The meeting on the day of the Golf Tournament has always had a certain expectant air to it.  Whether it’s the pent-up excitement of those who contemplate a day out of the office or whether it’s the plaid shorts, I’m not sure.  But it pervaded the meeting again today. Well, it’s a big event for us, a major part of our fund-raising. And I know, since this was penned post game, that it was a great success.

 

 

 

But for all that, it was a regular mid-month Rotary meeting with guest and a speaker.  Guests and visiting Rotarians were: Andy Marcolini of the Judge & Jury, Past DG John Stairs, Guest speaker Catherine Gwinnett, Terry Hepburn (RCB North) and Hermance Schaerlig,- guest of Dave Beckett.

 

We took a moment to reflect on the loss of Cam Rothwell.  On the command of the President your scribe spoke for a minute or so on Cam’s contributions to Rotary and his interest in International Service particularly in Latin America.  Big shoes to fill there.

 

If you missed the meeting there were a couple of announcements that you should know about: If it’s been a while since you had a police check then you need to put yourself in good standing by signing a declaration. Doug Brown will be providing Police Check declaration forms for all at the July 30 meeting.

 

The club’s August 13^th meeting will be a BBQ at Jamie Edwards’ house.

 

Our guest speaker was Catherine Gwinnett, speaking on the services provided by Burlington’s Breast Cancer Support Services (BCSS). Catherine is the daughter of former club member, Tom Gwinnett.  She grew up in downtown (next door to your scribe) and is, to all intents and purposes, a Burlington girl although she now lives in Ancaster.

 

 

 

I’ll touch on a few of the highlights of her presentation in a moment, but first I think you should know that Catherine is related, albeit distantly, to Button Gwinnett, one of the signatories to the American Declaration of Independence.  Somehow Button’s name hasn’t passed down in history the way some of the others have: John Hancock (insurance) and Samuel Adams (beer) come to mind. In fact Button Gwinnett, who represented Georgia, had quite a struggle maintaining any sort of political prominence being continually challenged politically, legally and finally to a duel by one Lachlan MacIntosh.  I suppose you could say that MacIntosh won the duel, at least he survived it; poor Button died three days later.  His prominent grave is in that pretty historic downtown area of Savannah that tourists love. I know that has no bearing on the meeting’s content but well, most of us were there to hear Catherine anyway.

 

Breast Cancer Support Services (BCSS) started out some twenty-five years ago when two Burlington women saw a need tor reach out to women needing support.  They co-opted four peers and started the ball rolling.  BCSS owns its own building on Brant Street, is independent of outside agencies, does not do cancer research and exists to provide peer support.

 

BCSS’s mere existence and community standing is, like the Carpenter Hospice, a conspicuous symbol of the successes and power available to a prosperous city when a few people take an idea and create a priceless community asset.

Catherine asked for a show of hands of those present that have been in some way touched by breast or gynecologic cancer.  You could have heard a pin drop and I’ll bet there was a 50% response.

 

The topic is huge and there are lots of BCSS stories to make you laugh or cry; there’s no way to share everything you need to know in this little bulletin.  Take the time to read about it here. www.breastcancersupport.org

 

But a few points to note.

 

All of BCSS’s revenue comes from fund-raising events; nothing from government, nothing from the community foundation. Coming up on September 25 is a gala dinner in Oakville. Tickets are $175, for which you’ll get well fed, well entertained and a $75 tax receipt (see the News and Events page on the BCSS webpage.)

BCSS runs on volunteer energy. As a male, it is hard not to feel that BCSS is sort of you know, just not where men go.  Oh I know, that’s an old fashioned attitude, but there it is.  So, in answer to the question of where are the opportunities for men to offer voluntary help, Catherine said there are always needs and they often need handyman help, people to plant and maintain the garden, drivers and support.

 

Happy mid summer dreamin’

 

P Scribe.