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President Tom called our meeting to order today at The St. Catharines Golf & Country Club.
Joining President Tom at the head table:
Guest Introducer: Coletta McGrath
Guest Speaker: Lee McKenna – Community Health Centres
Sgt-at-Arms: Larry Ross
In-the-spotlight: Carol Henderson
Registrar: Ron Sloan
Introduction of Guests: Ron Sloan
Guests included:
George Kurzawa, guest of Coletta McGrath
Jill Cappa, guest of Coletta McGrath
Allen Hardy, guest of Kelly Buckley
Kenji Matsumoto, youth exchanges student & guest of Kelley Buckley
Grace: Jane Rufrano
O Canada: Don Shaw
Toast to the Queen and Canada: by President Tom
It is with great sadness that District Governor Bob Leek sends this message. Past District Governor Dr. John Frid passed away, Monday May 19th, at 8:45 a.m., at the Carpenter Hospice in Burlington, Ontario. His wife Joyce was at his side. John's life was truly a testament to Service Above Self. He will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him.
The Family of Rotary Committee will have a meeting Tuesday May 27 at 5:30 at the George Darte Funeral Chapel.
John Snowling spoke about the Committee sign-up sheets on each table today. It is time to indicate your TWO committee preferences for the 2008/2009 Rotary year. If you were not at the meeting, you will be able to download a form from our website. Fill it in and get it to John ASAP.
Kenji is participating in the Rotary Bike Trek in NOTL on June 7. He would appreciate your sponsorship.
John Chabot was happy to collect; to be a new member of Rotary; and, for the welcome he has experienced from our members.
John Potts had a happy $ and a $ of fear – he has purchased a winter home in Florida and his wife is there now furnishing it!
John Snowling was happy with the quick response to Committee selection so far.
Angus Adams was happy to report that he has now been a member of our Club for 38 years and 15 days.
George Doty was happy to report that he passed his written driver’s exam this morning – so happy that he contributed $20!
Art Weaver was happy to report that his wife and son are competing in the Power Lifting event at the Ontario Games.
John Crossingham was happy that the Bicycling Class he has been instructing at Brock is now complete.
John Nitsopoulos was happy to report that his hotels are sponsoring Chris Blake in Destination Niagara.
Kelly Buckley was happy to have her husband Allan at the meeting; that she has the Youth Exchange Bike in her shed; and, that McPherson’s Rant will be playing Friday, May 23 at the CAW Hall and again Friday, May 30 at the London Arms.
Carol Henderson
Carol was introduced to the Rotary Club of St. Catharines by Betty Lou Souter January 10, 2008. She is a past member (14 years) of the Niagara Falls Sunrise Rotary Club. Carol is President and Owner of CD Henderson & Associates Priority Management, a corporate consulting and training business. Her interests include golf, swimming, reading, cottage life, boating, gardening and biking. Carol participates in the Rib Fest Advisory and Literacy Committees. Carol is a proud mother to Kerry and Margaret.
Birthday boy Henry Becker had the right ticket but did not draw an ace for the win – the pot is at $256.50
May 23 – Henry Becker
May 24 – Dan Patterson and Vicky Rudachuk
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Henry Becker, Vicky Rudachuk, Dan Patterson |
Lee McKenna – Community Health Centres
Coletta McGrath began her introduction by explaining that Lee has spent the last 6 years with Ontario’s Community Health Centres. In addition she has acted as a trainer in international postings including India and Philippines. Lee is a proud grandmother to Owen.
Lee McKenna led by recalling her postings in small villages in both India and Philippines where the Rotary International symbol was displayed.
Community Health Centres (CHC’s) are very different from Family Health Centres. Currently there is one Francophone CHC in Welland. Three more are planned for Niagara, likely in St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Port Colborne. The existing Welland CHC sees over 45,000 distinct patients annually. Ontario’s expansion plan will result in 103 CHC’s and Satellite CHC’s; currently there are 66 Province.
A CHC provides a comprehensive smorgasbord of professional services under one roof including such services as physicians, chiropodists, nurse practitioners, social workers, mental health workers, etc. They are accessible from the perspective of physical, language, culture and are client centered. Service provided is interdisciplinary, collaborative and consultative working to a common goal. Access is not always to an MD. All staff members are salaried. The CHC’s are focused on intervention and prevention; they result in a reduction of Emergency Room visits and a reduction of admissions to Long Term Care.
Within Niagara, aside from the Welland CHC, recent work has taken the form of surveying the community to determine need and location. This survey determines what services can be enhanced without duplication and what gaps need to be filled. Services are also mandated by social determinants of health, economic or new Canadians for example. Leadership of CHC’s is through both steering committees and a Board of Directors. Membership of these governing bodies will be recruited from the community served. Annual budget will be in the area of $1.5M for each CHC. CHC’s have been operating in Ontario since the 1970’s; none have been closed and all have expanded operations. This system is prevalent and very successful in Quebec.
George Smitherman, Minister of Health & Long Term Care says, “The reason we’re expanding CHC’s so dramatically is simple: they work. They’re one of the most effective tools we have to address health issues – and by health issues, we don’t just mean treating people when they’re sick, we mean the entire range of factors that contribute to healthy lives and healthy communities.”
Carol Henderson thanked Lee for her presentation and for fielding questions from our Club members; she was happy to note that more CHC’s will be coming to Niagara and that they will be helping to funnel people away from our overburdened hospitals.
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Lee McKenna & President Tom Arkell |
Next Week:
Daniel Titone – Performance Cars – Hybrids
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