We Have Moved
We Have Moved
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.
Murray Porteus, Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program
Posted on Sep 12, 2019
Murray Porteous
 
On September 9, 2019, Murray Porteous spoke to Simcoe Rotary about the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program.
 
In Norfolk County, we know when spring has come when the Whistling Swans arrive, the snowbirds return from Florida and we see the Seasonal Agricultural Workers, primarily from the Caribbean and Mexico shopping at the local supermarkets. The program has been in existence for 52 years. With the aid of a very informative video, the importance of the program to the agricultural industry and to the seasonal workers was explained.  For some of the workers, it is the only way they can feed and shelter their families. 
Pull Up Your Socks
Posted on Sep 12, 2019
District Governor Bob Artis and his wife Corine
 
District Governor Bob Artis and his wife Corine (Photograph from the District 7090 website)
 
On August 26 , 2019, District Governor Bob Artis and his wife Corine visited Simcoe Rotary.
My hearing isn't as good as it used to be. But I believe, I heard District Governor Bob tell Assistant District Governor Bob Stevenson (and Simcoe Rotarian) to pull up his pants. And surprise, surprise; District Governor Bob also pulled up his pant leg to display along with Assistant District Bob, the "Best of Friends" Rotary Theme socks.
Best of Friends ThemeSsocks
 
Simcoe Rotarians who are style setters can purchase a pair of the socks from this link for $ 16.00.
Changeover Meeting, June 18, 2019
Posted on Sep 12, 2019
Changeover Meeting, June 18, 2019
 
Simcoe Rotary, Changeover Meeting, Culver Barn, Walsh, Ontario, June 18, 2019
 
Prior to June 30th of every year, the Club recognizes the service and contribution of the outgoing executive and the new President introduces the membership to future priorities and initiatives. This year Margaret Bancroft becomes President and Dave King joins a large group of Simcoe Rotarians as a Past-President.
 
Welcome To Canada Minori
Welcome To canada Minori
Canada_Japan Flags
 
Host Mother_Connie_Forsythe_Minori_Kubode
 
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.
Rotary Supports Community Art
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Aug 19, 2019
 
 
Rotarian Mike Cobb presented Roberta Grosland, Curator of the Norfolk Arts Centre (Lynnwood Avenue, Simcoe, ON), with $1,000 to aid in their programmes.
 
"The arts centre is a public gallery, dedicated to the learning, preservation and nurturing of creativity, enjoyment and appreciation of the arts throughout Norfolk County".
 
This presentation to Roberta also coincided with the award, today, of our Gord Watts (Art) Scholarship to Chloe Shippey. Roberta explained that art programming in schools has been subject to provincial funding cutbacks. Gifts such as ours helps them procure materials, paint brushes and media to drop off at the local high schools. Not every graduate from these programmes goes on to an art career. However, in addition to appreciation of the arts, perhaps for some, students benefit from therapeutic aspects of lowering stress and blood pressure (that could be precursors to other medical conditions).
 
The Arts Centre dedicates 1,000 sq. ft. (90 square metres) to the display local talent - please visit then http://norfolkartscentre.ca 
 
 
 
2019 Gord Watts Fine Arts Scholarship Winner
Posted by C. Richard Campbell on Aug 19, 2019
Rotarian Mike Cobb and Chloe Shippey
 
Rotarian Mike Cobb presenting Chloe Shippey with the 2019 Gord Watts Arts Scholarship
 
" ...I am incredibly honoured to receive the Rotary Club of Simcoe Gord Watts Scholarship. Art is a universal form of communication. It is like a language that allows both the artist and the observer to express their emotions and ideas, while engaging both the mind and the body.
 
Art has a transformational effect, and it is clearly evident in Norfolk County, as it continues to bring individuals together, while fostering a stronger community. From the Norfolk Arts Centre where I had my first gallery showing, to the annual Studio Tour, to the art exhibit and school showings at the Norfolk County Fair, to the Norfolk Potters Guild, we are incredibly fortunate to live in a County that encourages, supports and celebrates artists of all ages.
 
