Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Bea Osome on Projects in Africa.
Introduction: Don Butler Thanks: May Di Loreto
Greeters: Warren Creighton / Fred Sirotek Grace: Jean Bégin
Reception: Jake Maarse PP Draw: Graeme Fraser Spinoff: Gaye Moffett
Eager to get to work as President, Ken Murray was one of the earliest to arrive. Jennifer Ahde greeted us while Don Butler received our visitors and Andrew Young sold tickets for the Past President’s Draw. We sang O Canada then those mischief-making meeting gremlins had their fun: using an outdated duty list Ken called up the grace-sayer and finding him to be absent said grace himself, after which Dave Morton came forward and said the grace that he had prepared.
Our Guests: Don Butler introduced the following guests whom we welcomed in song: Angela Kelly of RC Ottawa, Andrew Bowen of RC Montreal-Lakeshore and Susan Olmstead, a prospective member and guest of Gaye Moffett.
Announcements:
· Alan Bowles read aloud a brief email message of thanks from recent $1,000 Cash Calendar winner Jasmine Williams.
· Peter Fisher thanked Mary Wattie, Jean Bégin, Fred Christie, Gaye Moffett, Art Saper and Mark Sherboneau for presenting Four-Way Test Awards in local schools. The six winners will attend the Sept. 25th Club meeting.
· Linda Flynn presented the Past Presidents’ commemorative block to Graeme Fraser whose name had been inscribed recently, assisted by Russ Hicks and Doug Heyland.
Past Presidents Draw: Andrew Young had walked for forty minutes in the 30ºC heat to the meeting that morning with a backpack containing two prizes of chocolate truffles packaged with an ice pack. He presented them to winners Anto Akcakiryan and Fred Sirotek.
Our Speaker: President Ken Murray used a PowerPoint presentation to give us highlights from the results of his President-Elect’s survey as well as his take on the upcoming Rotary Year. The Rotary theme is “Peace Through Service”. Ken asked how our Club can continue its successes, suggesting four key points: to build on our history, to find new projects, to recruit forward-thinking new members and to adapt to technology. In the survey members identified the following three priorities as being most important: new members, sharing the workload and public awareness. Other member concerns that Ken plans to address include: requesting attention to speakers and announcements, reducing the numbers of pledge sheets that circulate, holding at least four Club assemblies, reporting on Board decisions on expenditures, running training sessions about the Club website, finding experienced members to take on leadership of the Mums fundraiser and promoting corporate memberships. His goals for this year are: having fun, seeing the benefits of our time and efforts, raising money for worthwhile projects and making friends with similar goals and personal growth.
Club Dues and Assessments: Ken concluded his presentation by announcing that his Board had approved a $10 increase in membership dues in response to a District levy to help pay for an International Rotaract Conference in 2014. He added that the Board had agreed to absorb an additional $3/member levy for increased District administrative costs. Ken then invited discussion. First up was Alan Bowles who objected to the $10 increase on the grounds that such costs fall within the scope of the Community Service Fund. Dave Morton countered that he could see the Community Service Committee funding someone to attend the conference but not to help stage the conference itself. Linda Flynn added that the proposed $10 increase was similar to the recent three-year $10/member levy (now ended) for the Montreal RI convention. Others asked for more detail about the $3 increase and expressed concern that temporary increases might become permanent. Joe Wattie pointed out that in addition to the $3/member District levy, RI is assessing $1/member to cover its administrative costs. Ken Sparks requested we move on.
Happy Dollars: Jack Sawyer carried around the microphone.
· Three members spoke of their attendance at the 30th anniversary celebration of the Rotary Home: Merv Letts saw that the new splash pad was well-used; Bea Osome liked the opening of Rotary Way, the name of the short road leading to the Home; and Mary Wattie thought that we might have had the best attendance there of any Rotary club.
· John Kersley had a good time with his children.
· Merv Letts met Rotarians at Salt Spring Island.
· On behalf of Claire Larabie of RC Kemptville, Brett Brooking solicited photos of a recent event. See Brett.
· Bud McGinnis remarked that President Ken was not wearing a tie even though he had led the charge to rectify a similar wardrobe malfunction during PP Andrew Young’s year.
· On behalf of Linas Pilypaitis, Richard Herring announced that his (Linas’) daughter had been named best player in a match that saw her team win a berth at the London Olympics.
· Jack Sawyer has an electric wheelchair available – free. See Jack.
· Graeme Fraser thought we had done exceptionally well in PR during the past Rotary year.
In closing the meeting President Ken gave us this thought: I am hoping you will all work hard to make me look good!
Here are the winners of the Cash Calendar draws for the week of June 26 – July 2, 2012
2775 $50 Stewart Wetter, Ottawa
4145 $25 Phyllis Desnoyers, Metcalfe
1777 $125 Scott Cochrane, Winnipeg, MB
0893 $50 Angela & Patrick Kelly, Ottawa
0234 $25 Mary Dillabaugh, Almonte
1508 $50 Maarouf Arabi, Orleans
2217 $25 Steve Wallace, Kemptville
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Heather Moxley, Nutritionist
“Super Foods to Keep You Young and Healthy”
Greeters: Bea Osome / Mike Traub Grace: Jen Bosworth
Reception: Alf Bhanji PP Draw: Doug Rowlands Spinoff: Bud McGinnis
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Susan Diening - Classification Talk
Intro: Jack Troughton Thanks: Dougie Pritchard
Greeters: Stu Picozzi / Merv Letts Grace: Fred Christie
Reception: Peter Gilman PP Draw: Ron Scott Spinoff: Rod Holmes