At its first meeting of the new year, the Rotary Club of St. Thomas took up where it left off at the end of the old one, adding to its strength and capacity by an increase in membership. Today, it was the turn of Gerald Vreman to be inducted into Rotary. Once again, President Nancy Lovelock did the honours in conducting the short ceremony, assisted by Gerald’s sponsor, Trudy Kanellis. Pins were exchanged between the two and good wishes of the Club proclaimed.

 

Gerald’s entry into Rotary and the Club could not have been timelier, as his professional expertise had already been called upon at a meeting of the Rotary Music Festival Committee and the Club Foundation Board last Wednesday. The 2017 Festival, somewhat reduced in number of participants, will be held on one day in the last week of February and will incorporate suggestions made by Gerald and others at the meeting; still other changes will come in 2018, all directed to generating more interest in the Festival.

 

As today’s meeting was a Club Assembly, Club Service Director Ron Somerville had more to report on than the Music Festival Committee (of which he is Chair). He noted that the new gold membership badges in evidence today had been ordered by Club Secretary Suzanne Ferguson. Ron urged members to leave copies of The Rotarian magazine at doctors’ and dentists’ offices, and to do make-ups at other Rotary clubs when travelling.

 

International Service Director Pat Martyn stated that a contribution had beenmade to the Rotary Avoidable Blindness Project by the December 15deadline. The Project supplies eyeglasses to people in Mexico who cannotafford them. Pat also mentioned that the Club would be making a donation tothe Back to School Project in the Philippines which provides an opportunity tostreet children, through education and mentoring, to live free of poverty.

 

Youth Director Trudy Kanellis brought us up to date on the always busy Interact Club. Recently the Interactors purchased items for Inn Out Of The Cold and now the nine Club members are hard at work planning for the joint meeting of the Interact, Rotaract and Rotary Clubs in March. Trudy has nearly completed the dictionary project, with only a very few Grade Three classrooms as yet unvisited. Public Relations/Media Director Malcolm Rust praised Trudy for the interview she gave to a reporter from The Weekly News in which she outlined the many activities in which the Rotary Club of St. Thomas had been involved in the past year. The article (“2016 marked a busy year for Rotarians”) appeared in the January 5 edition of the newspaper. A propos of one of last year’s noteworthy events, Malcolm advised members to keep the purple crocus they were given for World Polio Day since they are not being made any longer.

 

Community Service Director Dave Payler noted that donations had been made in the last six months to the Strong Kids program at the YMCA ($500); the Caring Cupboard ($500); the Salvation Army ($500); and to Christmas Care ($500). Although the Club Treasurer, Mike Moore, was not present today, Rotary Christmas Tour of Homes tickets sales were reported to have amounted to $26,000, up from last year. While accounting for the event is not complete, overall profit is said to be close to $30,000.

 

ON COURSE FOR ROTARY….President Nancy welcomed guests Past District Governor Al Hardy; Maggie Horn, wife of Bill; and Paul Jenkins, Executive Director of the St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital Foundation. PDG Al advised us of the Rotary Club of London South’s FORE Youth Draw. There are prizes available to holders of fifteen winning tickets from among the 400 being sold: rounds of golf for four, with carts, at local courses. Tickets are $20 each, with proceeds going to the London South Club’s youth projects. Contact Al at ahardy@odyssey.on.ca for more information.

 

WHEEE!!!….Paul Jenkins (seen at left with Harris Bear and President Nancy) brought news of the 2017 World Tubing Championships to 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 Finals take place at 7 p.m. on Sunday, with Fireworks following at 7:30 p.m. There is no admission charge for spectators. More info for participants and others can be found at www.theworlds.ca, and by contacting Paul at pjenkins@stegh.on.ca or calling 519-637-2030, X2247. With proceeds from last year’s championships, the first, a new special care nursery was created at the hospital. This year, Paul indicated that funds raised would go towards the purchase of a new CT scanner. The St. Thomas Rotary and Interact Clubs were on hand dispensing refreshments in 2016 and it is expected that they will do so in 2017.

