Rotary meeting March 22, 2017
Posted by Trudy Gallant on Mar 22, 2017
Happy Birthday's this week to our own
Larry Smith
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and also to Ian's lovely wife,
Trish!
Congratulations also to Gary and Hazel
Wiggins..two special people celebrating
their 51 years of marriage!!
And more special wishes to our Brian Dunne,
as he marks 11 years as one of our
treasured Club members..yeah Brian!!
Lots of guests today: Merdith Graham,
Rotaractor Mike Seaman, Larry's friend and
repeat visitor Alan Kobatof, Patty's dear
hubby Don and also Mayor Mike Clay...
a great group of visitors!!
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President Patty gave a great run down
on RYIA..she had 42 letters of appreciation
with her from the participants and wow!! some
of the comments were so moving! We really
touched some young lives with this amazing
experience! We also now have a solid group that
are all very interested in starting an Interact
Club locally..what a great development that
would be in our community.
Peter updated us on SFPP..please remember to sell
tickets, put up posters and look for sponsorships!
Speakers' Corner
We had a double treat today..two great young people
were our speakers and again wowed us with their
amazing talents and passion for making the world a
better place.
Our first Speaker was local Rotaractor Mike Seaman.
Mike is currently his clubs Project Chair..combining
both community and international projects under one
umbrella. Mike was also a head facilitator this weekend
at RYIA..proof that we are helping young adults to grow
their own leadership skills.
Mike was with us to present on his experiences at
Rotary Now..a special event held to focus on attracting
young adults to Rotary. It took place in Winnipeg last
summer and Mike met other young people from all over
North America..all sharing a passion to make the world
a better place.
He told us that many, many DGs were present..and all
shared a desire to support youth and help them to know
more about Rotary.
He also told us about a trip they all took to the Canadian
Museum of Human Rights..what an opportunity to visit
this special place.
Keep an eye out for Mike at RibFest..he is a "Master of
the Corn Hut!!
We are proud of you Mike and everything you are doing!
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Our second speaker was brought to us by Darrell Burnham.
Meredith is a past recipient of a Courage to Come Back Award
and so clearly was a very deserving selection. With
family roots in the First Nations community, Meredith spent
time "in care" as a child.
She has phrased her own life story..her story of appreciation
and triumph in Spoken Word..part music, part poetry and
all beauty! What a gift to her her story in her own powerful
words.
She is pursuing a degree at Douglas College and plans to
continue her life path ..making a difference in other people's
lives. Meredith is also a past RYLA participant and there is
no doubting her leadership and her abilities to make the world
a better place. She described her focus on helping other
young adults..who at age 19 "age out" of care and lose
all financial and emotional supports from the Government.
She was part of a group that organized a 17,000 signature
petition to change this senseless practice. From the
petition has grown a new project the "Support the 700
Campaign." Sounds like a future programme topic for us
if we can get her to come back again sometime. Meredith,
we too, raise our hands to you, in gratitude for your
loving heart and great spirit!
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