Festival City Rotary Newsletter Jan 10, 2012
The Rotary Club Of
President: David Moore
Minutes of the meeting of Jan 10, 2012
Club email: festivalcityrotary@gmail.com
Club web blog: www.festivalcityrotary.blogspot.com
ClubRunner site: www.festivalcityrotary.ca
Guests: Berny Nymeyer and Ellen Balmain are from the Stratford Rotary Club. Ellen was accompanied by her son Calum who is an outbound Rotary Exchange Student. Marjorie Schoemaker is a guest of Jane Eligh-Feryn. Phanuwat Kongwattananon (Nu) is our Rotary Exchange Student. Dr Gezahgn Wordofa is a Goodwill Ambassador for Peace. Louise Spandler is a guest of Jean Aitcheson. Brandi Gillett, and Jan and Larry McClelland were also in attendance.
Draw Prize: Sue Thomson was the winner of a prize donated by Donna Hinz.
Announcements:
- Dinner of the Month Draw Drum: If anyone has access to drum or a large container which can be used to draw tickets for the dinner each month should contact Jane Eligh-Feryn. Jane is also suggesting promoting ticket sales on your Facebook account or email your contacts about the Dinner of the Month.
- Medical Mission Donations: Jean Aitcheson is looking for toothbrushes, expired calendars with pictures and also empty foam soap dispensers. These items are required for her trip to an orphanage in Nicaragua next month.
- Board of Directors Meeting. This Thursday, Feb 12 at 7 PM at the Moore home.
- The El Salvador Project: Lynne Ternosky who has just returned from El Salvador announced that because we raised over $203 000 in matching grants the Canadian Government will provide its full commitment of $150 000 to the project. Lynne also reported that a school has had its leaky asbestos roof replaced by a rust proof metal roof. Now 195 children can keep dry. This year El Salvador was particularly wet with 5 feet of rain in 10 days during her stay there. Schools have also received 40 stoves so that students can receive hot meals. Our club received an award from El Salvador expressing thanks for what Rotary in Canada has done for El Salvador. Lynne also presented Rotary banners to our club from two El Salvadoran clubs.
Guest Speaker: David Moore introduced Jan and Larry McClelland from Friendship Force Clubs. The clubs appeal to people who are interested in meeting people from different countries and cultures. Friendship Force Clubs began in Atlanta Georgia in 1977 and has expanded to over 300 clubs around the world. There are 22 in Canada including the St Marys/Stratford club which formed in 2010. The club is looking for new members who are interested in travel exchanges.
The goal of Friendship Force Clubs is to foster opportunities to experience new cultures, make friends and participate in local activities in the host cities. The outbound travelers (called ambassadors) are billeted with members of the host club. Exchanges usually last a week. Incoming ambassadors stay with members of various clubs in the Stratford area such as London and Kitchener. The travelling group typically has 15-20 people who may come from several clubs. Solo travelers are welcome as well.
To participate in a trip, the outbound traveler is required to pay $125 US to the Atlanta office for making arrangements and about $100 to the host club to cover their expenses.
The club meets once a month at the Queen’s Inn. At the meetings the members make their requests for exchanges. Typically the requests are made 2 years in advance and are coordinated through the head office in Atlanta. Club fees are $25 per year per person and the next meeting is Feb 6 at noon.
The club website is a good source for information. Visit www.thefriendshipforce.org
The McClelland’s were thanked by Etienne Leushuis