Windsor Rotary Club (1918)
Year 2000 First Quarter Meetings and Events Page
Our Club is Located in Windsor Ontario Canada
Welcome to the Year 2000 First Quarter Meetings and Events Page.
The
following brief descriptions of meetings and events are intended as a
record for members of club activities. Where appropriate, links to support
pages or links to sites related to the topic have been included.
Meeting and Event Descriptions
2000 - January thru March
Mike, a former DG and member of the Trenton Club, gave an inspiring talk on the need for donations to the Rotary International Foundation. He talked about the sacrifices made by a dedicated group of Rotarians who regularly travel to areas in the world where the needs of the people are greatest.
Monday, March 20, 2000
Industry Canada - Internet and E-Commerce
Willie Schauer
- The digital economy is developing rapidly, with or without Canadian government involvement. In order to ensure the achievement of public policy and economic goals, a single focal point with clear deliverables (within a short time frame) was deemed necessary. In turn, the Electronic Commerce Task Force was established with a defined and published two year mandate designed to connect Canadians to the world. The six-part initiative was formulated to help make Canada a leader in the new knowledge-based economy.
Monday, March 13, 2000
NATO Briefing Team - Lieutenant Colonel Hendrik van der Gaag - Lieutenant Colonel Hartmut Hager
In 1999, NATO celebrated its' 50th anniversary. Our Club hosted a visit by two senior NATO briefing officers who informed us about current issues facing NATO.
Monday, March 6, 2000 -
Ms. Krystyna Hoeg,
President and CEO, Corby Distilleries Limited/Hiram Walker & Sons
Krystyna is from Windsor and still makes her home in Windsor despite the fact that her Company now has its' headquarters in Toronto. She spoke of the changes that Hiram Walkers, her original employer, has experienced over the past 20 years with acquisitions and downsizing. She observed that loyalty of employees changed as decisions and operational methods have introduced more job stress and made job tenure less certain.
In a previous talk Krystyna noted that
Corby's share price has nearly doubled since 1997. We have outperformed the TSE 300 the
TSE Consumer Product Index and we are proud of this. How did we do this? We had been
taking a battering a few years back, with aggressive pricing, etc. Two years ago, we
sat in a room to determine what we were going to do about it.
Acquisition was in our history, but we knew we had to do more than that. We went back
to fundamentals. How were we organized? To grow by acquisition, not by organic brand
growth, so we re-organized. We looked at our competencies, and knew we had to shop for
competencies. We knew we had to be national. Our HQ was in Montreal, but about 50% of
our business was in Ontario, and 50% of that in Toronto, so we moved. We knew we would
lose employees in the move (about 50), this was a hardship and an opportunity, and
replaced them with people who understood the branded and high image business. All
our departments understand this. They come from cosmetics, high end chocolates and
toys, the Blue Jays. This also brought in energy. We also contemplated our balance
sheet, and it was geared for acquisition. When we re-engineered our company, we also
re-engineered the balance sheet.
Harry Fowler received a standing ovation when he reported the results of the past weekend's Easter Seal Telethon. He used the occasion to thank the key performers in this record setting fund raising event.
Phil Cohen presented a plaque of thanks to Tony Bahceli of Naples Pizza for his donations of refreshments over a number of years for The Children's Fest, The Easter Seal Telethon and the Childrens' Christmas Party. Tony was commended on setting an outstanding example of "service above self".
Monday, February 28, 2000
This Is Your Life
This program was another in the continuing series of our members' life stories. Always entertaining and often surprising, these meetings allow us to better know our Rotarian brothers and sisters.
This edition featured :
Gerry Pockock
used the occasion to eulogize his mother and spoke of the influence that his older brother and other friends had had on his life. He talked of the courage of a mother who raised 3 children after his father passed away at an early age. He said that this talk was a sort of catharsis for him - something that he needed to do.
Jeff Ableser described the circumstances that caused him to move from his birthplace in Hollywood, California and settle in Windsor. He said that he liked Windsor best for its' sense of community.
Kevin Bowen described the life of a well travelled young man who has moved through many jobs.
Monday, February 21, 2000
Val Pistor, Director of Education
Greater Essex County District School Board
Chair: Tom Kilpatrick
Director: Val Pistor
Val provided the audience with a thorough explanation of the financial dilema facing Provincial School Boards as a result of recent financial cutbacks and the introduction of a new funding model.
GECDSB Directors Steve Payne, Clare MacLeod, Val Pistor (current Director) and Walter Willms. (Click image to enlarge)
Monday, February 14, 2000
John Kukucka - Gourmet Delectables
Cooking with the Chefs Featuring John Kukucka C.C.C. and John Romiens
Cuisine Canada
John explained to his audience what it meant to be a "Certified Chef" in Canada. He said that his profession was not just cooking, but included management of a sizable kitchen staff capable of serving thousands of customers at one setting. He pointed out that the food budget of the Windsor Casino was in the millions. John told his listeners that the modern day certified chef must be aware of the trends in the public taste for food and be able to differentiate between trends and fads. He claimed that the high end restaurant has now become a destination for a night's entertainment rather than a quick stopover before the final show.
Culinary Cafe ICQ List
Click on pictures to enlarge them
A Hart Walker walking assistant costs about $2,700.00 to manufacture, and that is what the representatives from the Windsor Chapter of the Royal Arcanum Fraternity were pleased to donate to the Windsor Rotary Club (1918) Hart Walker Committee at this meeting.
Young Josh showed off his skills with the walker before the Rotary meeting audience.
Monday, February 7, 2000
Rotaract Charter Meeting
Windsor Rotary (1918) was pleased to host the launching of the Windsor Rotaract Club (1918).
