PORT ARTHUR ROTARY CLUB MEETING October 11, 2022
President Brian Walmark welcomed members and notably guests Dan Brown (ADG -District 5580, Nipigon Rotary Club), Gail Brescia, Lakehead Rotary Club, and Bob Hookham, Fort William Rotary Club.
Matt Villella handled the technology including Zoom hosting.
Following an appropriate reflection and O Canada, we had a two special presentations and then club current activities update.
FEATURE PRESENTATIONS
1. Zoya Rehman, and Harleen Hayer, (Superior CVI students) attended the annual RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) camp in Crookston MN as our club representatives/ambassadors.
Regrets today came from the third student, Fernanda Soto Valenzuela (St Ignatious High School) who will present later.
They were selected following interviews by the club committee (Bob Tomlinson, Brenda Winter, Leslie Savitsky, Doug Shanks and Art Warwick). Bob introduced Zoya and Harleen and they were thanked by Art.
Zoya (on left) and Harleen (on right) are pictured.
They both spoke with exceptional poise and articulated how the experience enriched their lives considerably, and by extension all their friends and family. As with other past RYLA alumni, the interaction with many peers (mainly from U.S. District 5580 clubs) followed a pattern of transition to a new and comfortable comfort zone with honing of leadership skills and developing life long friendships.
The club was delighted to hear from them a positive response to invitations to pursue their new skills within the Rotary family through a variety of opportunities.
2. Bob Hookham (Fort William Rotary), and Bob Tomlinson (PA Rotary) were thrilled to announce final results of the Country on the Bay event held at Fort William Historical Park, and the highly successful volunteer effort by the Thunder Bay Rotary clubs as major volunteers handling alcohol sales, to the tune of a profit of $63,571. Our costs were but $6096, so we netted $57,474.29, which split 3 ways to a tidy $19,158.29 for each club
Treasurer Chris Bailey was pleased to accept the cheque. The two Bobs detailed the Rotary experience, and committed to our involvement for next year's return engagement.
Pictured are Bob Tomlinson (L) and Bob Hookham (R), dynamo workers: (Allan Kozlo and his spouse from Lakehead Rotary were also major leads).
ANNOUNCEMENT UPDATES
1. Bob Tomlinson (board member and tireless tradesman) with Bob Hookham (the patriarch force at his side) of Wilderness Discovery Camp (Lake Shebandowan) summarized a very successful season at this amazing facility.
2. Karissa Kilby outlined her position developing our new and improved social media platform. Facebook is the preferred engine. Instagram is also in the mix. The Featured Rotarian feature is gaining steam and members are encouraged to submit.
3. Marg Woods reported on our inbound Exchange Student Fern, integrating well, and in need of support by the whole club. A third host family is still to be finalized.
4. Shelley Crawford announced three exciting Rotary fellowship events upcoming: TBSO with Nancy Freeborn vocalist, Magnus Theatre (Man of La Mancha) and a wonderful Christmas Party (December 10th at the Courthouse Hotel). Come out and support your colleagues and enjoy excellence in all respects. Shelley welcomes all enquiries.
5. Dan Brown (ADG from Nipigon) is encouraging participation in a Push against Polio luncheon in Nipigon with raffle and lunch (October 22).
6. Dew Drop Inn report (Dave Silliman) for September 22nd: 440 folks partook. The need is inexorable it seems. Food insecurity is a big issue. Next opportunity is the 4th Thursday of October (27th).
7. Gail Brescia (Lakehead club) encouraged participation at their CanEHjun event October 27th at Victoria Inn. Great Cajun food with music by James Boraski and Mardi Gras theme.
8. Rotary Radio Day (Matt Villella) It is coming soon indeed: expect an important message very soon.
President Brian Walmark welcomed members and notably guests Dan Brown (ADG -District 5580, Nipigon Rotary Club), Gail Brescia, Lakehead Rotary Club, and Bob Hookham, Fort William Rotary Club.
Matt Villella handled the technology including Zoom hosting.
Following an appropriate reflection and O Canada, we had a two special presentations and then club current activities update.
FEATURE PRESENTATIONS
1. Zoya Rehman, and Harleen Hayer, (Superior CVI students) attended the annual RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) camp in Crookston MN as our club representatives/ambassadors.
Regrets today came from the third student, Fernanda Soto Valenzuela (St Ignatious High School) who will present later.
They were selected following interviews by the club committee (Bob Tomlinson, Brenda Winter, Leslie Savitsky, Doug Shanks and Art Warwick). Bob introduced Zoya and Harleen and they were thanked by Art.
Zoya (on left) and Harleen (on right) are pictured.
They both spoke with exceptional poise and articulated how the experience enriched their lives considerably, and by extension all their friends and family. As with other past RYLA alumni, the interaction with many peers (mainly from U.S. District 5580 clubs) followed a pattern of transition to a new and comfortable comfort zone with honing of leadership skills and developing life long friendships.
The club was delighted to hear from them a positive response to invitations to pursue their new skills within the Rotary family through a variety of opportunities.
2. Bob Hookham (Fort William Rotary), and Bob Tomlinson (PA Rotary) were thrilled to announce final results of the Country on the Bay event held at Fort William Historical Park, and the highly successful volunteer effort by the Thunder Bay Rotary clubs as major volunteers handling alcohol sales, to the tune of a profit of $63,571. Our costs were but $6096, so we netted $57,474.29, which split 3 ways to a tidy $19,158.29 for each club
Treasurer Chris Bailey was pleased to accept the cheque. The two Bobs detailed the Rotary experience, and committed to our involvement for next year's return engagement.
Pictured are Bob Tomlinson (L) and Bob Hookham (R), dynamo workers: (Allan Kozlo and his spouse from Lakehead Rotary were also major leads).
ANNOUNCEMENT UPDATES
1. Bob Tomlinson (board member and tireless tradesman) with Bob Hookham (the patriarch force at his side) of Wilderness Discovery Camp (Lake Shebandowan) summarized a very successful season at this amazing facility.
2. Karissa Kilby outlined her position developing our new and improved social media platform. Facebook is the preferred engine. Instagram is also in the mix. The Featured Rotarian feature is gaining steam and members are encouraged to submit.
3. Marg Woods reported on our inbound Exchange Student Fern, integrating well, and in need of support by the whole club. A third host family is still to be finalized.
4. Shelley Crawford announced three exciting Rotary fellowship events upcoming: TBSO with Nancy Freeborn vocalist, Magnus Theatre (Man of La Mancha) and a wonderful Christmas Party (December 10th at the Courthouse Hotel). Come out and support your colleagues and enjoy excellence in all respects. Shelley welcomes all enquiries.
5. Dan Brown (ADG from Nipigon) is encouraging participation in a Push against Polio luncheon in Nipigon with raffle and lunch (October 22).
6. Dew Drop Inn report (Dave Silliman) for September 22nd: 440 folks partook. The need is inexorable it seems. Food insecurity is a big issue. Next opportunity is the 4th Thursday of October (27th).
7. Gail Brescia (Lakehead club) encouraged participation at their CanEHjun event October 27th at Victoria Inn. Great Cajun food with music by James Boraski and Mardi Gras theme.
8. Rotary Radio Day (Matt Villella) It is coming soon indeed: expect an important message very soon.