…Dressed as a tree in the rain..!
I want to get right to one of the highlights of today’s meeting; I picked up a piece of wisdom from Abraham which you may find useful. You see Abraham was in Brampton last weekend where he and all exchange students took part in the Santa Claus Parade. There was snow on the ground, albeit fake, but it looked good to Abraham. The students dressed up for the parade of course and here’s what Abraham took away from the event, “It was funny to walk dressed as a tree in the rain.” And there’s the lesson-learned for you, next time you go to Brampton check first: What am I supposed to wear? and, Will it rain?
Abraham also had the experience of being abandoned. It’s a long way from Lake Titicaca to the GO Lakeshore West Line, but there he was at the end of the line, in the dark and cold with no one there to meet him. Owen made light of it: builds character, that sort of thing. Perhaps it does and they seem to have reconciled.
There was business and a guest speaker of course. Business first.
Allan Ramsay reminded us that the Golf Club has raised the cost of breakfasts. To re-quote Allan;
“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, but not in BOLD UPPER CASE please. Allan is only the messenger..
We are now running a trial on Option 2 above and will be collecting $17 at the door instead of $15.” Then we will try out the other options.
President Janet urges everyone to attend a visioning exercise at the Salvation Army on Prospect Street on Saturday December 9th from 10 to 2.30 . This will be the first since Rick Howarth’s reign in 2010.
Past President Mike Molloy reported on the work of the Nomination Committee. The committee has identified the following nominees for the board commencing July 1 2018: President Lawrence Leung, President-elect David Roscoe, board members with positions yet to be assigned Anthony Ford-Jones, Terry Sedore, and Nancy Penney. If anyone else wishes to serve on the board please see Mike as soon as possible because nominees will either be acclaimed (or elected if necessary) at our December 7th meeting.
Today’s guest speaker Don Morrison is a friend of club member, retired teacher and painter Rod Collard. Don is also a retired teacher and painter but there the similarities end, Don Morrison is one interesting cat.
He led us on a journey down the Snake River in Yukon Territory. First you get to Whitehorse – the easy part, then somehow make your way overland to Mayo and finally you fly yourself and tons of gear onto the top end of Snake River. That’s where your pilot waves farewell and you agree to meet him three weeks later somewhere downstream.
Don and his team mates of many years take turns at various duties and this year it was Don’s to do the overall organization, he decided that rather than paddle like a bat out of hell all day, every day, they’d take three weeks to cover an eight day trip; they took time to hike the flanking country and to smell the roses.
Roses included close encounters with a Grizzly Bear they disturbed sleeping on its latest kill, pan fried Arctic Char and hockey played on the flat tail of a glacier. As they travelled Don painted watercolours of the dramatic scenery, skies and rivers, wildlife and the antics of his companions. It takes a special team to tackle a river like this.
Don was thanked by Albert Schmid.
