Four-Legged Comfort Brought to Many by Therapeutic Paws
 
Therapeutic Paws of Canada is a non-profit organization of over 600 volunteers who take dogs (most often) and cats to retirement and convalescent homes, hospitals and other places, to help residents overcome feelings of loneliness or to evoke happy memories of the past. Kathy Knott, Team Leader for London, St. Thomas and Elgin County, says that when the dogs’ footsteps approach on regular visits, residents’ eyes light up and smiles appear on their faces. A TPOC dog might stay in a patient’s room for 50 minutes. Some dogs visit special needs children; others lay on the feet of crime victims in court rooms to ground them.
 
Still others calm the stress of students at exam time and others can be found at airports calming passengers before they fly. All dogs in the program are assessed to ensure that they have the right temperament and instincts to be good therapy dogs, and all volunteers and team leaders are thoroughly trained and certified. Some dogs and cats in the program are non-allergenic. Donations help ensure, among other things, that animal vaccinations are kept up to date.
 
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.
 
Malcolm Rust (2) – To honour the memory a great lady, Sybil Hagerman, who passed away November 6, and to remember Dr. Stan Hagerman, a former member of the Club, who predeceased her in 2003; the “End Polio Now” shirts have been returned to London.
Bill Horn (2) – A memory of a time when Rotary gave a large donation to the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital, a facility to which Stan had brought much distinction; Bill’s daughter and her husband finally made it to Parry Sound.
Gerry Janssen (2) – Happy to have attended the Foundation Seminar last Saturday; best wishes for a successful Tour of Homes this weekend.
Trish Shouldice (1) – Happy to have Kathy with us today.
Ron Somerville (2) – It’s his daughter-in-law’s birthday; in honour of Stan and Sybil Hagerman. Stan was one of the best diagnosticians in Canada.
Pat Baker (2) – For Stan Hagerman, among much else a fine mentor for her son (also a doctor); and for Sybil, with whom she sang in the choir.
Trudy Kanellis (1) – For a great trip to Las Vegas, and an even better diagnosis for Nick when they extended their trip to include a visit to Boston for a second medical opinion.
Pat Martyn (2) – Thanks for the hard work of all those involved in the Tour of Homes, with more to come this weekend! She was happy to have become Stan Hagerman’s patient at age 21.
Stew Shouldice (1) –
 
A memorial service for Sybil Hagerman will be held at Knox Presbyterian Church on Saturday, November 11 at 3 p.m. Visitation will be held at Williams Funeral Home on Friday, November 10 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Donations may be made to the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital, Queen’s University or the charity of one’s choice.
 
Next week (November 15), there will be no meeting, 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. This meeting will be held in the barroom. 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 arrives this weekend, November 10 to 12, and Co-Chair Pat Martyn pronounces all in readiness. Co-Chair Trudy Kanellis stated that the value of the auction items is down about $1500 from last year, but some late entries Wednesday and Thursday might raise the number of items a little. Ed Willson reports that tickets are selling well at the outlets. He would like to receive money from tickets sold by Rotarians after the Tour.
 
Guests today were our guest speaker, Kathy Knott, from Therapeutic Paws, and Maggie Horn, wife of Bill. Welcome! President Trish noted that she and President-Elect Gerry Janssen had attended the District’s Foundation Seminar last Saturday and learned that District grants could be used for small projects as well as large. A “thank you” was received from Jennifer Moyes from the STEAM Centre (for the Club’s support of ten month-long student memberships), and from Liz Brown from the Women’s Shelter regarding Canada 150.
 
Pat Martyn was winner of the 50/50 draw, drawing her own ticket in time-honoured fashion, which, however, did not evade the notice of Sergeant-at-Arms Ed Willson who fined her an extra loonie for so doing. Fine Master Malcolm Rust had some questions for us regarding the Rotary Music Festival. Chair Gerald Vreman and committee are getting things ready for the 64th edition of the Festival in 2018 with new features including online registration and online fees payment. Festival scholarships are paid for through funds invested and prominent donations.
 
Wednesday, November 15 – No Meeting
Wednesday, November 22 – Student Service Above Self Awards
At the Wayside, 12:15 p.m.
 
 

ASAA

Greeter

Fine Master

Wednesday, November 15

Meeting Cancelled

Wednesday, November 22

Ron Somerville

Trudy Kanellis

Pat Martyn

Wednesday, November 29

Ron Somerville

Bill Horn

Nancy Lovelock

Wednesday, December 6

Gerry Janssen

Stew Shouldice

Malcolm Rust