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.
Ana Sutherland, President-Elect, introduced Guests:
Maya Bergeson, inbound youth exchange student
Mark Blakey (guest speaker--see story below), Shirley Blakey, past Grand Chaplain, Odd Fellows, Kingston
Jackie Blakney, member inductee
Member Induction
Jackie Blakney, Real Estate (see story below)
Member Sharing
Fun Master - Ron Pols
Ron fined Rick Fiedorec and Robert Reid for wearing jeans; people who haven’t done a major renovation to their houses; last member in—Greta du Bois.
Happy/Sad Bucks
Ana Sutherland: thrilled to visit the Ottawa Tulip Festival 1st time, since 60s
Michelle Chatten-Fiedorec: sad that Heather Kembel’s niece was killed in car accident
Rick Fiedorec: happy that home roof repairs are finished
Jackie Blakney: very happy to have become a Rotarian
Rick Frasso: thanks to Ana for introducing him to Blair Sutherland, who will be speaking at a cybersecurity seminar for the Chamber of Commerce
Robert Reid: had his first swim in the St. Lawrence River on the May 24th long weekend
Sigi Scholten: fixed sink without plumber!
Other Communication
Rick offered thanks for those doing double and triple duty; Friday he'll be cleaning his car, ready for detailers
Shirley Blakey thanked the club for inviting her to attend.
Ron Pols: Year-end BBQ at Renaissance June 25th 6 pm; Menu grilled chicken breast or 8oz flank stake $50/person; will be a wonderful time
Ron Pols: welcomed Jackie to club. He was worked with her; Jackie’s word is her word! She'll be a great asset to the club.
John Richards reported on Murray Cotton. He is home, recovering well, and out walking. He's feeling positive and thankful.
Ana Sutherland: re membership invitations. Letter to be sent for individual customization. Let her and Rick know who is coming when.
Friendship Exchange Update: Greta du Bois
Greta has done presentations to all 4 clubs on the next Friendship Exchange. It will tie in with the celebration of 100 years of Rotary in Kingston. See Friendship Exchange slides for details of her presentation.
A working team is being formed that will involve all four Kingston clubs.
The next meeting is Tuesday May 28th, 5-6pm at Greta's home.
There have been already been several expressions of interest.
President's Announcements
President rick received a thank you card from Francine Allard for our contribution to her club on the occasion of its Charter Night.
Two Board positions remain open for next year: Foundation, President-Elect
May 28th – Pat Brown classification speech - "A Life in Rotary"
June 11th - Mayor’s Address at Seniors Centre on Francis Street will replace our regular meeting. 7AM breakfast and your meeting cards can be used or cash at the door.
June 12thBoard meeting at Response IT at 7am
June 19th - Auction Committee, Kingston Dodge, 5 pm, cookies provided
August 1stCamp Merrywood BBQ
Chase the Ace!
Rick Frasso won the draw but no joy so the pot continues to build.
Welcome, Jackie Blakney, as a new member of the Rotary Club of Cataraqui-Kingston.
Rick Frasso read the induction precepts, and all present welcomed Jackie. Her classification is Real Estate.
Her service will include participating in fund-raising through Bingo and the Auction. She was welcomed to attend all committee meetings. Jackie looking forward to meeting all the committee chairs and finding her niche for service and fellowship.
Guest Speaker, Mark Blakey, Past Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Ontario
Shirley Blakey, Past Grand Chaplain
Rick Fiedorec, President, Rotary Club of Cataraqui-Kingston, who thanked Mark and Shirley, presenting them with a loaf of bread, the club tradition
President-Elect Ana Sutherland introduced Mark. Ana had met with Shirley Blakey, who suggested that our club consider using the Odd Fellows Hall for meetings. That led to the Odd Fellows Hall becoming our meeting place earlier this year, and then on May 21st. It seemed a natural step to invite Mark and Shirley so that we could learn about our hosts and their organization. We discovered many parallels of values, fellowship, and service between Odd Fellows and Rotary.
Mark was pleased and honoured to have our club meeting in their Odd Fellows home. His Rotary connection began in childhood in New Brunswick when he helped his Rotarian father sell peanuts!
