South Mouth January 15 2007

OPENING THE MEETING

Welcome by President Matt Taylor

National Anthem: Rob Welch

Toast to Queen and Canada : Julio Batres

Grace: Ed Telenko

GUESTS AND VISITING ROTARIANS

John Teibert introduced Heather Foss,  MIMI Massuet, Roger Garneau, Rick Dykstra, Henry Becker

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS

Doug Foss serving as Sergeant at Arms thanked Julio for setting up the flag backwards. Paul Massuet was happy MIMI was well enough to attend today's meeting and she look great. Shelia Bristo attended the boat show that means boating season is around the corner. Cathy Henry's son has been accepted at the Royal College of Cardiology. Ron Kozub had a great time at the Niagara Falls brewery tour. Bob McKay enjoyed many sunny days in Cape Town . Dan Toppari enjoyed the sampling at the brewery tour. Julio Batres was impressed with Doug Foss multi tasking abilities while driving.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Diamond Gala meeting Our club's major fundraiser of the year needs volunteers Friday meetings 7:30 contact Julio Batres.

Appreciation Dinner for Wilf Wilkinson Wilf the first Canadian in over fifty years as President of Rotary International. Contact Matt Taylor for travel arrangements.

Visting GSE Team from Tanzania , Kenya and Uganda They are in the U.S. for the beginning and the last two weeks in Canada . The St. Catharines stop will be 3 to 4 days at the end of April. Please contact Andrew Bowles or Matt Taylor to arrange a tour of your business.

Winter Dreams VI, Gala Report Wrap up meeting June Manning announced February 12, 2007  a cheque for $25,000.00 will be presented to Hospice Niagara and we will also receive an update on the project.

BIRTHDAYS

Peter Snodgrass. Julio Batres and Frank Strathern who we missed last month B est wishes for health and happiness in the year ahead!   

50/50 DRAW

It took 12 years but finally Paul Massuet number was picked but MIMI selected the four of spades

NO EARLY LEAVERS

GUEST SPEAKERs, Sallah Hamdani Islamic Information program .

Ed Telenko introduced Sallah Hamdani and thanked the staff for an excellent meal.

  To gain a better understanding about the Islamic Religion and Culture Sallah Hamdani gave us a tour of the Mosque.

The Mosque's main prayer hall was beautifully carpeted with a  niche in the wall designated the direction for prayer towards Mecca . The Mosque can accommodate about 800 Sunni and Shiite worshipers. Due to structural requirements, not religion customs, another room was set aside for women to pray.  Women are not required to attend prayers. When they do they usually stand behind the men because the bowing and prostration would distract the men from their prayers.

Sallah Hamdani   explained, The Five Pillars of Islam is the term given to the five most fundamental aspects of Islam.

The first pillar of Islam is the testimony that there is none worthy of worship except God and that Muhammad is his messenger.

Praying five daily prayers, Early Morning, Noon , Mid Afternoon, Sunset and evening. Although it is preferable for men to pray together in a mosque, there is no strict requirement to do so. On Fridays, congregational prayer is held at midday the Imam or other scholar delivers a sermon.

Giving to charity 2.5% of their yearly savings this money is to be distributed among the poor.

Observance of the Ramadan involves abstinence from eating, drinking, smoking, sexual intercourse, and other forms of worldly pleasure. This fasting is ordained in the Quran, and is observed by devout Muslims throughout the daylight hours of the 29 or 30 days of the lunar month of Ramadan. There are some exceptions, for example for children, pregnant women, sick Muslims, labourers, and travelers.

The final pillar of Islam is the pilgrimage to Mecca . Performance of the Hajj at least once in one's lifetime is obligatory to all who are physically and financially able to undertake it.

One of the historic divisions within Islam is between Shias and Sunnis, who disagreed in the early days about who should be the successor to the Muhammad . The Sunni sect of Islam comprises the majority of all Muslims (about 90%).   Islam is growing faster numerically than any other religion in Canada in 1995 there were about 400 Muslims in St. Catharines it has now about 1,500. 

Continued communication between cultures and environment of religious freedom and mutual respect and tolerance can lead to the breaking down of distrust and prejudice between religious groups.

Matt Taylor thanked Sallah Hamdani for the tour of the Mosque.

 REPORT   Attendance report - 28 members  10 make ups for 78% per cent attendance.

ADJOURNMENT