Vicky Rudachuk

PROGRAM
District Governor Richard (Dick) Earne, District Governor’s visit.

President Rick called upon Bill Cole to say grace, Rick Evans to lead us in the Star Spangled Banner and Don Shaw to lead us in the singing of O'Canada (Good team work boys).

President Rick welcomed all and introduced today's head table: ADG Bob Mahoney, DG Dick Earne, our guest speaker, Sergeant-at-arms Jim Denham, PDG Art Wing and Vicky Rudachuk who introduced today's guests.

Guests: Wendy Southall (soon-to-be new member), guest of Larry Iggulden.

Birthdays: Roses today for Jim Denham, William Williams, Dutch Erling who were in attendance and Chris Blake.

Dutch Erling, William Williams and Jim Denham

Announcements

Sam Walters

President Rick:
- gave our condolences to Jim Denham whose brother John passed away.
- on behalf of the Club – extended our best wishes to Foster Zanutto’s wife Karen who is dealing with some health problems.

Rick Evans: needs volunteers to march in the Grape and Wine Parade with the Exchange Students on Saturday (if you read this before Saturday and you can help call Rick).

Sam Walters: our TV Auction Canvass Chair gave us the “Canvass Update” and said if we continue at our current pace everything will be fine (Sam’s not worried yet, he’s still sleeping at night like a baby).

NEW MEMBERS

New Member Introduction: Larry Iggulden (a second time member sponsor) was pleased to introduce Wendy Southall to the Club.

Larry has known Wendy over the past five and a half years through his appointment on the Niagara Region Police Services Board. Larry has always been impressed with Wendy’s knowledge about all aspects of Policing, the fact that she was always well prepared at Police Service Board meetings and she displayed the highest level of integrity at all times.

Wendy was employed with the Toronto Police Service for eight years as a constable, owned her own business for two years, and from 1981-2006 - twenty-five years - has worked with the Niagara Region Police Service - the past two years as the first non-uniform, female appointed as Chief of Police.

Wendy has just completed her Masters in Public Administration from Western University and is involved in many community volunteer positions. (Chair of Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund for five years and Honourary Chair of numerous fundraising campaigns).

Wendy has been married to her husband Robert for thirty-four years and has two grown children – Erin and Brent.

Wendy will hold the classification of Policing.

Rick Merritt, Wendy Southall and Larry Iggulden

Introduction of New Members: John Snowling, the Chair of our Membership Committee, had our DG Dick Earne preside over the introduction of our new members.

DG Dick stressed the importance of attendance, fellowship and to be an active participant to the ideals of Rotary and presented the new members with “Lead the Way pins”.

DG Dick Earne welcoming a sampling of the new members to the club

HAPPY DOLLARS

George Darte

George Darte had the responsibility of working the group and started-off with recognizing new member Wendy Southall’s work with the United Way Campaign and was glad she joined our Club.

Doug Geddie happy the Junior World Curling Championship will be held in St. Catharines in 2007 (good job Doug).

John Snowling happy about a letter his mother received from the Ministry of National Resources that outlined how to protect yourself from bears in the wild and how to distinguish black bear pooh from Grizzly pooh.

Ray Bukovic happy to have John Snowling send any unwanted bears his way.

Eugene Gillies happy to have his friend DG Dick Earne here today.

50/50 DRAW

Vicky Rudachuk had the lucky ticket but that’s when her luck ran out as she drew the Three of Hearts from the deck (still looking for the Queen of Spades and the pots up to $ 489.00).

Early leavers were excused with their apologies to our guest speaker.

Assistant District Governor Bob Mahoney

ADG Bob Mahoney remembered visiting our Club last year to introduce Jacque Herman’s husband DG Art Wing and was pleased to be back this year for the introduction of DG Dick Earne.

DG Dick is a lawyer who practices commercial corporate and partnership law. He joined the Grand Island Rotary Club in 1978 and became Club President in 1990-1991.

DG Dick is married to Anne and they have two children, Julie and Matt.

DG Dick is a firm believer of what Rotary stands for and is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and a Paul Harris Benefactor.

