Please join us at Odd Fellows Hall, 218 Concession Street, Kingston ON.
The Rotary Four Way Test
Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned
Rotary Reflection
For food in a world where many walk in hunger
For peace in a world where many walk in fear
For friends in a world where many walk alone
And for the opportunity to serve others through Rotary,
May we be truly thankful!
The Loyal Toast
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Queen of Canada!
Acknowledgement of Territory
We are gathered on traditional Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Territory. we are grateful to be able to join together in Rotary Fellowship on these lands.
The meeting opened with the singing of the National Anthem and acknowledgement of territory.
Guests:Nicole and Jessica Lessiter, Easter Seals mother and daughter.
Friends of Rotary: Jim Rymerson
Visiting Rotarians: Todd Colborne and Lucille Davies both of the Kingston Club
Service Commitments and Makeups:
Member Sharing
Fun Master - Heather Kembel
This is Black History Month and today is International Women in Science Day, but Heather based a quiz on Easter Seals. Anyone who has ever manned the phones (the old way) for the telethon was fined. From the quiz questions, we learned that Easter Seals was formed in 1922. The fundraising goal in 1947 was $150,000. Easter Seals ambassadors were called Timmy (or Tammy) based on the story of Tiny Tim. Some prominent Canadians have helped with fund raising. One was a wrestler, Whipper Billy Watson. The first Easter seals camp was the Blue Mountain Camp. The architect was Abe Wilson who donated his work. There was one more fine for anyone who had never visited Camp Merrywood.
Happy/Sad Bucks
Only one happy buck today from Heather Nogrady who was excited to have received her first two Rotarian magazines.
Announcements
Elizabeth Cohoe, Easter Seals
Rotarians founded Easter Seals in 1922!
Jim Rymerson has volunteered (!) to co-ordinate our Easter Seals fundraising efforts this year. Thank you Jim! The kickoff reception is Thurs Feb 20th 5pm (conflicts with Newcomer’s dinner)
Feb 11th we’re having a mom and daughter here to speak with us about Easter Seals.
Greg Mumford
Adventures in Citizenship April 26-29: we’ve reserved spots and will be interviewing candidates 16-18yrs of age at the end of February.
Youth service meeting in the morning of Feb 20th. If you are interested in being a new committee member let Greg know.
The first meeting of the committee for this year’s auction will take place Feb 19th at 5 pm at Kingston Dodge. New participants are welcome.
We are signing our club youth certification and Greg is getting everyone to update their status for CPIC. Please sign and return the forms to Greg.
Bernie Allard
Bernie reported that there have been three new cases of polio in Pakistan this year.
Bill Egnatoff
Bill Egnatoff will be bringing guests to the newcomers function next week. They have some needs such as driving that we might be able to help with. If anyone can help out let Bill know.
President's Announcements
President, Ana Sutherland:
Feb 25th we are having our breakfast meeting at Smitty’s for Shrove Tuesday. Smitty’s will donate our pancake breakfast purchases to Easter Seals. The servers also donate their tips. Thanks Michelle CF for this great idea!
Feb 20th Social Event for New Canadians here at the Odd Fellows hall – celebrating black history month.
Call for grant proposals for spring 2020: Last fall, Loughborough School submitted a proposal that went beyond the money we had in the Community Service budget. It was handed over to the National Committee to consider. All on that committee agreed that it is worthwhile. Last week it was taken to the Kingston 2021 centennial committee and it became the 12th project for the year. So, we have partners in the other clubs. The total budget is almost $50,000, and the school has raised $15,000. One recommendation is that we forgo the spring grants. Community and National can add their remaining budget, and the Youth Service committee is expecting a surplus this year. John Gale suggested that additional money could be solicited from the Limestone Learning Foundation and District 7040.
Are members in agreement to make it one project? Are you in agreement with the project? Ana will send the proposal to all members. The committees should vote on it ahead of next Tuesdays meeting when it will be presented to the membership for a vote.
According to treasurer Rick, there are two types of District grants. One makes it possible for up to $30,000, and the other would be matching money up to $2,500. We would have to raise the full amount and if we get a grant it would be a reimbursement.
We do not have to raise the full amount needed, but rather provide the leadership to make the fund raising possible.
As a centennial project other clubs and Rotarians could also commit. We are not commiting to the school that we will raise it all.
Question. Is the project scalable? Yes, because there are several aspects… greenhouse garden and kitchen. Can be done in stages.
Feb. 20, 2020 - Social Event - Fun, Food and Festive - New Comers to Canada at Odd Fellows 5-8 PM
Feb 20, 2020 - Esater Seals Kick-off, 5 pm, Kingsbridge Retirement Residence
Feb. 22, 2020 - Curling Fun Spiel at Royal Kingston Curling Club -Members, Friends of Rotary and Families are welcome
Feb 23, 2020 - Rotary's 115th Birthday
Feb 25, 2020 - Regular Meeting moved to Smitty's
Feb. 27, 2020 - President's Council Meeting at Smitty's - 6-7:30 PM
Mar. 5, 2020 - Rotary Day at Brier Patch- Rotarians will volunteer at the Patch
Mar. 21, 2020 - PETS Training at Nav Centre, Cornwall
May 14, 2020 - Heritage Fair - Queens West Campus
Jun. 23, 2020 - No morning meeting - End of the year party at Odd Fellows 6-10 PM
Jun. 30, 2020 - No meeting
July 19th, 2020 - Rotary Centennial Birthday Party at Rotary Park
Sept 19, 2020 - Tree Planting - Rotary Park - Rotarians to assist in planting 100 trees
Oct 16 & 17, 2020 - District Conference at Ottawa
June 25th, 2021 - Rotary Anniversary Gala, St. Lawrence College
Our speakers today were introduced by Elizabeth Cohoe. Todd Colborne of the Kingston Club joined Rotary 22 years ago and immediately joined the Easter Seals Committee. He has been involved in Easter Seals since that time. Special guests were an Easter Seals mother and daughter, Nicole and three year old Jessica Lessiter.
