1.         Town Hall Meeting

Frank Adamson will be attending a meeting at the town with respect to planning Summerfest and will report back regarding next steps

 

2.         Art Festival

An email will be coming out to ask for Rotarians to assist with the Art Festival

 

3.         Meeting Location

The meeting location will be in the current large room to the left of the stairs until June 5th

 

4.         Condolences

 

On behalf of the club, Mel expressed her condolences to Paul Snack on the recent passing of his mother in law, Dorothy Guzda.

 

5.         Funfest

Paul Allen provided a brief update asking everyone to assist in distributing bookmarks and posters -- next meeting will be Monday, April 27th at 7 p.m.

 

6.         RYLA

Mike Taylor announced that Julie Labrioccosa formerly of ELC Interact will be attending RYLA this year.

 

7          Teresa Quinlin - Interim CAO - Town of Pelham gave her classification speech.

 

Teresa is a local Niagara individual who was one of the first students in the Brock University BA in Accounting.  She has gone on to get her MBA and her Chartered Professional Accountants.

 

Teresa began her career as a coop student at KPMG and then later worked for the late Joe and Anita Robertson for Canadian Medical Products.  She clearly found that the staff at KPMG but also Joe and Anita, were very supportive of her and supported her in developing her sense of community commitment and leadership.

 

When an opportunity arose to work as a Budget Officer at Niagara College, she took this as a chance to expand her skill set and work in a larger organization.  Through what ended up as over 20 years at the College, she worked in a number of different roles in the Finance area.  She consistently however, knew to reach out to people in academic areas and go to them -- this helped her truly understand where the money was being used and the connection to the work of the college.  Teresa clearly credits being in the right place, at the right time in her advancement through different roles at the college.  However, she also shared the story that when a senior leader reflected that he “didn’t see her in a particular role”, she took it upon herself to develop the skills required to gain the role.  Teresa retired from Niagara COllege in 2015 as Vice President of BUsiness Development.  She has loved the challenges that she has faced, and the ability to problem solve continuously.  The success of a $90 million dollar campus redevelopment plan, is a significant moment in her career. 

 

Upon retirement, she became a consultant and was asked to support the Town of Pelham.  Currently as Interim CAO.  When she arrived she knew little of the Town or its situation.  She is enjoying working with the staff at the Town of Pelham and supporting the team in their planning.  The position is currently posted.

 

Throughout her career, Teresa also was committed to her community volunteering often as Treasurer with organizations such as Leadership Niagara and the YMCA.  She remains on the board of the Niagara Health Foundation Board and Women’s Place Niagara.

 

Teresa shared that support and encouragement from friends, family and mentors have been significant in her career path.  A recent diagnosis of cancer for herself, her sister and her mother, helped to be a significant game changer in reflecting on net steps.  She now has two dogs and is reflecting on planning for retirement again. 

 

Teresa shared with us a memorable phrase that has guided her:

 

 

Mel Groom thanked Teresa for sharing her story as did several other members.

 

Happy Loonies:

 

Congratulations to Barb Bartholomew whose son and daugther in law welcomed a baby boy.  This is Barb’s second grandchild and first grandson.