October 16 Bingo Dedication

Monday, December 28, 2009

XMAS Meeting 2009


It was once again Silly XMAS Hat Time as the members of the Festival City Rotary Club celebrated all thing Rotary and festive.

Sgt-at-Arms John McNeil (L) and Bill Helmuth (C) chat with Noon Club Member Dr. Bob Martin (R).

Santa's favourite elfs, Wayne and Diane Yundt, get in the festive spirit without any alcohol.

Many festive hats were in evidence at the meeting.


Sgt-at-Arms John McNeil and Club President Kent Chisholm discuss how to fix the door prize draw so that Etienne doesn't win again. They failed miserably.


Club Choral and Glee Master Peter Moreton, led the Club in seasonal chants with Mr. Earl Clarke on piano.



Paul Harris Fellowship Presentations - Susan and Trevor Exnor


On behalf of the Club, Lynn Ternosky (left) presented Susan (centre) and Trevor Exnor (right), with Paul Harris Fellowship Awards in recognition of their continuing support for local initiatives. The couple has allowed their restaurant to be used as a fundraising venue for many projects including the inaugural Rotary Dragon Boat festival, support for winter activities, African and Russian ventures, and our own El Salvador Children’s project.

Mariana Says Goodbye


Mariana said goodbye to our Club and especially to her host families with whom she stayed this year. Mariana arrived on a snowy Feb 3, 2009 and is returning to Argentina shortly. Although it is always hard at the beginning of an exchange, Mariana said that she very quickly became comfortable in Stratford and did not become homesick. She made many friends, and had incredible experiences. Although she returns to her family she feels she is leaving behind three new families. Perhaps she will become homesick for Canada. - Vince Hill

New Members - Deb Stacey-Rivers and Brian Rivers


Deb Stacey-Rivers (centre) and Brian Rivers (right) were inducted into the Festival City Rotary Club on December 22nd by President Kent Chisholm. Sponsor Jane Kirkpatrick introduced Deb and Brian, who she has known for many years. Deb’s classification is Retirement Community Activities Director and Brian is a Financial Advisor.

Welcome to the Cult Brian and Deb!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

The Great Unknown Festival City Rotary Club Marching Kazoo Band

The Great UnKnown Festival City Rotary Club Marching Kazoo Band made its first appearance at the Club's meeting this morning to critical acclaim and alarm. The Band is available for birthdays, weddings, and funerals. Barbara Young is the Band's Honourary Music Director.



In this picture, Soloist Lyn McInnes (centre) leads the Band in a rendition of "We Wish You A Merry Christmas". As usual, Lyn ruined the photo, by not wearing a paper bag over her head.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Basketeers

Earlier this month, members of the Festival City Rotary Club created baskets in support of victims of domestic abuse. Baskets were provided for Optimism Place and the Emily Murphy Centre.

(L-R) Maxine Noel, Donna Hinz, Judith Sept and some hot chick, pose in front of all the collected baskets, while below Franklin Hinz (L) and a helper work hard to unload the hampers.








Sunday, November 15, 2009


The Festival City Rotary Club wishes to recognize Ken Hansen with a Paul Harris Fellowship for his service to the club.

As the program co-ordinator for the Club, Ken has consistently obtained a variety of interesting speakers for our morning meetings. He has been a strong support of club activities and currently chair the Club's Service Committee.

Congratulations Ken!

Peter Moreton Presented with a Paul Harris Fellowship

Rotarian Peter Moreton (the bald guy with the ugly tie) was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship at the Club's November 10th meeting. Peter was joined by his wife Carol (far L), and Club Secretary Diane Yundt and Club President Kent Chisholm (far R).


Banner Exchange - Iquitos Amazonia, Peru.


Jean Aitcheson (L) and Lyn McInnis (C) presented the President-Elect Linda Jones (R) with a banner from the Rotary Club of Iquitos Amazonia, Peru.

