August 22, 2013

Rob Kilgour of the Canadian Red Cross A delightful mid-summer morning for our meeting with 14 Lakehead Rotarians and our special guest, Rob Kilgour.

President Gail’s theme for our Club this year… “ENGAGING THUNDER BAY IN ROTARY”

President Gail was in fine form today…and dressed for golf! ON THE DOOR IN 2013/14:

Richard Kehrig was on the door today with Mo Papich on deck for August and September… JULY Richard Kehrig JANUARY AUGUST Mo Papich FEBRUARY

SEPTEMBER Mo Papich MARCH OCTOBER Karl Ratz APRIL NOVEMBER Volker Kromm MAY DECEMBER Allan Kozlo JUNE Clint Kuschak The “On-The-Door” schedule shows 5 months in need of an official greeter. If you can volunteer for a month, please sign on at a weekly meeting on contact Clint to confirm your month. If you take a month but have to miss a meeting or two, we have experienced greeters to cover those meetings for you. CLUB MEETING SPONSORSHIP:

If you can help your Club and wish to promote your business or community interests through a month sponsorship, please contact Sergeant Bill or Clint. Here is the sponsorship line-up for 13/14 JULY Sunset Memorial Gardens JANUARY John Howard Soc. AUGUST Scotiabank FEBRUARY

SEPTEMBER Beaux Daddy’s MARCH OCTOBER RFDA APRIL MS Society NOVEMBER Investors Group MAY Salvation Army DECEMBER NOSM JUNE 5 Star Rotarians

Our sponsor this month is SCOTIABANK

Thank you Rotarian Devon Teeple Devon is the Manager, Small Business serving three local Scotiabank branches. Today’s message was about programs and services offered by Scotiabank to franchise businesses. These businesses have unique needs and Scotiabank offers ways to manage their financial and banking needs. See Devon for more information.

OUR FAMILY OF ROTARY IN THUNDER BAY

Celebrating birthdays this month Karl Ratz

And celebrating anniversaries this month Clint & Barbara Kuschak

Don & Betsy Morrison If we have missed your birthday or anniversary this month,

please let us know. CALENDAR – MEETINGS & EVENTS: AUGUST – MEMBERSHIP & EXTENSION MONTH AUG 29 MARY McLELLAN – CLASSIFICATION TALK SEPTEMBER – YOUTH SERVICE MONTH SEP 2 LABOUR DAY SEP 4 BOARD MEETING SEP 5 KATHRYN KEMPTON – PROGRESS REPORT SEP 12 CANCELLED SEP 12 UNITED WAY KICK-OFF BREAKFAST - VALHALLA SEP 13/14 GOODWILL WEEKEND – DETROIT LAKES SEP 15 TERRY FOX RUN SEP 16 EASTER SEALS “RAPPELLING EVENT” SEP 19 BUSINESS MEETING SEP 21 ROTARY SHELTER FOOD DRIVE - METRO SEP 21 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE SEP 26 KEN BOSHCOFF – TRIP TO CHINA SEP 26 CANADA CLUB MEETING OCTOBER – VOCATIONAL SERVICE MONTH OCT 2 BOARD MEETING OCT 3 OPEN OCT 10 OPEN OCT 12 OKTOBERFEST – PA ROTARY OCT 14 THANKSGIVING OCT 17 BUSINESS MEETING OCT 24 OPEN OCT 29 ROTARY SHELTER TURKEY DINNER OCT 31 OPEN OCT 31 HALOWEEN

NOVEMBER – ROTARY FOUNDATION MONTH NOV 6 BOARD MEETING NOV 7 OPEN NOV 11 REMEMBRANCE DAY NOV 14 OPEN NOV 21 BUSINESS MEETING NOV 28 OPEN

PRESENTATION:

