President Trish presents a cheque to Jessica from the

STEAM Centre to assist with student fees.

Last year the STEAM Centre hosted 30 schools groups

and this year they host 90. The new location

across from the library is working well.

 

Our club met with the Rotary Club of Strathroy at “The Duke on Sydenham”. President Todd Stepanuik welcomed visitors. Ten were from St. Thomas including AG Nancy Lovelock and 23 from Strathroy as well as another visitor from the RC of Sarnia.  Strathroy claims to have been the first club in Canada to welcome women members. Seven of their women members attended this particular meeting. It was particularly special for our club to have Ed and Kathy Willson in attendance.  An informal invitation has been extended for the Strathroy club to visit St. Thomas.

In the course of the meeting, we learned it’s a very active club.  They have finished payments on the Rotary Splash Pad and recently hosted a sold-out crowd to honor their inbound RYE student, Nacha, from Chile.  Their inbound next year will be a young man from Lithuania.

They have recently announced the introduction of a 'Service Above Self' Scholarship for students in grade 12. Interested students who meet the criteria, and demonstrate Rotary International's motto “Service Above Self' are eligible to apply for this $1,000 scholarship. To be eligible for consideration by the Rotary Scholarship Committee, an applicant must be a grade 12 student attending High School in Strathroy, is Homeschooled in Strathroy or is a resident of Strathroy-Caradoc and may be attending High School elsewhere. Application forms are available on-line.

Having recently paid off their Rotary Splash Pad, the focus now is to raise money for a Palliative Care Suite at the Strathroy Middlesex Hospital.  Their goal is to raise $200,000.  A Golf Tournament will be held Saturday 25 May 2019. Details online.

Several contributed a “Happy Dollar”.  There were no “Happy Fins” this week.

 

Next Meeting: St. Thomas Club – Celebrating the Life and Accomplishments of Leonardo da Vinci on Wednesday 1^st May 12noon at the Wayside. This year marks the 500^th anniversary of his death, 2^nd May.

Club meeting followed by Board Meeting.

 

Further comments from Stewart Shouldice:

Strathroy club believes that the fundraising in the community for the Palliative Care Suite has helped increase membership because the project is relevant to the community and has a high profile.

The club uses Google Sites software to manage its website and events. The club also has a system whereby attendees at meetings can order from the menu. See their website at: https://www.strathroyrotary.com/