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Upcoming Events
Indigenous Awareness Committee Mtg
ICC
Mar 01, 2019
 
Program Committee Mtg
ICC
Mar 01, 2019
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
 
Children & Youth Committee Mtg
ICC
Mar 08, 2019
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
 
Michael von Keitz Classification Talk
Mar 22, 2019
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
 
Indigenous Awareness Committee Mtg
ICC
Apr 05, 2019
 
Program Committee Mtg
ICC
Apr 05, 2019
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
 
Children & Youth Committee Mtg
ICC
Apr 12, 2019
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
 
Speakers
Mar 01, 2019
Where we are, one year after starting the pilot program

One year ago, in March 2018, the four Rotary Clubs of Guelph provided startup funding for a local Food4Kids program to provide weekend food bags to school children at risk of going hungry on weekends. Still actively supported by Rotary volunteers, this program is going so well it will soon go solo! Don't miss this update. 

Mar 08, 2019
Helping adolescents build a better future for themselves
Mar 15, 2019 12:00 PM
Classification Talk
View entire list
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Luisa Del Rosario
February 1
 
Ab Moore
February 2
 
Brian McCulloch
February 2
 
Annette Turner
February 4
 
Ian Smith
February 9
 
Ray Funnell
February 9
 
Dianne Dance
February 10
 
Niheer Ravaliya
February 15
 
Thomas Koester
February 19
 
Terrie Jarvis
February 22
 
Rick Le Feuvre
February 23
 
Paul Demarco
February 25
 
Join Date
Matt Webster
February 2, 2018
1 year
 
Cam Guthrie
February 6, 2015
4 years
 
Eric Freeman
February 12, 2016
3 years
 
Bob Ireland
February 13, 1981
38 years
 
Lloyd Longfield
February 16, 2016
3 years
 
Jim Stevens
February 17, 1978
41 years
 
Anne Pennock
February 21, 1992
27 years
 
Dennis Weiler
February 22, 1982
37 years
 
Ray Funnell
February 28, 1975
44 years
 
Graham Knowles
February 29, 1980
39 years
 
Club Information

Interested in becoming a Rotarian? Contact our Membership Secretary at info@rotaryguelph.ca

Service Above Self
We meet Fridays at 12:15 PM
Italian Canadian Club
135 Ferguson Street
Guelph, ON  N1E 1L4
Canada
Phone:
(519) 821-3863
Email:
DistrictSiteIcon District Site
VenueMap Venue Map
President's Message
Paul Dredge
member photo
        2017/18 Year.
Russell Hampton
National Awards Services Inc.
ClubRunner
2019-02-22 Cyndy Forsyth Classification Talk
Cyndy Forsyth Classification Talk
Business Development
 
President Paul had the chills not because the cold or a cold but because of his recalling of significant Rotary events:
  • Percy Cole showing the names of the founding members of the Rotary Club of Guelph scrawled on the walls of Stewarts Drug Store in Downtown Guelph
  • The outstanding mentoring job of the club members at the EQAO exams with College Heights School students, and:
  • The excitement of those same students being taken on a Helicopter ride and the subsequent animated interaction with Rotarians at the following lunch, and
  • The outstanding vibrant crop of new Rotary Club members that have joined in the last year including Cyndy Forsyth – deliverer of today’s classification talk.
 
 
Announcements            
New Directors
Eric Freeman appointed as a new director given his status of chair of elections committee as per club bye-laws with Mahmud’s selection as incoming President for Rotary Year 2021-22 
 
Paul Truex was approved as Director at Large in support of the 2020 centennial year at the behest of incoming president Carolyn Weatherson
 
 
 
 
 
Leave of Absence     
Randy Seager (October) and current Sergeant at Arms Bev Trist Stewart (May) were granted leaves of absence at Monday’s board meeting. Are you granted a fine free holiday – no such luck. Newly minted vice president elect will get to test his 4way test diplomatic skills and capabilities as the interim Sergeant at Arms  
 
99 And Counting
Jim Mackenzie pointed out that the club will be in its 100th year on Saturday Feb 23rd and that a year from today Friday Feb 23rd, 2020 there will be a significant celebratory lunch to mark the occasion.  And on Saturday members and guests would have the opportunity to have stars and other celestial bodies in their eyes with a star gazing event at Guelph lake.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Terrie Jarvis announced that next weeks program will be an update on the progress of the Food4Kids initiative and that there will be fundraising lunch at Cutten Fields on April 2nd, 2019. Terrie mentioned that Ruth Thatcher has found and shared an interesting new definition of a Rotarian exemplifying the Service above Self Rotary motto – now posted on the website. 
 
