Gossip Sheet # 18 - November 4, 2004
Editor: Bill McKay

Head Table – Dan Patterson, Introducer, Jos Nolle, Speaker, Pres. Betty-Lou Souter, Bill Finley. Sgt. Of Arms, Dr. Don Fraser, In the spotlight, Rachel Delaney, Intro. Guests

Head Table

After Grace by Art Weaver, and O'Canada led by Liz Palmieri, Betty-Lou opened the meeting with the introduction of the head table and provided us with details of Dr. Don Fraser's Rotary history, President for 18 months in 1963-4 due to Pres Sandy Crews moving out of town half way thru his year. Don took over and stayed for another full year as scheduled. He has 48 years of perfect attendance, has received a Paul Harris Fellowship and both his wife and son are also Paul Harris Fellows. Don was one of the Rotarians instrumental in founding the Rotary South Club.

Heather Combe

Rachel Delaney introduced the following guests: Jim Shannon from Rotary South, Catherine Livingston, guest of Betty-Lou, Fiona Allan and Larissa Strong, guests of Dan Patterson, Anne Bangham, guest of Chris, and Jos Nolle, guest speaker.

Heather Combe was the sole Rotarian celebrating a birthday and she was treated? to a rendition of Happy Birthday.

Nov 11 Remembrance Day
Nov 18 District Governor's Visit
Nov 25 John Crossingham-Melbourne Cup Day
Dec 2 Rotary Foundation & Rotary Centennial

Announcements

Betty-Lou was at Brock University for their announcement of the successful conclusion to their capital fundraising campaign, more than $30 million.

Liz Palmeri

TV Auction co-chair Liz Palmieri was happy to report that we had received 988 items valued at $156,109 as of today and that cataloguing will start on Saturday, so late items will only be accepted to Friday. Leading Teams at the moment are Jim Denham, Nancy Ferris, and Andrew Loucks.

Norma Medulun

Norma Medulun followed with a request for volunteers for Fri. Nov. 13 helping in the warehouse to bring items forward for pre-taping, and Wed. Nov. 17 for recording voice over description of the items, and of course many volunteers for a variety of jobs on Friday Nov. 26, Saturday Nov. 27, and Sunday November 28. Sign up sheets were available at the table near the door and will be for the next 2 meetings.

Committee Meetings: World Community Services and Major Grants will be meeting Monday at the St.Catharines Tennis Club. Check for time.

Rachel Delaney

Happy Dollars

Dave McAdam

Dave McAdam was the collector and he opened with a greeting from Eileen McCrae, former Easter Seals District Nurse, and a $ to say how happy he was that the US election was over but sad to see Bush had won.

Tim Rigby happy to be back home from his anniversary trip to Italy.

Lezlie Murch thanked the club for their generosity in donating $340 to the Canadian Land Mine Foundation [the extra $5 at registration].

Terry Wilkes countering Dave's sadness on the election.

Marg Jarrell reported on the Halloween experiences of exchange student Chigusa Yoshida.

Liz Palmieri $3 happy, successful canvass, Chorus Niagara future event, and her 33rd anniversary.

Peggy Davidson is retired and looking forward to a trip to Portugal.

Doug Geddie's daughter Kate was impressed with Slovenia.

George Darte happy to have been named leader of the year by Chamber of Commerce, Congrats George, well deserved!.

Gene Gillies reported that a former Japanese Exchange student {Mesha Ogashawa?} was recently married and passed pictures as proof.

Betty-Lou was happy to learn that Gerry Repple had completed a recent marathon.

Don Fraser

Don Fraser was happy that someone was in favour of Medical Savings Accounts.

John Crossingham had a brief comment, Bill Finley reported on a recent trip on which he distributed some Rotary cash to needy causes, and Dan Patterson was also happy. Unfortunately my hearing and shorthand let me down. Sorry Fellows!

Early Leavers were reminded to pay the ‘Duck'

The Program
Landmines, Night of 1000 Dinners

Betty-Lou pointed out that the different menu we experienced today was derived from the menu of the Night of 1000 Dinners and thanked the chefs at the Golf Club for their attempt at duplication. [Ed. Note: I hope they do not save the recipe for all the items]

Dan Patterson

Dan Patterson provided an extensive background on our speaker Jos Nolle, a native of Holland. Unfortunately Dan speaks so quickly and left so fast I was only able to catch a few thoughts. Jos has considerable academic recognition and has visited over 40 countries. He served for several years with Doctors Without Borders. He immigrated to Canada in 1995, joined Rotary in Welland in 1996 and is now Director of International Education Development Department of Niagara College. He is a member of the Canadian Land Mine Foundation.

Jos opened by congratulating our club on our service to the domestic and international communities and thanking us specifically for our support of the Canadian Land Mine Association. He personally had raised $1500 in pledges by running a marathon.

He ran a portion of a video called Measured Steps, which displayed some of the suffering of innocent victims of accidental land mine explosions. Among the countries with the most concealed land mines are Angola, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Cambodia, all left from previous wars.

NGO's were the first to call for a ban on the manufacture and sale of land mines and the removal of existing buried ones, estimated in the millions.

Over 100 countries have signed on to an International Treaty formed in 1997. Unfortunately this does not include Russia and the USA.

Jos Nolle

In Mozambique, as an example, much of the land and buildings cannot be used because there are no records showing where the mines are buried. He returned to Mozambique in March and found the country still paralyzed by the problem. Removal is expensive. The country has lots of potential and a population of 60 million people but land mines has handicapped thousands. It has only one University with a medical department and very few residents qualified to train in medicine.

His message – Continue to support the Foundation in its efforts to stop the manufacture and use of mines and to remove those in the countries afflicted.

Questions and Answers -

Rachel asked why a country like the USA has refused to sign the treaty. The Americans say that they have not been able to find a better device than anti-personnel mines to protect their army when involved in foreign countries. Carol Stymiest recited an experience of her son in Bosnia.

Marg Jarrell delivered the thanks of the club. Betty-Lou presented the certificate indicating that a contribution has been made in their name to the Polio eradication effort.

Jos Nolle & President Betty-Lou Souter

Betty-Lou's Rotary moment took place during the Presidential term of Rolf Klarick of Finland.

She then paid ten Happy dollars to read a news release indicating that all parties had signed the agreement involving the recent restructuring of the hospitals in St. Catharines. Applause from all!

Community Announcements

Theatre Beyond Words extends an invitation to Rotary members and their families to view their new production "Survive the Great Outdoors" which will be shown Dec. 8, 9, 10, 13, and 14 for school viewing and Sunday, Dec. 12 for the public. This internationally acclaimed company uses masks, mime, clowning and puppetry to tell their visual stories. Performances for the schools are held at the Mandeville theatre at Ridley College and the David S. Howes theatre at Brock for the public showing.

The Niagara College Alumni Association invites the Rotary Club to enter several teams in their "Trivial Pursuit" fun night on November 27, 2004. $25 per person gets you a buffet dinner, and trivia treats all night. Beer and College Wines will be available at a cash bar. There will be prizes for winning teams, survivors and other surprises.