Laura Pogson Awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship

Rotarian Laura Pogson (L) was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship at its weekly meeting on Oct 27. The award citation was as follows:

"The Festival City Rotary Club wishes to recognize Laura Pogson with a Paul Harris Fellowship for her service to the club, community and world. Laura was Club President from 2006-2007. She has been involved on a number of community committees that include: Stratford Perth County Community Foundation, Torch Relay Committee, Sister Cities Committee, and Divorce Care. On the international level, Laura has been active with First Steps, a Christian development organization fighting malnutrition in North Korea."

Club Secretary Diane Yundt (R) invested Laura on behalf of the club.

Congratulation Laura!


Monday, October 26, 2009

Who is Nobody?

The Festival City Rotary Club of Stratford has funded the introduction of the Who Is Nobody? character education program for the Grade 6 Gifted Program taught by teacher Cindy Carlson at Stratford Central Public School.


It all began in October,2009, when a mysterious suitcase arrived at the classroom containing a blue rag doll void of features and gender.

Throughout this year long program, each student will implement a service learning project and then design a 3D object to pin on the Nobody doll which will give the doll its character. This project builds on everybody's unique strengths, nurturing their self-esteem and enhancing their academic performance. NOBODY will become a SOMEBODY!

The FCRCS can look forward to a visit from SOMEBODY and Ms. Carlson in the new year.
Visit www.whoisnobody.com for further information on this multiple award-winning program that is sponsored by several Rotary clubs throughout Ontario.

A Dispatch from Normandy


Phoenicia is a Rotary Exchange Student from Stratford. This is her first report to the Club.



Bonjour :)


Monday (October 26) marks exactly two months for me here in France. I’m staying in Granville, Normandy. It’s a small city - about the size of Stratford - known mostly for it’s fish and beaches. The city is surrounded, on two sides by ocean. My house backs on to the beach. These particular beaches are known for their giant tides - the largest in Europe I believe - that at high tide completely cover all of the beaches and at low tide allow you to walk all the way out to the light house.


I am staying with the Carli family, the father is a Rotarian, my YEO and counsellor. They have three kids - Juliette (20), Cesar (18) and Edgar (16). Only Edgar lives with us the whole year, the other two are gone to university for business and medicine respectively. I have my own room here, I stay in Juliette’s room and am usually expected to wake myself up for school (however, my host mom still insists on coming to check to see if I am awake). I switch family’s around the end of December - Beginning of January.


The Rotary Club here is the Rotary Club of Granville, they are a completely male club and have mixed socials once a month (or so) where the Rotarians bring their wives. They meet every 15 days on Thursdays. There have been, at most, about 20 - 25 Rotarians at our meetings however, there are more members than that as they have a list of common absences. Even though I am a girl, I am still invited to all of the meetings, and therefore have been the only female there on many occasions. Since I have been here the club has not done much. We had a ‘Contact Club’ come and visit us from Cuxhaven, Germany, in early October (the weekend before Thanksgiving). The ‘Contact Club’ brought two girls, one girl on exchange from Thailand and the other a German girl - I believe the daughter of a Rotarian. Most of the Rotarians (from Germany) didn’t speak French so I ended up translating for most of the weekend. We have a pre-viewing of a new Christmas movie (starring Jim Carrey) that raises money for, I believe brain research in order to help ‘Maladies de Cerveau’ (brain diseases).


My host district doesn’t have very many ‘get togethers’ for the young students. We had a one day orientation meeting in September (from 11 - 4) where I met a few students but it was not nearly long enough. We then had a weekend last weekend (October 17 weekend) at Mont St. Michel for all of the students in (I think) the Northern half of France. There were over 150 most of which were from English speaking countries (excluding Mexico that had the largest group). It was from Saturday at 11 until Sunday at 4. We walked along thebay of Mt. St. Michel (tide was low) for four hours - for no reason - and then had a Rotary dinner where we all sang our anthems and then we had a dance from 12 - 2 (am). The next day we went to a visit at Mt. St. Michel from 10 -12 and then had lunch and then the students that had come from area’s such as Paris had to leave to get back. We have a weekend (starting this Thursday - 28 - where we are going to Parc Astérix - a popular amusement park in Paris, I am really excited.


