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Harold Nash asked for the blessing, Don Shaw led us in Oh Canada, and we toasted the Queen and Canada.
President Larry introduced the Head Table - to introduce our speaker, Judith Barker; speaker, Dave Haddow; President, Larry Iggulden; Sergeant-at-arms, Peter Lumsden; Rotarian in the spotlight, Peggy Davidson; and Registrar, Terry McDougall
Terry McDougall introduced our Guests - visiting Rotarian, Jim Shannon (from the St. Catharines South club), Kathleen Thorne, guest of Roger Segalin; Ian Ellingham, guest of John Crossingham; and Val Kruty, guest of Rusty Kruty.
Rotarian in the Spotlight
Peggy Davidson - Peggy was introduced to Rotary in 2002 by Dan Patterson. Her first career was as a French teacher, but she went on to earn her MBA and became employed with the TD bank. In that career, she assumed the role of business banking manager, which she retired from last year after 24 years of service. Peggy has been involved in various aspects of the community including: the Board of Governors at Niagara College, past president of the St. Catharines Business Club, and a member of the St. Catharines University Women's Club. Her interests include travel, golf, reading, wine and gardening. Since retirement, she has discovered the joy of part time work at Sunshine Express Garden Centre, and for the past six years, she has been blissfully married to husband, Bill Versluis.
Birthdays: George Park, Earl Alton and George Doty
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Earl Alton and George Doty
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Earl Alton discussed the monies raised for the Rotary Foundation, noting that nearly $70,000,000 is raised yearly, and approximately 80% of those funds come from individuals being named Paul Harris Fellows. He discussed the tradition of our club to award a Paul Harris Fellowship on the basis of contribution and service, and proceeded to introduce our newest recipient of the award. He noted that this Rotarian had perfect attendance for the past 25 years, and has been actively involved in committees, including Rib Fest, Youth Exchange, Program, Membership, Youth Leadership, Easter Seals, Career Retraining, and Auction Advisory among others. In addition, he noted his involvement as a past director with our club, as well as sitting on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce, the United Way, the Niagara Grape & Wine Festival (past president), and the St. Catharines Downtown Association, and was past city alderman from 1982-85. There was also some comment about introducing someone to Rotary and then marrying her.as your reporter, I didn't quite catch that.
We recognized our newest Paul Harris Fellow: John Snowling .
John accepted the award, noting how much he had learned from Rotary, and how much he valued the friendships he had made through it.
Betty-Lou Souter relayed a letter of thanks received for our club's contribution to the Program's Fund, noting that we had been ranked #2 in the district, and the total amount raised in the 7090 district was $300,000. Our current president suggested that we might place #1 in his year as president.
Janet Johnston updated the club on the recent activities of the Youth Exchange Committee. This year, our club is the only one in St. Catharines participating in the Youth Exchange program. We are at the point of selecting outbound students, and two excellent candidates were found. However, as the committee was only planning on sending one, it means that more host families must be found because we must take in the same number as we send out. She discussed the opportunity of hosting, noting that it is a two-way exchange of values whereby each is changed from the experience. She asked that members consider, not only their own families, but also their friends as possible host families, and contact with any possibilities.
Home: 937-0600 or email: learningpotentials@on.aibn.com
Sam Walters entertained us once again, and gave us the final update on the Auction stats. A total of $172,699 in merchandize has been received. He then recognized those who helped to create that total the most:
Betty-Lou Souter - the number one contributor - over $9,000. (she was given some wine courtesy of Chateau des Charmes and a wine tour for eight)
Several new Rotarians were recognized for their contributions and also thanked with wine tour gifts. These included: Vicky Rudachuk, Sandy Peters, Kelly Buckley, Ron Dubciak, Pat Hoggan and John Travers.
The winning team was team #8, and those members (who were uncertain who they were until called to the front) were also rewarded with bottles of wine.
Sam also thanked Ron Sloan and Martha Abra for all their work processing and inputting the items.
And.not to be left "ungifted," President Larry was also given a wine tour from Sam, and Larry noted that his time concerns for meetings tended to dissipate with the receipt of gifts.
Nancy Ferris-Hostick - minus the short skirt and pom-poms shouted a cheer for the upcoming: A.U.C.T.I.O.N.
She also expressed her thanks to the auction committee members for helping us reach this point on the eve of the actual event. They include (by first name only in most instances): Liz, Sam, Martha, Dave Stevenson, Tom, Carol, Chris, Roger, Scott, Peggy, Bill Cole, Brian, Doug, Pat, Ron, Kelly, John Travers, Bill McKay, Ron, Jean, Vicky, and John Lehnen.
