Trudy Kanellis - My Rotary Experience. Feb 9, 2022
It all started about Sept 1999. Jeff Yurek called the restaurant looking for someone to cater to Rotary Lunches on Monday's.
Nick asked me if it was something we would like to commit to, catering lunch every week. I said sure we can try it to see how it goes.
I was the main person working the lunches each week. I enjoyed the members and even learned the Rotary song.
Tom Brown asked me if I was interested in becoming a member since I was already attending the meetings each week and I was singing along with them.
I mentioned that I would not be able to do weekends because we had caterings then. He said just give the time you can.
My first meeting was at Ray and Shirley Broadbents house, in their backyard, on July 25, 2002. I have had pretty much perfect attendance ever since. If I missed a meeting, I would make sure to make it up in one way or another.
My first mentor was Lee Smith. I had only been in Rotary for a few months and I was asked to be on the board to become the Club Service director. They said this was an easy task you just had to help with the Christmas party and the summer change over. I could do that I said.
So the first Christmas party was at the golf course. I went out and bought treats for everyone for the tables, all out of my own pocket. I was told I didn’t have to do that, I said that’s ok its fun to give treats to everyone. Each year after that while I was club service we always had treats at the Christmas party.
2 years into Rotary I was asked to help out with the Interators. Well that was a perfect fit for me.
Wayne and I became great friends.
We would have lots of fun with the Interactors, we raised funds through car washes and window painting, then we would donate it back into the community, teddy bears for the women’s shelter, food for the caring cupboard, wherever we saw a need,
One lunch when I was picking up some of the kids from school, I asked them if they had lunch yet they said no they didn’t have time. So I took them all to Tim Hortons and told them to order whatever they wanted. One of them said but I didn’t bring any money. I told them it was on me, the only thing I asked of them was to pay it forward someday, didn’t have to be today or tomorrow, just in some way pay it forward, years later they tell me they never forgot that.
Fun nights going bowling, end of year parties at Wayne’s house with a BBQ, once they changed to my house they became sleep overs.
We did some interesting projects in my basement, We recycled old fire hose and made it into items we could sell, we made small change purses belts, coasters, dog toys. The biggest project we did with the fire hose was make coasters for all of Don Crocker’s guests at his retirement dinner. Don’s son Chris was our first Vice President of Interact we when first started in Feb of 2000.
We attended the hockey game in London, we helped out with water stations for the railway city Road races, we held joint meetings, The interactors have received the presidential citation a couple of times. We had lots of fun times at the Home and Garden show promoting Rotary and selling pony pooping bingo tickets.
While waiting for the ponies to do their jobs, we played games, some slept, we soon learned that if we get their first thing in the morning it is much quicker than waiting for them to do their job a second time the longest it took was 8 hours, I did get a good sun tan that day.
We were invited to go to London because we raised $8500.00 for the Children’s Hospital in the pledge the London Clubs made. We made that from 2 pony pooping bingo years. District 6330 raised $502,496.22
We were invited later for a tour of the Hospital.
My hardest part in Interact was when Melody called me to let me know Wayne was sick. She said he asked to see 2 Rotarians, Malcolm and myself, I could totally understand Malcolm but was shocked he wanted to see me. He told me that night he was ok with dying because he lived a good life. I told him I was not Ok with him dying because I was going to miss him.
I visited him every day after that until he passed. I think the hardest part of Wayne’s death was him asking me to read the eulogy I was going to say about him at his funeral. Once I read it to him, he told me it was too nice and I couldn’t say those things, I said to him jokingly, well sorry I am saying them anyway and you won’t be here to stop me. He laughed in that deep laugh on Wayne had.
I did not think Interact would be the same without Wayne, I thought the kids only came because of him. I was totally shocked when some of them came back from college to visit me, some invited me to their weddings. They even wrote me a poem,
Words cannot describe the gratitude we have for you Trudy, for the time you give, and your heart that craves. A women so kind, and a woman so brave. The hearts that you have touched and the love you have shared are only the start of how much you have cared. For all that you have given stretches farther than you have driven. It’s inspiring how much help to the community you’ve given. It would be a lie to say you haven’t made us better people. Guiding us through life, a battle that can be a steep hill. So we all hope you know how loved you are. Bringing great joy and laughter to this wonderful coterie, without you this club wouldn’t be to par, and there is no way we would be able to run the St. Thomas Interact.
