Mini-Classifications
Fred Hacker, as part of Vocational Month, had asked 4 of the longer term members of the Club to talk about their experiences as Rotarians and its affect on their lives. He introduced Cheryl as one of the first female members of the Midland Club.
Cheryl Webb thought she was maybe the third woman to join this Club. 14 years ago she was glad to be part of a Club that listed a who's who of Midland as its membership. Her company is now 20 years old and enjoying outstanding productivity and she and her husband have now been joined by son Michael. It is hard work to help people make the right decisions but there is satisfaction to it. They now have 5 grandchildren that fill a gap they didn't know was there.
Cheryl has worked on the Community Services Committee, has done the bookkeeping and licensing for Bingo for years and is joining the Foundation Committee. She finds the Wed. meeting a refreshing break in a busy week, providing a fresh perspective and advice. Most members run small businesses which puts them at the top of their organization, the go to person. This sometimes gets lonely and Rotary is a great place to go for understanding and help.
She suggested we think of what Rotary accomplishes - on Polio, with wheelchairs, the trail, the bandstand. We can't go through town without seeing Rotary in action but its the people who are the best part of Rotary, people who see an opportunity and work to bring it to fruition, like the Party on the Dock which has grown into such a successful program, nothing short of amazing.
Cheryl said the phrase Rotary at Work should be more like Rotary at Play, that we have fun while accomplishing much and she said she's proud to be a Rotarian.
Ron Crane joined the Toronto Rotary Club in 1975. The Toronto Club had 400 members, a permanent office with employees. This is different from Midland but Ron feels that Rotary is universal in its feel and its service. He was President there in 84-85 and served on the Board and as President of the Foundation and served on many Committees. He and his family hosted and mentored Ambassadorial scholars, where he met wonderful people they still communicate with.
The Midland area has been cottage country for his family - his wife is a DeCarli - and now he works with Hacker, Gignac and enjoys the welcome he got coming to the Club here and the community. He feels the community relies on the Club. He serves here as Chair of the Community Services Committee and gets direct experience of the needs here, for example places like Gilda's Club but also the small asks, for wheelchairs etc.
Ron has been married for 43 years, has 3 children and 6 grandchildren in ages 4 - 11. They get lots of visitors during the summer and get to go to lots of hockey games and recitals in the winter. Midland is a base that's rooted in his heart and an opportunity to continue with Rotary which gives him satisfaction and friendships. Thanks to Rotary, represented by its people.
Arnie DeCarli is a Midlander by choice. Born of Italian Immigrants, he went to UWO and graduated in 1967. Among other things, a recommendation from Alan Eagleson helped him get into the MBA program at York. After 19 years of school he found it hard to even finish, combined with being dumped by his girlfriend - an experience he was fated to repeat. He joined the family business and stayed on with his uncle after his father died in 1972. He married Helen and they had two sons before she 'dumped' him. He married Elaine and they had a third son and that relationship died. With Canadian anti-dumping legislation he is now happily married to Patty.
Moving to Midland led to the discovery of volunteerism and has served on the hospital board and as Chair for 5 years, on the Family Life Centre Board, the Georgian College Board and has continued to discover Rotary. He has now been in for 38 years, starting as a founding member of the Black Creek Club, of which he was President in 74 - 75. He was sponsored to the Midland Club by Fred Hacker and has been on and off the Board. He feels it is important to cycle through positions. He is proud to say he sponsored the first female member, Anne Mahar. He finds Rotary an extraordinary, stable and meaningful place to be with people and friends, people who are sincere, with no falseness. He defines himself as a husband, a father, a Roman Catholic and a Rotarian.
Fred Hacker said he detected themes in the talks we've heard and in his experience. With a nod to Arnie's sponsorship by Alan Eagleson, he offered his sponsorship to the Midland Rotary Club by Don Shirk. He has now been in for 27 years. When he moved her he had been married for 5 and he and Barb had 2 kids and he worked in an office with one other lawyer. Now his office has 17 lawyers and 3 locations. Technology has changed the way they work, from carbons and land lines and everybody doing everything to emails and specialisation. John Gignac felt faxes would be a fad and they didn't need a machine, they could pick them up at the copy shop daily. But with traditional mail the pace was different and there was a chance to be more contemplative.
Fred served as President in 83 - 84 and has repeated as Vocational chair about every 10 years. The first time, back in 79 -80, was the first for Midland and the DG made him the District Chair, for which he had no training or experience. He is the Founding Chair of the Auction which was a response to a commitment to raise $10,000.00 one time for the Y and which has been running since 1978. Acting as Founding Chair of Party on the Dock has been a highlight. He and his family have hosted an exchange student about every 5 years.
Fred remembers the discussion about women in Rotary in 82. The US Supreme Court mandated it. He wrote the Club's history of its first 40 years and is planning a second volume which will be out in 2031. He commented that the other speakers all commented on the friendships formed at Rotary - its a recurring theme. There are people here we can turn to for respect and help. Our relationships are transparent and selfless. Service is definitely above self. Rotary broadens horizons through events like the GSE, student exchanges and working on things like Polio. Rotary encourages growth. Fred has observed many Presidents of the club grow in the position, gaining confidence in their public speaking and organization. Rotary is an avenue for giving back to the community.
Alison thanked all the speakers for their contributions and insights and Ralph closed the meeting.