Today’s meeting began in the usual fashion with grace by George Darte, Don Shaw then started O Canada followed by a toast to Her Majesty the Queen and Canada.

President Rick introduced the head table which consisted of Ross MacDonald, Chris Blake, Rick Merritt, Henry Becker, Janet deVries and Kim Widdicombe. 

Kim Widdicombe	Katherine Fernandez

Kim Widdicombe introduced the following guests and visiting Rotarians:  Ron Casey from Summerside PEI, Erika Nabuurs from the Southeastern New Brunswick Rotaract club, John Segalin guest of Roger, Karen DeRoche guest of Mary Margaret Murphy and Katherine Fernandez wife of past member Joe Fernandez and guest of our club. 

Janet DeVries

Kim then introduced Janet deVries as the member in the spotlight.  Janet joined our club in August 06 having been introduced by Doug Geddie.  Janet has four children.  Janet is on the board of Beacon Christian Schools and is the director of development and fundraising.  She has been successful in raising six million of their eight million target.  Janet is on the charitable trust committee. 

Birthdays:  Stan Heywood is turning 87 on February 10.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. President Rick announced that Pravin Suchak, a member and past President of the Rotary Club of Amherst North, is to be the District’s nominee for District Governor for the Rotary year 2009-2010.
   
   
2. The 3rd annual World Water Day walkathon will take place on March 22.  Proceeds will go to the Haiti “Water for Life” project.
   
   
3. There will be a dinner on Thursday March 8 at the Spirale Convention Centre in Toronto to honour RI President Wilf Wilkinson.  Please contact Joyce if you are able to attend.
   
   
4. Dr. Walter Bobechko died on January 25; his obituary in the Globe was printed last week.  Dr. Bobechko was the chief of paediatric orthopedic surgery at Sick Kids until 1987.  He was credited with the invention of the Toronto Brace and the Bobechko Hooks which helped children suffering from Legg-Perthes disease and scoliosis.  He traveled around the world setting up clinics and training staff.  There is a direct connection with our club in that Ray Bukovec and others in our club arranged a mission to Yugoslavia.  Past member Dr. Ed Blair worked with Dr. Bobechko and set up his own clinic in Malawi.
   
   

   Rachel Delany

   
   
   
5. Rachel Delaney announced that next Friday there is a ski day at Holimont.  This is a District sponsored event and lunch will be provided.  Please contact John Snowling to arrange car pooling.
   
   

   Earl Alton

   
   
   
6. Earl Alton announced that our golf tournament will take place on Monday, June 18th at Lookout.  The change this year is that proceeds will be split between the new hospital and the children’s centre.
   
   

   Rob Reid

   
   
   
7. Rob Reid announced that the Dalhousie Yacht Club will be holding a Mardi Gras night on February 24 with a live band and dinner.  Cost is $28 per person.
   
   
8. John Snowling reminded members that next week will be our Valentine’s dinner meeting.  It will take place at the golf club at 6 pm and there will be no regular noon meeting that day.  Please call John no later then Tuesday if you don’t have your tickets.

The Winning Canvas Team

Sam Walters & Nancy Ferris Hostick present President Rick with a cheque for $90,000.

9. Nancy Ferris Hostick and Sam Walters gave us an auction wrap up.  Special recognition and awards were given to those that raised over $2000.  Roger Segalin was awarded the Joe Fernandez award to honour the highest canvas bid value.  Betty Lou was recognized for her continued success and commitment in bringing in over $7000 in donations.  Nancy and Sam presented the club with a cheque for
$90 000.  GREAT WORK!!

HAPPY DOLLARS

• Bob Gosselin was happy to be volunteering to build classrooms for the needy.  All the lawyers and bankers in the club are hoping it is a one way ticket.
• John Snowling brought happy new years wishes from our exchange student.  He would be happy to receive any emails from club members.
• John Travers is happy that the curling club is hosting the national juniors.  The parents of the Newfoundland team are happy to have found the Duck.
  
  

  Nancy Ferris Hostick

  
  
• Nancy Ferris Hostick enjoyed her ski trip to the Rockies but has had her fill of the cold weather.
• Angus Adams was happy to announce the timely mention of Dr. Bobechko and Dr. Ed Blair since today is Ed Blair’s birthday.
• Chris Bangham was happy to announce that POW WOW has great food but a real parking problem.
• Peggy Davidson knows that spring is just around the corner because she saw a robin today.  Unfortunately it was frozen solid.
• John Potts is happy to be going south.
  
  
  

  Roger Segalin wins the Joe Fernandez award

  
  
• Roger Segalin was happy to win the Joe Fernandez award and also happy to have his brother present today.
• Collette MaGraff was happy to be going to Ireland to celebrate her mother’s birthday.  She was also happy to be working for one of the top 50 best managed companies in Canada.
• Kim Widdicombe shares in Chris Bangham's parking woes.

50/50 Draw: Today’s total is $1440.95.  Unfortunately Rob Reid didn’t win.

Program

Ross MacDonald had the pleasure of introducing our very own Chris Blake to give his classification talk today.

Ross MacDonald

Chris originally joined our club over 10 years ago.  Chris left our club for a short period of time, saw the light, and decided to return.  Chris has led a very exciting and well traveled life.

Chris Blake

Chris was born in Pembroke and was the son of a military man.  At the age of 9 he won a scholarship to a boarding school in Scotland.  His time was well spent with brisk rugby games and stern discipline.  Chris returned to Canada and eventually attended Carleton University in the late 60’s although his memory is a little hazy I am sure his education didn’t all go up in smoke.
Having spent some time traveling around Europe and managing a restaurant Chris eventually ended up at Glendale (?) College at York University.  He decided to take some drama classes which eventuately led to an audition and apprenticeship at the Stratford Festival.  Chris experienced his cultural revolution while traveling in China.  Returning to Canada Chris attended U of T only to run off and join the Chinese Circus full of accident prone motorcyclists.

Chris is married to Colleen and has two daughters.  The family moved to Niagara 10-12 years ago and Chris has held several positions ranging from actor at the Shaw Festival to organizing the campaign to build the Glendale Campus of Niagara College.  In recent years Chris has served on the Governor General Council and has done freelance work in the fields of tourism and fundraising.

Chris Blake and Rick Merritt

Pat Rooney thanked Chris for his classification talk today.