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Today’s meeting began in its usual fashion with grace by Ryan Carson followed by O Canada led by Rick Evans then a toast to Her Majesty the Queen and Canada. Stuart Butler introduced the head table: John Bird, Dr Barnett Singer, President Tom Arkell, Bill Cole, Ron Bassett and Stuart Butler.
Guests
Stuart then introduced the following guests: Bruce Binch guest of Doug Geddie, John Chabot guest of Earl Alton, Wade Mills guest of Ryan Carson and Joel Chatterton guest of Tom Arkell.
Member in the Spotlight - Ron Bassett
Ron Bassett was the member in the spotlight for today. Ron joined the Rotary Club of Burlington in 1977 then moved to St Catharines in 1986. Ron moved to Peterborough then back to St Catharines where he was reintroduced to our club by Dave Butler. Ron is a commercial insurance broker with Sheehan and Rosie. Ron and his wife Jeanette have three daughters and four grand daughters. Ron’s many interests include his family, curling and golf. His most recent committee involvements have included the rib fest advisory, fellowship and sport and the auction advisory
Birthdays –
Earl Alton. George Doty, Phil Porter and yours truly Brian Stewart all celebrated birthdays this week.
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Earl Alton. George Doty and Brian Stewart |
Announcements:
John Potts – our new badges are in, any member wanting to keep their old badges are welcome to do so. If anyone has not yet picked up their police checks do so soon because the police disguard all unclaimed checks after three months. If Larry lets them build a new headquarters they promise to keep all checks on hand for at least six months.
Sam Walters – congratulated our club for a great auction. Over $97 000 has been brought in. There will be some left over items auctioned off next week. If anyone has a plastic tabloid holder please turn it in for next year.
Gregory Bodogh Darte – there will be a TV Auction appreciation night held by the Family of Rotary Committee on December 5 at 5:30 at Cats Caboose. Food will be provided (left overs from the auction) but it will be a cash bar.
Tom Arkell – the board has approved the cancellation of the December 27 noon meeting. Make ups will be given out in the Boxing Day return isle of Best Buy.
Judith Barker – the Literacy Committee has sign up sheets to pledge your support for a book drive in support of FACS. Chief Wendy has challenged other members to match her $50 donation. Judith reminded everyone that Wendy has a gun and can find out where you live.
50/50
$293.75 was up for grabs but Ian Ellingham was not able to draw the right card.
Happy Dollars:
- Brian was happy that the auction was over and acknowledged the hard work by Sam, Norma and Peggy.
- John Nitsopoulos was happy to be a sponsor of the Ice Dogs.
- Pat Rooney brought us news of past exchange student Sara. She credits her time spent in Canada as an exchange student with helping her to win a scholarship.
- Margaret Jarrell thanked everyone for making our current exchange student Kenji feel welcomed at the auction.
- Chris Bangham let the club know that the appreciation night on December the 5th at Cats is co-sponsored by the Bar Committee. Anyone wishing to join this committee will have to submit to a urine sample accompanied by at least two pieces of photo ID (not necessarily your own).
- Roger Segalin thanked Alexis De Wolfe for all the picture input for the auction items.
- John Potts was happy that Henry Klassen was under 10 inches of snow in Bracebridge.
- Oraine DeRosa missed our auction because she was visiting with relative in Albany New York.
- Gregory Darte has a ticket for the Ice Dogs available for anyone that makes a $15 donation to the United Way.
Program:
John Bird introduced Dr Barnett Singer as our guest speaker for today’s meeting. The subject of his talk is the historical background to today’s political situation in Iraq.
Dr Singer is an associate professor in the history department at Brock. He teaches subjects ranging from 20th century world history and military history.
Dr Singer’s talk traced the turbulent history of Iraq and tied together past and present mistakes and how they influence the current state of affairs in that country. Iraq was unified into a country following the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. The victors of World War One split the old Ottoman Empire with a typical empirical slant. Rival religious sects, minority populations and enticement of oil and the size of land mass created many problems for the initial British presence in the area. Iraq gained its independence in the 1930s.
A history of conflicts with neighbouring Iran over the years fostered the rise to power of the most ruthless leaders in a survival of the fittest our most brutal contest. This progression led to Saddam Hussein gaining control in the 1970s. The war between Iran and Iraq in the 1980s left Iraq in debt and with many dead. Of the $70 billion debt $20 billion was held by neighbouring Kuwait. Faced with escalating service charges poor service and the lack of free toasters Saddam decided to cancel his debt with Kuwait by invading that country in 1990. This action was reversed by the First Gulf War.
The topple of Saddam and the resulting occupation of the Second Gulf War has resulted in the loss civilians in Iraq as well as the huge cost in dollars and loss of young men and women from the United States. The change in Iraq is measured slowly but is improving. These gains are tempered by the loss of security that the civilian population feels with ongoing suicide bombers.
Dr Singer ended with the quote “to understand everything is to somewhat pardon everything.”
Don Fraser thanked our speaker.
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Dr. Singer & President Tom Arkell |
Tom Arkell ended the meeting by recognizing the great work that Rick Merritt has done for the Rotary Foundation this past month.
The official 10 day notice for prospective new member Aurora Tancock.
Aurora Tancock...Aurora is the President of Aurora Tancock Financial Services Inc. and is being Proposed by Chris Bangham. (Also current Assistant Director of Registration Committee of Million Dollar Round Table; Past Treasurer of Toastmasters International; Past V.P. of Thorold Chamber of Commerce; Member of Business Network International).
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