AT OUR CLUB September 29, 2020
We had a well-attended virtual meeting ably hosted by Kevin Holloway and Brian Walmark. Vonnie found some new Zoom tricks – see the Outtakes below. The Anthem was our Indigenous / multi-lingual version with great slide show put together by Brian Walmark.
Our Guest Speaker today was Scott J. Bradley Executive Director of Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society, introducedand thanked by Laurie Tulloch.
Scott previously worked for US Air Force Museum in Dayton,Ohio – a fabulous place to visit when you are next there, specializing in uniforms, firearms and munitions. There are also aircraft of course. Laurie reminds us how museums bring history to life.
Scott has a BA and Master of Arts in history and puts his education and experience to great effect for the our Thunder Bay Museum which has restarted the fall lections series on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Check out also the Thunder Bay Culture Days 25 September to 25 October with social engagement, webinars, pay what you events. On October 24 there will be behind the scenes day video tours. The fundraiser is the Classic Car Raffle, for those vying for a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro.
Upcoming exhibits include a Wendell Beckwith Exhibit. Wendell attempted to live as a hermit but had many guests. His experiments, artifacts and film clips will be presented.
Upcoming also is a John Bouchard Exhibit
The Thunder Bay Museum will have a new Vision, undergoing an exciting re-examining and re-imagining of the long term exhibits strategy and collecting plan, the partnerships (for example with Magnus, Tourism Thunder Bay etc.) andfundraising based on a multi-cultural, inclusive and diverse society. Thunder Bay has evolved and changed and the Museum will be reflecting that.
Volunteer, Membership and Legacy Club are available on-line or call the museum:
New Volunteer Website: https://www.thunderbaymuseum.com/volunteer-opportunities/
Membership Management: https://www.thunderbaymuseum.com/memberships/
Legacy Club: https:/www.thunderbaymuseum.com/legacy-giving.
The Museum had been closed for months and re-opened this summer. Drop in visits and of course income went down. Covid-19 has been a huge challenge and the work is underway looking at new opportunities.
Questions include: how and when outreach to schools can resume. Internet access is not a sure thing for people visiting the museum, for schools or for kids at home.
Volunteers have a role – pre-Covid-19 there were some 500 volunteers. The museum couldn’t open without 25 showing up every day. Currently, volunteer opportunities are available for Maintenance, special events, docents, artifact card typing, newspaper scanning, booth attendance when in person eventsstart up again, for summer camps – and bingo if it ever starts up again!
The question and answer topics led to discussion about local World War I and II veterans who made donations and ensuringinclusion of the Indigenous and women war participants in those exhibits.
Laurie Tulloch expressed our thanks for Scott Bradley’sinteresting overview.
Announcements:
Dew Drop Inn has a fundraiser: order on line for Friday October 2, 2020 with fixings and dessert, all funds going to Dew Drop Inn. Order on-line at https://uwaytbay.ca/event/takemehomedinner/
Main Course: St. Anthony’s signature meat loaf with mashed potatoes smothered in their made from scratch gravy (optional on the side) a seasonal medley of roasted root vegetables and a Bennett’s Bakery dinner roll. Dessert: Little Doo’s Farm Blueberry Crisp made with TLC and local blueberries.
Please contact Krysta for making pledges in support of our grant application for the Wilderness Discovery by end of day today September 29, 2020. Please send in your PLEDGE today – ask Jaro for details if there is any confusion. You can make your donation later at the Rotary Foundation when the grant is approved and has a grant number - make sure you look for and mark in the proper place that you are a Canadian donor to get the proper tax receipt.
A lot of good work is being done by volunteers at the WDC and things are progressing well.
Dew Drop Inn day organized by David Silliman saw a good day serving some 430 people – much more than in the past. The community is generous with food and Port Arthur Rotary bought some extra items as requested and suggested by the Dew Drop Inn.
Rotaract is doing a clothing collection – good clothes, new undergarments etc. or money to buy clothes at Value Village – for use by the Hospital for patients who need clothing items on discharge.
Christmas Parade is unfortunately cancelled due to Covid-19. The CP Holiday Train is also cancelled. The Parade of Lights may still be going ahead with some changed.
September 30, 2020 is the annual Orange Shirt Day. Please check FaceBook and our website for details.
Brian Thompson sent out Happy Birthday greetings for all the Rotarians who had their special day during the past few months - gift-wrapped in a funny tale and we shared Happy Dollar news.
