WHODUNIT?  
The Interact Club, at the Wayside,  with ingenuity and hard work    
      Interactors, Rotaractors and Trudy                
  The St. Thomas Interact Club never ceases to amaze us with all that they acccomplish while having great fun.  Monday’s joint meeting of Rotary, Rotaract and Interact Clubs provided another example of the Interactors’ prowess as they staged a clever murder mystery which succeeded in stumping all would-be puzzle solvers.   
But this was just one triumph in a string of successes, as Interact President Selena Kennedy and five other members made clear in their outline of Club activities in the past year (two members were absent).  Highlights included collecting more than two hundred pounds of food for Inn Out of the Cold in the Hallowe’en for Hunger campaign; Christmas window painting at the Salvation Army (a fundraiser); taking part in a car wash (another fundraiser); donating teddy bears to the Women’s Shelter and $150 to the Western Rotaract Club’s World Health Symposium; and attending the Seminar for Tomorrow’s Leaders.  At the Home Show coming up on April 1, 2 and 3, they will sell teddy bears and items that they have made from decommissioned fire hose.  Interactors are full of heartfelt thanks for their inspiriting Rotary advisor, Trudy Kanellis.   
Rotaract Club advisor, Linna Nguyen, from the London Rotary Club, introduced three members of the Fanshawe College Rotaract Club, one of whom expressed the wish to partner with the Interact Club in future projects.  The Fanshawe Rotaractors have been active in their own right; they have about 25 members in all and meet Tuesdays at 6 p.m. Their events can be seen on their Facebook page.   
Just wait till the Interactors get into Rotaract!

 

SPRINGING FORWARD….President Nancy welcomed a great many guests, led by Assistant Governor Sue Storie and her husband, Rick; District Governor-Elect Diane Chantler and her husband, Bill; and Past District Governor Doug Burnard.  Guests of St. Thomas Rotary Club members included Kathy Willson (guest of Ed), Faye Ferguson (guest of Ken), and Don Ferguson (guest of Suzanne).  Visiting Rotarians were Barb and Bob Warnock (Aylmer); Michelle Foote (London); Jennifer Roy (London South), District Vocational Services Chair, with Liam Martyn (no relation to Pat), a London Interactor; and Linna Nguyen (London), Advisor to the Fanshawe Rotaract Club.  There were several other guests, including six members of the St. Thomas Interact Club and three members of the Fanshawe College Rotaract Club.  My apologies if anyone has been forgotten.  
There is no meeting March 28 (Easter Monday), but on April 4, there will be a Club Assembly (followed by a Board Meeting).  Looking ahead to April 25, MP Karen Vecchio is guest speaker: another opportunity to bring guests to a Rotary meeting….The Music Festival`s wrap-up event, the Keynotes Concert and Awards Night, takes place at the Salvation Army Citadel on Friday, April 8 at 7 p.m….A Tour of Homes Recognition Dinner (to honour home owners and decorators) takes place at the Wayside on the evening of Friday, April 22.     Moved by Nancy Lovelock and seconded by Trudy Kanellis that The Rotary Club of St. Thomas agrees to move forward with the use of the Mobile Food Service Trailer for the summer of 2016 for three events: A Rotary event at Fergusons' RV World, the Seniors' Picnic at Pinafore Park and the "Thomas the Tank" event.  CARRIED  
Total Team Training (taking the place of the District Assembly) will take place on Saturday, April 2 at the Holiday Day in Sarnia.  President Nancy and Trish Shouldice will be there for PETS but, if you would like to attend, get registered ASAP and let President Nancy know…. The Interact Club will be at the Home Show on April 1, 2 & 3.  A Rotary Club presence is encouraged.  Contact Trudy if you would like to help…. The Interact Club was winner of the 50-50 draw.  Fine Master Nancy noted that Tuesday (March 22) is World Water Awareness Day.  Boiling water is prevalent in many parts of the world and at times not unknown in Canada.   
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 Darwin Lowe, a member of the club.  
Dave Payler (2) – Since 2002, he has seen an amazing number of Interactors and Rotaractors at these events; to thank Trudy and all she does, a great Rotarian and a great friend.   Nancy Lovelock (2) – For Trudy and the Interactors; for the speedy recovery of the “corpse.”   Ron Somerville (1) – Thanks to everyone for being here, and a special thanks to non-Rotarians who contributed when fines were collected.   Nicholas (1) – On behalf of the Interact Club, he would like to thank Trudy, his fellow Interactors and everyone else for being here tonight.    Sooraj (3) – On behalf of the Rotaract Club, he would like to say how glad they are to be here tonight.    Malcolm Rust (1) – He was pleased to have had an opportunity to learn about Rotaract at Fanshawe College.   Trish Shouldice (2) – For the Interactors, an amazing group of people; she is glad to be among them tonight.   Ed Willson (1) – In memory of Wayne McKinnon who got the Interact Club started in St. Thomas. Trudy Kanellis (5) – To thank Nancy, who helped with the Interact Club when she (Trudy) was away; to thank the “corpse”; happy to have the Rotaractors and Interactors from London here; for all her “kids,” the St. Thomas Interact Club.