 
What is a Rotarian
A Rotarian is someone who, through their efforts:
  • Digs wells from which they will never drink
  • Restores eyesight for those they will never see
  • Builds houses they will never live in
  • Vaccinates children they will never meet
  • Plants trees they will never sit under
  • Educates children they will never know
  • Feeds hungry people, regardless of colour, race, or politics
  • Knows real Happiness
  •  
Canada Day Planning Retreat & March Speaker Program
Marva Wisdom announced that the Canada Team will have a planning retreat on Saturday March 2nd at Homegroup Realty Offices at 1-5 Edinburgh RoadMarva was also looking for introducers and thankers for the March Program – you will be called.
 
 
 
 
 
Water Petition
Carolyn Weatherson encouraged members to review the Save our Water petition and sign if they agreed with the petition objectives.
 
Sue Ricketts made a request. When she or Terrie Jarvis send out an eblast announcement, please read the whole message and do not hit Reply if the message requests a reply to someone else. Click on the email address included to send a reply to the requestor. i.e. Awards nominations, event registrations,  etc.
Further reminder: All Committee Chairs and secretaries can and should be sending out their own messages from ClubRunner. Instructions on “How To” can be found in the Members Area under Organization > Committees > ClubRunner and Website Committee > Documents > How To folder.  ClubRunner is not just for a select few but for all club members. 
 
 
 
 
Helmuth Slisarenko was very happy that two missing checks for Rotary Local Lager Gift Pack purchases lodged in the pocket of an about to be laundered coat had been found.
 
Jim Mackenzie also had a happy buck to celebrate the 99 and counting activity and other positive personal events.
 
Rookie Mahmud got off to a quick start fining folks. However, it was noted that he is not wearing his name badge. Does this mean that he can't fine us for not wearing ours? (:-)
 
  • Tom Funk because it was “too good to be true” that his Christmas Trees still on display at his hosted fireside events were actually defined as “Winter Trees” by Tom – a colloquial Manitoba term for season long ornamental trees.  
  •  
  • Aldo Villanovich for some misdemeanor while attending the same Fireside meeting, and:
  •  
  • Requested that Jim Mackenzie recycle a much worn and dilapidated $20 Bill via the Looney bin
 
