Port Hope Rotary Beacon for November 13 2023

November 13, 2023 Port Hope Rotary Meeting

District Governor John Burns & MPP David Piccini

Co-President Steve Tallo opened the meeting. It was a joint meeting with Northumberland Sunrise Rotary Club. Our guests were District Governor John Burns, Rachel Boyd, MPP David Piccini, Rob Pope, Exchange Student Malwi Lukawczyk from Poland, Shaf Chowdury, Karan O’Hara, Melissa Allison, Rhonda Cunningham and Norm Reynolds.

Steve led us in a toast and Kevin Moore said grace. We then enjoyed a delicious dinner prepared by Lisa of meat pies, salad, grilled vegetables and dessert.

Program

After dinner Assistant Governor Rob Pope introduced our District Governor John Burns. John spoke to us of the Rotary Year Ahead, and introduced himself as “Burns, John Burns, Special Agent 7070.”

John then spoke to us of R.I President Gordon McNally’s vision for the upcoming year. As Rotarians we need to point the way. Often, our best work is supporting the work of others. Gordon also advocates continuity in moving forward, advancing the good ideas of leaders who have gone before.

President McNally is placing an emphasis on Rotaract and wants us to seek collaboration between Rotary and Rotaract. He is encouraging us to empower girls so that they might grow into strong and empowered women. He is also emphasizing equity, diversity and inclusion so that when people look at Rotary, they see themselves.

John also spoke to us of the continuing urgency of eradicating Polio. There is little mention in mainstream or social media about Polio, but despite our complacency, it is still here. Our weapon to fight Polio, particularly in Pakistan and Afghanistan, is vaccination. John has a personal target for each Rotarian in our district to donate $10 to the Foundation for Polio Plus, which we can all afford. That would amount to a total of $20,000. That would be matched and doubled by the Gates Foundation and translate into $60,000. John encourages us to keep up the Polio fight.

In 2006 Gordon McNally visited a village in Thailand following the tsunami. A woman gave him a seashell out of gratitude for what Rotary was doing in her village. She shared that she had lost her husband, her daughter and her son in the tsunami and had lost hope. Rotary was rebuilding her village, and in so doing was restoring optimism and giving her hope once again.

Gordon McNally’s theme for this Rotary year is to, “Create Hope in the World.” He asks how we can bring lasting change and create change within ourselves. We all face challenges to our wellbeing. It is not easy to admit that we need help, particularly when it comes to mental health. It takes courage to reach out, but it is the first step on the path to wellness. We are not responsible for diagnosis, but we can ask each other, “How are you doing, really?”

John also shared a story that Gordon McNally tells about Ian, who was a violent young man. They went to the same school, played rugby and partied together. Ian got a degree and had a very successful career. Six years ago, on a business trip to San Diego, Ian took his own life. Ian was Gordon’s brother. Mental illness knows no boundaries.

In the year ahead as work to “Bring Peace to the World” Gordon’s priorities are:

Help Our Communities
Bring Peace
Achieve Hope
Bring peace and opportunity for a better future

John reminded us that we have the opportunity go from ordinary to extraordinary. He reminded us that we are all in this journey together and asked, “Will you go with me?”

John was thanked by Bob Wallce and answered some questions.

Riley Coleman introduced our second speaker, MPP for Northumberland and Peterborough South, David Piccini, who is also Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

David told us that mental health challenges cost the Province of Ontario $50 billion each year. He spoke to us of first responders and the PTSD that is a growing reality in their vocation. There is a provincial strategy to continue and create new Youth Wellness Hubs across the province. This is part of the “Road to Wellness” strategy that will invest $3.8 billion over 10 years.

He spoke of the changes since 2018, 2019 due to COVID and the extreme screen time that is now a reality for our youth. Mental health is a whole of government approach taking in both education and social services.

The Road Ahead features Youth Wellness Hubs across the province, and the goal is to have a hub in Northumberland / Peterborough South. It would feature a one stop talk and hour of the day for youth. It would be a virtual “walk-in” program as well as an actual facility that would build resiliency in youth, particularly in grades 7 – 10.

We face unique challenges in Northumberland. Throughout the province approximately 13% of hospital visits for 12 – 25-year-olds are mental health related. In Northumberland the number is 30%. The province is increasing funding by 500% for youth mental health. The government is thinking beyond the four-year election cycle. David shared a video that can be found at www.youthubs.ca/en/.

