This is my last message as your President and I must say it's been a great experience, although early on I almost became a past President. The main reason it's been a such a good experience is thanks to a strong Board with Committee Chairs who have a lot of experience, so for the most part my job has been to not get in the way. I hope I accomplished that.
We have a good club - no, we have a great club and when we get together we have a great deal of fun, something visiting members from other clubs have commented on. You feel the energy when we get together whether it's for lunch or a committee meeting. What particularly stands out for me is the "Taking the Pulse" meeting where everyone had an opportunity to say what they liked about the club and what worried them about the club. The response was overwhelmingly positive and resulted in a number of ideas for continuing to improve the club.
The other thing that stands out for me is the engagement of members. Everyone in the club is involved in one or more activities, with half of our members engaged in five or more. This is the reason we can pull off so many things that other clubs can't.
Over the years many things have changed. Memberships numbers have gone up and down. Fundraisers have come and gone, but the one constant is that our members have been having a great deal of fun, something that Rev. Jim Campbell has been able to capture in a history of the club which will be circulated to all members soon.
So, if someone were to ask me if I wanted to be President again, my answer would of course be: No. Why should I have all the fun.
Finally a big thank you to the Board and all RCOT members and committee chairs for their supportthis year.
We need LOADS of volunteers for our first OWN run for Lighthouse on June 3rd. EVERYTHING we raise go straight into supporting our Lighthouse Kids and families.
We already have great collaboration between our friends at THE MILTON OPTIMISTS and Rotary Oakville Trafalgar. Our friends at Rotary Burlington Central have committed to community sponsorship! We are SUPER grateful and hope your club can join us too. EVERYTHING helps.
The Membership Committee in conjunction with our Communications Director, Bob Gardner, have decided to re-vector the Rotary tent at the 2017 Ribfest to Club Awareness Tent. The focus will shift from Rotary’s global initiatives to our involvement in the local community and ‘Friends of Rotary’. We have several persons contributing and participating in our club’s activities without being an active member.
The Committee had a planning session, facilitated by President Bent Fink-Jensen, to review the membership related feedback from the ‘Taking a Pulse’ survey, and develop an action plan. One of the actions was to encourage members to bring a friend; maybe, allow each member to have a free guest lunch 2-3 times per year but only if they are first time guests or have indicated a serious interest in joining a club. To this extent, our board passed the following resolution: effective July 1, 2017 potential new club members be provided a free lunch within the terms and conditions provided by the Membership Committee. The Membership Committee will review the free lunch initiative on an annual basis.
The Sunshine Committee is pleased to report that Bob Zimmerman is recovering well and Bill is back home the Carpenter House in Burlington and is in good spirits. He is mobile with the help of a walker.
Since this is the last RIOS of the Rotary year 2016-17, I would like to thank the Membership committee: Bent, Bob G, Karen M, Ray and Vanda, for their support and hard work.
District Changeover and Awards Banquet
To register for this event go to the district web page at https://portal.clubrunner.ca/50042.
Come celebrate the achievements of clubs from all across the District, enjoy the fellowship of fellow Rotarians and guests, have a great meal, and help to honour Bill Proctor and usher in Kathi Dick as your next District Governor.
This year our celebrations will be at the beautiful Glencarin Golf Course in Milton, easily accessible from the 401.
5:30 pm - Reception and Registration
6:30 pm - Program Begins
Use the link on the left to register. Please indicate any dietary restrictions or allergies in the comment box that appears on the registration screen.
Our club is a member of an International cluster consisting of 8 clubs from Milton, Oakville, and Burlington (called the MOB). Last year the MOB Cluster selected a project to build 200 latrines in Guatemala. Below is the recognition plaque that has been posted at the site.
Members of Rotary Burlington North will be presenting at our club on April 27th about their visit to this project. Oakville Trafalgar's contribution to this project was $5000 US.
In the Beautiful Colonial city of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico
Itinerary
Fri. Oct 27th - Travel to San Miguel de Allende. Be transported from Leon, Gto. (BJX) or Queretaro, Qto. (QRO) international airports to the private residence of your host. Depending on time of arrival, enjoy a light meal at hosts' home or en-route.
Sat. Oct. 28th - Take a guided walking tour of the Historic Centre of San Miguel. In the afternoon enjoy a cultural lecture of the origins and traditions of the Day of the Dead followed by a Welcome
Dinner with other guests and hosts.
