November 3, 2016

Posted by Nick Aroutzidis on Nov 03, 2016

November 10, 2016: Our speaker Teddy Payne “BRITISH NAVY, SOUTH EAST ASIA –WORLD WAR 11”. Our speaker will be introduced by Bryan Lapier and thanked by Jim Scott.

Head Table: Our President Kevin Silver, invites, Bryan Lapier, Peter Roach, Ralph Robinson, Rob Roes, David Rose and Paul Roulston, to join him at the head table.

This Week: Ryan Erb spoke to us about the Block Parent program is Stratford, which is supported and administered by the Rotary Club of Stratford in partnership with the Stratford Police Service.

Ryan stated that Block Parents was established across Canada nearly thirty years ago, but in the last decade has been in decline due to fewer people being home through the day to act as volunteers.

Ryan stressed that you not required to admit people to their homes if this is uncomfortable. The responsibility is to phone for help. This simple act can help a small child, a person with a disability, and/or a senior in distress. Block Parents can be ‘part-time’ – take the sign out of your window when you’re not available. There are currently sixty Block Parents in both the Neighborhood and Business programs (yes, business can be Block Parents – Rob Russell, a Club member and owner of McLeod’s Scottish Shop is one); Ryan is hoping for 300 Block Parents across Stratford. It’s easy to participate; all you have to do is put up the sign in your door or window when you are available (for businesses there is a small window sticker).

For more information visit: www.blockparent.ca or contact the chair Ryan Erb (rerb@perthhuron.unitedway.ca) or go to the Club website and fill out the form and drop off at the Stratford Police Service where a free police check will take place. (A different form is available for businesses by request of the chair.)

The Club thanks Block Parent committee members Philip Schroeder, Basil Henry, Ryan Erb and Cathy Thompson for their dedicated service.

Scribe: Charlene Gordon

Guests: Today we welcomed Sydney Fuhrman.

Attendants Ribbons given to: Gord Sherwin (800) and Clarke Mitchell (1300) from our President Kevin Silver. Congradulations!!!

Draw: The draw prize today was donated by Gary Morris and won by Jim Scott.

Make-ups: Gord Sherwin and Tracy Van Kalsbeek at the FCRC, November 1, 2016.

November’s Attendance Committee: Doug Wilson (I/C), Bill Cozyn, Clark Mitchell, Lorne Mitchell, Jim Young, Howard Murray, Marcia Matsui, Lutzen Reidstra, Dave Skinner, Philip Schroeder.

December’s Attendance Committee: Fritz Steigmeier (I/C), Clair McCallum, Guy Bellhumeur, Ollie Henry, Paul Roulston, Basil Hurst, John Kechnie, Mike Neilsen, David Rose

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.

- John McCrae