Meeting Recording
Our meeting today was in-person and no video is available.
President's Comments
President Adrian welcomes all to the meeting in this the 70th week of our 18 month centennial recognition.
Guests
Rosemary Newkirk, guest of Ross Newkirk.
Roger Satry, Professor of History, WLU, Guest Speaker
Bell Ringer(s)
Our Bell Ringers for this week are Peter Gray for organizing our Dom Cardillo Trail Clean Up last week and all of the club members who participated.
Happy Jar
Mike Pollard is very happy that child number 3 is now married leaving just one more to fly from the nest. They were very pleased with the venue – the Timber Barn in St. Jacobs and highly recommend it.
JB More is happy that a bad situation for his son and family was not as worse as it could have been. His son is a quadriplegic and was recently woken up by a neighbour in the night informing him that his house was on fire. They did manage to escape but the firefighters indicated that had it taken just 30 seconds longer they would likely have not made it out alive. They are also pleased that house repairs expected to take up to a year are progressing better than expected and they will be able to return to a portion of the house within three weeks.
Josh Bedard was delighted that his son’s hockey team, which he coaches was victorious in their tournament this past weekend in Ottawa.
Club Announcements
Erin Way informed members that, in keeping with listening and learning as the main focus of the work of our Indigenous Relations committee, a lending library has been created and will be available at each in-person meeting or by contacting Erin directly. Both adult and children’s books are included.
Youth Exchange
After two years of cancellations due to COVID the Rotary Youth Exchange program is getting back on track. Committee chair, Boyd Pendleton, let members know that we are currently looking for an outbound student. This student will go on exchange next September and needs to currently be in grade 10 or 11. Possible candidates or questions can be directed to Boyd who can provide additional information
Online Auction
With a flurry of last minute donations we have exceeded our goal for items in the auction and now have 172. However, we could still use a few more sponsors. Please let committee chair,
Neil Swayze know if you have any leads in this area. With the recent high winds members who have signs are asked to check to make sure they are still standing and visible. Now is the time to be promoting the auction to family, friends and colleagues. Be sure to pass on the URL –
rotaryonlineauction.ca to one and all.
Catch The Ace
Incredibly, we have only ONE card left, Card # 11 and it will be the Ace.
Don’t miss the final chance to win! This week, the Progressive Jackpot will be over $67,000. On Thursday, someone will win it and the weekly prize.
Last week's winner Donna S. chose card #29 revealing the Queen of Spades. She won the weekly prize of $5,833, our largest weekly prize in this round.
When you buy tickets for the final draw you have a chance to win both the weekly prize and the Progressive Prize which will be over $67,000. Together, the two prizes could total over $70,000. The final weekly draw is on Thursday November 10th. The deadline to get your tickets as always is Wednesday at Midnight. Don't forget that you have to purchase a ticket the week of the draw to qualify for both the weekly and progressive jackpot!
When you play Catch the Ace not only do you have a chance to win great prizes but you also win by knowing that the net proceeds will all be going to
KidsAbility.
Election of Board of Directors
The slate of candidates for election to the board for next Rotary year will be sent out on Friday, November 11. Any member NOT wanting to have his or her name on the ballot, who had not yet notified Louise Gardiner of this should contact her directly as soon as possible.
Program Highlights
Our program today was a full one with both a Who Am I and our annual Remembrance Day Observation.
New member Josh Bedard provided some interest facts about himself and his family. Here are some highlights:
- I was born and raised in Petrolia, ON.
- I grew up playing competitive hockey, baseball and football.
- I moved to Waterloo in 2001 to attend the University of Waterloo, School of Architecture. Waterloo and to play Warriors football.
- While enrolled in my Honours Bachelors of Architecture program I completed co-op work terms in Toronto, New York City, and Victoria BC.
- Met my wife (Liane) in 2004 on a blind date.
- Did my fourth year co-op work-term in Rome, Italy
- We got engaged in 2007.
- I started my Masters of Architecture at Waterloo in 2006.
- My Thesis was on Detroit: Mapping a New Narrative.
- I graduated in May 2009 and got married in June 20th, 2009.
- Our first son Hayden was born December 14th, 2011 and second son Evan was born September 7th, 2014.
- I have been a licensed Architect for the past 10 years and am currently Vice President of Architecture at ABA Architects.
- I have a passion for working with youth in sports, and have been coaching Soccer, Baseball and Hockey since 2014 – I stress the fun of sports and coach the heart behind the jersey.
- I am heavily involved with KMHA, and am currently lead instructor for Under 7, Under 8 and Head coach of KJR Under 9 Red Tier 1 team.
- I believe in practicing what you preach and giving back to the community and I joined Rotary last January
Our Remembrance Day Observance began with a PowerPoint presentation presented by Ross Newkirk highlighting the Remembrance Day Program at the Menin Gate in Belgium that occurred on the 100th anniversary of the World War 1.
This was followed by a presentation by Roger Satry, history professor at Wilfrid Laurier University, who was introduced by Ross.
Roger Sarty, a native of Halifax where he became interested in history, was educated at the University of Toronto and Duke University. He was an official historian of the Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Canadian Navy at National Defence Headquarters in 1981-1998. He moved to the Canadian War Museum as director of research and exhibitions, and in 2000 became deputy director of the museum for the construction of its new building at Vimy Place in Ottawa. He was appointed a professor of history at Wilfrid Laurier University in 2004. Since his retirement last summer he has been enjoying the pleasures of Waterloo at a more leisurely pace with his wife Brenda, who has also retired after her career in the Federal civil service.
Professor Satry’s presentation was entitled Canada the Second World War Saviour of Britain: The Battle of the Atlantic through the Eyes of Commander Louis Audette, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve. The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest battle of the war. The Royal Canadian Naval Reserve comprised men who were not full time professional soldiers but who agreed to serve when called upon as needed and received some basic training at the time.
Louis Audette’s father, Louis A. Audette, was a federal judge and his mother, Mary Grace Stuart, was the daughter of the Chief Justice of Quebec and was descended from 1650s fur trade entrepreneur C-A de la Chesnaye. His brother and law partner, John de Gaspe, won Military Cross at Lens in 1917 where he was severely injured.
In May/June of 1940 Germany had conquered France and the Scandinavian countries, effectively blocking all European supply lines to Great Britain. Thus all supplies needed to come from North America and Great Britain did not have the ships to guard the convoys carrying the supplies. Canada stepped up and provided all six of the ships they had at the start of the war and continued to supply additional ones as they became available, over 250 (destroyers and corvettes) by the end of the war. These formed the Newfoundland Escort Force.
HMCS Saguenay one of six modern destroyers RCN got in 1930-38; sent to help Britain starting in May 1940.
Louis served in her July 1940-c. March 1941
Professor Satry’s presentation included several anecdotes about Louis’s personal life and war time service that helped to but a face on the war and to better understand the sacrifices and efforts made by so many.
Closing Remarks & Reminders
President Adrian reminded everyone about Online Auction and the draw on Thursday for Catch the Ace.
