President Rajbir brought our meeting to order - our SECOND meeting in real life :)

Vanessa read the 4-Way Test

Todd L - made up, on the spot, using his imagination, an Invocation

President Rajbir had us all raise a glass to Rotary and Rotarians around the world

 

Jimmy J provided or S & A report, which had him count all the way to 13 for live people, 4 Zoomers, and 2 guests - Bobbye Goldenberg, our speaker, and Cathy Everrett, Tom's wife

Johny Smoothy was back again - adding $60 to the pot.

 

our guest Bobbye drew the first ticket and Jim McP learned some harsh realities; to make matters worse, he then drew one of his other tickets, and missed the Ace again...  

 

Of course the Foundation is the winner with the proceeds :)

- Past Pres Heidi will be on a bike for the next 4 weeks - 1 in Northern Ontario, followed by 3 in Austria (the country) - have fun, see you in a month!!

- Jim McP - he started with some sad news, that one of our past members Dee passed away a couple weeks ago.  Many remember her 'special' butter tarts she often brought in for pretty much any special occasion.

   - Jim will be gone for the next couple of weeks, out west with his son, introducing him to Las Vegas...   good idea........

Todd L - not only survived, but did a fine job hosting 3 different sets of daughters' friends up north over the last 2 weeks

Tom E - happy that his wife Cathy could join us, but not so happy that she beats him in golf...

Brian W - had incredible news about his blossoming singing career!!  We're all very excited and can't wait to receive a link to the performance!

Past President Heidi started off our announcements today, with many significant awards:

 

- George S was presented with a Paul Harris Fellowship Award - level 4

 

Then, thank-you gifts for our 2020-2021 Board of Directors:

 

- Todd L - CEO (Chief Engagement Officer)

- Pres. Rajbir - International Chair

- Rena H - Community Service

- Tom E - Treasurer

- Brian W - IT - and Photographer

- Paul McM - Membership

- Randy - Vocational Chair

and absent but mentioned were

- Linda B - Fundraising

- Erica T - Club Foundation

- Larissa P - Secretary

 

And Heidi literally saved the best 'till last, and announced our Rotarian of the Year - Tom Everett!! 

Tom made some thoughtful spur-of-the-moment comments, centring around "if we all do our part, as a group, we can accomplish amazing things".

Well deserved Tom!

 

Very well done Heidi - thank you, for your leadership through one of the Club's toughest years - you did a magnificent job!

 

Continuing on with Club Announcements:

 

Rena H with some Community Service updates:

 

  - Sunday, September 19 - is a hands on work 'party' at the Coping Centre, most likely in the morning, followed by a lunch provided courtesy of the Centre, as a thank you for all of our supportive efforts over the past couple of years.

  - the Good Food Mobile Market, by the Food Bank - we are supporting financially, with matching District Funds, and they will likely be looking for assistance once it gets going, with sorting food, helping at the market, etc.

  - this fall, we will be collecting 'Socks & Bottoms' which will be distributed through Trinity Table

 

Paul McM - announced this years membership initiative of "Each One, Bring One"; the meaning is clear - the thinking is 25% of potential members will likely join; so if we all pitch in by bringing at least ONE guest/perspective member this year, we'll increase our membership back up into the mid 40's, and next year into the 50's  :)  More on this in coming weeks.

Our guest speaker today was Bobbye Goldenberg - Executive Director of the Family Counselling Centre of Cambridge and North Dumfries.

 

This organization has been assisting people/families in our area for an incredible 81 years!

 

Bobbye stepped us through a presentation, broken down by decade, that highlighted what was going on around the world, locally, and specifically at the Centre.

 

It went through many names, and continually adopted new services and offerings, changing quickly and dynamically with the demands of a changing world, and growing community.

 

The upswing in demand, because of Covid lock-down/isolation was unprecedented.  When Covid first struck, current clients cancelled appointments, assuming it would all pass in a couple weeks...  after 2 or 3 months, they had not only a waive of returning clients, but just as many new individuals and families looking for assistance.  Their biggest challenge right now is space...  today, it's not too bad with most sessions still virtual, but when the increase in physical sessions hits, they just do not have the room to host everyone physically.  This is their Board's current focus...

 

Katie W did a fine job thanking Bobbye for her presentation today

 

Fun Fact - although not mentioned at the meeting today, our club donated $3,000 to the Family Counselling Centre back in the midst of COVID, to cover Walk in Counselling for a month at $1,500, and a Recovery Bed for 1 month at an additional $1,500

 

Only those of you who read right to the end get to know about this - it can be our little secret    :)