Rotary Club of Kitchener Westmount Meeting Notes for Aug. 10 2022
Prepared by David Barth
Announcements:
Brad and Tammy Swanson celebrated 30 years of Marriage on Monday
The backpack campaign is underway and at the halfway mark we have collected for 33 backpacks out of the target of 100
The Hockey Summit Gold Tournament has been cancelled for Aug 25th. Small complications amounted to a significant obstacle and John Thompson and his committee were forced to make this decision.
Everton received a voicemail from John Vickery, which he played for the attendees at the meeting. John shared with us the difficult news that he has pancreatic cancer and has been coming to terms with all that means for him going forward. He is open to receiving messages from us but at this point is unlikely to respond as he is just not in a good space to deal with responses to the many messages he will receive. Please text him at 519-721-5287 if you’d like to reach out. We will keep John and his family in our thoughts and prayers.
We will have an Oktoberfest Luncheon update from Alison next week and we will be looking for all-hands-on-deck to pull this off. As this was John’s event for the past several years, we would very much like to make it a successful event for him.
Karin Voisin shared that the Baseball event for last Thursday had been cancelled due to the weather and they may have the event on the 18th. Watch your email for news from Karin about this possibility.
50/50 – the pot is now up to $222.50 Chuck, Tim and Todd all had opportunities to draw the black marble but no luck for any of them. The pot grows.
Speaker: Nick Burke - Executive Director of the Humane Society of KW and Stratford Perth
Ian Robertson introduced Nick who shared information about their strategic plan taking them through to 2024. Their plan includes goals of establishing a strong foundation to keep furry and human family members together, expanding programs and services that support pet owners, and advancing animal welfare strategies, including the potential establishment of an Animal Welfare Academy.
There are primarily two arms to the work of the organization. First is the humane society itself (which they now have been operating for 90 years) and second is the animal services they provide to 14 municipalities in the province (bylaw, control etc.).
In the past three years the humane society has:
- Received more than 6,000 animals,
- Implemented more than 4,000 adoptions,
- Had 1,500 animals returned to their homes
- Educated more than 30,000 school children per year (but less during covid)
- Completed more than 10,500 medical procedures including spay/neuter and other operations
- Responded to more than 16,000 officer calls (for animals in trouble etc)
- And set up a pet food bank called the pet pantry that supported 2,388 animals. This has allowed many of the owners to keep their animals when they could not afford the food.
Their current strategic priorities are P.E.T.S.
Promote the human animal bond, Engage and Innovate, Tell stories to raise awareness and enhance organizational Sustainability.
Promote - is to help keep people and their pets together.
Engage - provides programs for people and animals in the community. There are over 40 services offered which can change when the needs of the community change.
Tell – raises awareness and part of this is working on breed specific legislation eg. Ontario Pit-bull legislation. There is also a vet shortage and they are working to get the cap on enrollments lifted at UGuelph’s college of veterinary medicine.
Sustainability – currently they have some payment for service income, some government grants, donations and grants and are looking to strengthen their major and legacy gift programs.
Animal Cruelty is no longer a part of what the humane society does. It is now looked after by the Provincial Animal Welfare Services ( PAWS ) of Ontario. Humane society works closely with PAWS.
How can we help? We can foster animals, donate or support the work by volunteering of running fundraising events.
Brandon F. thanked Nick for the presentation and all the good work they do in the community.
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