Co-President Bruce Coleman opened the meeting for a smaller than usual group of Rotarians by welcoming our two guest speakers, Rebecca Kelly and Barry Walker from Northumberland 89.7 FM radio station. After Rotary Grace and the land acknowledgement, we enjoyed a delicious meal of lasagna and Caesar salad courtesy of Lisa’s catering.
Program
Rotarian John Davidson introduced our guest speakers from Northumberland 89.7 FM radio station, Rebecca Kelly and Barry Walker. Rebecca is the Chair of the Board of Directors and Barry is a board member. John Davidson has also been a board member of the radio station.
The idea for a community radio station started in 2009. It took four years to get all the necessary approvals and infrastructure before the first broadcast in 2013.
Northumberland 89.7 FM is a not-for-profit community-based volunteer radio station, providing news, views, events coverage and music to the residents of
Northumberland County on the FM dial at 89.7, call sign CFWN. Programming can also be accessed through the Internet.
Larry Crook joined the radio station as Executive Director two years ago. He has focused on trying to build the radio station audience in Northumberland by building partnerships and collaboration.
Each year in June, there is a Radiothon to feature local musicians and fundraise for the station. In 2024 they raised $6,000, in 2025 they raised $14,000 and in 2026 they raised $21,000. The station also receives operating funds from grants and donations.
Other community events include every other Tuesday Bark and Brew at the Ganaraska Brewery along with Cobourg Pet Nanny where 50 cents from every beer sold goes to the Humane Society. The station sponsored a tree at the Capitol Theatre Christmas display. They feature a Pet of the Week on their improved website. They will have a special page for the upcoming municipal election. They are trying to engage young people with their podcasts and posts on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.
The station is proud of the quality of their on-air interviews. Here are some interesting statistics.
There are 97,000 people in their primary market. There are an estimated 16,000weekly listeners. 80% listen for extended times. There are over 50,000 monthly social media views.
23.7 % of their listeners are from Cobourg 22.3 % of their listeners are from Port Hope
72 % of listeners are women and 28 % are men
Rebecca said that their radio station can help us promote our events.
The station is looking for volunteers for the following opportunities: on-air or voice work for commercials and messages, advertising and sales, engineering, event assistance, administrative work and youth opportunities.
Check out the radio station website: https://northumberland897.ca/
Co-President Ken O’Neill thanked Rebecca for her interesting presentation.
Announcements
Ron Tuttle gave an update on the Youth Exchange Program. Our Outbound Student, Isabel Dietrich, flew to Denmark to start her year-long exchange on August 2. From her first report, she is off to a good start. She has a host sister and a younger host brother. She has met her Youth Exchange Counsellor and attended a Rotary meeting.
Our next Inbound Student, Catalina Estarellas, will arrive her from Spain on August 16. She had some difficulty getting her student visa from the Canadian government, but Ron heard after the meeting that she did finally receive her visa. Her first Host Family, Jana and Ken MacNeil, will pick Catlina up at the airport. Ron will help her to get set up with a cell phone and bank accounts before she goes on a canoe trip in Algonquin Park with all of the other Inbound Students and all of the Returned Outbound Students from August 20 – 23. Club members will meet Catalina at the Corn Roast on August 24.
Lorenzo Fava, our Inbound Student from Italy in 2024 – 25 is back for a three week visit in Port Hope and Cobourg. He is staying with Steve, Drina and Aldona Tallo while he visits friends. Lorenzo will go on the Youth Exchange canoe trip to Algonquin Park, and then he will come to our club’s Corn Roast and BBQ on August 24. Bruce and Barb Coleman and Ron and Bonnie Tuttle saw Lorenzo last Saturday at a dinner party at the Tallos.
Co-President Bruce told us that the Foundation Walk will be held on Sunday, September 27 in Campbellford. He has pledge sheets if you want one.
Volunteers are needed for the United Way Backpack stuffing from 8:00 to noon at the Cobourg Lion’s Centre on August 11. Our club recently donated $2,000 from the Burton and Helen Philp Trust Funds.
Bob Gibson also announced that the Burton and Helen Philp Trust Funds donate $1,500 to help Trissa and Abigail Torres develop their app called Safe Trek through the Venture 13 Innovation Centre.
Adam Pearson shared with the club that the recent Arts Festival has been recognized as one of the top 100 festivals in Ontario.
Next Meeting – August 24 – Corn Roast & BBQ
Our Rotary meeting on Monday, August 24 will be our annual corn roast and BBQ at Ron and Bonnie Tuttle’s house, 1030 Port Britain Road, on the shore of Lake Ontario, 5 km west of Port Hope. The rain date is Tuesday, August 25.
This is a family event, so spouses, children or grandchildren are welcome to attend. The menu is corn and hotdogs followed by watermelon and cookies. Bring your own drinks. There will be wine glasses and other drink glasses available. The beach gang have lots of chairs and picnic tables, but some people may need their own lawn chairs.
Please E-mail Ron at rtuttle1030@gmail.com with the number attending, or if you are unable to attend. He needs to know numbers by Thursday, August 20 so that he can purchase food.
Please park on Port Britain Road. If you have mobility issues, you can park near the house.
The cost is $10 per person over the age of 12. Children under 12 are free. Please bring cash or a cheque. Please bring a sweater or a jacket in case it cools off. You are welcome to look at Bonnie’s gardens and walk along the beach.
There will be a Share the Wealth Draw. Tickets will cost $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00. Please bring cash for the draw.
Social time: 5:00 p.m. with supper at 6:15 p.m.
Lisa Graham is on door duty. Is there another volunteer who could help her collect payments and sell draw tickets starting at 5:00 p.m.?
Bob Wallace is the scribe, and Ron Tuttle is the Beacon editor.
Ron needs four or five volunteers to help move picnic tables and BBQs on Monday morning at 9:30 a.m. and again on Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m. to put things back in place. Please E-mail Ron at rtuttle1030@gmail.com, if you can help.