There were no noteworthy birthdays or personal anniversaries, although Tim Braddick celebrates 14 years with the club.

 

Next week will here Chris Wood speak on the Waterloo Regional Airport.

 

An email was sent out reminding members of the training available to members.

 

Also tax receipts for the 2016 Calendar year will not be sent until 2017, where you will have both.

 

A thank-you to Rick Bolzon who will serve as SOA next week in Todd’s absence. 

 

Ed Simon won the 50/50 the previous week and has donated it to the club.  This weeks attempts were made to win the $49 by Mark Engel, Jarious Maus, and Greg Bobier.

 

Presenter: 

 

Caroline Hissa – from the Community Music School of Waterloo Region (CMSWR), which provides music education to underprivileged youth.  Ms. Hissa has sat on numerous boards and has volunteered in many organizations in the community and especially likes working with children.

 

As an accomplished graduate of Laurier, with a Masters in Community Music, she brings music to the masses.  Having joined the CMSWR as a volunteer, and now the only paid member, she spoke of her role in obtaining funds, organizing and scheduling classes for the students that can range from quite young to teenagers at a cost from free in special circumstances to $20 per term.  This low price includes the lending of an instrument, the provision of sheet music, and of course lessons.  The CMSWR attempts to remove any substantial barriers for students to enroll, and it must be successful as they have a considerable waiting list.

 

Ms. Hissa spoke of a special experience she had with a student named Kathleen, who was a recent immigrant from the Philippines.  She spoke of how their program helped the student build self-confidence and become more outgoing which has helped her now pursue a university education as an engineer. 

 

The CMSWR works with fifteen various community organizations that refer students to the program, which can include at risk youth, or those with physical challenges.  The students merely have to possess a passion for music. 

 

Teachers are all volunteer, and often are university students pursuing their career in music or teaching, but also include retired teachers and others.  The intent is to help both the teachers and the students develop their skills in both music and life.

 

As a passionate advocate for the impact of the program, Ms. Hissa also told of a 9 year old girl that had previously attempted suicide and who once in the program, according to the child’s mother, has never been as happy.

 

Using the words of her student Kathleen, Ms. Hissa agrees that music is a universal languge and helps us all be a greater part of the community.