The best thing about being Grand Master was sharing the Odd Fellows message throughout Ontario. That message included many similarities between the precepts of Odd Fellows and those of Rotary, including connections between Odd Fellows motto, “Friendship, Love, and Truth” and Rotary's Four Way Test. For more information about Odd Fellows' mission and principles, see Independent Order of Odd Fellows: The Sovereign Grand Lodge, where you'll learn that:
THE COMMAND OF THE IOOF IS TO“VISIT THE SICK, RELIEVE THE DISTRESSED, BURY THE DEAD AND EDUCATE THE ORPHAN.” SPECIFICALLY, IOOF MEMBERS TODAY ARE DEDICATED TO THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:
To improve and elevate the character of mankind by promoting the principles of friendship, love, truth, faith, hope, charity and universal justice.
To help make the world a better place to live in, by aiding each other, the community, the less fortunate, the youth, the elderly, and the environment in every way possible.
To promote good will and harmony amongst peoples and nations through the principle of universal fraternity, holding the belief that all men and women regardless of race, nationality, religion, social status, gender, rank and station are brothers and sisters.
Odd Fellows began in the 1700s in England. If a man who worked for a lord died, his children and wife were cast off. Odd Fellows set up a fund to support them. It's based on universal brotherhood. Only eighteen years ago, Odd Fellows began accepting women; before that, they were Rebekahs. Odd Fellows enjoy working serving others, working with people to help them prosper. They teach humility; forgiveness is key. First fraternity to include both men and women was in the US. Rebekah started Sept 20th, 1851. Numbers declined greatly during the Great Depression, since it was too expensive. Then, with Roosevelt's New Deal, the need for Oddfellows declined. In 1971 the Independent Order of Oddfellows changed its constitution. In 1979, there were about 243,000 members, but there are many fewer now. In Kingston, in the '50s and '60s, there were three lodges and about 1200 members. Now there is one lodge and about 30 members. Many notable Kingstonians were members. Sir John A. MacDonald was one of five founding members and he was the first Noble Grand Master. The showcase in the hall displays medals from the collection of Dr. A. E. Ross, who invented the ambulatory field. Odd Fellows has lodges world-wide, including in Norway, Denmark, and Switzerland. It is a fraternity and used to be hand-in-hand with the Freemasons, but the two organizations went separate ways.
In Kingston, Odd Fellows has a long history of serving the community. (Unfortunately, the membership got too comfortable and didn’t add new members, but it is now recruiting again.) They store and loan hospital equipment such as walkers, crutches, and wheel chairs. They look after pickup and delivery. Mark and Shirley have travelled across Ontario and in Europe. Empire Life used to be Oddfellows Insurance, started in Kingston. Empire purchased the building and took the name. The three-link logo, symbolizing Friendship, Love, and Truth, remains on Empire Life buildings. Another major claim to fame is their work withTB, Polio, and Measles. In 1985 two doctors and another man started Camp Trillium for children with cancer. It's programs grew to span the whole summer. Camps are on Rainbow Lake and Gareth Island, across from Picton Beach. Eight years ago the owner of the island died and Oddfellows purchased it for $1.2M, which took eight years of fundraising, finished last Christmas. They are now undertaking fundraising for a medical centre.
We're all invited next Tuesday, May 28th, 7:30 p.m., to an open meeting. Ana and Rick are invited to speak about Rotary.
Questions and Answers
Greta: Your members are in what age group?
Mark: About 85 when I joined, now 50s, 60s; some younger new recruits. There are scholarships for children of Odd Fellows
Rick: How long have you been in this building?
Mark: We've been in this building since 1979, but in Kingston since 1857 (not verified). We're the oldest Lodge in Kingston--Cataraqui Lodge #10. Brockville is #9, but soon will close. Chris Burgess, an Oddfellow, was recently honoured as a Paul Harris Fellow.
Michelle: Shirley had the position of Grand Chaplain. Is Odd Fellows rooted in Christian tradition?
Mark: It is not based on any religion. It teaches you who we are by skits; e.g., David and Goliath. As long as you believe in a supreme being, you may be a member.
Rick: There are more similarities (with Rotary) than I had realized.
