Meeting Beginnings

President Larry brought the meeting to order by explaining that today was the anniversary of the founding of Rotary, and our modest lunch would allow us to make a birthday gift to a community project.

Don Shaw and his tricked-up harmonica got us on key for Oh Canada, Eugene Gillies offered Grace, and we toasted our Queen and Canada.

President Larry introduced the Head Table - to introduce our speaker, Brian St. Hilaire; speaker, Gary Bateman; President, Larry Iggulden; Sergeant-at-arms, Howard Lackie; Rotarian-in-the-Spotlight, Sangeeta Hollo; Registrar, Heather Combe

Heather Combe

Heather Combe introduced our Guests - Phil Porter, guest of Doug Geddie; Blair Pollard, guest of Ross MacDonald; Teresa Durham, guest of our speaker, Gary Bateman.

Rotarian in the Spotlight - Heather profiled our lovely Rotarian-in-the-Spotlight, Sangeeta Hollo. Sangeeta was introduced to our Club by her father, Jagdish. She is married to Avi and they have one young son, Ravi. (Sangeeta was the first member in the history of our club to ask for Maternity Leave!) During her working day, Sangeeta is the Internal Audit Manager for Home Trust Company. As a Rotarian, she has served on several committees but is best known for serving as our Treasurer since 2001. Thank you Sangeeta for carrying the thankless load of keeping our books straight.

Sangeeta Hollo

Ken Wright and Pat Rooney

Announcements

Dr. Ken Taylor

Stone from Mt. Kilimanjaro

Dr. Ken Taylor came forward to thank everyone for their encouragement and support in recently climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. A week ago he reached the 20,000-foot peak where he hung our club banner. He brought back a gift for President Larry - a rock from the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. Ken commented on how proud he was to be a Rotarian during his time in Africa and how many projects he saw with the Rotary wheel on their sign. While in Africa, Ken carried on his tradition by carrying 400lbs of medicine to a clinic. Ken ended his announcement by pledging a donation to the Rotary Foundation for all that good work that it does.

Dr. Ken Taylor

Nancy Ferris came forward with Sam Walters with a cheque of $100,000 representing the proceeds from this year's TV Auction.

Nancy Ferris-Hostick, Larry Iggulden, and Sam Walters

Eugene Gillies showed us a new club brochure that is a product of the Membership Committee's hard work.

Eugene Gillies	New Brochure

Happy Dollars

Henry Becker

Henry Becker carried the basket (once the Sergeant-at-Arms found it) and is happy that the Coast Guard takes care of bankers on Lake Erie.

Pat Rooney is proud of Ken and Denise Taylor and introduced the guest she forgot to sign-in, Lois Lawrence.

Betty-Lou Souter is also proud of Ken.

Maurice Gomme reminds us that if you sponsored Ken, he will gladly receive your pledge money.

DG Art is proud that Betty-Lou sat on the selection committee to select our newest District Governor.

Ed Silver is happy to have carried a bag of medicine to Cuba on behalf of Not Just Tourists.

Howard Lackie is sad that the eagle that tops our US flag has a broken wing, but it has been replaced thanks to our past-Rotarian friend and flag expert, Stuart Rinkoff.

Broken Eagle

New Eagle

President Larry is happy that the Police Board has an expenditure savings, which is accounting talk for minimal reductions within an excessive budget.

Program - Taxpayers' Rights

Brian St. Hilaire introduced our speaker, Gary Bateman, who lives in Oakville and has an accounting practice in Burlington. He is both an electrical engineer and a chartered accountant. Brian pointed out that Gary was in good company with a head table comprised of three other CA's.

Brian St. Hilaire	Gary Bateman

Gary began by introducing his book, "A Declaration of Taxpayer Rights." He reminded us that one of our rights is to pay the least amount of tax the law will allow.

Gary explained the five rules of Tax Planning -

1. Always wait to trigger a tax liability.
2. Always delay the payment of tax until required.
3. Always think of taxes when big-life events occur.
4. Always plan for your taxes on death.
5. Always appeal when you feel justified.

He also outlined four pillars of tax planning -

1. Reduce taxable income
2. Splitting taxable income
3. Deferring taxable income
4. Converting taxable income

Ron Sloan thanked our speaker and President Larry added his thanks and made the donation to the Canadian Land Mine Foundation in his name.

Gary Bateman and Larry Iggulden

President Larry's Moment in History.

President Larry told us Rotary facts about important dates in Rotary that amazingly coincided with the birthdates of many of our members. (Larry must not sleep too well if he digs up all this stuff!)

10 Day Notice

Chris Blake, returning former member, classification - Communications Consultant

Phil Porter, sponsored by Doug Geddie, classification - Transportation - Municipal Transit

Blair Pollard, sponsored by Ross MacDonald, classification - Human Resources

William Williams, sponsored by Chris Bangham, classification - Paper Industry - Marketing

Next Week: March 2nd - Niagara Children's Water Festival-
Elizabeth Best