Art is my passion and passion has no limits. I am excited to be heading to Sheridan College, in just a few weeks, to study Animation. With this scholarship, named in the memory of Gord watts, a community-minded volunteer and artist, you are ensuring that my dreams are turning into reality. On behalf of myself, and all the aspiring artists in our community, thank you for ensuring that the arts continues to be alive and vibrant in Norfolk County."
Chloe Shippey, 2019 Gord Watts Arts Scholarship Winner
 
 
The Gord Watts Arts Scholarship has been expanded from interdiscipline fine arts to include visual arts, graphics, art history, film, photography, animation, and web design.
 
Be The Change We Want To See 
Big Brothers Big Sisters Grand Erie
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Jul 22, 2019
Melisa Pollard is the Executive Director in our area. Melissa was inspired by an article of a mother whose three daughters grew to become a Physician of Pediatrics at San Jose, a CEO at 23andMe, and a CEO at You Tube.
Quite a success story! As a parent, how did she engender such success?
  1. Teach kids to care!
  2. The importance of community!
  3. The American ideal is all wrong (chasing personal wealth ...)!
  4. Prioritize service and purpose!
So given these elements "Be The Change You Want To See" (in the world). Be a mentor!
 
Most of us remember a person in our lives who was there when we needed it most. Who listened to us. Who gave us the inner well being and peace to keep moving forward.
 
But what would could have happened if you had no siblings/neighbours/parent who would listen to you or had time to do so? Could this  compound into loneliness, anxiety or lack of purpose? The future social outcomes would probably be quite different simply because there was no such person at hand.
 
Big Brothers Big Sisters is an agency that recruits volunteers to act as that mentoring person (since 1904). Not onerous, perhaps just two hours a week, to be with the little brother/sister and listen to them.
 
Melissa is vivacious and inspirational. She mentored a little brother, age 8, along with her fiance. The "little brother" attended her wedding ten years later. Another slide in her presentation showed a man, age 70, who was a "little brother" who kept in touch with his big brother the rest of his life.
 
The Grand Erie chapter is a lean organization. 6 paid staff members, 130 volunteers and 313 little brothers/sisters. But there are still 200 more little brothers/sisters on a waiting list.
 
While the agency relies upon volunteers, as lean as it is, it takes $1,200 in costs to sponsor a child for a year. The Rotary Club of Simcoe is proud to do so. Rotarian Capt. (Salvation Army) Rick Honcharsky (Community Service) thanked Christine (staff and volunteers) for their good work and sponsored a little brother/sister for a year with our cheque of $1,200.
 
Melissa has 15 years of private sector experience in start ups and large corporations. Effective at organization, agile innovation, there are plans to rebrand BigBrothers BigSisters and colours in its logo. Watch for this in September. Plans mission/values are being examined to ensure they are reaching our to each of the diverse communities of the Grand Erie District (Norfolk/Haldimand/Brant inclusive of Six Nations).
Youth and Skate Park Waterford
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Jul 19, 2019
"Why Not Waterford" (kids need a place to go) That's what Marlene McCulligh and Kerry Bockenholt (Kerry's St. James St. Eatery) thought when kids started doing projects about the hamlet.
 
There's no graffiti on these projects because the kids themselves planned and implemented them and took ownership of the projects. it was wonderful to see a diverse group of kids walk into a room, help each other out and become knit into one being.  (Our Rotarian John Featherstone, on the left thanking Marlene and Kerry, and joking that he grew up in Waterford and there was no place to go!) 
 
So Why Not a Skatepark? How do you accomplish that? Marlene and Kerry are both doers. Kerry on the right is the talkative one and said that if you involve every group in Waterford (Lyons, Chamber, Foundation, Trail Assoc., Museum, Norfolk County, the list goes on) on the Board then no one is against you.
 
A year ago it was a dream. Now they have Charitable status, a blueprint and fundraising plan. The Museum said we have land beside us. You can put the park there. The County will put up $200,000 if the group can fund raise $300,000. $70,000 is already being held in trust.
 
