Rotary Bulletin for September 30, 2013
October is Vocational Services Month
President Dave opened the meeting, giving a toast to Canada, the United Way and Rotary International
David Rook Green led us in the 4 Way Test and then in Grace.
Sargent at Arms David Rook Green introduced our guests for the evening: Jennifer Guertin, Robert Denboer, Maureen Tavener (our business speaker), Tom Bennett (our semi-member) and our guest speaker for the evening Jim Russell.
We missed you: John Talyor, Spence Tucker and Bob Fawcett
50/50 Draw: Congratulations to Brian Parks!
Fines: Girv Devitt led us in fines for the evening. Questions tested trivia knowledge including “How many toes did Marilyn Monroe have? - 12 and what is the average life span of a baseball – 7 pitches”
Happy bucks:
Ruth felt honored to have the opportunity to spend the weekend in the Muskokas and enjoy the beautiful colours. Don just returned from the east coast where he attended his 55th class reunion in Fredericktown, NB with classmates from Newfoundland to British Columbia. Sue attended a musical fund raiser with Margaret Currie in support of “Motley Collection” a small theatre group. The group is putting on the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the end of the month and all are encouraged to see it. Chris was glad to be able to unhinge the door of his car – after gluing it shut!!
Evening Program:
Tom Bennett introduced Jim Russell, CEO for the Peterborough and County United Way Agency. Tom described Jim as an enthusiastic leader who has had a huge impact as CEO. His goal upon coming to Peterborough was to meet 100 people in the first 100 days, getting to know the people and issues that make up our community. Jim has inspired enthusiasm and energy in the staff and the many volunteers. Tom also referred to the very deliberate goal for the United Way Campaign: $2, 500, 001.
Jim began by expressing his love and appreciation for Rotarians, the more he meets them the more he loves them. He shares Rotary’s commitment to the community and believes if we all lived by the 4 Way Test we wouldn’t go very wrong. He especially highlighted “good for all concerned”.
Jim talked about the campaign process: each year beginning with zero dollars and working from there, unlike many capital campaigns that have significant monies raised before the campaign is announced is definitely a challenge but doable. He talked about the plus 1 dollar, that the campaign depends on one person, one donation, one dollar at a time. Every donation, big or small counts!
The United Way supports 32 member agencies and 135 programs.
Upon coming to Peterborough Jim made the decision to go to the community to learn about the issues and what is important and meaningful to the various demographics. An agency goal is to define emerging issues, for ongoing planning. One example of an emerging issue is the high rate of unemployment of young people: 30% in those 18 to 32, about three times higher than the average. Another growing issue is that greater than 60% of jobs being created are part time, with implications for long range planning, financing homes etc.
The United Way agency has two prongs: providing financial support to member agencies and also acting as an advocate for agencies and community groups.
Jim was thanked by Sue for his vision, passion, commitment and deep concern for our community. His enthusiasm is contagious! The United Way Agency plays a very big role in lives in our community and provides many children, women and men with services and opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have.
Business Speaker
Chris introduced Maureen Tavener, a realtor with Remax Eastern Realty Inc. Maureen started her career as a ball room dance instructor. In 1974 she and her husband bought their first home and she noticed that the selling agent directed his conversation toward her husband. The rest is history: she decided to go to school, learn about the real estate business and became an agent herself. She joined Irwin Sergeant and Lowes as one of the first female agents. She recalls the early days when the men held doors for her and helped with the signs! She also talked about some the changes and the importance of protecting oneself as well as the buyers and sellers against litigation.
Maureen has had many careers including opening her own restaurant, owning and operating a chicken farm and subsequently renovating the farm building into storage units. She has always come back to real estate. It has been her life long career and she works in all facets of real estate: commercial, residential and cottage.
In addition to her busy career, Maureen has chaired the East Kawartha Chamber of Commerce and Peterborough Woman’s Business Network, is a director of the Tourism Board and a director of the Peterborough Rotary Trail.
The Lakefield office is a “Miracle Office”, part of the Children’s Miracle Network. A percentage of the commission is donated to the network and both the buyer and seller get a certificate acknowledging this.
Maureen was thanked by President Dave for an informative talk.
Announcements:
Work Party:
Monday October 7th, 5:00 p.m.
Rotary Park
Come prepared to paint, prune the gardens and clean up the park. Partners, children, grandchildren and friends are welcome. High school students participating will get credit towards their volunteer hours. Dinner will follow and arrangements will be announced.
Vocational Services:
October is Vocational Services month. The Vocational Services committee is purchasing the “The Apple Dumpling” book to present to local schools. Through story and pictures the book brings to life the 4 Way test. We will be looking for volunteers to go to schools, read with the students and present the book. More information will follow.
