Gossip Sheet # 14 - October 2, 2003
Editor: Margaret Jarrell

Program: Group Study Exchange - Art Wing

Wade Stayzer

The meeting began with Grace said by Alex Eliott, followed by the singing of the National Anthem and a toast to the Queen and the people of Canada.

Head Table Introductions: Eugene Gillies, to introduce the speaker
Art Wing, speaker
Brian St. Hilaire, President
Peter Lumsden, Sergeant at Arms
Graham Kennedy, new Rotarian
Wade Stayzer, to introduce our guests

Guests: Jean Armitage, St. Catharines a.m.
Jocelyn Staynes, St. Catharines a.m.
Sarah Palmieri, guest of Liz Palmieri
Norma Medulun, guest of Betty-Lou Souter
Special Guests: the Club secretary, Betty McLean and Doug McLean, on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary. President Brian presented Betty with a rose bouquet to commemorate this occasion.

This week's Birthdays Bob Lawler, Debbie Slade and Dutch Erling

Birthdays
Sept 29 Dutch Erling
October 3 Bob Lawler
October 4 Debbie Slade
We sang happy Birthday, and someone was harmonizing!

Announcements

Nancy Ferris

Auction: Nancy Ferris got us back on board, and drew attention to the Status Sheets, which reveal that team 2 and Team 8 are in the lead. Encouragement to “not wait” until our deadline for canvas of October 16, because Nancy is doing something or other on October 11, and would like us to free from this worry. We need $165, 000 in goods to continue our good works.
Liz Palmieri advised us that Cogeco resources are stretched as a result of the many elections this fall. Consequently, there won’t be pretape for auction items, but live script reading. The room buzzed with remembrance of things past. Doug Geddie is using past year performances as audition tapes: you may be called upon.

Jean Armitage

Rotary Club of St. Catharines-A.M., Annual Wine Tasting and Charity Auction: Friday October 24, at & p.m., Hernder Estate Winery, for the benefit of Family and Children’s Services-Niagara Tickets, $20.00 each, light refreshments and wine selections from 6 wineries. For tickets, contact Ann Godfrey, FACS-905-937-7731 Burleigh Hill School, Maya Pickering, at 905-227-6641, or Bernie Triebe at Stamford Delicatessen at 905-685-1932.

Exchange Student: Holina, the student who was to come here and instead went to Waterdown sent a thank you to us, and a couple of Banners.

Poor Boy Lunch’s. Catharines south’s Poor Boy Roy Adams lunch is Friday Oct. 3 in Market Square. $5. will buy a hot dog, a beer or other beverage. (where is Chris Bangham when we really need him?!?)

Rotary Shirts: For a shirt with the Rotary logo, $30. all in, see Norm Kruger as you leave. Next week he is finalising the order.

Meetings: Rotary Foundation: October 8, at 5 p.m. at 55 King Street, Lancaster Brooks and Welch.
World Community Service, at 7 p.m. at the St. Catharines Racquet Club, Melbourne St.

Death notice: On a sad note, Larry Iggulden’s father has passed away. The Club has sent condolences.

Happy Dollars

Janet Johnston

Janet Johnson led the way, being happy about Betty McLean’s anniversary, about the successful weekend with Rotary Exchange Students, particularly their role in the parade. She was also happy about Ignacio’s quick wit when told to translate into Spanish “you’re fat”.

Rick Evans had happily enjoyed the parade, even though he got soaked.

Nancy Ferris is happy about the 13 family members arriving on Friday from many parts of North America.

Bill Findley was happy to announce the birth of a grandson in Qatar, weighing in at 81/2 pounds. He was also amazed to see Eugene Gillies in a tie for the second week in a row.

Dave Butler remembered well reading scripts live at the auction. He recounted that, in auctioning the Caribbean vacation, he was to talk about virgin beaches, but said “virgin bitches”.

John Snowling was happy for Henry Becker’s support in the parade, and happy with the huge inflated pig.

John Potts was happy that we hadn’t had rain at Rifest, having seen the damage done to the park during wet weather. He wasn’t happy-but didn’t take any money back- that as treasurer for the Wine Festival, he’ll be writing a cheque for damages to the park.

Betty-Lou Souter was happy that the Progress Club raise 8,000 lbs of food during the parade. Also, she commended John Snowling for bringing in to her used cartridges, which she will turn into #0 or $40 worth of food.
Harold Nash reported on his wife Marsha’s successful bilateral knee replacement surgery.

Roger Segalin had 15 happy dollars, one for each year of marriage as he celebrates an anniversary. He also drew to our attention that, in addition to Mediaglue, he will be working on the publication Business Niagara Magazine.

