Program: Phil Porter and Kelly Buckley

Phil Porter

Ross MacDonald gave the blessing and Don Shaw lead O Canada.

President Rick welcomed all and introduced the head table: Art Weaver, Pat Dracup, Sergeant-at-Arms Larry Iggulden, John Burroughs and Phil Porter, who introduced today’s guests.

Guests: Judy Calvin, Bob Thompson, Catherine Livingstone, Serge Paquin

Phil Porter introduced John Burroughs, our Rotarian in the spotlight. John is Thorold born and raised. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto, with a BA in Applied Science – Civil Engineering as well as an MA. He has 2 daughters and 3 grandchildren. He career encompassed engineering, project management and management with Ontario Hydro, Hydro One and New Horizons solutions. Retiring in 2003, he joined Rotary in 2005. John is an avid photographer [Roger take note].

John Burroughs

Birthdays: Both the birthday boys, Mike Michaud and Mark Zammit were present to hear a resounding chorus of Happy Birthday

Mike Michaud and Mark Zammit

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

MEETINGS:

President Rick

Membership Committee – March 26 at 5:00 in the boardroom of the George Darte Funeral Chapel

Program Committee – April 2, at 5:00 at Rodman Hall

Ribfest Committee – March 28 at 5:00 at Rodman Hall

Night of 1000 Dinners Planning Committee – March 27, 5:15 at Design for a New Tomorrow, 5 th Floor, 60 James Street

NOTES FROM LAST WEEK’S BOARD MEETING:

The Joint Meeting of Clubs will be taking place on Wed. April 11th at the Quality Hotel Parkway Convention Centre. There will be no regular meeting on Thursday, April 12th.

The 7090 District Assembly is taking place on April 14th from 9:00 to 2:00 at the Glendale Campus of Niagara College. The $25 registration fee will be reimbursed by the club.

The Annual District 7090 District Conference takes place from May 4-6 at the Grand Island Holiday Inn. Registration is covered.

The Night of 1000 Dinners is on Saturday, March 31st at Club Roma. Please fax in ticket order, call Margaret Jarrell or call office to place tickets ASAP.

Fonthill Rotary Club ’s 16th Annual Charity Golf Tournament is taking place at Lookout Point on June 11th. $190 per golfer. Lunch at 11:30am Shotgun tee-off at 12:30pm Call 905-682-8363 for more details.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Terry McDougall

Catherine Swift, President and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Canadian Business will be speaking at our club on April 5th. Please notify Terry McDougall ASAP if members are planning on bringing extra guests (due to limited seating availability).

Wendy Southall reminded members that next week is the last week to bring in new and gently used books and magazines. The Literacy Committee will be working on distributing them throughout the city once they see what’s come in.

Wendy Southall

HAPPY DOLLARS

Rachel Delaney

Rachel Delaney recounted her experiences as a dog-catcher resulting in a fairly muddy back seat in her Lexus and a very happy dog and owner.

Chris Bangham gave his birthday dollars in advance.

Lloyd Buckley gave $63 wedding anniversary dollars. Congratulations. The success must be that he married so soon after St. Patrick’s Day.

John Crossingham was happy that he and Libby returned safely from a ski trip to Fernie, they too celebrated a wedding anniversary [35 years], he liked Rachel’s shaggy dog story and most importantly his colleague, Ron Brady, has fully recovered and is back at work.

Oraine De Rosa thanked the entertainers last week and thanked her guest, Serge, for rescuing her from computer hell.

Betty-Lou Souter managed to bring Rachel all the way back across the room and said that last week she was sitting beside Peter Banwell who sang Danny Boy - another tearful and joyful moment for her.

Jim Denham was somewhat happy that Robbie, who is not quite 3, now knows how to operate the computer mouse.

Mark Zammit just returned from a 6 day trip to Mont Tremblant and Montreal where he tried, unsuccessfully, to negotiate hockey tickets with a scalper AND where he enjoyed [?] temperatures hovering around –18 degrees.

Carol Stymiest just returned from a book launch of her cousin, Sally Armstrong. The book The Nine Lives of Charlotte Taylorrecounts the trials and tribulations of one of her long-lost relatives who was an early settler in New Brunswick.

President Rick was wondering where Brian Stewart was and wondered if he was having dinner with Conrad Black, as he had read recently in the newspaper. Must have been a different Brian Stewart because it was reported that he was at home with his brand new baby. Congratulations Brian!

50/50 DRAW

Mike Michaud recently returned from China and Africa who could really, really use the $247.50 to pay off some of those travel bills, unfortunately pulled the Queen of diamonds.

Program

Art Weaver

It was extremely disappointing and somewhat embarrassing to see the large number of early leavers today.

Art Weaver introduced Pat Dracup of the Brain Injury Association of Niagara [BIAN]. Art’s wife had suffered a brain injury in a car accident in 1994 and has first hand experience with the programs and services of this organization.

BIAN is committed to maximizing the quality of life for individuals with brain injury and their loved ones through support, advocacy and information. They also raise awareness and prevention of brain injury, particularly among children and young adults.

Brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability for Canadians under 25.

Pat Dracup

There are two types of acquired brain injury. Traumatic brain injury is acquired by damage from an external physical blow or shake. Commons causes are traffic collisions, falls, sports injuries, workplace hazards and assaults (including shaken baby syndrome). Non-traumatic is damage due to complications from diseases or oxygen deprivation. Common causes are strokes, tumours, aneurysms, meningitis and near drownings.

BIAN services include support groups for survivors, spouses and caregivers and advocacy programs like “We Caught You Using Your Head” campaign to encourage helmet use and “Santa’s Sober Sleigh” campaign to combat drunk driving.

Its annual fundraiser is ‘Head for the Hills” which is chaired and organized by Rotarian Art Weaver. They also have a resource library, produce quarterly newsletters and a bi-annual conference for professionals, clients, family members and caregivers.

More information is available at 905-984-5058 or www.niagara.com/bian

Doug Geddie thanked the speaker and promised to wear his helmet more often.

President Rick thanked Pat and gave her a certificate acknowledging that a donation had been made in her honour to a Rotary Literacy project.

Because of the early hour (1:10) President Rick offered a gift to those Rotarians staying through the speaker in compensation for the number of extra minutes members stayed after 1:30 during Past President Larry’s tenure.

Pat Dracup and Rick Merritt

NEXT WEEK’S PROGRAM

Dave Sherlock, General Manager of St. Catharines Transit on Transit Going Green

10 Day Notice

Serge Paquin, proposed by Oraine De Rosa, owner of Sky Computers providing services to companies in the Niagara Region, mostly in St. Catharines, for over ten years.