The health and safety of our Rotarian members and our families is of utmost importance and given the current COVID-19 pandemic necessitates cancellation of our meeting activities in the short term. We need to do our part to support social distancing and thereby the efforts of medical personnel to limit the spread of coronavirus.
After consulting with AG Bob Stevenson and given cancellations related to schools, county facilities (libraries, museums and arenas until April 5) and community activities as well as those of Rotary District 7090 (details copied for your information below), I am cancelling the Rotary Club of Simcoe club meetings until April 20th. This effectively cancels scheduled meetings on March 16, 23, and 30 as well as April 6. No meeting was scheduled for April 13th due to the Easter holiday. I will be following up with specific Rotarians to ensure that our meeting arrangements at the Legion and our speaker engagements are cancelled.
As time evolves we may need to make further decisions with regard to Club activities. In the meantime, stay safe and healthy and feel free to be touch with me as needed.
Yours in Rotary,
Margaret Bancroft
President 2019-2020
The Rotary Club of Simcoe meets at 12:00 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion (Branch 79), 200 West Street, Simcoe, Ontario N3Y 4K3 (downstairs). Please use the Metcalfe Street Clubrooms entrance. Metcalfe Street is one way from West to Chapel Street. Also this Legion along with many others requests that anyone entering remove their head wear in respect to fallen comrades.
Last year, our Rotarian Harold Shantz died. The Club recognized his contribution and exceptional service by renaming the Rotary Charity Golf Tournament to the Harold Shantz Memorial Rotary Golf Tournament.
Harold Shantz 1939-2019
The 2020 golf tournament is scheduled for Wednesday, May 13th, 2020 at Greens At Renton with a rain date of Wednesday, May 20th, 2020. Should the COVID-19 viral outbreak persist into May, members of the golf committee will contact golfers who have registered and submitted information in which to contact them. Also this website will contain information on the status of the COVID-19 and its effect on the scheduling of the golf tournament.
We thank our sponsors, the many golfers and the volunteers who support The Rotary Club of Simcoe. This event remains a major fundraiser and source of funds for our community and international projects such as ending Polio in the world.
Now to register for the golf tournament, you can complete a paper copy and mail it to The Rotary Club, P.O. 1, Simcoe, ON N3Y 4K8. Or you can download the PDF version of the brochure/registration form from this link https://clubrunner.blob.core.windows.net/00000000306/en-ca/files/homepage/2020-harold-shantz-rotary-memorial-golf-tourn/Golf_Brochure_2020-Fimal_0310-.pdf
Fill out the Golfers registration part by placing your cursor in the pale blue (yellow the image below) highlighted area:
Then fill out the part with the title, Registration Form, place your cursor over the pale blue (again yellow in the image below) highlighted area and fill in the applicable parts:
Click on the Submit button and it is e-mailed to the Club.
It is recommended that you rename the file and save it to your hard drive for your records.
Don't forget to complete your cheque or bring your credit card to the tournament on May 13th, 2020. Yes, we do accept cash especially American currency at par
To be able to fill out the forms, you must have Adobe Reader installed on your device. It is always a good idea to check that your version of Adobe Reader is up-to-date.
Having a problem completing the registration, e-mail us at simcoe.rotary.club@gmail.com with your information and it will be transmitted to our Rotarian in charge of registrations. The Club acknowledges the receipt of all electronically transmitted registrations.
From The District 7090 February Newsletter
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When I was a junior high school student, I wasn’t interested in exchange. I did like learning about the cultures of other countries but in Japan, we have to pass an exam to enter high school, so I was just studying for the exam. I have to pass the exam to enter university and the competition is very severe. I studied all the time and I thought it was normal. Being a high school student was a little bit boring for me. I wanted to do something different and special. I also didn’t think it was good to grow up without knowing about the world. When I was 16, we hosted two students from Russia just for 2 days. Then I used my English to have a conversation for the first time and it was so difficult and exciting. I decided I wanted to know about the culture of other countries by myself, through my English. At the same time, I knew about this exchange program through Rotary because my Grandfather was a Rotarian.Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Mar 09, 2020
Rotarian Rick Honcharsky provides Meaghan Nadwodny with a cheque for $1,000 toward new playground equipment for St. Bernard Clairvaun School in Waterford. Where did the old equipment go? After 40 years or so original equipment becomes unsafe/not up to school board standards - the inspectors said it has to be removed/upgraded - so are the times! Repair/upgrading old equipment was judged a very poor investment in light of changing standards - better to put $10,000 toward new equipment. So what are they giving up now - six swings in a muddy lot for 245 students - each student is allocated only twenty-five swings then has to give it to another student. Interestingly an increase in bullying was noted since they lost their playground equipment! Kids need an outlet!
