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President Rick called our meeting to order today at The St. Catharines Golf & Country Club.
Those who joined President at the head table included:
• Guest Introducer: Margaret Jarrell
• Guest Speaker: Ann & Chris Bangham
• Sgt-at-Arms: Peter Mahoney
• In-the-spotlight: Earl Alton
• Registrar: Karen DeRoche
Introduction of Guests: Karen DeRoche
Guests included: Rotarian Jean Armitage, Ron Burke, Ann Bangham, Paul McDonald, Irene Williams and Catherine Livingston.
Member in the Spotlight: Earl Alton
Introduced: by Doug Geddie November 1994
Married to: Diana
Daughter: Shelly
Club Director: 97-98, 99-00, 00-01
Vice President: 00-01
President:02-04
Committees:
Sports Chair: 97,98,99
98 District Conference
Easter Seals
Membership & Classification
Major Grants
Rib Fest
Bulletin
Fellowship & Sports
Long Range Planning
Interests: skiing & golf
The Rotary Golf Tournament – Earl Alton
Earl explained that our Golf Tournament was conceived and run as a social event for members in our Club. Bob Gosselin, while employed by the Royal Bank, suggested that we make it a fund-raiser for Easter Seals. The Royal Bank sponsored it for that year but wanted to raise money for a different charitable organization each year and moved on. We partnered for the first time with a Corporation that was new in town, Algoma Central Corporation. The tourney raised $19,000 in that inaugural year with our new partner, the year 2000. The 2006 edition donated $39,450 to the Niagara Peninsula Children’s Centre. For 2007 and the following 4 years, the tournament has made a pledge to donate $25,000 to NPCC and $25,000 to the NHS new hospital. We are sold out for golfers this year but we can take hole sponsorships to June 11 and prizes to June 14.
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Larry Ross |
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George Goldford |
Grace: Norma Medulun
O Canada: Don Shaw
Toast to the Queen and Canada: President Rick
Birthdays: Larry Ross – June 5
Announcements:
George Goldford took the podium to explain that he and Joyce will be moving to Edmonton to be near their son. He thanked all at Rotary for the fellowship and memories since his introduction by Walt McCollum and Don Shaw in 1966. He made special mention of Larry Ross’ classification talk at the Welland House when a belly dancer appeared and stole Larry’s thunder. He has fine memories of Youth Exchange, both sending his daughter on exchange and hosting many students. He recalled the Rotary formal balls fondly. He applauded the introduction of women in Rotary. He thanked Don Shaw for also nominating him to serve the St. Catharines General Hospital as a Director, a service he maintained for 29 years including 5 years as Board Chair in the mid 80’s.
A public meeting was held on Rotary Park on Pelham Road earlier this week. Art Weaver reports that about 25 local people came and the result was a positive meeting.
A get well card for Alex McKee was circulated.
St. Catharines Sunrise will have a very special guest June 12 at 7:15 am at the St. Catharines Golf & Country Club. Former Canadian Ambassador to Afghanistan David Sproule will speak and participate in the Rotary Medalist Awards. Cost of breakfast is $15; let Pat Rooney or Chris Bangham know if you plan to attend so that the Club can prepare properly.
Reminder: turn in your Police Check applications.
Kelly Buckley announced that we will have a Japanese boy as our next in-student. He speaks some English and so far we have 1 host family for sure and may have 2. We still need at least one more. Contact Kelly to find out more and volunteer for this worthwhile experience. The Youth Exchange Committee is looking for host families to billet during Grape & Wine.
