June 10 Bulletin

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

Chair Introduction: Chair Andrew MacDonald attended schools in Colchester and then graduated from Waterloo as a mechanical engineer. He has worked a number of unusual jobs and places, including an Australian coalmine and North American automobile companies. As of a year ago, he returned to take over the family business, Maritime Auto Salvage, and resides in Portapique.
 

Attendance: 69%
 

Fun Fines: All those who have not attended a Director’s meeting in the past year paid the usual penalty,
 

Happy Mug: Joanna, Mike, Kevin, Ed, Lorne, Jim Gould, Lydia, Sharon, and Andrew were happy Rotarians.

50/50 Draw: Yet again, Matt Fraser had the winning ticket, but this time the wily Joker felt that he didn’t deserve to win twice in a row.  

Visitors and Guests: Visiting Rotarians Ken and Diane Parker from California were most welcome guests.
 

Member Health: No Report.
 

Secretary’s Report: Jim read a list of birthdays, wedding anniversaries and years of Club membership for the month of June.
 

Committee Reports: Al Bégin gave a brief report on the date of the Annual Summer Social. It will be July 24^th, at the North River’s largest estate winery. Details to follow.

 

Next Week’s Program: Chair will be Steve Gallant and the speaker TBA.
 

President’s Report: President’s Report – Laurie Sandeson

• Laurie welcomed Ken and Diane Parker, visiting Rotarians from California.
• Highlights of the Director’s meeting, June 4^th were reported as follows:
  • Charitable Trust has balance of $12,434 (much of this will be used to support campers from Colchester County attending Camp Tidnish)
  • Community Account has $56,363 in operating account
  • Club Account has a balance of $1,842
  • There were ideas presented on how to use our “Club” meetings more effectively (e.g. committee meetings, vocational talks, etc)
  • Ideas re. other fun, fundraising projects were suggested such as a washer toss or lawn bowling tournament, wine and food pairing event; members may also wish to consider leaving a legacy in their wills to Rotary
  • There is some interest from ‘want-to-be members’ in our community to start a satellite club that meets at a different time to accommodate work schedules (e.g. a sunrise group)
  • $500 donation was made to the CEC Safe Grad
  • Matching grant to SCA’s Interact Club for “Spread the Net” fund raising initiative
  • Summer Rotary Social at Al Bégin’s home and vineyard in North River – Wednesday, July 24^th – more details to follow

Program: Chair Andrew introduced speaker Allan Sorflaten as follows:

 

Allan Sorflaten's love for agriculture began in Manitoba where he grew up adjacent to the campus of University of Manitoba, spending cherished summers at his grandfather's farm. After graduating from the University of Manitoba in Agricultural Economics, he moved to Toronto to work for the Department of Agriculture where he met Lydia. They married in 1968. Allan graduated from University of Guelph with a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics). After several years working in Toronto, they moved to Nova Scotia. Alan farmed beef cattle and apples in the Annapolis Valley near Bridgetown for 12 years, then came to Truro to work for agriculture Canada.

With Lydia’s capable assistance, Allan gave a most interesting presentation dealing with Conservation Farming in North-West Cameroon where he and Lydia went with support from Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO). He illustrated his presentation with many interesting slides showing not only the nature and benefits of conservation farming but also the local movers and shakers who collaborated with them.

 

President Laurie thanked Allan for his presentation.