Todd began with a slide presentation. We learned that Easter Seals was founded in 1922 by a group of Rotary Clubs in southern Ontario, and has now spread to all provinces. Money raised stays in the region where it was donated, based on postal codes. Easter Seals serves kids with physical disabilities. Easter Seals is approaching its 100-year celebration, and to celebrate, the Kingston Club is creating a campfire area for camp Merrywood for the centenary.
Todd outlined the structure of Easter Seals and talked about the two camps in Ontario. Children served are under the age of 19, are permanent residents of Ontario, with a permanent disability that requires a assistive device. There are also post secondary scholarships available through Easter Seals. Families apply mostly because raising a child with a physical disability is very costly. The equipment is not only expensive, but also needs to be replaced as children grow. They may need multiple devices and this can cost up to $40,000 a year. Todd showed examples of how much these items can cost. It was also interesting to hear about Camp Merrywood, as the activities that are available are pretty typical of any children’s camp. This camp costs about $2,500 for a 10-day session.
The kick off for this year’s campaign will be on Feb 20th 5-7 pm at Kingsbridge Retirement Centre. There will be TV segments over the next month. Team fundraising will take place as it has in past. Your business can support the effort with an ad. CKWS donates the cost of these adsto Easter Seals. Todd suggested that Rotary Clubs could do an ad, and there are sponsorship opportunities also available. There are also other local events throughout the year. This year’s pancake breakfast at Smitty’s is one of them.
(Todd will send a link to a great video which will be circulated to all members.)
Todd is assisting Jim Rymerson to set up our club team. Jim is team captain this year, thanks to him for volunteering! We can donate on the page he is setting up online, and we can also donate offline by cheque or credit card. Forms are available at club meetings.
Nicole Lessiter talked about her and her husband’s experience being parents to Jessica who is three years old. Jessica was born with a very rare neurological condition called Pitt Hopkins Syndrome. It affects every muscle in her body. Symptoms include developmental delay, breathing apneas, seizures and reflux. At the age of three she is unable to walk, and some with this condition never do. She will be forever non-verbal, but it is possible for her to have a good life. They knew early that there was a problem but they had to wait for testing. They have been involved with Easter Seals since 2018. Having no benefits through employment, Easter Seals may be the only way to afford what Jessica needs. As funds are not unlimited though, they were advised in 2018 that money available had run out by August. In 2019 the funds ran out in July. Nicole talked about some of the special devices needed for Jessica and they are very expensive. For example, an appropriate walker would be $2,500. Her wheel chair was almost $6,000., and she will outgrow it. Parents try to find the money and only use Easter Seals as a last resort. Easter Seals gives parents $400 a year for diapers. The government doesn’t assist. Other needs include car seats, bed stairs and lifts. Parents try to conserve and share equipment as their children out grow things. That’s how they got their first $10,000., stroller. During Jessica’s first year, the cost for equipment, meds, and special food was $50,000. They have downsized their home twice in order to help make Jessica’s care affordable. The reason Nicole presented this information about cost was to emphasize that donations are really important.
The link for Easter Seals Eastern Ontario is http://www.easterseals.org/contact-us/ontario-east-region/
Krista Leclair of the Kingston Club is the Senior Development Officer for the Kingston Area
The link to Camp Merrywood is https://www.eastersealscamps.org/about/camp-merrywood
Heather Nogrady thanked Todd and Nicole and presented our traditional loaf of bread to Nicole.
Duty Roster
Rotary Club of Cataraqui-Kingston
Guests are Welcome
Odd Fellows Hall - 218 Concession Street, Kingston, Ont 7:00 am
Registration and Greeting
Members: Greg Mumford
Guest: Michelle Chatten-Fiedorec
Greeter: Bernie Allard
Hall and Kitchen setup: Ana Sutherland, Ron Pols, Ed Thompson
Hall and Kitchen clean up: Ed Thompson, Rick Fiedorec, Robert Reid
7:15 Call to Order and Welcome Ana Sutherland
7:16 Rotary Invocation and Toast to the Queen; Jim Rymerson
7:17 Breakfast Parade; Elizabeth Cohoe
7:35 Welcoming of Guests and Visiting Rotarians; John Gale
7:38 Announcements and Board Positions: John Gale
7:43 Fun Master: Elizabeth Cohoe
7:55 Speaker Intro: Heathetr Nogrady
8:00 Speaker: John Farrow "How Can I help the Rotary Foundation"
8:18 Speaker thanks: Heather Kembel
8:18 Draw
8:19 Adjournment Ana Sutherland
Scribe: Terri Hodges
Piano: Terry Hicks
