Pre-meeting chat. We talked about how the old country churches and schools around Paris were becoming private homes or art studios. Heidi said Paris used to have a lively printing industry.  We agreed that we were all suffering from Covid fatigue. Just as the meeting started, West Galt was hit by a sleet storm. Golf is cancelled for this afternoon.

 

The Pres. opened the meeting. Sukhi said the 4 way test then we toasted all things Rotary and gave a nod to Prince Philip Mountbatten as he spun free of our earthly realm.

 

21 Zoomers present including guest and son in law Matt Lantz, also Anne- Marie Belanger, today's inductee.

None today. 

Tom S. bumped into Heather Cooper as she was walking with a friend on the Grand River Trail. She is a former Rotarian and ex-Pres. Says she still enjoys our bulletins and is a Probus member.

 

Larry B. celebratred  a 24 year anniversary/birthday yesterday . He enjoyed a game of golf.

 

Now that Todd is ' a free man in Paris' he bought himself a nifty sports car. No need to justify himself. He just gets in and takes it for a ride, loves the feel of the geer shift.

 

Rena said she had a big deck at the cottage. Not sure how that got in to the conversation as we were not talking about cottages or was Mike T. talking about his new place and the astronoical price of lumber.

 

Linda B. did a ' shout out ' for the upcoming Veterans Golf Tournament at Whistlebear coming this October. She has sent out a detailed email for support and sponsorship. Brian Waddell is tinkering with the website.

 

Todd spoke of the Kids Ability/ Superhero event happening in June. The video didn't play but here is a link  https://www.kidsabilitysuperherochallenge.com/    but I see that he has just sent out a detailed email to all of us. Anybody can become a superhero.  You don't have to run. Any activity counts if you want to raise money. Todd will likely do a rally in his sports car dressed as Batman. Does it have to be legal?

 

 

I don't think there was a joke today. I think we are still searching for that lamp to rub.

Anne Marie Belanger was inducted today by Heidi, Paul M., Linda and Roger Mann. She was a Rotarian in one of the Windsor clubs and is anxious to get back at it. Let the adventure begin!  She thanked us for a warm welcome.

 

Roger reminded us of the training sessions for International Service. He has already sent out an email for this.

Also he said that July 9th is the first official meeting to attended by our new District Governor, marking the start of a new Rotary Year.

 

Heidi said that the Rotary Watershed Project has now been moved ahead to June 1st.  I think we might be doing a 3 club effort somewhere here along the Grand which apparently flows into Lake Erie.

There is a virtual District Conference on May 29th. We will probably hear more about that.

 

Vanessa said there were no line-ups for Covid shots at WalMart up at 401 and Hespeler Rd.

Linda said it was easy to get a shot at Shoppers on Dundas but phone before to book a time.

Heidi introduced our speaker Timea Nagy.  She spoke about her own experience and some of the more disturbing aspects of our society.

Timea is from Hungary and her family was poor. She was invited to come to Canada to work as a waitress or nanny. She would send some of the money back home.

So in 1998, she came to Canada, probably via organised crime and was forced to work as a stripper for 3 months. If she didn't her family back home would be harmed.

But she got out and made a life for herself.

Ten years after her ordeal she started 'Walk with me' an organization that helps victims of human trafficking and also assists law enforcement agencies. She helped law enforcement break Canada's largest human trafficking ring.

She has gone on to write her story, ' Out of the Shadows' and start ' Timeas Cause' which is an internations non profit organization.  She has been recognized many times for her good work.

 

She said human trafficking is not new in Canada. And it does not just affect foreign women ( and men). 98 percent of girls lured into the sex trade are Canadian. The luring starts right at home on the victim's computer and video. I'll leave the rest to you.

She also said that present pop culture and social media tends to sexualize young kids and promote this dangerous lifestyle

This is disturbing. I think we were all worrying about our own families at this point. Here are some links.

www.nowyouknowtalkshow.com

www.tconlineinstitute.com

 

Thanks Timea.

 

Next week, Kathy Wilson talks to us about the infamous Cambridge Memorial Hospital Foundation and all things hospitalish.