Rob Kilgour from the Canadian Red Cross

Rob is a former Rotarian…member of the former Fort Frances Rotary Club. He noted the similarities between the broad mission or purpose of Rotary and the Red Cross. Both have ways of helping humanity in times of need. He talked about the origins of the Red Cross…someone’s response to the ravages of war and to provide “first aid” and comfort to the victims on the battlefields and in communities. The Red Cross arrived on the scene during the early days of the industrial age and established its core principles in those times. It was able to do its work in many countries because it was seen as neutral or impartial…and offered help to anyone in need. We see Red Cross today serving on the international scene to respond to natural disasters such as the earthquake in Haiti and many resulting crises including the outbreak of cholera. We see Red Cross and its host of volunteers responding on the national level such as the recent floods in Alberta. And at the local level, we see Red Cross and its volunteers helping those here who suffered losses due to a flood. These volunteers also step up whenever the call comes in to help those in need after a house fire or other personal loss. Rob noted that 95% of the work of the Red Cross is carried out by volunteers and the costs of providing and co-ordinating services is covered by sponsoring agencies, government, the United Way and personal donations.. One of the many new areas of interest for the Red Cross is the changing demographic and the increase in elderly…Rob called it the “silver tsunami”. One way the Red Cross is helping to respond to the growing needs of these people is to enable them to live longer in their own homes rather than in costly institutions. They are also increasing their medical equipment rental service to enable people to have the devices they need to be able to live at home or recover from injury. We can all relate to the good work of the Red Cross and the educational programs they offer to people…to be able to “save a life” or learn to swim. Rob brought the message today without the aid of power point and gave a compelling overview of the Red Cross and what it means to us. Here is more information on the Red Cross: Mission The Canadian Red Cross mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity in Canada and around the world. Network The Canadian Red Cross Society is part of the largest humanitarian network in the world, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. This network includes the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Federation) and 187 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies dedicated to improving the situation of the most vulnerable throughout the world. Vision The Canadian Red Cross is the leading humanitarian organization through which people voluntarily demonstrate their caring for others in need.

Values Actions and decisions will be based upon:

humanitarian values, as expressed in our Fundamental Principles;

respect, dignity and care for one another within and outside of Red Cross, and

integrity, accountability, effectiveness, and transparency.

Disasters can strike anytime and anywhere and those in need can’t wait; their needs are urgent. The Canadian Red Cross helps vulnerable communities in Canada affected by emergencies and disaster – from situations ranging from individual house fires, power outages and floods to wildfires and hurricanes, which disrupt entire regions. Before a disaster happens, the Canadian Red Cross is hard at work in your local community, planning for the unexpected. We build relationships with local government and make sure we have supplies nearby. They are also always training its volunteer base. Following a disaster in Canada, Red Cross workers provide vital assistance for people’s basic needs, including

family reunification emergency lodging reception and information emergency food emergency clothing personal services

The Red Cross works in partnership with first responders, emergency managers and public officials to support their response activities. They also work in collaboration with other voluntary sector organizations. All Red Cross assistance is provided free of charge thanks to thousands of volunteers who give their time to train extensively and respond. Services also rely on the generous financial support of individual and corporate donors. If you want to help, you can volunteer or make a financial donation:

Red Cross in Thunder Bay 1145 Barton Street Thunder Bay ON

P7B 5N3 Tel: (807) 623-3073 Fax: (807) 622-1031

COMMUNITY SERVICE: Rotary Shelter Food Drive: This year’s Rotary Shelter Food Drive takes place on Saturday, September 21st and our location will be the Metro store in Arthur Street Marketplace. One-hour shifts start at 9 am and end at 5 pm and we like to have two members on each shift. The sign-up sheet made the rounds last week and we’re off to a good start. Sign up for a shift and help Rotary Shelter refill its bare pantry with food and cooking supplies. Financial donations are also welcome.

