charter night - Rotary Club of Guelph

News Bulletin
THE ROTARY CLUB OF GUELPH
A Weekly Report on the Activities of the Rotary Club of Guelph – February 5, 2010
The Rotary Club of Guelph
Box 511, Guelph, ON N1H 6K9
President: Randy Seager
Treasurer: Trevor Lee
Secretary: Kerry Johnson
519-821-3863
Rotary International President: John Kenny,
Grangemouth, Scotland
District 7080 DG: Bob Palmateer, Bolton
www.rotaryclubofguelph.com
District 7080
Club 4645
Charter Feb 23, 1920
Introduction
President Randy welcomed everyone to the meeting and reiterated his
request that Rotarians allow the head table first access to the buffet line.
Guest Speaker – Blair Conrad
Upcoming Meetings
 February 12: Valentine`s
Day Program.
 February 19: Nestle Waters,
Gail Cosman, and Dream
Home Kick Off
Introduction – Paul Dredge
On behalf of the Youth Committee, Paul introduced the program. At a
mentoring function a few years ago, Charlie Whittaker said that we need  Tuesday, February 23:
CHARTER NIGHT.
to work with the kids before they get to College Heights. “I don’t usually
listen to Charlie”, he said, but there was an element of truth to his remarks.  February 26: MEETING
So we’re starting in earlier grades, so that the children can keep the same
MOVED TO Feb 23rd
Program — Continued on Page 2
Charter Night
DATE: Tuesday, February 23, 2010
LOCATION: Italian Canadian Club
TIME: 6:00 cash bar 6:30 dinner
COST: $50 (a tax donation receipt
will be issued for a portion)
PROCEEDS: to Polio Plus Campaign
Final date for tickets this Friday, February 12th
The regular meeting of February 26th is
cancelled.....come celebrate our club’s
90th anniversary!
 March 5: Rotary Information Committee, Paulette
Padanyi
 March 12: Guelph Hospital
Update, Richard Ernst
Upcoming Events
 Wednesday, Feb 17: Power of
Attourney Talk. See Valerie
Poulton
 Friday, Feb 19: RC of South
Guelph Taste of Italy Pasta
Dinner. See Announcements,
P5
 Saturday, Feb 20: Hockey
Challenge. See Brent Kirkup
 Wednesday, Feb 24: Fred
Black Memorial Bonspiel.
See Helmuth Slisarenko
The Rotary Club
of
Guelph News Bulletin - February 5th, 2010
Attendance
Visiting Rotarians
Margaret Nixon – Guelph South
Guests
President’s Table
Steve Irvine introduced guests and
visiting Rotarians
Greg Elliot – Randy Seager
Blair Conrad – Youth Committee
Amy Nodwell – Youth Committee
Blythe Boyd – Youth Committee
Joan Mitges
Paul Dredge
John Valeriote
Amy Nodwell
Blythe Boyd
President Randy
Birthdays
Program — Continued from Page 1
Rotary Anniversaries
February
February
February
February
6......Susan Farrelly (1)
7............Bob Denis (7)
8........ Bob Housser (2)
10.....Fred Neufeld (32)
2
Did You Know??
Attendance for, and make ups
submitted on, February 5th will be
reported at a later date
February 9...............Ray Funnell
February 9...................Ian Smith
Page
If a statue in the park of a figure on
a horse has both front legs in the air,
the person died in battle. If the horse
has one front leg in the air, the person
died because of wounds received in
battle. If the horse has all four legs
on the ground, the person died of
natural causes.
mentor over their years at school, as they become young adults. As a committee, we kept an eye out for projects, and the principal at Westwood
School wanted support for the Power of Positive Choices initiative and the
Youth Committee got on board for 2010. Paul has been hearing about the
wonderful work that Blair Conrad has been doing as the Vice-Principal at
Westwood, so it was only natural that he be invited to speak to the Club.
And of course, Blair is the son of our regular pianist, Keith Conrad.
Blair Conrad
50/50 Draw
Charlie Whittaker, who was
promptly asked by the President
not to speak about his win!
