Next Meeting May 03, 1999
BDC Presentation
Speaker: Howard Shears
Chair: Roger Coffin
SongLeader: Ken Campbell
Greeters: John Scales, Mark Robertson

RI PRESIDENTIAL APPEAL FOR BALKANS RELIEF

As individuals committed to the ideals of world understanding and peace, Rotary International President, James Lacey, is asking Rotarians to make a contribution towards alleviating the crisis in the Balkans. "You are most certainly concerned with the grave situation unfolding in the Balkans -- the hundreds of thousands of refugees who have fled and the plight of those who have remained in the area are enduing serious hardships. All are facing an uncertain future."

Through a contribution to a specific Rotary Account established with the International Committee of the Red Cross, Rotarians can help provide immediate assistance to the innocent victims. Contributions will provide emergency relief, including food, medical items, water supply and sanitation materials. Funds, rather than donated goods, are needed at this time.

You can make a restricted donation to the Rotary Foundation, which in turn will be donated to the fund. Make cheques payable to the Rotary Foundation, earmark them "Rotary HPCPB" and send to the Rotary Foundation, c/o Harris Trust and Savings Bank, P.O. Box 71169, Chicago, IL 60694-1169, USA.

President Lacey says "It is my hope that with your meaningful and rapid response to this appeal, you will be able to Follow Your Rotary dream to help rebuild the future of hundreds of thousands of people impacted by the crisis."

President's Message

New members help rejuvenate the club. I am very pleased with the manner in which several of our newer members have jumped full force into the various projects of the club and devoted numerous hours of volunteer time and expertise. That is not to take away from the long-standing members who consistently make great contributions, but I do think it is worth noting the fact that some new members became fully active literally within hours of joining the club. Rather than watching from the side lines they were quick to be on the front lines and make a difference in several key projects and committee activities. Such enthusiasm is not only to be applauded but encouraged. It helps us all be better Rotarians.

These new members saw work that needed to be done, and they took on the challenge. They were also extended an important warm hand of greeting from fellow Rotarians which helps ensure they feel a part of and remain active in our club. Sure, we 'longer-serving' members can content ourselves with the notion "it is their turn", or "we deserve a break", but we can also learn from the new members. They bring a new perspective to what we do They see the magic in our club that we sometimes forget. The value in the work we do, and the fact it benefits many.

Active new members are a shot in the arm. When they get so involved in projects it reaffirms for us all the value of those projects and what they really mean. It is only the natural cycle of the volunteer that after awhile projects become tasks. New members can benefit us in refocusing and pumping up our energy as well as sharing the work load.

Bulletin Board

Birthdays

Apr 26 Gaie Woodside
Apr 27 Lloyd MacLeod
Apr 28 Darren Ings
Apr 30 Gary Rayner
May 2 Curtis Barlow

Many happy returns - Remember the Foundation, and don't forget to renew your drivers license.

Anniversaries

Apr 30 Ian & Dorothy MacLeod

Congratulations and Best Wishes

RI Foundation Notice
Exchange to be paid

The RI Foundation Committee is presently accepting written applications from Paul Harris Fellow sustaining members or those wishing to become sustaining member who would like to contribute $100 Canadian and receive credit for $100 (US). As funds are limited the committee is accepting 30 applications on a first come, first serve basis. Please apply to Bob Sear, chair, or any member of the committee prior to May 10, 99.

Greeters

Today Jim Cumming, Lorne Moase
Next Week John Scales, Mark Robertson
May 10 Lloyd MacLeod, Jim Smith
May 17 Marilyn MacKinnon, Ted Van Lunen

If you are unable to act as Greeter on your appointed day, please make arrangements with another Rotarian to take your place.

Calendar Watch 1999

May 10 Kidney Foundation Presentation
May 17 Physical Medicine*
May 24 Victoria Day - No Meeting
May 31 Easter Seals Wrap Up Meeting*

* Rotary Club of Charlottetown Meetings

Previous Meeting

50/50 draw: Charlie Down picked up the $55. weekly pot, and then with great skill pulled the Queen of Hearts from the deck to add $500. to his winnings. Congratulations.

Attendance: 80.4% with nine Scooters.

