Chair: Gordon Brown
Toast to the Queen, Canada & Rotary: President Gordon
Anthem: (Awaits return to our choir stalls in the future)
Attending: 11 members and two visitors: Dorothy Evans and Trudy Timusine
Program Speaker Arthur Retnakaran stepped into the void as our speaker to-day to bring us up-to-date with the latest news on the COVID-19 virus treasure hunt. He provided us with a visual slide with many small boxes and round balls with spikes in them and what’s new is a chimpanzee adnovirus that is the patented solution by the UK Oxford Group to develop a vaccine [nCoV-19].
Arthur’s YouTube Presentation: https://youtu.be/uqn-um6OVAk
The long and the short of it is that this vaccine is about to go into stage 3 of its development in several countries and if results are positive then mass production will start in 2021. Arthur hopes that this vaccine (one of more than 160 currently being researched) will be made available at no more than a few dollars per dose (as is the Polio vaccine developed by Jonas Salk without profit) versus the private US companies that are researching a vaccine which would cost $50 to $60 per inoculation.
Announcements:Dhanni reported that the 2019-2020 Club Financial Statements have been finalized with a revised operating surplus of $22,424.31. This reflects some donations re hockey tickets auctioned but void because of the virus lock down and an anonymous donation. What a record in funds raised and disbursed to the community’s needs.
Barry Smith joined with Gordon and Alan to report on some of the options that are being considered for holding the December Auction elsewhere than in the East York Civic Centre. Issues with availability and city politics could make this difficult. Thus the group are developing Plan “B” which could be in a larger space in Scarborough such as a hall where our numbers would be reduced by pre-taping as we did in the past and have the auctioneers pitch from different locations if need be.
Barry also reported that letters were about to go out to all of the agencies that we have helped this year proposing a 50:50 split of proceeds for any auction donations they solicit and make available for that event in December. All of our membership were reminded by Alan to knock on doors and make the pitch for Rotary and our club’s efforts to raise funds for use in the community.
Sergeant at Arms: Mike Muchet was conscripted by Arthur to act in place of the designated S@AMike called each of those present to talk about any Happy Thoughts or Events that they could report.
Gordon was happy that his team Chelsea qualified for the finals.
Gerd was unhappy (concerned might be a better word) as he and Dorothy flew to Edmonton for a family get-together. That was nice but they noticed at the gathering of 23 or 24 people no one wore a mask, and social distancing was not being observed. Alberta seemed like a different world but since Gerd’s return so far they have not experienced any COVID-19 symptoms.
Frank was happy that Liverpool had finally brought their 30 year drought to an end. (We on this side of the Atlantic also wonder when the Stanley Cup will finally be awarded to the Toronto Maple Leafs who last had their hands on it 57 years ago.)
Dhanni was happy to provide bed and breakfast and many other treats to their son who flew in for a two week visit from Regina. All quarantine measures were followed. Dhanni remarked on the strange sight of the Pearson Airport being almost void of people in the arrivals area because of the lack of international flights.
David displayed a feast of crabs (not Portuguese) and other culinary delights which he shared with his beautiful daughter, (my how she has grown up since the last time we saw her!) The restaurant was on Dufferin & Landsdown
Trudy said that she had started a home project to help in feminine hygiene management. She was able to raise almost $1,000 to purchase supplies to be used back in her home country.
Basil and Dorothy reported on a virtual family reunion that involved Dias relatives from Alaska, California, Canada, etc. which illustrated how prolific his Portuguese grandfather had been.
Arthur reported on the S.S. Marie trip that wasn’t. He had planned to motor to the Sault but the visit was postponed until September because his host had already booked his son and daughter’s visit which would have been enough. Flights to the Sault are now down from four per day to just one.
Barry’s granddaughter is coming from Ottawa for a stay and a visit to the ZOO is in the planning stages.
Peter was happy to get a game of golf in just before the meeting with Joan and the Swan lake ladies league (no report on the score) and some sailing had recently taken place on his son’s sailboat but because of the restrictions that affect each yacht club along the Lake Ontario coastline and of course there is no cruising to the US clubs.
Alan is celebrating his golf score of 79 which has been his very best for a long time. Some smart A’s asked if that score was for the first 9 hole of the last 9?
Gerd was so impressed with all the Happy Thoughts that had been expressed that he suggested that each should hand over to our treasurer $20 with a smile on our faces. (You just saved the price of a Batten Rouge meal by being on the “tube” instead of joining together at the restaurant.)
Gordon terminated the meeting with a thanks for joining in and an invitation to join us again next week.
