1984 - 1986, by Bill Harris

1984-85. President Graham Jones, Vice-President Bill Harris, Secretary David Jones, Treasurer Pat Morrell and Directors Bob Saunders, Bill Redelmeier, Joe Horvat and Glen Waugh. Only one copy of the Club Bulletin in the archives for this year, but what a professional job it is. The Bulletin Editor was artist Jeff Wakefield and his newly designed front cover in colour made for a prize winning Bulletin. The content is livened up with photos too and his racy style makes for a most professional publication. The Travelogues were finally dropped but Christmas Trees were still sold and raised $1, 658. The club supported a Street Proofing scheme for children at Hillcrest Mall. For a dollar parents could have a child photographed and fingerprinted. We continued to support the Science Fair to the tune of $1,550, 3 Foster Children and the Student Adventure in Citizenship. President Humphreys, V-P Bill Harris and Rotarian Doug Davies attended the International Conference held in Birmingham , England. The 1984 TV Auction raised over $16,000 of which $5,000 was donated to the Hospital, $1,237 to Helpmate etc.. $2,500 was donated to the Rotary Club of Barrie Tornado Relief Fund. The club also participated in selling tickets for a Greek Night organized by two of the members. This was not a club organized event but did start the series of annual Club International Nights.

1985-86. President Bill Harris, Vice-President Bill Redelmeier, Secretary Brian Searles, Treasurer Pat Morrell, Directors Jeff Wakefield, David Jones, Bryon Wilfert, and Dinker Joshi. We had the first of the club organized International Nights. India Night was organized by Dinker Joshi with Indian food and entertainment and was held at the Richmond Hill Country Club. The Consul General of India was the guest of honour and a sell out crowd enjoyed a most enjoyable evening. $4,000 was raised for international projects which included a joint project with the Rotary Club of Madras Central. A matching grant from R. I. doubled the club's contribution of $8,000 to be paid over two years to purchase equipment for the Margaret Sidney Hospital in Nanganallur, India.
Another fund raising effort was the sale of a cook book, the "Mother Kitchen Cookbook" by the Ponte Vecchio Ristorante manager, Americo Di Rezze. This collection of old Italian Recipes raised $873 for the Service Account. A unique stainless steel trophy was donated to the club as the Junior Engineering Award for the York Science Fair and was named the Stu Harwood Trophy in memory of Rotarian Stu Harwood who died this year. (I wonder where this trophy is now?) The club also instituted the Yonge Street flower barrels in the spring of 86. We purchased and planted the barrels in the old part of town from Major MacKenzie to Levendale. Eventually, the Town adopted this initiative, which has been expanded and continued to this day. Christmas Tree sales raised $4,258.
The TV Auction sales were $28,632 and amongst other donations, $10,000 went to York Central Hospital, qualifying us for a Gold category ceramic tile in the Rose of York Programme. You will see our tiles on the donors wall at the hospital.
President Bill was suitably embarrassed on Turnover Night by having to dance with a Belly Dancer, thoughtfully invited by Rotarian. Rick Sulker!

1986-87. President Bill Redelmeier, Vice-President Bryon Wilfert, Secretary Brian Searles, Treasurer Pat Morrell with Directors Jeff Wakefield, Paul Hood, Dave Barrow and Rick Sulker. The main event of the year was the second International Night Italian Night, with the Italian Consul General as guest of honour. A well attended event which raised $2,800 for the club's international projects, which included another $3,635 for the Madras project. This two year commitment was not appreciated by the incoming Board! This year also saw the club's involvement in the formation of a new club in Stouffville, Bill Harris being the District Governor's representative. We raised $400 from Child Fingerprinting, Gold Book Sales raised $500 and Christmas Tress made $3,541, plus other smaller items giving the Service Account a total of $12,790 in receipts. Disbursements included donations to Richmond Hill Soccer, Ringette, Foster Children, the Science Fair and $642 for shelter repairs. This would be for the Polish Park Shelter. There was also a drive for used or discarded toys to be collected and shipped to underprivileged children in Brazil.
The TV Auction made $20,586 and donations were made to Richmond Hill Hockey, CNIB, Daybreak, Yellow Brick House, Helpmate, Meals on Wheels and the Rotary Club of Stouffville, who had been invited to participate, as one of their first club activities.