Next Week's Meeting March 1, 1999
Rotary Auction Wrap-Up
Chair: John Broderick
Song Leader: Betty Gay
Greeters: Don Anderson, Valerie Downe

President's Message

It is easy to loose perspective and get so focussed on our own club obligations that we fail to appreciate the fact Rotary is a very active and powerful international organization. When inducting a new member we talk about the fact Rotary has more than 1.2 million members, that there are 29,000 clubs in 159 countries. What that means is every hour of every day important community work is taking place under the Rotary banner. Because we are Rotarians and because we are strong supports of the RI Foundation, we are part of those efforts.

As this is Rotary Awareness month I thought it might be useful to take a look at what some of the clubs around the world are doing.

In India a major effort is underway to promote literacy. It is estimated 340 million people in that country are functionally illiterate. District 3010 is involved in recruiting teachers and encouraging people to take training.

120 nations have benefited from the Polio Plus program. More than $344 million US has been raised. The result of Rotary efforts is a fifty percent drop in the number of polio-endemic countries.

A Club in Toledo, Ohio embarked on an effort to provide meals to Seniors. They started with five, today it is over 80. Nine Rotarians from California travelled to Mexico to build a playground.

In Hawaii the parents of every newborn are presented with books by Rotary to help promote early education.

An Illinois Club is sponsoring a SEED project in a small district in southern Uganda promoting self government.

The Rotary Club of Homer, Alaska raised $15,000 for Christmas presents for children in Kamchatka, Russia.

Six United States Districts are co-operating in a campaign to increase organ donations.

Our own Club has recently provided funding for school books in an economically challenged part of New Zealand, and for an ambulance in China.

Assuming every club does just one project a year that is 29,000 contributions to a better world and future.

As Rotarians we are making a difference.

Bulletin Board

Birthdays

Feb 22 Marilyn MacKinnon
Feb 22 Ron Hately
Feb 24 Graham Peck
Feb 25 Lloyd Patriquin
Feb.27 David Scales

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

Anniversaries

Feb 28 Bob & Kim Sear
Feb 28 Mark & Betty Robertson

Congratulations and Best Wishes

From the Donations Committee
Richard Veinot, Chairman

The following donation was approved at the February 15 Board Meeting:

Junior Achievement $500 from the Auction Account.

Resignation

The Board has accepted with regret the resignation of John Morrison, effective immediately as he will be working off Island.

SYMPATHY TO THE TANNER FAMILY

We join in extending sympathy to Eileen, Heather, Jennifer, Amy and Rob on the sudden death of husband, father and fellow Rotarian Terry.

An active member of this Club, Terry served as Chair of the Camp Gencheff Committee, and as a songleader.

In his profession Terry was involved in helping many people, reaching out to them in time of need, such as the loss of a loved one. This club reaches out to Terry's family recalling the many happy times, and sharing in their grief and sense of loss.

RI Foundation Notice Call for PHF Nominations

The RI Foundation Committee is presently accepting nominations for non-Rotarian members of the community to receive a Paul Harris Fellowship.

Names and citations should be given to Bob Sear, chair, prior to March 16, 99.

Further information can be obtained from Committee members.

Greeters

Today Fred Morash, Gaie Woodside
Next Week Don Anderson, Valerie Downe
Mar 08 Curtis Barlow, Dale Murphy
Mar 15 Charlotte Comrie, Harry Kennedy
Mar 22 Bud Whelan, Bush Dumville
Mar 29 Ivan Morrison, Jack O'Keefe

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

Mar 08 Exchange Student Presentation* - Mika*
Mar 15 Airport Authority Update*
Rotary Board Meeting, Seamans
Mar 22 Corp. Kevin MacNeil*
Mar 29 Easter Seals Kick-Off*
April 5 Easter Monday - No Meeting
April 12 Classification Talks - Chet MacNeil*
Easter Seals Telethon
April 19 Island Success Story - Seamans*
April 26 Island Success Story - Hyndmans*
May 10 Kidney Foundation Presentation*
May 24 Victoria Day - No Meeting
June 7 Heart and Stroke Presentation,*

* Rotary Club of Charlottetown Meetings

Previous Meeting

NEW DECK - NEW WINNER

Lou Pantry picked up $51.00 in the weekly draw, and while close with the Ace of Hearts he missed the Queen and left the $500.00 jackpot. Odds drop to one in 51.

INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF OLDER PERSONS

Don Harron used humour to highlight some of the stereotypical views of older people as he spoke to the club as part of the International Year of Older Persons. Mr. Harron is Co-Chair of the national committee. He was on the Island to assist the local organizing committee in their efforts to promote a number of activities to mark the International Year. Committee members were in attendance. The Canada Coordinating Committee in cooperation with the Ministers responsible for Seniors has produced a Community Kit to help you plan events. One is on file with the club and you can obtain a copy from the Internet address http://iyop-aipa.gc.ca

Island Chair, Anna Duffy, says the national theme for the year is "Canada, a society for all ages". The theme highlights the importance of intergenerational understanding and greater awareness of seniors' issues and the many contributions which seniors make to Island communities.

Thanks Don, and best of luck to the Island Committee.

HERITAGE WEEK

The Prince Edward Island Museum and Heritage Foundation is somewhat unique in that it operates through seven separate sites in the province rather than one provincial museum. The sites are focused on themes relevant to Island history. For example, Fisheries at Green Park; Acadian culture at the Acadian Museum; Agriculture at Orwell; Railway at Elmira. Islanders know the work of the museum more by the individual entities that the umbrella organization they comprise.

Speaking on the topic of Heritage Week, Jim Macnutt, Chair of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation, reminded members that history helps us respond to the challenges we face and gives us a strong sense of who we are. He praised those who have worked hard to preserve Island history and heritage, in particular Irene Rogers, Ruth MacKenzie and Catherine Hennessey for their efforts in establishing the Foundation.

He says there are three reasons for the success of the Museum and Heritage Foundation 1) Staff, who work long hours and are very dedicated and committed to the objectives of the Foundation. 2) Loyal support from volunteers at each site across the province who help the staff and keep the programs relevant and progressive. 3) Islanders, who support the Foundation and make use of its' services. Last year there was a 35% increase in visitations to the sites operated by the Foundation. While visitors account for part of that increase, Jim says they know the core of their support is found among Islanders.

More than 75,000 artifacts have been donated to the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation. Part of the challenge is to properly preserve and display those artifacts and the Foundation would like to establish a new facility. Jim says there is a particular need for an artifact storage, display and educational facility in the central area of the province.

EACH HAS A TALENT

For Sparky, school was all but impossible. He failed every subject in his eighth grade. He flunked Physics in high school, getting a grade zero. He flunked Latin, algebra and English. He didn't do much better in sports. He was awkward socially. Sparky was a loser. He, his classmates....everyone knew it. So he rolled with it. Sparky had made up his mind early in life that if things were meant to work out, they would. Otherwise he would content himself with what appeared to be his inevitable mediocrity.

However, one thing was important to Sparky - drawing. He was proud of his artwork. Of course, no one else appreciated it. In his senior high school year, he submitted some cartoons to the editors of the yearbook and they were rejected. Still, he decided he wanted to be a professional artist.

After high school he wrote to Walt Disney Studios. He worked hard and prepared cartoons, but they were rejected.

Sparky decided to write his own autobiography in cartoons. He described himself - a little boy loser and chronic underachiever.

Sparky, the boy who had such lack of success in school and whose work was rejected again and again, was Charles Schulz. He created ""Peanuts" comic strip and the little cartoon character whose kite would never fly and who never succeeded in kicking the football - Charlie Brown.

As long as you're going to think anyway - you might as well think BIG.

MAKEUPS to Feb. 15 - Don Anderson (2), Don Hanrahan, Don Livingstone (5), Ivan Morrison, Chris Severance, Craig Sulis, Wally Cox.

Attendance: 75.3%, with 13 paid scooters.