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Larry Iggulden |
The meeting opened with grace by Debbie Sevenpifer, and O Canada led by Don Shaw, followed by a toast to Her Majesty the Queen and to Canada.
President Larry introduced the Head table: Jean Armitage, St. Catharines a.m. Club Rotarian and past Assistant District Governor, Paul Holmes, Guest Speaker, Ron Sloan, Sgt. At Arms, Peter Lumsden, Rotarian in the Spotlight, and Kelly Buckley, to introduce our guests.
Rotarian in the spotlight; Peter Lumsden, married to Sue, and father to a son and a daughter, and grandfather to 4 boys, was introduced to our club by Bill Campbell in March of '92. Peter served on the Board of Directors from 1997 to '99, and has been an active Rotarian, sitting on a large number of committees.
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Jean Armitage |
Kelly introduce the following guests: Sheila Gillies, Joelle Bradshaw, Cameron Douglas, Linda Folkard, Tammy Marouda, Murray Odesse, and Paul Holmes, Kristi Lockyer, Kate Verge and Jean Armitage of the Group Study Exchange to the Philippines.
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Kelly Buckley |
Birthdays:
August 21- Elizabeth Forsyth
August 24-Janet Johnston, Kim Widdicombe
August - Sat Singh
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Sat Singh, Elizabeth Forsyth, Kim Widdicombe, Janeth Johnston & Ron Basset |
We sang to them.
President Larry reminded us of a special initiative he has urged us to support: participation in donating blood. We were reminded that there is a clinic to which we have all been invited on August 30; sign up sheets are available on the tables. Larry thanked the Canadian Blood Services Recruitment Coordinator Tammy Marouda for joining our meeting today. He then asked Kelly to introduce Paul Holmes to help explain the importance of this initiative. Kelly did so, and Paul identified himself as a Canadian Blood Services volunteer and platelet donor. His goal in speaking to us was to help us all to understand why blood donors are needed, and to get at least one new donor for his efforts. Regarding the Canadian Blood Services:
• National, not for profit charity
• To collect, test and deliver blood and blood products
• Provide a safe, secure and accessible supply of blood and blood products for all Canadians
• Need 850,000 units annually
• Only 3.5% of eligible Canadians donate, although most Canadians know that more donations are needed
• Blood and its components (red cells, white cells, platelets and plasma ) are required for different purposes, and demand for platelets as a part of cancer patient treatment grows 4 to 6% each year
• One unit of blood can save up to 3 lives
• PLEASE GIVE
• President Larry presented Paul with a certificate reflecting that a donation had been made to the Canadian Landmine Foundation, whereby 16 square metres of land will be cleared, in appreciation for his time with us today.
Announcements cont'd.
• Tom Arkell is holding a district centennial planning meeting tomorrow at 5, and another committee meeting at Rodman Hall on Aug 30, and someone left dishes at the auction wrap up.
• Janet Johnson asked for billets for youth exchange students arriving for grape and wine (37 students); please take two.
• Nancy Hostick, Chair of the upcoming auction, reminded us there is one week to the launch, and that Sam Walters, chair of the canvas, is holding New Member Orientation at his house on Aug 29.
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Ron Bassett |
Ron Bassett led in the best possible way, donating $50 for: 40 happy years with the bank, a daughter born to his daughter, and his birthday last week.
Eugene Gillies paid to introduce his not to be forgotten guest Kerry, and for contrition for there not being slide show equipment for the GSE team.
Margaret Jarrell was happy that the Ministry of Community and Social Services is further aiding victims of domestic violence through a more than 20% increase in the budget of Design for a New Tomorrow.
George Darte was happy to have given blood more than 39 times, even if it is bad for business.
Jean Armitage was happy to present 2 complimentary tickets to the Oct 21 Charity Wine Tasting and Auction sponsored by the A.M. club.
