Edition: January 14, 2025
wellingtonrotary.ca

Chartered November 22, 2002
Rotarian of the Year:
Norm Dodgson
Ellis

Club Bulletin for week of January 07, 2025
This Week: Corey Engelsdorfer
(PEC Councillor, Wellington, Ward 3)

 
 
 
 

President's Message

 
Let’s stay in the zone – The Magic of Rotary
 
What can we do in the second half of our Rotary year that will leave an impression in our community on our club?
 
Three Areas of Concern:
  1. Need for the Food Bank
  2. Homelessness
  3. Daycare
1.  Food Bank
Did you know that the food bank served over 400 people (110 families) during the Christmas period? We have a number of Rotarians involved in the food bank process:
  • Bill Mitchell is Treasurer of their Board;
  • Bill Pennell and Chris Compeau volunteer weekly pick ups and deliveries with their own trucks;
  • Other Rotarians assist as required.
The food bank is searching for a permanent home and there might be a developing story here. More to come...fingers crossed.
 
2. Homelessness
There are as many as 225 people in Prince Edward County experiencing homelessness. A regional social services study indicates that this reported number could be low. Some of the reasons for homelessness are high rents, low income, unsafe housing, spousal conflict and/or child abuse. Some steps have been taken to assist in alleviating homelessness:
  • Leeward House: Transitional facility
  • Housing Help Program: Helps tenants find and keep their rental housing
  • Shire Hall offers housing supports and other assistance
  • PEC Affordable Housing Corporation: Elis and Adam spoke to us this past Tuesday and some of their plans have been successful. Others have been challenging due to dealing with the Provincial government. Many of us were very impressed with their hard work and future plans.
3. Daycare
The need for daycare mostly for families with both parents working grows daily. Parents start applying as soon as the mother becomes pregnant. Two years’ wait is not uncommon. Our Health Committee has had many discussions with the Hub Child & Family Centre. We would like to assist them but there are many unanswered questions. We cannot proceed without their coming forward with needs and future plans.
 
You, as Rotarians, can see that there are many avenues still available to us to implement the Magic of Rotary. We, as a Board, will be looking seriously where we can hang our hat on one of these PEC needs. If you have any thoughts, please communicate them to me.
 
Roger Tessier
President 2024/2025
 
On Second Thought: Something you might not know about me...I got fired from a calendar factory. All I did was take a day off!
 
 

This Week's Zoom Meeting Details:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82834387279

Zoom session opens at 7:00 a.m.

Meeting ID: 828 3438 7279
Passcode: rotary

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Last Week:  Ellis Ziegler & Adam Goheen (PEC Affordable Housing)

Rotary meeting minutes January 7, 2025
Notes by Chris Compeau
 
The meeting was called to order by President Roger at 7:07 am.  33 Rotarians were present with 2 guests (speakers Adam Goheen and Elis Ziegler).
 
Jacques provided insight into why he joined the Rotary Club of Wellington.  When he worked full time he was aware of various service clubs but was never a member.  When he retired and moved to the County fulltime he looked into joining either the Picton or the Wellington Rotary Clubs.  He ultimately decided that the Wellington club made most sense.  He was sponsored by Geoff Telling.  Soon after joining a fellow Rotarian greeted him from across Main Street –“Hi Jacques, it’s me, from Rotary”.  It was then that he sensed the comradery and friendliness that truly exists within the club and he knew that he had made the right decision.
 
 ‘O’ Canada’ was sung.  David Hawkins recited an invocation.  Breakfast was served.
 
Liz introduced our guest speakers: Adam Goheen, director of housing for the County and Elis Ziegler, affordable housing supervisor for the County.  Elis provided an overview of the housing department.  They addressed some of the unique aspects of Prince Edward County with respect to affordable housing needs.  They outlined the landscape of all residential options and emphasized that their focus is on affordable housing.  It was noted that home prices have dropped since 2020 however rental prices have continued to rise.  When addressing ‘what is affordable housing?’ they indicated that $69,000 per year is essentially what 2 people each making minimum wage would earn.  With that income affordable rent would be approximately $1,700 per month, assuming 30% of income goes toward rent.  However the standard rental rates in the county exceed $2,000 per month.
 
They outlined features of their ‘housing help program’.  Specifically, they discussed housing stabilization, housing education, and rental inventory programs.  The Leeward House was acknowledged as a valuable transitional housing site.  The County offers transit support for residents in need.  They also discussed elements of the ‘housing system support’ including a community safety and well-being plan, a hoarding action response team, as well as other initiatives such as ‘home sharing’.
 
Elis and Adam addressed several questions.  They indicated that the identification of ground contaminants at the former Duke Dome site has limited development.  Furthermore, Adam reported that once Provincial authorities provide the ‘go ahead’ on construction at the Duke D, there are currently no funds set aside for development!  They also provided updates on the Disraeli St. and Queen Elizabeth School housing development projects.
 
Peter thanked Elis and Adam for their presentation. 
 
Business
Roger reported on the health of members:
            John Inwood’s breathing difficulties have improved. Iza is having her cast removed this week.
 
Roger questioned how the pending Main Street road closures will impact our weekly meetings.  Margo understood (via WOTL reports) that there will be full closures of Main Street from mid-January to mid-February.  David MacKinnan and Ken both understood that there will be road access for local members.
John Inwood is celebrating a birthday on January 11th.
 
Iza’s ticket was drawn for the 50/50 draw however she failed to pull the ace of spades.
 
The meeting concluded with the 4-way test.

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50/50 Draw This Week: $232

Make sure you get your ticket this week!

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Bottle Depot Volunteers Schedule for This Week

Wednesday January 15, 2025

9 a.m. to 11 a.m.:  Ted Nash, Ken Robertson

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.:  Roger Tessier, Lari Langford (FoR)

 

Saturday January 18, 2025

9 a.m. to 11 a.m.:  Bill Pennell, Karen Norell (FoR)

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.:  Trudy Brown, Phyo Kyi, Doug & Brenda Little (FoR)

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Birthdays & Anniversaries

  Birthdays

-none-
 

 

Member Anniversaries

David & Rowena Hawkins
(23 Yrs, Jan 19)
 
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Rotary Grace

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.
 
 
 
Speakers
Jan 14, 2025
Councillor, Wellington, Ward 3
Jan 21, 2025
Classification talk
Jan 28, 2025
View entire list
 
Editors: Phyo Kyi, Mike Lattner, Howard Ziedenberg
 
 
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