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President Larry Iggulden called our meeting to order today at The St. Catharines Golf & Country Club. Joining President Larry at the head table were:
Guest Speaker Introducer: District Governor Art Wing
Guest Speaker: The Honourable Jim Bradley MPP and Minister of Tourism
Sgt-at-Arms: Judith Barker
Member in the Spotlight: John Crossingham. Bill Finley and Dr. Ken Taylor introduced John to our Club in June of 1988. John's classification is Barrister of Municipal Law. He was born in Toronto and educated at Lawrence Park Collegiate, Trinity College and U of T Law School. He articled with McMillan Binch. He has lived in St. Catharines for 34 years now. John is married to Libby and has one son and three daughters. John's interests include sailing, skiing, cycling and wine. He has participated in the Major Grants, Program, Youth Exchange (hosting 9 exchange students over the years), Communications, Membership and Bulletin Committees. John's community involvements include Community Concerts, Dalhousie Yacht Club and St. Johns Church.
Grace: John TeBrake
Guests: Peggy introduced our guests including:
• Brian Corbey and Anne Finley, guests of Bill Finley
• Walter Ostanek and Tim Parker, guests of Ray Bukovec
• Bill Williams, guest of Chris Bangham
• Blair Pollard, guest of Ross MacDonald
• Cameron Douglas, guest of John Nitsopoulos
Birthdays: George Darte 1/9, Terry Kellar 1/12 and Rachel Delaney 1/13
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Terry Kellar, Rachel Delaney, George Darte
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• There will be Program Committee meeting January 24 at the Royal LePage Niagara Real Estate Centre - 33 Maywood Drive - South Service Road between Lake and Ontario St. in the training centre at the back of the building 5:30 - 6:30 pm. Please confirm by e-mail j.snowling@sympatico.ca or leave message (905) 937-0600
• Children's Committee Tuesday January 17 at 5:00 pm at the Sullivan Mahoney offices.
• Board of Directors, Tuesday January 17 at noon.
• Valentines Day Dinner, Thursday February 9 at the Culinary Centre at Niagara College Glendale Campus
• World Community Service, Wednesday January 18 at 5:30 at Dr. Ken Taylor's residence.
Bill Finley announced that Ken Taylor and Brian Corbey will be climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro! Bill has started a fundraiser associated with the climb. Base Camp is at elevation 4,690 ft. and the peak climbs to 19,690 ft. Bill is challenging everyone to make a pledge of $.01, $.10, $1.00 per ft. of climb over Base Camp or whatever amount you choose in support of the climb. So if they reach the top, they would have climbed 15,000 ft; and if you had pledged $.10 per ft. your support would amount to $1,500. Pledge cards are available from Bill. Rotary will issue tax receipts.
• Carol Stymiest collected. She is happy that her daughter is now off her payroll and on the RCMP payroll.
• Ken Taylor thanked Bill for having the climbing fundraiser. He was also happy to tell us that he will be working at a clinic in the area of Mt Kilimanjaro and taking 200 lbs. Of drugs with him. He thanked Ed Silver who will be taking a suitcase of drugs with him to Cuba in about a week and a half.
• Jim Denham is happy to report another pregnancy in the Denham household; he is happy to report that his son and daughter-in-law are expecting - you did have us going Jim.
• Sam Walters congratulated Ken Taylor for winning the Joe Fernandes Award and thanked everyone for their support in the TV Auction. He is happy that his daughter has landed a new job with the Habitat for Humanity. While Sam was away in Aruba his Dad slipped in the alley and broke his leg; he has had an operation and returns home today.
• Bill Finley was happy that he has already received two cheques for the Climb announced no more than 10 minutes earlier.
• Vicky Rudachuk was happy that her daughter has earned a place playing Squash in the Ontario Winter Games.
• John Nitsopoulos was happy to announce that his hotels will be offering a $25 per room donation for every room booked between January 27 and 29.
• John Crossingham, Mr. Happy Dollar, was sad to learn that his donation of a CD by Broken Social Scene (his son's band) to Dave Butler had not pulled Dave's musical appreciation into this century. But, if you drive a Studebaker, listen to CFRB on AM radio, it follows that Dave doesn't have a CD player. John has decided to make up for his oversight by donating his copy of Mantovani's Greatest Hits in 33 1/3 LP format! Wow, that's neato eh Dave?
• Roger Segalin was happy to report that we sing our anthem better than the National Junior Hockey Team.
