25 February 2013

The Start:  President Laurie led the Club in singing O Canada, and the Rotary Grace

Chair Introduction: Chair Audrie-Jo McConkey grew up in Havre Boucher, rural fishing community near Antigonish. When she flipped through an old journal entry from pre-school, she read,  "when I grow up I want to be a fish doctor and a Queen". She has come very close on the first part of the wish. She is now employed at the doubt agricultural campus as a shellfish biologist. There she performs research on various things including the following:

·         culturing lobster larvae to restock the Northumberland Strait;

·         examining micro algae to enhance their omega-3 levels; and

·         mass spawning of oysters to distribute the aged larvae to five local oyster producers.

    Although she has not become a Queen, Audrie-Jo has a wonderful husband and three amazing sons – the twins are four and the youngest is almost 2 years old.

    Her interests have remained the same, but she has modified after becoming a mother. Outdoor activities include hiking and camping with ready access to the car, sailing kayaks rather than canoes. Instead of fly-fishing she instead does a modified form of squid-jigging.

Audrie-Jo is involved in many fundraising groups including the following:

·     Big Brothers and Big Sisters;

·    IIKW Hospital – last year she helped to raise $19,000 through hosting a 5 km run;

·     Heart and Stroke foundation;

·     Volunteer for LL Canada supporting  mothers giving birth to twins and premature babies;

·     Volunteer with Junior Achievement. Nova Scotia where she has been involved until recently in the Grade 9 Economics for Success program for several years.

 Audrie-Jo walks the talk of Service Before Self.

 Attendance: 70%

Fun Fines: Auction Canvassers who have not completed their assigned mission paid the penalty.     

Happy Mug: Kirk Saint, Cameron Fleming, Christine Blair. Mark Mason, Ted Jordan, Jason Malone, and Wayne Gillis were happy Rotarians.

Visitors and Guests: Ted Jordan introduced his wife, Charlene and his daughter, Victoria. President Laurie welcomed our guest speakers Victoria Monsanto, Caleb Kaiser, Cameron Gloade and Jillian Ritchie.  

50/50 Draw: Yet again Wayne Gillis had the winning ticket, but the wily joker was not to be outdone.   

Member Health: Jim Goit reported that Dr. Garth Coffin has been in the Hospital since late last week and his wife, Trinkie, reports that he is responding well to treatment and hopes to be home Monday or Tuesday.  He sends his regards to club members and we all wish him a speedy recovery.

Committee Reports: Jim Goit said that the Charter Night meeting was highly successful.

Al Bégin gave information about the open hours for delivering auction items to the showroom.

Ken MacLean gave information about deliveries at the Auction Room.

Dave Mills asked for volunteers to assist at Saturday’s Cougars hockey game.

Joanna gave information about the Adventure in Citizenship Program for youth aged 16 to 18.

Jason Malone asked for volunteers to assist with the ski day outing and the weekly use of the video camera.

Next Week’s Program: Chair Les Mosher/Speaker Jayne Hunter - Literacy Nova Scotia

Secretary’s Report: no report

President’s Report: Laurie welcomed guests; she thanked Jim Goit for organizing a wonderful Charter Night. She expressed the Club's pride and honor in having Lorne MacDougall as a member for 68 consecutive years.
Director's meeting on Tuesday, Mar 5th.

Speakers: Chair Audrey-Jo McConkey introduced the speakers as follows:

Our presenters today are from the Junior Achievement Company Program. They are grade 12 students from Truro attending C.E.C.

The Company Program is a unique way to experience the thrill and challenge of operating a full-fledged business. Students work with advisors from the business community who provided by some guidance as they strive to form and run an actual business. Their works include the following:

·     Coming up with product and service ideas and deciding what sort of company they will be.

·     Hiring a full executive team — a president and a team of vice presidents  whose responsibility will be to run the business.

·     Writing a formal business plan.

·     Opening and managing a bank account.

·     Producing, marketing and selling a product.

·     Paying wages and sales commissions.

·     Managing expenses and revenues.

·     Producing an annual report.

·     Holding an annual meeting for shareholders.

·     Having fun meeting new people and building new skills.

The Junior achievement Company program started in October. Truro students named their company East Coasters. They took four weeks to come up with a product idea and have grown from there. They have attended the regional Junior Achievement Trade Fair, and have had steadily increasing sales. East Coasters is made up of nine students from C.E.C.  eight of whom are graduating from grade 12.

Today we have three of them here to present to Rotary. I'd like to welcome Caleb Kaiser, Company President; Victoria Monsanto, VP I.T.; and Cameron Gloade. VP Marketing and Sales.

I'd like also to welcome back Jillian Ritchie, Junior Achievement Director.

President Laurie thanked the speakers.

The meeting adjourned at 1>08