and he WON.  The pot was a staggering $1561. Greg was hoping he could buy back the car that George had donated.

Program

Janet Johnstone

The subject of today’s program was literacy.  Janet Johnston introduced our guest speaker who was Tania Lutz.  The format was of a question and answer form followed by questions from the members.
Janet began by describing how literacy’s goal is to increase the literacy of children and adults in developing countries.  To be literate is to have the ability to understand and use language.  There is a wide range of proficiency in different people’s ability.

Tania is currently a student in the literacy program.  Although she has above average strength in visual and spatial areas she has difficulty in understanding what she reads and communicating ideas of what she has read.  While listening to people, she often fads in and out and then attempts to piece together bits of information to understand what she has been told.  This has led to frustration and a lack of confidence when trying to cope at school or work.  The literacy centre has been teaching her techniques to increase her comprehension skills.

Tania has dreamed of having a career and hopefully her new skills can help to bridge the gap between her current situation and future goals.
Tania and Janet answered several questions from the club.
           
Norma Medulun thanked today’s speakers.