Public Relations:
We are registered for the East Kawartha Chamber of Commerce Table Top Show, on Wednesday October 23rd from 5:00 – 7:00 at the Lakefield Legion. This is an excellent way to get to know the local businesses and for them to find out more about BEL Rotary. If you are able to attend for all or part of the time please let Sue know.
In the September 25th edition of the Lakefield Herald there is an article about Alicia Kensit and a promotion for the BEL Club.
Happy 75th Birthday Chris!
Thank you for Esther Inglis for the delicious cake and the opportunity to celebrate with Chris.
Upcoming Meetings:
Calendar
Date Evening Chair Speaker
Oct 7 Susan Davidson Park Clean Up
Oct 14 No Meeting Thanksgiving
Oct 21 Girv Devitt Mayor Mary Smith, Chief Rodd and
Deputy Chief Farquharson
Oct 28 Bob Fawcett To be announced
Nov 4 Al Hitchon To be announce
Nov 11 Ruth Kuchinad Phyllis Williams
September and October Birthdays: Happy Birthday to:
John Talyor September 18
Don Thorton September 26
Chris Tworkowski October 2
Spence Tucker October 11
Ruth Kuchinad October 18
Tony Davidson October 30
Rotary Leadership Institute
On behalf of District Governor, Marilyn Hanson, I am pleased to invite you to attend the Rotary Leadership Institute workshop to be held in D7010.
The Rotary Leadership Institute is new to our District but this grass roots leadership program has been in operation since 1992 and at this time more than 200 Districts are involved. The future of Rotary and the service we give to our community locally and internationally depends on strong club leadership. Our District has always had a culture of training and this program will greatly enhance this.
District 7010 is hosting both a Part 1 and Part 2 Workshop at the Holiday Inn at Barrie on Saturday November 2nd beginning at 8:15 AM. Only those who have already completed Part 1 are eligible for registration to Part 2. This meeting will be facilitated by several experienced Rotary trainers from neighbouring Districts. Registration fee is $75.00 and includes a light breakfast, lunch and the course manual.
To register for the RLI Workshop please email PDG Jim Williams at jwilliams@jimwilliamsleasing.com. For more information about the Rotary Leadership Institute please visit our website at www.rli-shiningwaters.org. Other details about RLI and future meeting dates can be found on our District 7010 website.
A Thought for the Week: The Power of One
The Daffodil Principle
Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mother, you must come
to see the daffodils before they are over."
I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead.
"I will come next Tuesday," I promised a little reluctantly on her third call.
Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and reluctantly I drove there.
When I finally walked into Carolyn's house I was welcomed by the joyful
sounds of happy children. I delightedly hugged and greeted my grandchildren.
"Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in these clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see badly enough to drive another inch!"
My daughter smiled calmly and said, "We drive in this all the time, Mother."
"Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading for home!" I assured her.
"I was hoping you'd take me over to the garage to pick up my car."
"How far will we have to drive?"
"Oh...just a few blocks," Carolyn said. "But I'll drive. I'm used to this."
After several minutes, I had to ask, "Where are we going? This isn't the way to the garage!"
"We're going to my garage the long way," Carolyn smiled, "by way of the
daffodils."
"Carolyn," I said sternly, "please turn around."
"It's all right, Mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience."
After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw
a small church. On the far side of the Church, I saw a hand lettered sign with an arrow that read, "Daffodil Garden."
We got out of the car, each took a child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, as we turned a corner, I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight. It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it over the mountain peak and it's surrounding slopes.
The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, creamy white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, and
saffron and butter yellow. Each different-colored variety was planted in
large groups so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of flowers.
"Who did this?" I asked Carolyn.
"Just one woman," Carolyn answered. "She lives on the property. That's
her home."
Carolyn pointed to a well-kept A-frame house, small and modestly sitting
in the midst of all that glory
We walked up to the house. On the patio, we saw a poster. "Answers to
the Questions I Know You Are Asking" was the headline.
The first answer was a simple one. "50,000 bulbs," it read. The second
answer was, "One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and one
brain." The third answer was, "Began in 1958."
For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this
woman whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun, one bulb at a time, to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an
obscure mountaintop. Planting one bulb at a time, year after year, this
unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. One day
at a time, she had created something of extraordinary magnificence, beauty, and inspiration.
The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration. That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time--often just one baby-step at time--and learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time.
When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world.
"It makes me sad in a way," I admitted to Carolyn "What might I have
accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years? Just think what I might have been able to achieve!"
My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way.
"Start today," she said. She was right. It's so pointless to think of the lost hours of yesterdays. The way to make learning a lesson of celebration instead of a cause for regret is to only ask, "How can I put this to use today?"
As Rotarians we change lives one project, one fundraiser, one helping hand, one smile at a time. Thank you for all you do! Members of the “Little Club that Can” you are awesome! Have a good week.