Matthew Webster – Classification Talk.

 

 

 

Wednesday, Oct 24 - End Polio Day Flag Raising - 8:30am at Guelph City Hall. We’re hoping for a good turnout of Guelph Rotarians. Mark your calendars. 

 

 

 

Lobsterfest:  President Paul thanked everyone involved for their part in another wonderful Lobsterfest event on Saturday, September 29.  Luisa Del Rosario named and thanked many individuals for their part, saying that this year’s committee had been a real pleasure to work with. Fantastic news was that Ruth Thatcher’s homemade apple pies raised $700 in the live auction!  Wow.

 

Helmuth Slisarenko is taking orders for the popular gift packs comprising 4 cans of beer and 2 Rotary-insignia glasses in a carry pack.  These gift packs make a novel thank you gift, while also promoting Rotary and raising funds. The gift packs are $25 each including taxes, and can be ordered from Helmuth at h_slis@rogers.com or by phoning him at 519-820-6455.  Order NOW and let Helmuth know if you’d like to receive your gift packs at our Rotary meeting on October 19 or November 23.

 

There were two guests today:

Mike Schreiner – our MPP

Michael Black – son of today’s speaker, Rob Black

 

Bill Stevens – introduced in 1972 by Jim Runions, with the classification University – Political Science

Jim Anderson – introduced in 1991 by Ken Thatcher, with the classification Metal Building

Rosemary Clark – past president, introduced in 1994 by Clay Switzer, with the classification Education University Alumni Affairs

Senator Rob Black – today’s guest speaker 

Clay Switzer – introduced in 1989 by Bill Stevens, with the classification Agrology Consultant

Paul Dredge – club president, introduced by Don Parr in 1996, with the classification Real Estate-Commercial

 

Gino Tersigni – September 29 … 1 year

Tracey McGrath – October 2 … 3 years

Bernhard Vanderkamp – October 3 … 15 years

Bonnie Evans – October 5  … 5 years 9 months Fergus/Elora, 17 years RGOC for 22 years 9 months total

 

Monte Hewson – October 2

Karen Hand – October 4

Reny Pietrobon – October 5

 

 

Clay Switzer introduced Rob Black. They have known each other since 1981 through the OAC at the University of  Guelph. Rob’s impressive biography can be read on his Senate website here.  For much of his working career, Rob has worked in the rural, agricultural and leadership arenas.  He was sworn-in as a Senator from Ontario on February 27, 2018 and is currently a Member of the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry and the Charitable Sector (Special) Committee. A less known attribute is that Rob is also an expert at fixing clocks!  

 

Rob said that his first few months learning to be a senator have been akin to drinking from a firehouse. There is a huge flow of information to take in.  

 

Going back to how he got into this role, he said his children had suggested he should apply to become a senator, and after much careful thought, he did. Five months later he learned that his application was unsuccessful, and that 3,800 people had applied for 3 senatorial positions in Ontario. However, his turn-down from the government offered the opportunity to tweak his application which he did, and a year later, this past January, he was contacted by the Prime Minister’s office for more details and a rigorous vetting procedure. After that, things happened fast and he was sworn in on February 27, 2018. He is now one of 24 senators representing Ontario, and one of 105 senators representing all of Canada.

 

When becoming a senator, he was asked if he wished to be affiliated with a political party, and he chose to remain non-partisan, which is why the letters ISG are shown behind his name – Independent Senators Group. 

 

Rob went on to explain what his typical week is like. He usually travels to Ottawa on a Monday and returns on a Friday. In Ottawa, his days usually start at 7am and often run until 10pm with meetings, appointments and attending ceremonies. The two committees he is on each meet twice a week for two hours at a time, resulting in 8 hours of meeting time just for those topics.  He gave an overview of how Bills generally arise in Parliament and are then sent to the senate for “sober second thought”. Non-spending bills can also originate in the Senate. In all cases, there is great debate and scrutiny of proposals by the Senate. In 2017, the senate published 117 reports on topics reviewed. 

 

Rob greatly credits his involvement with 4-H for his overall success in his life and career, originally as a participant, and then in leadership roles over the years. He also credits his family, colleagues, mentors, employers and community, and feels truly humbled to now serve as a senator.

 

He closed by reminding all present that “The Senate is YOUR Senate”.

 

Bill Stevens thanked Rob for his informative and heartfelt talk, and suggested that Rob’s “ISG” designation (Independent Senators Group) should rightfully be changed to represent him as an “Aggie” Senator!