Bulletin - October 13, 2016 - #14

Posted by Chris Bangham on Oct 14, 2016
 
 
 
President George opened the meeting. 
Grace by​ Anne Atkinson
O Canada lead by ​Rick Evans
A toast to the Queen and Canada         ​​
​ 
The head table was introd​uced:
Rick Vanderkuip, Vicky Rudachuk and George Darte President, to address the Club Assembly today
Peter Mahoney Sergeant-at-Arms
Chris Bangham to introduce our guests.
 
​Guest​s:
Laila Sabry from the Rotary Club of El Tahrir, Cairo
Merilee Burroughs wife of Rotarian John
Sadat Fani guest of Rara Asaro
Charlotte Wegge our exchange student
 
The executive group then delved into the results of the long-range planning survey:
Vicky Rudachuk congratulated the club on an 80% response, and George Darte summarized the results. Rick Vanderkuip also gave his report on the RLI training, where he had heard comments from several other clubs. It then became very apparent as to what the main issue is. On the heels of changes authorized by RI, should we be changing the frequency of our meetings? In particular to one meeting per month being ‘pub night’ and the rest remaining as ‘regular’ lunch meetings? Rick then took the microphone to the floor – several Rotarians weighed in with a strong majority supporting the status quo.
The club heard from: John Crossingham, Larry Iggulden, Chris Bangham, Jim Hanson, Anne Atkinson, Rachel Delaney, Art Wing, John Potts, Rara Asaro, Kim Schwenker, Jacquie Wing, Mike Michaud, Lezlie Murch, Jagdish Mehta, Cindy Mewhinney, Peter Mahoney, Bob Gosselin and Norma Medulun. Our visiting Rotarian from Egypt, Laila Sabry, also reported on her club’s experience. President George commented or responded when needed. Excellent points were raised. The wholehearted involvement of club members was gratifying.  It is now up to the board to distill the discussion into moves for action – or not.
Art Wing thanked all concerned for the hard work done, and congratulated the executive group for bringing club members up to date in an articulate and constructive way.
Announcements:
Chris Bangham reminded the club about the offsite meeting on October 20th – next week - at the Marilyn I Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts.
 
  
Jacquie Herman-Wing thanked the club for donations to the TV Auction. This is the last day. She also advised that Margaret Jarrell will be looking after the placement of lawn signs in her absence during the next couple of weeks.
 
  
Kim Schwenker reminded us all about pub night next week.
 
Jean Armitage gave a book and ball to Laila Sabry for delivery in Egypt.
 
Birthdays: Margaret Jarrell-Oct 10; Serge Paquin-Oct 12;  Ralph Watters-Oct 13;  John Burroughs-Oct 13;  John Crossingham-Oct 14; Ellis Katsof-Oct 14
 
Happy Dollars: 
                         
​Steve Tenynhuis began with a tortured but warmly meant rendition of Happy Birthday to Charlotte (in Swedish?) including a slice of Golf Club cake and a lit candle. He then passed the basket:
Lezlie Murch gave an update on her Interact Club – now with 17 members.
Jagdish Mehta reported on Rotary Clubs in India – attendance goes up astronomically when food and/or drink is free!
Eugene Gillies pointed out that Rotary should be about doing good in the world – not about attendance or fellowship
Chris Bangham reported on his cycling trip over the Rotary Niagara Bridge which was a project spear-headed by John Crossingham – something we should all be proud of.
 
50/50:
​Joyce Western (on behalf of Liz Palmieri – second week in a row Liz!) was unable  was unable to pull an ace -  the pot grows!