Betty-Lou Souter

The meeting began with Grace by Graham Kennedy and O Canada led by Rob Reid.

President, Betty-Lou, wished the Members a Merry Ukranian Christmas and reminded people that this was the last call for ballots for the new Directors.

The Club joined in a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday for former President Ray Bukovec.

Ray Bukovec

Announcements

Ron Sloan

Betty-Lou indicated our attendance was at 61%, which was marginal at best. Make sure you check in and complete your make-ups. She spoke of the difficulty in balancing a full fellowship portion to the meeting with the requirements of a meeting in the middle of a business day and assured Members that the Board and Executive were aware of this concern. She read a letter of thanks from Elaine O'Toole for the Ted Lancaster Bursary which was much appreciated by this mother of two who is studying English at Brock.

Ron Sloan urged us to fill out some of the vacant categories, such as, automotive sales, hospitality, residential construction and wineries. The Club can always use good, new members in any category.

Dave McAdam

Dave McAdam announced that on March 4th there would be a Centennial Dinner Dance at Club Roma, $60 per person.

The Port Colborne Centennial Club will have its Charter Night on January 29 th at 7 p.m.

Tsunami Relief

Eugene Gillies

Betty-Lou indicated that the Club was adopting Rotary's approach of finding intermediate and long-term solutions. The Board had met on June 4 th and had voted $5,000 for medicines to "Not Just Tourists" and up to $5,000 to be matched by Members' contributions and CIDA (for a total of $20,000) for supplying fresh water and purification to the stricken area. An adhoc committee was formed to look for other long-term projects. Moved by Larry Iggulden and seconded by Peggy Davidson, the Board's action was unanimously approved. Members should get their cheques to Bill Cole or Eugene Gillies to ensure that proper credit is given.

Betty-Lou presented a cheque for $5,000 to Ken Taylor, who spoke about the 10 years he has been involved in providing medical supplies. Last year, "Not Just Tourists" supplied 15,000 pounds of medicine to 34 Countries. This included hurricane relief in Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba; a quick response by Brantford Rotary to a request last weekend for 181 pounds destined to Sri Lanka and a buying spree on Monday on behalf of Save the Children for $5,700 worth of medicine bound for Thailand, enough to treat 4,500 children for one week.

Ken Taylor and Betty-Lou Souter

Election Results

The new Directors are:

• Bill Campbell
• Janet Johnston
• Lezlie Murch
• John Potts

50/50 Draw

Carol Stymiest pulled the wrong card.

10 Day Notice
Kelly Buckley, proposed by Angus Adams, Classification -Real Estate - Home Inspection - she is Lloyd Buckley's daughter.

Happy Dollars

Peggy Davidson

Peggy Davidson collected loot from:

Rachel Delaney who astounded the Membership by confirming that the Melbourne Cup actually existed.

Norm Kreger was happy that he was going to Jamaica and was starting work to bring medical supplies to a Montego Bay clinic.

Pat Rooney spent two weeks in Cuba and delivered 10 suitcases of medication. She also arranged for free air flights for surplus medical supplies.

Our trusty photographer Roger Segalin

Sangeeta Hollo donated $200 from her office to the Club's Tsunami Fund.

Larry Ross announced that he will be a grandfather thrice over.

John Nitsopoulos was happy that it was St. John's Day (no relation).

Lezlie Murch was happy for the opportunity to host students from abroad and Antonio, one of her students, told us that the feeling was mutual.

Bill Finley, who had been to Sri Lanka and knew the place where much of the damage had occurred, was glad that we were helping.

Howard Lackie was demoted to Corporal At Arms for failing to fill the post of Sargent At Arms until half way through the meeting. A donation of $100 to the Relief effort saved him from becoming a Private At Arms.

Eugene Gillies 45th wedding anniversary was worth 22.222222 cents per year.

The Program
Classification Talk - Graham Kennedy

Graham Kennedy

Graham Kennedy was introduced by Eugene Gillies. Graham was born in India, spent a brief time in Ireland and most of his life here in Canada. He recounted a number of stories that reflected how his beliefs has influenced his actions.

He spoke of learning tolerance from his childhood in India when he lived in the biggest house and was a very small minority and yet was treated with unfailing kindness by the local population.

He spoke of his gratitude for medicare and the warm welcome he received as a young lad when his family moved to Saskatchewan.

He learned mercy when he was allowed a second chance to get his swimming award when he had mistakenly confused rendering artificial respiration with swimming the butterfly.

While serving as a summer Customs Guard, he demonstrated compassion when, against the accepted norm, he went out onto the International Bridge to encourage an Indian, who was intoxicated, to get back on his feet and to the safety of the shore.

He was inspired to be a Minister by the enthusiasm of his Pastor at Knox College. While there, he met his wife of 34 years, Cathy.

He was able to welcome a Catholic/Protestant couple into his parish with the assurance that the feuds of the Old Country had no place in this new land.

He spoke of offering shelter to a young girl who had been attacked in the park near his home.

And finally, he told us of the strong co-relation between the work of his Ministry and the goals of Rotary.

George Irvine thanked Graham and assured him that he was in the right racket. We agree.

Graham Kennedy and Betty-Lou Souter