Due to inclement weather, 15 members today were present in person and 9 by Zoom.

 

Christine created a new Rotarian of the Decade plaque and Ken presented it to Barry for his contributions.

 

Yvonne gave the Treasurer’s Report by Zoom. It will be posted on our website this evening. It included the $1,000 donation to Hospice Prince Edward.

 

Ken added:

Although the Bottle Depot profits are less than at this time last year, Depot earnings are still expected to meet the annual budget, but not have a surplus like last year.

 

There is $12,000 outstanding on the hospital equipment goal we are targeting.

 

The international aid budget has been spent but there are funds remaining in our local aid budget.

 

John Inwood moved, and William Mulholland seconded that the Treasurer’s Report be accepted. Carried.

 

Lyn reported on projects:

 

Ken reported that to make summer camp more available for local children, the Club will handle the administration instead of working through the Children’s Foundation. Rotary will assist the families with completing the camp applications and the Club will write the cheques directly to the camps. Chris Compeau and Cynthia Riordon from the Foodbank organization will identify local children and help them fill in the application.

 

Ken and David MacKinnon reported that the formal application by the Nurse Practitioners Belleville Clinic to the Ontario Government for three positions for Wellington is close to being submitted. As soon as the formal approvals of the County and our MPP are received, the submission will be made. David said that if the province’s current budget will not support it, the new initiatives just agreed on by the Federal & Ontario Government for additional primary care resources should cover our proposal.

 

Norm reported that he will be speaking to more schools this year to encourage their participation in the Spelling Bee.

 

Ken advised that the Board approved the travel costs for Lyn to attend President’s training in Chicago; and approved paying the shipping costs for Lori Gallant to take extra donations of material to Tanzania when she visits them this year, per her presentation to our Club.

 

Lyn reported that Roger has agreed to put his name forward as a candidate for President-Elect for next year.

 

Turkey & Syria relief was discussed extensively. Ken outlined the situation directly affected by one of the families that has been sponsored locally. A 12-year-old boy whose cousins live in Picton lost his parents and five siblings in the earthquake. Another of his uncles in Syria has taken him under his wing and is trying to move to Canada with him, his own wife and their five children.

 

Margo gave more details of what the community’s response could be:

Step 1 is to have our Club initiate a fundraising campaign where the public could donate through our Rotary Foundation to help this family get from Syria to Turkey and then to Canada. Ken likened it to how we used our Foundation to support the people suffering from the floods in B.C. After discussion, William Mulholland moved and Lyn seconded that our Club use our Foundation to accept donations to a fundraising campaign, for which tax receipts would be issued, that would be advertised on the local radio and in the newspaper. We would try to direct these funds to this family. Margo has researched the CRA rules, and we are allowed to target donations to an individual. William Mulholland moved, and Peter seconded that Rotary put seed money into this campaign to get it started. The motion was carried with one abstainer. Ken reminded us that since our next golf tournament is in June, we would have had two golf events this fiscal year, providing additional funds that could cover the cost of the seed money. Margo is to compose the newspaper announcement for review by the Club before it is published.

 

Step 2 is being done by members of PEC Syria under Carlyn Moulton’s leadership as PECSyria2. The government controls immigration so there is a lot of work to be done to assist anyone coming to Canada.

 

(Note: as an addendum to the minutes, Barry advises that Carlyn has received appeals from the current families in the County, Belleville and Trenton for PECSyria2 to help their relatives in Syria and Turkey, totaling 90 individuals. Volunteers and donations are being recruited for version 2.)

 

 

John Inwood asked if Jennifer Armstrong had completed her application for the Rotary Youth Leadership Symposium (RYLS). Barry will check.

 

Ken reported that Yvonne has sold 500 bottles of maple syrup out of our 700 available so members should continue to sell.

 

Today Kim’s number was drawn for the 50:50 but he did not draw the ace of spades.