Cyndy Forsyth – Classification Talk – Business Development
Paul, Truex had the honour and the pleasure of introducing Cyndy Forsyth to the Club and to members and guests on the occasion of her Classification talk. Cyndy is currently the Chief Development Officer at Homewood Research Institute and a board member at YMCA and Guelph Children’s Foundation and champions the Integrated Youth Services Initiative.  
For someone who professed not to be interested in, and had a dread of public speaking, Cyndy delivered a very powerful, informative and personal Classification Talk giving insight into why she is so passionate about mental health and what has drawn her into becoming a member of Rotary.
Her interest in mental health largely stems her personal challenges and struggle to understand, deal with, and assist and provide care for her daughter with her mental challenges over the last 15 years or more.  Cyndy indicated that she had always had a strong belief that nurture could overcome nature. However, like so many other parents desperate to help their children Cyndy has been to see countless experts, talked to many counsellors, therapist, social workers, mental health navigation specialists, taken courses, read books to help. The good news is after close to 20 years of this Cyndy has managed to put all the pieces together. The bad news is the story isn’t pretty. The system we have created is not only broken – no one really has an answer on how we can fix it.
While recognizing the frustrations and pain associated with this issue Cyndy also highlighted and celebrated the joy that their challenging family journey has also brought. Cyndy indicated that she was blessed with two loving parents (who are coming up to their 60th wedding anniversary) and three outstanding siblings with whom she has lots in common. (Although it did take the better part of 30 years to fully realize and appreciate them). So, when her daughter started to face challenges, her family was there to offer their support – and they have never left – Cyndy’s side or her daughter’s. Notwithstanding her daughter’s mental health challenges Cyndy had the joy of watching her daughter graduate from Conestoga college with high honours and her family’s involvement in an open adoption with her daughter’s child with whom they are blessed to have a warm loving supportive relationship.
Cyndy’s first professional association and taste of mental illness was when she joined the Huntington Society of Canada in Kitchener. Cyndy learned to listen to and help those who were really struggling with mental health issues related to the disease* - learning that would eventually pay off as she walks beside her daughter who struggles in profound ways. Cyndy is now very exited to be part of the Homewood Research Institute (HRI) working with some incredibly smart individuals who are proactively looking for real-life solutions for those who suffering from mental illness and addiction. The institute is dedicated to evaluating and transforming mental health and addiction services in Canada and beyond in collaboration with leading universities, and Homewood Health. We will learn more from Dr. Margaret McKinnon at an upcoming talk about the complicated mental illness of PTSD and its sub categories.
Champion Cyndy then provided the background to her involvement and the fast-track development activities associated with the establishment of an integrated youth services model -  A one stop youth service for Guelph & Wellington county. A very exiting collaborative development program involving a host of Community organizations including the Guelph Y, the Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington, the Guelph Community Foundation. Wellington County, Family and Child Services, the Guelph Public Library, Wyndham House, the two School Boards, Wellington Dufferin Public Health, Michael House, the Waterloo Wellington LHIN, Portage. All who participate on the steering committee.
The Goal of the of the project is to transform the way we provide mental-health services to youth. Imagine treating our youth holistically, wrapping support services around them rather than having them or their parents desperately try and navigate the fragmented mental health system we have created? The vision in bringing integrated youth services to Guelph and Wellington county is to target youth between the ages of 12 to 26 - where service providers give a one-stop experience on the continuum of care.
The concept of a continuum of care according to Cyndy means:  
  • Let’s provide leadership training from the Guelph Y - They are already proactively working on preventing mental illness and addiction by providing youth with a sense of belonging and solid positive-peer relationships.
  • Let’s provide employment services like resumé writing to youth who do not have access to those skills.
  • Let’s provide social workers, who can help with mild to moderate anxiety and mental health issues,
  • Let’s provide housing services for youth who are facing homelessness and let’s provide a safe place for all.
  • Let’s involve the university, as they are struggling with this issue as well, find out what their students need and work with them to provide an integrated youth-services model that connects us all.
Cyndy noted that the University, CMHA WW and the Guelph Y have all committed to host satellite locations and work as spokes in the hub and spoke model.
Cyndy thanked her very supportive Rotary and Community organisation team including past and current President Marty, and Paul, Chris Willard, Geoff Vogt from the Guelph Y and Helen Fishburn from the Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington indicating that they collectively act like a snow plow in front of me paving the way to action. She also paid tribute to the outstanding work by Rotary in laying the foundations for this initiative through their youth at risk initiatives over the past 20 years by saying “The most important organization involved in this project is Rotary. Without your vision, 20 years ago, led by Ranjit Singh, Don Bower, Kate Quarrie, Tom Maher, Bill Winegard, and President Paul Dredge, we wouldn’t be where we are today. President Paul has provided us with your experience and is helping up to learn how to move this project forward based on your wisdom. And I can say is you were way ahead of your time. You saw the looming crisis, you acted, you involved youth, you listened to what youth wanted and your vision was inclusive.  Our society wasn’t ready to hear you – which is a such a crime. We have taken your vision, experience and are working to ensure this project gets off the ground and becomes a community initiative with Rotary as the catalyst. As catalysts go, I am asking you to help spread the word. You will find at your tables information about the integrated model and information on the fund that has been set up at the Guelph’ Community Foundation. Let me be clear, I am not asking for a donation - I am asking you commit to sharing these cards with two of your friends. It’s time to reach out to our community and let them know how we are transforming youth mental health in our community in very real ways. You have vast networks and I cannot think of a better way to engage our community."
 
Cyndy concluded her outstanding talk by thanking Paul Truex for introducing her to Rotary. Little did she know when she accepted my position as a board member at the Guelph Y how much of an influence Paul would have on her life. Paul and Rotary has provided her with the opportunity to bring all her worlds together.
 
You have given me such a precious gift. Paul, I had no idea how much I needed Rotary. Thank you for welcoming me into your family”.
 
*For those who are not familiar with Huntington disease it is one of the cruelest diseases one can have. It is like experiencing the symptoms of ALS, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s – simultaneously. It slowly eats away at the centre of the brain, for the better part of 20 years, until the sufferer can no longer function. And the worst part, patients with disease have a 50% chance of passing the Huntington gene along to their children. This disease was misdiagnosed for many years and still is…So, thousands of families had or are having children unaware of the fate they would endure.
Methinks this lady is going to clean a lot ofMental Health Snowdrifts herself before she is finished - Ed
 
 
Cyndy was thanked by both Jennifer Dunsmore and President Paul for her outstanding Classification Talk
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Guests
Visiting Rotarian
Barry Fraser PDG              Chatham Kent   Visiting Rotarian
Geoff Vogt                           Cyndy Forsyth
Jessica Barrie                     Cyndy Forsyth
Susan Brown                      Cyndy Forsyth
Beryl Moffat                       Cyndy Forsyth
Deborah Legrove              Cyndy Forsyth
Josh Campbell                  Matthew Webster
 
101 Things About Rotary
Minority Membership
Rotary formally considered the issue of racial restriction in membership and determined that the organization could not allow racial restrictions to the organization’s growth. In Rotary’s legislative deliberations in June 1921, it was formally determined that racial restrictions would not be permitted. Non-racialism was included in the terms of the standard constitution in 1922, required to be adopted by all member Clubs.

Rotary and other service clubs in the last decade became open to homosexual membership. Other minorities, in the face of general changes in demographics are also encouraged to join. Everyone is welcome. So ask all your friends to join us in Rotary.

 
 
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