February  12       Mardi Gras                                                 March        2           Roses for Rotary Launch
February  16       L.H.I.N.  -  Gary Switzer                              March        9           CHAP - Linda Lucas
February  23       Community Living  -  Ron Blommers             March      16           Shelter Boxes - Keith Koke
                                                                                                 March      23           Club Assembly
                                                                                                 March      30           Classification  -  Mark Jenkins 
                  ___________________________________________________________________

Good morning from President Blake!
 

Our guests today:  Paul Gardiner, Bill Arends of Wallaceburg Rotary, Ray Tetrault of Chatham Youth Soccer, Ric Bodnariuk of Chatham Rotary, Keith Koke of Chatham Rotary, Tom Beaton of CK Municipality, John Jordan of Active Communities, Don Jackson of Blenheim Rotary, Don Shropshire of CK Municipality, Bill Weaver of Municipality & Active Communities, John Sigurjonsson of Cycle CK, Scott Moir, Hank Smit, Suzanne Warrener, Marlee Robinson for Ridgetown Rejuvenation, Leo Denys of CK Municipality, Peter Marten of Cogeco, Nick Zimmer (Laurie’s son) & Gord Campbell. 
        

The pot is sitting at $100. Scott pulled Doug Swant’s ticket – lucky for $10!

 Happy Bucks:

Tom Beaton leaves on Saturday for the Olympics

John Jorden is happy that he’s sitting with people that have a chance to go & that CK will be well-represented

John Schinkel - NASCAR – it’s Speed Week!

Hank S – really would be happy if we met later in the am……But he did get thru Customs recently with his wife & didn’t have to pay duty!

Doug is happy to be going West on Saturday
to see & ski with his son in Kelowna

Jim is happy that it’s Weigh-in Day

John L says Thank You! For all those who supported
the Polio eradication efforts

 Pounds for Polio Challenge:   

Pounds for Polio – winners will be announced at Mardi Gras on Friday – John says that already there’s over $2000 from the participants.   Thank you to Kim for her great inspirational messages.  Thank you to the Porkers who helped out the Pounders.  We need to eradicate this horrible disease!

Mardi Gras tickets, $45 each from Bonny.  Still available.   Blutonium will be there.  Doors open 6pm.  

Ray Tetreault presented President Blake with a photo of the soccer team, which was sponsored by Chatham Sunrise last season and was pleased to accept our cheque for sponsoring another Youth Soccer team for the upcoming season.  They do have 2500 players in their teams – Ages 5 to senior Men & Ladies.   You don’t have to be a good player! With the College expansion plans, they are seeking field space in the City of Chatham per se - Please be in touch with them if you can help.

Steve Pickard introduced our Speaker today – Don Shropshire, General Manager of Community & Development Services &  the newest member of the Executive Management Team for the Municipality.  He’s formerly a National Director for the Canadian Red Cross in Ottawa.  

Don brought a sample prototype of proposed types of bike racks for the community of Chatham Kent. The Canadian Heart & Stroke has released recently some very difficult facts about high blood pressure, diabetes & obesity for the population of Chatham Kent.  We need to be active! 

Following the Strategic Plan, they’ve established Active Communities, chaired by Bill Weaver & member John Jordan. There is $1M planned for Trails’ investments & Bike Lanes ($1.4M, specifically $60,000 for bike racks.)

They are looking for Rotary to help with the sponsorship & promotion. The racks need to out & promoted in the business’ & the Municipality needs us to help.  Similar to our Raise the Flag promotion. A rough cost of each is $290 + installation. Racks can be logo’d & represented by the sponsor.

Contact Tom Beaton or Don, or Bill Weaver.  They will be hiring a Coordinator for Active Communities soon. 

Laurie Zimmer thanked Don & the Active Communities & the Municipality for recognizing the difficult state that our hearts are in.  We need to be healthy & active. A book for the Literary Angels program was signed for the Chatham Public Library.

from "The Rotarian" - 1912      

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.

FEBRUARY 21   - (Sunday)          6:00pm                  -   Doug Swant, Keith Hindmarsh
MARCH       30   - (Tuesday)        7:00 and 9:30pm   -   Steve Pickard, Bill Dielman
APRIL          14    - (Wednesday)  7:00pm                   -   Bonny Pigeon, Greg Kett, Ashley White, Nicole Gignac
MAY             19   - (Monday)        6:00pm                   -   
JUNE            16   - (Sunday)          6:00pm                   -   Linda Goldsmith

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