Computer technology, as many of us are only too well aware, can be as mercurial as the weather. When it works as we would have it work, skies are sunny and the world is at peace; when it doesn’t, we are lashed by dark and devious storms. Today, it was our good fortune to have the DGE click on some light.

 

District Governor Elect (DGE) Martin Ward has been involved with computers for 47 years, beginning with his university education in Waterloo in the Math and Computer Science department in the 1960s. For many years he was President of a company that developed software for agricultural companies; today, he is self-employed and getting ready for July 2017.

 

Martin’s main focus was on the Rotary Club of St. Thomas and the Rotary International websites. The DGE had high praise for the “modern look” of the Club’s website and for the up-to-dateness of the information on it, all of which was due to the imagination and diligence of Webmaster Stew Shouldice. Well done, Stew! Changes to personal information on the site can be made by members themselves. If you have forgotten your password, you can click on a link to retrieve it. If you haven’t been to the site recently, it’s at www.rotarystthomas.org.

 

The Rotary International site (www.rotary.org) has acquired a fresh, new look in the last two weeks. A member login (to “My Rotary”) allows you to
access information not available to the general public. DGE Martin noted that applications for the Presidential Citation (to be renamed the Rotary Citation in July 2017) will be limited to the electronic format. Again, there is help if you cannot remember your password, and access to information in your profile can be debarred by use of the privacy option. But with gremlins pacified and with knowledge of how best to provide and use information on these sites, sharing is enhanced. That’s one of the things that makes Rotary click.

 

JANUARY JOLLITIES….President Nancy welcomed as guests District Governor Elect (DGE) Martin Ward and Mary Ruston; Assistant Governor Sue and Rick Storie; and Maggie Horn, wife of Bill. Welcome, all! Don’t forget that this Friday (January 27), we will be having our annual Tour of Homes Homeowner and Decorator Recognition Night at the Wayside. The evening starts at 6:30 p.m. with a social time, and dinner will follow at 7 p.m. Please let Trudy know (by email) if you are attending and if you are bringing guests. The cost will be $25 for each person attending. As of last count, thirteen decorators and homeowners are expected to attend; a good turnout of Club members is encouraged so that Rotarians will not be outnumbered by their guests. There will be no meeting on Monday, January 30.

 

Looking ahead to next month’s programs, there will be a regular club meeting (followed by a Board meeting) on February 6; Katie Payler from the YMCA will speak on February 13; there’s no meeting on February 20 (Family Day); and Gerry Janssen gives his classification talk on February 27….The 2017 World Tubing Championships will be held Saturday, February 18 (12 p.m. to 9 p.m.) and Sunday, February 19 (10 a.m. to 9 p.m.) at Sunset Drive and Bush Line, the same site as last year’s event. The Club will once again be food vendors, selling hot dogs and hot chocolate. President Nancy will be meeting at the Hospital’s Foundation Office this Thursday at 6 p.m. with the other food vendors, and invites you to come along.

 

President Nancy had more details about the “Reading Buddies” project that the St. Thomas Public Library proposes to conduct with children at the St. Thomas Northside Neighbourhood Hub. The program is expected to start in March and run from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on either Monday or Thursday. The child will read to the Rotary volunteer, and then perhaps the Rotary volunteer will read to the child. Points are collected by the child and when the target is reached, the child will be rewarded with a book provided by the Club. Nancy also noted that the Hub children are currently in need of socks; if you can assist, please contact Nancy. The Hub has a Facebook page: www.facebook.com/NorthsideHub.

 

The Rotary Club of St. Thomas will be in charge of Teddy Bears and the Teddy Bear Auction at the District Conference in the spring. President Nancy is seeking volunteers to help organize the work associated with this responsibility. Please contact her if you would like to assist….Trish Shouldice announced a Food Trailer meeting for Wednesday, February 8 at 7 p.m. at the Wayside. Everyone, not just Committee members, are invited to attend….Dave Payler invited those who assisted with the Kettles to attend the Salvation Army’s Christmas Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at the Citadel (380 Elm St.) this Thursday at 6 p.m….Pat Baker was winner of the 50/50 draw. Fine Master Ken Ferguson shared a story about Rotary’s involvement in a project in Sydney Cove, Australia that has raised $5 million over 22 years.

 

HAPPY FINS- Donations of $5 to The Rotary Foundation – Annual Programs Fund – credited to the donor in celebration of 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.

 

Ron Somerville (2) – For “long suffering” Stew, who has been tireless in getting members to use the Club website; for Martin, for reinforcing what Stew has been saying.
Nancy Lovelock (1) – For DGE Martin’s presentation; she wishes she had this information two years ago.
Trish Shouldice (2) – Thanks to Martin and Mary for coming to today’s meeting; Stew’s birthday is later this week and she and he will be going on vacation.
Pat Martyn (1) – A hope for sunshine! The gray day has had a poor effect on the giving of happy fins today.

 

 

	ASAA	Greeter	Fine Master
Friday, January 27	Ron Somerville	Trudy Kanellis	Jennifer Babcock
Monday, January 30	No Meeting
Monday, February 6	Gerry Janssen	Bill Horn	Dave Payler
Monday, February 13	Stew Shouldice	Ron Somerville	Pat Baker
Monday, February 20	No Meeting (Family Day)
Monday, February 27	Ron Somerville	Ken Ferguson	Suzanne Ferguson