Sun. Oct 29th- Free morning to relax. Three course meal with wine served at beautiful private residence. Later enjoy your favourite beverage while watching the beautiful sunset on the roof terrace of the Rosewood Hotel.
Mon. Oct 30th - Visit a local pyramid (lunch served at the nearby ranch) or perhaps participate in a cooking class (and enjoy eating what you prepare) -both activities are an additional charge - or simply enjoy a free afternoon exploring San Miguel. Later join together for dinner at a popular restaurant in town.
Tues. Oct 31st - Visit the School for Special Education for a guided tour. Attend San Miguel Midday Rotary meeting and share lunch with fellow Rotarians.
In the evening share in the joy of visiting the Main Plaza or Jardin where Mexican children parade in costume and Mariachi bands play traditional music.
Wed. Nov. 1st - Participate in a visit to a cemetery to evidence how Mexican families decorate the graves of their deceased family members and celebrate Day of the Dead. In the afternoon gather for a festive dinner in a private residence and later be prepared to participate in the annual Catrina parade with costumes and make-up provided.
Thurs. Nov 2nd - Final day in magical San Miguel. Be transported out of town with a knowledgeable guide to visit and enjoy spectacular ruins of chapels/churches as well as the beautiful Hacienda homes reminiscent of a by-gone era. Partake in an authentic Mexican meal at one of the Haciendas.
A farewell dinner party will be enjoyed with all of the guests and hosts at a very special San Miguel restaurant.
Fri. Nov 3rd - Be picked up at host's home to be transported to the airport for your flight home with wonderful memories of your visit swirling in your head and etched in your heart.
Tour Price & Deposit Deadline:
Cost per person US$1600 (based on double occupancy)
Deposit: $800 to reserve your space payable byMay 30th, 2017
Full Refund if cancelled by August 25th, less a $200 administration fee
Balance of payment $800 due on August 25th, 2017
What's included in the tour price:
-seven night's accommodation and daily light breakfast at host's home
-one other meal (either lunch or dinner) each day at private residence or at a popular restaurant
-ground transportation from your destination airport and return -additional ground transportation, if necessary, from host's home to activities
-welcome basket
-historical walking tour of San Miguel
-Day of the Dead cultural lecture
-tour of School for Special Education
-guided cemetry tour
-participation in Day of the Dead "Catrina" parade
Are you on the fence about whether or not you should go? Read the article at the link below for more information and pictures of San Miguel de Allende.
Below is a video about the EEE School for the Deaf in San Miguel Mexico. We have sponsored this school three times. The first was a grant for hearing aids. The second was a Grant (matched by a local foundation) for computers. The third was a larger Global Grant with all the Oakville clubs participating for Vocational Training for the students, publicity to attract students, and teacher training.
I’m reading an old classic book, Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. I thought I’d read it again, sure that I’d read so long ago. A few pages in I realized I hadn’t read it before. I suspect my limited knowledge of the story comes from seeing the movie made in the 50s.
Reading the book I found that Crusoe was not overjoyed when he found human footprints in the sand on the beach eighteen years after he was cast on the shore of the island. He was terrified and set about turning his home into a fortress. He prepared for battle and had a very long debate with himself about whether he should kill any intruders that came to his island.
Would he be a murderer? How many would he kill if many arrived? From discovering the first footprint in the sand and being able to welcome Friday, took a couple of years! He ended up deciding it would be good to have a slave or a servant.
Daniel Dafoe’s goal, in writing the book, was to use the story of a resourceful castaway as a commentary on the conditions and morality of his society, three hundred years ago.
“I take notice of … those discontented people … who cannot enjoy comfortably what God has given them. All our discontents about what we want, appeared to me, to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have.”
“I learned again to observe that it is very rare that the Providence of God casts us into any condition of life so low, or any misery so great, but we may see something or other to be thankful for, and may see others in worse circumstances than our own.”
Finally, two thirds through the book, I’m coming to the part where Crusoe rescues Friday from the hands of cannibals. In the movie that happened early on. I think, in the end, Crusoe is rescued by a ship and got back to Britain. Well I’ll soon find out.
Check out the pictures from the night in Photo Albums.
On May 25 the 3 Rotary clubs in Oakville hosted the Education Awards at Le Dome.
The Education Awards are bursaries which the three Rotary Clubs in Oakville fund and award annually to graduating High School students in Oakville who are going on to post secondary education. Recipients show community and school commitment in addition to needing the financial help. This year 26 students received $60,000.
