Please join us at Odd Fellows Hall, 218 Concession Street, Kingston ON.
The Rotary Four Way Test
Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned
Rotary Reflection
For food in a world where many walk in hunger
For peace in a world where many walk in fear
For friends in a world where many walk alone
And for the opportunity to serve others through Rotary,
May we be truly thankful!
The Loyal Toast
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Queen of Canada!
Acknowledgement of Territory
We are gathered on traditional Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Territory. we are grateful to be able to join together in Rotary Fellowship on these lands.
The meeting opened with the singing of the National Anthem and acknowledgement of territory.
Guests: Mac Johnston, speaker
Friends of Rotary: Jim Rymerson, On’a’got’tay, Mara Shaw
Visiting Rotarians: None
Service Commitments (Makeups):
Greta du Bois attended meetings of Kingston-Frontenac and Kingston clubs
Heather Kembel: Adventurous Eaters Centennial Project (one of Rotary Centennial projects)—program for Rideau Heights community to expand diet of children, in Rideau Heights Community Centre, food that’s kid-friendly, sessions on how to prepare, tied in with school gardens
John Gale, Greg Mumford, John Richards, Ana Sutherland, and Rick Fiedorec - Interclub fundraising discussion.
John Gale: Centenary Committee has decided in principle that it wants an international project as part of the centenary year.
Bingo: Murray Cotton, Rick Fiedorec, Bill Egnatoff, Greg Mumford
(Heather Nogrady trained for bingo; Jim Rymerson is getting trained.)
Member Sharing
Fun Master - John Richards
There was sooo much good stuff going on today that there was no time for John. Double fines next week!
Happy/Sad Bucks
Rick Fiedorec
Rick Fiedorec, speaking as treasurer, reminded those vetting grant applications that they could be flexible in dividing the annual allocation of funds between the two grant periods. He recommended it be based on the merit of the applications. and that it doesn’t have to be split 50-50.
John Farrow & Greg Mumford, Auction
277 gifts
Murray: Lise Beaulieu-Coghlan, Merit Travel has offered for our auction a gift worth $3,980 for two people to participate in a 3-day Trip to Montreal, all inclusive, opera concert, laser light show in Basilica, guided tours of two museums, etc. What a great package!
Greg: Current net value of auction gifts is $26,000
Want all gifts in by end of October.
Ron Pols reports Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has submitted their $1,500 cheque, the sixth year for them to participate as sponsors.
Rick Frasso - Member News
Terry Hicks receiving an honourable membership from President Pat McCue of the Canadian Club of Kingston
Again Terry receives rock star status for his rendition of Oh Canada
President's Announcements
President, Ana Sutherland:
Viva la Mess is October 26th - $75/person. A table of 10 is being reserved
Several members, including John Gale, Greg Mumford, John Richards, Ana Sutherland, and Rick Fiedorec, attended the other Kingston clubs to discuss coordination of activities, including fund-raising. The Rotary Club of Kingston will hold off on continuing online auction that came out of the silent auction in their Giggles and Grapes fundraiser event, and was run only once. All clubs have to be careful how we as Rotary Clubs approach the community for funds.
Anita Mercier is gathering strength; she hopes to be back to Rotary in November
Patty Lecollier wants to be with us, but is dealing with serious health issues and is still off work.
Glenda Guindon’s father passed away, a card is circulating for signatures.
Board meeting Oct. 24 at Kingston Dodge, 4-6 p.m.
Martin Thomas sent out email related to the Fall request for grants. Application review meeting October 30th, 5 p.m. Notice will be sent to all members.
Ana received a call from Marie Miller about an event at St. Lawrence College “Uncommon Gratitude” Oct. 10, 4:30 - 6:30, an unveiling of display acknowledging supporters. We are a supporter through providing scholarships. If you are going, please email Marie so she knows numbers: Marie Miller, Senior Development Officer, 613-544-5400, ext. 1910
Roger Romero spoke of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences), the science of biology of stress throughout life; there is an upcoming event at the screening room about this work: Ana will attend; Thursday October 10th
October 24th: Kingston Club, during their regular meeting will be recognizing World Polio Day, and holding a memorial for Hajra Wilson. If any club members would like to make a Polio Plus donation in Hajra's memory, please see John Farrow.
Upcoming Dates/Events
Oct 17 - Pathways 2 Education Mentoring Program Information Session - 4 to 5 PM at KCHC, 263 Weller Ave
Oct 23, 2019 - Auction Committee meeting at Kingston Dodge 5pm
Oct 24 - World Polio Day.
Oct 24 - Board Meeting, Kingston Dodge Boardroom, 4 pm
Oct 24 - Kingston Club - Present Ross Wilson with Polio Plus Donation to honour Hajra Wilson - members welcome to attend
Oct 30 - Community Service Projects Meeting 5:30 to7:30pm Innovation Park, 945 Princess St
Nov 1-3, 2019 - District Conference in Clayton New York
Nov 23rd Networking session for new Canadians, Oddfellows Hall - let's introduce these folks to Rotary!