Doug Geddie reminded hat this weekend is the Rotary Bike Trek. It is only 50 kilometers and its all flat! (Ed. The only semi flat way to get from NF to NOTL and back is on the water…)
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Dave Butler, Doug Foss, President Rick |
New Member
David Butler introduced another member to the ‘Downtown Curling Team’. We are honored to accept Doug Foss as our newest member. Doug has 3 years experience with the South Club with a record of perfect attendance and 2 years as director. Doug retired from the Pentagon following 21 years of service as a Marine including service in the Gulf War He has earned he earned 22 medals and a similar number of letters of commendation. His specialty was air warfare. He is married to Councilor Heather Foss and together they have 2 daughters. Heather and Doug are about to open an art and antique shop at 104 St. Paul Street. As previously mentioned, Doug is a curler.
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President Rick, Rachel Delaney, Earl Alton |
Paul Harris Fellow
Earl Alton had the honor of introducing our newest Paul Harris Fellow. He pointed out that we recognize people from our community and club members with a Paul Harris Fellowship for their “Service Above Self”. A person can nominate another for a fellowship by donating US $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation. Our club, through our support of the Foundation, nominates a few people each year. Rachel Delaney, a member since 1994 and a Director from 2000 to 2002 and a member of many, many committees was surprised and honored. She is proud to volunteer and to be recognized in this manner. Congratulations Rachel on a well-deserved honor.
50/50 Draw:
Our newest member, Doug Foss had the winning number but drew the Jack of Spades. The $52.50 pot will grow…
Happy Dollars
John Snowling paid a $1 to say Goodbye to George; $1 to Welcome Doug Foss; and, $1 to congratulate Rachel. He then collected lots of $ from various members for sparing us from a joke. Larry Ross paid to say he realizes that he has not been asked to collect happy dollars again since he told a joke. He was also happy to report that this morning he gave his 95th unit of blood.
Chris Blake paid a Happy $1 to report that one billion...
... Seconds ago it was 1959
... Minutes ago Jesus walked the Middle East
... Hours ago we were in the Stone Age
... Days ago there were no bipeds on earth
... The amount of money it takes to operate the US Government for 8 hours and 20 minutes.
Dave Butler paid to point out that watching the belly dancer was much more entertaining than listening to Larry talk about ball bearings.
Colette McGrath paid $5 to recount how a very large Maple Tree fell into her path while driving through Port Dalhousie last Friday – it missed her and her car and she went out and bought a lottery ticket.
Henry Klassen is happy to report a new grandson.
Bill Findley reported that the belly dancer’s escort was none other than Bill Ford!
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Chris & Anne Bangham And President Rick |
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Margaret Jarrell |
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Chris Bangham |
Program: Umfundisi
Margaret Jarrell introduced Chris Bangham – Chris introduced Margaret to Rotary.
Umfundisi means ‘teacher’ in both Zulu and Xhosa. The purpose of Umfundisi is to train pre-school teachers in South Africa. The projects plan is to graduate 25 teachers this year. The second session will start in 2008.
South Africa has been a democracy since 1994 and has 9 provinces. 43,000,000 people live in SA; 77% are Black and 11 % are White. 40 % of all of Africa’s industry is centered in SA but 40 % of South Africans are unemployed. One in nine South Africans has been infected with AIDS.
Chris and Anne’s movie tells of the need for teachers and training of teachers for pre-schools in South Africa. Through a partnership between our Rotary Club, the Rotary Club of Somerset West, our Rotary District, other Rotary Clubs in our District and Rotary International the necessary funding for Umfundisi was developed and is being administered.
In October 2007 8 people will graduate and 5 more will receive Progress Certificates. By the end of 2007 there will be 26 to 29 graduates from the First Session. The program is behind in schedule but on budget financially. Three problems have been learned from this first session – transportation problems; dealing with cuts in pay resulting from teaching students ‘being out of school’; and, growing pains related to the governance of the program.
Chris and Anne are now working towards developing the financial package for the second session. They are also endeavoring to develop another couple to make the program grow. His question is, “how do we sustain this effort?”
Speaker Thanked by: Dave Haddow
Dave Haddow thanked Chris and Anne by remarking about what a wonderful difference individuals with vision and passion can make to the lives of others.
Next Week: Rotary Medalists & Essay Contest Winners
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