Our guests today:    Jason Chickowski ,today’s speaker, Laurie Zimmer, John Schinkel, Dave Bakker, Chris Fife, Bill Dieleman, Blake’s Cora & Elliot, & returning 3 years later, Camillo (inbound student exchange) from Italy!
 

Kim met the inbound team from Australia last night & is pleased to announce that the outbound Japan team was finalized yesterday

Camillo is happy to be with us today!

Jean offers a Thank You as she recently received a 10-Year Volunteers Award, recognition for her work as a Volunteer with the Rotary Club of Chatham Sunrise. (Other recipients were Paul Roy, Roger McRae, Ed Schiestel, Audrey Chevalier & Ivan Katzman)

              $37.50 in the pot & Roger K took home $10 this time (again!)

Happy Birthday, Father Roy!

RibFest Steering Committee expects to circulate a budget next week.

The Board of Directors has agreed to sponsor a team again this year with the Chatham Youth Soccer Association

Jackie needs 2 more workers for the Bingo on Friday April 24 – Aaron & Linda need some Rotary friends! Be there for 8:30pm.

Canada D’eh committee is looking for us to work their Beer Tent on July 1 in the Park.   Will be a good opening for our Ribfest, 2 days later. See below if you’re interested –  beer tent workers are strongly encouraged to have Smart Serve accreditation.   A certain number is needed (we’re not sure yet how many) but the more trained members we have, the better for us.   See the link below. 
SMART SERVE    If you wish to volunteer for shifts in the Beer Tents, either Canada D’eh in the Park or at our Rib Fest, then you will need to be certified with Smart Serve. Click on the link, takes a bit of time & $35 but then, you’re free to work and  you’ll receive your pin & certified card in the mail following successful completion of the online test.
http://smartserve.org/products_training_online.asp

Watch your emails – the 401 Cleanup is planned for the end of April, pending the weather forecast & around Earth Day.

RYLA’s looking for attendees.   A great weekend at our local Ridgetown College & the kids always return with great wow reviews.   It’s in May, Mother’s Day weekend, with applications due April 30.   Send your applications to Blake. We have funds to sponsor students who wish to attend.

click here for  2009 RYLA INFORMATION BROCHURE

click here for  RYLA PARENT STUDENT APPLICATION FORM

Paula introduced out guest today, Jason Chickowski with the Chatham Minor Baseball Association, & professionally a Chatham-Kent Police Officer.

 Chatham Minor Baseball Association began in 1946 & is proud to name Fergie Jenkins, Bill Atkinson & Doug Melvin as famous members of their league at one time.   They’re noticing a recent resurgence in baseball players.  From 900 in 1992, there was a great drop but now it’s climbing back with 564 in 2008.  They run a House League Division, for kids aged 6 – 17 & coed.  There are 8 Travel teams, going across the Province & into the US.  Challenger baseball is out there too for kids with physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities & developmental disabilities.   They also run the Optimist Mite Club, for littler ones ages 4 – 6 who aren’t quite ready for an organized team.   Subsidies & inclusion are offered through the Mike “Chico” Mckeon Fund & through Chatham-Kent’s All For Kids plan. Every body plays! 

They are proud of their recently completed Centre, at the diamonds on Tweedsmuir & Queen.   It was a 3 year project, partnered with the CMBA & the Rotary Club of Chatham & a number of business’ who helped with donations & grants. The Centre is in high use, as they prepare for their 2009 season.  Training for players, umpires & coaches has already happened.  The new building helps!   

Jim thanked Jason with a book for the Literary Angels, “A is for Amazing Moments”.

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 Aaron G. and Linda G.

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
 

April 21 -               Classification - Kim Pierce

April 28 -               Capitol Theatre - Dan Donaldson

May 5  -                Chatham-Kent Heart and Stroke - Laurie Zimmer

May 12  -              Literary Angels - Kathery Thompson

 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