Welcome to our guests! – Don Giffen, Mike F of Stoney Creek Rotary, Chris Fife, Jen Postma, Cathy & Colin (former GSE to Australia, NS Wales), & Mary-Frances Kluka
                                 

Mike was pleased to present a banner for exchange as he’s visiting the area,
bird watching at Rondeau.   Welcome, Mike!                                       

Jean is happy.  Her granddaughter Meghan on exchange in Brazil has just changed host families & Jean leaves shortly for a Baltic cruise, preceded by 4 days in Prague.

Bonny is just back from a long weekend at their northern Camp.

             Mike is happy to be visiting Chatham Kent & our birds.

  Happy Birthday to John L.

       The Pot’s at $29 & Greg K. was lucky for $10

President Jim was honoured to induct Mary-Frances Kluka as a new member today.   We welcome Mary-Frances to our Rotary family & wish her all the best in her journey with us.   Thank you to Bonny P. for sponsoring Mary-Frances & welcome, Mary-Frances.
 

Sheila introduced Don Giffen, our guest speaker today, representing Giffen’s Syrup operation, just south of Blenheim on Communication Road, heading to Shrewsbury. Don operates 400 acres of seed corn & soyas in addition to the maple syrup operation.  His wife Jean is a huge player in the business.  His 4 daughters keep them globally in touch!

Don’s grandfather started the syrup farm until Don began. Then his wife Jean & he moved it into an actual business in 1985, when farm commodities weren’t the best.  Don farms the syrup on the original 12 Mile Bush, about 100 acres.  Black & hardwood maples offer the best syrup, in grades of extra light, light & medium.   At one time, he was selling 3 times the amount of syrup that he actually produced.  Syrup runs the best with 5’ at night & +5’ during the day.  But the best syrup years must be preceded by a summer of heat, lots of rain & healthy trees. This past winter was a great one, producing enough to fill the reserves of syrup again.     Don is a member of various roles with the Maple Syrup Board, based in Lindsay.   He’s a top producer, having won a World Title at the Royal Winter Fair.   He’s now a judge at that Fair.  

Lead evaporators are still in use with smaller operators.  With really heavy duty cleaning, the lead is exposed to the food product, which is obviously not very desirable.   Moves are being made for operators to change their equipment over to stainless steel.  

The Boards marketing efforts are paying off.   Local producers around the Great Lakes are exporting barrels to Asia, Germany & England.  Many of us are familiar with stuffing our luggage with gifts for our hosts as we travel. 

Don concluded his talk with the passing of some very awesome Maple Popcorn, just great for right after breakfast! 

Jim offered our thanks to Don for visiting & sharing a very worldly story that’s happened right in our back yard.

All members, private members and members link pages have been updated and are current to reflect the latest information. If any errors or omissions are discovered please notify Steve Sadler via the contact tab in the menu above in order that correction can be made.
 

Third Annual Rotary River Ride

 Sunday,  June 14, 2009

Registration 8:30am - 9:00am  -   Ride starts at 9:30 am 

Proceeds support Eradicate polio worldwide.
Currently there are only 4 endemic countries remaining in the world:
Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Nigeria (P.A.I.N.). 

 Proceeds go directly to the polio vaccine. 

From 50 Keil Drive N (Union Gas Head Office) west on Riverview Drive to Prairie Siding bridge and back on Grande River Line. 21 kms of great riding!

         Preview two great new bikeway developments coming in Chatham-Kent:

            1)  The proposed Tecumseh Parkway historical route
            2)  Maps of the bikeway network to be built throughout Chatham- Kent will be on display

A "Healthy Snack" by the river to follow. 

Adults $20.00 ($10.00 tax receipt available), Under 12 $10.00           

Register at: www.cycleck.ca

 Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Chatham Sunrise

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.

MAY 25                  -  (Monday) 7:00pm - Keith, Bill, Kelly, Jackie

MAY 25                  -  (Monday) 9:30pm  - Paula, Mary Frances, Greg, Jackie

JUNE 6                  -  (Saturday) 9:30pm - Doug

JUNE 6                  -  (Saturday) 12:00 midnight -

JULY 29                 -  (Wednesday) 7:00pm - Bonny, Roger K.,

AUGUST 9             -  (Sunday) 6:00pm and 7:00pm -

SEPTEMBER        - (Monday) 9:30pm - Linda

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 our Bingo Coordinator, Jackie Bray  at 354-0356 
or email   jacalyn.bray@rbc.com
 

May26 -                Club Assembly

June 2 -                 St. Clair College - Lynn McGeachy Schultz

June 9 -                 Chatham-Kent Water Festival - Don Hector

June 16 -               Dairy Education Program -  Kyla Reid

June 23 -               Intro of the New Club President

June 30 -               Prep for the Ribfest

July 7 -                  TBA

July 14 -                Frontiers of Science - Dr. Guruji

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

Birmingham, England