BRAVE NEW WORLD

 

There are four elements usually to be found in the speech made by the District Governor on the occasion of his official visit to a District Club. There is, first, abundant praise for Club achievements; there are hortatory words on behalf of The Rotary Foundation; there is an invitation to the next District Conference; and there is a harangue on membership.

 

DG Martin Ward had nothing specific to say about the achievements of the St. Thomas Rotary Club beyond a general statement that the strength of Rotary is in individual Rotary clubs. The Rotary Foundation is the “lifeblood of Rotary,” and projects devoted to its six areas of focus (promoting peace, providing clean water, saving mothers and children, supporting education, growing local economies and fighting disease) are “making a difference” in ways large and small throughout the world. DG Martin declared that he is “cautiously optimistic that we will see the last case of polio soon,” but until soon comes, fundraising efforts should continue undiminished. In that spirit, the Club made a donation to Polio Plus in honour of his visit. The 2018 District Conference takes place in Grand Bend next May 4-5.

 

Most of the DG’s time was spent on identifying ways in which clubs must adapt in order to attract people under forty years of age to Rotary. Much of this we heard a few weeks ago when Ian Chantler, District Social Media Chair, spoke to the Club. Rotary International has relaxed its rules regarding meetings and some clubs (not ours) have done away with meals, fines and happy bucks. We don’t know if the Rotary Club of St. Thomas will be around in twenty years, much less a hundred. But it is doing good work, here and abroad, right now.

 

DG Martin Ward and AG Sue Storie flank Club members receiving Paul Harris Fellowship recognition today: Bill Horn (PH+8); Pat Martyn (PH+5); and Ken Ferguson (PH+4). Recognition follows the donation of US$1000 to The Rotary Foundation.

 

 

Maggie Horn (2) – For the three wonderful Club members receiving Paul Harris recognition today; to congratulate Paul Blower on his performance in the recent play in Aylmer.
Bill Horn (3) – For Paul’s performance in Outside Mullingar; for successfully arranging the move of a piano to his daughter in British Columbia; for his fellow Paul Harris Fellows recognized today.
Gerry Janssen (4) – To thank Paul for his part in the Aylmer play; Gerry attended the unveiling of the Veterans Memorial Garden in St. Thomas on October 28; for the three members given Paul Harris recognition today.
Faye Ferguson (2) – For Trish Shouldice’s help; for the three members receiving Paul Harris recognition.
Pat Martyn (5) – For three October birthdays, including her own; for all the Paul Harris Fellows; for successfully passing her driver’s test!
George Martyn (1) – For his good wife Pat who has been doing a lot of work on the Tour of Homes: “She lives and breathes the job.”
Malcolm Rust (3) – For the fun of Hallowe’en last night with grandchildren; for Paul’s performance in the Aylmer play; for a visit to Brampton and lunch at the Mandarin which happily turned out to be gratis.
Ron Somerville (3) – He is glad to be “an 80-year-old bird who doesn’t take a pill for anything”; for DG Martin’s presentation today (and to say, based on his being there a few weeks ago, how amazed he is at what the Grand Bend club is doing: for the pleasure of being with his grandkids at Hallowe’en: a treat!
Paul Blower (1) – For the kind words extended to him today regarding the play in Aylmer, and to thank Gerry again for taking the Rotaserver for two weeks.
Trish Shouldice (5) – Thanks to DG Martin and AG Sue for being here today; happy that Stew livestreamed today’s meeting on the Club’s Facebook Group page; congratulations to all the Paul Harris Fellows recognized today.
Jennifer Babcock (2) – She enjoyed spending Hallowe’en with her son who has turned five; (she also spent time with his class yesterday as they celebrated Hallowe’en); the owner of the retirement home she is employed with made her feel part of the family.
Brenda Merrifield (1) – For her granddaughter, nine months old, who went out as a pumpkin on Hallowe’en.

 

Next week (November 8), Kathy Knott from Therapeutic Paws will speak to the Club. There will be no meeting on November 15, but on November 22 the Club will welcome four students, their teachers and guests to the Fall edition of the student Service Above Self awards. Club guests are welcome, too. November 29 is the Annual General Meeting of the Club Foundation, and December 6 is the annual Christmas party, held in the evening at the Wayside. More details to come.

 

The 22nd annual Rotary Christmas Tour of Homes will be here before you know it, but there is still time to sell tickets and to contribute cookies for the various locations on the Tour. Trish circulated a list calling for 75 dozen, but we don’t know how close she came to her goal, so contact her if you are willing to help. Word of the Tour is going forth. Maggie Horn heard a good promo on the radio. Malcolm was able to pacify an objector to the Tour’s taking place on Remembrance Day by pointing out that Tour homes will observe a dignified silence at 11 a.m.

 

If you are interested in participating in the London Rotary on-line auction, November 3 to 13, see their website: www.LondonRotaryAuction.com. The fundraiser supports children’s charities and polio eradication.

 

Guests today were District Governor Martin Ward and Mary Ruston; Assistant Governor Sue Storie and Rick Storie; Kathy Willson, wife of Ed; Faye Ferguson, wife of Ken; Maggie Horn, wife of Bill; and George Martyn, husband of Pat. Welcome all!...Malcolm Rust was winner of the 50/50 draw. Bill Horn was Fine Master and drew everyone’s attention to information that could be found in the District 6330 October newsletter (The Bridge) and in the November issue of The Rotarian.