Meeting of December 18, 2012

A happy and boisterous crowd this morning as we welcomed Joanna Harkness, her sister and guest speaker Claire Harkness, Lisa Kammamer this year's exchange student, Bridgett McIntosh from the City of Hamilton, and Nancy Harkness from the Hamilton Rotary Club.

Sergeant At Arms Bill congratulated December birthday members Shirley, Fred and Dave Carson. He also expressed happy anniversary wishes to Bob and Sharon, and Bob and Lynne (two different Bobs!).

Nancy Harkness, Claire's mother thanked the club for sponsoring Claire as its first youth exchange student and presented $100 to the Dundas Valley Foundation, the club's charitable arm.

Lots of happy dollars were collected. Bob Morrow announced that at 7:30 AM on Wednesday Canadian astronaut Chris Hatfield blasts off for the space station and will return in May with 600 000 tomato seeds that have been orbiting the earth for two years. He also was pleased that the Tomatosphere program which he coordinates received a $25 000 award for the best promotion of science in Canada.

Dave Carson was happy that the food box program packed its 1000th box. George thanked everyone who helped with the Christmas party and announced that the donated gifts were taken to St. Matthew's House. Paul Clifford thanked everyone for the funds raised at last week's auction and that the money will be used by St. Matthew's House to help 1800 families this year.

Irene is back from two weeks in Australia and New Zealand where she did some cruising; and, Joe and Anne are off to the Caribbean where they will begin a cruise of all the islands beginning with Saint.

Wayne and Helen held their big family dinner on the weekend; and, Bob Bell celebrated the wedding of his mother-in-law and her boyfriend who were married after a 30 year courtship!

Kathy read a note from Emile Hall our youth exchange student in Denmark; Derek reminded everyone that club dues are due for January 1, 2013; and Jan announced the new board would be voted on in January. The last announcement was from Sergeant At Arms Bill who reminded us that there are no meetings December 18 and 25. Come back on Tuesday January 8. 2013.