Next Meeting Monday, Oct 26, 98
Speaker: Bruce MacNaughton PEI Preserve
Chair: Scott Ferris
Song Leader: Tom Deblois, Jr.
Greeters: Bennett Carr, Betty Gay

President's Message

Following up on our Thanksgiving break, there are several thank-you's that I would like to express.

Thanks to all those who supported the Thanksgiving Flowers fund raiser. It takes a number of Rotarians to plan the event with our partners in the Alzheimer Society. I know that a number of Rotarians worked very hard on the committee, including dipping into their own pockets to cover the cost of flowers auctioned at our meetings. As well they had to co-ordinate the Rotarian sales team. Rotarians were also active on the sales force and then took a lead role in the distribution of the flowers prior to the holiday. To all a thank you for your involvement in a successful event.

We owe a special thank you to District Governor Trevor Atkin and Kathryn Atkin for their visit to our Club. The District governors' message reminded us of the fact there are many areas in need of our help, both in our own community and around the world. He reenforced our responsibility as individual Rotarians to place service above self. Through his own goals and objectives as District Governor he challenges us to be better Rotarians, and in so doing to be better citizens.

Thank you to those Rotarians who were very active in establishing the Charlottetown Probus Club. It was fitting that the District Governor present the charter for the Charlottetown Probus club, the fist in the district. It would never have happened if it were not for the leadership of some of our members.

Thank you as well to our Greeters. Now that the system is up and running everyone should have more than a month's notice of the date you are expected to serve. If you are not going to be at the meeting on the designated day you can trade with someone else. Our last meeting was an obvious example of the benefit of having Greeters. Our Greeter welcomed the District Governor and a number of visiting Rotarians including the Fellowship Exchange team. It was nice to see them warmly welcomed to the meeting and I think our own members appreciate the greeting as well.

"How are You Feeling?"

Farmer Joe decided his injuries from the accident were serious enough to take the trucking company responsible for the accident to court. In court the trucking company's fancy lawyer was questioning farmer Joe. "Didn't you say at the scene of the accident, 'I'm fine,"' asked the lawyer.

Farmer Joe responded, "Well, I'll tell you what happened. I had just loaded my favorite mule Bessie into the..."

"I didn't ask for any details," the lawyer interrupted, "just answer the question. Did you not say at the scene of the accident, 'I'm fine!'."

Farmer Joe said, "Well, I had just got Bessie into the trailer and I was driving down the road..."

The lawyer interrupted again and said, "Judge, I am trying to establish the fact that, at the scene of the accident, this man told the highway patrolman on the scene that he was fine. Now several weeks after the accident he is trying to sue my client. I believe he is a fraud. Please tell him to simply answer the question."

By this time the judge was fairly interested in Farmer Joe's answer and said to the lawyer, "I'd like to hear what he has to say."

Joe thanked the Judge and proceeded,

"Well, as I was saying, I had just loaded Bessie into the trailer and was driving her down the highway when this huge semi-truck and trailer ran the stop sign and smacked my truck right in the side. I was thrown into one ditch and Bessie was thrown into the other. I was hurting real bad and didn't want to move. However, I could hear ol' Bessie moaning and groaning. I knew she was in terrible shape just by her groans. Shortly after the accident a highway patrolman came on the scene. He could hear Bessie moaning and groaning so he went over to her. After he looked at her, he took out his gun and shot her between the eyes. Then the Patrolman came across the road with his gun in his hand and looked at me." He said, "Your mule was in such bad shape I had to shoot her. How are you feeling?"