RFDA Food Drive: Volker confirmed that this year’s Food Drive will take place on September 26, 27 & 28 at various venues around town. This Drive helps to fill the orders from several area food banks and it is critical for the RFDA to fill the growing demand. Our members are asked to contact the RFDA if they want to help out at one of the many collection venues around town…or to help sort incoming food donations on the 28th at the RFDA venue. Terry Fox Run: This year’s Run takes place on Sunday, September 15th at St. Ignatius H.S. [Boulevard Lake]. The Run begins at 2 pm and the registration desk opens a few hours before. Don has received a supply of posters, pledge forms, Run t-shirts and lawn sign update stickers. The sign-up sheet made the rounds again today. This Run is probably the one event that our Club looks after that most people in the community associate with Lakehead Rotary.

Rotary Shelter Dinner: Our annual turkey dinner at the Rotary Shelter will be on Tuesday, October 29th and a large gathering is expected. Our members donate all the food for this dinner, prepare and cook, and serve the meal. Devon is our leader of the event this year and the sign-up sheet is filling up. Let us know if you can help with food donations or help in the kitchen to prepare and serve the meal.

Rotarians, family and friends pause for a photo during the heat of preparing last year’s dinner

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE: Foundation & Polio Plus: Last year, our Club excelled in both areas surpassing our own goals for Foundation and Polio Plus. Foundation Chair Karl is hoping we will step up again this year despite our smaller membership. We have the added incentive of matching funds for Polio Plus from the Gates Foundation so every dollar we donate will be matched 2:1 CANADA CLUB SERVICE: Rotary Christmas Parade: Gail and Volker Kromm of our Club are the leaders of the Rotary Christmas Parade this year with help from the other local Clubs. They are meeting with City officials soon to resolve issues related to the route and policing or traffic control. The OPP continue to be involved though in a smaller capacity. Fortunately, the OPP continue to provide the insurance for the Parade through its Policy. Peace Pole:

Thunder Bay finally has a Peace Pole…standing at the Waterfront. It’s at Prince Arthur’s Landing on Saul Laskin Drive adjacent to a memorial to Thunder Bay’s Mayor, Saul Laskin. The PA Rotary Club installed that memorial and the adjacent Peace Pole location offers a grand view of the harbour. The Peace Pole was acquired by the local Clubs in 2004 and the intention was to have it installed in time for the District Conference to be held in Thunder Bay in 2005…part of the Centenary of Rotary celebrations. The developments at the Waterfront stalled things for several years and things finally came to a head when FW President Irene Sottile pursued this in her year. She had hoped to have it up by the time DG Smette arrived but just missed that date due to assorted delays…but she ultimately prevailed. Our Peace Pole proclaims the message of Peace in English, French and Ojibwa. A large granite slab is near the Pole and a plaque is installed to dedicate the Pole and its purpose. The Peace Pole Committee and Canada Club group are working on an event to dedicate the Peace Pole installation and it will take place on the UN International Day of Peace – Saturday, September 21st. The event will take place at 12 noon that day and all Rotarians are invited to attend to mark the occasion. The plan is for our local Clubs to develop an annual gathering at the Peace Pole on September 21st to celebrate and promote the International Peace Day. FELLOWSHIP FINES: Past President Allan was called on today and opened quickly with tribute from President Gail for helping Don to know how many l’s there are in his name. A few arrived for the meeting after the bell sounded and they were invited to add their tribute. Those in the room who received the benefit of some form of training through a Red Cross program were also invited to share…and many did. Any members of the “silver tsunami” in the room were also invited to share. And those who have not yet signed on for one of our volunteer services this fall were also invited. Shirley offered a dollar for attending the celebration of the life of Richard Timmins with fellow Rotarians Georgina Voulgaris and Paul Carr. Sandy shared a sad dollar on behalf of the family of former Rotaract President, Staci Dorval. Staci died at the young age of 22 and her memorial service was held last week. Allan wrapped up his sweep today with a happy dollar as he is about to have a week off…and the weather looks just peachy. 50/50 DRAW:

Liisa won the 50/50 prize today and her $6 will go to the Rotary Foundation for Polio Plus along with other donations and winnings recorded through the rest of this year. NEXT MEETING:

THURSDAY, AUGUST 29th MARY McLELLAN – CLASSIFICATION TALK

FINAL WORD: