November 28, 2005 South Mouth

Reporter:  R. Morissette

OPENING THE MEETING

Call to Order: President Bob McKay
National Anthem: David Cooperman 
Toast to Queen and Canada: Jim Howes
Invocation: John Klassen

GUESTS AND VISITING ROTARIANS

Doug Foss introduced the following guests and visiting Rotarians: Mr. Rick Mauro, Rotarian with the Downtown Club and former St. Catharines South member; Debbie and Roger Garneau, guests of Matt Taylor; Mr. Don Fraser, Rotarian with the Downtown Club; and Mr. Peter Partington, Regional Chair, Regional Municipality of Niagara.   

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS

Doug Foss, serving as Sergeant-at-Arms, accepted Happy Dollars from:
Ian Forbes, for tying Doug in the recent Rotary curling bonspiel. Don Hetherington and Jim Howes were the primary reason for the win;
Don Fraser, who commented that it was nice to be here and thanked those who came to his recent celebration;
Jim Howes, for a great bonspiel. Jim thanked those who particpated and contributed to the prize table;
Don Hetherington, for his staff member, Colleen Hardie, who recently received her professional designation as a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) with a mark of 91%;
Peter Snodgrass, for a great three weeks in New Zealand;
Ron Kozub, for Don Fraser's 50 years of perfect attendance in Rotary;
Jim Tiebert, for Mike Grifa's son, Matt, who recently became a Chartered Accountant;
Ed Telenko, for a tremendous football game on Sunday and for Don Fraser who was instrumental in establishing our club;
Dan Toppari, for great skiing weekend in Elicottville; 
John Klassen, for the fantastic way Brian Radford defended Matt Taylor in Poker;
Doug Foss, for a wonderful bonspiel and for Keith Shaver who is such a fine person, he left the merriment of the bonspiel to attend a funeral for a friend.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

President Bob announced the following:

The General Assembly was excellent on November 21st, 2005. Thanks to Rob Welch for organizing the meeting and to all members who attended. Bob noted that the Club is really moving forward due to the interest and enthusiasm of its members.  

Highlights of the General Assembly include:

Reserve for Charitable Trust Account:
  
The club will probably have a reserve of $30,000 in its charitable trust account at the end of the year. How the money is allocated in 2006 will be based on need and on the club's financial status at that time.

1950s Dance:

A new project for 2006 may be a 1950s dance. Dan Toppari's New Projects Committee will research this initiative.   

Rotary Awareness:

Ed Telenko will spearhead a public relations campaign for the club in April during Rotary Awareness Month. This will include a newspaper insert in the Standard, the cost of which will be covered by the general account. 

District Conference, May 5-7, 2006:

The District Conference is being held at the Quality Hotel Parkway Convention Centre in St. Catharines May 5-7, 2006. A joint committee of the four Rotary clubs in St. Catharines is organizing this event, and the Rotary Club of St. Catharines South has been asked to consider sponsoring a Hospitality Suite on the Friday and Saturday nights from 7 to 10 p.m. The club agrees to fund a Hospitality Suite and an organizing committee will handle the details.

Social Event Skating, December 18, 2005, at the St. Catharines Golf & Country Club, St. Catharines:

President Bob has been advised that if members arrive at 1:00 p.m. the ice is uncrowded. Jason Pollock is looking into this for a club event.

Diamond-Studded Gala 2006:

There will be a committee meeting on December 9, 2005, 7:30 a.m. at the St. Catharines Golf & Country Club to plan for the club's Diamond-Studded Gala in 2006. Former committee members and any new members interested in being involved are asked to come out.

The President's Christmas Celebration will take place on December 9, 2005 from 6-9 p.m. at the Port Dalhousie Yacht 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.
 
Other Announcements 

Greg McDonald announced that the next bingo session is Saturday, December 10th, 2005. There are two volunteers. A third volunteer is needed.

BIRTHDAYS

John Klassen's birthday was celebrated. Happy Birthday, John! 

50/50 DRAW

Visiting Rotarian Rick Mauro took home the wine. 

EARLY LEAVERS

Lynda Baiano and Kim Payne expressed their regrets to the President and to the Guest Speaker and took early leave. 

GUEST SPEAKER

Rob Welch introduced our Guest Speaker, Mr. Peter Partington, Regional Chair, Regional Municipality of Niagara. See related story for details.

ATTENDANCE REPORT

Norris Brown reported one visiting Rotarian, four guests, 29 members, and eight make-ups for 113 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.