The Rotary Club of
Kitchener-Westmount
 
 

Membership Newsletter
Feb 2 2022
 
February 2 meeting held at Kypreos Restaurant, Kitchener
 
 
President Judy opened the meeting with a Land Acknowledgement.
 
We would like to acknowledge that the land on which we live and work today is the land traditionally used by the Hoaudenosaunee, Anishnaabe and Neutral people.  We also acknowledge the enduring presence and deep traditional knowledge, laws and philosphies of the Indigenous people with whom we share this land today.
 
 
Did you know?
 
Residential schools operated in Canada for more than 160 years, with upwards of 150,000 children passing through their doors. Every province and territory, with the exception of Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and New Brunswick, was home to the federally funded, church-run schools.  The last school closed in Saskatchewan in 1996. First Nations, Métis and Inuit children were removed, often against their will, from their families and communities and put into schools, where they were forced to abandon their traditions, cultural practices and languages. The residential school system was just one tool in a broader plan of “aggressive assimilation” and colonization of Indigenous Peoples and territories in Canada.
 
 
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
  • Details to follow for 5 Club Virtual Meeting featuring former Prime Minister Paul Martin
  • Please RSVP to Dave Barth for the March 17th Irish Whiskey Virtual Tasting
  • Details to follow for Assistant District Governors visit to District Conference being held on May 28th at Bingaman’s
  • Incoming RI President, Jennifer Jones, the 1st Canadian Female President, will be in Toronto Area in July and wants all clubs in South Western Ontario to focus on 1 common project (details to follow)
  • Please continue to purchase tickets each week for the Rotary Catch The Ace draw
  • Everton reported that $3,450 was raised in the end of 2021 Fundraising Campaign so this is better than nothing we raised in 2020
 
50/50 Pot is $246.00 and Alison Scott, Judy Nairn and Todd Aitchison all tried to find the black marble with no success.
 
 
 
NEXT WEEK’S MEETING
 
IS BACK AT KYPREOS RESTAURANT at 305 Lancaster Street West.  There is parking in the plaza lot to the right of it if you’re looking at the restaurant from the road, and a few spots behind the restaurant or on the side street.  The food was FANTASTIC and Andrea our server was very friendly and organized.  Meeting time going forward will be back to 12pm start time to 1pm – 1:15ish.
 
 
 
 
GUEST SPEAKER: Mel Kobe, VP of Basketball Operations & General Manager of the Kitchener Titans Basketball Team
 
Mel Kobe has participated in basketball as a player, coach, entrepreneur and, most recently, second-in-command of a leadership team that intends to take the Kitchener-Waterloo Titans to greater heights, both on and off the court.
 
Kobe is the Titans’ new vice-president of basketball operations and general manager, a job that includes hiring a head coach to replace Cavell Johnson and signing players for the National Basketball League of Canada season that starts on February 21st (Family Day Monday) at 2pm
 
Mel left a career in Finance and Investment Insurance and wanted a change.  COVID allowed her to do this by completing a 4 year degree in 18 months.
 
Kobe has an extensive basketball playing resume as well, starting in elementary school and continuing at Northwestern Secondary School in Stratford. She earned a full scholarship to play at the University of South Carolina Upstate and transferred to the University of Waterloo after her freshman year. She played her first of four seasons with the Warriors in 1999 and finished in 2005. She continues to play basketball in the Grand River Senior Women’s league and Ontario Masters tournaments.
 
Mel is working on a secret private project that will see 9 or 10 courts open soon in Waterloo Region (Details to follow)  She is doing this with a business partner because there are 3,000 – 5,000 kids unable to play Basketball in the Region due to there being no longer any Gym Space since the school boards cancelled all gym bookings.
Waterloo Region has no private facilities like Toronto/London so this is her passion project.
 
Mel’s philosophy is to treat players as People, not pieces of meat like she was treated in the USA when playing basketball for USC.
 
 
Guest Speaker Mel Kobe
 
President Judy Nairn (L) and Past-President Laura Power (R) thank guest speaker Mel Kobe.
 
 
President Judy Nairn (L) presented Past President Laura Power with a Paul Harris pin.
 
 
How was the food at Kypreos Restaurant?
 
Rick Bolzon will tell you the Spaghetti with Meat Sauce is a winner!
The Spanakopita dinner was another great option!
 
See you next week!
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