Stories

Our speaker this evening was Kevin Savoy. Kevin is a business coach who works with business owners who want to take their firms to the next level. Although he works in a variety of areas, Kevin ran us through a personality profiling platform called DISC. He explained that each of us have a dominant set of characteristics in one of these four areas: outgoing, people orientated, reserved and task oriented. He went through the characteristics of each group and how they work with each other.

Rosemary Wrong, the daughter of late Rotarian Jim thanked the club for all the support and organization for her father’s memorial service. Above, Rosemary presents President Jill with a cheque to the club from her colleagues in memory of Jim.

Ashley Hill, owner of High Performance Recovery spoke to the members about Athletic Therapy and how it can be used not only for recovery from injury, but for prevention of pain and injury as well.

Tim and Roshan Aubin of Aubin Farms run a completely organic farm near Spencerville.They grow a little bit of everything. In addition to veggies they also sell beef, lamb, chickens and turkeys at the farm. About 50% of their product is sold at the farm with the balance being sold at local markets or to customers who pre-order their meat and vegetables. Some of the points made about organic farming were quite interesting and gave our members cause for thought.

President Jill presented a cheque for $1000 to local cadet Navy League chair Mike  and CPO Katie on behalf of the club. These funds will assist the local sea cadet corps in their operations. Sea cadets are an organization which provide leadership and basic military skills to youth between the ages of 13 and 18.

Following the cheque presentation, a presentation was made to outgoing League president, Rotarian Donovan in recognition of his efforts to put the local corps on sound footing. Donovan will now be involved with the Navy League at the provincial level.

Louise Noble the executive director of the Alzheimer’s Society of Lanark, Leeds, and Grenville spoke on some of the aspects and symptoms of this terrible disease. In a very interesting presentation she covered items such as steps that can be taken to slow the disease as well as the resources that are available to caregivers and the community.

Before we commenced with dinner and our programme, President Jill presented Rotarian Don G. with a certificate honouring his over 50 years of service to our club and recognizing him now as being an honourary member of our club.

Our speaker this evening was Dr. Carla Eamon. The theme of Dr. Eamon’s presentation was the World Sight Day Challenge and  Optometry Giving Sight. 
During her talk, Dr. Eamon pointed out that in many countries of the world; there is no one to provide eye care. Optometry Giving Sight helps to set up local colleges so that there are trained individuals available in some of the world’s poorest countries to help with basic diagnosis. 300 million people in the world are unnecessarily blind or vision impaired because they cannot obtain an eye examination and the glasses they need. As a result they are restricted in their education, in the work they can do, and the lives they and their families can lead.
The amount of $5.00 can provide an eye examination and a pair of glasses. She also pointed out that  85% of the amount contributed goes directly to programme. Dr. Eamon was thanked by Rotarian Ben.

This evening’s speaker, Anne Walsh returned to give us a practical demonstration of the Art Therapy process she had previously spoken to us about. In an interesting an exercise, we were broken into groups and given a series of questions which asked us who as a club we felt we were, who our target groups were and how do we reach them. After we had identified the points given to us, we were asked to build a physical bridge with craft supplies demonstrating how we arrived at our conclusions. Some of creations were quite interesting. This was an exercise that was enjoyed by the members of the club.

Our newest Rotarian, Daren was welcomed into the club at our annual Christmas party on December 17th. Pictured with him below are his sponsor, Rotarian Rob, President Jill, and past President Jennifer.

Our speaker this evening was Anne Walsh, the proprietor of Art and Soul. Anne is a therapist who uses art as a medium to enable her clients to express themselves. In addition to doing monthly sessions with KYC and KPS, Anne also works with our local hospice. Her most interesting talk was followed with an equally interesting Q&A session.

John McKenzie spoke to us on wildlife and habitat as well as the habits of various animals. In an informative session which was a cross between presentation and Q&A, John gave humorous examples of “bad guys” which ranged from hunters and fishermen to tourists and the perception and reality of each group. He noted that habitat is more important than animals because if you have the habitat you will have the wildlife. As an aside, he pointed out for those who feed wildlife including birds, that in the USA, the feeding of wildlife is a $2 billion industry.

Rotarians Monique and Ian Warrack from the Rotary Club of South Ottawa spoke to the club on behalf of Rotarians for Wabano. The Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health is one of 10 provincial specialized Aboriginal Health Access Centres that is recognized and funded in part by the province of Ontario. In addition to health services, the centre also provides after school, community, Social Enterprise and Vocational areas and training programmes.  For more information on the centre, you can visit their website at www.wabano.com or email Rotarians at rotarians@wabano.com.