 

At next week’s regular club meeting (Monday, January 16), Tracy Trainor from St. Thomas Family & Children’s Services will be guest speaker. Malcolm Rust announced that someone originally from St. Thomas but who was now living in Calgary and who had been a Rotary exchange student 32 years ago, would be at our meeting next week….On Monday, January 23, the Club will be addressed by District Governor Elect Martin Ward, who is to take as his subject, “The digital world of Rotary.” There will be no meeting on January 30. That’s because on the evening of Friday, January 27, we will be having our annual Tour of Homes Homeowner and Decorator Recognition Night at the Wayside. Things will get underway at 6:30 p.m. for a social time, with dinner at 7 p.m. Please let Trudy know if you are attending and if you are bringing guests. The cost will be $25 for each person attending. Program chair Trish Shouldice advised that in March, an officer from the OPP Canine Unit (accompanied by two dogs) would be coming to a meeting. Rrrfff!

 

 

 

 

THE SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY….Nick Kanellis (shown at left with Sergeant-at-Arms Ed Willson) was winner of today’s 50/50 draw. Nick very quickly turned his winnings over to his better half, Trudy. Thank you, Nick! Trudy acted as Fine Master for Brenda Merrifield who was unable to attend. Prior to the meeting, Brenda sent Trudy some suitable Fine Master’s questions from the January Rotary Canada magazine: “What is the main mission of Rotaplast International and what is the name of the Rotarian who works with them and wrote the article?” Answers: “The main mission is plastic surgery for cleft lips and palates (but they also do work on people who have burns) and the Rotarian who works with them and wrote the article is Ken Funk.” Brenda adds that “the volunteer surgeons perform 100 surgeries every two weeks.”

 

Pat Martyn reported that she had recently visited Doug Barrett, now 92 and living with daughter Libby on Drake Street in St. Thomas. Pat said how pleased Doug was to see her and that she would be willing to accompany anyone who would like to visit him. He would certainly like to see you. Doug’s wife, June, still resides in Lambeth. Doug was a former President and longstanding participant in Club activities until health problems stopped his continuing to do so….Club members were saddened to hear of the passing of Gaylord Stewart on January 4 at the age of 79. Gaylord became part of the St. Thomas Rotary Club in1984 and remained a good friend of Rotary after his resignation. Visitation will be held at Williams Funeral Home, 45 Elgin St., St. Thomas on Thursday, January 12 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A memorial service will be held on Friday January 13 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John's Anglican Church, 20 Flora Street, in St. Thomas. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. John's Anglican Church or the Canadian Cancer Society.

 

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.

 

 

Dave Payler (1) – Thank you to the Rotarians who helped with the Christmas Kettles. The Club’s ten volunteers were among the 320 who assisted the Salvation Army in meeting its target of $150,000 which will be used in meet needs in St. Thomas and surrounding area.
Ron Somerville (2) – To welcome Gerald to Rotary.
Malcolm Rust (1) – Welcome, Gerald. He will be a valuable member of the Club and the Music Festival Committee.
Trish Shouldice (2) – For two family birthdays.
Shanille (1) – To thank the Club for the gift it made to her, our Wayside server, at Christmas.
Nancy Lovelock (2) – Welcome, Gerald. How glad she is that the Rotary Music Festival will continue.
Bill Horn (4) – For granddaughter and sister-in-law birthdays; for a great Christmas enjoyed by Bill and Maggie.
Adriana Balderas (4) – For Andrew’s birthday; they went to Ottawa to get a visa for Marco Jr. who will be going to Austria in February (and returning in July); for the opportunity to visit friends they had not seen in 14 years.
Jennifer Babcock (1) – She is thankful it is her son’s first day back to school.
Trudy Kanellis (3) – Happy that Paul Jenkins is here today; welcome to Rotary, Gerald!; she is happy that Nick turned in his 50/50 winnings.

 

 

 

Photos: Pat Martyn & Trudy Kanellis

PEB