Roster Changes
Dan Vitale
home address
454 Stevenson St N, N1E 5C5
519 242 3872
Business address
Family Chiropractic Centre
9-987 Gordon St., N1G 4W3
(519) 837-1234
Officials 5 February
Editor: John Vieira
Greeter: Geoff Topping
Guest Registrar: Steve Irvine
Officials 5 February
Editor: Diane Spratt
Greeter: Terry van Dreumel
Guest Registrar: Steve Irvine
Speaker Blair Conrad
After successfully conquering a computer “gremlin”, Blair gave the Club
a brief description of the projects they
have undertaken so far. At Westwood,
they have been involved in three
“Power of Positive Choices” days,
which is something they did also at
Mitchell Woods School. The former
principal developed the idea, and it has
evolved into a great success, helping
many students at risk along the way.
Blair thanked the Club for our $1,500
donation and then ran through what a
typical day for the “Power of Positive
Choices” (PPC) program is like.
Power of Positive Choices
PPC is a symposium for grade 6,7, and 8 students, and features workshops
from people in the community. Its purpose is to help at risk students to
get involved in the school and the community, as well as to improve their
leadership skills. Students must work to put a stop to violence and bullying, and Blair’s task as administrator of the program is to channel the
students’ power in positive directions. The goals of PPC are to establish a
climate where students take action against violence, create a language of
Program — Continued on Page 3
The Rotary Club
of
Guelph News Bulletin - February 5th, 2010
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ROTARY AFTER HOURS
Tuesday Mar 2nd, Apr 6th, May 4th, June 1st
$10 includes gratuity - 2 drinks (house
only
wine or beer on tap) plus appetizer
Location: Borealis Grille
3188 Gordon St. S. (Just south of Arkell Rd)
Partners & Prospective Rotarians are welcome!
(Anyone wishing to have dinner is welcome to at additional cost)
Tickets at the door.
Just show up!
….and really get to know your fellow Rotarians!
Program — Continued from Page 2
respect that is used throughout the year and provide
other workshops that teens are interested in.
“Why work with intermediate students?” he asked.
Age 12-14 is a time when teens become more aware
of world issues. With teenagers, it’s all about them and
their world. They can succumb to peer pressure, and
follow their friends, but they are strongly impacted
by adults and their values, so they are responsive to
this format. “The more PPC belongs to students, the
greater the impact it will have on student culture”.
Students get to choose from 30 topics, and they all
wear t-shirts that have a logo that students designed.
At the end of each PPC day, they are given an evaluation. It is a totally different way to present a positive message, as they are mixed with kids from other
social circles and listen to each other: Positive student
interactions occur across classes and grades. Students
also get to know about community programs.
The PPC program is beneficial for students at risk,
those that are academically challenged, involved in
bullying, or others who are often overlooked by their
peers. It works for students who are not normally
involved in student activities, and though not all of
them will respond to being involved, many do and it
really benefits them in the long run.
In order to illustrate the diversity of the program, Blair
showed a list of 30 different topics that students get to
choose from, before they get down to 12-14 workshops
that students can select and participate in. Examples
included homelessness and teen runaways, positive
body image, and how to deal with physical, sexual
and emotional abuse.
Blair then offered the two students guests, Blythe and
Amy, a chance to state in their own words, the impact
of the PPC program:
Amy was a member of PPC last year, and she read the
basic ideas behind PPC and what it meant to her. She
was proud of her involvement in the group that chose
the logo. Students who work with PPC get to know
students and teachers, and also involved in fundraising for the program. Blythe stated that there are many
Program — Continued on Page 4
The Rotary Club
of
Guelph News Bulletin - February 5th, 2010
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shirts, so that our Club can really see how the $1,500
help out PPC.
With negative influences all around in media and
other things that students do, including preparing the music, it is important to bring positive thinking to
room for the presenters and giving them cards signed students. Everyone wants to help solve the problem
of violence and bullying in
by all the PPC members. “It’s
schools. PPC makes it fun and
not just doing things that teachinteresting for students, and
ers ask,” she said, “the students
builds and environment where
did it themselves.” They then
they are responsible and conthanked the Club for its support
siderate of others.
of PPC.
