March 29, 2012

Getting to know more about Devon Teeple

President Paul’s theme for our year…“PROUD PAST SERVICE…

CHALLENGING EXCITING FUTURE”A mild spring morning with 19 Lakehead Rotarians on hand plusvisiting Rotarian Walter Hardie [Hamilton A.M.]; prospective newmembers Gail and Volker Kromm; and Devon’s guest Toni Murphy,Scotiabank Branch Manager.

CLUB SERVICE:ON THE DOOR:George was on the door today and has served for the month ofMarch. Norm takes over for April.

CLUB SPONSORSHIP:

Our meetings in March are sponsored by Richard Kehrig andSunset Memorial Gardens. Thank you Rotarian Richard Kehrig.Today, Richard talked about burial traditions and practices formother parts of the world. The early tradition in many places was tohave a church and graveyard beside. The “demand”for space dueto the Black Death [Bubonic Plague] resulted in a move to separateareas for the rapid growth in cemeteries…but many places still had

to clear space from time to time. The catacombs under Paris holdsome 8 million skulls and assorted bones…and it’s considered a“must-see”for tourists. If you want to buy a grave in Greece, it willcost you $140,000 U.S. Most lease space for a period of time. InGermany, you “rent”a space for 30 years…and then you’re out.Same in Sweden. In England, you can get a spot for 100 years andthen you make room for the next occupant. And at SunsetMemorial Gardens in Thunder Bay, you can buy your spot for$1,000 and it’s yours forever. So, as Richard says, you can one-upyour snobby European relatives when they come to visit. MethinksRichard should look into work as a stand-upcomedian…specializing in the world of funerals and cemeteries.

CALENDAR–MEETINGS & EVENTS:MARCHIS “LITERACY MONTH”MAR 31 CURLING FELLOWSHIP –FW CURLING CLUB/7 P.M.

APRIL IS “ROTARY MAGAZINE MONTH”APRIL 4 BOARD MEETINGAPRIL 5 SCOTT McFADDEN–THUNDER BAY INTERNATIONAL

AIRPORT AUTHORITYAPRIL 6 GOOD FRIDAYAPRIL 9 EASTER MONDAYAPRIL 12-14 DISTRICT CONFERENCE–CLOQUET, MNAPRIL 12 RYAN GIBSON/TB POLICE YOUTH CORPSAPRIL 19 BUSINESS MEETING + PDG PAUL TIMMINSAPRIL 26 GLENN CRAIG–TBRHSC FOUNDATION

MAY IS“CONVENTION MONTH”MAY 2 BOARD MEETINGMAY 3 REGULAR MEETING CANCELLEDMAY 3 SHRIMP FEST–PA PROSVITAMAY 6-9 ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION–THAILANDMAY 8 LAKEHEAD ROTARY’S 28th ANNIVERSARYMAY 10 DAVE NICHOLSON/AUTHOR…SPORTS HISTORYMAY 12 WILDERNESS DISCOVERY WORKDAY- SHEBANDOWANMAY 17 BUSINESS MEETINGMAY 21 VICTORIA DAYMAY 24 BRIAN BERRINGER/TB FIRE SERVICE

“HOME FIRE SAFETY”MAY 24 CANADA CLUB MEETINGMAY 31 GARRY KUSHNER…ADVENTURE IN IRELAND

JUNE IS “ROTARY FELLOWSHIP MONTH”JUNE 2 RELAY FOR SHELTER–CHIPPEWA PARKJUNE 6 BOARD MEETINGJUNE 7 [OPEN]JUNE 14 REGULAR MEETING CANCELLEDJUNE 14 PRESIDENT’S BBQ/VALHALLA INNJUNE 21 BUSINESS MEETINGJUNE 28 [OPEN]

PRESENTATION:Today we learned more about one of our newer members, DevonTeeple, as he gave his classification talk. Devon was born inNiagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. His dad was a machinist and hismom was a lab technician at the St. Cathariines General Hospital.His sister, Erin, is a music teacher in Toronto. Dad is a big baseballfan and player in his youth. He had a chance to try out for theDetroit Tigers but at that time, being 16 years of age, leaving homewas a big deal. Devon inherited Dad’s baseball talent and hisnose…but not so much of his skill with mechanical things.

Devon has always been about baseball and wanted to be aprofessional player. He received a scholarship to York College inNebraska in 1977 and played there for 4 years. He learned muchfrom his coach…and more than just baseball. He learned how towin, how to lose, about leadership and teamwork…and how to be abetter person off the field.

Devon did play professionally for a time in the Frontier League forthe River City Rascals and Gateway Grizzlies. His professionalcareer ended after 3.2 innings but it was the best experience of hislife. He went back to school in Hamilton where he received adiploma in Paralegal Studies and began working in management.He signed up for the Sports Management World Wide Baseball GMand Scouting Course in 2006. His final project was an organizationreport on the Tampa Bay Rays during a rebuilding stage. MauryBrown of the Biz of Baseball [Business of Sports Network] saw hiswork and offered him an opportunity to edit and conduct researchfor his new organization. He worked with Maury for six years butonly met him face-to-face in December while he was attending theBaseball Winter Meetings in Dallas.

Devon has worked in many areas of baseball organizations andwas honoured to conduct a baseball camp for kids [ages 5 –18] inPlymouth, MA. During an internship with the Football Outsiders, heassisted with advanced statistical analysis for their website. Hethen started his own baseball specific website – The GM’sPerspective. His site was recreated in June of 2010 by Infinity ProSports. Since then, his site has received 700,000 hits with a high of50,000 in November, 2011.

In his “other life”, Devon is a small business manager with theSoctiabank in Thunder Bay. He started in August of 2010 and islearning every day…and thriving. Devon acknowledged ToniMurphy, branch manager, for her mentorship and encouragement.