DG Dick said that there is a lot going on at the District level and congratulated our Club for the many individuals who contribute to the work of the District (PDG and RI Director Gerry Wooll, PDG Charlie Complin, PDG Rodger Allan, PDG Dave Haddow, PDG Art Wing, Brian St. Hilaire, Betty-Lou Souter, Tom Arkell, Foster Zanutto, Rob Reid, Chris Bangham, Marg Jarrell (my apologies to anyone I missed).

DG Dick thanked Eugene Gillies for volunteering as an aid for the year and enjoys his friendship with Eugene. DG Dick knows, as we in this Club know, that Eugene can always be counted on to do what he says he will do.

District Governor Dick Earne

DG Dick praised our Club for the significance that our Rib Fest has taken on in our Community and our Ice Wine project to assist in the Polio Plus Campaign.

DG Dick reflected on RI President Bill Boyd’s theme for the 2006-2007 Rotary year of “Lead the Way” and wondered what the world would be like if Paul Harris and his three friends had not started Rotary. What would the world be like without the assistance of the Rotary International Foundation to assist in projects like the eradication of Polio or eliminating poverty in third world countries.

It has taken a group of 32,000 Rotary Clubs in 172 countries to accomplish a great deal.

The perception of Rotary is that we do good work and practice what we preach – Service above Self. It is important for all of us to continue to ensure we take positive steps for the betterment of our lives, our communities and our world. We are perceived as an organization that gets things done.

DG Dick explained the impact on Rotary Clubs of sharing ideas with each other as we can all learn from the successes of other Rotarians and other Rotary Clubs.

New Members to Rotary are important to maintain a resource of new ideas and new enthusiasms. It is important to make new Rotarians welcome to your Club.

As a group, we need to encourage having joint meetings with other Clubs in our district, Clubs that cross our borders. We need to encourage attendance at Rotary functions. Attend District Conferences – the next one being held in Grand Island on May 4, 5 & 6, 2007. This allows new and old members to experience Rotary. Attend the Foundation Dinner being held on Friday, November 3rd at Salvatore’s Restaurant in Depew.

DG Dick explained how important he felt is was to get youth involved in Rotary at an early stage. Projects like Youthact and Earlyact. Two youth oriented rotary groups that are so new they have not yet been adopted by RI.

Past District Governor Art Wing

DG Dick encouraged our Club to nominate a Club Champion for District Recognition. A Rotarian who had an idea, and develops the idea for adoption by their Rotary Club.

DG Dick emphasized how important it is for Club Members to communicate their likes and dislikes of Club activities to their Board of Directors. This is a good way to make all members feel they are contributing to the success of their Rotary Club.

The District has started a program called “Care and Share” wherein Clubs are encouraged to send in a picture bio of two items their Club is proud of which will be highlighted in the District Newsletter along with five Club Presidents being recognized each month.

In conclusion, DG Dick reviewed the importance of the Foundation, the need for Clubs to support the Foundation monetarily, (EREY Program), and to participate in the programs the Foundation is responsible for. Through the Foundation, Rotarians foster world understanding and tolerance to obtain peace. He encourages our Club to use the District Simplified Grant program to foster new projects, either locally or internationally.

Rick Merritt presents Dick Earne with a cheque for $16,000

PDG Art Wing thanked DG Dick for his dedication to Rotary, his team approach philosophy, and the many hours of hard work he has put in for the betterment of Rotary in our District. Art said we appreciate your visit, which truly reemphasized this year’s theme of “Lead the Way” which fulfills the ideal of “Service Above Self”.

President Rick also thanked DG Dick and first presented him with a cheque for $ 16,000 Cdn. which represents our contribution of $ 100 U.S. per member to the District Foundation, and then with a certificate of appreciation with a financial contribution to a literacy project.

Rick Merritt presents Dick Earne with a certificate of appreciation

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM

All Mayoralty Candidates Meeting (they may out number us).

Reporter’s Note: The month of September was my first foray into the realm of gossip journalism and while I am glad the month is over, I did enjoy the weekly reporting of our Club’s meetings. The task is worth the experience and I would encourage others to sign up on the gossip sheet committee. Till next year – reporter Larry Iggulden has just signed off.