I met many kids from Canada, including two girls from our district. I met a girl from Alberta, Nova Scotia and Quebec, and many from British Columbia and Ontario. We spoke English all weekend since that was the only language that everyone could speak well enough to communicate in all weekend.


School is going really well, I am in Seconde, which is the equivalent of a mixture of our 11 and 10. Mostly 11. All of the kids in my class are 14/15, which makes me the oldest at 16. Our schedule is different everyday and the same every week. Over the course of the week I have: Math, English, MPI, Geography/History, French, Physics/Chemistry, Biology, Gym, First, and Civics. I go from 8 - 6 everyday except Wednesdays when I only go until noon and every other Monday and Tuesday when I only go until four.


Life here is really good. I am having loads of fun and every day is a new adventure. I have yet to be truly homesick, I have only missed knowing precisely what is going on. My knowledge of French before I got here (thanks to French Immersion) has helped a lot. I didn’t get headaches like some other kids have reported. I understand most of my classes and I am getting alright grades (they are low for France by only a few marks but low for home by about 10 - 15%).

I haven’t done much traveling yet. I have only seen Granville and Lille (I went with my host mom when she went to drop my host sister off at school). I hope (and plan) to see Paris and the D-Day Beaches before I leave.


I hope everything is good at home. Thanks to everyone for making this happen. If anyone wants to contact me Carol can give you my email, I’d be happy to hear from anyone

À Plus tard,

Phoenicia

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Theatre Brunch 2009

Club President Kent Chisholm officially welcomed everyone to the Festival City Rotary Club's Annual Theatre Brunch on Sunday October 25th. This year's play was West Side Story.


The Brunch was once again catered by the Queen's Inn.

Carol Rock has seconds at the Dessert Table.

Our Guest Speaker was Dan Chameroy, who appeared as Lt. Schrank in the play.


Lyn ruins another good photograph by waving.


Just as in previous years, Peter Moreton demonstrates his innate inability to his polish shoes.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Ron Rogers Is Recognized with a Paul Harris Fellowship


Ron Rogers is being recognized for his service to the Club and Foundation with a Paul Harris Fellowship. Ron is a charter member and a strong supporter of Club activities and projects. As the Club's and Foundation's Treasurer for many years, Ron's sage advice and financial knowledge has stood the Club in good stead throughout turbulent economic times.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Dazed and Confused Near Machu Picchu


Dear Family and friends,

from 40 degrees in the jungle to sitting here with hot cocoa tea to help with altitude and a heavy sweater on, What a change in one day.

I got all the medical supplies returning to Stratford packed in 3 hockey bags and true to form, they were too heavy and )tell Walter= we had to repack. But the three that returned home took 6 pieces of luggage which was nice. We still have hockey bags with us.

Pastor Fran Schmidt, the Canadian Lutheran missionary met us at the airport and it was nice to connect with our ddear Katharine´s replacement. She took all three folks and Geneva Neal, the exchange student and was going to spend the day with them in Lima.

We came on to Cusco and it is good to be here once again. All our luggage arrived and the travel com`pany picked us up in a nuce bus that is ours for the stay. The hotel is very nice, quaint with all amemities, and we have it for half their regular price due to the mix up with our regular hotel. The man who made our travel arrangements is a Rotarian and I asked the lady with us to call him and ask when the meetings were so I could plan. Lo and behold, it was right then, so I changed and Erik came to pick me up. They welcomed me warmly, LYnn did not go and I presented our banner to them. They were very interested in what our club does and what the medical project was all about. They looked at eachh other and asked if we would come here to do the same thing. They have literacy and health projects and they run a discount drug store. I have invited them to the World international convention in Montreal.

Erik brought me back to the hotel and That bed was so welcome. It is cold here. There is a heater in the room. I could not gp to sleep as my feet were cold, so yes, Ken, I got up and put my socks on. The bed is so heavy with the covers and then I could not sleep cause by feet were too hot.

Breakfast is now with hot eggs, what a change. Today we go on the Sacred valley tour and maybe a dinner show tonight.