Devon recently enrolled again with York College to finish his BAdegree…via online courses. He couldn’t afford to stay to finishonce his scholarship ended so he is very pleased to be able to earnthat BA. He is really enjoying his time in Thunder Bay. He recentlybought a house and has met many great people here. He islooking forward to growing with his Rotary Club, with Scotiabank,and with his community. Thank you Devon…and we are gratefulthat you chose to be part of Rotary’s worldwide family and yourLakehead Rotary“family”

CLUB SERVICE:CLUB MEETING SPONSORSHIP:If you can help your Club and wish to promote your business orcommunity interests through a month sponsorship, please contactSergeant Bill or Clint. Here is the sponsorship line-up to date:JULY Garry JANUARY KathrynAUGUST open FEBRUARY GrahamSEPTEMBER Bob MARCH RichardOCTOBER Gail APRIL SandyNOVEMBER Paul MAY openDECEMBER open JUNE 4 Star RotariansON THE DOOR IN 2011/12:Rotarians take a turn at welcoming fellow members and guests atthe door…for their chosen month. Help your Club…pick a month. Contact Sergeant Bill or Clint if you can take a month. Here is the“gatekeeper’s” line-up so far:JULY Clint JANUARY GailAUGUST Xoli FEBRUARY GrahamSEPTEMBER Richard MARCH GeorgeOCTOBER Karl APRIL NormNOVEMBER George MAY KarlDECEMBER Mo JUNE open

CURLING:Bill Butuk has organized a curling fellowship event for thisSATURDAY, MARCH 31st at the FW Curling Club. We have twosheets of ice and have 16 Rotarians, family and friends signed up

to curl. Participants, friends and spectators will gather for somepost-curling fellowship and Chinese food upstairs. You’re on your own for food and beverages. Curling runs from 7 –8 pm…and Bill says there will be “prizes”. Those who have not yet paid willsee Bill to pay up at the FW Curling Club. And all curlers should bethere by 6:45 pm to get set up for curling with your assigned Skip.

COMMUNITY SERVICE:

SHRIMP FEST:This year’s Shrimp Fest is set for Thursday, May 3rd and tickets areon sale now. Tickets are $45 per person and tables of 8 areavailable…and those securing tables of 8 will once again be eligible to win 8 lbs. of shrimp. Tickets are out on consignment at localoutlets [see the poster] and you can get yours from Gail at weeklymeetings. Gail reported that Kerry Malone and Smith Insuranceare first in with their table of 8.

Gail reports that the shrimp have been ordered and she will need afew helpers to bag cooked/chilled shrimp on May 2nd at the Proz.Contact Gail if you can help out.

Allan is in charge of the silent auction again this year and hedistributed all the materials we will need to go forth and canvassformer and new donors for 60+ items. Most of the money we raiseat our Shrimp Fest comes from the silent auction…so everyone is asked to help out as they are able. Allan also emailed thecanvassing letter and forms, etc. so please use these and start outas soon as possible.

Got your tickets yet!?!?

FELLOWSHIP FINES:Karl was in fine form today collecting tribute from Paul for his “fineavoidance ploy”plus a dollar left by Ken who had to leave early. Aquiz based on a story in the latest Rotarian left everyoneblank…and paying up. Liisa almost had the right answer butcouldn’t escape as she was a wee bit late for the start of themeeting. Note to self: must remember to read the magazinethoroughly as soon as it shows up. Sandy gave her happy dollarfor a conversation while waiting for a flight with one of the 1,727young applicants for a position with NOSM. Terry gave his forseeing Karl “do some work”recently as a volunteer for theCanadian Wheelchair Curling Championships in town. ToniMurphy gave her happy dollar in recognition of Devon’spresentation today. And Bill wrapped up with his sad dollar onbehalf of the Toronto Maple Leafs…a sympathy dollar perhaps.

Don added a happy dollar on recent travels with Betsy to SouthAmerica…where they checked in with former Exchange Students -Maru Rubin, Mar del Plata, Argentina [2002/03] and ClaudiaAlvarez-Barrios, Santa Cruz, Bolivia [2004/05]. They are bothdoing well. Claudia works for a bank and is completing herMasters. Don has more news and pictures to share…at nextweek’s meeting.

50/50 DRAW:Roy Lucas won the bonus prize [gift card] provided by our sponsorthis month –Rotarian Richard Kehrig. And Walter won today’s 50/50 pot.

NEXT MEETING:THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

SCOTT McFADDENTHUNDER BAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY

FINAL WORD…Today’s final word goes to the FASD Workshop [Fetal AlcoholSpectrum Disorder]. This Workshop will be held on Wednesday,June 20/12 at Confederation College – Lecture Theatre. TheWorkshop is organized by a committee lead by Justine Bertrand,Occupational Therapist, TBRHSC [and also PA Rotarian]. Severallocal Rotarians are helping to organize this public awareness eventand Clubs are assisting financially. The PA Club has provided$1,000 and our Club is in for $500. FW Rotary and Nipigon Rotaryare considering financial support.

A “Blue Ribbon Panel” of experts and interested parties is being assembled to promote discussion and everyone in the communityis invited to participate. An extensive invitation list is also beingprepared to make sure the community is well represented. Thekeynote speaker for the event is Jody Allen Crowe, ExecutiveDirector of Healthy Brains for Children. He is an author andspeaker on the subject of FASD and has worked with many RotaryClubs to present similar sessions in the U.S. Justine encounteredJody at the last District 5580 Conference and was motivated towork with him on a presentation in Thunder Bay.

President Paul and Clint are on the planning committee and willkeep us informed. Please help to spread the word about thisWorkshop.