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Program: Jackie Van Lankveld – Speech Pathologist – Speech Services Niagara Children’s Centre, sponsored by Rotary for Ukraine
The meeting was opened by President Tom Arkell, Grace was offered by George Darte who became mysteriously absent. Fortunately, his Arch Angel jumped in at the last moment. O Canada started by Don Shaw.
The head table was introduced by President Tom, Mike Pihura to introduce our guest speaker Jackie Van Lankveld, Sgt Bill Campbell, Introduction of Guests by John Chabot. Our only guest of Roger Segalin, was Alexis de Wolfe
Rotary Algoma Golf Tournament
In support of Niagara Peninsula Children’s Centre and the St. Catharines New Hospital Campaign
Monday, June 23rd, 2008 at Lookout Point Country Club, Fonthill, Ontario
$185.00 per person, hole sponsorship $150.00
See Earl Alton for details
The Merriton Community Group is hosting Jeffrey and the Juiors April 5 Merritton Community Centre $20 per perswon includes sald and beef on a bun. Dust off your poodle skirts and saddle oxfords for an evening of fun. see Tom Pekar for tickets.
Ten Day Notices
Moved by John Potts and Peggy Davidson that The Rotary Club of St. Catharines pledge $25,000 per year for three years, to a total of $75,000, to the Niagara Health System Foundation, with the caveat that the total commitment which includes Golf Tournament portion subject to Algoma's agreement, will be $200,000. Furthermore that we have discussions with the NHSF to determine "suitable naming recogniton" for the Rotary Club of St. Catharines. Carried.
Moved by Peter Mahoney and Peggy Davidson that the Rotary Club of St. Cathairnes pledge $10,000 per year for three years, to a total of $30,000, to the Stokes Community Village. Furthermore, that we have discussion with the Stokes Community Village to determine "suitable naming recognition" for the Rotary Club of St. Catharines. Carried.
Bala Kathiresan – February 17th
Patricia Rooney – February 20th
Lezlie Murtch – February 23rd
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Bala Kathiresan & Patricia Rooney |
Happy Dollars was hosted by Aurora Hancock.
Rachelle Delaney invited everyone to the Niagara College Foundation Seafood Gala, Friday, April 11th, 2008, Fallsview Casino Resort, $225.00 per person, a sumptuous feast is promised.
Peggy Davidson informed us that our dues can be paid by Visa and Mastercard.
George Doherty told a harrowing tale of crabs lost by an air stewardess.
Marg Jarrell suggested that anyone wishing to invite our exchange student for the weekend would be appreciated.
Roger Segalin introduced his guest, Alexis De Wolfe, as a soon to be member.
Sam Walters attempted to draw the lucky card without success
Walter Sendzik joined July 20, 2006, introduced by Roger Segalin. Roger is Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce; he is married to Melanie with two children, son William and daughter Ella. His interests are reading, running and wine. He has been active in his short time in Rotary serving with Youth Leadership, Membership, Civic Affairs and Environment and Bulletin. He served on the Board of Directors and is Past Chair of Niagara Grape and Wine Festival. He is also the Executive of Bi-national Tourism Alliance.
Jackie Van Lankveld is the manager of Speech Services Niagara. The local pre-school speech, language and literacy initiative for Niagara. Housed out of the MPPC, Jackie has been working in both management positions and front line for sixteen years. Her interest lies in early intervention for children with language delay as well as universal promotion of early literacy skills. Her presentation today is a follow up of her Rotary funded project to Ukraine to present to speech pathologists on literacy and language.
Jackie started by taking us on a tour of the countryside from Kiev to Rvna. A pastoral land punctuated by few houses and very large apartment blocks in the city with few amenities. She enjoyed the people that hosted her group of 35 professionals. The hospitality and great home made food were plentiful.
Her mission was to accompany a group of professionals to the first Children’s Treatment in Ukraine. The centre has only twenty children, Down’s and CP who are kept back by their committed parents from being institutionalized. It was a challenge to work through interpreters to speech pathologists and parents and individual consults. Fortunately Jackie is of Ukrainian heritage and was able to use her language skills to great advantage.
This mission was organized through the Ministry of Children’s Services in an effort to bring missing skills and services to this Children’s Centre as well as to orphanages. They observed in the orphanages, children who were clean, happy, well fed. The special needs children had litter intervention or special care as for the most part, a diagnosis was missing. The far reaching net of Rotary was cast by Art Wing through his personal connections to have Jackie visit a local Rotary club at its meeting. Jackie was surprised to see so many women members in attendance. It was proudly stated by the President that were it not for the women members nothing would get organized or accomplished.
This Club has been extremely active with one of their projects being to establish a centre for tuberculosis treatment. They have brought TB free cows and radiation free cows to the Chernobyl area. Amongst their initiations they are working to create educational opportunities including a new Rotaract Club.
The next step for Jackie is to plan the next trip where they hope to create an infrastructure which will allow referrals, policy for treatment as well as professional development for the care providers. This was for her the experience of a life time both meeting and working with some great people
Our speaker was thanked by Mike Pihura and President Tom presented Jackie with a dictionary that will be donated in her name to a local school.
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Jackie Van Lankveld & Tom Arkell |
Next Weeks Meeting: Engineers without Borders Denis Beauline and Dan Langdon.
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