Edition: June 08, 2021
wellingtonrotary.ca Chartered November 22, 2002
Rotarian of the Year (2020-2021):
David Robinet & Phyo Kyi
Club Bulletin for week of June 08, 2021
Speaker: Charles Dowdall
(PEC Affordable Housing Corporation)
President's Message
The Bottle Depot is back in the game and as busy as ever. I was there on Wednesday and Saturday, two perfect weather days, and a steady flow of clients; many of whom outwardly expressed their appreciation that we have reopened.
At the Bottle Depot, I have put aside some apricot ribbons that we’re giving out in support of the Health Teams. If you’d like one, please drop by the Depot…they’re going fast.
Below is Liam Smith demonstrating the new set of dumbbells the Youth Centre was able to purchase with our Club’s help. Wellington Rotary received the following thank you message:
“A BIG thank you to the Wellington Rotary Club for donating $500 toward the purchase of new dumbbells for the Belleville Youth Centre. Attached are photos of the new dumbbells that were purchased with Liam Smith, Youth Peer Mentor who leads the "Keeping In Motion" program aimed at getting at-risk youth physically active.
Liam is also a former RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) participant sponsored by the Wellington Rotary Club in 2019. Thanks again for supporting youth in the community.”
Reminder:
Please remit your annual dues payment by July 1st. This will help our Club prepare for the July Rotary International invoice. Dues are $200, and can be paid in two installments, a $100 payment now, and the second $100 before the end of December. You can mail in your cheque or drop it off (or cash) with me at the Bottles Depot. I’ll be there on Saturdays.
District Items:
There is a meeting of the District’s presidents and presidents-elect on Monday June 5th, which I will report on in my next Bulletin letter.
President Howard Ziedenberg
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Last Week: Brian Bieles (Dealing with COVID in the COUNTY)
President Howard opened the meeting on time with 34 members and two guests present; Brian Beiles and Anne Van-Vlack from the Prince Edward County Foundation. Presenter Brian was introduced by John I. who referenced Brian’s many accomplishments in the fields of industry, business and education as well as the past five years as President of the County Foundation which has produced regular up-dates on all aspects of life on the island with its Vital Signs reports. The Club has been fortunate to hear Brian speak previously.
Brian began his presentation, Meeting the Covid challenge in the County, by explaining that all the data collected and codified referred to the period between 20th March 2020, when the first lockdown began, and 31st March 2021. He gave some basic facts on the population numbers, density, how the demographic has changed and how many problems like obesity, alcoholism, smoking, substance abuse, have worsened during the pandemic with an overall decline in mental health. There has also been a huge challenge for local businesses.
In his fascinating, detailed and evidence-based report, Brian explained and measured the changes brought about by Covid-19 in all the major areas of life, including work, housing, education, transportation, the environment, food security, health and safety, etc. He measured them against Sustainable Development criteria. Although many aspects of the report’s findings are disturbing, there is some room for optimism and that we may be able to “build back better”. There are many positive as well as negative outcomes and “crisis presents a unique opportunity for renewal”.
Brian was thanked by Dawn and fielded questions from Ken, Pierre, Yvonne, President Howard, Liz, David S and Linda.
Under Club business, Bill’s bottle depot staffing needs were addressed for the re-opening week. Volunteering opportunities at the Picton vaccination clinic were discussed and sought. Connie & Pierre’s wedding anniversary was congratulated upon and the meeting closed at 8.15.
Geoffrey Telling
Welcome to New Member Shawn Ellis
Here is a shot of our newest member, Shawn Ellis, proudly sporting his new membership hat.
OP Ed: The Real-life Effects of the COVID Lockdowns
At last week's meeting, the speaker presented some very cogent numbers and statistics on the impact of COVID on the County. Typically, I am a real numbers guy and will lap up as much data and statistics that I can analyze and digest. But this particular presentation left we flat and wanting more information that better describes what people are really experiencing. I guess, with our relative isolations, we all long to gather and share stories about how this last 18 months has impacted our lives. One neighbour I spoke with says, "it's 18 months I will never get back". So, let me take this opportunity to share two stories about the real impact of the lockdowns.
The first story is a family of four with 2 teenage boys. The mother is a teacher, the father an executive in Toronto, and they have two teenage boys 13 and 15. They have been cooped up in their house in Pickering since the most recent emergency brake. The teacher conducts her classes online in the dining room, the father goes to the office online in the study, and one of boys go to online classes in the TV room and the other in his bedroom - for a full day, mostly 5 days per week... The teacher says the kids she is teaching online are really not learning anything significant, and many of her students have checked out. They are looking forward to the summer when they can all stop pretending to be 'going to school'. Premier Ford, do you really hear these real life stories?
The second story is about a local business here in Wellington. Yesterday, we had the aforementioned family visit us, and they were wanting to launch their boat. They felt that since all of them have had their first vaccination, they were pretty safe to leave their confines and escape for a day in the sun. Well of course, they were not allowed to launch their boat in Wellington because the boat launch is closed to tourists on the weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. So we took them to Ray's Cottages. The gentleman at Ray's Cottages (I assume he was Ray) was very gracious and hospitable. In fact he was downright happy to see us. We chatted for a while, and Trudy and I recognized him from being at the Bottle Returns Depot. It turns out that Ray had a full schedule of reservations that he had to refund for the week of June 02, because he was not able to re-open, even though all the criteria for the COVID rules had been met. We were surprised because his setup of cottages in no way would have been detrimental to controlling the COVID infections. He said he was only able to open to customers who were here for the the whole season in their campers, and what really is the difference between that and people who wanted to just rent for a week?. He indicated that the establishments that have the word INN or SUITES, or HOTEL, or MOTEL were allowed to open, but since his establishment only had the word COTTAGES, he has lost $10,000 in revenue just for this week's delay, and it's $10,000 he'll not be able to make up this season. Premier Ford, do you really hear these real life stories?
Phyo Kyi
Bottle Depot Volunteers Schedule for This Week
Wednesday June 09, 2021
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.: John Inwood, Ken Robertson, Ted Nash, Linda Donville
O Lord and giver of all good
We thank thee for our day food
May Rotary friends and Rotary ways
Help us to serve thee all our days.
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Four Way Test
Of the things we think, say, and do:
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and better
FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all
concerned?
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Rotary Song
R-O-T-A-R-Y, that spells Rotary.
R-O-T-A-R-Y, is known on land and sea.
From north to south, and east to west,
They profit most who serve the best,
R-O-T-A-R-Y, that spells Rotary.
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