Gossip Sheet # 17 - October 23, 2003
Editor: Bob Lawler

Program: St. Catharines Standard - Publisher Julia Kamula

Wade Stayzer

The meeting began with grace by Rick Evans, followed by the singing of O Canada, and a toast to Her Majesty the Queen and Canada

Introductions of the head table were made:
Liz Plamieri, introducing the speaker, Julia Kamula, speaker, Brian St. Hilaire, President, Peter Lumsden, Sgt. At Arms, Andrew Loucks, Wade Stayzer

Guests: Paul Monaghan, Rotarian, Niagara Falls Sunrise, Andrea Krillick and Brad O’Niell guests of Julia Kamula, John Ermers guest of Elizabeth Forsyth, Eric Moog guest of John Crossingham, Alexis De Wolfe guest of Roger Segalin and Hesham Kenaway guest of Leslie Murch

Don Fraser and Graham Kennedy

Announcements

John Ermers and Elizabeth Forsyth

Elizabeth Forsyth introduced a new member to the club----John Ermers. John has been in the retail business for the last 27 years throughout Canada. Currently, John is the manager of Giant Tiger located on Scott St. John is married, has two sons, and lives in Welland. John is active in sports playing golf and is a member of the Welland Curling Club. John has and is involved in the community through the Kiwanis clubs and Community Care. The president and club welcomed John into the club

Brian St. Hilaire

Bob Bruce’s Night of 1000 dinners. ---The District Governor’s club at Waterdown is hosting a dinner on Nov. 6. 2003 for $50.00 per person. All of the proceeds will be going to the land mine foundation. If anyone is interested, they are to contact Betty.

Board of Directors highlights:
--The board accepted with regret the resignations of George Goldford and Mark Webb
--Meetings for December 25, 2003 and January 1, 2004 are cancelled

Jack Coopman is currently in the St.Catharines General Hospital and would welcome visitors

Art Wing

T.V. Auction---Liz Palmieri gave an update of the current auction.. As of Oct. 15th, 555 items have been collected for a value of $90,172. We are currently ahead of last year but our goal is 1100 items for a value of $165,000. Please get all items in within the next two weeks.

Membership meeting, Monday, November 03, 5 p.m., Larry Igguldens’s, Suite B201

Rotary District Dinner---The president of R.I. will be speaking at the district dinner to held in Rochester, November 12th. The cost is $40.00 U.S... If interest, contact Betty or Alex Elloit

Art Wing---Although next month is Rotary Foundation month, he present the club with two banners for being # 1 in annual total giving for district 7090, and #2 in our district for per capita giving.

Ten Day Notice:
Norma Medulun, classification Health Services, (Hotel Dieu) proposed by Betty-Lou Souter.

Happy Dollars

Ron Sloan

Ron Sloan did happy dollars and started it off with a joke about a lawyer

Bill Finley wondered if George Darte had opened a Niagara Falls office

Roger Segalin gave $2.00, one for wearing a suit and another for his guest Alexis De Wolfe's birthday

John Nitsopoulos for the $750.00 raised by his hotels which was matched by his brothers and himself for the Shaver Hospital Foundation

John Crossingham gave $5.00 for a variety of things---Canadian Tire Store, Brock University ranking for one of the best in Canada, 100 of the best employers in Canada, his wife and vacuum cleaner.

Alex Elliot was happy of the banners the club received for its foundation contribution not so happy about the lack of attendance at the District meeting in Brantford. The club will pay the registration if anyone is interest in going.

Rob Reid---A consultant and lawyer joke. A rebuttal for Ron Sloan

Jim Denham pointed out the brochures on the table regarding the Niagara on the Lake Rotary Club house tour.

Elizabeth Forsyth about the searching for her name on the internet and how it is there as a result of the gossip sheet

Norm Kreger announced that everything was now in place to transport the wheelchair to Jamaica

Tim Rigby was happy to announce the support of the hospital site and that St. Catharines rated # 5 in Ontario in which to locate a business.

Pat Rooney wished to thank John Nitsopulos for his donation to the Shaver Foundation and noted that these events had raised over $250,000 over the last 6 years.

50/50 Draw
Erika Beatty was unsuccessful

The Program
Program: St. Catharines Standard - Publisher Julia Kamula

Julia Kamula

Liz Palmieri introduced Julia Kamula, the current publisher of the St. Catharines Standard. Julia is also the regional manager of Southern Ontario for Osprey Media Group. Before coming to the Standard, she was V.P. of advertising for the Hamilton Spectator. She started her career in Hamilton in advertising.

Ms. Kamula started her remarks off by referring to newspapers as the flannel pajamas of the media industry. She went on give the top ten reasons for reading a newspaper—such as good in the morning or evening, can last from 5 to 45 minutes, on top of the latest news, etc.
Her main message what you can expect from the standard:

--reflect the community and the region
--in-depth coverage of local news, more detail
--keeps getting better—better depth/more regional
--involved in the community, the Standard currently supports over 200 events a year or on average 4 per week
--three dailies that reflect the detailed local news in each of the communities
--be inspirational, a leader, an advocate for St. Catharines
---be engaging and interesting
--accessibility and responsive
--interesting, fair and balanced
--all departments within the Standard work towards a common goal
--different kind of newspaper model---quality of content vs. financial health
--continue to be local, local, local
--invocative, take risks, thinking new ways

Ms. Kamula fielded a few questions:

If Niagara gets its own TV station what would it mean to the newspaper? She supports the concept of a local TV station but felt because of the CRTC licensing, and the estimated share of the market, it will be a long process.

There are currently three local papers, is there any consideration for a regional paper. The short answer is “No”. Although there may be savings giving the local interests this is not the way to go at this time. The saving can be accomplished without merging the three local newspapers... They are reporting to different audiences with sometimes different interests.

The question was raised about a morning or afternoon paper. This is currently under review by the Standard. A recent survey would indicate the people are split down the middle on morning or afternoon. From the Standard’s perceptive there are some advantages to going to a morning newspaper.

Doug Geddie thanked the speaker for her excellent and candid presentation. He also on behalf of the club presented her with some pictures of her and The Standard's involvement in the Rotary Ribfest.

Brian St. Hilaire, Julia Kamula and Liz Palmieri