President's Message 

 

 

 

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The meeting was opened by MPres Trudy on time with 17 members present in person for the first time this year and a further 14, including our guest speaker, joining by Zoom. After the usual formalities, Bill Pennell introduced Wade Watts of Watts Accessability Consulting Limited who has made a career of increasing accessability in all kinds of situations for everyone and especially for those with extra challenges of all kinds. A life-changing accident which led to Wade having to use a wheelchair set him on a new path quite different from his previous experiences as a combat engineer in the Canadian Armed Forces. However, he was able to pivot his expertise and determination to spearhead a range of mobility and accessability solutions. Wade’s PPT presentation (available at wfsi.ca) provided a thorough explanation of the materials, quality and characteristics of a range of products including the Mobi-Mat that can be installed over virtually all natural surfaces from sand to snow, ‘fencing’ that can protect pathways, dunes, etc and the floating beach wheelchair. Wade also shared how he uses drones to inspect sites that would otherwise be inaccessible and answered several questions pertinent to the possible purchase and use of one or more of the products at Wellington Rotary Beach, including stability and cost. Wade was thanked  by PP Phyo after offering a demonstration for the Club at a suitable time and it was announced that a Beach Committee would be struck to take this idea further.

In Club business, once Bill’s need for a replacement was addressed, MPres Trudy announced that a request for funding had been received from the organizers of the Quinte Regional Science and Technology Fair. It was agreed to support this enterprise to the tune of $500 as in previous (pre-Covid) years. The exciting news that the Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) program would also resume with a three-day symposium in late May, with 30 places available, was well-received and members were urged to recommend potential candidates between the ages of 17 and 23 to John Inwood, asap. There was further in-camera discussion for donations to PECMHF equipment. MPres Trudy also shared an approach from the Picton Rotary Club enquiring if we wished to partner with them on improving vaccination uptake amongst youth in the County. Pres Elect Ken, added that there are no barriers to getting vaccinated at present and that, because of reduced demand, the clinics seemed to be winding down at present. As the situation is still fluid, we should keep our options open at this time.

The meeting closed as per usual after congratulating Pierre on his birthday, happy dollars, David Hawkins’s joke, the 50/50 draw and the Four Way Test, at 8.11.
 

 

 

9 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Bill Pennell, Peter Campbell, Jacques Michaud

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Needed: 3 volunteers

 

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