HOME STRETCH Club Enters Fourth Quarter Well Ahead President Nancy Lovelock Today’s Club Assembly provided St. Thomas members with an opportunity to celebrate achievements made to date, to shine a light on what remains to be done in the last three months of the current Rotary year, and to look ahead to 2016-17. As far as this year is concerned, the Club is not only upto-date, it is even well ahead of pace in a number of key areas. President Nancy advised the Club that President’s Citations had been confidently submitted for both the Rotary and Interact Clubs, as had goals for next year. The latter was a requirement before she and Trish Shouldice could leave PETS on the weekend; the two will be Co-Presidents in the new Rotary Year. 2017 will mark the 100th anniversary of the Rotary Foundation and World Polio Day will be a big part of the celebration. Treasurer Mike Moore remarked that revenue was currently $4600 above what had been targeted for the year. Youth Director Trudy Kanellis said that increased ticket sales on the Big Bear raffle at last weekend’s Home Show, combined with some donations, would mean that the Interact Club would be able to donated $1000 to the Women’s Shelter. Three students will be attending the Seminar for Tomorrow’s Leaders and one the Adventure in Citizenship program in Ottawa. Thanks are due to Stew Shouldice, with help from Secretary Suzanne Ferguson, for getting information about the Club’s executive into ClubRunner; St. Thomas is one of few clubs in the District to do so. Club Service Director Ron Somerville stated that the Food Trailer has been reactivated. It will be at RV World this Saturday (April 9) for cleaning and at an RV World event on April 15, 16 and 17 when French fries and drinks will be sold. RV World will pay for supplies and make a donation. Club members are encouraged to participate in both activities. APRIL SHOWTIME….President Nancy welcomed guests MP Karen Vecchio, Maggie Horn (wife of Bill) and Dave Moffatt and welcomed back after a few weeks’ absence Club members Mike Moore and Dave Rock. The application process required to get Maggie settled in Canada on a permanent basis has become snarled in red tape; her visitor’s visa expires in September and a return for several months to the US will follow, a home stretch of a different kind…There is no meeting next week (April 11), but on April 18, Liz Brown from the Women’s Shelter will be guest speaker, and the following week (April 25), MP Karen Vecchio will address the Club….The Music Festival`s wrap-up event, the Keynotes Concert and Awards Night, takes place this Friday (April 8) at the Salvation Army Citadel beginning at 7 p.m. There was Standing Room Only last year and Festival Chair Ron Somerville is encouraging Club members to make it another big audience this year….A Tour of Homes Recognition Dinner (to honour home owners and decorators) takes place at the Wayside on the evening of Friday, April 22. Cost per person is $20. Two meetings in the week of April 18 accounts for the cancellation of next week’s April 11 meeting….The Railway City Rotary Club Fish Fry takes place on May 7…. Malcolm Rust was winner of the 50-50 draw. Fine Master Adriana Balderas noted that while there has been an Interact Club in St. Thomas since 2002, Interact itself began forty years ago. 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. Pat Martyn (5) – For the great work done by the Interactors at the Home Show on the weekend; she hosted tenperson sleepover on the Easter weekend; for the Interactors’ mystery night at Rotary two weeks ago; she is in the forefront of the electronic age with a new computer and new high-speed Internet connection. Ron Somerville (2) – His youngest grandson is four today; a fireplace mantel at one of the Tour of Homes locations sustained some damage, but thanks to Ron’s serendipitously finding a suitable woodworker in Copenhagen (Ontario), a repair was effected that greatly pleased the homeowner. Nancy Lovelock (3) – For the joint meeting of the Rotary and Interact (and Rotaract) Clubs two weeks ago; for Trudy and the Interactors at the Home Show on the weekend; for PETS which she and Trish attended on the weekend: they had a great time among the 270 in attendance. Malcolm Rust (2) – For the dynamic leadership provided by Trudy to the Interact Club; for all the visitors to our meeting today. Trish Shouldice (1) – Granddaughter Milly was born on Saturday morning. Proud Grandma passed around a photo of the new arrival so everyone could see her. Ed Willson (1) – Milly is Ed and Kathy’s fifth great grandchild. Trudy Kanellis (2) – Thanks to the Interactors and the Rotarians who assisted them at the Home Show. Adriana Balderas (1) – For the Interactors at the Home Show – they are great ticket sellers! Bill Horn (2) – He and Maggie had a great Easter weekend in the States. ASAA Greeter Fine Mast