Leaves, poinsettias and the Obaki Foundation

 

Your scribe this week has been busy, too busy it seems to get around to writing the bulletin; maybe you didn’t even miss it. Today for example your scribe and a handful of other sexagenarian spent the morning doing yard work.  We were fulfilling the terms of a Lakeside a la Carte auction item, to wit “Fall yard clean up by a Rotary crew.”  I don’t know how much it sold for but the buyer got six semi-able-bodied Rotarians swarming her yard for three or four hours, say 20 hours in all. And to show for it?  A spotless yard, 25 Yard-waste bags and hosting a superb steak and Guinness pie lunch for the workers. Here are some shots from the morning.

 

 

There’s more, your scribe and more or less the same leaf-rake crew have been selling poinsettias furiously for a month or so.  The club’s gross sales are in excess of $24,000; that’s $12,000 to Rotary.  Next time you encounter one of these sexagenarians you might ask how any one of our backs, knees, shoulders, hearing, sleep apnea, cholesterol and/or polyps are doing;  we have certainly been discussing them all at great length.

 

As for Rotary last week, well your scribe was having trouble getting started until today when he had so much fun raking leaves he felt he should share some memories. Here’s an outline of last week:

Guests were Lori Simeunovic (guest speaker) Rev. David Ogilvie, Carlos Alvarez and Abraham Yanarico.

 

The club is sponsoring a table at the YMCA Peace Medal Breakfast tomorrow (Nov 23) but by now it’s too late. But check with President Janet just in case.

Deanne Mayall is looking for gently used hockey equipment for donation to first nations kids.

 

Abraham participated in youth exchange recruiting, went to Niagara falls (the biggest river he’s ever seen) watched hocky and was surprised and abit shocked by the fighting.

Sergeant Allan Ramsay tried out a quiz focusing on food, inventions and buildings.

 

Worst news (but maybe long overdue) is that the golf club has increased the cost of breakfast. By now you will have received an email on the subject as follows.

 

“The Golf Club has advised us of increases in the cost of our meals. As a result we are considering several options including changes to the type of breakfast served. These discussions are on-going with the Golf Club.

 The immediate options include:

 

Option 1: $9  Muffins, Danish, Croissants, Coffee Tea and Orange Juice

Option 2: $17  Muffins, Danish, Croissants, Fresh Fruit, Coffee, Tea and Orange Juice

Option 3: $21 Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Muffins, Danish, Croissants, Coffee, Tea and Orange Juice.

 

Allan Ramsay would appreciate any feedback that you wish to offer.

 

For the next few weeks (beginning tomorrow November 23) we will be going with Option 2 above and will be collecting $17 at the door instead of $15.”

 

Our guest speaker, Lori Simeunovic , spoke on behalf of the Obaki Foundation. Obaki works in African communities providing wells and other essential services. 

The following extract from Obaki’s website is a good start.

 

 

“With clean water, communities in Africa can do more than just survive; they can thrive. A safe, reliable source of water is the foundation for growth in all other areas of life. Obaki’s model is simple: they drill wells, monitor their adoption, and then expand development in villages that show a capacity for maximizing their newfound resource. By working together to develop long-term solutions for growth, communities are able to build homes, engage in trade, and send their children to school.”

 

To help fund their work Obaki Foundation sells $29 designer scarves, 500 scarves buys one well.  Rod Collard bought one – ask him about it.

There’s much more on the Obaki website here,

 

And that’s it from your better late than never scribe.

 

P. Scribe