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Employer’s Edge sent
the following Note of
Thanks:
We would like to offer you
our thanks & appreciation
for the opportunity to host
the Rotary Corporate
Luncheon & Games at the 2nd
Annual Chatham Ribfest.
We feel it was a great day
had by all, and the event
was quite a success. With
more teams than last year
and some modifications made
to the games, it is an event
that we hope to keep
building and making better
year after year.
We thank all of you for your
part in helping us with this
event. Whether it was
working on the details from
the beginning to ensure all
aspects were taken care of,
or taking a turn in the dunk
tank (Thanks Doug & Matt),
or volunteering that
afternoon, nothing went
unnoticed.
The Chatham Sunrise Rotary
has definitely introduced a
great event for
Chatham-Kent, and
surrounding area. You should
all tip your hats to a job
well done.
Yours in Good health!
Joe Russelo & Nicole D’Hondt
_______________________________________________
Bonny read the
following message and
thank you regarding the Ontario
Works Volunteers:
On behalf
of the Ontario Works
Participants, I would like
to extend a Thank You for
providing them with an
excellent experience at the
Second Annual Rotary Ribfest.
We are
very fortunate to have had
their assistance. Out of
the roughly 250 volunteers
working at the event, 50
were Ontario Works
Participants. Without their
assistance, we would have
been in serious trouble.
On
Thursday, all but a couple
of the volunteers setting up
the park were from Ontario
Works. During the event all
but a few of the people,
watching the road blocks,
the back gate, and
collecting garbage were with
Ontario Works. Many of the
individuals in the Kid’s
Zone and in the First Aid
Booth were with Ontario
Works.
I will
tell you the process which
brought them to “participate
in activities” such as
these.
When I
first started in Social
Services more than 20 years
ago, the average length of
time an individual or family
needed financial assistance
was 3 months. That time has
expanded significantly,
mostly because of the state
of our local economy. 20
years ago, we told people to
go and get a job, but didn’t
give them any of the tools
or the assistance to help
them move to employment.
Several years ago that
changed with the advent of
Ontario Works.
For many
of the Participants, the
process of applying for
assistance is very
difficult. They, like many
people, have a certain idea
of what the people on
assistance are like, and all
of a sudden, they are one of
them. They are accustomed
to having a full time job
with regular pay & now have
to ask for help. Most come
to us when they have
exhausted all other
options. Their resources
are gone and they no longer
have the funds to pay their
accommodations costs and
they no longer have any food
in the home. Applying for
assistance is quite
humiliating for the first
time applicant. We ask all
kinds of personal
information and get
verification of
accommodation, their costs,
bank accounts and any other
assets that they may have.
And then we talk to them
about “participation
activities”.
Ontario
Works requires that they
participate in activities
which will help them move
toward employment which they
are capable of doing.
Participation can include
“community placement”, our
term for volunteering.
Participation is mandatory,
so during the application,
they may learn that if they
do not “participate”, they
may not be eligible for any
financial assistance.
As a
non-profit organization,
however, you can feel
confident that you have a
team of professionals who
will only send over people
who are interested in
providing service to our
club – only those
individuals who could be
trusted and depended upon.
For those
who work beside the Ontario
Works Participants, you
would have seen their
eagerness to perform the
work required. Most were
present all weekend
performing a variety of
jobs. Many of these Ontario
Works Participants starting
working on Thursday and
didn’t leave until the job
was done on Monday. Some
had signed up for one thing
and because of a need in
another, willingly changed
their volunteer roles.
I would
like to thank those
individuals who worked with
a number of these
individuals. To Terra for
trusting in them and finding
places for them to work. To
Kim and Gord for working the
most with them to keep the
park clean and to ensure the
points at the gates and road
blocks were covered.
Thank you
for letting them show you
their value as Community
Members. Thank you for
recognizing that poor people
have value, that they can
still be trusted and still
be depended upon. Thank you
for allowing them to give
back to the community which
supports them. It means a
lot to them.
Rotary is
all about helping those less
fortunate and providing
assistance to those in
need. I would like to thank
the club for allowing these
individuals to help you. I
strongly feel that our club
and the Ribfest would have
been in serious trouble
without their help.
Bonny
_______________________________________________
Open Discussion
followed.
Promotion of our Sunday
event needs development yet.
The bar area had its
challenges but overall was
great. There was a broader
range of coolers including
the Motts Clamato which went
well.
Scheduling also went well in
the tents. AGCO rep attended
at 4:30pm on Saturday & was
very impressed & supportive
of our efforts.
The Volunteer Committee is
circulating a Survey to all
Volunteers for their
thoughts.
Jackie & The Office were
very happy with the new
deposit tables. Off-duty
officer Rich was well
received!
Honourable Mention to Terry
Jenkins at the Entrances
with her effort on the
Donation Jug
Special Thanks to
Thamesville Rotarians for
all their shifts as well.
A Media Release is in the
works as well as plans for
our YMCA presentation.
______________________________________________________________
Next
Week’s Tuesday meeting is
cancelled.
We resume Aug 10, 7:30am at
Paul & Rosemarie’s home for
Breakfast by the River,
followed by a Horticultural Tour on the grounds. Your spouses & friends
are welcome.
7470 Grand River Line,
Chatham
PS Bring your wet shoes, in
case the grass is damp
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