On the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Rooster, Club members could perhaps be forgiven for crowing about their good fortune in the choice of homeowners and decorators made in the 2016 Rotary Tour of Homes. President Nancy praised homeowners for their “graciousness, trust and generosity” in agreeing to have their lives “discombobulated” and decorators for their talent and creativity. Thank you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seen above are homeowners Randy and Michelle Small (left) with Tour Co- Chair Pat Martyn; homeowners Graham Smith and Christine Knightsmith (centre) with Pat; and Utje and Jen Thiessen (right) from Unique Creations who decorated the Smith home for the Tour. Pat remarked that the Wayside room we were gathered in was filled 100% with volunteers who had worked together to raise $30,000 for Rotary projects both local and global.

 

Unfortunately, not everyone was able to attend. Homeowners Margaret and Jack Vanderkooy were holidaying in Florida, while Ken Fox and Jacqueline and Jeanine Eitel from Berry-Hill (decorators of the Smith home) and Mary Ann Verberne and Rose Caris from McClennan Flowers (decorators of the Vanderkooy home) could not be with us. Decorators of trees at the Tour’s CASO Station location were recognized: Fellows Fernlea Flowers (Trina Fellows was present); Petals of Love; Jennings; Wind and Willow; Flower Fountain; and Spare Moments.

 

 

 

The Tour of Homes could not have been the success it was without the warm-hearted support of many sponsors. At left, Trudy Kanellis of the Wayside receives a gold certificate from President Nancy, while Melody McKinnon (centre) and Bill Horn, on behalf of the Horn Family, are given silver certificates by the President. Not present were Home Sponsor Primerica; Gold Sponsor Shoppers Drug Mart (Talbot St.); and Silver Sponsors Masco; Elgin Chrysler; Ferguson RV World; Sanders, Cline; Mike Moore – Sun Life Financial and Southwestern Tax Service; and Media Sponsors My FM 94.1 and Easy Listening 101.3 FM.

 

Members of the Tour of Homes Committee were invited to stand up and take a bow. Three of the four co-chairs were present: Pat Martyn, Nancy Lovelock, and Trudy Kanellis (the fourth, Trish Shouldice, was on vacation). Other Committee members included Faye Ferguson (publicity), Melody McKinnon (volunteers), Elaine Catchpole and Alma Roberts (music), Ed Willson (tickets), Ron Somerville and Bill Horn.

 

HAPPY TO BE HERE….In addition to homeowners and decorators, guests included: Maggie Horn, guest of Bill; Kathy Willson, guest of Ed; Faye Ferguson, guest of Ken; Tony Stacpoole, guest of Pat Baker; Melody McKinnon; Elaine Catchpole; Alma Roberts; and Ken and Judy Jacklin. My apologies if I have failed to mention anyone who ought to have been included.

 

On February 6, at our regular (12:15 p.m.) Club meeting, Bev Fellows from the Northside Neighbourhood Hub will be guest speaker. You will recall that President Nancy had previously announced that the Club had agreed to participate in a volunteer “Reading Buddies” program with children at the Hub. Following the Club meeting, there will be a Club Board meeting….Katie Payler from the YMCA will speak on February 13; there’s no meeting on February 20 (Family Day); and Gerry Janssen gives his classification talk on February 27….The 2017 World Tubing Championships will 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 Club will once again be food vendors, selling hot dogs and hot chocolate….There will be a Food Trailer meeting on Wednesday, February 8 at 7 p.m. at the Wayside. Everyone, not just Committee members, is invited to attend….There was no 50/50 draw, neither was there a Fine Master, nor were there Happy Fins.

 

MAY WE NOW PRESENT…Ken Jacklin (seen at left) has performed many times at the Rotary Music Festival. Tonight, he was pleased to sing, in costume, some “nostalgia songs.” His first was “The Auctioneer,” made famous by Leroy Van Dyke. Ken deserves the highest accolades for his flawless delivery of the song’s rapid-fire auctioneer patter. His other five numbers were likewise well received by an appreciative audience. Ken’s performance, as Elaine Catchpole explained in introducing him, was a preview of the Club’s next big venture, the Rotary Music Festival, scheduled this year for Wednesday, February 22. The Festival’s evening of awards and scholarship presentations will take place at the Salvation Army on Friday, February 24.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE YEAR OF THE ROOSTER…”Rooster is almost the epitome of fidelity and punctuality….People born in the Year of the Rooster are honest, bright, communicative and ambitious. Most of them are born pretty or handsome and prefer to dress up. In daily life, they seldom rely on others….Strengths: independent, capable, warm-hearted, self-respect, quick minded. Weaknesses: impatient, critical, eccentric, narrow-minded, selfish.” Years of the Rooster include 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993 & 2005. (www.travelchinaguide.com)

 

 

	ASAA	Greeter	Fine Master
Monday, February 6	Gerry Janssen	Bill Horn	Dave Payler
Monday, February 13	Stew Shouldice	Ron Somerville	Pat Baker
Monday, February 20	No Meeting (Family Day)
Monday, February 27	Ron Somerville	Ken Ferguson	Suzanne Ferguson