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Meeting Beginnings
President Larry brought the meeting to order and asked Scott Heelis to deliver Grace.
Don Shaw blew a middle C to get us going with Oh Canada, and we toasted our Queen and Canada.
President Larry introduced the Head Table - to introduce our speaker, Terry McDougall, filling in for Dave (I forgot) Butler; our speaker, John Travers; President, Larry Iggulden; Sergeant-at-arms, Larry Ross; Rotarian-in-the-Spotlight, Dr. Bill Orr; Registrar, Kim Widdicombe
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Kim Widdicombe |
Kim introduced our Guests - Visiting Rotarians - Ian Forbes and Jim Shannon from St. Catharines South. Other visitors included - Christina Pentlichuck, guest of Wade Stayzer; Doru Murariu, guest of Lezlie Murch; Peter Kudrikis, guest of Tom Arkell; Cameron Douglas, guest of John Nitsopoulos.
Rotarian in the Spotlight - Kim introduced Dr. Bill Orr - Bill holds the distinction of being a member of our club for 51 years. He was born in Niagara Falls and after high school there completed his medical training at the University of Toronto. He graduated from U of T just in time to get involved in WWII and retired from the medical corps in 1946 as a Captain. The next 50 years of Bill's life were involved in medicine and surgery in St. Catharines. He devoted his life to the care of disabled children and served for many years as medical director at the Niagara Peninsula Children's Centre. Bill's Rotary work also focused on children with tireless work for the Children's Committee and the Easter Seals Committee. Our club is fortunate to have a man of his medical distinction and dedication in our club.
Birthdays - March 21 - Mike Michaud, March 23 - Dr. Mark Zammit
Rick Merritt announced that the time has come to do a club survey. He promised that it is not too tough, and you should expect it in your in-basket soon. Please respond quicker than you normally do.
Thursday, April 6 is the Rotary Clubs of St. Catharines Joint Meeting. It is at noon, and we are the organizing club, so try to attend. The speaker is Dr. Shragge from NHS.
Tom Arkell showed us the registration form for the District Conference, being held at the Parkway May 3 - 5. Come and support our Governor Art. More information at our district website - www.rotary7090.org
Maurice Gomme gave an update on Ken Taylor's climb up Mount Kilimanjaro. He pointed out that all the funds raised for this climb go to Not Just Tourists. Funds raised so far from our club total $4,777, and when added to other sources, the pot climbs close to $10,000.
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Bill Finley |
Chris Blake did the honours this week. He started by getting mushy about being back in the club. He added that his two daughters are making their parents proud - one an actress (actor?) in Peter Pan and one a Youth Exchange student in France. He then generously donated (via fabulous wife, Colleen) two pairs of tickets to Arms and the Man at Shaw to augment the 50/50 draw.
John Snowling is happy to have survived a northern, winter weekend with an Exchange Student.
Ken Taylor is surprised and grateful for the support for Not Just Tourists.
Pat Rooney went to the Land Mine dinner sponsored by the AM Club and was obviously moved by the enormity of the land mine situation.
Dave Stevenson pointed out an error in last week's Gossip Sheet. Your editor is pleased to hear that he is volunteering to be one of our newest reporters. (Actually, blame the Webmaster, RS!)
Maurice Gomme presented the bound volume of last year's Gossip Sheets to Past-President, Betty-Lou.
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Betty Lou Souter and Maurice Gomme
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Graham Kennedy told a story about being interrogated for carrying Not Just Tourists suitcases into Cuba. He admitted to a small white lie to get out of the situation. He also had stories about dining with the Castro family.
John Nitsopoulos is happy about raising $8,000 for local charities at his three hotels.
Rick Evans got up and passed over a cheque from World Community Services to Ken Taylor for $5,000.
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Dr. Ken Taylor and Rick Evans
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Betty-Lou is happy to have the book of memories of her year - embarrassing pictures and all.
50/50 - Rev. Kennedy drew a card, but not the right card. Some comment was made about divine intervention for the fib in Cuba.
John spent his earliest years in Niagara Falls and is a proud alumnus of Stamford Collegiate. After some educational lapses he ended up in the Geography program at Brock University, which led him into an early career opportunity with Acres Research and Planning.
At Acres, John met Linda, and a life-long relationship began despite an early career posting to Cobalt, Ontario. From Acres, John moved to the Ministry of Natural Resources. That move lasted for 25 years, most of them in Huntsville. John is most proud of his project management of the new Visitors' Centre in Algonquin Park that opened a few years ago.
In 2002 John accepted retirement and agreed with Linda that a move back to Niagara made a lot of sense. John continues to work as a consultant in exhibit and museum design, and he concluded with a brief slide show to explain the work that he does.
Ian Ellingham thanked John, and President Larry added his thanks and made the donation to the Canadian Land Mine Foundation.
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John Travers and Larry Iggulden
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President Larry told us Rotary facts about the RI staff in head office in Evanston. It all started with Mildred and has grown to a nameless group of over 500. (If that's true, how come no one answers the phone when you call?)
March 30 - Sex, Lies and Mission Statements - Prof. Chris Bart, DeGroote School of Business
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