Doug Geddie was happy that the golf tournament was successful, and Algoma doubled its donation, leading to a donation to the NPCC of $35,000. He was happy to have been assisted at the tournament by Betty-Lou Souter and Marci Heit, and by Angus Adams and Lloyd Buckley.
Kelley Buckley was happy that our exchange student from Thailand has arrived, and asked for help in getting a bike for her.
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Maurice Gomme & George Irvine |
Maurice Gomme was happy to present George Irvine with $3,500 for the St. Catharines General Hospital Foundation, thanks to Neveda Bob.
50/50- Lloyd Buckley had a chance, but it didn't work out as well as the golf tournament.
The Life and Times of Henry Klassen
Guest Speaker Introduction: Jean Armitage thanked the club again for its support of the Group Study Exchange, and indicated that we will be given the opportunity to support a GSE to Sweden.
She introduced Murray Odesse, who lives in Fonthill, works at a Brain Injury association in Human Resources, has an MBA, and sits on the Contact Niagara Board with Jean. Murray, Kate Verge and Kristi Lockyer shared their impressions of their shared Philippine experience.
All three emphasized about the people they met: a phenomenal, caring, generous people, who are filled with joy and love of life.
We were thanked for inviting them to this luncheon to share some of their experiences from the Philippines with us and also to thank this Rotary club and District for sponsoring this great experience. It was reported to be, without a doubt, an awesome experience. Murray spoke, then Kate Verge, then Kristi Lockyer.
The GSE program developed leadership, decision-making, communication, and change management skills, beyond their current level by placing them in a global context where their constructs could be challenged and tested. And it certainly succeeded in placing these skills in a widely different environment, and met the team's expectations in many ways, especially on a social, personal and interpersonal level. And from a vocational perspective, those who were met in the field and in business were extremely keen on the opportunity to exchange and compare ideas, techniques and share experiences and knowledge.
What about the Philippines itself? Well, it is a third world nation, and the local residents acknowledge this openly and have a very keen understanding of their situation and what is needed to move away from this present state. The most important aspect of the exchange was gaining an understanding of how people do persevere, and succeed in an otherwise hostile environment. Filipino's are incredibly industrious and have an enormous capacity for compassion and teamwork, and they have an insatiable need to succeed and grow. It is a remarkable nation with some of the best people imaginable and certainly benefits from the influence of Rotary International both at the local citizen support level as well as the club level.
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Murray Odesse, Jean Armitage,Kate Verge, Kristi Lockyer & President Larry Iggulden |
A note of caution for those of you thinking about visiting the Philippines to climb Mount Pinatubo, walk the 100 Mile March and eat Balut. Kate, the karaoke designate for the team (Montessori teacher), did try this dish (an egg with an embryo with beak and feathers). Be prepared for some of the most intense white knuckle driving you will ever experience.
From this exchange the team felt it had developed a much greater understanding of global cultures and the means necessary to function successfully in a global environment. As teachers, Kate and Kristi will and are sharing the GSE experience with their students.
Thanks were expressed to Roy Schofield, Art Wing, Eugene Gillies, Charlotte Herlong, and Jaypee Cadaing from the Philippines, and the members of District 7090 and the Rotary Club of St. Catharines who supported this initiative in many ways.
On behalf of the club, Foster Zanutto expressed both thanks and pleasure that, having heard so much about the team from selection through a long process, we were now hearing directly from them. He thanked them for their words, and for being great emissaries. President Larry thanked them with a certificate to Canadian Landmines.
President Larry shared a Rotary moment - to put a name on a small pin, you need a name that is short enough! Hence, the revised name "Rotary International".
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Larry Iggulden & Kate Verge |
Notice- To participate in billeting Youth Exchange students at Grape and wine weekend, call Janet Johnston at (work) 905-684-4994 or (res) 937-0600.
St. Catharines A.M. Rotary Club Wine Tasting & Auction, Friday October 21, 7 'til 10, at Hernder Estates, $20./ticket. Contact Maya Pickering at 905-688-5011.
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