Susan Smith (pictured below), executive director of Kemptville And District Home Support Services Inc. recently addressed our club. KDHSI is a volunteer based organization, providing support to seniors and adults with physical disabilities living independently in our community. During her presentation, Susan outlined the many services that her organization provides to the community. For further information, you may contact them at 613-258-3203 or visit their website at http://www.kdhsi.com/

Recently our returning Youth Exchange student Katherine, spoke to the club about her year long exchange to Ecuador. Katherine gave us an overview of her year in Ecuador; her host families, her schools, as well as the trips she took to the Amazon and Galapagos (where she spent her birthday) which were facilitated by the Ecuadorian youth exchange committee.

She spoke of the differences in celebrations,food, and cultural differences. In closing, she thanked the club for selecting her and for providing her with the opportunity to become a citizen of the world. If you are a high school student interested in participating in a life changing experience, Contact our Service Projects chair or see the District Youth Exchange website http://ye.rotary7040.com/ .

In the Rotary calendar, September is New Generations Month and this year, the week of September 8-14 is Youth Exchange week. This past weekend, the new inbound exchange students and the returning students to our district gathered at 4-H Camp Overlook outside Malone, New York. For the incoming students, there were orientation sessions to help them adapt to their new surroundings. For the returning students, there were debriefing sessions which enabled them to share their experiences with each other as well as their correspondents. These sessions were complimented with integrated team building games and exercises including low and high ropes courses as well as a zip line. Pictured below is Katherine, our club's student who has recently returned from a year in Ecuador on the "Flying Squirrel".

If you are interested in participating in a once in a lifetime experience, please contact our Service Projects Chair.

The local BNI (Business Network International) has committed to support youth initiatives in Kemptville for the next three years exclusively with every collection and event they do.  They have already taken a number of collections for KYC this summer. The work they are doing for our community and support specifically for our next generation of leaders is greatly appreciated.  Enjoy their wonderful chicken dinner Saturday, September 28^th with your family. They have a goal to raise $5,000 for local children’s charities.  Please see the poster below for complete details.

The first annual Investor's Group golf tournament on behalf of the Kemptville Youth Centre was held on August 17th at the Rideau Glen golf course. The weather was perfect and the participants were treated to a BBQ lunch and dinner as well as some interesting contests on a couple of holes. Pictured below are the tournament winners, Rotarians Rob, Dave, Serge and Donovan receiving their prize. Rotarian Rob also won the prize for the longest drive. Approximately $5000 was raised to support the activities of the Youth Centre.

• Our meeting on August 20th will be our annual 4-H BBQ and corn roast. This year's event will be held at the farm of Howard & Lynn Carkner in Easton's Corners. A map to the event will be included in the Kemptarian.
• We will be holding an inter-club picnic at Blockhouse park in Merrickville on Saturday August 24th. This meeting will serve as a replacement for our meeting of August 27th. The meeting on August 27 is cancelled.

Lauren Nickerson has won the Rotary Bursary for Grade 12 students from the North Grenville District High School with excellent academic achievement and outstanding community service.  Nickerson had a mid-term average of 91% and has been active in the Kemptville Youth Musical Theatre Company, the Merrickville Children’s Choir, Sarah’s Hope (which is raising money to help rebuild a school in Kenya) and the North Dundas Soccer Association, among other activities.  She hopes to have a solo career as a classical vocalist in the future or some role in inclusive musical education.  She will begin work on a degree in music at the University of Ottawa in the Fall.

In applying for the bursary, Nickerson was required to write a 500-word essay on one of the following subjects; “What can one person do to promote world peace,” “What can I do to contribute to my community,” and “How would living by the Four-Way Test make my life better.”  The Four-Way Test is the statement all Rotarians strive to live by:  “Is it the truth; is it fair to all concerned; will it build good will and better friendships; will it be beneficial to all concerned.”

Nickerson entitled her essay “How Living by the Four-Way Test Makes Life More Fulfilling.”  Here is the complete text:

“Despite the many differences between individuals, there is one thing we have in common:  all of us are searching for a quality of life that makes our existence worthwhile.  We long to be fulfilled, to be the best individuals that we can be.  Oftentimes we simply become so discouraged that we give up trying, and allow ourselves to become less than we could be.  The Four-Way Test asks us to examine what we think, say, and do in order to create a healthy and productive environment for ourselves and others.  Though there are four qualities involved in the Test, it can be categorized into two sections; honesty and the value of truth, and the care for oneself and others.  By following the Four-Way Test, we can strive to have the best quality of life that we possibly can.