Meaghan searched online for federal government grants - none found. It seems playgrounds are not funded by the Ministry of Education. So Meaghan found herself pursuing fundraising. The parent council advised that they can only have one fund raiser per year. The original concept was quoted as $85,000. The project was revised to $65,000. Modern playgrounds are expensive and more than just a few swings. Rather, site preparation, drainage, accessible walkways (as required), grades of mulch to current standards
, round posts ... . Action so far - $15,000 raised from businesses, now campaigning services clubs, a ladies comedy night is upcoming. We wish Meaghan and the parents well. There are 600 new homes planned for Waterford. So the equipment will be used.
Posted by Tim FitzGerald on Mar 02, 2020
Dolf Wynia holds the current picture of Port Dover Library entrance. Heather King (Chair Friends of the Library) and Marion Dowds (Project Manager) hold the design drawing of the "Reading Garden". The project is $50,000; and our Rick Honcharsky, Director -Community Concerns presented them with a $1,000 cheque towards their campaign.
Why? Heather King recounted how most of us, if not all, in the room today had access to a library growing up, in school, careers, ongoing ... and as a community space. Libraries are great levelers. But literacy in Norfolk County is lagging. There are many possible reasons; but, perhaps there are those who have never experienced a library!
A decade or such ago, the PD Library moved from main street into space leased from the Grand Erie District School Board. Its a good interior space but the current picture above leaves much to be desired and thus great opportunity. The library deploys many unique and valuable resources inside. The goal is to make the entrance "reading garden" inviting to first time visitors and a place of community to everyone.
Craig Hunter stepped up, impromptu, as our speaker today. Craig spent 30 years with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs advising farmers on crop diseases, pesticides and fertilizers. Post retirement he worked with the The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association. Always on the front line, he has seen the joys of successful treatments and harvests but also experienced "heart felt" the devastation that crop failure reaps onto farm and families in our area.
Its no coincidence that today is the 115th anniversary year of the founding of Rotary by Paul Harris in 1905.
Sergeant at Arms, John Valley had taken us through the Four Way Test. But it struck me that Craig (unwittingly) was speaking directly to those elements. "Is It the Truth", "Is it Fair to
all Concerned", ... .
"Memories from my career - different than yours - but similar!" (cont'd below)
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Dec 10, 2019
Simcoe Rotary has recognized Tom O'Neill for his many efforts within our Club. Tom is also being recognized within his industry. Congrats Tom!
(reprinted from OPMA - Tom pictured on the right)
The OPMA Outstanding Achievement Award, which is presented to an individual or organization that has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to the produce industry through their efforts to improve the quality and distribution of fruits and vegetables marketed within or outside the province of Ontario, was awarded to Tom O’Neill from the Norfolk Fruit Growers Association. Over the years, Tom has dedicated countless hours of his personal time to bettering the industry through his involvement in organizations like Ontario Apple Marketing Commission, Ontario Apple Growers and the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers' Association. Tom has also served as the Canadian representative to the U.S. Apple Association and on numerous committees including CPMA (CTAC) and the OPMA Member Advisory Committee. 
Posted on Oct 01, 2019
President-Elect Ron Baker thanking Leah Logan of Indwell for speaking to the Club.
On September 30th, 2019, Leah Logan of Indwell Community spoke to the Club about Indwell organization, the completed Hambleton Hall housing project and the conversion of the Norfolk Inn into a $ 8.5 million dollar housing project in downtown Simcoe. The organization is asking the community to donate $ 1 million of the total cost. This will be one of the largest investments in the downtown which has seen better days over the years.
Indwell was created in the early 1970's as a Christian charity.
When Indwell describes housing affordability, they use the term deep affordability which means the tenants can pay their rent and have a remainder for food, transportation and expenditures that many of us take for granted.
Norfolk Inn, Downtown, Simcoe, Photograph from Indwell Website
Indwell designs their own buildings and place a priority on high quality and energy conservation.