The goal of the hub is to provide a one-stop shop for youth, and in our virtual world it can be a game changer. There are currently 22 of these hubs in Ontario, and we are hopeful of having one in our community soon.

These hubs provide the right services at the right time in the right place. Youth are involved in the application for our local hub. David left us with a question, “Can youth see a future?”

Past President Jim Millington thanked David who also answered some questions.

Announcements

Co-President Steve reminded us that we will have a special meeting on Monday, December 11 with guest Rotary International Director and Treasurer Drew Kessler of the Rotary Club of North Rockland (Haverstraw), New York, USA

Paul Tait reminded us of the Paul Harris / Foundation dinner on Saturday, November 18 at Dalewood Golf Course, which will feature a recorded interview with Drew Kessler. Cocktails are at 6 pm, dinner is at 7 pm.

Bruce Coleman reminded us of the Santa Claus parade on Saturday, November 25. We need help at the Rotary shed at 9:00 a.m. We need empty boxes wrapped in Christmas wrapping to put on the float. We will also need 4 people to push shopping carts in the parade.

Susan Rafuse reminded us of the Rotary Christmas Market https://porthoperotary.square.site/ and the need to get our orders in for hams and greens by November 20. Orders can be picked up at the Knights of Columbus Hall from 3:00 to 600 p.m. on November 27.

Our Christmas party is on Wednesday, December 13 at St. Mark’s Parish Hall. Social time starts at 5:30, the dinner buffet will be served at 6:30 pm. The cost, at the door, is $35 per person. We are being asked to bring non-perishable food items or food gift cards for the Salvation Army food cupboard. The music will be by Casual Friday and Sylvia Binkley. Santa will be there with his elves. Please call if you have any dietary restrictions or questions at 905-372-8375. An online reservation will be sent out shortly.

Ron Tuttle updated us on a couple of service projects. $2,000 has been granted to the Adopt A Village in Laos program to provide clean drinking water for two rural villages in Laos. He also updated us and showed some slides on the progress in the Rotary Centennial Riverview Park project.Three more benches have been installed.A new trail has been cut on higher ground along the base of Cavan Street and Jocelyn Street.A large area has been cleared out off the existing trail for a look-out and sitting area near the river.Another area off the grass area has been cleared for another garden. Ron thanked Eric Metcalfe, Supervisor of Parks, and the Municipality of Port Hope for their labour and materialsfor this additions to the park.

Ken O’Neill reminded us of the Rotary curling social on Sunday, December 10. He also asked for help with Tim’s Smile Cookies this week which are supporting the Fare Share Food Bank this year.

Fran McIlmoyle and Sandra Hicks laid a wreath on the cenotaph on Remembrance Day. Honourary Rotarian Ben Currelly represented the club at the Remembrance Day Service in Canton.

In conclusion…

We sang O Canada and Co-President Steve closed our meeting.

Christmas Market Pick-up - Monday, November 27 from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m.

This is not a regular club meeting. Some Rotarians will be at the Knights of Columbus Hall to hand out Christmas Market items as people pick up their orders.

Next Meeting - December 11

Our next club meeting will be on December 11 at the Knights of Columbus Hall. This will be the second part of our Annual General Meeting. The nominating committee will put forward names for the 2024 - 25 Board of Directors. Other members can nominate people for the board positions at the AGM.

We will also have a special speaker, Drew Kessler (Rotary International Director Zones 28 & 32).

This will be a really exciting opportunity to meet with a Rotary International Director.

The agenda will include a presentation by Drew along with the induction & recognition of new members.

Social Time: 5:30 with dinner at 6:00. Graeme Bakker is on door duty. Bob Wallace will introduce the speaker. Lisa Graham will thank the speaker. Susan Rafuse will be the Sargeant-at-Arms. Ken O'Neill is the scribe. Ron Tuttle is the Beacon editor.

In order to let our caterer know the number of meals required, please respond to Bob Wallace's invitation E-mail in Clubrunner. Click on Register or Decline and then click on Save. Alternatively, you can E-mail Bob Wallace at rwallace7070@gmail.com.

FUTURE MEETING SCHEDULE

Date	Program	Location	Door Duty	Scribe	Editor
December 11	Drew Kessler, RI Director Annual General Meeting	K of C	TBA	TBA	Ron Tuttle
Wednesday, December 13	Christmas Party	St. Marks Church Hall	Susan Rafuse	TBA	Ron Tuttle
January 8	TBA	K of C	TBA	TBA	TBA