Thanks for all your good wishes. Will try to give you updates. Everyone is still well and so far, no altitude problems.

Love to you all,

Jean

Monday, October 12, 2009

Rotary Saturday Fiesta

Dear Family and friends,

we did not do clinic yesterday but we pulled off a huge celebration with the Canadian and Peruvian participants in this project. In the morning we took the bus to the Belen market. Belen is the slum area of Iquitos and a very unique community as all the houses are either built on 15 foot stilts or on logs so they will float when the rainy season comes. The market runs every day. There is no refrigeration and no where to store a larderso the food must be fresh every day. Lots of things are sold in little tiny amounts. We saw amazing things. As it is a very poor area, they claim it is dangerous and indeed one of our members saw someone´s pocket being picked. However for $20.00 we had 3 policepeople and 6 other helpers stay with us and look out for us. I´m not sure it was neccessary but we all came back safe and in awe of how people survive in such a tough place.

After lunch we went to the supermarket, and yes there is at least one in this city of 400,000 people. We were there to buy supplies for the fiesta we were preparing for Rotary Iquitos Amazonas and the translators. For all the things that have been wonderful on this trip, the food is not one of them, due to the hotel not the culture in general , as the students had great lunches every day from a caterer for much less than we are paying. A dinner out would have cost a lot and we could not afford to take the students so home cooking it was. The student´s caterer did some of the meal, the hotel did some and we did some in the hotel kitchen which made us wonder why only one got sick! Dinner for 56 takes a while!

We moved the tables and hotel furniture and plants around to create ambiance, picked flowers from the extensive gardens here, made appetizer trays like cheese and crackers and fruit, (pretty basic stuff Susan), and welcoming drinks. For 11 soles (pronounced so-lays), about $4.00, we made an excellant marinated tomato salad that everyone loved. Those were the first tomatoes we had had and they are cheap everywhere so I´m not sure why. We also made Canadian Mashed potatoes with garlic, butter and milk and they were a huge hit. The hotel staff was scooping up the leftovers of that. The Rotarian ladies were extremely impressed that two of our men, Cal and DR. Bruce, made the potatoes, but all our men helped. The caterer made a beautiful cake to top off the celebration. What fun to make the translators ´Canadian´., with a Canada pin and a taste of maple syrup. They kept insisting that the Peruvian flag and Canadian one is the same with the red bars at the ends, with a different symbol in the middle. What great young people they are with lots of possibilities for them with their education and ability with languages.

The Rotarians sure enjoyed the evening. They cancelled their usual meeting the night before, in favour of our gathering. They announced the fact they had just received word that they have been accepted with matching grants to be able to build a Rotary well in Belen, and man, do they need it!!! Their partners are two Rotary clubs in USA on that project.. The World International Rotary convention is in Montreal in 2010, and we have invited the members who can come to that to also come to Stratford and area. That would be wonderful for them to see some of our beautiful country.

I was dead on my feet, but the Rotrians were still partying at 1230! Sleep is a wonderful reviver. Today some are taking a tour up the Amazon, but I will sort out supplies and hockey bags to return to Stratford, give the medical supplies to Rotary to be dispensed where needed, and get ready for the travel portion of our trip.

Thank you all for your interest and support, your love and prayers. We´ve had great weather, yes very hot, but only a little rain which makes it difficult to run a clinic with all the dirt it creates. We have been safe, healthy and extremely productive, and have forged a great friendship and working relationship. Rotary wants to know when we can come back!

Hasta la vista y amor, Jean

Update from Peru


Dear Family, friends and Rotary friends,

this has been an amazing day. This was our last clinic day and for sure the busiest. Good job we get more efficient at setting up and taking down.

