Throwback Thursday so yours truly at the podium and scribing today! Should be interesting!

Owen's team conducted the opening ceremonies with aplomb despite some late minute substitutions! Well done!

A new approach to breakfast  was presented by Allan  which would see the club collecting breakfast money in advance . The cost would be 85% of the full cost and no refunds will be allowed. Look to see that roll out by July 1st. Makes life a little easier especially for Roy and Albert apparently!!!!

Sheila gave us an update on the RI convention and a BBQ to be held at Lawrence's at 360 Pearl on Sunday the 23rd in honour of a visiting Japanese delegation and Moe a past exchange student.  They would really like to connect with us. Cost to be determined and more details next week.

Rob gave us the membership rate for this year and it is holding at 250.00 plus the Paul Harris portion. Please let him know if you are not planning on returning. We certainly hope we have none of those responses!!!!

Abraham seemed to eat his way through the week alluding to an abundance of food. He is looking forward to his trip across Canada. Has he ever grownup before our very eyes!

Rod took on the SAA role for the last time for a while. He had a few giggles in his bag including me in a hairnet, Rene photo bombing what was to be a picture of our Next Door Social Space Lunch and included a nice shot of Rod's butt! Nice campaign photo Rene! That was followed by a picture of Karmel on the back end of a bus. A theme methinks....................

Happy dollars from Wayne who just came back fro Scotland where his wife took a cooking class featuring potatoes. He can't wait to see what his wife learned...not.

Rod is heading out to St. Andrew's today for a fantastic week of golf and Rotary fellowship.  Safe travels 

Rob took a cooking class at Longo's all about heat and apparently has quite a tolerance for heat much to the amazement of the instructor! Working for the CRA you gotta be used to giving some heat-not taking it-just saying.........

Mae gave a 2 thumbs up to GWCTD planned and executed by Allan this year. She is looking forward to more great meals next year. Thanks  Allan!

Nancy introduced our guest speaker  Tore Stautland from Niagara on the Lake. Tore is the founder and CEO of The Trillennium Media Group Inc., Canada's largest faith based independent television production and media company. For over two decades. Tore's philanthropic focus has included participation in community development programs with and emphasis on children's health and in education   Tore is currently over seeing all aspects of the Foundation's upcoming Grace Children' Hospital

For over 2 decades the Foundation have been working in the poorest areas of the Dominican Republic to build communities consisting of housing, schools medical facilities and vocational training. it began with a wrong turn by it's founder Elio Madonia, the founder of Brio beverages,  and his wife when staying at a luxury resort in the Dominican. That wrong turn turned into a village of 25 homes called Maranatha and that was only the beginning. in 2008 the first full service village was built by a lumber company in Alberta. Named for the company Villa Spruceland provides vocational schooling, housing, churches, a full medical clinic, a school and completer agricultural programs. The latest project is a fabulous hospital that will service several communities. Called the Grace Children's Hospital it will serve the needs of children with local doctors and interim stays by international doctors specializing in various areas. Tore mentioned that his family had "adopted" a daughter and she is now in her 3rd yer of medical school specializing in pediatrics and his dream and hers! is for her to practice at the new hospital when she graduates.  How fulfilling is that!  The only downside to that according to him is that he has 3 daughters in university. Ouch.

The program relies on donations both by businesses and individuals. It costs $6000.00 to build one home.  Our Rotary Club contributed in the past to a pick-up truck that has become the community work horse but is now costing more to maintain than run. We have also contributed to a school and have supplied furniture and supplies for the  school   Our dear friend Cam Rothwell was an integral part of this work.

Over the past 28 years they have built:

1484 homes

14 villages

8 schools

5 clinics

12 churches

4 playgrounds

3 vocational schools.

The vocational schools are particularly important as they teach entrepreneurial skills and help to expand the economic base.

Tore clearly has a passion for this project and that was very present in his presentation.

Albert thanked him for his dedication to the project.

REMINDER:  NO MEETING NEXT THURSDAY.. The induction dinner will be held at 6:30 at the Club instead.!

Have a great weekend!

CB