Louise Gardiner was happy to announce that after 40 years in the travel industry she is now retired as of January 1.  She is looking forward to new adventures such as teaching the Travel Course at Conestoga College and getting more involved with Rotary at both the Club and District levels.  She was also delighted to report that for the first time in five years, since Graham’s surgery, they went skiing together this past weekend.

 

President-Elect Paul was happy to have had a great Christmas season with family including his Son, Daughter-In-Law and Granddaughter in Toronto as well as his son and family visiting from out west.

Question: To what country did Martin Jones and his wife, Diane, travel last year to connect with several of the young women who had been supported by the Rotary African Women’s Education Fund?

Answer: Kenya

Bill Proctor let the members know that $275 was donated at the First Night event where we were serving hot chocolate.

 

We are well into the deck now and the pot is at $397 but will certainly be over $400 next week as none of Bill Proctor, Jim Brown, nor Howard Pell found Jack.

Our guest speaker today was James Neufeld, the Executive Director of the Women’s Addiction Centre of the House of Friendship.  It has been five years since our club gave Women’s Addiction Centre $90,000 as part of our 90^th Anniversary celebrations.  James was here today to remind us of our critical the donation was to their campaign at that time and to give an update and what is happening today.

 

Jim used photos to show the difference between what was, and is now, in terms of the facility that is available to assist women dealing with addiction issues.  The facility that is here today provides a secure, warm environment that allows women needing its services to do some with dignity.  Jim also reminded and thanked us for the work we did in creating their outdoor space which is used extensively by the residents.

 

The services at the centre have grown and it now also houses the St. Mary’s Counselling Services.  Including all of its varied services the House of Friendship supports about 42,000 individuals per year.

 

The House of Friendship is now in the process of developing a new regional addiction treatment facility for men in Cambridge.  Construction began in October and should be completed by July.

 

More information about all of the House of Friendship activities can be found at www.houseoffriendship.org.

President-Elect Paul reminded members that our guest speaker next week will be Ellen Gregg, a nutritionist with the Regional Health Department who will speak on Starting 2019 Off on the Right Nutritional Foot.