CONNECTIONS, CONNECTIONS
To Rotary the word International is more than an acknowledgement that we have clubs all over the world. It is about people linking with people, it is promoting understanding and webs of connections.
The photo below is of Bill Dodds an ardent supporter of the youth exchange program.
One of the ways this is expressed is the Student Exchange Program. The program gives young people, before their last year in High School, the opportunity to spend a year in a foreign land learning about that country, its culture, language, customs and history. Students are hosted by Rotary Clubs and attend school. We have been participating in the program since 1989 when we hosted Annette Helm from Sweden. For every student we host we send a student from Oakville abroad. We’ve had students from, and sent students to, places like Japan, France, Finland, Australia, Austria, Germany, Brazil, Venezuela, South Africa, Italy, and many more.
Creating life changing connections is important.
We also connected by Group Study Exchange teams from other countries who we have hosted for one week of their monthly visit to our district. The teams consist of six people in the early stages of their careers. We’ve hosted visits from Rotary Districts in Argentina, France and Austria. The teams learn about business, governments, customs and culture. We stretched our budget when we took the team from Argentina to see the Phantom of the Opera. Norma Gamble was 7080’s team leader for a group from our district that visited Austria.
When Tristan Naylor was a youngster his father got him involved in our fundraising events and social events. He always worked hard and so impressed the club that he was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship in 2001 when he was seventeen. |
We have also had the honour to have nominated two Ambassadorial Scholars to do post graduate studies abroad. Tristan Naylor to study at Oxford University and Megan Wanless to study at Edinburgh University in Scotland. These scholarships, funded by Rotary International’s Foundation, are designed to broaden the student’s experience and understanding. Each scholar is encouraged to be an ambassador of Rotary and their country. We are honoured to have Dianna Dinevski, a member of our club, who was an Ambassadorial Scholar to Italy from Oakville.
The only member teased for having an accent is Desmond Jordan, who has probably travelled in more countries than any of us, but has never lost his lovely Scottish accent. |
Connections, connections. We have members from South Africa, India, China, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Holland Jamaica and France. Scouting out possible projects, vaccinating children against polio, seeing the results of projects, building schools have taken our members to places like Mexico, Brazil, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa, etc. We never forget the importance of on-the-ground, face-to-face contacts that link people together and enrich our lives. Our connections with people from all over the world is solidified when our members attend the annual Rotary’s International Assembly. It is a place to meet and share personal and Rotary stories and experiences, a place where lasting connections are made.
When Ian Ferguson took office as Governor, honouring his Scottish heritage and his ability to address the haggis in Gaelic, several members of the club turned up in kilts and tartans. |
The photo below is of Past District Governor Barry Howie.
Our connection with the wide world of Rotary was greatly enhanced when Barry Howie (2000-01) and Ian Ferguson (2012-13) became District Governors. We were proud to have them represent our club in the district and were ‘mostly’ pleased as they continually brought us up to date on the opportunities available to us as part of Rotary’s worldwide fellowship. Barry never missed an opportunity to speak on the challenges and successes of the Polio Plus vaccination program. In his year he also led the charge to establish a centre in South America where teachers would take courses on teaching and promoting literacy. Ian’s emphasis in his term was on how fellowship and training were the keys to the strength and effectiveness of Rotary. He has continued this work as he has become deeply involved with Rotary’s leadership training projects. An important task in an organization where all our officers change every year.
The photo below is of past District Governor Ian Ferguson.
In our district, the governor’s home club has the ‘honour’ of organizing and running the annual District Conference which are mainly supposed to be all about business and inspiration. Organizing a conference is a year-long project. However, as one might expect, the importance of fellowship and fun our club cannot be denied. Here’s Trish Peden’s memory from 2001.
"Once upon a time there was a Rotary District Conference. The Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar, being the pleasant folks they are, participated in two ways.
First, there was the award winning, action packed, popular RCOT Hospitality Suite!!!
Second, was the RCOT song & dance number in the evening entertainment show! There was a Gendarme, a Cook, a Soldier, a construction worker among others, and also a French Maid [guess who]....feather duster and all! The object was to dust low as the gendarme swung high, to dust high as the construction guy hammered low, etc. as the song was being sung. Very funny, very entertaining!
After the show, the French Maid had to go to her room to change for the Hospitality Suite. As it turns out, she was alone in the elevator just holding her feather duster, minding her own business, when a young gentleman entered the elevator. Well, didn't he look the French Maid up and down, raised one eyebrow and inquired..."How much?" Seemingly unperturbed, the French Maid countered with.... Wait for it.... “You couldn't afford me!"
The photo below is of Trish Peden winning the weekly 50/50 draw.
