President Rick Merritt called the meeting to order with a strike of the Gong. Grace was given by Dr. Don Fraser. "God Bless the food and us to thy service." Amen!

O Canada led by "Pitch Emeritus" Don Shaw.

The Queen and Canada received a Toast.

The head table was introduced: Rick Evans, Chair of the World Community Service to introduce the speaker Ekua Kariuki, President Rick himself, Sgt at Arms Bob Lawler, Committee in the Spotlight Bala Kathiresan, Scott Heelis to introduce the guests.

The following guests were welcomed and suitably recognized with vigorous handclapping:

• Bekki Kugler: exchange student from Germany
• Carly Gemmell: exchange student from Brazil
• Willie Heidebrecht: Lakeshore Club
• Lanore Sheehan, guest of Ekua Kariuki
• Ian Forbes: St. Catharines South
• Doug Foss: St. Catharines South
• Keith Shaver: St. Catharines South

Bala Kathresian Membership Committee in the Spotlight gave a tutorial on "How to Do an On Line Makeup Session"

On line is one option for doing a make up meeting that helps to gain improved membership attendance overall.

When entering our website take heed of our Club information as you will need it! Click on Rotary e-club, select a meeting and enter the site. Read and learn about that Club, answer the questions at the end, fill in our club information, send a copy to Joyce western, print a copy for you.Make an on-line donation to that club if you wish. The two week window for make ups apply. Now you know!

There were NO Birthdays hence no choir practise.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

John Lenhan announced that Doug Geddie was the most recent recipient of a Paul Harris Fellow for his tireless work in leading the charge to host the 2007 Curling Championship locally after the selected host in B.C. had to withdraw. With short notice but long hours Doug was able to pull it off. Doug is "respectful, professional, and does what is necessary."

130 curlers ages 12 -20 years participated in the event of a lifetime.

Doug accepted graciously as is his style stating "The success of any event is dependant on who you work with."

Well done. He also admitted he was not actually planning to attend today's meeting and once here planned to be an early leaver. Ahem.

President Rick made the following announcements:

The Children's and Program Committees will meet immediately following today's meeting

District 7090 Conference was held last weekend. Kudos were given to Eugene Gilles and Committee for the smooth registration process.

This year the Conference had individual awards.

The Jester Award was given to Roger Segalin for his witty ways.

The Club Champion Award was given to Chris Bangham (and Anne) for the tireless efforts of the Omphandazi (phonetic spelling) Project

The Club received 4 Awards:

• The District and Zone Award for Literacy
• Membership Award
• Presidential Citation
• Lighthouse Award

Norma Medulun explained the process for the police clearance requirement as part of the Club's adoption of the Abuse and Harassment Policy:

Forma are available for the next three weeks from Norma, require completion in full, to be witnessed by Norma or designate after reviewing two pieces of government issued ID. Forms will be submitted and paid for by the Club. Members are responsible for picking up the forms from the Police department once processed. This affords the individual to clarify any findings and decide if they wish to bring forth the document to Rotary. Submit the document to Norma Medulun when comfortable, she will review, itemize the particular relevant information and keep the information confidential.

Beckki gave an update of her activities to date and invited the members to attend the upcoming concert at Laura Secord.

HAPPY DOLLARS

• Karen DeRoche led with the announcement that "What Women Want" had been launched in various locations across the Peninsula. Her son will benefit from a "tendon transfer" which will eliminate the requirement for a leg brace in future
• Jacqueline Bradshaw gave a belated $10.00 birthday donation. She also announced she is "getting married finally" next week and advised that it is much more difficult to do so later in life than when a youngster.
• Mike Pihura attended the American Convention of Audiologists and as a result was able to do a make up meeting in Scottsdale Arizona, turning in a buckskin pennant. He also noted that in Scottsdale they call it happy buck's not happy dollars!
• John TeBrake was happy about the Art Festival in Pelham this weekend.

• Art Wing

• Art Wing added congratulations to Doug Geddie's Paul Harris achievement; was happy about the conference and Beckki's unbelievable job singing there.
• Blair Pollock was happy about the upcoming Canadian Tire Foundation for Families gala May 26, 2007. Adolescent Family Support Network is a beneficiary.
• Eugene Gilles gave credit to the team for the smooth conference registration.
• George Park was happy to be back from England where they do not in fact celebrate St. George's day.
• John Travers was happy about Stamford Collegiate's upcoming celebration.
• George Darte was pleased that the St. Catharines Rowing Club was naming a shell in his honour.

50/50

Dave Feasby won the chance but not the prize

PROGRAM

Rick Evans gave a brief bio of our World Community Service then introduced today's speaker Ekua Kariuki from Operation Eyesight Universal. Ekua is active in her community loves to travel and lists her passport as her favourite possession.

Ekua stated that this was her first Rotary Club experience.

The purpose of Operation Eyesight is to provide medical support for eyesight. Blindness is a world wide issue, affecting poor countries.

Every 5 seconds someone goes blind in the world. 75% of blindness is avoidable. 90% of people with blindness live in poor countries. Access to care and cost are the two main issues.

Causes of blindness are nutrition, sanitation, lack of clean water and environmental issues, cataracts (clouding), trachoma a contagious infection and childhood blindness from lack of vitamin A.

Operation Eyesight supports medical teams through equipment, training and expertise. The work is primarily in developing countries. They provide the funds for partners to help build infrastructure such as clinics; promote the SAFE protocol: Surgery, Antibiotics, Face washing Environmental improvements.

Building wells provides clean water; focus on health and nutrition in India

Ekua related a story of a young Kenya woman with the very painful infection of trachoma walking two and a half hours to receive a fifteen minute surgical intervention.

$30 funds cataract surgery, bandages and medication.

Since 1990 our Rotary Club has supported a total of $9,000 towards Operation Eyesight for which we were profusely thanked.

Liz Palmieri wondered what makes this program unique.

Response: 100% Canadian.

Chris Bangham acknowledged this issue as a huge one with a cheap solution and asked about how the Country Partners were identified.

Response: approach and values match

Art Wing thanked the speaker on the presentation of Avoidable Blindness and gave another Rotary donation to the cause.

President Rick gave the Speaker Donation to Literacy.

Next Week's Speaker: Rotary at the United nations Doug Vincent Past District Governor and current International United nation's representative.

"A good speaker to bring a guest to."

No further business: Meeting Adjourned.