Minutes of February 27 2008
Meeting Presided by President Michael.
Invocation by Rick Kiers.
Our Guests this evening: Dr. Bruce Halliday- Rotary club of Tavistock
Howard Pell, our speaker- Rotary club of Waterloo
John Macklin, Rotary club of Brantford Sunrise
Bella Bernath, spouse of Gibson
Present were: Tim Koetsier, Jantine Stam, Wim Duizer, Norm Narancsik, Paul Bradford, Paul Leroy, John Garton, Steve Halyk, Coral and Michael Sheehan, Rick Kiers, Rama Murthi, Gibson Bernath, Erik Tremblay.
Sargeant at Arms: Paul Bradford
Fines: Wim for telling a long winded story, Steve for mis-spelling Rotary(blamed it on the computer or staff)Norm, for calling a Rotary meeting on Friday eve.
Happy bucks were many: Paul B. for coming holidays, John Macklin for being at our meeting, Norm, for coming in at 5th place in curling in Guelph, Mike for first baby sitting assignment(and survived it), John Garton for finding back a long lost necklace, Dr. Bruce for being at our club, Peter for a great Chile trip.
Dr. Bruce Halliday stated that he is the Oxford County co-ordinator for Rotary Foundation and working with past district governor Syd Harmon and was here to explain a bit about the Paul Harris Society
He explained that the Paul Harris Society started in January 2007 and is District administrated, and you become a member of that when you personally give $1000.00 U.S. or more each year, you can designate the money to the annual program to go to Polio Plus or other humanatarian programs.
Dr. Bruce was asked by Syd Harmon to award a Paul Harris Society certificate and pin to Peter Stam.
Rama was asked to come up and speak and he also asked Gibson and Bella to come forward, Rama explained to the club that Gibson has been a member of our club since 1981, left for a while and rejoined in 1990.
Gibson put out a challenge to our Club in 2004 that since we all buy a cup of coffee every day that we should donate $1.00 a day to Rotary Foundation which he did.
Gibson is and has been a valuable member of our club and Rama awarded Gibson with a Paul Harris Fellow pin, as Rama explained that you become a Paul Harris Fellow when you have given a total of $1000. 00 or more to Rotary Foundation and can also be awarded by the Club for exemplanary service. Congratulations Gibson.
Rama also asked that we donate to the Silent Auction this year again to help
Woodstock and District Developmental Services (W.D.D.S.)
"Shooting for the Stars" Silent Auction
A Partnership with Woodstock-Oxford Rotary Club and Rotary Foundation.
Peter Introduced our Guest speaker Howard Pell, Howard is a member, secretary and President Nominee for 2009-2010 for the Rotary Club of Waterloo.
Howard represents Shelterbox Canada and explained what the Shelterbox program is.
ShelterBox - help for disaster victims worldwide
The ShelterBox Trust is a registered UK charity that provides emergency aid for victims of natural and other disasters anywhere in the world. It is also registered in Canada under www.shelterbox.ca
Since operations began in January 2001, we have helped an estimated 500,000 people and worked in more than 40 countries - responding to earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, wars, volcanoes etc. http://www.shelterbox.org/map_intro.htm and Howard explained that up to date more then 38000 shelterboxes have been send out.
ShelterBox was set up by the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard and all aid is distributed from our base in Cornwall. The charity is supported by international affiliates set up by Rotary clubs in various other countries, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, New Zealand and the USA.
The charity's President is HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. For details of recent deployments and other events, please visit our news pages. http://www.shelterbox.org/news_index.htm
Our mission
"To provide humanitarian aid worldwide in the form of shelter, warmth and comfort to people displaced by natural and other disasters."
A unique solution
Our solution to disasters is the ShelterBox - a tough, green plastic box containing a 10-person tent and ancillary equipment designed to enable a family of up to 10 people survive for at least six months.
Made to a unique design using high quality materials, our tents are suitable for a wide range of conditions. Other items may include insulated groundsheets, thermal blankets, a multi-fuel stove, cooking equipment, tools, mosquito nets, water containers etc.
Exact contents will depend upon local conditions and what is most needed. http://www.shelterbox.org/box_contents.htm
ShelterBox works directly with local organisations in countries where disasters have occurred, in partnership with other aid agencies and through the international Rotary network.
Our volunteer teams often oversee the distribution of boxes to individual recipients - making sure aid gets direct to those people who need it most.
Howard implied that Shelterbox Canada is looking for donations, which can be any amount or $1200.00 for a complete shelterbox and also is looking for volunteers to get trained and send out to disaster areas when needed to go and set up and distribute the boxes/tents.
Thanks Howard, for your presentation and time you are spending to promote this very needed program.
You can reach Howard at howardpell@shelterbox.ca or 519-741-4306
Norm changed the rules again on our 50/50 draw, all face cards are $5.00, others just what the number says and ace of spades 1/2 the kitty. Thanks Norm!!!!!!!!!!