Posted by C. Richard Campbell on May 25, 2018
May 2, 2018
Story by: Tim Fitzgerald
Photographs provided by: Tim FitzGerald
 

The Rotary Club of Simcoe has been a source of community pride and giving since 1925.
Recently, the Rotary Club of Simcoe hosted a supper meeting of the four Rotary clubs in Norfolk County using the Port Dover Yacht Club as a waterside venue.

 
Joint Rotary Meeting May 2, 2018
 
Joint Rotary Meeting of Delhi, Simcoe, Norfolk-Sunrise and Norfolk Rotaract at the Port Dover Yacht Club.
 

The agenda was stacked with Rotarian celebrities granting scholarships and community service awards to Norfolk County citizens.

ROTARY BEER IS HERE!

Rotary Beer is available at the Beer Store. Modelling the beer can T-shirts are local Rotarians Al Madill, Dan Hill and Dave King. The Rotary Emblem is on the front and the Rotary Four Way Test is on the back. Go to the Beer Store and ask for “Rotary Beer”!

Rotary beer Can T-Shirts
 
Rotary Beer Can T-Shirts - Four Way Test
 

 

Steve Malo and Mike Cobb

Norfolk Sunrise Rotarian Steve Malo examines a Rotary Beer with our member Mike Cobb.


GUEST SPEAKER

Our guest speaker (center) was David Cribbs, Chief Administrative Officer of Norfolk County who is flanked by Rotarian Janis Demmans (left) Rotary District 7090 Governor Reg Madison and Rotarian Gail Catherwood (right).

Rotarian Janis Demmans (left) Rotary District 7090 Governor Reg Madison and Rotarian Gail Catherwood (right)

David presented a clear and factual report of what the County has been doing well since its amalgamation in 2001 – economic growth; and frankly speaking, where the county has fallen behind - infrastructure spending and reserve funds. In the recent news, the Mayor said that “Reserve Funds Need Attention”.  One Power Point slide helped us with an understanding of this - Norfolk County has the lowest property taxes of 27 similar sized municipalities in Ontario. While there isn’t a need to be in the middle, just being tied for last place with Quinte West would stabilize reserve funds, service levels and infrastructure.

District 7090 Scholarship 

Ashley Abrahams, outbound Rotary Exchange Student in 2014-15, is no stranger to a microphone. During her year away in Brazil, frequently standing up and speaking to Rotary clubs, personal growth became her new normal – “old hat as it were”.

Ashley Abrahams, outbound Rotary Exchange Student in 2014-15

 

Steven Keefe, District 7090 Scholarship Chair and Ashley Abrahams, outbound Rotary Exchange Student in 2014-15

 

Karen Oakes, Ashley Abrahams
 
Ashley is thanking Karen Oakes from the Rotary Club of Delhi upon being awarded a $4,000 USD District 7090 scholarship. Standing by her is Steve Keefe, Chair of the District 7090 Scholarship Committee. District 7090 includes Delhi in the west to Niagara in the east and southerly into upstate New York. Ashley is furthering her education in studies of Integrated Business and Humanities.
 

As to Karen Oakes from the Rotary Club of Delhi, she is Rotary Zone 24E Foundation Coordinator. Yup that’s a big title as Zone 24E covers half of Canada into upstate New York State.


Paul Harris Fellow Awards

 

The Rotary Club of Simcoe is proud to recognize Norfolk Citizens for their outstanding Community Service local and abroad with Rotary’s “Paul Harris Award”.

Lisa Marr

Lisa Marr being presented with the Paul Harris Award by Reg Madison, Rotary District 7090 Governor.

Locally, Lisa Marr resides in the former hamlet of Waterford. Nearly a decade ago, when youth sailing programs fell under budget cuts, Lisa stepped up, contacted the Ontario Sailing Association and formed the PDYC Sailing School. The sailing school is independent of the yacht club. Over the decade, Lisa has applied funding (including Rotary), Ontario Trillium Grants and arranged operating agreements for Norfolk County facilities. She has also procured updated boats and equipment. It’s not all about Lisa! Lisa recruited many like minded individuals to assist as organizers and facilitators. Initially qualified sailing instructors were brought in from the GTA. However, today the School boasts a cadre of home grown instructors who are graduates of the sailing school. Thank you Lisa! 

Internationally, Cherie Szucs, a Norfolk resident who farms south-west of Simcoe with her husband, had visited Tanzania and saw a need. In the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro, the Tumaini Orphanage was born to look after orphans abandoned with little prospect of basic necessities nor education. Cherie raised funding with the assistance of Rotary and created the orphanage. A few years ago, one of the original orphans came to Norfolk, went to high school and learned farming practices on the Szucs’ farm to return and apply them in Tanzania. Cherie herself is a dynamo!

Cherie Szucs

 Again, presenting a “Paul Harris Award” to Cherie Szucs is Reg Madison, Rotary District 7090 Governor.


Norfolk Rotaract Club

The Norfolk Rotaract Club (target ages 18 to 30’ish) was well represented. Scott Buchanan (a lawyer with Cobb & Jones) stood up and reported upon their activities and accomplishments. There are many of them. This is their third year of awarding the Chelsea Addsion Memorial Bursary.

Norfolk Rotaract Club