The plan is to convert former Norfolk Inn complex into primarily 31 single bedroom units. The ground floor will have apartments, office space as well as a kitchen so that the tenants can get at least one hot meal a day.
Construction begins in November, 2019 with the projected completion date of spring 2021.
Posted on Dec 03, 2019
December 2, 2019 - Rotarian Bob Stevenson, Connie (Rotarian) and Kristen Forsyth, 2018-2019 Exchange Student to Brazil.
With the help of a slick slideshow presentation, Kristen told us about in her year in Brazil. As a seasoned Rotarian, it always amazes that the Canadian exchange students are just teenagers. Kristen has also had some "seasoning" as a graduate of the Short term Exchange program with a summer in Hungary. Oh! By the way, shortly she will be visited another exchange student and friend in Mexico. Adiós.
Posted on Dec 03, 2019
November 25, 2019 - Rotarian Larry Kormos thanks speaker and Rotarian Kelly Isfan, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Norfolk General Hospital in Simcoe and West Haldimand Hospital in Hagersville.
Kelly Isfan updated the Club on the major organization changes in the Ontario Health System. Health consumes at least a third of the Ontario government's annual budget and it is growing. The creation of the new superagency to oversee the province’s massive health-care system is expected to save taxpayers about $ 350 million a year when it’s fully operational in four years.
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Nov 16, 2019
Today Rotarians - Garry, Jim, Mike, Dan, Craig, Dave, Tim, Marg and our exchange student Minori participated in the Curl for Kids Sake - Big Brother Big Sisters event at the Simcoe Curling Club. As the title sponsor through the New Generations Committee and with other sponsors, we contributed to the funding of 4 "Little" "Big" Partnerships!
Executive Director Melissa Pollard thanked us for supporting "Little" "Big" partnerships. Their new slogan and rebranding is unveiled it the banner behind Melissa.
Curlers can be a serious lot. To mix it up a bit in the afternoon, each end came with the opening and reading of the mystery white envelopes; new rules such as: "no sweeping this end" , "exchange scores this end", "no skips this end" and "you score two this end". But seriously again, even after mixing up the rules , our team "Rotary Simcoe #1" walked away with bragging rights until the next event being declared the bonspiel winner! A good day and also thank you to the "Little" Partners that served us lunch.
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Nov 05, 2019
Our Rotarian Craig Hunter is passionate about the history and sacrifice of the brave men, women and relatives who landed and fought overseas in world wars and continue to this day in present conflicts. Craig has written books of his research and donated them to our national archives. In prior years, he has detailed these heartfelt sacrifices. This year, Craig detailed for us how, from 1939, for every airmen in the skies, soldier on the beaches, and sailors on the waves; Canada, the nation was with them training, provisioning and supplying armaments.
And, so much of this war effort was right here in our backyards across Norfolk, Oxford, Haldimand and Brant Counties. In 1939, the British Commonwealth picked Canada as the training ground for air forces. Canada was remote from prying eyes of Europe and a natural deployment to Europe. The stipulation was that air force training had to be on the Great Lakes to simulate flying over the English Channel and North Sea. Canada trained 80,000 air crew and 131,000 ground crew.
Craig and Rotarians are assembling at the Baldock Funeral Home November 11th to march in the parade to the Cenotaph. Please join them (and dress warm).
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Nov 04, 2019
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Frank MacMaster from The Salvation Army kicked off the 2019 Kettle Campaign with us today. This year's goal is $100,000 with kettles stationed at retailers around the country starting November 22nd.
Funds raised stay in our communities and fund social programmes. Campaign costs are kept to basics because of volunteer hours from Rotary, other service clubs, community organizations and citizens at the kettles. Each shift is 2 hours.
Please give at the kettles and give often.
To volunteer - contact Frank MacMaster at 519-909-9421 or frank_macmaster@can.salvationaemy.org
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Oct 30, 2019
That is how it is spelt (phonetically) - just as it is pronounced!
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Peter Wheatley (educator), Marjorie and Jim Dawson (both engineers) are members of the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise (meetings Tuesday AM) and drove to Pikangikum last winter - being thanked today by our Rotarian Stan Knowles.
The trio said the "Ice Road" serving Pikanjikum is reliable only two plus months of the year. The rest of the year its fly-in, fly-out or river barge for bulk deliveries during the summer/melt to stock up for the winter. The community is 3,000 people.
