Today marked the first regular meeting of Mike Molloy’s tenure. I am pleased to report that everything went smoothly so no missteps or other problems to report.
Guests
Von Jeppesen – Burlington office of Karina Gould
Jason Suchecki – guest of Lesley Allison
Karina Gould – MP for Burlington
Camilla Izquiedo – outgoing exchange student
Augustina – our exchange student from Argentina
President Mike then introduced his Team/Executive for the 2016/17 year as follows:
Rob Sybersma – Treasurer
Owen McElhinney – Director – International Projects
Bruce Maybury – Director – Foundation Programs
Lesley Allison – Director – Membership
Alan Ramsay – Club Administration
Sheila Welham – Director – Youth Service
Janet Canavan – President Elect
Bryce Leggatt – Past President
Rod Collard – Sergeant at Arms
News from Augustina
This was Augustina’s last meeting with us as she is leaving for home tonight.
She gave a wonderful summary of her past year. When she was selected to come to Canada, she was afraid. After her arrival she missed her family and friends. Her mother had told her that this experience will open your mind – she didn’t know what her mother meant by that but she says – she knows now. Now she has to start over – back home. Augustina acknowledged her host parents and their great influence on her life. She reviewed her recent East Coast trip with several “amazing”s. On this trip she met a lot of people during the 2 weeks. At the conclusion, she got a standing ovation for her presentation and presence in the club. Mike Molloy commented that Augustina demonstrated the value of the Student Exchange program.
Lakeside –need to sell more tickets – contact friends, relatives, collogues for sales.
On silent auction – going to have live artists on site. Bring in contributions, please.
Golf Tournament - need 4 more golfers – help please. Need few volunteers to help out with games. Need more silent auction items – see Ron Lambert in this regard. Also, could use more sponsors.
Rotary Lottery – tickets now available. Will be able to sell at Golf Tournament and Lakeside as well as any time between now and Lakeside. Tickets are $20 each or 3 for $50. Prize is trip on Air Canada to anywhere in North America, the Caribbean and Hawaii, donated by Air Canada – plus 2nd prize of $1000 in Premium wines donated by green Thumb Landscaping. See Ron Lambert for tickets.
Jo Brant Hospital– Bryce et al presented cheque for $40,000.00 last week. Visit to see building set for July 25th. Let Bryce know if you want to go.
Sergeant at Arms – Rod Collard
Fined a number of people including Gerry Willard who wasn’t even there – bring lots of loonies Gerry,
News he uncovered – Elliot Vine is getting married this weekend and Catherine Brady is a grandmother.
Guest Speaker – Karina Gould MP for Burlington
Jamie Edwards introduced – born in Guelph but moved to Burlington at young age; attended MM Robinson HS, McGill and Oxford Universities; is currently Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of International Development.
She talked about Rotary’s role in eradicating polio; she has an interest and devotes a lot of her time to women’s rights and issues; she is active regarding Millennium Development Goals – a United Nations sponsored project, especially those dealing with the rights of women and girls. She is focusing on trying to develop more systems of Registering people in 3rd world countries when they are born. Otherwise such people cannot get a passport, vote or have access to the services of their country. She is trying to encourage change regarding girls being forced to marry as early as age 7 and to get them educated. She is interested in the global fight against Aids, TB and Malaria where Aids is a problem for young girls who are raped. She feels part of the solution is to empower young boys to be educated so they become more empathetic to the plight of women and girls.
She spoke about the world problems whereby it is easy for countries to retreat inward and let problems exist - feels we need to do more and have Canada’s voice heard on the world stage. She mentioned that Civil Wars are often the result of one or more groups not being included. She also talked about other humanitarian issues and how Rotary has played a role in these world issues.
Locally, she spoke about Halton Women’s Place where 1000 women have been turned away from the Burlington site and the need for additional resources for this issue as well as the need to address violence in the family setting.
Glen Warnica thanked Karina and presented the Certificate to her regarding Polio Plus.
