FORWARD THE FOUNDATION

 

Club members of long standing can remember when the business of the Club Foundation AGM was concluded in a matter of a very few minutes. Alas, such was not the case at today’s AGM, when a lengthy discussion threatened to take the proceedings well into the afternoon.

 

Club Foundation President Trudy Kanellis dispatched her own report much more quickly. Highlights included the appearance of the Food Trailer at Canada Day and Thomas the Tank Engine, and Gerald Vreman’s becoming Chair of the Rotary Music Festival.

 

In addition to the Festival, Club Foundation programs include, among others, the Dictionary Project; Service Above Self Awards; and Happy Fins. The Annual Financial Report was not available; it will be presented December 13.

 

Malcolm Rust presented the first annual report of the Investment Committee, which was elected by the Club Foundation Board earlier this year. The Board appointed Ellen Luft, Hollis Wealth, to serve as Investment Advisor; Malcolm reported on account activity to date. His discussion of the Investment Statement raised several issues from the floor, and, as a result, a motion was made (and carried) to table the report, pending a resolution of these issues.

 

2017-18 Directors are: Trudy Kanellis, President; Malcolm Rust, Past President; Pat Martyn, Treasurer; Gerard Janssen, Secretary; and Paul Blower,
Stew Shouldice and Club President Trish Shouldice. Stew resigned from the Investment Committee and was replaced by Pat Martyn.

 

HAPPY FINS - Donations of $5 to The Rotary Foundation – Annual Programs Fund – credited to the donor in celebration something good in our lives. This practice was started in this club in 1985 to raise funds for polio eradication at the suggestion of Darwen Lowe, a member of the club.

 

 

Next week (December 6), is the Club’s annual Christmas party, at the Wayside. There is a social time at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. Please let Trudy know if you are coming and if you are bringing guests. Bring woollen hats, gloves, mitts, scarves, etc. as donations to Inn Out of the Cold. The entertainment is to be Rotarian Gerald Vreman at the keyboard. Expect Christmas carols. Sing lustily and with good cheer. Cost per person is $25.

 

December 13 is a Club Assembly, followed by a Club Board meeting, while December 20 is the annual Christmas message, this year delivered by a representative of the Salvation Army. There is no meeting on December 27.

 

Davey Moffatt indicated that he would be assisting the Grand Bend Rotary Club with loading cargo containers on Saturday (December 2). Contact Davey if you would like to ride along with him….Adriana Balderas was winner of the 50/50 draw….Some preliminary figures are in for the recently completed Tour of Homes. Christmas bulbs and sealed auction items brought in $1600 and $5095, respectively. Ed Willson stated there was more money to come in from ticket sellers. Treasurer Mike Moore said that this year’s Tour was likely to be one of the best ever. 261 people went through the homes on Friday, 752 on Saturday, and 562 on Sunday. Co-Chair Pat Martyn thanked everyone who worked on the Tour; there were nothing but raves from tour-goers.