Today's clinic was in the poorest part of the city of Iquitos. We took our bus to Belen which is the slum area of Iquitos. All the houses are built on 15 foot stilts or are built on logs, as the whole community is the flood plain in Feb, Mar, and Apr. when all the rainy season water of the Amazon finally reaches Iquitos. We carried heavy hockey bags of medical supplies across crude wooden bridges with no railings, 20 feet above gorges running with raw sewage about to go into the river. Finally down the same crude steps to the river´s edge to a sort of ferry for the people and a boat for the supplies. The ferry just rams into the soft bank, loads and the pasengers and helpers push it away from the bank. The Itaya River is not wide and very fast moving, and same dirty water as everywhere. The houses along the river are on logs and they reach out into the river for their water to wash dishes and clothes, they bathe in it and swim in it. The outhouse for all these houses in at the end of a short dock with a crude shelter for privacy, and everything goes into the river.

We went down the river a piece and landed on the other side of the river. The San Francisco Government officials met us in Belen and took us to the school where the clinic was to be located. The school was a cememt block or brick type building built on cement Pilons about 20 feet high. We could see the marks on the pilons and all the structures for the high water marks. All the supplies had to be carried up what would amount to 3 flights of stairs. When we got there the place was packed with people and we knew it would be a busy day. But we had great facilities. They had cleaned all the classrooms, dental got one, pharmacy another, eye glasses another and one for Dr. Bruce Tomlinson and another for all the nursing assessments. The dentist used a teachers desk as his ´chair bed´, had another for his surgical instruments, children´s desks for supplies and suction and hotplate with pressure cooker sterilizer plugged into separate electrical outlets. Dr Jerry thought he had hit the jackpot. With 2 nurses, a translator and Ross Penton to keep the sterilizer going, Jerry extracted a whopping 65 teeth. He never keeps count but we had a pool going on his output.

We saw 340 patients today! That is a record, but everyone did their job and only had a short break for lunch. After lunch there had to be 100 patients in the mdical line alone. I went out with my stethoscope to triage the line. We had run out of a few medications and had Rotary buy more supplies. I was able to send a handful home without treatment, picked out the ones who were sick to go in first, but in the end, everyone was seen.

What a thrill to work under the Peruvian flag and 2 Canadian flags hanging from the rafters. At the end of the clinic, I presented the Mayor with a Peruvian flag, thanks to Rotary Lima, and a Canadian flag, with appreciation from the Government of Canada. Then it was pack up once more and make the trek back to the hotel. The pool and a beer sure is welcome when we get home about 6 pm or after. These are long days.

All the volunteers have ben amazing professionals and the Rotarians extremely helpful.

Must get my weary body in bed as it is 11pm. We have a busy day again tomorrow as we will host a dinner for the Rotarians and the translators.

Hugs to all,

Jean

Friday, October 9, 2009

An Update from Peru



Dear folks,

this is just a short note to let you know we are all well. One of the volunteers had a 24 hour challenge with vomiting and Diarrhea (Inca revenge?), but a litre of IV fluid and some of our medication got him up and going again. A couple of people have constipation problems with all the rice we get to eat, so I have threatened them that if they do not soon get going, I'm going to give them some bed water!

It is hot, hot, hot, and feels so good knowing you are having cold, wet and windy.

We went down the Amazon yesterday to a village that has received a Rotary well. We loaded everyone and all the hockey bags of supplies into the bus and then three boats and off we went. The boat I was in must have hit something in the water (not difficult considering the water is very brown and there is all kinds of debris and flotsam in it). They could not get the motor started, so we sat in the boat and drifted down the Amazon for 45 minutes. Very interesting to see how fast we went and all the jumping fish and flying birds.

The clinic went very well. The team is amazing as I was stuck down river and they set the clinic up and were almost ready to go when I got there. This village is very productive with some help from Rotary. Rotary Chilliwack BC helped them get a rice mill in 2006 and we saw it running. Rotary has been very helpful to us as well, getting medications ans supplies we have run out of.

Must run and get breakfast as we are headed across the river to another village this am. Will write a more detailed report later. Hugs to you all. This is a great trip and a huge benefit to the health of the folks we treat and teach.

Jean

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Wayne Young Receives a Paul Harris Fellowship

Assistant District Charles Hammond presented Club Member Wayne Young with his second Paul Harris Fellowship. The citation reads as follows:

Wayne Young is being recognized by the Festival City Rotary Club for his services to the Club. Wayne is a second time Paul Harris Fellow and is a strong support of Club projects and Rotary International activities. Each Tuesday morning, Wayne is always the first to arrive and sets up the room. He is among the first to greet members on their arrival, manages the attendance, and announces the guests. His welcoming smile, handshake and laugh, brighten up those dark, cold and early Tuesday mornings for all Club members.

