December 11, 2018, Port Dover, Ontario
It was a murder of mystery and a Christmas party at the Lighthouse Theater. Present was a good crowd of Simcoe Rotarians and guests. They were joined by the usual suspects. The suspects from the 1950's had names like Johnny Angel, Donna, Peggy, Coach and the Chaperone. At times, it was difficult to identify the suspects from Rotarians as various members and their guests were drawn into the mystery of the murder by the suspects. Everyone had an enjoyable time. The food was plentiful and tasty.
On December 17, 2018, "Kenzie" Green-Johnson, 2017-2018 Exchange Student to France told the Club about her year in France and her European travels. Sometimes you can get a feeling about a person's strength when they have to adapt to adversity. In this case, the slide presentation on the laptop computer failed to appear. However she recovered and presented her story with humour and a willingness to interact with her audience. There was a "joie de vivre" in the delivery of her story. Bienvenue "Kenzie".
Some our best speakers are Rotary members. After the "divine association" issue was resolved, Reverend and Doctor Cox is indeed a Presbyterian minister. He presented his classification talk with humour and wit for the second time in his lifespan. Each time, a man or woman of the "cloth" speaks to the Club, there is the realization among the humour of balanced individuals with a purpose and strong mission in life.
This lady is no stranger to a microphone and an alarm clock. On December 3rd, 2018, Jill Taylor, Broadcast Meteorologist presented her classification talk without a weather map or a laser pointer. The Broadcast Meteorologist is often the face and personality that delivers weather information to us. She works for Rogers communications in Toronto and prepares radio reports starting at 3:00 am, Eastern Standard and Daylight time. Hence the need for a reliable alarm clock.
Our Mike Cobb is a lawyer who possesses a healthy amount of skepticism. When presented his medal for bowling (there was a delay while records were reviewed), he has "a taste for gold".
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Nov 13, 2018
Rotary Club of Simcoe's President Dave King cancelled our Monday meeting in favour of a social fellowship meeting today at the bowling alley. Twenty-four members and guests attended the event with pizza, a short business meeting and then the games began.
Pics below:
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Nov 05, 2018
In 1940, when Holland was invaded by the Blitzkrieg, our Rotarian, Dolf Wynia was 6 years old.
(Dolf Wynia and Rotarian Craig Hunter at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 79)
Dolf’s parents lived on the outskirts of Rotterdam. His mother kept him away from the windows lest stray bullets from aerial battles overhead enter the home. (The invading German armies wanted the shipping port of Rotterdam and the coastal airfields intact to launch invasions against England. Holland’s military put up a stiff fight; but with its outdated equipment soon exhausted the city of Rotterdam and Holland were surrendered within four days.)
Dolf reminisced about his childhood experiences. Bricks from bombed out buildings were used to build low walls from which Dolf and his friends could challenge youngsters from other neighbourhoods.
But, simultaneously, Dolf observed unexplained (to the eyes of a young child) variances in the daily life and routines of his parents – their secrecy where none had existed before, closing the curtains against the songs and propaganda of the Nazis, vinegar bottles in the liquor cabinet. (Dolf’s father was a vinegar salesman. Vinegar was manufactured from fermented gin. His father brought home gin in these vinegar bottles and used them as the only currency that could gain any cooperation of the German officers.)
Dolf was fortunate to never experience a shortage of food during the war years. First - his mother had lain in supplies of salt and vinegar to preserve food before the war based upon newspaper reports of failing talks and fear of invasions. However, a German blockade of fuel and supplies from farm towns in 1944 threw Holland into famine. Second - Dolf’s family moved about 120 kms north to their uncle's farm (via some wood-burning motorized contraption but that’s another story). Their uncle’s farm was self sufficient in agriculture, livestock and energy from burning peat and tapping methane gas from the bogs.
This is the point in Dolf’s presentation where his voice and emotion cracked -the proud (as a survivor) reminiscences giving way to memories (now at age 10) and horrors of starvation passing by the farm gates. His uncle built a shelter by the roadside and fed the humanity passing by. One man had a small suitcase under his arm. Inside the case were 12 place settings of sterling silver. Starving, he offered that just for a bag of potatoes.
