Karen Vecchio was elected as Conservative Member of Parliament for the riding of Elgin-Middlesex- London last October 19, and since that time the rookie MP has devoted herself with voracious energy to carrying out and learning all she can about her Parliamentary responsibilities, and to serving the needs of her constituents both at home and in Ottawa.
Karen is in the Conservative Party’s shadow cabinet as official opposition critic for Family, Children and Social Development. She is also a member of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women. But she does much more.
After being introduced by her aunt, Pat Martyn, Karen described in a rapid-fire delivery the flurry of meetings and activities that occupy her in a typical week. Included among much else were meetings with the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and World Vision and attendance at the local St. George’s Day dinner. This week, on Wednesday, April 27, from 7-9 p.m. at the CASO Station, she will be hosting a town hall meeting on Bill C-14, the proposed legislation on Physician Assisted Dying. The legislation was introduced last Friday and must be passed by June 6. Debate in the next few weeks will focus on ensuring that all necessary safeguards are in place.
The popular, outgoing new MP is making friends everywhere, even among those not in her party. The media calls on her frequently to take part in that great Canadian institution, the panel discussion, and she is unfazed when discussion topics are changed at the last moment. She is willing to jump in to learn whatever she can to serve her constituents better. Knowing little of hunting and angling, she joined a Hunting & Angling Committee and became its vice-chair! What’s more, she’s learning French which may become a challenge for husband Mike who now writes her speeches to ensure there are enough “Karenisms” to make them sound as natural as she is. Whatever she’s doing, it’s working wonderfully well.
TOUR OF HOMES DINNER A GREAT SUCCESS
The annual Tour of Homes Dinner provides the Club with an opportunity to thank the homeowners and decorators who do so much to make the Tour the success it is. At Friday’s Dinner, Tour Chair Bill Horn observed that the Tour would certainly not be possible without the willingness of homeowners to lend their homes to the three-day event and the skills and talents of decorators who make the houses “look really special.” Pat Martyn, in charge of coordinating the decorators, echoed Bill’s comments in noting the countless hours and resources they devote to their labours. All the homes were equally well appreciated by Tour goers. With fine weather every day and funds raised above expectations, the 2015 Tour had to be accounted among the best ever.
At the Dinner, homeowners (seen in pictures above) were each presented with a framed photograph of their home (the photos, we might add, were taken by Bill Horn). They were: Patricia Cechovsky; Peter & Catherine Vanderwyst; Stephanie Coleman & John Dias; and Pamela Thompson. Sean and Tanya Dyke were unable to attend. Decorators (seen in the first two pictures below) each received a plaque displaying the front cover of the Tour of Homes program. On hand to receive the awards were representatives from Heritage Garden Gallery and Berry Hill Sales (Ken & Cathy). Unable to attend were Vanessa Hicks (London), McLennan’s (Lambeth), and Unique Creations (Springfield Road in Avon).
A new feature of the evening’s program was the appearance of Justin Maki, a talented singer-guitarist (seen below right) who performed three numbers. Elaine Catchpole arranged this entertainment, just as she arranged musicians for the Tour. She and husband Roger were among the evening’s guests, as was her cohort, Alma Roberts, and Melody McKinnon, who arranged for Tour volunteers. Other guests included Tony Stacpoole, Kathy Willson, Maggie Horn, George Martyn, Donna Rust, Faye Ferguson and Paul Lovelock.
THREE DEATHS
A moment of silence was observed at the start of the Club’s April 25 meeting to note the passing of three people whose lives touched members of the Rotary Club of St. Thomas: Dani Cimera, Ray Broadbent, and Bill Cline.
Daniela (Dani) Cimera was the Club’s inbound 2008-2009 Rotary Youth Exchange student. She was in a restaurant with friends on April 16 in her home country of Ecuador when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck and claimed her life. She was 24.
While she was here, Dani was a student at St. Joe’s and stayed first with Nicole Hilliard and her family in West Lorne, then with the Randy Liebregts family which included daughter Tovah. Both Nicole and Tovah kept in touch with Dani. YEO Pat Martyn, who became close to her, remembers Dani joining the West Lorne and St. Joe’s soccer teams and striving to learn English. A shelter box will be donated in her memory.
