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Opening and Introductions:
Vice President Larry Iggulden opened the meeting.
Grace was said by Howard Lackie
O Canada was begun with great feeling by Don Shaw, atoning for last week apparently, followed by a toast to Her Majesty the Queen and Canada.
The head table was introduced including Dr. Ken Taylor, who introduced Speaker John Crossingham, Vice President Larry, Sergeant-at-Arms Larry Ross, Member in the spotlight Ed Silver and Ian Ladd who introduced our guests.
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Ed Silver |
Ed Silver joined Rotary in October 1975, having been sponsored by Bernie Cooperman. He was Treasurer from 1988 to 1992 and received a Paul Harris Fellowship in 1993. Ed has been active at all levels of the club, serving on many, many committees, and played a big part in getting the TV Auction computerized. Ed is an avid photographer and sailor, and even participated in the Easter Seals Regatta, of which he was a big promoter. Congratulations Ed.
Guests:
Dave Haddow, guest of Eugene Gillies
Mike Pihura, a guest of Eugene Gillies
Ian Ellingham, guest of John Snowling and John Crossingham
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Ed Silver and Chris Bangham |
Birthdays:
March 27 - Ed Silver
March 28 - Dave Butler
March 29 - Bill Campbell
March 30 - Chris Bangham
President-elect Larry then asked Eugene Gillies to come forward to introduce not one but two new Rotarians.
Dr. Mike Pihura - Eugene advised he was trying to reduce the average age of the membership, saying that Mike was slightly younger than the age of the active membership. Mike is an audiologist, having a clinic in the Port Plaza. He is also an instructor at Brock and a professional musician with the Niagara Symphony. His wife Margo is a former youth exchange student
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Mike Pihura, Larry Iggulden and Eugene Gillies |
J. Dave Haddow - is a former member and president of the NOTL Rotary Club as well as past district governor (2001-2002). Dave is older than Mike, but still below the average age of the total membership. Born in Winnipeg, Dave is a retired Vice President of CIBC, with a special interest in youth and also in the Belarus children's project.
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Dave Haddow, Larry Iggulden and Eugene Gillies |
Welcome Mike and Dave!
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Larry Iggulden |
President elect Larry reminded members that there is no Thursday meeting next week. Rather, there is a combined district meeting at the Parkway on Wednesday April 6 th and the speaker will be Michael Sifton, CEO of Osprey Media.
Larry also advised that today is the last day for early registration for the Chicago conference.
The District Assembly will take place on April 23 from 9 - 1.
Lezlie Murch took a few minutes to tell us about her recent visit to a new housing project in Mexico, supported by our club and the Rotary Club of Tehuacan Mexico. After a trip along a grey, dusty bumpy road, the housing project looked like a fairy tale, painted pastel colours with gardens etc. There were 500 applicants for 100 homes, and through government and Rotary donations, the cost to the residents has been reduced to 300 pesos (about $30) per month.
There will be a World Community Service Committee meeting on April 13 at the St. Catharines Racquet club at 5 p.m.
There will be a meeting of the Children's Committee at the office at Sullivan Mahoney on Monday April 4 at 5 p.m.
Chris Bangham advised that there are still a lot of rooms available, from US$129, for the Chicago convention
There were flyers on the tables for a Rotary Club of Lincoln sponsored Gala, Saturday April 30, 7-10 pm at Flat Rock Cellars 2727 Seventh Street. The theme is "Hearts Gathering Children", and proceeds will go to Adrie's House of Hope, a children's sanctuary in South Africa.
John Nitsopoulos carried the basket today, and is happy that his son has finally bought a house and now has a mortgage so he has to be responsible. John also told a really bad golf joke about cows. It's a wonder John didn't end up with the two black eyes and a five iron wrapped around his neck!
Lezlie Murch was happy that her son had made the national tennis team, and that the championships are at a near a very dear little hotel in Quebec.
Jagdish Mehta was happy about Hector... and also figures that no one can now complain that they can't hear the speaker because we now have an audiologist in the club.
Dave Edwards was happy that two longtime volleyball friends, Wayne and Gord, are both on the road to recovery from very serious illnesses.