No one wins at war!
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Nov 08, 2018
Our Marg Bancroft, Rotary Club of Simcoe and Jim Simpson, Norfolk Sunrise Rotary continue to curl their way across Scotland with Rotary's curling exchange "Team Canada".
Today, time off, in Dundee, Scotland viewing the RRS (Royal Research Ship) Discovery famous for 1901-1904 Antarctic Expedition by Scott and Shackleton. Note their red maple leaf team curling jackets!
Life long Rotary friendships are being made with the Scottish curlers. As emissaries, Marg and Jim are both delivering and receiving greetings to/from prior year's curling team members.
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Nov 05, 2018
Norfolk Council/County asked local service clubs, business and other patrons to step up to the cause and donate to the funds required to update/replace "gateway signage" on the roadsides entering Norfolk.
The Rotary Club of Simcoe was quick to do so. Seen here is Chris Garwood (left in photo) , Economic Development Coordinator - Tourism and Economic Division for Norfolk County accepting a cheque for $1,000 from our Rotarian and Club Secretary -Thor Olsen.
Thor said it’s a community service and we’re glad to do so.
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Oct 29, 2018
Hal Whitcomb (on left in photo with Rotarian and Salvation Army Captain Rick Honchowski) is in charge of raising $100,000 this year through the kettle campaign across Norfolk and Haldimand counties. The Kettle Campaign is their biggest fundraiser.
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He is asking us (Rotarians and others) to volunteer for 2 hour "kettle shifts" in front of local retail merchants. Each kettle shift gives the Salvation Army the ability to assist one more family. Whereas a shift unfilled brings in $0 dollars.
That wry smile on Captain Rick, because just now he is mapping out a challenge to one of our sister clubs, Norfolk Sunrise Rotary, to a contest to fill 50 Kettle Shifts!
The campaign runs November 16th to December 24th but not on Sundays. To fill a shift call Hal at 289-377-9167.
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Oct 29, 2018
Did you know that World Vision is the third largest charity in the world, following the United Nations and the Red Cross. They are organized in 115 countries. Lindsay Gladding (left in photo being thanked by Rotarian Rick Honcharsky) is a Director of World Vision, Canada. A contact through our club President, Dave King's daughter brought Lindsay to us today.
Lindsay was on point but admitted some lingering lapses have spent 58 hours in the air last week touching down in disaster zones in Indonesia - earth quakes at 7.4 magnitude causing tsunamis and landslides from soil liquefaction- plus the jet lag home to Canada.
World Vision began in 1947 when a missionary abroad spoke to the head of an orphanage in Pakistan who had to turn away children due to lack of capacity/funding. On the spot he gave her $5 in local currency and promised and did raise funds and sent funds every month thereafter.
World Vision is focused on children's needs but their scope is coordinated through a global strategy. It may include rebuilding a school, it may include providing warmth and shelter. But needs are dynamic! One family may need a blanket, another may need food. Direct cash payments are used sometimes - so the family can buy what they "need". If cash is too risky, vouchers are used. If merchants try to rise prices, World Vision contracts with select merchants to keep fair prices. But most often the merchants business has been destroyed as well and they are also trying to rebuild their communities and charging fair prices.
Lindsay told us that World Vision assisted in 170 crises this year. In 2017 86 cents on the dollar of funds raised was spent as direct aid.
Thanks, Lindsay, for visiting us with your understanding and message.
Posted by Timothy FitzGerald on Oct 22, 2018
Our Marg Bancroft (center photo) is going to Scotland to curl with Rotary's "Team Canada".
Please note Marg is wearing the team's curling uniform "red maple leaf" pants.
It's a right of passage alternating bi-annually between Canada and Scotland - you can only attend once!
Joined by previous pilgrims left to right Keith Sutherland, Dave King, Craig Hunter, Garry McMillan, Dan Hill, Mike Cobb and Wally Anderson.
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