Ray Broadbent passed away on April 19 at the age of 81. Ray was a long-time member of the St. Thomas Rotary Club, becoming its President in 1991. Most notably, he and wife Shirley chaired the Rotary Music Festival for over twenty years for which he received Paul Harris Fellowship recognition twice, a City of St. Thomas Volunteer Appreciation Award, and the sincere thanks of his Club. Many will remember visiting the garden of Ray and Shirley for summer meetings of the Club. Ray was a teacher of auto mechanics for many years at two St. Thomas high schools and served his church with devotion.. Visitation will be at the Shaun Jackson Funeral Home on Friday, April 29 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A celebration of Ray’s life will take place on Saturday, April 30 at 2 p.m. at Central United Church.
Bill Cline passed away on April 11 at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre. He was the husband of Suzanne Ferguson’s cousin. Bill was President of the St. Thomas Rotary Club in 1987 and a Paul Harris Fellow. From his obituary we learn that “Bill was the former Executive Director of W.O.T.C.H. (now known as CMHA Middlesex) and a pioneer in the development of community-based crisis services in the London area and was one of the founding members of the Ontario Federation of Mental Health and Addiction Services.” A celebration of his life will be held May 1 at 1 p.m. at the Golden Beach Resort in Roseneath.
OBITER DICTA….At the April 25 meeting of the Club, President Nancy welcomed guest speaker Karen Vecchio and her husband, Mike; Maggie Horn (wife of Bill); Marco Jr., son of Adriana Balderas; Marco is off to Norway tomorrow for a few days; John Sanders, guest of Suzanne Ferguson; and new members, Brenda Merrifield and Davey Moffatt….Next week’s meeting (May 2) will be a Club Assembly, during which it is expected that one, two or three new members of the Club will be inducted into Rotary. A Board meeting will follow. The focus of the May 9 meeting is as yet undecided, while the May 16 meeting will see the presentation of Service Above Self awards to four St. Thomas high school students.
The next Rotary Leadership Institute seminars are to be held at King’s College (266 Epworth Avenue) in London, Ontario on Saturday, May 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Pre-register with Al Hardy at al@allanhardy.ca, specifying whether it is Part I, II or III you will be attending. Deadline is April 29. It’s an “amazing” way to learn about Rotary, whether you are new or old to Rotary, and, even better, the Club will pay your registration fee. Please advise President Nancy.
The Railway City Rotary Club Fish Fry takes place on May 7. Tickets available online or from RCRC members…. President Nancy was winner of the 50-50 draw. Fine Master Stew Shouldice found some interesting examples of Rotary in action worldwide in the April issue of The Rotarian magazine. In one example, the Rotary Club of Namur, Belgium, picks organic apples at a local orchard, presses the apples into juice, and sells it for 3 Euros a bottle. The money raised is used to help pay for clowns to entertain seriously ill children in hospitals. Stew fined himself for not setting up the Club’s website to receive registrations for Friday’s TOH dinner.
Trudy Kanellis (5) – She was in Boston last week and attended an anniversary party; pleased to have two new members of the Club here today; for the Tour of Homes dinner last Friday evening; happy to have MP Karen Vecchio speak to us today; on the weekend, she served Lord Bruce who was especially pleased to receive a massage from Trudy.
Pat Martyn (5) – For the well-attended Tour of Homes dinner last Friday; for Ron Somerville and his leadership of the Rotary Music Festival (the Keynotes Concert was wonderful); for the new members of the Club; for Karen’s talk at the Club today (how quickly she speaks!); in memory of Dani Cimera.
Ron Somerville (3) – Another son had a birthday this month; for the three new members of the Club (Brenda, Dave and Davey); for Ray Broadbent and his service to the community, through Rotary and outside of Rotary.
John Sanders (1) – For Bill Cline, who found himself part of a community when he came to live in St. Thomas, and for his work on behalf of people with mental health issues.
Malcolm Rust (2) – For the two new members, Davey and Brenda, here today.
Nancy Lovelock (3) – She had a birthday last week; for Karen’s visit to the Club; for winning the 50/50.
David Payler (2) – His oldest grandson is 26; for Karen’s visit to the Club today.
Davey Moffatt (2) – He had a birthday as well; he’s happy to be here and a member of the Club.
Brenda Merrifield (2) – She is proud to be part of the St. Thomas Rotary Club; her husband was recently treated in Las Vegas and is now pain free.
Adriana Balderas (1) – Marco Jr.’s colourblindness was happily ameliorated with the recent purchase of special sunglasses which brought every colour clearly into view.
Monday, May 2 – Club Assembly/New Member Induction(s)/Board Meeting
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