President’s Remarks Today’s toast was for those new to Canada who have chosen to become Canadian citizens. Our silent reflection was for peacekeepers around the world. Rotary Anniversaries Tim Mau – 18 years Doug Adlam – 6 years Announcements Tracey McGrath warmly thanked and recognized the many members who worked hard to make our Canada Day In The Park another amazing successful for our community. Sue Ricketts had two announcements. The grant money has arrived allowing our Rotary-sponsored dairy project in Dindigal, India to begin. Secondly, in reference to the email she had sent to members during the week, she encourages everyone to take a look at our ClubRunner website and “play around” and contact her if help is needed. Joanna Penfold shared the sad news that a student from College Heights Secondary School, who had just graduated from grade 12 toward the end of June, has suddenly and unexpectedly died of natural causes on Saturday, June 30, and that we were taking a collection to help her family pay for costs related to her death. (Update – thanks to our generous Rotarians, we raised about $1,500 which will be handed to the school for forwarding to the family.) .JPG) Roger Garriock announced a raffle by the Rotary Clubs of Guelph called BEER FOR A YEAR. As the name implies, first prize is a case of domestic beer for a year (not limited to Rotary Local Lager) or winners can take a cash prize of $2,200 instead, to spend as they wish. Second prize is dinner for 12, worth $800, at the Borealis Grille & Bar. The beneficiary of the raffle is Food4Kids Guelph, the weekend food program for at-risk children being supported by all four Rotary Clubs of Guelph. Raffle tickets are $20 each, and Roger invites all club members to take a pack of ten tickets to sell over the summer. A total of 750 tickets are to be sold, and the winners’ draw will take place at Ribfest on August 26 th. Rosemary Clark drew members’ attention to the Committee Signup Sheets for Rotary Year 2018-2019, asking members to fill them out or email their choices to Rosemary for inclusion in the new Handbook. Terrie Jarvis updated members on the Food4Kids program. The 15-week pilot program was a great success, and plans are now underway to grow the program when schools start up again in September. Food4Kids has been named a top five finalist in the Oaktree5 project in Guelph, where the grand prize is $25,000. (Another finalist is Hope House!) Terrie thanked our club for supporting Food4Kids fundraising through the Canada Day Family Pass Donation, and also the new Beer For A Year raffle. Happy Bucks  Jim MacKenzie enjoyed driving the Kuboda for Canada Day In The Park, but in the heat wave, was envious that Paul Taylor’s Kuboda had a closed and air-conditioned cabin, which Jim had the opportunity to try out! Brian Martin pointed out a particular club member that will forever stand out for him as representing Service Above Self. Elaine Beattie had joined the garbage cleanup crew on July 2nd and helped with the task … from her wheelchair! Marva Wisdom was happy to announce that she has been appointed as a Senior Fellow at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy. She deeply thanked fellow Rotarian Tim Mau for being instrumental in her career by encouraging her several years ago, at the very time when her ambition and potential was being thwarted by her boss, to move ahead and complete the Masters’ business program at UoG, which she did and has never looked back. Congratulations, Marva. We are all SO very proud of you and your amazing accomplishments! Michelle Richardson thanked the Rotarians who had volunteered even beyond the call of duty at Canada Day. She is also happy to have her oldest daughter home from Edinburgh for the rare occasion of having all three of their girls home at the same time. Aldo Villanovich commented on how pleased he is to have joined such a wild and enthusiastic bunch as he is finding in our club, after transferring from his former Rotary club. We are so glad to have you in our midst, Aldo! Lawrie Jones couldn’t help but mention that Jim MacKenzie’s Kuboda experience might have been exciting for Jim, but was somewhat SCARY for everyone else, especially when Jim drove on the wrong side of the road. Sergeant At Arms President Elect Carolyn Weatherson stood in for our regular Sergeant At Arms, with only one fine in mind. To much amusement, she noted that Marty Fairbairn had enjoyed a full year of immunity as President, but now that he is Past President, “Marty, in the famous words of Bev - You’re Fined!” Guests Greeter Marty Fairbairn introduced and welcomed five guests today: Anita Dredge – wife