MINUTES OF MEETING: Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Editor: Hilda Finnigan
Meeting Called to Order By President David Penney
Rotary Grace: Ted Morrison
O Canada: Kay Hurren
Toast to the Queen: Past President Keith Ratchford
Guests: Donnie & Star Balsdon,Jan Penney,Trish Best (Rotarian-Oshawa),Kay Hurren, Keith and Velma Ratchford, Bruce and Sheila Morrison, Barb and Howard Smith, Ron Mortson, Nizar Rejab
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES.
Happy Birthday to Bill Creamer December 3
Happy Birthday to Trish Best (Past President of the Oshawa Rotary Club) December 3.
We sang the “cha cha cha” version of happy Birthday to them both.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
President Dave announced that we have a winner of the Progressive Jackpot and the Weekly Jackpot of Catch The Ace. Al Finnnigan caught the Ace of Spades . Congratulations.
President Dave reminded us to buy tickets for the Dec 12 concert at the Regent Theater at 2 pm to support Feed The Need in Durham. This event is being supported by 8 Rotary Clubs in Durham region (including our Rotary Club).
Tickets are $30 for in person, $12 to live stream. All net proceeds will be going to Feed the Need in Durham. The agency collects and distributes food to over 60 emergency food providers across the region, including food banks, shelters, meal and snack programs and other social service agencies. Here are some links and attachments for tickets and sponsorships:
https://tickets.regenttheatre.ca/eventperformances.asp?evt=764
https://www.facebook.com/ConcertToFeedTheNeedInDurham/
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Hilda - Dec 14 - RC of Oshawa Parkwood Christmas party at Harpo’s restaurant in Oshawa. 3 entrees to choose from- beef, salmon or chicken . cost is determined by what you order off the menu. Separate billing. Cocktails 5:30 dinner at 6:30
President David reminded everyone that Dec 7 will be our Annual General Meetings of our Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood and our Oshawa Parkwood Rotary Club Charitable Foundation where we will select our next year’s President and Directors. Next year’s President and Board will be elected. We need as many members out as possible so that we have a quorum for both Annual General meetings.
From District Governor Ron Dick: Jennifer Jones, Incoming Rotary International President will be starting her year with a two week cross Canada tour to showcase Canada to the Rotary World! As part of this tour, Jennifer Jones will be "dropping into the GTA" on Tuesday, July 5th for the day! So no glitzy dinners, Jennifer is looking for People of Action projects and activities to roll up her sleeves and showcase Canada and Ontario to the Rotary World. Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, July 5th and send in your project / activity suggestions on what we can keep Jennifer (and her team) busy with on Tuesday, July 5th, 2022! More details to follow! .
Lennis - Kids Safety Village has been decorated for Christmas ( 5 pm to 8 pm on Nov 26, 27 and 28 and again on December 2,3 and 4, with Dec 5 as the date for the clients and families of Grandview Children’s Centre). A huge first weekend (over 1,500 on Saturday night) . Thank you to everyone who volunteered. We still need volunteers for the evenings as indicated for the second weekend. Please let Hilda Finnigan or Lennis Trotter know when you can put in a volunteer shift or two. Members volunteering at the Kids Safety Village for Christmas activities need a police safety check. Hilda has handed out the forms to fill out.
Ted thanked the members for their tremendous support selling cakes and hams. We ordered 232 hams and 179 cakes (so far). Our pick up was Nov 29 in Oakville and Toronto. They are at Bill Creamer’s home for you to pickup. After delivering your cakes and hams get the money in to either Bill or Ted asap.
From Past Pres Sue: Christmas tree sales will commence December 4 and continue until we are sold out. Sale Times: Sat and Sun shift-hours will be: noon to 3:30 pm AND 3:30pm to 7:00pm; Weekday hours will be 3:00pm to 5:00pm and 5:00pm to 7:00pm. PLEASE VOLUNTEER. SIGN UP WITH SUE! Please call Sue and she will sign you up for a shift or two or three. Thank you.
ACE OF SPADES: Sgt at Arms Tim Dwyre
Draw Winner Looking for Ace of Spades was Robert Kipling who drew the 5 of Spades ,
The pot grows.
Happy Bucks
Sue was happy to see a large crowd at the meeting
Robert was sad he didn’t win the 50/50 draw
Larry told a cute story about his grandfather calling him his best friend.
Trish was happy to get the cha-cha- cha treatment
Dave A. was happy to see Keith and Velma back at the meeting
Al was happy to win the big prize at our catch the Ace Draw.
Linda was happy to see the big crowd tonight.
Hilda was happy with the large numbers tonight. She was saddened to announce the passing of a former member Marilyn Taylor
David P was happy to see Past President of the Oshawa Club here Trish Best. He was also happy to hear the KSV was doing well.
Sharron Morrison was happy to have so many of her friends from Wilmot Creek here tonight.
Ana was happy that her son received his first covid shot. He was very brave, she was proud of him.
Speaker: : Ted Morrison introduced the speaker- Donnie Balsdon.
Donnie was an engineer at GM when he had a stroke in the parking garage of Pearson airport on November 18 1998.
He was not discovered for FOUR days. He was taken to the hospital and his family was called because he was not expected to live to the end of the day. He remained in a coma for 8 months .
When he came to he was blind and had to relearn everything including swallowing. He was studied by Doctors who came from UCLA and from Japan because he should not be living.
Donnie recounted the small things that he had taken for granted that know give him great joy. He remained in hospital for 18 months. He still has health challenges. He is legally blind. He has become diabetic. Organ failure is common when his sugars get out of wack.
But he goes on a perseveres lives each day as it comes. Great inspiring speech.
Donnie was thanked by Dave Andrews
Meeting finished at 8.20 PM
OUR REGULAR WEEKLY MEETINGS ARE BACK AT THE OSHAWA GOLF CLUB
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE AND OTHER ROTARY EVENTS , SEE THE CLUB CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND PLEASE READ MORE ……..