"Keep them occupied" , the kids are involved every step of the way. To understand the cost and design have a look at the Skate Park in Port Dover. It begins with a very large concrete pad and sculpted features and a pump track (a rider can keep moving continuously up and down rolling features of the track - sessioning again and again with friends - a good workout.
 
As we can see sports cost money. The park is free. However, the kids are participate in conception of the idea, design and fundraising. The next fundraiser is August 19th at Whistling gardens.
 
If you take youth seriously they will take care of the park/projects. "I'm proud of you" - just saying that is enough!
 
Our Joan Shirlow and the Spring Arbour Farm Dedication
Rotarian Joan Shirlow
 
In May, the Long Point Basin Land Trust dedicated the Spring Arbour Farm to its land inventory.
Rotarian Joan Shirlow donated the land to LPBLT which "...works with landowners and the local community to provide a helping hand to wild species and ecosystems in one of Ontario’s most naturally diverse regions."
Simcoe Rotary Donation to the Norfolk General Hospital
Kelly Isfan and President Dave King
 
June 10th, 2019, Rotarian and President/CEO of Norfolk General Hospital and West Haldimand Hospital in Hagersville Kelly Isfan accepts the latest installment from President Dave King of the Club's financial commitment of $ 25,000.00.
 
 
Simcoe Sign
Simcoe Sign
 
Recently the County of Norfolk replaced the "community" signs on the highways entering and exiting Simcoe. The Rotary Club of Simcoe and Norfolk-Sunrise contributed to the cost of the modern signs.
Rotarian Volunteers
rotary Volunteers
 
The for men wearing the "cute" blue hair nets and the one in the white baseball cap are Simcoe Rotarians. The ladies are associated with the Salvation Army. On July 9th, 2019, the men volunteered to assist the Simcoe Salvation Army in feeding those that need a meal. The Rotary Club of Simcoe and the local Salvation Army enjoy a relationship that spans decades. Our Rotarians volunteer for countless hours in the community for such organizations as the food bank, drivers for patients to medical appointments, blind skiers, their churches, Boy Scouts and the list goes on and on.
Three Young Leaders
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Jun 27, 2019
The Rotary Club of Simcoe sponsored three young women to attend our Rotary District 7090 SLAPSHOT 2019 Programme.
 
 
 In the photo Jada Dawson, Laci O’Reilly-Forrest, and Karly Hoak are flanked by Bob Stephenson (New Generations) and club President – Dave King. This Rotary programme stands for Student Leadership Awards Programme (SLAPshot). Like the hockey puck it propels students forward quickly and enables them to believe in themselves.
The trio attended Ancaster last May with students from our Rotary District which also includes participants from our District's Western New York State Rotary Clubs. Of course, their expressions of their experiences were different. Howevr their communication of learning and confidence as to what leadership is was unified. The trio was split into separate cabins with twelve other students per cabin. Here are some of their blended reports and feelings.
Leadership – there are many types but core aspects are get along, have fun and make the world a better place. Be yourself, take risks and don’t worry – step out of your comfort zone and away from the pressures of judgement.
Skits, activities and experiencing leadership – such as getting all of your team downhill, through hoola hoops on wet grass (wearing inappropriate footware lol) in the Pacific Rim of Fire, in record time. Lessons learned – hold each other up – its difficult – but people are there to help you!
I feel privileged to have advance my leadership skills that will be used as co-president of the student’s council next year.
Counsellors are only there to watch you. Breakfast is served but from there on its your responsibility– last cabin to arrive does the clean up!
Annalise Carr was a guest speaker – awesome.
We tackled world problems of mental health, climate change and are taking back potential solutions to our schools.
Thank you Rotary Club of Simcoe for sponsoring us!
Mayor Kristal Chopp joins us at lunch
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on May 13, 2019
 
It has been four months since Mayor Kristal Chopp and the new Council took office.  Her Worship shared with us “what’s on her plate” around the Council table.