John Lehnen was happy to have spent 3 days in New York City with Harriet. They flew, visited the Guggenheim Museum, Central Park, the Empire State Building and attended a Broadway Musical. Nigel Riddell did a great job in making all of the reservations and bookings. John was sad to report that his rinks record in the Standard Labatt is a dismal 1 & 3 (other team members are Doug Geddie, Ian Forbes and Keith Shaver). While In NY John purchased a short compilation of cartoons that have appeared in The New Yorker magazine. One such cartoon follows.
50/50 Draw:
Ken Taylor won the chance but lost the draw for $447.
District Governor Art Wing introduced Jim Bradley MPP and Minister of Tourism and Recreation to our Club. He explained that Jim while a student in High School was one of the finalists and the first winner in our Debating Contest; 40 years later, here he is speaking to our Club as the Minister of Tourism and Recreation. Jim served as an Alderman on City Council from 1970 to 1977. He was first elected to the Provincial Legislature in 1977 and has been reelected 7 times! In October 2003 Jim became Minister of Tourism and Recreation; in the summer of 2005 the role of Government House Leader was added; and, he has also been made the Minister responsible for Seniors. In the past he was Minister of the Environment. Jim has donated hockey tickets to the TV Auction for many years.
Jim began his presentation by recognizing Ken Taylor and his community volunteerism. He explained that he recently broke his jaw and has a titanium plate screwed in place. This method allowed him the essential ability to be able to talk during his convalescence; it would not be a good thing for a politician to have his mouth wired shut for 6 months, the alternative treatment!
Jim noted that Tourism is very important to Ontario with a Provincial economic activity of $20 billion and a Niagara economic impact of $2 billion annually. It has been forecasted that by 2020 100 million tourists will originate from China. Canada and Ontario are working towards making sure that we are on their destination lists.
His Ministry views tourism as two distinct marketing areas, domestic and international. The SARS outbreak and 9/11 had enormous impact on the international component. The Conservatives under Eaves recognized this and initiated a multi-year plan for $128 million in revitalization programs. This has been continued by Jim's government.
Jim explained that security trumps all other issues in the US, as they have been attacked. This is why they are wanting to take tighter control of borders and are considering mandatory passports or some similar ID device.
Jim recognized that the wine industry has responded well to Free Trade by improving the product and making the tourism component a priority. He congratulated those in tourism such as the Nitsopoulos Family for continuing to make major investments.
Jim sees a natural relationship between Tourism and Seniors because more and more of the tourists are over 55. The Baby Boomer phenomenon will accelerate this swing. He noted that average life expectancies for men and women of 78 and 82 add significantly to the industry. He also noted that today 46 cents of every Provincial budget dollar are spent on health care. Jim commented that when Tim Rigby and the Mayors of Niagara Falls and Welland went to Toronto for Niagara Day and told the Minister of Health with one voice that we need a new hospital and it should be located in St. Catharines, it helped the Minister tremendously in making his decision. Jim is proud to have served St. Catharines for so many years. He recognized the contribution Rotary makes to our community.
Dan Patterson thanked Jim. He noted that Tourism is a key economic driver in Niagara and that it is good to have a Minister who has personal understanding of that. He believes that Jim exemplifies "Service Above Self'.
President Larry is happy to know that if anyone ever accuses Jim of having a screw loose he will know why (remember the titanium jaw?).
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Jim Bradley and Larry Iggulden
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President Larry told us the derivation of the Rotary Wheel. It began with the Chicago club as a wagon wheel symbolizing activity and movement. Not long after it was changed to a buggy wheel with little clouds of dust before and after the wheel. After a while someone realized that having a cloud in front of the wheel did not make sense. In 1912 they put 19 cogs or teeth around the perimeter of the wheel making it a gear. As the years ensued there was no consistency in the number of teeth with the number growing first to 21 and then 24. Finally a standard was adopted with 6 spokes, 24 teeth and a keyway at the hub signifying that the wheel was a working gear, not an idling gear. Note that our gear has 28 teeth and no keyway; this is because ours was created in 1921 before the standard was adopted!
Jane Rufrano
Jane is CEO of the Hotel Dieu-Shaver hospital. Jane has a strong financial background and has been involved in healthcare in St. Catharines for over 30 years. Her classification is "Health Care-Administration".
Ian Ellingham
Ian is with Cambridge Architectural Research Ltd. His father and father-in-law are both Rotarians and he was raised doing volunteer work. His classification is "Real Estate-Land Economist".
Next Week: Club Assembly
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