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Stuart Butler |
Opening and Introductions: President Rick called our meeting to order today at The St. Catharines Golf & Country Club. Those who joined President at the head table included:
Guest Speaker Introducer: George Park
- Guest Speaker: Mike McCallion Sr. VP Canadian Mental Health Association, Niagara Chapter
- Sgt-at-Arms: Gregory Bodough-Darte
- New Member: Stuart Butler
- Guest Introducer: Betty Lou Souter
Grace: Larry Ross
Toast to the Queen: by President Rick
Guests:
- Willie Heidebeuchel, Rotary Lakeshore
- Andrew Bowles, Rotary South
- Ted Usick
- Martha Casson, Niagara College
- Rene Perteet
- Jim Scott
Birthdays: November 3 - Heather Combe
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Heather Combe |
George Doty made the front page above the fold of the Standard; he was right above the story of a St. Catharines woman who won $1.9M and many though George had won the lottery!
There will be a Membership Committee Meeting at the George Darte Funeral Chapel at 5:00 pm November 7.
Chris Blake is looking for volunteers who are willing to proof read 100 auction item scripts. You can do it on line and it needs to be done right away. Call Chris.
Janet Johnston announced that the Chamber is sponsoring a luncheon ($15) November 17 whose topic is the integration of persons with disabilities in the workforce. Please contact the Chamber for details and tickets.
Norma is appealing for people to sign on for auction duties. Help Norma out and fill every shift by next week! There is a new job this year, Shift Supervisor.
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Chris Blake |
Janet Johnston |
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Norma Medulun |
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Larry Ross |
Larry Ross wielded the basket this week and led off with an attempt at a joke that I will not repeat here.
Chris Bangham was happy to have spent the past month in South Africa. He will fill us in with details over the next few weeks but Chris was very happy to have visited his daughter in Africa .
Kelly Buckley was happy to report a 2-week vacation in North Carolina.
Eugene Gillies was happy to complement the NRPS for winning top awards recently.
Andrew Bowles was happy to recognize that the Municipal election is coming up very soon. His job relies on his boss getting reelected as a regional councilor and then as Regional Chair. For those of you who don't know, Andrew is running for School Trustee.
Doug Geddie is happy to have finished the US Marine Corps Marathon last weekend in Washington DC . Doug said he was happy to have finished the same day he started! (Ed. Doug came 43 rd out of about 150 in his age group). Big event, 35,000 runners!
Dan Patterson was very happy to announce a ribbon cutting today for his new Technology Centre in the Welland Campus.
John Lehnen paid a buck to let the Club know that the 2007 M&M Junior Canadian Curling Championships can use volunteers. They run from Feb 3 to 11 with 3 draws per day. Exciting high caliber curling - please volunteer.
Bill McKay was happy to say that he voted yesterday. He thought it was wise to get it over as he had changed his mind on who to vote for 4 times already!
Art Wing congratulated our Club on the high esteem held for us by the other clubs in our District. He suggested that we might consider one more committee though - one to preview Larry Ross' jokes!
50/50 Draw: Tom Pekar won the draw for $673 and drew the 4 of Clubs
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George Park |
George Park introduced our speaker, Mike McCallion. Mike is retired and has lived in Wainfleet for the past 30 years. He is the Board VP for the Canadian Mental Health Association - Niagara Chapter. He was an alderman on Wainfleet's Council for 3 terms.
Mike led by thanking us for our long support for the CMHA's transportation program over the years. This program supplements the cost for people with mental disease in getting to their work. He then talked freely and openly about his aches and pains resulting form his age, a common and comfortable past time for older people. Then he spoke about waking one day in depression with all of the symptoms: irritability, moroseness and a desire for solitude. He noted that during his career he has always been able to face difficulty in good spirits with a positive attitude. He gave several examples: an end to a career with Lightning Fasteners closing their plant and difficult times at Fleet Aerospace during a very tough labour strike. Mike told us that his Father, brother and daughter have all been diagnosed as having schizophrenia.
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Mike McCallion |
Mike pointed out that we all seem very willing to discuss our physical problems in public but not our mental problems. It is becoming easier as the general population becomes more aware of mental disease but the stigma is still there today. At least it is not acceptable to make fun of "crazy people" anymore!
Mike's point to his discussion to day is that mental illness is as prevalent as physical illness in our society. Depression is a symptom of a physical mental health problem; a chemical or hormonal imbalance in the brain not unlike diabetes or Parkinson's. With medication, some of these imbalances can be rectified just as with medication, some heart problems can be rectified.
Today, the Ministry of Health is changing he way funding is dispensed in the province. The decision process is being moved out into Local Health Initiative Networks (LHIN). Funding decisions will move from Queen's Park to the LHINs. Niagara does not receive its proportionate share of funding. He asks us to write to our LHIN and copy our MPP's. He has a sample letter that can be accessed through the CMHA. He would appreciate it if our Club would write as well.
Mike finished with a thought that originates with the World Health Organization (WHO). One cannot achieve "health" without mental health.
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Mike McCallion and Rick Merritt |
Betty-Lou Souter thanked Michael for his presentation and recognized his courage.
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Betty-Lou Souter |
Next Week: Remembrance Day - Ray Bukovec
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