Rotary Club Highlights - April 21 2016 - #39
Posted
on Apr 22, 2016
President Cindy welcomed members and called upon Glen Sparks to say grace and Liz Palmieri to lead the club in the national anthem, after which there was much muttering about the very low singing range.
President Cindy introduced the Head Table:
Introducing our speaker: Scott Schappert
Speaker: Rick Vanderkuip
President: Cindy Mewhinney
Sergeant-at-arms: Stuart Butler
Newish Rotarian: Ellis Katsof
Introducing our guests/dinner and registration: Terry Romaniuk
Guests:
Laura Byers - St. Catharines South Club
Colleen Cole - guest of Bill Cole
Maureen Chudyk - guest of Lezlie Murch
Kerry Fast - Guest of Betty-Lou Souter
Doug Smith - Guest of Betty-Lou Souter
Doug Fast - Guest of Betty-Lou Souter
Kim Rossi - guest of Betty- Lou Souter
Chris Bonelli - Guest of Betty-Lou Souter
Pia Zimmerman - Youth Exchange Student
President Cindy invited Scott Schappert to introduce Rick Vanderkuip.
Speaker:
Rick Vanderkuip thought that it might have been better to not have waited 15 years to do his classification speech. He is married with 3 children and 8 grandchildren (4 boys and 4 girls). He bravely shared with the club that his 13 year old granddaughter’s birthday wish is for her to have a pedicure and to have Rick join her. Rick shared a few items on his bucket list. He checked off one when he had the opportunity to ride a zamboni. Next on his list is to row singles and doubles without turning over. Rick worked in the winery business for many years, mainly in HR and eventually in special projects involving expansion and downsizing. Once his kids left the nest, he decided to make a change in his career and also finally getting involved as a volunteer. He has served 13 years on the board of Heartland Forest and 13 years on the St. Catharines Hydro Board. He has been a consultant in the renewable energy field for a number of years and his experience in this area is worthy of a separate talk (note to Program Committee Chair). He joined Rotary because he believed in the concept of service with attitude. Rachel Delaney asked him why he said yes when asked to be club president (3 years from now) and he said that the ask came at the right time in his life. Larry Iggulden asked why he didn’t share the wonders and joys of being a CPA in his classification talk, to which Rick had no discernible response.
Norma Medulun thanked Rick for sharing his story and eclectic background with the club.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
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Betty-Lou Souter introduced our newest Paul Harris Fellows – brother and sister Doug Smith and Kerry Fast for all the volunteer work that they have done, and continue to do, for the Wiseguys Charity.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
President Cindy announced that Pia Zimmerman is collecting funds to support her school’s music trip to Montreal.
Larry Kent spoke about the important of reaching out for new Ribfest sponsors. Our goal is to secure 16 new sponsors and suggested looking through our phone contact lists, starting at the letter “A” to approach people whom we know to be sponsors at either the $500 or $1,000 level.
George Darte invited members to attend the May 7th Leadership Training Seminar in Niagara Falls NY. Great for next year’s committee chairs as well as new Rotarians.
Vicky Rudachuk reminded members about the District’s membership campaign. Our club is the 2nd largest in the district. Our club has been recruiting about one new member a month and she is hoping to have a new member introduced in May. Great new member recruitment resources are on our website and the District’s website.
Birthdays:
Oksana Fisher was not at the meeting to share in our birthday greetings.
Happy Dollars:
Joel Chatterton spoke for about $10 worth of time but managed to only contribute $5. He was happy that he has been meeting more club members outside of our weekly meetings and then he stole a story from George Darte along the theme of ‘doing the hokey pokey’ and a cadaver.
Not to be outdone, George Darte, gave $5 as a rebuttal and congratulated our newest Paul Harris Fellows.
Anne Atkinson gave $5 to congratulate Doug and Kerry.
Scott Schappert was happy that his daughter has secured a summer job in BC and was happy to have her home for the past few weeks. He also congratulated the newest Paul Harris Fellows.
Liz Palmieri, commented that there were many $5 bills in the basket (to which Scott added $3 more to the basket). She was happy that when she was preparing her home office for her retirement, she discovered a DVD with photos from John Crossingham’s year as president. She was also happy that the carillon in the Peace Tower played Puff the Magic Dragon in recognition of 4/20 smoking activities in parks across the country.
A very tanned Norma Medulun continued the practice of adding $5 to the basket to congratulate Doug and Kerry.
Larry Kent was happy to have taken a ball and a book to the Rotary Club in St. Martins. He also spoke about their Early Act Club that is sponsoring an orphanage, which is where the ball and the book will end up.
Sandy Holloway was happy to be back from 3 weeks in Guatemala doing community service. She took a ball and a book to a team of football players. She is hoping to bring a project to the club that will provide a well in that community.
John Potts gave belated birthday dollars and was happy to be back from 3 months away.
John Travers also gave belated birthday dollars, was also happy to be back from 3 months away and also contributed US$20 in relation to his visiting at the Wesley Chapel Rotary Club.
Art Wing was also happy to be back from the sunny south and he too congratulated Kerry and Doug.
Rachel Delaney congratulated Kerry and Doug.
John Crossingham thanked Liz for finding the photos, hoping that none were too inappropriate. He was also proud that Harriet Tubman will soon be on the US$20 bill.
Sam Waters gave belated birthday dollars, congratulated Doug and Kerry, and then told a joke about a golfer, his wife, another woman and an overturned golf cart.
Lenore Klassen was happy that a ball and a book is going to the south Pacific with her son who is on a youth with mission initiative.
Mike Pihura, who works with Kerry, was very happy for her and Doug.
50/50:
Unfortunately Anne Atkinson did not with $926
Next week’s speaker:
Dr. Jack Lightstone, President of Brock University.
In closing: President Cindy to try not to say any words ending in n’t (i.e. can’t, won’t, shouldn’t) in an effort to show that positivity breeds positivity. She also said to try to change one of your passwords to a more positive word.