Shawn of Waycon Int’l, Andrew Thiel, Bill Dieleman, Rachel Ferris ( guest from Business After Hours & winner of 1 of the roses!) and Ruth H our Honorary Member.

Michele is happy to be back from a week in Arizona.  Also, very happy that the MRI house has been sold.  Congrats, Michele!

Linda G enjoyed her trip for the Honduras water install project with Kim.  Life-long friends now.   Welcomed her hot shower & drink of cold milk upon return, though!

Jackie has a grand-baby literally on the way!  And recently enjoyed her ride with the Canadian Cowgirls in the CanAm in London.

Audrey is recently returned from her E Caribbean cruise – one of the best family holidays ever!  Followed by another trip to PETS in Michigan, 100% (almost attendance for incoming Presidents.

Jim’s happy that Blake attended PETS!

                       John L enjoyed some spring skiing last week, 67’ on the hills

Didn’t Doug go skiing?

Steve S is happy for another $150 from a flight for polio last week

the Pot’s at $33 & Shawn was lucky for $10

Happy Club Anniversary to Linda Goldsmith & Rick Carnell.

Roses for Rotary is well underway.

Targeting 1400 dozen,  ---  we have 257 left that we must sell!

Please watch your email over the next few days.

Next Tuesday morning mtg cancelled for Roses Work Day on Wednesday

Table setup & Pails will need to be unloaded off the delivery truck next Tuesday Afternoon – time TBA, at the CPHall

Work begins Wednesday April 1 – at the Canadian Portuguese Hall on Grand Ave East, after 7:15am

Breakfast & light lunch supplied. Let Terra know if you can do some deliveries & if you plan to join us for lunch.

Reminder to save recycle boxes or liquor btl boxes or bins, as the roses will need to be kept upright for the deliveries.

1. Reminders from last week’s Club Assembly.   Notes circulated.    Sponsor kits available form the Committee & Andrew.  King of the Cue details should be launched next week. NEEDED:

• An organizer for the Corporate Friday activities
• Kids’ Zone organizer

2. Board of Directors Meeting – Wednesday, 7:30am, Comfort Inn
3. Paul Roy lets us know that there will be a Rib’s BBQ, Paincourt in the Church Parking Lot, April 4, 6:30pm ish.  Blazin BBQ will be there & many are welcome
4. District Club Assembly, April 4 for incoming Board members – see Bonny for details

Our guest speaker Mary Genge was introduced by Shiela Bateman. Mary is a local children’s book author, hailing from the Blenheim area, residing in Morpeth & working with Hughes Creative, our Ribfest website sponsor. 

Mary’s been a reader since her youth, laughing as she tells us of reading in the farmhouse closets, so her dad wouldn’t find her & put her out to work!   She holds an Honours in English, a degree in journalism and works in advertising & public relations.   She‘s intrigued by how the mind uses words & how words sound as they fly around in her mind as she’s writing.  

Sitting on the Board of Directors for the TriCounty Literacy Network, she has become so aware of the importance of literacy in people’s lives.   How sad that reading is often less important than perhaps putting food on the table or fulfilling an addiction.    All peoples’ stories may be different due to their difficulties but the main message should be to get to the children in the schools & make priorities of the children in our care. 

Mary told us the beginnings of her published stories “Hope You’re Happy!” & “Because I Love You”.    She expects to have 2 more published by the end of this year, “With you all the Time” & “Charlie the Righteous Dude”.  Charlie’s story will be a bit different, presented as a graphic novel (like comics), aimed at more action & better to attract kids’ attention. 

Mary gave a delightful reading of “Hope You’re Happy”, with a voice that sang of laughter & hope for happiness.   Truly enjoyed by many in the room. 

Audrey thanked Mary for her visit today.  Audrey gave Mary’s book out to the Clubs that she visited during her District Governor’s year -- 52 of Mary’s books are around in the District’s libraries.   We’re proud to have you in Chatham-Kent, Mary! 

The Magical Garden of Claude Monet will be given to the Literary Angels Library, in Mary’s Honour.

As all members are aware, BINGO's are one of our best fund raisers and we need members to help out. The fellowship is a wonderful added bonus.  Please do your part to help by volunteering yourself during one or more of the following time frames.

APRIL 24               -  (Friday) 9:30pm

MAY 25                  -  (Monday) 7:00pm

MAY 25                  -  (Monday) 9:30pm

JUNE 6                  -  (Saturday) 9:30pm

JUNE 6                  -  (Saturday) 12:00 midnight

You need to be there one hour and fifteen minutes before the start time. Remember you are awarded 3 make-ups for a regular bingo and one midnight bingo equals 5 make-ups.

Contact Jackie Bray      at 354-0356          or email    jacalyn.bray@rbc.com
 

March 31 -            (The Regular Meeting is cancelled and April 1st will take it's place)

April 1 -                 ROSES WORK DAY  ( at  the Portuguese Hall,  346 Grand Ave East )

April 7 -                  YMCA - Project Manager

April 14 -               Chatham Minor Baseball  - Jason Chickowski   - (Learning Center @ Rotary Park)

April 21 -               Classification - Kim Pierce

April 28 -               Capitol Theatre - Dan Donaldson

 March 2009                             -           Outbound GSE Team – District 9630

                                                                 Queensland, Australia (TBA) 

 Mid April 2009                       -            Incoming SGE Team from District 9630

                                                                 Queensland, Australia 

 May 1, 2 & 3, 2009                 -           2009 District Conference, Frankenmuth,

Michigan, Accommodations are at the

Family friendly Splash Village & Food provided by Zenders 

 June 21-24, 2009                     -           100^th Rotary International Convention

Birmingham, England