Beside Interact I have been president of the club twice, once in 2006-2007, and 2008-2009, I have received many Paul Harris Fellows, and I am now a major donor. I have continued to stay on the board and became the President of the foundation on May 12 2014. During my second year as president we started to have Presidential dinners. I love the bag pipes so we had the head table piped in for the dinner. I presented my mom with a Paul Harris Fellow.
I started the dictionary project in our club in the 2010-2011 year, We donated 103 dictionaries that year to 4 schools, in Our last year of dictionaries in 2018-2019 we donated 561 to 13 schools. We used to do 15 schools and over 600, but a couple of the schools did not want them. Most of the schools were calling me each year asking when I was coming back.
Over the years I have helped out with many projects, selling teddy bears at the restaurant. Helping with the music festival, helping with the Tour of Homes, I was “Vanna” for many years, for the auction items.
The best tour of homes dinner was when I presented Jo-Anne with her own set of Bossy Boots. We always called her Bossy boots, I was able to find a pair of White boots and I had all the Rotarians, write a little something on them for her. When I called her up to present them to her, I had the song playing in the background, these boots were made for walking.
I went to Chicago with Ron, Wayne and Jo-Anne for the Rotary Convention. Been to many Rotary Conferences. My second term as president we received the presidential citation.
Received a volunteer award along with a few other Rotarians.
Attended the gala night in London, when they unveiled the Rotary Clock
Attended the hospital open house and signed the beam for the club
Helped arrange all the emergency service personnel for the Polio Days
Arranged for a tour of the fire hall.
Helped out at the food trailer
Helped out at the world tubing Championships.
The main thing I like to do is have fun.
Wherever I go I try to find Rotary, the airport in Vegas, My recent holiday in Panama, Greece.
But I would not be able to do all that I do without my husband Nick. He is definitely my rock and I cannot thank him enough for all the support he has given me over the years.
Announcements:
President Barbara has a request from District Governor Elect, Mike Chaffe, of Flint Michigan to forward the name of our President for next year. Some clubs have a protocol for preparing members for taking on the Presidents role.
The Board will meet 22Feb22 at 7pm.
Next week: Speaker is Dan Logie, Elgin Director, CMHA
Rotary Learning Institute RLI PART 11 ONLY
Monday evenings – March 14th and March 21st, 2022
6:30pm to 9:30 pm
ON LINE – BY ZOOM Contact Helen Campbell or Diane Chantler
Malcolm reported on the Event on Discrimination held evening 8Feb22, see link then study it so we are prepared for meeting in 2 weeks with Petrusia Hontar: UWO Study re Discrimination
Barbara quizzed us about Rotary because she is the Fine Master. Who was first President of Rotary? Sylvester Shiel (nominated by Paul Harris). When did the mandate move from Business reciprocity and fun/fellowship move to include a mandate to do Civic Service? 3years after first meeting 1905? 3 years later. When did Rotary start publishing a Rotarian magazine to all clubs and what was the cost? 1911 with $25. What is the furthest a Rotary Banner has travelled? Apollo 8 carried a banner around the moon. What is the furthest a Rotary pin has travelled? Buz Aldrin left a pin on the moon during Apollo 11 mission.
Happy Finns
Malcolm Trudy’s inspirational presentation, Also to Nick for his support on behalf of Wayside Dining Lounge
Stew - Trudy’s inspirational presentation
Barb - Trudy’s inspirational presentation, She and Bob had friends over for dinner for first time in a long time, Bob can go back to the YMCA
Pat Martyn – 5 yr bday grandson, bday daughter, YMCA open, Nancy lead a workout, Trudy’s inspirational presentation
Connie - Trudy’s inspirational presentation, bday, family came from Owen Sound
Trudy – payed tribute to all of us, she joined because of the people, yesterday She and her friends won a curling game
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