Mike Phelan – District Governor

ADG Sydney Baxter-Dennis introduced Mike who joined Rotary in 1988 and became President of his Toronto East Club in 1990. Mike owns a safety supply company and has one daughter with his wife Bev. His father Bill is no stranger to Rotary.
Mike encourages the Club to attend this year’s District Conference taking place from October 24 – 26th at the Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville. Mike states that there are 2 key reasons to attend:
1 - Meet other Rotarians and share your experiences
2 - Party!

This year’s conference theme is “hands on” and it will be quite a spectacle when hundreds of Rotarians participate in a local community project lead by the Huntsville Rotary Club. Registration costs are $295 per Rotarian or $250 per new Rotarian. Further info can be found at www.rotary7070.org

Mike asks the Club to reflect upon the thousands of dollars our Club has raised over the years and the countless hours of community service. Our commitment to our community is the most important driver for our Club’s future. Rotary is a group of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

The Four-Way Test

In 1932, Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor created The Four-Way Test, a code of ethics adopted by Rotary 11 years later. The test, which has been translated into more than 100 languages, asks the following questions: Of the things we think, say or do

1 - Is it the TRUTH?
2 - Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3 - Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4 - Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Rotary’s first Korean President D. K. Lee’s theme is “Make Dreams Real.” Emphasis will be placed on:

1 - Water and Sanitation
2 - Literacy and Education
3 - Health and Hunger

26,000 children under the age of 5 die each year. President Lee has targeted childhood mortality as his top area of focus.

Mike suggests several ideas for our Club going forward. We can participate in a water project (which we have). The District has a water committee established that invites Clubs to partner with other District Clubs to launch a large scale water project. In terms of education, we can look to CALS (computer assisted learning), Imagination Library, or the Dictionary Project (which we have). Finally, mosquito nets, vaccines, medical care, gift of life, and RADAR are also worthwhile projects to look into.

Polio Plus Update:

1 - $100 million donation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
2 - $60 million from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
3 - $150 million additional donation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
4 - Dr Margaret Chan from the World Health Organization (WHO) has targeted Polio eradication as a priority.

Attendance

On this day, there were 30 Rotarians and 3 guests including our speaker. Gene Burns welcomed back Sandra Cooksey. Vice-President Victor introduced his brother Dr. K. Shastri who is a member of the Cookstown Rotary Club in Northern Ireland. Dr. Shastri has been in Rotary for the past 47 years and was President of his Club twice.

Announcements

Norm Rhora made a tribute to the late Rotarian Gerry Bradler by generously donating $500 for the President’s Walk which helps raise money for the RI Foundation.

Bruce Pettit says Ribfest signs are up promoting the event and he is still looking for advertisers. The event is only 3 weeks away!

Jimmy Foster wanted to let the Club know that he visited John Woods and his wife recently and that they’re both doing well. Visitors are most welcome.

Lina Demerjian announced that the International Committee has their 1st meeting after Rotary lunch on July 22nd.

Ribfest

If you sold advertising for last years Ribfest please follow up with your buyer and see if they would like to advertise again this year. Once you have an answer please let Kim Nilsson know. If you did not sell any advertising last year you have a chance to redeem yourself this year. So get out there and sell…sell…sell!

Volunteer sign up sheets have been emailed to every one who has an email address. A number of you have responded but there are still some who have not. Be sure to fill them out and return them to Ruth or Gary MacGregor ASAP. Volunteers are particularly needed every year for the 5:00 – 11:00 shift

Woods Cunningham Wheel

There was no draw this week because of time restraints and because Don won all the money the previous week.

Sergeant-at-Arms- Shirley Zinman

Both Geoff Dean and Mike Murton paid a buck for wearing shorts to Rotary. Mike stood on his chair emphatically declaring he was merely a visiting Rotarian from Bermuda!

Victor Shastri paid a happy buck for each year his brother was a Rotarian! Victor was also pleased that his daughter’s wedding went very well.

Norm Rhora paid a happy toonie for the start of a 2nd Probus Club and for a fantastic hip replacement.

Visiting Rotarian Dr Shastri was happy to donate his last Canadian dollar.

Sydney Baxter-Dennis paid a happy $5 for celebrating another anniversary.

Josie Dayao paid a happy $3 for her niece’s retirement from the National Ballet of Canada.

Karen Kimber paid a sad buck for the ringing of her cell phone during the meeting, not being on the Rotary listing, being unable to attend Ribfest, and for an omission of her birthday on the Bluffer.

From The Humour Library of Geoff Dean

A Few Sensible Observations

1. When I die, I want to die like my grandfather--who died
   peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the
   passengers in his car."
   --Author Unknown
2. Advice for the day: If you have a lot of tension and you
   get a headache, do what it says on the aspirin bottle:
   "Take two aspirin" and "Keep away from children."
   --Author Unknown
3. "Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so?
   There's a support group for that.
   It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar."
   --Drew Carey
4. "The problem with the designated driver program, it's
   not a desirable job, but if you ever get sucked into
   doing it, have fun with it. At the end of the night,
   drop them off at the wrong house."
   --Jeff Foxworthy
5. "Relationships are hard. It's like a full time job, and
   we should treat it like one. If your boyfriend or girlfriend
   wants to leave you, they should give you two weeks' notice.
   There should be severance pay, the day before they leave
   you, they should have to find you a temp."
   --Bob Ettinger
6. "If life were fair, Elvis would be alive and all the
   impersonators would be dead."
   --Johnny Carson
7. "My parents didn't want to move to Florida,
   but they turned sixty and that's the law."
   --Jerry Seinfeld
8. "You can say any foolish thing to a dog,
   and the dog will give you a look that says,
   'My God, you're right!
   I never would've thought of that!'"
   --Dave Barry
   

Bluffer Editors

We are looking for two new Bluffer editors. We presently have four and would like to have six. With six in the rotation your services would only be required every twelve weeks for a two week period. If you think you would like to avail yourself of this wonderful opportunity to hone your writing skills please contact Audrey or Gary,

Celebrations

Upcoming Meetings- to update your information, e-mail Gary at garymac@clarkehenning.com

Duty Roster