Next Meeting May 10, 1999
Kidney Foundation Presentation
Speaker: Maria Bell, President
Chair: Bob Sear
SongLeader: Ron Profit
Greeters: Lloyd MacLeod, Jim Smith

GSE TEAM COMING TO ISLAND

The Rotary Club of Charlottetown will take the lead in hosting members of the Group Study Exchange Team from Argentina. Three members and the team leader will spend from May 11-17 on the Island, with a presentation to our club on May 17.

President Moe says all team members will be hosted by members of our club, and the team will attend four of five Rotary meetings during their time on the Island. The Montague and Summerside clubs will be conducting part of the program. The team will also spend their mid-visit down time on Prince Edward Island.

Team members include: Belisario Nieva , team leader, who lives in Tafi Viejo, He retire din 1992 after serving a number of years with the railway and teaching at a technical school.

Maria Luisa Martinez Orphee is 30 years old and lives in San Miguel de Tucuman. She is an Info-Technology engineer, and works as a computing teacher in a Medical school and in a primary and secondary school as well.

Marcelo Carrizo is 33 years old and lives in Santiago del Estero. He is a computer engineer and is employed at the computer centre of governmental offices.

Ana Storniolo De Brizz lives in Santiago del Estero. She is a teacher and a technician in tourism. She works in a bilingual school.

President Moe says there will be a need for volunteers to drive the team members during their stay on the Island as well as tour guides, and individuals to assist with the vocational program. Any members interested in helping should contact the President

President's Message

Are we needed? No doubt about it. Just take a look at the headlines. There is a great need for the ideals and object of Rotary.

The school murder in Taber, Alberta and the terrible massacre tragedy in Littleton, Colorado reflect the pressures and challenges faced by our young people. There are social issues that need to be addressed. There is community work to be done. People to be reached, guidance and mentoring to be done. Help provided to those who have trouble dealing with anger and other emotions. Making sure people feel a part of the community. It needs to be done in all communities, not just the so-called poor ones. Not just the ones far away. Rotary International has promoted a wide range of programs and services directed at meeting the needs of the world youth. The RI President has consistently challenged us to focus attention on the needs of young people, in our own community and around the world.

Hundreds of war planes are involved in Kosova. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced from their homes, families and lives disrupted as people become refugees living in tent cities. The needs are not only the immediate ones of hunger, housing and health care. There are longer term challenges that seek to address the underlying attitudes and issues that lead to such conflicts, the way people treat other people, and the impact it has on their lives and the lives of others. As Rotarians we are challenged to promote world peace and understanding.

It is easy to shake ones head to ask why, or what can be done? Rotary offers the opportunity to actually do something. No, we can't solve all the world problems, but we can make an effort. Few organizations are as internationally recognised and respected. Few organizations have the human expertise to tackle complex social issues. We can do it in our own community, and in communities around the world. We can influence the headlines of tomorrow.

Bulletin Board

Birthdays

May 3 Stu Drummond
May 4 Anco Hamming
May 5 Fred Morash
May 6 Stan Mol
May 8 Ken MacKenzie
May 9 Peter Norton

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

Anniversaries

May 6 Anco and Anne Hamming
May 6 Carl and Irene Bagnall
May 8 George and Sherrill Guimond

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 John Scales, Mark Robertson
Next Week Lloyd MacLeod, Jim Smith
May 17 Marilyn MacKinnon, Ted Van Lunen
May 31 Lloyd Palmer, Lloyd Patriquin
June 7 Kathryn Coll, Ken Campbell
June 14 Ken Gillis, Ken MacDonald
June 21 John Morrison, Nelson Hagerman
June 28 Neil Buchanan, John MacInnis

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

* Rotary Club of Charlottetown Meetings

Previous Meeting

HYNDMAN TRACES HISTORY

Rotarians received insight into the insurance business and the 127 year history of Hyndman and Company when Fred Hyndman addressed the club. It was another in the series of Island success stories, a special feature of this years programs.

The forth generation of the Hyndman family is now operating the business that began by addressing a need for insurance for ship owners. The marine aspect of the business has disappeared but Fred says the ability to adapt and address changing needs has enabled the company to prosper.

Robert Hyndman immigrated from Ireland to Prince Edward Island in 1824 and went into the ship building business. The typical vessel constructed was 200-300 tons and 100-140 feet in length. The vessels were often loaded with lumber, sailed to England and both the vessel and cargo sold. Insurance was not available and any losses that occurred were the responsibility of the owner. Hyndman expanded his business to include the movement of goods from the Island to areas such as the Caribbean and transporting items back. He had a very successful business, but his gains and success were wiped out by losses at sea.

His son, after some time in the navy, returned to the Island and entered the insurance business, providing insurance coverage for the ships that sailed from the Island. The business started on August 16, 1872 under the name St. Lawrence Marine Underwriters. The first policy was written on August 27th of that year. In December the company wrote its' first life insurance policy.

This was a prosperous time on the Island and there were many ships being built and sailing the seas. Insurance was necessary in order to obtain credit and avoid a business being wiped out by the dangers of ocean travel in wooden ships powered by wind. As Fred says "the business of insurance is a mirror of society and the economy" and records reveal an extensive and varied arrange of business activities. A review of some of the records reveal ships travelling to areas like Barbados, New Zealand, Cardif, and New Orleans. Island exports included bricks, timber, seed potatoes, and livestock.

J.O. Hyndman joined the family business, and upon assuming the leadership role led the company through the period of World War One, the Depression and World War II. In the mid 1920's the company took on its' first auto insurance policy. In 1928 the company had 128 auto policies, with a premium of about $22.37 per year. One payment for the total loss of a vehicle was $460.

Under Fred's leadership the company embraced new technology being the first in the insurance business to use computer technology. As the company grew so did the need for staff and it became a different kind of family business with only two Hyndman's among the 115 staff that continue to traditions of the family business.

It is interesting that one event often plays a special role in setting the public image of older companies. Fred says that occurred for Hyndman's in 1906 when there was major fire in Summerside. J.O. Hyndman went immediately to Summerside and stayed until all claims were promptly paid.

50/50 draw: Bob Moffatt, Chair of next year's District Conference Committee won $54, and he came very close to the Queen pulling the King of Hearts from the new deck.

Song Leader Darren Ings called upon the Scooters to lead the club in the weekly song.

Board Member Gaie Woodside had the misfortune of having her birthday fall on the regular meeting day and was treated to Rotarians singing Happy Birthday.

President Moe welcomed visitors to the meeting, and called members attention to the appeal from the RI President for donations in support of relief in the Balkans.

Attendance: 77.6% with 11 Scooters.

Makeups to April 26 - Don Anderson (2), Darren Ings, Dale Mader (4), Norman MacLeod (3), Lorne Moase, Walter Cox.