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Don Shaw led us in Oh Canada, Rotarian Terry McDougall offered Grace, and we toasted the Queen and Canada.
President Tom introduced the Head Table:
Walter Sendzik to introduce our speaker
Guest speaker Cindy Mewhinney
President Tom Arkell
Sergeant-at-arms Art Weaver
Rotarian/Committee in the Spotlight Scott Heelis and Rotaract
Registrar Steve Tenyenhuis
Guests:
Steve Tenyenhuis introduced our Guests:
Paul Allan, guest of Doug Geddie
Emily Schutten and Alicia Vardy, guests of Tom Arkell & Scott Heelis
Elizabeth Heeter, guest of Rob Reid
Don Robertson, guest of Larry Ross
Alexis DeWolfe, guest of Roger Segalin
Joel Chatterton, guest of Tom Arkell
President Tom thanked John Snowling for presiding at last week’s meeting. Tom was overwhelmed by the cards and flowers and support he received following the passing of his father.
Programme Committee Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 12 beginning at 5:00 pm at Rodman Hall.
Larry Iggulden, Chair of the Major Grants Committee, indicated that at present, Major Grants has a budget of $45,000 year plus $10,000 in emergency funding. A donation of $25,000 has been designated for Hospice Niagara that will be paid out during the year. This committee follows the guidelines that no commitment on behalf of the club will be made for a period longer than 3 years and donations will not exceed $75,000 for any one organization. Since all donations of more than $5,000 must be presented to the membership as a whole (after the club receiving a 10 day notice), Larry presented information on two projects that the committee had recommended the club support with a financial contribution.
The first was a request from the Niagara Health System Foundation for a donation to the ‘It’s Our Time’ campaign in support of the new hospital/cancer centre/Regional mental health centre. Moved by Larry Ross, seconded by John Snowling, ‘Motion that the Rotary Club of St. Catharines pledge $25,000 per year for three years, such pledge to total $75,000, to the Niagara Health System Foundation. And furthermore, that we have discussions with the NHSF to determine "suitable naming recognition" for the Rotary Club of St. Catharines’. The club supported this motion.
The second was a request to support the Stokes Community Village project to convert the former Stokes Seeds warehouse to seniors housing and a community centre. Moved by Betty-Lou Souter, seconded by Liz Palmieri, ‘Motion that the Rotary Club of St. Catharines pledge $10,000 per year for three years, such pledge to total $30,000, to the Stokes Community Village. And furthermore, that we have discussions with the Stokes Community Village to determine "suitable naming recognition" for the Rotary Club of St. Catharines’. The club supported this motion.
Tom Pekar announced the kick off of this year’s Smiles for Life campaign that will take place until the end of June. Tom will whiten your teeth at less than his usual fee, with some of the proceeds coming back to our club, some donated to a children’s charity in Canada and some spent internationally to assist needy children.
Wade Stayzer announced that Smart Serve training will no longer take place in a group session. Rather, it can be done online and the club will reimburse members for the fee incurred. If you want to help out in the beer tent at Ribfest (and who doesn’t?) then you’ll need the Smart Serve training.
As Larry Ross celebrates giving his 100th donation of blood, he is encouraging others to donate a unit of blood on Rotary’s behalf. Roll up your sleeves any time during the month of April. Fill out the sign-up sheet or contact Larry and he will ensure the blood donor clinic contacts you to make an appointment to give.
Collected by Terry Kellar
Terry gave his birthday donation, plus interest, and announced he had already been on the golf course.
John Snowling was happy for his vibrating pager and Frank Coy’s annual swimathon at the Y that will see him swim the equivalent of 10 kilometres and donate $7,000 to children’s camps.
Ray Bukovec was happy to announce that since Rotary was re-introduced to Yugoslavia 18 years ago, there are now 64 clubs in Slovenia with 7 more to be chartered by the end of June. On May 30, a club will be chartered in Ljubljana where only ladies will be admitted. I guess we all know where Ray will be doing his makeups when he visits!
Liz Palmieri survived Cuvée weekend and was pleased that the Governor General was in attendance.
Betty-Lou Souter thanked Liz for her efforts. She also congratulated George Darte on his recent Entrepreneur of the Year award.
Serge Paquin will miss the next three meetings to be cave-diving in Florida.
