Gossip Sheet # 15 - October 9, 2003
Editor: Margaret Jarrell

Program: St. Catharines Downtown - Bob Shannon

Peter Lumsden

The meeting began with Graham Kennedy saying the grace, followed by Rick Evans and Rob Reid leading the singing of O Canada. The Queen and Canada were toasted.

Head Table:
Introducer of speaker, Foster Zanutto
Guest speaker, Bob Shannon
President Brian St. Hilaire
Sergeant at arms Peter Lumsden
Somewhat new member, Peter Mahoney
Introducer of Guests, Wade Stayzer

Guests: Norma Medulun, guest of Betty-Lou Souter
Andy Neale, guest of Dan Patterson
Eric Moog, guest of John Crossingham

Birthdays
Oct 5 – Rick Moreau
Oct 6 – Rusty Kruty
Oct 9 – Larisa Brodsky
Oct 10 – Margaret Jarrell

Larisa Brodsky and Marg Jarrell

Announcements

Brian S. Hilaire read a lovely thank you note to the Club members from Betty McLean for the roses and the lunch for herself and Doug on the event of their 50th wedding anniversary.

There will be a Children’s Committee meeting on Tuesday October 14, 5 p.m. at the YMCA Employment Centre, 129 church Street.

Liz Palmieri

Alex Elliott invited interested Rotarians to attend a meeting in Brantford about the permanent fund of Rotary International on Saturday October 25, in Brantford. The cost of registration will be borne by the Foundation Committee, and there is a great list of speakers. For further information, speak to Alex and/or go to the www.rotarydistrict7090.org website.

Pat Rooney read to us a delightful letter from Rotary Exchange student Margaret Corbett, recounting her first two months in Austria.

Liz Palmieri reminded us that there is one week to go to the auction deadline. She thanked all those who brought in so much this week, and noted that last weeks efforts doubled the goods from the previous week.

Happy Dollars

John Crossingham

Margaret Jarrell is happy that she and her daughter Rachel will be hearing the UN’s Special Envoy regarding Aids in Africa, Stephen Lewis, speak on Friday.

John Crossingham somehow tied in to a story about home renovations and plumbing the various themes of infinity and Ikea packaging and lawyers. Applause revealed that the club enjoyed this whimsy.

George Park was happy to share with the club that he would not be kissing Bill Findley on their shared “birthday” Rotary meeting.(reference: Brodsky/Jarrell birthday moment). George also shared gloomy news via friends about the dismal and dangerous circumstances our armed forces face in Afghanistan.

Howard Lackie continued the fun started by John Crossingham about the usefulness of lawyers.

Jagdish Mehta speculated aloud about the increase of his auction team’s item values, attributing this to the departure from the team of a member from the accounting profession.

Dan Patterson was happy to have spent a week in Disneyworld with Saundra and a five year old grandson.
Dan was happy to introduce his guest Andy Neale as the newly appointed Chief Information Officer for Niagara College, following a nation wide search process.

Norm Kreger reminded us of a Seniors Committee meeting at 11:15 before the next regular meeting, at the same venue as the regular meeting.

Liz Palmieri was happy to be wearing open toed shoes on October 9,(the women got it, Liz) and to have installed a faucet herself last weekend. Editor’s note: Innocent as Liz was in her pleasure at this feat, some took it as a shot at John Crossingham, some as a shot at all lawyers.

Doug Geddie shared his Auction Team Leader’s motivational brilliance in sending Christmas card to team members. Captain Bill Ford?

Brian St. Hilaire shared the unhappy news that his daughter needs braces, and the happy news that Ron Delia and Mark Zammit are making the experience as pleasant as is possible.

50/50 Draw: John Tebrake’s ticket gave him a chance to draw. Oops, 7 of Spades. Next time, John.

John Tebrake

The Program
St. Catharines Downtown - Bob Shannon

Foster Zanutto

Foster Zanutto introduced Bob Shannon, founder of the Winner’s Circle, as a Niagaran who has come home. Bob owns Shannon Construction, and owns a number of buildings in the downtown core of St. Catharines, which include 19 retail outlets and 60 rental apartments.

Bob Shannon spoke about the Winner’s Circle goals, which are to revitalize our downtown core. He reminded us of a time not so long ago when city downtowns were welcoming environments. While many blame shopping malls, the reasons for the undesirable downtowns rest in neglect, poor focus on security, one way streets that turn thoroughfares into raceways.
The downtown of any city is the heart of the city.

Other cities in North America have reversed the decline of their downtowns, and them healthy again. Places like /buffalo, Hamilton, Cambridge, Kitchener, Belleville, Calgary and Edmonton and more.

The Winner’s Circle, founded 2 years ago, has no dues, anyone interested can contribute. Their recommendations have worked, and are necessary, if a city’s core is to be revitalized.

Bob Shannon

Bob Shannon explained the seven goals of the Winners Circle:

1. More police presence in the downtown core to keep the area safe. Think the beat cop.
2. Lowe taxes to make buildings more affordable for tenants. Some buildings taxes over 8 or 9 years equal the value of the building.
3. Reform the parking policies. St. Catharines has excellent parking meter enforcement, which keeps people away, but does give city hall some revenue.
4. Leave existing buildings in place. While acknowledging that of course some buildings must go, buildings do bring insight to a city’s history. The analogy of missing teeth in a smile to a city with vacant lots made clear Bob’s point about the impact on the street scene .
5. Streets with two way traffic are important. Particularly King Street and St. Paul Street should be assessed for this, which would give visitors a better sense of the city, and slow traffic down. Current traffic patterns require that Yates Street, one of the most beautiful streets in the city, is used by fire and police, unnecessary were there to be new traffic flow patterns.
This change need not be costly; Hamilton made two streets much longer than King/St. Paul two way for $400,000. This is an essential element of revitalization.
6. By Law Enforcement. Bylaws such as those regulating skateboard use, bicycling on sidewalks, prostitution are necessary to keep a downtown a happy, friendly and safe place.
7. Create a friendly environment for investors.

Bob identified the current city council as opposed to taking the necessary steps to achieve revitalization, and urged Rotarians, as community leaders, to show the community which candidates in the election should run the city, a business of $80 m.

Bob identified apathy at town hall meetings: good attendance, but a strong sense of “what’s the use?” He reported a warm reception from city officials, elected and staff, but nothing started.
We were urged to put the heart back into the heart of the city.

Ray Jeffrey thanked Bob Shannon for giving us perspective, insight, through his own optimism some hope. He thanked Bob for his own leadership, and placing this issue in the leadership context of the upcoming election.
President Brian added to these thanks with the presenting of a bottle of wine to the speaker.

Foster Zanutto, Bob Shannon and Brian St. Hilaire