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Don Shaw led us in Oh Canada, Rotarian John O’Connell offered a traditional Irish Grace, and Graham Kennedy led us in a toast to St. Patrick and Canada (the Queen was out of luck today!).
President-Elect John Snowling (filling in for Tom who is on vacation) started the meeting on a sad note. Ed James, a member with our club until 1986 and founding member of the Lakeshore Club has passed away. A memorial will be held on Saturday at Knox Presbyterian Church. A moment of silence was offered in Ed’s memory.
John then introduced the Head Table:
John O’Connell to introduce our speaker
Guest speaker Mary Bryan
President Elect John Snowling
Sergeant-at-arms Art Weaver
Rotarian in the Spotlight John Crossingham
Registrar Steve Tenyenhuis
Guests:
Steve Tenyenhuis introduced our Guests:
Linda and Joanne O’Connell, Steve and Mary Jane Rochefort and Mary Bryan, all guests of John O’Connell.
Adrian Palmieri, guest of Liz Palmieri.
Alexis DeWolfe, guest of Roger Segalin
John Boot from the Rotary Club of Summerland, B.C.
Exchange student Kenji Matsumoto.
Céad mile fáilt
John Snowling indicated that there is a meeting of the Board of Directors next Tuesday. Lanyards for the Rotary badges will be available from Joyce at the front desk should you wish. Cost is $6 each.
Roger Segalin was happy to introduce our newest member, officially member #954, Alexis DeWolfe (now she has to pay for her own lunch).
Alexis was born in Pembroke and raised in Petawawa, where her parents were both employed by the military. She attended Loyalist College and graduated with a degree in print journalism. She married husband Cary in 2002 and two year old daughter Sara, as well as two large dogs complete the family. Her first job in Niagara was with Mediaglue, where she worked with Roger. This became Copperlen and she was employed there until 2007 when she began working for Osprey Media. On the move again, she began a new career a month ago with the Early Childhood Development Centre. Her involvement with Rotary began in 2000 when she worked on our website and the TV Auction. She plays baseball, bowls and is currently ‘supervising’ a new addition to her home. Her character, principles and commitment to family and Rotary make her a fine addition to our club. Welcome Alexis!
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Roger Segalin, Alexis De Wolfe, John Snowling |
Given that March is literacy month in Rotary, Wendy Southall updated the club on the Literacy Committee activities. Over 75 classes have been read to through the reading project with 2 inner-city schools, namely Connaught and Lincoln Centennial. Thanks to Mary Margaret Murphy, Larry Iggulden, Walter Sendzik, Janet Johnston, Patricia Rooney, Oraine DeRosa and Bill Campbell for participating in this as readers. Books are being provided to the FACS’ Early Childhood Centre. A grade 3 writing contest will take place in the two inner-city schools. Franklin dictionaries are being provided as part of the adult literacy program. Thanks to John Chabot for donating a set of books. A senior literacy project providing cd’s to Linhaven is also taking place.
Collected by Patricia Rooney
Patricia Rooney told us that ‘Rooney’ was the name she came into the world with. Her family history is well-nurtured, not an Englishman among them! She told a cute story about a beautiful blonde and a gentleman brought together by a traffic collision. They salvaged a bottle of wine and while he drank to his destiny, she called the police!
Oraine DeRosa offered her congratulations and welcome to Alexis, whom she worked with as well at one time. While everyone kids about bringing down the average age of the club, Oraine, who will forever be 39, says it’s all about what you think you are.
Chris Bangham is back from his trip to South America. His trip around Cape Horn was on a 9,000 tonne ship and thankfully calm seas. Another thing can be checked off of his ‘bucket list’.
Peter Lumsden found it disappointing that John Crossingham is so quiet today.
Ed Silver has been away undergoing treatment for prostate cancer and then his cruise up the Amazon (I’m sure we all know which one he preferred!). St. Patrick’s Day always reminds him of his aunt, who celebrated her birthday on this day.
Judith Barker has been away from meetings for a few weeks. At one of our previous meetings, it was suggested that Rotarians perform a random act of kindness. On a gloomy Friday, she was the recipient of a lovely bouquet of flowers from a friend at Rotary. She offered her heartfelt thanks to the anonymous sender.
Bill Campbell thanked Patricia for her fine happy dollar duty and put in a happy dollar for his Irish wife.
Ken Wright gave up his $10 birthday money.
Rachel Delaney was happy for her Irish roots and the possible link to Patricia’s family.
Coletta McGrath shared her family tree and had to contribute today.
Mike Michaud announced the birth of his third grandson, to daughter Annie. He relayed a copper wire email that suggested the Irish were way ahead of the Scots and the English in technology. He also congratulated George on his Entrepreneur of the Year award. Since no cash prize came with the award, Mike offered 95 cents to pre-arrange George’s next happy dollar.
George Park had to say something today. He didn’t mind being seated with a table full of Irish colleens.
John Snowling thanked Patricia for her commitment to leading the Programme Committee.
Rick Merritt – March 10th
Dave Haddow – March 12th
George Doty had the winning ticket but not the luck of the Irish today. The pot ‘o gold continues to grow.
In a cruel twist of fate, John “100% English” Crossingham was today’s Rotarian in the Spotlight. John was introduced to Rotary by Bill Finley and Ken Taylor on June 1, 1988. Congratulations on your upcoming 20th anniversary! Practising municipal law with Crossingham, Brady John resides in St. Catharines with wife Libby (and his beloved Corgi). He has a son, John (the indie rock singer based in Toronto) and three daughters, Vicki, Jodi and Wendy. He has also been blessed with three grandchildren. John has served on many committees in Rotary and has agreed to Chair the Programme Committee, effective immediately. He was recognized as a Paul Harris fellow and is currently on the Board of Directors. His other interests include cycling, sailing, skiing and wine (not at the same time, we hope!). A Guinness was offered as a toast to one of our resident fine Englishmen, John Crossingham.
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration featuring Mary Bryan and the Taylor School of Dance
John O’Connell shared a video from Tourism Ireland that helped us all envision the beauty of Ireland. He then asked that we toast St. Patrick. This was easy to do with the Bailey’s he so kindly provided for everyone!
He then introduced our speaker, Mary Bryan. Mary was born in England but adopted by an Irish family when she was five. At this time, she began learning Irish dance. She reached her highest level of dance in the 1950’s when she was All England and Cross Channel champion. She came to Canada in 1964 and began to teach in St. Catharines in 1967. Many of her students have competed successfully. Her injuries forced her to stop dancing and in 2002, her niece Kelly Taylor took over the school. She continues to be a renowned and accomplished adjudicator of Irish dance.
Mary claims she is ‘English with strong Irish overtones’. She didn’t like dancing at first but believes it brought out the best in her. Admittedly, she also said it could bring out the worst. Irish dancing has changed over the years. During the 1950’s and 1960’s, people came to Canada to find work, particularly those from Northern Ireland. This was the first wave of popularity for Irish dance in Canada. The second wave came as a result of the Riverdance phenomenon. Since, Riverdance, she claims no one ever mistakes Irish dancing for the one where you dance with the swords! The choreography, costumes and styles have all changed, with it becoming far more athletic. It has even become more popular for boys, although not so much here yet.
Mary then introduced the many Irish dancers from the Taylor School of Dance that came out in all of their splendour to entertain us with their great skill and agility.
Betty-Lou (Boyle) Souter, a third generation Irish girl, thanked Mary and all of the wonderful dancers, for bringing back lots of happy memories and a reminder of the days when she too had ringlets!
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