Program — Continued from Page 3
Blair then picked up the presThank Yous
entation by showing a sample
Joan Mitges thanked Blair and
of the activities that students
the students for their presentaare exposed to including a
tion. “How fortunate they are
science based presentation
to be part of the program” she
from MADD Canada which
said. The Youth Committee will
“shocked” the students. He
Students Blythe Boyd (left) and Amy Nodwell
continue to help, not just finandirected Rotarians to look at
cially but also by contributing
a sample of programs on each
our time.
table so that Rotarians can see
how the PPC committee try to make it a professional President Randy also thanked the guests. He remarked
symposium. He also showed a copy of the budget, that “it’s nice to see that our future as old geezers will
$3,200 in total, including lunch, presentations and t- be well served”.
Happy Bill
$ Luisa Del Rosario
Luisa contributed a happy buck for being back
in Guelph after a wonderful trip to Europe. Luisa
had the “experience of her life.” Her plane was
late, and she had to stay in Germany one extra
night but she got to travel with members of the
Canadian Olympic teams. She wishes them good
luck next week.
Charter Night Menu
Green salad, mandarin-orange
balsamic vinaigrette
Dinner rolls
Entrée choice of... Toasted pecan
chicken with caramelized onions or
Stuffed Portobello mushroom
Lemon shortcake or
chocolate fudge cake
Coffee/tea
Hockey Challenge Needs Volunteers
The Hockey Challenge is taking place Saturday February 20, 2010 at the Sleeman Centre.
Volunteers are currently needed to assist with registration, time-keeping and tracking donations, (especially
time-keeping).
If you are able to volunteer we have several time slots available. You can sign up via the online sign up
system on our website, or e-mail Dan Vitale at dvitaledc@gmail.com
(Please mention this to any family members that may require volunteer hours.)
The Rotary Club
of
Guelph News Bulletin - February 5th, 2010
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Announcements
 Charter Dinner, February 23rd
Sharon Rice made a final announcement about the upcoming Charter Dinner. The regular Friday February
26th meeting is cancelled. Instead there will be a special dinner on Tuesday February 23rd, beginning at
6pm with a cash bar, followed by a 6:30pm dinner. Last day for ticket sales is this Friday 12th, and we
are accepting credit cards for the $50/person tickets.
There will be special appearances by Bill Stevens and our very first president Alexander Stewart. Also
present will be District Governor Bob Palmateer, and Rotary International treasurer Michael Colasurdo
Sr. from New Jersey. A portion of the ticket price will go to the Polio Plus program and a tax receipt will
be issued for that contribution.
 RC of Guelph South Taste of Italy Pasta Dinner
Margaret Nixon of the Rotary Club of Guelph South announced that they will be holding their “Taste of
Italy Pasta Dinner” on February 19th at the Puslinch Community Centre. Ticket prices are $15 adults,
$10 for children 5-12, and children under 5 free. The entertainment will include a magician, and strolling
violin and accordion musicians. Please check http://www.rotary7080.org/guelphsouth for more details.
 Fine Payment
Charlie Whittaker thanked Paul Taylor for paying his fine the previous week and made what had to be
his shortest ever appearance at the podium.
Referee Slisarenko has put
President Seager in penalty box
 Sergeant-at-arms
Although Club rules prevent the Sergeant-at-arms from fining the
President, Paul devised a novel fundraising scheme. Paul called
on Helmuth Slisarenko (suitably attired in a striped referee shirt)
to charge President Randy with “2 minutes for delay of meeting.”
The President then reluctantly entered a cardboard “penalty box”. A
furious bidding war ensued, not to release Randy from the penalty
box, but to keep him in as long as possible. John Valeriote upped
the stakes by asking how much would be bid if the pentalty box was
turned around so that we couldn’t see President Randy’s face. Bids
predictably escalated.
Every table made significant contributions. Even the “Tom Funk
Memorial table” which was empty as usual, contributed $40. A
much quicker and less lucrative bidding process turned the President
around and released him from the penalty box. In total roughly $480
was raised. Paul also announced that we will have a “double-fine”
Friday once a month, randomly chosen at his discretion.
 Hockey Challenge
Helmuth Slisarenko gave a quick update on the 2010 hockey challenge. There are 20 teams already
signed up so we are now looking for volunteers to staff the event. Anyone interested should contact Dan
Vitale. There is also a need for sponsorships for the President’s team. Right now, the President doesn’t
know who he is playing against! Should be interesting. Helmuth closed by reminding the club that the
event raises $20,000 annually.
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