Bulletin - september 08, 2016 - #9
Posted by Ann Godfrey on Sep 13, 2016
Opening
President Elect Vicky welcomed everyone. Peter Mahoney said Grace and Rick Evans lead the
singing of O Canada followed by a toast to the Queen and Canada.
Head Table
President Elect Vicky introduced the head table:
Norma Medulun-Burke, introducing our guest speaker
Betty-Lou Souter, guest speaker
Vicky Rudachuk, President Elect
John Picken, Sergeant at Arms
Jean Armitage, introducing our guests
Guests
Jean Armitage introduced guests this week:
Laura Byers, Rotary South St. Catharines
Eden Ewert, guest of Betty-Lou Souter
Vernon Gao, guest of Jansin Ozkur
Guest Speaker
Norma Medulun-Burke introduced our guest speaker, Rotarian, Betty-Lou Souter. Betty-Lou is the
CEO of Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold. She is the “go to” person for the needy and the
Queen of partnerships with a an honourary degree from Brock University and a Paul Harris award or two.
Betty-Lou was greeted by the paparazzi and then gave a talk about how Community Care is helping people
in need in the community with more than 19 programs. Community Care has been operating since 1919,
started by a local family on Yates Street in response to veterans coming home from the war and needing support.
Formerly Associated Charities, Community Care has always focused on dignity and respect for clients.
The United Way is a key funder and the May Court Club a support for the Christmas program that has grown from
500 to 3,000 families. Betty-Lou is the third executive director. In 1984 a Thorold branch was established with a
Thrift Shop format which is revenue generating but also served needy clients. 1993 was the year, the name
Community Care was adopted to reflect the relationship with the community.
Programs and partnerships include: Niagara Nutrition, Housing Help, Chuck’s Truck (with the Wise Guys), utility assistance,
community gardens and more. On any given morning you will find as many as 65 people accessing food and at this
time of the year, fresh produce! Of their $3 million budget, Community Care must raise $1 million in donations each year.
Betty-Lou is grateful to our generous Niagara community.
Betty –Lou closed by sharing the profiles of 3 clients: Alan, who tragically lost his family; Winston, a grand-dad caring
for his grandkids and Amanda, a mom caring for her adult children with Autism. She reminded us not to judge others as
we do not know their life circumstances and she thanked fellow Rotarians Dr. Pekar and Phil and Dianne for the assistance
they have lent Community Care and their clients.
Guest Speaker Thanks
Dianne Wright-Kirwin thanked Betty-Lou for all she does for the community and helping to nurture the spirit of philanthropy
in her own family, presenting Betty-Lou with her daughter’s piggy bank savings. She was also given a certificate, noting that a
donation will be made in her honour to “We Free the Children.”
Announcements
-Peter Kudreikis gave a great auction tip. Don’t ask for a donation. Offer a great advertising opportunity and remember,
the great items get prime time exposure!
-President Elect Vicky has receive 32 responses to her survey and will send it again for those who missed it.
-Gerry Repple celebrated his 20 year anniversary with the club.
Birthdays:
Rick Evans, Dianne Wright-Kirwin, Miriam Laundry and Jeff Wallace all celebrated their birthdays this week.
Happy Dollars
Where are ordinary things made? In a satis-factory!
Tom Pekar on Happy Dollars.
-Dianne Wright-Kirwin brought back a banner from a Rotary meeting she attended in Florida, again thanked Betty-Lou
and also Vicky for letting her know she did not have to “pay her age” for her birthday
-Bill Finley is so happy to be back and thanked everyone for the calls, visits and good thoughts while he was away sick.
He was welcomed with applause!
-Jacquie Herman-Wing also thanked Betty-Lou and reminded us that the auction supports causes like Community Care
-Phil Kirwin was happy for the hour of peace he got in Florida while Dianne attended the Rotary meeting. (He is a brave man!)
-Liz Palmeri conveyed on behalf of Rachel Delaney an update on the Performing Arts Centre to which we made
major donation – she shared the new programs, mentioned the film house and an open house on October 1st.
-John Crossingham had lunch with Charlotte our exchange student from Finland. Her mother was also an exchange student.
John will be passing through the very US town where she stayed 30 years ago, on his upcoming bike tour.
He has completed canvassing for our nest youth exchange and is in the Big Move Cancer ride with the Rotary team.
-Lezlie Murch brought thanks and a banner from our St. Marten exchange group, for our hospitality in August.
-Trevor Van Nest thanked Betty-Lou for her talk. He learned a lot!
-Lenore Klassen thanked Mark and RaRa for the great KERB the previous evening and indicated that Sarah Pavin,
a beach volleyball Olympian would be speaking at the Central Community Church on Scott Street this week.
-Art Wing was happy that Jacquie did her presentation last week, as now he knows what she does for a living!
-Rick Evan learned on Facebook that while we were enjoying 33 degree temperatures this week, Brazil was experiencing frost.
-Betty-Lou welcomed Bill back, thanked Ruby and Flynn for the piggy bank donation and has completed her auction canvass.
-Dr. Tom lodged a complaint with Betty-Lou for exposing his generous work with her clients. It is no longer a secret!
50/50 Draw – sadly, Betty-Lou did not draw the ace, the pot grows
Next Week’s Program – Mercy Achan – My Student Exchange Year
Closing Remarks – “Yogiisim--” a quote from baseball great, Yogi Berra: When you come to a fork in the road, take it.