Speaker: Adrian Williams Poppy Chair of - Lord Elgin, Branch 41 Royal Canadian Legion
Anyone can become a member; he has associate membership because his family served.
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Taken from poetryfoundation.org .
Moina Michael of the USA conceived the idea of using the poppy in remembrance of soldiers who died in WW 1. The poppy flourished on the battleground because of the soil conditions cause by war (this sentence taken from internet). Madame Anna Guérin of France was the first to create poppies made of cloth to raise funds to rebuild France after WW1. Today, funds from the poppy drive go to rent, food, and medical support for veterans. The Legion bar is the centre of social activities; anyone is welcome. President Barbara is a member of the Aylmer Legion.
Announcements
Nancy presented the notice “World Polio Day Proclamation” as distributed by the City of St Thomas. See photo.
Tidbit from District Zone Rep Gerry; there is a Royal Canadian Legion in Netherlands and his dad wrote a book about the evacuation of his village during WW2.
Bill will be away for the Reverse Christmas Parade, so someone else will need to cooperate with Sandy Westaway of RCRC.
Nancy and Gerry will be part of the District Policies review.
District President for 2024-25 will be Catharine Hahn, Stratford, who spoke to us re Polio Plus.
Christmas Party will be 15Dec21, 5:30 pm at the Wayside. Please let Trudy know of your plan to attend. You will hear the story of St Nicholas and share other stories of Christmas.
Malcolm got an official receipt for the clubs contribution the Hospice of Elgin. He will follow up on plans to name the community room for the Rotary Clubs.
Members signed up for the Horton Christmas Market.
Nancy won the 50/50 draw.
Happy Finns:
Mark – Thanked Gerry and Trudy for their fundraising at the Horton Market, thanked Speaker Adrian
Catharine – photo of Vimey Ridge memorial with poppies. Flanders Fields. Son Don Medic with Canadian forces. Thanked Trudy for fundraising.
Nancy – Thanked speaker Adrian, Church Bazar, 50/50
Ron – the COVID volunteer vaccination support staff are being reactivated. Thankful for not arthritis pain. Going back to work at his son’s property Pt Stanley.
Barb – speaker Adrian,
Pat – speaker Adrian and the Canadian Legion
Gerry – remembered Vimey Ridge.
Fine Master Catherine terrorized the club for the first time in a couple of years; she got no one for failing to have a poppy. She asked about Prostate cancer and date for Giving Tues from latest Rotary Magazine. No one got the answer so all were fined.
Next week the club meets for the Annual meeting of the Rotary Club Foundation at the Wayside.