of President Paul Dredge Raffi Alidina – a family member of Yasmin Alidina Irene Szabo – a friend of Tracey McGrath Susan Szabo – a visiting Rotarian from the eClub of Hawaii Zeinab Borai – a guest of Paul Truex Head Table Carolyn Weatherson – now President Elect – a member since 2012 with the classification of Yoga Studio Director Terrie Jarvis – a member since 2015 with the classification of Communications Mahmud Hassain - a member since 2013 with the classification of men’s tailoring Marty Fairbairn – now Past President - a member since 2011 with the classification of Education Administration Paul Dredge – now President – a member since 1996 with the classification of Real Estate-Commercial.  Paul Dredge – Inaugural address as Rotary Club of Guelph President for the year 2018-2019 Marty Fairbairn (now Past President) warmly introduced and welcomed Paul as our club President for this Rotary year. With so many exciting announcements and acknowledgements having eaten into Paul’s presentation time, Paul simply spoke from the heart about how honoured he had felt in his very first role as President, to stand on the stage at Riverside Park and welcome 31 new Canadian Citizens. He also read an excerpt of his message that will appear in our club Handbook. Here is Paul’s whole speech, that he had prepared for today. It is an incredible honour to be the incoming president of a club with such a long and distinguished history as our club enjoys. It is both humbling and exciting to be handed the gavel for our 99th year. Many of the men and women that were (are) instrumental in building Guelph into one of the most desirable cities in Canada to live in, have provided leadership and direction as Rotarians to make our club strong and a vibrant contributor to all we serve. The 2018-2019 Rotary year has embraced BE THE INSPIRATION as its motto. It is indeed a call to each of us to inspire those Rotarians we serve with to honour the words found in the 4 Way Test, particularly that of SERVICE ABOVE SELF. If we follow that guideline, we will inspire each other, and in so doing help to inspire our community and, together with fellow Rotarians in Canada and throughout the world, serve to inspire mankind for the greater good. In the months leading up to July 1st, I have made a point of listening to as many members as possible as they expressed what they like about our club, the strengths we exhibit, the successes we share. Of course, I have also heard thoughts on how we could be better, weaknesses perceived, changes that may be needed. As I accept the challenge of being your president, I promise to work with the outstanding team that includes the Board of Directors, and committee chairs, all of whom are every bit as committed as I am to reward the faith you have placed in all of us to make the Rotary Club of Guelph the best it can be. We will listen, we will lead, and we will be motivated by the inspiration our members charge us with to inspire our community, our province, and our world. We will be further inspired that our 99th year is important to continue the work that has gone before and will go long beyond, but with a celebratory pause to celebrate 100 years of service! I mentioned committee chairs. We have a wonderful group prepared to lead the way in the work we do. I ask each of our members to reward their leadership by not just joining committee, but in participating in the committees you join. This work is the driving force in serving our community and all we do around the world. To be the club we know we can be requires contribution from each member on our roster. Our most senior members are pioneers that came before us and built our club. They are the mentors and icons on which the Rotary Club of Guelph was built. The support from that sector has been inspiring. There is so much they have to teach us. The truth is all our membership brings something to the table – new ideas, new energy, support for what is and has been done, along with possibilities in how to improve, tweak or create programs for those we serve, whether in our backyard or on other continents. I say again, I am truly humbled but oh so excited to be your president in 2018-2019. Join me as we set out to inspire fellow club members, our city, our province, country and the world. After all, that is what Rotarians do. Carolyn Weatherson, now President Elect of our fine club, thanked Paul for his words and for leading by example in our new theme of BE THE INSPIRATION. Birthdays Randy Wilson – June 30 Gary Stewart – July 3 Paul Taylor – July 4 Gino Tersigni – July 5 Randy Seager – July 5 Andrea Groenewald – July 6 Sharon Rice – July 6 |