President Larry announced the following resignations from our club: Brian Hutchings, Cam Hathaway (who apparently is now with the am club), and John Kerklaan. Peter Papp has been granted a leave of absence.
Chris Bangham passed the basket, starting off with his happiness for John Snowling's award, and his recent attendance to hear Eddie Greenspan (Conrad Black's Canadian defense council).
Betty-Lou Souter was happy for John, and to report that the missing Rotary banner had finally been replaced.
Norm Kreger was happy to have taken medical supplies (Not Just Tourists) to Jamaica. Chris Bangham also noted his upcoming transport of drugs, and Ken Taylor paid a dollar in anticipation of his happiness of getting those supplies out of his front hall.
Bill Campbell was happy for John's award.
Rusty Kruty paid two dollars for he and his wife Val, noting John Snowling's willingness to always assist new agents in the office.
George Doty was happy to be celebrating the American Thanksgiving.
John (our newest P.H. fellow) expressed his thanks again to the club, and wished Nancy Ferris-Hostick and the committee much success this weekend.
Dave Stevenson was happy to have participated in a successful curling bonspiel with his team placing third.
Graham Kennedy, also a member of Dave's team, was happy to announce an upcoming "Out of the Cold" concert to be held Dec.7 th at Knox Church. Anyone interested in tickets should contact him.
Doug Geddie expressed his thanks to those who read scripts recently for the T.V. Auction.
Brian St. Hilaire was happy for John, and was also happy that he had corrected the inappropriate flag placement by the head table in such an inconspicuous fashion.
Sam Walters was happy for John, and encouraged him to wear his medallion at this weekend's auction.
Don Fraser was happy for Roger Segalin's pictorial account of his 50 th anniversary event.
Sat Singh was happy to be back among us.
Peggy Davidson was happy for John, and also for the working credit terminals at the auction.she also asked for help in the cash room on Sunday.
President Larry reminded the club that make-ups were possible through auction work so that we might achieve perfect attendance in honour of Dr. Don Fraser. 50/50 - Lloyd Buckley was the lucky ticket holder, but not lucky drawing the card.
Program - Rotary Foundation, Dave Haddow
Judith Barker introduced our fellow club member, noting his past commitment to Rotary as a past District Governor, current District Youth Exchange Vice Chair, a multiple Paul Harris award recipient, and his history of hosting both Youth Exchange students among other acts of service.
Dressed in African garb - which he informed us was called a "Booboo," and after suggesting possible (transvestite-related) reasons for his donning it, Dave proceeded to speak of the work of the Rotary Foundation. He expressed thanks to Ken Taylor for the benefits of his drugs that he had witnessed on his trip, and reminded us of the need to be proactive in support of the Foundation. He noted that, although polio has not been eliminated according to the 2005 Rotary goal, it remains a cause worth continued support and effort, with the end to polio being a realistic objective. Having returned from his trip only days early, his memories of the tragic images of the effects of this disease among African youth were vivid. He also recounted his personal connection to the polio cause, having witnessed his sister fall victim to the disease when he was a child; he recalled the stigmatism associated with it as a family member. Thus, he described his joy 50 years later when he had the opportunity to do something about polio through Rotary and specifically, through the work of the Foundation.
He described for us the simple procedure to prevent the spread of polio, but noted the very specific conditions necessary for the care of the serum in order for it to be effective. He outlined the many costs associated with its administration, including special (Rotary specific) garb so that African parents would allow volunteers to enter their homes and approach their children. Dave commented on the power of the Rotary emblem as a trusted symbol. He stated that 3.8 million children were immunized in four days in this campaign, and he also made mention of another initiative carried out by the 36 volunteers in Niger (West Africa), including bringing "Power Flour" - a food supplement to aid digestion that would help one million malnourished children to digest food. In closing, he described the many needs of the African people as they struggle with malaria, T.B., HIV and AIDS, but he also described the willingness of Rotarian colleagues in Africa to give as well as receive donations. In light of the power to help others that is possible through the Rotary Foundation, he challenged our club for each member to donate $100 this year to the cause.
Betty-Lou thanked our speaker and President Larry added his thanks.
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Dave Haddow and Larry Iggulden
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President Larry recounted a moment in Rotary History: the first Paul Harris award recipient having been Alison G. Brush which he was given in the 1950's, but was done so for his significant contribution to the Foundation in 1946. He then, in reference to the Annual Program Fund, displayed a tree completed by his granddaughter made with R.F.S.M. stickers in a moment of unsupervised artistic expression.
Next Week - Family and Children's Services -speaker: Ann Godfrey
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