Martha Abra paid $5 to bring us up to date on her activities of late, including snowmobiling over 1300 miles this winter. She has also been driving her son hither and yon for auditions to graduate school in music. Hopefully he will be accepted the first school of his choice. Finally, Martha has taken a part-time job full time, as the Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Retired Women Teachers' Association.
Lloyd Buckley was happy to announce that his triathlete daughter had won a gold medal, and has been named national female triathlete of the year and also All American triathlete.
Liz Palmieri was happy that everyone escaped unharmed after her husband ran a red light this morning and ran into none other than Norm Kreger. This will also result in some business for Ian Ladd.
Ken Taylor was $10 happy, having recently welcomed his fourth grandchild, but his first granddaughter. He is especially pleased at her name - Taylor!
50/50 Draw: Peter Mahoney had the lucky ticket, but unfortunately drew the queen of clubs.
John Crossingham and the Greater Niagara Circle Route bridge project.
Ken Taylor introduced our speaker John Crossingham, by saying that we all know John to be a man of props. He therefore presented John with a prop for today's talk - a bike helmet! He also pointed out that John holds one record that no one in the club can beat - the most happy $ contributed.
John began his talk by advising Larry Iggulden that, as far as he could tell, the fact that the police services came in over $4 Million under budget was certainly not due to effective time management. (Was that a shot?...John only had about 15 minutes for his presentation)
John began by saying that he has spoken at all 13 Niagara Region Rotary Clubs, soliciting donations for the Niagara Circle Route bicycle path for a Rotary centennial project. There is only one bridge remaining to be completed, and John is confident the $100,000 cost goal will be reached. They are half way there.
John's interest in bicycle touring began many years ago during an evening at Ken Taylor's. Ken suggested a weekend ride to Big Valley. John suggested "How about Burgundy instead?"
John then shared with us the 10 Rules of Credit Card Touring
- Always make sure your wife's equipment is at least as good as yours. That way, she can keep up to you.
- Husbands should never ride in front. If you don't keep your wife's tail squarely in view while cycling, chances are you won't see much of it on the rest of the vacation either.
- Make sure your bike fits. If it doesn't you will end up hurting and not enjoying yourself.
- Never book accommodation in advance. This is a cycling vacation subject to the vagaries of weather, wind and whimsy. Booking in advance requires you to actually get somewhere, despite the fact that you may be sore, it may be raining etc. etc.
- If the person greeting you at the hotel is not the owner or a direct relative, you are in the wrong place. Small hotels are the best source of reasonable and often quaint accommodation as well as local knowledge of the best wineries and restaurants.
- Never pack anything that doesn't have at least two uses. This keeps the panniers from being too full and leaves space for the essentials of a good bicycle vacation: wine, cheese, bread, chocolate, and local sausages.
- You can never buy too many maps. This, combined with discussion with your local hotelier (see Rule 5) will enable you to get the best route for the day. Another reason for paying attention to Rule 4.
- Try to organize your trip bearing in mind prevailing winds and slopes. Uphill and upwind are why God invented trains!
- Avoid cities over 200,000 population. Cycling vacations are about seeing real people doing real things, like making the bread, wine, cheese and of course the local sausages for you to enjoy on this vacation. The corollary to this rule is "Never pass by a local market", and always try the specialty of the region.
- Lastly, and most importantly, you can't see everything. That's reserved for the Europe in two weeks bus tour. Rest assured that what you do see, you will remember because on a bike you don't just see, you also smell, taste and feel the countryside.
John concluded by saying that the opportunities to practice credit card bicycle touring in Niagara are unparalleled. There is also an excellent map available from the Region or at City Hall for $1.
Always remember the difference between an ordeal and an adventure is
ATTITUDE
Maurice Gomme thanked John, saying he, as a hiker, also appreciates the circle route.
Larry's last word to John was to enquire: "If a barrister drops his briefs, is that considered solicitation?" (tsk tsk)
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Ken Taylor, John Crossingham and Larry Iggulden
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Next Week- Joint meeting with other clubs at Quality Hotel and Convention Centre
The Niagara Region Public Leaders Summit will be held May 2, 2005 at Regional Niagara Headquarters, 8 am to 3:30 pm. To learn more, contact Peter Papp at 905 688-7496. Also go to www.thechangingpoint.com/2005/Niagara_intro.htm
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