October 20, 2020 - Simcoe Rotary donates $ 1, 567.17 US to the Rotary Foundation.
From the top, the (Ontario) Police Services Act defines the Police Services Boards (PSB). In laymen's terms, to facilitate "effective and efficient policing" in the local community. The PSB's do not advise the OPP how to police; but rather communicates the local community's strategic policing priorities. Of the 5 members of the board, 2 are provincial appointees, 2 are members of Council (one is the Mayor) and a member from the local population appointed by Council - Dennis Travale. Dennis is the current Chair. Thus PSB is not a committee of Council nor reports to it.
PSB focus areas are:
1. Crime prevention; 2. Law enforcement; 3. Assistance to victims of crime; 4. Public order maintenance; and 5. Emergency response.
This is where the task of "effective and efficient" becomes difficult if the only solution would be moving resources from one area to another.
A better solution that has been accomplished by our Norfolk PSB was to facilitate local community policies/programmes that reduced 'waste" of scarce police resources through four projects areas: 1. A new False Alarm Bylaw. The PSB, as an independent body has the authority to issue Bylaws, 2. An active discussion with County staff and subsequently Council to determine which, if any, County Bylaws they want the police to enforce. 3. A new County-wide Community Policing Committee; and 4. A Strategic Plan for policing in Norfolk County.
And, across the news in all municipalities, who are the appropriate resources to be deployed to address areas of community safety and wellness - such as – BUT not limited to:
Mental health;
Health Care;
Homelessness;
Addictions;
Poverty;
Much has been accomplished by our PSB. There is always more to do.
The Rotary Club of Simcoe's annual fundraiser golf tournament was held today September 9th. Donating a few hours during their day - shown below foursomes of - Greg Smith and Connie Forsyth - out for the event!
The Rotary Clubs of Simcoe, Delhi, and Norfolk Sunrise need your support collecting items for the local food banks throughout September.
Monday, September 28, 2020
Angela Wallace, Port Dover Harbour Museum Curator guided Simcoe Rotarians on a virtual tour of the museum which has been closed to the public since mid-March. While the emphasis is on marine artifacts and history, Port Dover and area has a rich history of boat building and ship repair, fish processing, sports, tourism and industry such as the former W. F. Kolbe Company. A Maid of the Mist was built next door to the museum.
The museum has reached out to the community by presenting special events such as the annual New Years Levee which appears to be very well attended and a lot of fun.
While touring the museum, Rotarians learn that two Port Dover Rotarians namely Margaret Bancroft and Bob Perks are volunteers at the museum. Simcoe Rotarians are compulsive volunteers , so it is no surprise to learn of the two being involved with the museum.
The next page has a slideshow of of the tour.
New - yet entertaining - our Rotary work continues.
Rotary International District 7090’s Frank Adamson, District Governor attended our Zoom meeting today. Frank, with the full support of his wife, Judy, is very accomplished at fundraising. Be it for Rotary and/or community. How much you ask? – for example, chaired “Tour du Lac, Niagara” raising $250,000 for the United Way.
Frank has goals for our District which spans through Western New York through to Delhi, Ontario. This 2020/21 year Frank is the right person for the job!
Frank has goals for our District which spans through Western New York through to Delhi, Ontario. This 2020/21 year Frank is the right person for the job!
Cathy Penelton, Administrator and Shantelle Matos, Principal Fundraiser for Global Shore Opportunities spoke to us today.
This Not-For-Profit was established by residents of Norfolk County in 2002 from a local farm group. An attachment to Guatemala showed the need for schooling K-12 grades. In Guatemala most students don't finish school. There is little government support. Rather most students drop out to support their families. Global Shore Opportunities thus started a school in the El Tizate countryside.
18 years later they have classes K-12, graduates, 33 Guatemalan staff and are becoming sustainable with graduates coming back to teach. They teach streams such as Graphic Design, Accounting and Secretarial. Students do a practicum (co-op) and are often hired as employees.
Global Shore Opportunities has a following. An office has since been opened in Pennsylvania to allow US tax receipts to be issued to US donors there. Of course Covid-19 has upset regular donations.
Visit them at https://globalshore.org/
Sepsis – what is it? In lay terms, when infections from “external” sources, be they from deep cuts, sore throats or other causes bypass the bodies defences and reside “inside the body where no infections are supposed to be” sepsis can set in. Undiagnosed / untreated sepsis infection cans be deadly within relatively short periods of time.
Ellen Coffey (Zoom video) is a volunteer with the Canadian Sepsis Foundation. Her husband, was an healthy and avid outdoorsman. Not feeling right and undiagnosed, he suffered a combination of the signs/symptoms of sepsis. TIME (Temperature – higher or lower, Infection, Mental Decline (confused, sleepy, difficult to arouse) and Extremely Ill (severe pain or discomfort). Ellen's message "if you suspect sepsis – see a doctor immediately!" The infection was severe. A coma was induced. Unfortunately he never regained consciousness and passed.
Presenting today with Ellen from the McMaster University Department of Medicine (Zoom video) were:
Patricia Liaw, Phd.
Alison Fox-Robichaud, MSc, MD (on active duty)
The Rotary Club of Simcoe thank the three of you for your important presentation and answering our questions today.
June 13, 2020 - King's Flower & Garden, Simcoe, Ontario
Sandra is a busy person. As a member of the Hammerhead's executive team, she helps the leadership get things done. Listening to Sandra, as parent of a 14 year old swimmer, with a new step daughter and to be working with the geriatric association takes discipline, perseverance, time management and character.These are the very same qualities that are self-instilled in the swimmers. Its competitive swimming. Each child (and their coaches) target self improvement. The swim meets are progressively regional, provincial and national culminating in national swim meets - perhaps in the olympic pool in Montreal.
How do the swimmers do it? Multiple weekly practices leave them too tired to get in trouble. Likewise homework is completed before swim practices. They are voracious at meals and will eat most anything. Swimming provides physical and mental fitness (whole body and mind exercise). The swimmers support each other and display a strong sense of community - participating in events and volunteering.
Registration fees only cover 80% of their costs else participation would become unaffordable. Chorine is not friendly too swim wear. Their elite swimmers are doing laps in the pool up to 14 times per week. Some starting at 7 AM and then again after school. At national levels swim wear "skin suits" can cost $400.
The Rotary Club of Simcoe is pleased to donate $1,000 to the Hammerheads and the development of these future community leaders.
Rotary "Making a Difference" continues. Seen here, Rotarian Rick Honcharsky is passing a virtual $1,000 through the screen to Megan Allen. Megan is Chair of the Lynndale Heights Public School Parents' Council.
Megan acknowledges receipt of the actual funds used towards the purchase of furniture for the “Learning Commons Project” (see picture in Megan's background) in the school. The school board is converting libraries into learning centres. The room and a grant were provided. When Megan is not working at First Ontario Credit Union, she and other parents were busy raising $20,000 to buy the furniture. Institutional furniture, computer work stations and the like are not cheap. The school provided 10 laptop computers, the grant 10 laptops and Rotary funds are being used to acquire more. Within the school some students have laptops at home; others may never have seen one. It’s a great leveller. In the learning centre the internet is free to the students.
COVID presents unusual circumstances. But when things get back to normal the parent council hopes that they will be allowed to rent the space out (such as Saturday) to community groups or companies needing extra meeting space.
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.