Congratulations Wayne!

Club Wins Membership Award

Assistant District Governor Charles Hammond (L) presents Membership Chair Susan Allen (R) with a District Award for increasing club membership by 10% last year.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Rotary Exchange Students Come to Visit

Rotarians Lois and David hosted Rotary Exchange Students (L-R) Kumi from Japan, Lena from Germany and Luiza from Brazil at their home during a Rotary Exchange Student District Meeting last weekend.


David describe their stay as "a very worthwhile experience hosting these fine young ladies."


Sunday, October 4, 2009

Report From Peru


Rotarians Lyn "Whereabout Unknown" McInnis (L) and Jean "Tiny Buns" Aitcheson (C) are seen here with Club President Kent Chisholm holding club banners which Lyn and Jean took with them to Peru.

Jeans first report follows:


Received by email 4 Oct 2009.

Dear fellow Festival City Stratford Rotarians,

It is with great pleasure that I send this report from Iquitos Peru regarding our medical project here, and ask that you share it to our club and area 3 as it also involves Goderich club.

After months of planning and months of work and preparation, finally we were off Wednesday mornng. All the hockey bags we packed were right on 50 lbs. Air Canada only cares about the bottom line. We had one piece, a dental suction machine in it´s own secure shipping case that wieghed 62 lbs. Even though some were under weight, they charged us $100.00!!!! What a rip off. Easy flight and all our luggage arrived in Lima.

Rotary club San Borja Sur (Lima) met us at the Airport with greetings from their club and gave us their precious charge, International Rotary exchange student, Geneva Neal, who was outbound from the Goderich club. She is an absolutely delightful young woman and a great ambassador for us. The club also gave us 3 Peruvian flags to fly along with our cherished Maple Leaf in the villages where we will work. We were able to check in for the flight in the morning and then most went to a hotel for some much needed rest. I met two of our group who came in separately and then promptly crashed on a 3 seat bench for a much needed sleep.

Lan Peru Airlines was most accommodating as they checked all our 42 50 lb hockey bags and did not charge us for the extra bags, as everyone was to have only 50 lbs in total. That saved us $360.00!!! 47 hockey bags, of 50 lbs was transported in 2 mini vans! Rotary Iquitos Amazonas met us at the airport with very warm greetings, and plans well laid out for our work and stay.

All is well with our accomodtion including the very much needed air conditioning. Meals are good, but constipation seems to be a problem with the rice we are eating. It is so hot here, it is like a constant sauna. The first day at clinic, we each drank 2 to 4 litres of water and still did not pee. Mind you, it was not an inviting place to do so, but the only one for the kids at the school. Yes, this is the summer we never had.

Friday we went to the first village, El Triunfo, where Dianne Yundt and others from Stratford had helped collect money for the Rotary well. What a joy to see the blue and yellow Rotary wheel on the water reservoir from the road. Unfortunately the well is not working at the moment because of an electrical problem and we are working to get that fixed. So the village is back drinking the very bad water they had before.

Lynne Ternosky, you are so wise. We had such a go back and forth regarding the electricity for the dental team, yes we could have it and no we could not was the last answer before we left. Thankfully, we brought all the equipment anyway and by buying the gas for the generator, we had electicity for the suction machine and the sterilizer. The Dentist has done much work in the military, and worked on identifying bodies after the air disaster off Peggy´s cove. He has been doing amazing work, including some restoration to front teeth of young people.