Lloyd Buckley announced the birth of his 45 year old daughter’s baby, conceived with an egg donated by his granddaughter. He was happy $10 worth as a grandfather, and $5 worth being a great grandfather.

Howard Lackie was happy to draw our attention to the leaves on our table, which Shoppers Drug Marts use to provide community supports. For every purchase of a $60 leaf, Howard will match it. Howard also used his time with the mike to announce that he is looking for someone who teaches cooking; particularly skills like boiling water, bettering toast, to help Harold out in his time of need.

George Darte is happy to be chairing the United Way campaign.
The editor was laughing too hard to write down who helped Lloyd out in his quandary about whether he is a grandfather of a great grandfather by advising that he is a Kentucky hillbilly!

Jagdish Mehta is happy for Betty’s anniversary, and happy to observe October 2, the birthdate of Mahatma Ghandi. Alex Elliott and Jagdish were happily quoting a Japanese student who successfully pulled Bill Findlay’s leg.

Juergen Knof was happy about predictions that didn’t come true.

Gordon Armstrong was happy to be back, given that his invoice from the club told him he’s been missing for 6 months. He is happy there is Braille for drivers?!

Mark Zammit was happy about Saturday’s parade and Sunday’s bike ride, with 1300 cyclists.

Eugene Gillies was happy to be in a suit as well as a tie, and extended congratulations to Betty and Doug McLean. Eugene’s reported recently that life begins when the last kid leaves home and the old dog dies. First he got one dog, now another. What stage of life is he in?

50/50 draw
Rob Reid got a chance, but drew the 8 of clubs.

Special draw for the AM wine tasting Event: won by Martha Abra

The Program
Group Study Exchange - Art Wing

Eugene Gillies

Eugene Gillies introduced our own art Wing with a formal and proper introduction. Art then shared with us the overall objectives of Group study exchange, and his own recent experience. He reviewed the mission of the Rotary Foundation: to support Rotary International, to achieve world understanding, and to achieve world peace through International Humanitarian, educational and cultural exchange programs.
Group study exchange has been funded by RI foundation since 1965, and 7090 had been involved for more that 30 years. In 2000, there was an exchange with 3030 in India. In 2001 with the Netherlands, District 1600, in 2002 to District 3600 South Korea, and in 2003 to India District 3060. 2004 will be to Australia, the Victoria district. The goals and the objectives of the trip are that the GSE team study similar professions, the economy, institutions, lifestyles and the culture of the host country. The team is made up of a Rotarian Team leader, 4 non Rotarian members whose ages are 25-40.

The GSE period is 28 to 42 days duration. Round trip Air Fare to host country is provided by RI Foundation, meals lodging and travel in host country is provided by local Rotarians. On return, the team members are expected to speak to Rotary clubs and other groups about their experience and learnings.

Our club can propose team leader candidates, advertise for team members, interview applicants and propose them to District, provide a stipend for a successful candidate, get GSE team members involved in club, invite team members to join Rotary, and to host inbound GSE team.

Art touched on highlights from his Group Exchange to India.
India-1.1.billion people, 28 states
Gujaret-50 million; vegetarian, dry
Concerns: dispute with Pakistan
Massive over population
Environmental degradation
Ethnic and religious strife
Earthquake damage

Impressions: incredible country
Frustrating at times
Marvellous hospitality
Fascinating culture
The experience of a lifetime

Highlights:
Our team members were wonderful ambassadors
One really does see Rotary in action, particularly through the application of matching grants
Spectacular hospitality
Excellent weather
Short nights, as on, we want to show you so much, so there is little time left for sleeping
Also, stretchable time, as in, we’ll tell you we’ll start at one, and everyone will start to straggle in at two
At the Rotary District conference, where the number of Rotarians is similar to our District, i.e. approximately 3000, there were 1500, and it has been 2000, whereas we draw 550.
Traffic unbelievable! As in, every vehicle known, and many different kinds of creatures-chickens, cows and so on- are all the road at the same time. Vehicles are trying to pass, and all honking their horns. Pedestrians roam as they like into the melee.

Our GSE, in 30 days, made 16 moves, stayed with 12 Rotary families, showing us many Rotary projects-all with Rotary signage.
We met Ghandi’s granddaughter, and saw a National Holiday devoted to kite flying.

Brian St. Hilaire thanked Art, and made a presentation of a bottle of wine.

Eugene Gillies, Art Wing, The happy couple, Betty and Doug McLean, married 50 years, and Brian St. Hilaire