Kristal is an accomplished graduate from both the Richard Ivey School of Business and McMaster University holding an MBA plus engineering and law degrees. On the practical side, she is an Air Canada pilot on A737 aircraft.

The Mayor  outlined major issues facing the County today. Looming infrastructure spending is keeping the Mayor up at night – examples: $10M for a bridge on the Long Point Causeway, $2M+ for remediation of leaking gas wells in the vicinity of Silver Hill, the need to expand the water treatment plant capacity in Port Dover $? (current treatment capacity at 3,000 cu. meters is insufficient to service peak demand of 5,000 cu. metres should the water tower ever go offline by reason of service or failure). The list goes on.

Strategically Norfolk County is only 16,000 sq. km. Yet an infrastructure assessment report shows 230 structures rated for risk of significant expenditure or near future replacement. However, the message is simple - Norfolk’s situation is non-enviable compared to other municipalities.

On funding – Ontario announced a new $30 billion infrastructure fund – one of the primary tasks for the new CAO Harry Schlange is to go to Queen’s Park and get Norfolk’s share of that funding. If “The  Hub”  funding can be secured from these provincial and federal counterpart sources  it could proceed – otherwise it would seem to be a non-starter.

Questions from Rotarians:
The Legacy Fund, reserves and taxes – interest rates have been low, if the Legacy Fund is not earning a decent return should we consider spending part of it on infrastructure repairs and replacements – in essence a better return? The new CAO is currently having meetings about that question. But it's not that simple! The existence of Legacy Fund gives the County a better Standard and Poor’s rating which lowers the County’s other borrowing costs. The County’s tendering and bid bonding requirements will be reviewed. An example was cited of a recent instance where 40 tender documents were picked up for a project but only 2 tenders were received –the question to be understood and resolved is why so few contractors are bidding on Norfolk projects. So No!, the County will not be blindly turning on the spending taps. Rather, the new CAO, the Mayor, Council and Staff are being tasked to get the County’s spending and tendering processes in order.

The Misner Dam – similar to the “The Hub”, there is ongoing activity, but the looming infrastructure funding  is the prime issue now.

Painting your building in Port Dover – Kristal intends to do this when some decent weather arrives.

Regardless - Council and Committee meetings, attending to seemingly endless information requests, appearances and not withstanding duties as a pilot, have all kept Kristal stretched to the limits. Asked if she will proceed with her property as a craft brewery – response, not any time soon!

Thank You Mayor Chopp for spending time with us today.
 
 
Rotary Builds Friendships
Tom Pidduck, George Renshaw,Jim Jackson, Harold Shantz
 
January, 2019. Rotarian Tom Pidduck, Honorary Rotarian George Renshaw, Rotarians Jim Jackson and Harold Shantz
 
When you become a Rotarian, you build friendships. Some last for decades. George Renshaw was an active member of the Rotary Club of Simcoe for over 63 years. The 102 year old Honorary Rotarian now lives in a nearby nursing home where the Rotarians in the photograph visit him frequently (but not before dining out a Simcoe restaurant).
 
Photograph: Courtesy of Harold Shantz
 
 
Highlights
2019 Holiday House Tour
Let's Do Lunch Monday
 
Join Us!
norfolk Rotary Tabloid June 19, 2018
 
Click on image to download pdf.
April 9th,1925
 
 
Canada End Polio How Stamp
 
 
Rotary Youth Exchange
Tumaini Children's Foundation
Dr. Gord Watts Scholarship
Caution - Retired
Our Resident Speaker Critic

Our Resident Speaker Critic!

Service Above Self
Follow Us On Facebook--New Link
 
 
Speakers
Meeting Cancelled - Rotary Day of Action
Sep 23, 2019
Rotary Day of Action
Sep 28, 2019
More information to come
TBA
Sep 30, 2019
TBA
Oct 07, 2019
Meeting Cancelled - Thanksgiving Holiday
Oct 14, 2019
TBA
Oct 21, 2019
TBA
Oct 28, 2019
View entire list...
 
Links