There are many personal benefits to having a deep-rooted value of honesty.  As an honest individual, people learn to respect you and grow in trust of your words, your ways, and your convictions.  It is the honest individuals who are rewarded with promotions,. Entrusted with additional responsibilities, and make known in the greater community by those who appreciate their honesty.  It is invaluable to be able to face any situation with a clear conscience, without the heavy guilt and shadows of dishonesty.  In addition, it is gravely important to be able to decipher between the truth and a falsehood in situations around you.  So much of our world is comprised of greys and half-truths that it takes a clear mind and a clean conscience to be able to make its way through without being blindsided.  To be able to speak and recognize when the truth is being spoken allows clear communication and a better quality of life. 

When I was young, I drilled “Love Your Neighbour as Yourself” into my head.  I took from this that others must always come first, no matter what.  But as I grew up I realized that in order to love others we must also love ourselves.  As the Four-Way Test states, we must make sure that the situation is fair and beneficial to all concerned, which includes ourselves.  By caring for ourselves we ensure that we are not being overrun, and therefore have more energy and resolve to pour into the world around us.  However, it is equally as important to care for the needs of others in order to live a full and vibrant life.  It is essential to remember that people love those who love them. . . and when you invest in the world around you, and show people how to care for themselves, it provides a well-balanced and healthy environment in which to live.

By keeping these in mind, we are able to build a firm foundation for ourselves, living and growing in honesty, in self-care, and in respect for those around us.  We must never forget that every small action leads to something, whether positive or negative.  It is our responsibility to be sure that it is life that we are inspiring, and to be sure that we take every thought—every action—captive in order to build towards the quality of life that is ours to embrace.”

Lauren Nickerson is a credit to her parents, her teachers and her community.  We wish her well as she embarks on a new and exciting career.

Pictured with Lauren are club president Jill Eagle and New Generations committee member Rob Horning.

When Nicole and her husband Bruce opened The Branch seven years ago, they made a conscious decision to use local produce wherever possible. They found that there had been a farmer’s market in the past but for whatever reason; it had gone by the wayside. They had come to Kemptville from the San Francisco area where they were used to an abundance of locally grown produce. They approached their vendors and asked if they would be interested in forming a market.The response was positive so they provided the initial location for the market in their parking lot. It gave the various businesses an opportunity to create a local network. The farmer’s market is a true market in that it supports all types of vendors ranging from local artisans to agricultural vendors. Vendor’s pay a small membership feeto participate. It is a great venue for like-minded people to meet and provides an important outlet for supporting our local economy.

Our club spent this evening enjoying a pizza party at Camp Merrywood. Members and guests served pizza and cold drinks to the 72 campers in this session and the camp staff.

Easter Seals Camp Merrywood is located on a beautiful peninsula stretching out into Big Rideau Lake. The camp sits on 30 acres of property between Smiths Falls and Perth in Eastern Ontario.

The site has 12 buildings including: six camper cabins that can accommodate up to 72 campers per session, a health hut, dining room and lodge, music and theatre building, nature building, specially adapted swimming pool. Merrywood offers a full waterfront program and activities such as sailing, kayaking, canoeing, fishing and white-water rafting.

Our inbound exchange student, Patyrycja, spent the past weekend with the other students in the district for a farewell gathering. This weekend marked the final time that this year's group of students will be together. The students were billeted at Camp Smitty near Eganville and had a mixture of free time and strenuous exercise. The highlight of the weekend was a trip to the Barran River Canyon. After hiking to the top of the trail to see the canyon from above, the students put their canoes in at Brigham Lake and pulled out at Squirrel Rapids, a trip that required 3 portages - two of them very strenuous. Pictured below are this year's inbound exchange students and members of the District Youth Exchange Committee.

Hi Dave

Somewhat different form of make-up this week. Rotary clubs  in France, working with Disney France, arranged the French premiere of the film  The Fantastic World of Oz. One of the small arts cinemas in Briancon offered to  put it on and we started with champagne and cheese straws. Quite a number of  members of the Briancon Club brought their families, including many children. We each contribute 15 Euros towards Brain Research. I'm guessing that there  were about 100 attendees.