The dinner brings together the students and their families, our sponsors, and Rotarians from all three clubs. It shows sponsors where their generous donation go and also shows the students and families what generous companies we have in Oakville and how they help these students.
The speaker for the evening was Meghan Desmarais. Justin Mitchell Zeus Eden won the Donna Messer Service Above Self Award.
Victoria Auwaerter is our outbound student in Japan. Below is her latest "Beaver Tale".
“Memories That I Will Always keep With Me”
It's been another three months since my last Rotary Beaver Tale and I can’t believe that it is already my final report. I have a little under two months until I go back to Canada and it's hard to believe that I am at the last part of my exchange.
Over the past few months, I have been very busy with lots of traveling, trying to improve my Japanese and just enjoying my time. Over the past three months I have had three changes of host families. Recently, I have moved to my fifth and final host family. With my new family now, there are two host siblings, but only one of them is living at home. My host sister is 20 and she is living in Tokyo, and my host brother is 18 and he is living at home with me.
Both of my host siblings have gone on exchanges to Australia, so they understand what it is like being an exchange student. The Japanese school year is a little different from Canadian schools. The school year goes from April to March, with short breaks throughout the year. Also, you get put in a home room class and stay with the same class for most of the time throughout the day. High school in Japan only lasts for three years.
From April, I am now a third year which means I am the oldest of the school. Also, it means that I am now with a new homeroom class, so it has been nice getting to know other kids at my school and making new friends that I hadn’t talked to much before.
In March, I had the opportunity to go to Tokyo two different times. I had been to Tokyo once before, but it was nice to visit new parts that I had not seen on my previous trip. One of my trips was with my first host sisters as we had the trip planned since I was living at their house until November. My second trip was with my fourth host mom. Over those two trips I went to Harajuku (which is where all the Japanese teen fashion is located), Tokyo Tower and Mount Fuji. Mount Fuji has been something that I have always wanted to see up close and something that one day I hope to climb. It was lots of fun being in Tokyo and definitely reminded me of how much I enjoy big cities.
In May 2017 during my school break, I had my Rotary trip with all the other exchange students in my district. There are only nine of us in the district which is smaller compared to some other districts but we still had lots of fun on our trip. Our trip included Hiroshima, Himeji and Osaka. During our time in Hiroshima, we visited the places where the atomic bomb happened and it was very eye opening, yet sad visiting those places. Also, we visited Miyajima, which is an island that is near Hiroshima. We also saw “Tori gate”, which is out in the water and visited Itsukushima Shrine. In Himeji, we visited Himeji Castle; it is said to be one of the most beautiful castles in Japan. In Osaka, we were able to go to Universal Studios and visit Osaka castle. The trip was lots of fun and all of the exchange students were sad that it had to come to an end.
In Japan, during the first week of May, most people get a few days off from work and school to celebrate a holiday called “Golden Week.” During the holiday, my host family and I went to Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe, where we saw a baseball game. It was my first time visiting Kyoto. My host family was so nice to let me chose everywhere we went, so I had a big list of places I wanted to visit. In Kyoto, we saw Arashiyama (which is a bamboo forest), Fushimi Inari Shrine and Kinkakuji Temple (which is a Buddhist temple covered in gold). In Osaka, we went to the shopping district which I enjoyed.
Over the past eight and a half months, I have been trying to study Japanese as much as I can and to get the most out of the language as I can. Studying Japanese has not been an easy task but day by day, working on the language, I am very proud of how far I have come. I remember coming here and really not understanding anything. People around me would say jokes, and I would just sit there in silence as I really had no idea what they were saying. Now I am picking up on some jokes and I am able to laugh together with everyone.
Before I came to Japan, I was so excited, yet so nervous for my upcoming year. I didn't know exactly what the culture would be like, if I would enjoy the food and what I would get out of this year. Now, looking back over my time here, I couldn't be happier with everything that I have done: everything I have experienced, everyone I have met and memories that I will always keep with me. I would like to thank everyone in Canada that helped me to be in Japan and everyone in Japan. Without Rotary, I would not be here and I can never thank Rotary and my family enough for everything that they have done for me.
RIOTS - Rotary International Oakville Trafalgar Service is a monthly newsletter published online by the club and is sent to all members and friends of the club. It is available in electronic format to anyone with email.
Content for RIOTS is subject to editing and should be submitted to rotary2359@gmail.com in a non-PDF format.
To subscribe email info@rcot.ca
WEEKLY COURIER is a weekly bulletin sent to members recapping announcements.
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