Rotateller for September 21st, 2016
Attendance: 15 including 3 guests.
President – Basil opened the meeting
Anthem: James Burchell
Grace: Mike Mushet
Toast to the Queen, Canada and Rotary – President Basil
Guests: Al Schafsma from East York Club and Gerard Baribeau from Scarborough Club. (Al did not stay for lunch.) Our guest speaker Nevine Yassa.
Announcements:
  • Al Schafsma announced that his club is having a fund raiser at The Herongate Barn Dinner Theatre on Saturday October 15th. It is a comedy “Confessions of a Dirty Blonde”. Tickets are $75 - if interested contact Al Schafsma – alschafsma@sympatico.ca.          
  • James Burchell – 42 Division are holding an Elder Abuse Seminar on Sunday October 23rd at the L’Amoreaux Community Centre 1900 McNicoll Ave from 2.00 to 4.30pm.
  • James also announced that Habitat for Humanity are having a ‘Ginger Bread Build’ for kids on December 3rd and 4th at Toronto City Hall. It is $45 each and the children will get their own ‘building kits’. For more information, the website is: www.gingerbreadbuild.com.
  • Gerard wished to thank all of the members of the club who had / will be volunteering at The Habitat for Humanity Build, to help serve breakfast. He also advised that as the clubs in Scarborough combine now to do several events there has been an ‘official’ name change to: Scarborough Rotary Clubs.
  • There will be a meeting at Scarboro G&CC on November 3rd about The Scarborough Renewal Project (no doubt Dave Hardy will be reminding us of this as well).
  • Basil announced that David Seemungal cannot continue as a Director due to business commitments. Basil thanked him for his contributions as Director and of course is wanting someone to volunteer to replace him.
  • Basil announced that he needs more people to help serve breakfast at The Habitat for Humanity Build on Friday and Saturday. He reminded us that on October 5th we will be having an Honorary Members lunch.
Marbelous Draw: Jacob conducted (pun intended) the draw and our guest speaker Nevine drew the ticket which was claimed by Jacob! but he couldn’t find the mutant marble so was given $5 as a consolation.
Sergeant-At-Arms: Kevin Manuel read a letter from his wife Sharyn to our club. This was in regard to her receiving a Paul Harris award at our Charter Party in June:
“Back in June you bestowed upon me an honour and rendered me speechless and teary eyed, so much so that I do not remember saying anything in response and for that I apologize. I have never been good in the spotlight in front of a bunch of people. I have only spoken in front of a group at our 25th wedding anniversary and at my son’s wedding.
Please know that, in addition to being very surprised, I was and am, incredibly honoured and touched by this. I know that this award is mainly given to Rotarians and other community leaders and knowing that you find me worthy of it makes it that much more special.  Thank you very much.”
After that Kevin just collected happy bucks: Gerd thanked Gerard for his work serving breakfast at Habitat for Humanity, James was so proud of our Paralympians, Arthur was happy that he will be ‘fulfilling a dream and driving across the Confederation Bridge to PEI, Basil thanked Sharyn for her work and Jacob was happy to be back after his world travels.
              
Our speaker today was Nevine Yassa. She was introduced by Peter Masson. She is a member of Scarborough Rotary Club and became a Rotarian having been a member of a Rotaract Club. She has a Masters Degree from Queens University. Nevine spoke about ‘Rotary ICC’. (ICC being Inter Country Committee.) ICC has been in Europe since 1950, but not in North America until March 2015. Some of the activities include the ‘twinning’ of clubs and training exchange. So far relationships have been established with France, Italy and Egypt and Russia is being ‘worked on’. For more information, the website is: http://www.rotary-icc.org/
 
(Link to audio and powerpoint.)
 
Arthur thanked Nevine for her presentation and presented her with an anniversary glass.
 There being no further business President Basil closed the meeting.
 
EDITORS NOTE: My apologies for the late bulletin. Travelling for work and a very busy week.  Danny
 
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