Guests at Monday's meeting were exchange student, Clara Magno, Humane Society staff members: Kathy Innoconte, Marjorie Brown and Laura Sparks, and guest speaker Jack Kinch, Director of the KW Humane Society who is also a member of the Rotary Club of Kitchener Westmount.
Candi Harrington reminded everyone that our Online Auction is now underway. Just to make sure there have been no glitches in the system, all members who submitted items are asked to check out the Auction Site to ensure entries are there and are correct. Please let Candi know if there are any problems. Items can still be added to the site, and we expect this coming weekend to be the busiest for bidding, so if you have anything else that has just come in or is still a possibility please please confirm and let Jim Brown and Candi know.
Our Car Draw campaign is coming to a close and Mike Pollard reminded everyone to get their monies and stubs in as soon as possible. There is still time to sell tickets but returns need to be handed in for the draw, next Friday, November 27. More sellers are also needed for the Draw Night, if you are able to help out, please let Al Way know.
Our exchange student, Clara is still in need a of ride to Brampton this Friday evening and needs to be there by 6:15, her ride home has been arranged. If you can help out, please contact Susana Jiminez.
Howard Pell reminded members that our meeting next week will again be off site as we will be visiting and touring Anselma House. There is still room for folks whop would like to take the early tour at 11:30. Let Howard know if you are interested.
In order for Rotary Clubs to be qualified to apply for Matching Grant Foundation funds members of the club must attend a Foundation Qualification Training session. The session for this year is a week from Saturday, November 28 and we are still in need of someone to join John Webster. Any one interested and available should contact John or Karen Redman as soon as possible.
Based on the positive feedback from members present at the meeting, our next Dom Cardillo Trail clean up will be Thursday, November 26. We meet in the Stanley Park Mall parking lot (by the LCBO and River Road) at 4:00 p.m. Peter Gray will look after the arrangements with the city and will have gloves and garbage bags for us. Following the clean up we will reconvene at a suitable location for fellowship and refreshments. Family members and friends of Rotary are most welcome to join us.
Steve Lubczuk informed members that the International Service Committee will again have Polio Plus Donation Cards available for use a gifts for this coming holiday season. Cards will be available at our meetings for the next several weeks.
Our guest speaker, and host, today was Jack Kinch, the Executive Director of the KW Humane Society. Jack is also a local Rotarian and is a member of the Kitchener Westmount Club. This is the club to which Louise Gardiner's husband, Graham, is a member and Louise introduced Jack. Jack was originally from Collingwood, where he was also a Rotarian, but has now been in the KW area for 4 years.
Jack provided an overview of the mandate and operations of the Humane Society focusing on from where they have come and where they want to be. Jack defined a humane society as a group that aims to stop human or animal suffering due to cruelty and provided a few historical highlights:
Royal Humane Society in the United Kingdom dates back to 1774
1st Canadian Humane Society was founded in Montreal in 1869
They initially protected working animals, i.e., draft horses
Today the focus varies by country but usually includes pets
The first "Humane Society" in our area began through the mandate of the mayor of Waterloo in 1927 but it operated primarily as a dog pound dealing with stray and nuisance animals. The focus was on Risk Management - a Pound protects the animal to some extent, but more importantly protects the citizens, community and other animals. It also deals with nuisance, cleanliness and safety issues.
Jack indicated that a preferred term for what his centre does today is an Animal Welfare Centre which has a much greater focus on the welfare of the animals and operates under the philosophy of Animal Welfare and The Five Freedoms, which are:
The Draw date is November 27th at the Ranger's Game.
Our goal this year is to raise $80,000 through direct individual sales with a total goal of $110,000 including mail outs and corporate sales.
Our main selling venue will be Thursdays and Saturdays at the St. Jacobs Market again this year in the same location as previous. We also have access to Swanson's Home Hardware and members are encouraged to find alternate selling locations as well.
Sign up sheets will be available at weekly Rotary meetings.
Tickets can be picked up at the registration desk at each weekly meeting. NB! This year the ticket books are identified with a number on the cover and the covers MUST be returned when the ticket stubs are handed in. This allows us to keep track of the tickets sold as per the license conditions.
Selling teams will again be used this year and members are asked to keep their team captain up to date with ticket sales. Weekly sales updates will be provided at each meeting.
Use social media and other opportunities to promote the draw. A sample letter will be made available to send to contacts.
Contact Wayne Boehler or Adrian DeCoo if you have any questions or suggestions.
You can check Club Runner for Directory information including Committee information.
All member ID numbers for Rotary International are now listed with your data on Club Runner. This is the number you will need if you are registering for an RI event or contacting RI about your account. From the Home page go to Admin under Membership Manager choose Membership List, current members are listed. If you do not know your password, there is a site for you to click and enter your email address where your password will be forwarded.
Contact information for the new members is available in the Membership List on the Clubrunner site.
