Club Forum and other thoughts

Anthem: Al Meredith
Grace: Peter Masson
Toast : President Jacob


These notes are drawn from your scribe’s memory the day after the meeting.  Group 4, which is on duty didn’t have a note taker present to-day.  But I will give it a try from a failing memory.


Attendance: Just 10 to-day We had hoped to get at least 12 to-day thus to celebrate 12-12-12-12 The hotel set up a buffet for us.


Announcements:


Just remember to come next Wednesday with your date(s) because the hotel will be serving a first class buffet and you will all be able to exchange Christmas and Holiday greetings.  Let’s have a full house worthy of the hotel’s seasonal special. Kevin Moore will make it memorable.


Marbelous Draw:


Frank Allison, I think, was the winner, but the $5 just came back for recirculation.


Sergeant at Arms


Al Meredith and Charles Whitney taxed our mathematical skills and asked when another equivalent alignment of dates will occur. One of us (Gerd?) had cheated on this and knew the answer .... in eighty eight years.   But the real answer was uniformly agreed upon “when we are all dead”!  Meredith still fined anyone who didn’t have a Get out of Jail “GOOJ” card. 


Program:


This was scheduled as a club forum so that the directors could provide progress reports for each of their groups.


Jack Holman gave an update on our financial situation.  In short, we’re alright for now.
We won’t hear for several weeks what amounts will be coming to us as a result of the recent TV Auction.  But we have funded the Adventure in Citizenship program for one high school student to travel to Ottawa to try to help the government to budget for the next round of fighter aircraft orders.  (Fat chance, you say?) Funds have been set aside for Gift of Life, PETS, Operation Eyesight, Sleeping Children Around the World and of course Camp Enterprise is scheduled for next April and has been previously funded by Santa’s elfs at Gerd’s business, Park Properties and the date has been booked.
Drawing from the November Treasurer’s report ...” based on the TV Auction we have about $30,000 to spend next year.  This is about 10% down from last year”.  Also
“Doug reminded members that we now have a registered charity and they can get a tax donation receipt for a year-end donation (to the R.C.N.S. Foundation) if received prior to December 31st”


Dave Hardy was unable to attend but Jacob reported on his behalf that with the new management in place at the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra, that David’s firm, Hardy Stephenson, will be giving them assistance to improve their website and promotion activities. 


Danny Cassidy reported on the activities of Goup 1.
• The POD responsibilities seem to be noted and then forgotten by some groups. 
Please help make this system work ... read your e-mails, take note of your duties  and visit the web site where the Duty Roster will be posted.
• Events planned during the year ahead include Dec 14th Christmas Dinner Dance at Scarboro G & C club. We will be joined by members of the Twilight and Bluffers clubs.
• The Ice Wine tour has been cancelled due to lack of interest.
• Feb 8th Euchre night will be held at Danny’s house .... Ruth may or may not be in the kitchen!
• A Fireside is being planned for March or April at Highland Yacht Club depending upon whether Peter is back from FL or whether he can be covered off by other Rotarian members of the club.
• April, the President’s Party will be held at the Hunt club
• May 26th is scheduled for A Day at the Races.
• June 14th will be Charter Party.


Group 2/3
Jacob reported on behalf of Kevin Moore as director of this group:
• An iPad has been purchased for the daughter of Nadia Moussa.  She is suffering from autism and this tool would help her to communicate with others.
• Camp Enterprise is booked with a slightly higher cost this year.
• A candidate (from the Colangelo clan) has been found for Adventures in Citizenship.
• The Warm Hands project was completed delivering dozens of mittens to 20  elementary schools in the Malvern sector of North Scarborough.


Group 4
No meetings have yet to be called so we have nothing to report.


Membership
Danny Cassidy, Basil Dias and Dave Hardy have been designated the Membership committee trio for the club.  But they have had difficulty finding a time when they could all meet together.


PR Update.


Peter reported that the month of January is “Rotary Awareness” month and the joint publicity club for all Scarborough clubs is planning a supplement to be run in the Scarborough Mirror in January.  It will feature the work done in the community by our clubs and will be underwritten by ads from sponsors and special rate reductions from the Mirror.  We will be including material featuring North Scarborough’s recent  community service projects.


Rib Fest


Before the meeting was closed a discussion took place that revealed that the membership should have a full explanation of the budget and the options we might have regarding the annual Rib Fest.


Next Meeting:


Christmas carols and readings and a room filled with Christmas decorations and seasonal best wishes when Pastor Kevin  will lead us in our Christmas meeting.  Your attendance with guest(s) will help save us from embarrassment with the hotel mangement which will be laying out an abundant special buffet for us.