Best wishes

Mike

Stephanie Gilmer of World Hope Canada recently spoke to the Rotary Club of Kemptville about the activities of her organization, which has recently relocated to downtown Kemptville. Active in Ukraine since 2000, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and, most recently, Swaziland, World Hope is a Christian relief and development not-for-profit working with overseas partners to create dignity and inspire hope. Its clearly targeted programmes include Hope House in Ukraine, a safe home for young women who are still attending school but have outgrown government orphanages or were living on the street. In Swaziland, where the highest rate of HIV infection in the world prevails, they have a programme to reduce its spread, called Reach 4 Life New Testament. In Sierra Leone they have provided prostheses to people amputated in the civil war, dug wells and built latrines and are working to alleviate malnutrition both there and in Congo. Gilmer formerly managed the programmes of the Salvation Army in Kemptville for almost eight years and worked as a missionary in Zaïre (now Congo) from 1986 to 1990.

Stephanie Gilmer, of World Hope Canada, recently spoke to Kemptville Rotarians about her work. 

While Claire made an initial start at raising Bail for  our fellow Rotarian George ...

On Saturday February 2^nd, 2013, the Andrea Goral School of Highland Dancing, along with the Duart-Dillon School of Highland Dancing, will be holding its second annual recital.  Our first recital coincides with an initiative put forth by the Northern Ontario School of Highland Dance.  On this day 40 plus Highland Dance schools from around the world will participate in a WORLD WIDE RELAY HIGHLAND FLING.  The goal of this event is to increase participation in Highland Dancing and to support a non-profit local charity.

The recital will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at St. Michael Catholic High School in Kemptville, Ontario.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this event, please feel free to contact Andrea Goral at 613-258-9700 or andreamgoral@yahoo.ca.

The 2012 Scotland to Canada Curling Tour was in our area this week. The tour, which was established in 1956 alternates every two years between Scotland and Quebec/Ontario. This year marks the 30th time that Rotary Curling Teams have crossed the Atlantic in what is now a biannual event. Although the Scots whipped the Canadian side at the Hunt Club quite handily, the members from Kemptville acquitted themselves quite well with a heartbreaking loss of 7-6 with the score being determined by measurement in the last end.

Seven Scots were home hosted by members of our club. In addition to the curling, the Scots were treated to a tour of Parliament with lunch in the Parliamentary Restaurant followed by a tour of the Museum of Civilization. A farewell party was held at Rotarian Bruce's on the final evening of the Scottish stay. The theme of the event was "Strengthening Ties and Building Friendships". This objective was certainly accomplished.

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Guest Norma Fisher (left) and Rotarian Keith Nixon and Past President Rob Horning were among the Rotarians and their guests who recently enjoyed sampling a selection of locally hand-crafted wines at the Blue Gypsy Winery near Oxford Mills.  Vintner Louis Gaal and his wife, Claire Faguy, bottled their first vintage last October and have been working hard to keep up with demand ever since.  Their delicious fruit wines—apple, cranberry, cherry, strawberry and blueberry—are complemented by a range of  tastes less commonly found in wine—maple, maple-apple, ginger and chocolate-flavoured honey wine (mead).  Claire and Louis have planted a wide variety of fruit on their 10-acre former orchard located on Lindsay Road, with the intention of eventually growing as many of the ingredients of their production on their own property.

Sheldon Gilmer (above right) receives a certificate of appreciation from Kemptville Rotary President Anna Van Adrichem-Rochon at the conclusion of a talk on his international work in the Democratic Republic of Congo, on October 2, 2012.  A donation was also made on his behalf to the Club’s safe cooking stove project in El Salvador.  Gilmer has been travelling to Congo for 26 years, working on a variety of medical, community health and development projects.  In recent years he has made four trips of three weeks each to Congo and shorter trips to Ukraine, taking time out from his agricultural equipment manufacturing business, located near Heckston.  Gilmer works with a faith-based international relief and development organization called World Hope Canada, which will be moving to Kemptville on November 1.  The national headquarters of the agency will be located in the Kollaard Building, at 210 Prescott Street.  Gilmer, who emphasized the importance of working in partnership, concluded his talk by encouraging Rotary to keep up its commitment to international development work with local partners in developing countries.

The Kemptville Youth Centre is a very grateful member agency of the United Way of Leeds and Grenville. Without the United Way funding, the Kemptville Youth Centre would not be able to provide the Youth of our community with the services and support that the Youth Centre provides and which the United Way of Leeds and Grenville helps supports.

more.....

THE KEMPTARIAN
The Official Newsletter of the Rotary Club of Kemptville
District 7040, Charter 3741, November 1934
July 10, 2012 ~ Volume 89 ~ Issue 1
www.kemptvillerotary.ca