President Heidi opened the meeting at 12:31 - brand new member Vanessa read the 4-Way Test, and we toasted a bunch, including the Queen turning 95!

S@A Larissa advised we have 17 members present, and our guest speaker Kathy Wilson.

Paul T. C.  - received his first shot at the old Rona!

Linda B - had a COVID scare as Guy was told he was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 10 minutes; they think it was likely at the dentist a few days earlier...  fortunately, both have tested negative so far, and Guy continues to isolate at home for the required number of days. - Small town living can't come soon enough!

Paul McM was in fine form today - I was quite nervous until the very end, where he cleaned it up quite nicely!

Todd L - advised we have donated $3,000 of Bingo funds to the Family Counselling Centre of Cambridge and North Dumfries - $1,500 to support emergency walk-in family counselling, and $1,500 to cover 1 month's cost for a bed in their mental health and addiction program.

Pres. Heidi - advised you can still walk the GCC course...  alone...  but Stanley's remains closed.  Also, please consider supporting their take out service, which in turn supports the Food Bank.

 

And now...  we had the honour and pleasure of inducting a new member, Matt Lantz, who is ready to hit the ground running - yes, it's true, he's related to Past President Paul T. Cody...  but only by marriage, so let's all give him a chance  :)

One of our newest members, the mover and shaker, Katie, did a great job introducing Kathy Wilson from the CMH Foundation.

 

Kathy referenced a family who recently averted tragedy thanks to the staff and equipment available at CMH; a short video describes their ordeal, with a happy ending - it can be seen here.

 

 

- Government covers the operational costs of the Hospital

- Community donations cover all equipment purchases

- CMH has asked the Foundation to raise $5,000,000 per year.

- COVID has forced them to rethink fundraising - with hopes to get back to Best Bites in 2022!

- More renovations are coming this year to B wing

- we'll be getting a new Liver Health Clinic

 

 

- some operation rooms are closed, with nurses retrained to cover COVID issues

- we currently have 9 patients in ICU from the GTA

- CMH took over operations of Cambridge Country Manner to help them through the significant COVID crisis at that facility

- CMH has hired 800 staff in the past 12 months

- the Mental Health services are extremely busy at this time...

 

 

- Kathy told us about the HUGE outpouring of support from the community - masks, other PPE, meals, cards, signs, and chalk drawings

- they received $47,000, proceeds from beer bottle/can returns, from The Beer Store

- they received 18 iPads, that really helped with patient connectivity

- when a COVID patient is discharged, "Here Comes the Sun" is played over the PA system throughout the entire building

 

 

- Our Rotary Club first donated to CMH in 1986 - and has donated over $113,000 since that time.

- we have a named room on the 4th floor; a patient room for new mother and baby.

- we are also listed on the major donor wall

Thanks Kathy - having such a great facility right in town is so important - we never want to be there, but it's there when we need it - thank you!!

 

A link to the programs at the Foundation is here.