Jim and Marjorie are not strangers to the area. They have completed many canoe trips and other adventures here over the years. They were joined by a Winnipeg Rotarian (Mennonite minister) and his adult son (yet another engineer). Rotarians on the road are bound to have good natured fun - usually at each others expense. Peter, quite tall, was a natural to organize basketball games at the high school. Jim became quite articulate backing up a big trailer behind a big Ford pick-up truck; but, was also self-appointed as a fuel conservationalist - "go green"! So to Jim, excessive warming up the truck in January was a no-no. Peter (tall boy) could not see out the top of the frozen windshield; but remarks that "positive" Marjorie (normal height or less) could look through the steering wheel at the defrosted area and did not "see" the problem.
But what of the Rotarian (minister) from Winnipeg? He brought pictures of a visit he had made to Pikangikum some 30-40 years earlier. Showing them at the community centre, kids shouted out "that's my grand father", "that's my auntie" ... . Pikangikum translated from Ojibway is "one river, one people, one voice". The residents of Pikangikum even as they are gathering together bits of their history are trying to piece together their future culture.
I Googled Pikangikum and found this video recorded by the youth of Pikangikum quite revealing.
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Oct 28, 2019
On the left, Jim Dawson accepts our cheque of $2,500 for Operation Eyesight from our Mike Cobb - International Affairs Director. As a new project, Operation Eyesight has placed a mobile van in Nepal - bringing eye care to the Nepalese.
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Oct 26, 2019
Big Brothers Big Sisters Grand Erie (BBBS GE) is hosting a fundraising bonspiel in support of their work with local, Grand Erie kids. It is scheduled for Saturday 16 Nov ’19 at the Simcoe Curling Club. The theme is ‘Wild West Adventure’.
Rotary is assisting with the organization and contributing teams to the event. So far, we have registered one Rotary team from the morning club (Jim Simpson, Andy Kooistra, Cheryl Peck and Minori Kubode). But in the past Rotarians have been able to field two or more teams. So the challenge is out there.
This year, we will be coordinate this with other Rotary clubs in the BBBS GE area so that we can best support the event in Rotary style.
If you have a curling contact in a neighbouring club that would be interested, or if I can offer any other coordinating help, Rotarian or not, please let me know - Jim Simpson at jimandlyndasimpson@gmail.com or phone 289-680-0070.
To register or fundraise for Curl For Kids Sake, click this link. http:// https://give.classy.org/cfks
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Oct 21, 2019
When Alzheimer’s is viewed as a stigma it burdens families and raises health care costs. Alene Bradshaw – Director of Development and Maria Leitos – First Point Navigator (seen here with Rotarian Craig Hunter) are staff with our local Alzheimer Society. They explained that Alzheimer’s lies in a spectrum of dementia diseases. Like any disease, if proper information, diagnosis and medical treatment are not sought out – the disease may likely get worse.
Shatter the myth – old age does not equal memory loss! If your family member or friend is losing memory find out why. It could be factors of seven reversable/pseudo causes; tumours, depression, diabetes … . There are eight irreversible causes in the many areas within the brain; frontal lobes, anterior lobes, and many more. Disease/dementia in one lobe may leave others intact and fully functioning – thus risk of family and friends ignoring symptoms and not seeking medical advice.
When dementias remain undiagnosed, in some patients, activity deteriorates; others patients get agitated in unfamiliar circumstances (which may lead to involving the police) – both may end up in the hospital emergency room.
Education and some things that have been learned:
Education and learning – the more neural pathways that we develop over a lifetime makes us more resilient. So if you continue learning/using all five senses and then if you loose, say, two pathways through dementia then you still have pathways left to continue functioning with. So social groups and exercise are important therapies. Alene and Maria advised that walking enlarges the memory active part of the brain and is a most significantly beneficial therapy – for some reason especially in men.
For patients with a diagnosed dementia moving them to their next residence early allows them to become familiar with new surroundings and routines.
Please visit their website for more information www.alzhn.ca
Posted on Oct 01, 2019
Jean Prouse, Tanya Gascoigne, St. Joseph School Playground Project as Director of New Generations and Vocational Service Janis Demmans presents cheque.
Host Mother and Rotarian Connie Forsythe and Minori Kubode, 2019-2020 Rotary Youth Exchange Student, Kaga, Japan
This young lady will be ordering take-out pizza from her cell-phone in no time.
