“Frank would be proud,” said his daughter, Suzanne Ferguson, if he were to look today upon all that the Rotary and Interact Clubs of St. Thomas, aided by the generous support of volunteers, have accomplished. Frank Sanders was Charter President of the St. Thomas Rotary Club in 1950. Tuesday night was an opportunity for the Club to formally thank its great volunteers.
Volunteers help the Club enormously by contributing many selfless hours to events such as the Rotary Music Festival and the Rotary Tour of Homes, thereby ensuring their success. When events such as the Tour succeed, funds become available to support both global and community ventures such as the St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital’s “Great Expansion.” As Suzanne noted, not only do Club members thank Rotary volunteers, so do the children of St. Thomas and Elgin County who enjoy the Rotary Splash Pad and children in less developed parts of the world who can now enjoy clean drinking water.
Suzanne noted that Rotary’s organization could be likened to an inverted pyramid: ideas come from local Rotary clubs and their friends, many of them volunteers. Rotary has partnerships with many organizations, such as the United Nations, and can often multiply money donated to it and achieve greater results through these associations. One very good example would be the campaign to eradicate polio which is very near to achieving its goal. Big partners on the global stage, volunteers at the local level: both work with Rotary to be a gift to the world.
COMING, COMING, YES THEY ARE….The CASO Station’s Anderson Hall was filled with Rotarians, Interactors, guests and volunteers, too many to be recorded here individually, but all were given a warm welcome and heartfelt thank-you by President Nancy. Volunteers are essential to the success of Club projects.
On June 27, our regular 12 p.m. Club meeting at the Wayside is cancelled, since, on the evening of the same day (June 27), there is the District (6330) Governor Changeover Evening at the CASO Railway Station from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. (6-7 p.m., social). DG-Elect Diane Chantler was sponsored by the St. Thomas Rotary Club. The deadline for tickets was June 17; if you have questions or concerns, please contact Railway City Rotarian Helen Campbell at president@strcrc.org.... On July 4, we will meet at the Wayside at 12 noon for a regular Club meeting, but on July 11, we will be in the East Pavilion at Pinafore Park for the Changeover Meeting to install the new Club Board (5:30 p.m., social, for a 6 p.m. meeting start; price TBA). The Aylmer and Railway City Rotary Clubs have been invited. Both Nancy and President-Elect Trish Shouldice will be absent on July 4.
The draft 2016-17 Club Budget has been made available electronically to Club members for their approval. Please email President Nancy if you have questions or comments. The budget must be approved by the Club by June 29. If you are not heard from, it will be assumed that you approve…. Paul Nicli will be showing interested Club members the mechanics of the Food Trailer (what is needed for set-up, clean-up and the running of its systems) on Thursday, July 23 at 7 p.m. at RV World. Contact Trish at trishshouldice@gmail.com if you plan to attend…. United for Refugees will be conducting fundraising Charity BBQs at the Hepburn Parkette (next to the CIBC) on Talbot Street in St. Thomas from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday June 24, July 8, August 12 and 26…. There was no Fine Master or Happy Fins at the Volunteer Appreciation Evening.
Special recognition was given to Tour of Homes volunteers Kathy Willson, Elaine Catchpole, Alma Roberts, and Faye Ferguson (seen at left with President Nancy), and Melody McKinnon. Entertainment was provided by Everyday People, a barbershop quartet (centre) who paid a return visit to the Volunteer Appreciation Evening, and received the same enthusiastic audience response. And there was cake! And cookies! And fellowship!
Monday, June 27 – Regular Meeting Cancelled
(District Governor Changeover – June 27, 6-9 p.m., CASO Railway Station – By ticket)
Monday, July 4 – Regular Club Meeting
12:15 p.m. at the Wayside
ASAA
Greeter
Fine Master
Monday, June 27
Meeting Cancelled (in lieu of DG Changeover, 6-9 p.m., CASO Station)
“Frank would be proud,” said his daughter, Suzanne Ferguson, if he were to look today upon all that the Rotary and Interact Clubs of St. Thomas, aided by the generous support of volunteers, have accomplished. Frank Sanders was Charter President of the St. Thomas Rotary Club in 1950. Tuesday night was an opportunity for the Club to formally thank its great volunteers.
Volunteers help the Club enormously by contributing many selfless hours to events such as the Rotary Music Festival and the Rotary Tour of Homes, thereby ensuring their success. When events such as the Tour succeed, funds become available to support both global and community ventures such as the St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital’s “Great Expansion.” As Suzanne noted, not only do Club members thank Rotary volunteers, so do the children of St. Thomas and Elgin County who enjoy the Rotary Splash Pad and children in less developed parts of the world who can now enjoy clean drinking water.