President Moe recognized the 55th wedding anniversary of Ira and Vaunda Lewis and in keeping with Club tradition they were treated to a Rotary rendition of Happy Anniversary. (We hope after 55 years that the Rotary luncheon wasn't Ira's idea of a special dinner.)

Special note was also made of the election of Daphne Dumont to the Vice-Presidency of the Canadian Bar Association, meaning in the year 2000 she will become the first member of the Island Bar to serve as national President. (For this, she gave up a spot on the Rotary Board?)

Carl Willis and Island Cable vision were congratulated on the success of the QEH equipment drive.

The President also paid tribute to the organizations and Rotary volunteers involved in the Easter Seals telethon.

PROJECT COMPLETE

President Moe let us know the Canadian Rotary Committee for International Development has informed us they have received the final reports on the Jordan Reforestation project. The financial report indicates expenses between June of 1997, and December of 1998 of CAN$14,069. There is a balance of CAN$2,470, which will be used to cover the salary of the forest guard who waters and protects the site. These funds are sufficient to cover his wages for another year. The Jordan Club notes the Royal Society can find the means to pay the guard in the future.

The Executive Director of CRCID, William Stevens says "Congratulations to the Rotary Clubs of Charlottetown and Amman on the successful completion of a worthy World Community Service project."

This project was undertaken with the leadership of late Rotarian Awni Radd, and it is fitting that his efforts live on in the reforestation project where school teachers have begun to take students to learn about environmental issues and conservation.

SEAMAN'S BEVERAGES

There have been a lot of changes in the soft drink business and in the operation of Seaman's Beverages since it was established over 60 years ago. But, Chairman Rundell Seaman says some things, such as a commitment to quality, focus on customers, and an interest in community, remain the same and are a part of the success of what today is the Island's only soft drink bottler.

Rundell's Dad started the business with a loan of $3,000. He had a small operation on Water Street and three employees. Today Seaman's operate out of a modern 60,000 square foot facility in the West Royalty Industrial Park and employs about one hundred people. They are one of the very few family owned soft drink bottlers left in North America. At one time there were 30 on the Island alone, but consolidation and changes in market forces caused the little operations to fall by the wayside. So how did Seaman's survive? In the words of Founder F. R. Seaman, "Do the very best for your customers and they will always be there for you." Seaman's sponsor over 400 events on the Island, and bottle more than 100 products. They operate their own bottled water company and a vending operation. They remain true to the original ingredients of their products, resisting the temptation to use less expensive substitutes.

Director of Marketing, Kim Griffin, says three years ago they moved in the Ontario market, then added Quebec and the Maritimes. They just returned from a US trade mission and are interested in entering that market.

The Seaman's refillable system is somewhat unique in North America. The big operators prefer the one way container of plastic or cans. Seaman's prefer the returnable bottle and boast that 96.7% of their containers are recovered. In most cases, recovered and recovered with some bottles reused more than 40 times. That all means millions of containers diverted from landfills. Rundell says as a manufacturer they take responsibility for the container, and the system is good for the economy and good for the environment.

For the future they plan to stay true to their value system, and diversify and grow the business.

DG ELECT NAMES DISTRICT POSTS

District Governor Elect, Wayne Hambly, is just weeks away from assuming the full duties of DG. In keeping with tradition Wayne will rely on some members of his home club to take on key district duties. Mark Robertson will assume the role of District Secretary, and Neil Buchanan will look after the finances. Carl Bagnall will continue as Youth Exchange Chair, and Bob Moffatt will assume responsibility for the District Conference which will be hosted in Charlottetown.

$ DONATION APPROVED:

The Membership approved a donation of $1,000 to the Charlottetown Boys and Girls Club for their after school program. The funds are from the Auction account. Motion was presented by Richard Veinot, Donations Committee Chair, seconded by Lloyd Patriquin.

Makeups to April 19 - Wayne Hambly, Don Livingstone (6), Judy McCann-Beranger (2), Graham Peck (2), Tony Sosnkowski, Allison Swan, Bruce Stewart (2), Craig Thompson, Richard Veinot.

Thoughts

I don't have a solution, but I admire your problem.

From the errors of others a wise man corrects his own.