Larry Ross welcomed friend and former member Don Robertson. He had mixed feelings about his planned trip to Ottawa to mind his grandchildren for March Break week.
Juergen Knof was also happy to see his old friend Don.
Oraine DeRosa was in attendance as George Darte accepted his award and was inspired by his philosophy of giving back to the community.
‘Little Lady’ Kelly Buckley announced an antiques fundraiser for the St. Catharines & Area Arts Council.
Art Weaver was pleased with the presentation to city council on the Rotary Park project. An article in The Standard will be forthcoming.
Joel Chatteron, sponsored by Tom Arkell. Joel is Acting Captain with the City of St. Catharines firefighters and has been with them since 1993. Born in St. Catharines, Joel graduated from Lakeport High School in 1985 and resides in St. Catharines. Classification is Government-Municipal Fire Protection.
Ian Elmes, March 4
Len Fenig, March 4
John Travers, March 5
Don Shaw, March 6
Roger Segalin, March 7
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John Travers, Ian Elmes, Don Shaw, Roger Segalin |
Ian Elmes made the attempt but didn’t get a birthday gift
March is World Rotaract month. Designed for young adults aged 18 to 30, each Rotaract club is sponsored by a local Rotary club to encourage new generations to take an active interest in community life and have the opportunity for professional development. Rotaract has evolved from its humble beginnings in the early 1960’s when Rotary clubs around the world began to sponsor university youth groups as community service projects to being officially approved as an official program for Rotary clubs in 1968. The first club chartered was the Rotaract Club of North Charlotte, North Carolina. Since then, the Rotaract program has grown into a strong, international network of 7,300 clubs in more than 150 countries and geographical areas with a membership of approximately 145,000.
The Rotaract program gives Rotarians the opportunity to mentor dynamic young people interested in providing service to their community as well as the global community. This program can bring new energy to a Rotary club, inspire fresh ideas for service, increase support for worthwhile projects and develop future Rotary club members. Scott introduced his guests Emily Schutten and Alicia Vardy who are involved in the Rotaract program at Brock University. Emily indicated their club is comprised of a number of international students; their president (who attended last week’s meeting) is from Turkey and their vice-president is from Russia. Their current focus is a drive to support children suffering from leukemia.
Cindy began by making if very clear that she doesn’t like to follow rules, but prefers to bend them. Her catch phrase is, ‘I’ve got an idea”, she can’t cook or judge time, her family and friends are most important and she lives by a work hard, play hard philosophy.
She grew up in Midland, Ontario with her parents, an older brother and younger sister. Living in that community provided the opportunity for an active outdoor lifestyle that included skiing, skating, hockey and tobogganing in the winter and boating, water skiing and camping in the summer. Her father owned and managed Great Lakes Boat & Machine and her mother was a Community Living support worker, who encouraged her children to volunteer in the community.
She has been a Youth Exchange student and was placed in South Africa during a time of political and social transition in that country. She attended a school that was 85% black students, 10% white Jewish students and 5% various white background students. Placed with a Jewish family and being Christian herself, it was an educating and enlightening experience. She even participated in a peaceful protest, when a political figure was assassinated during her time there.
It was during her time in South Africa that Cindy decided to study music full-time. Music has always played an integral part of her and her family’s life. She started playing the piano at age 6 (she certainly proved she could tickle the ivories at one of our meetings!), but stopped in early teens. Upon her return from her exchange, Cindy attended the University of Western Ontario and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music. One of her first jobs was a fundraising position with the Toronto Symphony.
At university, Cindy also took a computer science course. This interesting course became more so as Derek, her instructor would go on to become her husband! They lived in Mississauga for five years, but with Derek’s family living in Niagara, they decided to move here to start their own family. Son Ethan and daughter Abbey complete the Mewhinney family.
After her maternity leave with Ethan, Cindy became Campaign Director for the United Way, enjoying the variety of the job. Major Gifts is her focus and the area of the campaign that is growing the fastest. She enjoys being able to create a connection between the donor, their interests and the need within the community.
Cindy was formerly a member of the Rotary Club of Mississauga and was pleased when Walter Sendzik invited her to join our club, which she did in September, 2007.
Liz Palmieri thanked Cindy for her joyful classification talk.
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Cindy Mewhinney & President Tom Arkell |
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