After the patients are registered, they all receive eduction in water related health issues, including hydration which is a major problem here. Most people only drink 2 or 3 glasses of water a day in this incredible heat. Everyone has chronic dehydration. Everyone gets a new toothbrush and practice using it. Then the children ages 5 to 14 get dental fluoride treatments on their teeth. Then they go to the dentist or eye clinic for reading glasses or to the medical clinic. The reading glasses which are the only ones we are giving out are a hot item You an imagine what a change it is to be able to see clearly. What a shame I could not recruit a Rotarian Optometrist to join the team as it is so important for literacy to be able to see distance vision clearly. Maybe next time. Joe Odumodu is the Pharmacist and a Rotarian from Woodstock. He had great space to work in with little childrens desks up on bricks to make it ergonaomically easier. He has help from a youth and a nurse and it takes all of them to keep up. We treat everyone for worms and parasites as they are all infected, especially with the 3 or 4 weeks without safe water from the Rotary well. All get vitamins to boost their immune system, as well as other medications needed.

Dr. Bruce Tomlinson has done a great job. He sees the patients that require special expertise and he has incised a huge absess, removed a lesion the size of a golf ball, suturered and dressed and given special examinations. One of the nures diagnosed Strep Throat in 3 members of a family that had had it for 6 months!!! With consultaion, proper antibiotics were given. We have seen scabies and worm infestation in little babies which is always difficult. We have to buy that treatment locally here as we never see that at home. Makes you wonder how they are able to survive at all until age 5.

Rotary has been invaluable here with knowing where to make the referrals etc. The President of the local Rotary club here is a Dentist. Dr. Jerry had a very difficlut extraction on a 17 year old girl who had her whole jaw bone infected from the tooth. She had been in excruciating pain for days when she came to us. He could not get it out despite lots of local anaesthetic. To top it off, she fainted severely and spent an hour on the floor, out of the straight chair we were using for the extracions. We started an IV, and stimulated her with painful stimuli to have he come around. After another half hour of cold cloths, a litre of iv fluid, we got her up to walk and eventueally walked her home where she sat in a chair and we removed the IV. She was the first patient of the day, where the dentist infiltrated the whole jaw with long acting freezing to make her comfortable. After clinic the next day, we took her to the clinic of the Rotary President where their staff and our staff completed the still difficlut extraction. What great working together to serve when needed.

Friday night, Rotarians, Lynn McInnis, Joe and I along with Geneva Neal, the exchange student and our very capale translator, Ross Penton from Stratford, the Dentist and his wife and another nurse went to the Rotary meeting. There was much good will and greetings, and the dentist indicated he would investigate becoming a member when he gets home to the Midhust area. With great pride, I presented them with our banner and received their very pretty one for our collection. They have arranged for 12 translators every day which is invaluable to our work, and they are very dedicated young people from the local university.

Tomorrow, we go to a different village, called 13 of October, for 3 days. We stopped in the village to see the set up on the way home on Saturday. We will work out of the local health clinic but as there is not enough space, the
Baptist across the hiway has offered us a house and the church to work from which will be great. Then we will work in two villages on the Amazon.

We are all well. all working extremely well together. This is a great project and I thank you all for helping make this happen.

Greetings to each of you.

In Rotarian service,

Jean Aitcheson

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Carolyn Bart-Riedstra Presented with a Paul Harris Fellowship


Rotarian Carolyn Bart-Riedstra was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship by her peers at the Club's meeting on September 29.

Carolyn's Citation reads as follows:

Carolyn Bart-Riedstra is being recognized by the Festival City Rotary Club for her services to the Community and Club with a Paul Harris Fellowship. Carolyn was the Club President from 2005-2006, a member of numerous committees and most importantly the driving force of the Club's Bingo committee. She is also being recognized for her service to the community as an archivist. As the Provincial Archives Advisor she has shared her expertise throughout Ontario in order to preserve our past.

Congratulations Carolyn!

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Duke of York Bingo - Oct 2


Friday, October 2 Bingo commemorates the Duke Of York. Work starts at 5:00 pm

1799 - Duke of York & Russians capture Alkmaar in Netherlands. He was searching for ancestors of Etienne Leushuis . The Duke had received reports that certain members of the Leushuis family were winning a lot of door prizes and martial law had to be imposed. All door prize draws and lotteries were suspended. The Leushuis Family was arrested.

The grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men;
He marched them up to the top of the hill,
And he marched them down again.