Dec. 10th 2019 Christmas Party - 6:30 pm at Oddfellows Hall
July 19th, 2020 - Rotary Centennial Birthday Party at Rotary Park
June 25th, 2021 - Rotary Anniversary Gala, St. Lawrence College
Guest speaker Mac Johnston, newspaper reporter for 40 years was introduced today by John Farrow
Mac talked about his background; born on a farm in Hastings County, Mac was schooled in Belleville and attended Kemptville Agricultural College. While working a summer job as manager of a retail store in Madoc, Mac dropped into the Quinte Hotel and met a former teacher who told him about a sports news reporter job with the Belleville Intelligencer. The teacher felt so strongly the Mac should apply for the job that he had made an appointment for an interview the next day! Mac got the job, which entailed a 5:30 a.m. start time and many split shifts. Next, the Trentonian City Desk position came open, a great opportunity to show Mac's initiative. Mac connected with City Clerk, learned about city budgets and got involved in reporting on city council. This offered Mac an opportunity to explore other types of reporting, like some agricultural reporting, and writing a story about a man named “Charlie Brown”—what it was like to have a famous name. He then started doing stories on local people with famous names—Pierre Trudeau, Maurice Richard, etc., which earned him an award. Mac and his wife raised a family in Trenton, then got a job in Cornwall with the Standard Freeholder, which was in a downturn cycle, with only four, inexperienced reporters; he had politics, then took on school board reporting. But his wife, from Galt, was not happy there. When visiting her home, he saw ad for working at the Guelph Daily Mercury. He got the job, but only after the manager checked whether they could steal him from one Thompson paper to another. In Guelp there were four reporters and three bureaus, linked by teletype (this was 1971). Then in 1972, Mac got the City Editor’s job.
Mac really wanted to be a managing editor or to be a Queen’s Park or Ottawa editor. He finally got an interview for an Ottawa bureau job. which he got. So Mac and his family moved to Ottawa, the start of 40 years there in the Ottawa Press Gallery. Mac described the Press Gallery as an 'interesting' place - at the time there were 143 journalists accredited to Parliamentary Press Gallery, but just 2 years later, 320 people. An hour after anything is spoken in House of Commons, the 'blues' come into 350 North. This was a rough draft of Hansard, but pretty clean, providing the press with direct quotes. Then the reporters would go for interviews, but there was no phone communication, so the reporters had to know what was going on in order to catch ministers. The result was a real scrum. Major stories of day were covered by Canadian Press and there were 48 papers in Thompson chain. Mac had to keep tabs on 71 Members of Parliament. He saw a lot of interesting things, people trying to influence politicians and their staff and to convince reporters that there’s a story in their interests. There was also a lot of socialization, including in bars, with ministers. Mac admitted that he left the Hill because he was drinking too much. He then became assistant editor and manager of The National Legion Magazine, a for-profit company, and he stayed at that job for rest of career.
Mac has been to more than 60 countries, sometimes with politicians, many times on his own. Generally, Mac said that politicians are reasonable to deal with, but some that are very manipulative with the press.
Q: Is print media dead?
(do at a later date as part 2)
Q: If you were in Washington how would you handle Mr. Trump? A: Mac has been reading Washington Post since Trump was nominated. The U.S. is a very different climate. There’s spin on everything. Much more polarized. Reporters won’t have access to Trump unless they’re from a Republican supporting paper. Very much polarized, also in American media. In Canada, much more balanced.
Jim Rymerson thanked Mac with the traditional loaf of bread.
7:00 Registration and Greeting
Members: Michelle Chatten Fiedorec
Guest: John Farrow
Greeter: Bernie Allard
Hall and Kitchen setup: Ana Sutherland, Ed Thomson
Hall and Kitchen clean up: Ed Thomson, Rick Fiedorec, Greg Mumford
7:15 Call to Order and Welcome - Ana Sutherland
7:16 Rotary Invocation and Toast to the Queen - Ed Thomson
7:17 Breakfast Parade - John Richards
7:35 Welcoming of Guests and Visiting Rotarians - John Gale
7:38 Announcements and Board Positions - Ana Sutherland and members
7:45 Fun Master - John Richards
7:55 Auction Committee Update - Greg Mumford. John Richards, John Farrow
8:05 Speaker Intro - Ana Sutherland
8:07 Speaker - KEYS - Representative and New Comers to Canada Thandi Nkole and Carla Arias
8:27 Speaker Thanks - Rick Fiedorec
8:28 Draw - Murray Cotton
8:30 Adjournment - Ana Sutherland
Scribe: Elizabeth Cohoe