Posted by Charlie Scobie on Aug 24, 2017
 
Photographer: Pam Harrison
 
Pam opened the meeting with a very moving story of the sudden and tragic death of a 16 year old girl, friend of her grand-daughter.  Both girls were planning to get their driver’s licences and had signed their organ donation cards.  The silver lining was that the girl’s body parts saved many lives.
 
Bill chaired the meeting and read an extract from a fascinating book, Lab Girl: A Story of Trees, Science and Love by Hope Jahren.
 
 
50-50 Draw:   Marita’s number was drawn but she failed to pick the Eight of Hearts. The pot of $62 carries forward to next week.
 
PinPal Stories:  Josh was inspecting his house’s new foundation when a van drove up – Susan P and Lorne were also checking on progress.  Edna’s car was broken into; Ove found and returned her walking poles.  Rotarians keep an eye on each other !
 
 
Visiting Rotarians:  Two well-known VRs were welcomed –  Sharon from South Lake County Club, Florida,  and  Bill from the Picton, Ontario club.
 
Birthdays:  David has a birthday on 26 August, and Jamie has one on 29 August.
 
Happy Dollars:  Dianne was on PEI, played a dice game and won $7 which she put in her RF jar !  She drew attention to an article in this month’s Rotarian about a Syrian refugee family being welcomed to Amherst (“a sleepy Canadian town of about 9,000 that lies on the eastern boundary of the picturesque Tantramar Marshes” according to the article).  According to Wynn, Ontario clubs have not yet caught up with singing “in all of us command”; he has already sold all his breakfast tickets and was looking for more.  Last week he played a round of golf without scoring par at any hole.  It was the day for wedding anniversaries:  Louise (10th), Bill Edwards (48th), Sandy (49th) plus Al and Elaine Smith (49th).   
 
 
 
Gold Mine Cheque:  Barbie Kaye was on hand to receive a cheque for $586.50 from Trish on behalf of Dorchester Consolidated School.
 
Louise reported that the Montague, PEI club’s Gold Mine Draw went without a winner for three weeks (for the first time); their next draw is worth $46,000 !
 
Next Week: 31 August 2017.   Chair: Trish;  Greeter: Ove; Introducer: Darrell; Thanker: John;  Speaker: Patricia Beliveau.
 
Corn Boil:  A reminder from Pam.  Corn Shucking – Friday 1 September, 7 p.m. at Civic Centre (960 cobs – come and try for a new world record).  Corn Boil – Saturday 2 September, 9:30 a.m. come and help prepare, serve corn 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
 
 
Last Year’s corn-shucking crew.
 
President’s Time:  John reminded members of the District Conference, 22-24 September, in Miramichi: the registration deadline is 1 September. There are some club funds available to support members who attend.  An important message from Susan P:  if anyone who attended the Lobster Party went off with a steak knife that does not belong to them, could they please return it ?
 
 
Speaker:  Ove introduced Craig Evans, who gave a presentation on behalf of the Sackville Schools 2020 Initiative group with help from group member Debbie Champagne.
 
 
There are major problems with existing schools - $5 million in deferred maintenance at TRHS; Marshview Middle School (former High School) is 80 years old. The group came together in 2015 hoping for solutions in five years – hence “Sackville Schools 2020.”
 
 
The group advocates building a new 21st century building, and have looked at such facilities built in the last decade.  They have consulted widely and worked with school architectural firms.  There is an opportunity to create a large multi-stakeholder facility, anchored by a new school, but including e.g. a library, seniors’ services, social services, athletic facilities. Such a facility would have a lot more glass, common areas, meeting and other kinds of spaces.
 
The group’s initiatives are strongly supported by the Town.  There are prospects of Provincial and Federal funding.  A feasibility study has been conducted by Ernst & Young and the results will be shared in September.  It is important to consult as widely as possible and visioning sessions will be held with different groups to define what teachers, students, parents and the community would like to see in the way of new facilities and new programs.
 
Questions and discussion followed. Where will such a facility be located ?  The group can’t say.  Input is invited and everyone is asked to send in their ideas.
 
 
Dianne thanked the two speakers, and presented them with our new thank-you card.
 
The meeting closed with the Four-Way Test.
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