Chris Guillard

To everyone's distict pleasure, Chris Guillard was sufficiently recovered from his surgery to assume the Presidency, all be it a year late. His V.P. was David Obadia, Secy. Joan Hunjan, Treasurer Anthony Warner, Ted Koziel was Club Service Director, Israel Reinberg community, Hira Joshi Vocational and Andy Merchant International.

In September the Club hosted a Group Study Exchange Group from Zimbabwe. An excellent program of tours and entertainment was organized by Israel Reinberg. He also ran a very successful campaign to encourage the members to support his bid to win the 2995 Foundation Walk by raising the highest amount per capita in 2004. As a result the 2005 Foundation Walk will be held in Richmond Hill.

Rotary Exchange Student Charlotte Gasiglia Returned to France in August and our outbound student, Jessica Rose, left for Argentina. Inbound student Emil Jacobsen arrived from Denmark.

The Club Bulletin changed format and became available on the internet under the Clubrunner banner.Printed copies were available but only for a limited time, the hope being that all members would be able to access it on the net and print their own copy. There was only one known member, Cam Smith, without a computer.

On February 26th., 2005 a gala dinne was held at the Premiere Ballroom to celebarte 100 years of Rotary with Bill Harris portraying (guess who?) Paul Harris, Rick Sulker Silvester Schiele, Chris Guillard Gus Loehr and Israil Reinberg Hiram Shorey. A good time was had by all.

President Chris Guillard added these notes for his year.

As we are heading towards the end of our Rotary year it is time to review some of the highlights of this past year.

First of all where did we spend our Club money? Well we spent $20,133.00 on HOME projects, $11.803.00 on INTERNATIONAL projects and $12,000 donation to the FOUNDATION for the privilege to host the Foundation walk in September.Grand total: $43,936.00

For more details check out the story entitled 'Where did we spend our money'.

We have spent more money on worthwhile causes this year than we have in the past thanks to a previously built up reserve. However let's keep in mind that we will need to significantly increase our revenues from the TV auction and other forms of fund raising in the future if we wish to maintain this level of donations to home and international projects.

				HOME PROJECTS
				

Spinal research wheelchair         $2,000.00
Arts Richmond Hill Music festival   $ 750.00
Habitat for humanity               $2,500.00
Camp Oochegeas                     $2,800.00
Camp Enterprise                    $2,450.00
Ryla                               $1,300.00
York Central hospital              $8,333.00
TOTAL                             $20,133.00

INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS

Drugs to Zambia                    $1,000.00
Drugs to Tanzania                  $1,000.00
Drugs to Zambia                    $1,400.00
District ambulance to Mexico        $ 500.00
AIDS ambulance to Kingston Jamaica $1,000.00
Foster parents                      $ 396.00
Group study exchange               $1,907.00
Pakistan water wells matching grant$2,500.00
Tsunami District fund              $2,500.00
TOTAL                             $11,803.00

ROTARY FOUNDATION                 $12,000.00
 
GRAND TOTAL                       $43,936.00


 

* Note that Pakistan water wells and Tsunami District fund are to be dispersed before year end.

Social events this year
It all started June 30 04 for the Turnover night held at the home of the incoming President Chris Guillard and his wife Jan. Lovely backyard setting, great BBQ and Jazz background.

In September our Club was the host of the Group study exchange coming from various countries in Africa. The reception was held at the McConaghie centre. Dignitaries were at hand and Glen Waugh was our Master of ceremonie. Many thanks to Israel and his great organisational skills as this was not a job he was planning on.

Our traditional Christmas party took place at our 'favorite hangout' namely the Sheraton hotel under the fine direction of Gerry Loweth. Good time was had by all.

The Centennial dinner on Febuary 26 was terrific! It is too bad that so many could not come or had previous engagement. The quality of the entertainment was impressive and the great fun we had show that Rotarians can enjoy themselves too... Thanks to Deen Farouk and Ted Koziel for a superb evening at the Premiere ballroom.

The progressive dinner held on the second of April was also a great success and brilliantly organised by Ted and Maureen Koziel. The party ended at Rick and Elisabeth Sulker's modest home where Dennis Stainer received not without some emotion a plaque making him an honorary member of our Club.

A trip to Casino Rama was planned and organised at a minimum cost by Ted Koziel in March but did not take place as we could not round up 40 people for the bus. Too bad but we will try again next year, perhaps change the timing and ...put Elizabeth Sulker in charge...


New members
Like in any organization it is always great when you see new members coming into the Club. They bring in new ideas and often participate actively in the activities of the Club. This year we are pleased to welcome 6 new members (or 8 if we include Emmanuel Abara and Robert Segarra whom we have missed for some time but have recenttly returned to the Club).
They are:

1- Saro Saglamcelik
2- Bhuvana Venkat
3- Alam Khwaja
4- Rasool Kaleemi
5- Samir Dossal
6- Dan Johnstone

Let's make them feel comfortable, let's them feel they belong, let's put them to work for Rotary and let us all have some fun too.