Fireside 02/13
We had guests Anna Hartland and Lana Lyons.
Bill Richardson had a report on HART III - input from previous participants is that the trip will be worthwhile and exciting and real. They have been sorting donations - some of which is not suitable for the DR (like winter coats which have gone to the Salvation Army) - but have two truckloads of stuff. They are looking for hygiene packs - specifics included in emails from him. Bruce and Mike are up for 50 each which leaves them looking for another 900. They need underwear and protein powder.
Bill also distributed an accounting for the Int'l Service Committee. Budget $48,750.00. Spent - Polio Plus, $10,000.00; donations on behalf of speakers to Polio Plus, $3,500.00; HART III, $15,000.00; DR school breakfast program, $800.00 and a Mobile Patient Monitoring Device for a Children's Hospital in Izmir, Turkey, $4,000.00. Left - $15,450.00.
Joyce introduced Anna Hartman who was at CLH for many years and is now at the GB Cancer Support Centre. She asked Lana Lyons, a volunteer and retired health care executive to speak about the Centre. Lana said it fills a unique need, it is community based, not for profit, has charitable status and is independent. It is located in the Penetanguishene hospital. It's mission is Support and Education. It is run by a Board and has, in Anna, a program co-ordinator.
Anna showed a brief video and had some testimonials about the help and information which is needed by patients. The number diagnosed is growing but the number of deaths is declining which means that more people are living with cancer, longer. There are physical and emotional impacts with the disease and the Centre provides a whole network of supports, from transport to meals to financial assistance and advice for all who need it. When they started in 2011 they had 14 clients and now they have 85.
When a patient goes to treatment in Toronto they often have a hard time keeping connected with people back home and they are asking the Club for $2,700.00 to buy 4 iPads that can travel with them to assist in keeping people in touch, to reduce the sense of isolation and to provide emotional support. Anna and Lana left the meeting.
Joyce spoke for past DG Brian Menton who was stormbound at home. The District has entered into a partnership with the Aboriginal Studies program at Georgian College to promote native language studies. Only 2% of first nations people are speaking their original language, for a variety of reasons but especially because Residential schools broke the generational connection. Graduates of the course become language activators and teachers. This is the only such course in Ontario. It is like a literacy program in our back yard and provides participants with a key to their identity and gives them access to a right - the right to language and to celebrate their customs and religion in their own language and to maintain their oral culture leading to empowerment, identity and a sense of their heritage.
Brian tried to connect via Skype, which was a mixed success, but he made the points that aboriginal schools have always been underfunded in Canada in comparison with other education systems and that he has seen the pride and sense of involvement that comes when peole are able to work in their own language. The District is trying to raise $50,000.00 to help with daycare, scholarships and resource development and they are trying for matching grants. The District has promised $5,000.00 and two Clubs have committed to helping and District 6330 is joining. All the local chiefs are excited by the program.
The Club voted on a $5,000.00 donation by ballot and Mora asked for a second vote due to confusion of numbers of votes and on the second vote it was defeated by a small number.
Britt spoke about the Signature Project. 5 ideas have been narrowed down to two. One is donating equipment to the new Trauma Centre and that has been supported by the Club so money will be earmarked. Ideas on Economic Development and Community Development were somewhat similar and so have been identified has having the same goal and have been merged and a Committee has been working on ideas. They met with McKay, Crown and Muntz and have focused on the concept of a Business Incubator. All four communities have expressed support for the idea.
The intent would be to facilitate start ups and promote growth in companies that want to expand. The goals would be a healthy economy, an increasing number of local businesses, increased employment, more opportunities to live and work in the community and an increased profile for Rotary. It would be an incorporated, Board governed operation involving, mostly, Rotarians as Board members and mentors. The Club would contribute $75,000.00 a year for a minimum of 3 years and another $75,000.00 per year would come from other donors and from rent. It should become self sustaining.
To start the Club would oversee finding a suitable location - a building that could be rented in sections to start ups, funding, governance and the supervision of the salaried employee. The North Simcoe Community Futures, the North Simcoe Economic Alliance, the Federal Development Bank, Trillium, the Municipalities and others would be asked to participate and for funding.
Britt asked, first, if the Club was interested in pursuing the idea. She was asking for support at the meeting so the Committee could continue to refine the business plan for presentation in April and work on budgets over the summer for a final vote in September before work on incorporation and etc. could start.
Hank, as a member of the Committee, said it would not be political and the resources of the NSCF would be available but the Board would be the controlling entity. In answer to the question, why not give the Community Fund the support to do it, he said they don't have the resources or space but are happy to provide support. A question of liability was raised - whether it would be better to put it under the Fund or if an independent Board would be subject to it - but a clear answer was not arrived at. Hank said the closest similar effort is one in Haliburton which supports mostly arts oriented projects with $50,000.00 a year.
Another discussion was held regarding conflict of interest. Would Club members, mostly small business owners, be encouraging competition and would people asked to be mentors be faced with conflict? Hank said he is President of the Georgian Angels which has given about 3 million to start ups over the past years and that organization has had the same concerns on occasion but often new companies need support to grow. There would be business cases before support was given and needs and capacity would be identified.
The consensus was that there were still questions and that the attendance at the Fireside was relatively low so that it should be researched further and that the rest of the membership should have some information regarding this major commitment. So this is it. Review this, discuss with members of the Committee, consider. There will be another Club discussion at a later date and a decision as to whether to proceed will be taken then. Notice will be given.