Meeting Minutes – Wednesday, February 7th, 2018

REMINDER: We return to Lookout on Feb 14th -  but the meeting is upstairs NOT downstairs

President’s Updates:

A.K. Wigg Assembly

• AK Wigg held an assembly to celebrate the work of the Earlyact club and announce their next initiative with Me to We.

Bowl for Kids Sake

• Wed, Mar 7^th in Welland – we have a team participating. Also Pen Financial is participating on Sat Mar 3^rd. Contact Paul S as Rotary is putting in at least a four person team. Commitment of $50 per person with the club kicking in $200.

Welland Curling – Feb 20^th

• Troy, Frank, Bob and Paul S are participating

• No board meeting that night

Membership Meeting – Feb 15^th

• Everyone is welcome to come and meet to review options and ideas for increasing membership

• Planning a business association meeting as well to increase corporate membership

Calendar

• Please forward important dates to Ken S

Rotaract

• Bottle drive – please bring in empties to next meeting

• Rotaract is participating Feb 24^th in “Coldest Night of the Year”

Fitness Trail

• Work continues to seek additional funding for this

• Troy and Pat are involved “Rotary Trail”

Dues

• Randy sent invoices – please ensure that you pay promptly

Mudfest

• Website and registration are up and running

• Please promote through your social media @fonthillrotary and #Mudfest

District Grants Updates:

MOTION: The Rotary Club of Fonthill moves to postpone applying for a District Grant for Feb 2018 but continue planning for a February 2019 application. Moved Mel, Seconded Roy, carried

MOTION: The Rotary Club of Fonthill moves to earmark $2500 for Crossley’s garden from Trillium grants and Niagara Community Foundation grant. Moved Mel, Seconded Roy, carried

The club wants to ensure that the plan to support the garden is in place by June so this year’s grade 12 ELC grads are involved.

Guest Speaker – Brianna Willard, Classification

Brianna Willard is our youngest Rotarian and is also a member of Rotaract. At 23 years old, Brianna clearly has packed a lot of opportunities and experiences into her young life. Born in Vancouver, her family moved to Ontario and she participated in French schooling through until she switched to French Immersion at Welland Centennial for high school in order to learn English. In grade 10, Brianna accompanied her father to Guyanna on a medical trip. This opportunity to see doctors and nurses in action inspired her medical aspirations. She saw first hand the resources that they lacked in their country.

In grade 11 , she participated in a short exchange in Nantes, France which allowed her to travel and learn about French culture and the value of exchanges.

In 2013, Brianna graduated and attended Queen’s University for Biology. While at Queen’s Brianna, a violinist since grade 7, played in a trio. She found this to be a great stress reliever and outlet for self-expression. Brianna’s fourth year thesis was on the toxicity of substances on the genetic makeup of wildlife.

Following graduation, Brianna joined the staff of Kwikfit where she works as a personal trainer. She has also worked as a field assistant for a scientific research study canoe tripping through Algonquin. Brianna clearly has a passion for the outdoors and the environment. Currently she is applying for medical studies and nursing.

Brianna’s family is hosting Fede, our youth exchange students.

Paul thanked Brianna for sharing her story with the group.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Sunday February 18^th, 2:30 p.m. Please join everyone at the Pelham Arena as there will be a Doug Burr Memorial Hockey game.