And when they were up, they were up,
And when they were down, they were down,
And when they were only half-way up,
They were neither up nor down.

Posting by J. West.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Festival CIty Rotary Awards Vince Hill a Paul Harris Fellowship

Club Secretary Diane Yundt (left) and Club President Kent Chisholm (right) presented Rotarian Vince Hill (centre) with a Paul Harris Fellowship on September 22.

The citation reads as follows:

The Rotary Club of Festival City wishes to recognize Vince Hill's many years of service to the Club as its Newsletter Editor. Each week without fail, Vince faithfully crafts a newsletter of the Club's doings that is both interesting, informative and fun. VInce Hill clearly exemplifies Rotary's motto: "Serve Above Self".

Congratulations Vince!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Carolyn Dingman Awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship


At it's September 15th meeting, the Rotary Club of Festival City presented a second Paul Harris Fellowship to Rotarian Carolyn Dingman. Seen above is Club Secretary Diane Yundt (L), Carolyn Dingman (C), and David Harvie (R).


The citation reads as follows:


"Courage is not the mighty oak standing before the coming storm, but rather the delicate flower that blooms in the snow."


Courage is found in everyday things, in sometimes surprising , unsuspecting and quiet places. Carolyn Dingman is an example to the Club of such Courage.


The Festival City Rotary Club wishes to recognize Carol's leadership as Club President in 1998-1999, her involvement in all club activities and committees, as well as her work as Club Team Captain for the annual MS Walkathon, by awarding her a Paul Harris Fellowship.


Carolyn's membership in the Festival City Rotary Club humbles us, inspires us and ennobles us.


Congratulations Carolyn!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Jane Kirkpatrick Awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship



At its September 1st meeting, the Festival City Rotary Club awarded Jane Kirkpatrick (R) with a Paul Harris Fellowship for her outstanding support of Rotary ideals and service to the Club. President Kent Chisholm (L) formally presented the award to Jane on behalf of the Club.

The citation reads as follows:

Jane Kirkpatrick is a Charter member of the Festival City Rotary Club. She has served in a number of roles: Club President from 1996-1997, RI Foundation Commttee Chair, the Club's Secretary for 5 terms, and a Board member of the Club's Foundation.

In all ways, Jane embodies Rotary International's motto: "Service Above Self".

This is Jane's second Paul Harris Fellowship awarded by the Club. Congratulations Jane!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Carol Rock and Lynne Ternosky Receive Paul Harris Fellowships

On behalf of the members of the Festival City Rotary Club, District Governor Tanya Wolff (far left) and Assistant District Governor Charles Hammond (far right) presented Carol Rock (left of centre) and Lynne Ternosky with Paul Harris Fellowships.

Lynne's Citation reads as follows:

As the past chair and a current member of the International Committee, Lynne has identified and led the Club's international development projects. These have included a Community Needs Assessment Trip to El Salvador which led to the creation of a rural literacy project. This project sponsors a number of children to attend school by providing uniforms, shoes, school supplies, and a nutritional program. She has mastered the complexities of the matching grant processes and has promoted and advocated the project within our District giving the Club's project a District-wide focus and effort. She recently returned from El Salvador after leading a Youth Group visit. Lynne has been appointed the District's GSE Outbound Team Leader to Columbia in 2010.


Lynne Ternosky has demonstrated her vision to see, her faith to believe, and her courage to act.



Carol Rock's Citation reads as follows:


Carol Rock has many achievements within Rotary that have included Club President in 2002-2003, a term as Assistant District Governor, and Chair of the Club's Vocational Committee, to name just a few. She is presently involved in the Joint Rotary Youth Exchange Committee with the Noon Club and is Chair of the Club's Fundraising committee. She was instrumental in the creation of the Club's Foundation and has served on the Board of Trustees from its inception. Her international service has include a Community Needs Assessment Trip to El Salvador and active participation in the Club's International Committee.


In all things and in all ways, Carol Rock has exemplified what is best in our Club and in Rotary International.


Congratulations to both Carol and Lynne.