December 5, 2005 South Mouth

Reporter:  R. Morissette

OPENING THE MEETING

Call to Order: President Bob McKay
National Anthem: Greg McDonald 
Toast to Queen and Canada: Don Beard
Invocation: Ron Kozub

GUESTS AND VISITING ROTARIANS

Norris Brown advised that there are no guests or visiting Rotarians. President Bob noted that it is great to see Howie Vant back.   

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS

Doug Foss, serving as Sergeant-at-Arms, in jest fined:
John Tiebert, for enjoying John Chotka's company;
Ron Kozub, for commenting that someone had beat him to the pineapple in the lunch buffet;
Matt Taylor, for leaving his folder in lost and found.  

Doug Foss, serving as Sergeant-at-Arms, accepted Happy Dollars from:
John Klassen, happy that Bob McBride recovered from Laurier winning the national championship;
Andrew Bowles, happy that the Canadian University football season is over, which will allow Western to re-group, and happy to be back at Rotary after missing a meeting last week;
Ian Forbes, happy that he did a good job of some ceramic tile work at home on the weekend, but this was not as satisfying as beating Doug Foss in the recent curling bonspiel.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Ron Kozub announced that the club received a thank you letter from Miss Cassandra Nemcke, a Brock University student who received the Spencer William Scholarship Award, which the club has sponsored. Spencer William, now deceased, was a former club member. This award was started by the club in his honour.   

Greg McDonald announced that the next bingo session is Saturday, December 10th, 2005. John Tiebert, Norris and Patty Brown have volunteered.

President Bob announced the following:

The Hospice Gala wrap-up meeting is tonight (December 5th, 2005), 7:30 p.m. at the St. Catharines Golf and Country Club.   

The President's Christmas Celebration will take place on Friday, December 9, 2005 from 6-9 p.m. at the Port Dalhousie Yacht Club.  President Bob asked for a show of hands as to who will be attending, and it looks like it will be a good turn-out!

The planning meeting for the Diamond-studded Gala is Friday, December 9, 2005, 7:30 a.m. at the St. Catharines Golf and Country Club. The planning committee invites all former members and any new members who would like to participate.

There is a Board meeting on Friday, December 16, 2005, 7:30 a.m. at the St. Catharines Golf and Country Club. 

The Annual Rotary Family Christmas Party is Monday, December 19, 2005, 12 Noon, at the St. Catharines Golf & Country Club. Cost is $17.50 per adult, $9.00 for children under 12, and no charge for children under six. Price includes a hot turkey dinner buffet. Those interested in attending should email Elizabeth Spaan at spaane2@tdcanadatrust.ca and confirm the number of adults and children attending. Please bring a donation of non-perishable food for Community Care.  

Fireside Chats will be starting soon. Dates to be announced.

St. Catharines Inner Wheel Club is hosting a Starry Night Dinner Dance on Saturday, February 4, 2006 at 91 Lakeshore Road in St. Catharines. Tickets are $50. each. Proceeds to the Niagara Health System for breast cancer research and kidney dialysis. For tickets, contact Thelma 905-892-0896 or Patti 905-732-6975.
 
BIRTHDAYS

Rich Cavers birthday was acknowledged, although he could not be present. Happy Birthday, Rich!

50/50 DRAW

Howie Vant had the winning ticket and took home the wine.
 
EARLY LEAVERS

There were no early leavers. 

GUEST SPEAKER

The club had three special guest speakers today: Andrew Bowles, Peter Snodgrass, and Jim Hooper, who each gave an impromptu address on their backgrounds.   

Andrew Bowles:

Andrew was chosen as one of the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars for 2002-2003. He was involved with the Downtown Rotary Club at the time. He went to the University of Nottingham and studied for his Masters in International Relations. Andrew returned to St. Catharines in the fall of 2003 and was fortunate to find employment with the Regional Municipality of Niagara as Executive Assistant to Mr. Peter Partington, Regional Chair. Andrew's Ambassadorial Scholarship provided him with the opportunity to go abroad and to learn from different people and cultures. He feels this experience provided him with the tools needed to work in regional government and in Niagara, which is host to 15 million visitors annually and is very multi-cultural. In his role as Executive Assistant to the Regional Chair, Andrew is in charge of the Chairman's speaker notes, he provides policy guidance, oversees the office, interacts with the Regional Chair and senior managers, and liaises with different levels of government. He has a great many challenges. Andrew is presently working on the election campaign for November 2006. Andrew is thrilled to be a member of the Rotary Club of St. Catharines South and to have the opportunity to network with the community.

Peter Snodgrass:

Peter is a Diagnostic Radiologist, or a Diagnostic Imaging Specialist, which is the more current term. He currently works in a private clinic on Vine Street in St. Catharines. Peter was born and raised in New Zealand. He attended the University of Otaga Medical School in New Zealand and received his medical degree. His first year of work was at the Hamilton Civic Hospital, where he met his wife. They had an opportunity to travel to Europe for a year before they settled in Canada - within the Town of Grimsby - in a family practice. Peter continued his studies at McMaster University in Hamilton and became a Diagnostic Imaging Specialist. In his work, Peter interprets x-rays, ultra-sounds, and bone density, and he performs barium enemas. Peter noted that Diagnostic Imaging is advancing tremendously. At the moment, Peter is semi-retired and living in Brantford. He would like to relocate to this area. He has three lovely daughters.     

Jim Hooper:

Jim explained that his interest in Rotary began with his father who is a Rotarian in Sault Ste. Marie. Jim's father had polio when he was young, and he received treatment thanks to Rotary. The Hoopers had exchange students in their home, and Jim wanted to be a part of that experience. In Grade 12, he traveled to France as an exchange student. Jim started his career at the Toronto Dominion Bank as a Financial Advisor. He moved around a lot due to his work and wanted to settle down with his family. He now owns a State Farm insurance agency in St. Catharines. Their focus is to help people plan for the unexpected, to realize their dreams, and to recover from the unexpected. His company is also moving into financial planning, loans, and mortgages. Jim finds time to play hockey twice a week.  

President Bob and Jim Shannon thanked Andrew, Peter, and Jim for being so good in providing impromptu presentations.

ATTENDANCE REPORT

Norris Brown reported no guests, no visiting Rotarians, 22 members, 7 make-ups for 80 per cent attendance. 

ADJOURNMENT

As there was no further business for the good of Rotary, President Bob adjourned the meeting at 1:30 p.m.