Rotaract is an international organization of service clubs for men and women aged 18-30 that fosters leadership and responsible citizenship, encourages high ethical standards in business and promotes international understanding and peace.
Rotaract clubs can be either community- or university-based, and are sponsored by
local Rotary clubs. In addition to undertaking projects to assist their local
communities and to advance international understanding, Rotaractors, as club
members are commonly called, also engage in activities related to professional
development and leadership training.
...................... Click on pictures to enlarge the images
Monday, January 31, 2000
Easter Seal Kickoff
An enthusiastic 14 year old Tara Brosseau, this year's Easter Seal Tammy, led a group of Easter Seal Kids in the launch of the city's 78th annual Easter Seals Campaign. 14 year old Tara, who suffers from cerebral palsy, is scheduled to attend the campaign events:
Campaign Chairperson, Ann Hetherington, said that the The Rotary Club of Windsor (1918) hopes to raise $750,000.00 during this 6 months campaign. Most of that money will stay here in the Windsor area. Ann credited the success of past campaigns to generous major corporate sponsors including DaimlerChrysler Canada and the Royal Canadian Legion.
Click on the pictures to enlarge them
Windsor Rotary Club (1918) Easter Seals Committee Page
Windsor Rotary Club (1918) Easter Seals Page
Contacting Easter Seals and Affiliates
Monday, January 24, 2000
Jim Thompson - Superbowl Inflatables
Jim and Stephen Thompson reviewed their 16 steps to success in business.
They stressed the importance in their lives of strong morals and beliefs. The Caboto Hall meeting room was decorated with samples of the promotional inflatable products they produce. They spoke about the life size inflatable whale they have created that allows children to walk through and gain an appreciation of the complexity and size of these creatures. Their staff work closely with the artists from the studios that manage the distribution of cartoon characters like Kermit the Frog and the Smurfs. Our own Rotary Club inflatable has become a community standard, marking the sites of our fund raising activities.
Fabulous Inflatables Web Site
Monday, January 17, 2000
Ken Jaggs and the R.O.P.E.S. Group
from the Teen Health Centre
Ken and his staff presented an enthusiastic explanation of the Challenges for Success ROPES Course which promotes interaction and learning with fellow group members by encouraging participation in challeging outdoor experiences.
Ropes Courses
Ropes courses were first developed during World War II to help newly
assigned troops work together more effectively. Early courses consisted
of ropes strung from trees or other structures to create a series of
obstacles that provide physical, mental and emotional challenges. Ropes
courses have come a long way from those early days. We have replaced the
ropes with steel cables and forged steel bolts.
Challenges for Success Ropes Course offers an original approach to team
building, personal growth and leadership skills training. Through a
series of initiatives, activities and challenges, facilitators work with
you and your group to explore and develop communication skills,
leadership, trust, cooperation, goal-setting, and problem solving
skills. Clients participate directly and experientially in programs
designed to work on their specific areas of interest.
These facilitated activities promote self-awareness and enhance self-
esteem in a non-threatening, supportive, fun and challenging
environment. Team members and facilitators offer encouragement and
support whichhelps individuals move out of their comfort zones. By using
proven experiential learning techniques, this program will provide
participants with a fresh perspective on how to succeed as individuals,
team players and leaders; in turn, they'll be able to apply these ideas
and insights into their personal and working relationships
Ontario Community Health Centres
Teens Online
The Anger management support group Programme (AMSGP)
Monday, January 10, 2000
Mayor's State of the City Address
The Mayor told an overflow crowd of more than 600 Rotarians and guests that "things are going very well indeed". He elaborated on the following highlights:
- The demolition of the Norwich block and the start to the new Daimler-Chrysler headquarters.
- The development of the Windsor Casino and Windsor Raceway gambling complexes.
- Control of the unemployment rate
- No new municipal tax increases.
- A new collective agreement for the Big Three Auto Workers.
- Record housing starts - the city's 2nd best year for new construction.
- Continued expansion of the Riverfront Parks system
Windsor's Community Strategic Plan
Windsor's Long Range Traffic Planning Strategy
(click the figure at the podium for the Mayor's Office Web Site)
(click the Mayor's picture for his biography)
Our Rotary Club opened this meeting by presenting the Eli Goldin award for outstanding community service to long time Rotarian Clare MacLeod. Clare is a retired Windsor Board of Education Director with an outstanding public service record.
The Windsor Symphony entertained the large gathering as a string quartet played three pieces of chamber music.
President Paul introduced visiting Rotarian Sylvio Rollo from Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela. He appealed to the audience to donate any spare change they may have to the relief efforts under way in Venezuela. A total of $2930.00 was gathered.
Monday, January 3, 2000
Christmas Gift Auction
"One man's trash is another man's treasure"
Members donated 18 "recycled" gifts to the post Christmas auction. Fred Sorrell was assisted by Peter Hrastovec in supervising the bidding. Several hundred dollars was raised for the Rotary Club of Windsor (1918) Foundation Fund.
What is the Y2K Bug?
A lot of early computers were programmed to "read" dates that had only two digits to denote the year. The practice had become an unquestioned convention when the first personal computers came out.If programmers thought about the future implications of this practice, they apparently assumed their primitive code would be replaced by more robust operating systems, languages, and application programs long before now. But many businesses and governments kept their old systems rather than switch over. Trade magazines for computer professionals started talking about the problem, and using the term "Y2K" to describe it, as early as 1991. Companies and institutions are finally rushing to deal with computers that should have been replaced long ago, and software that should have been rewritten long ago. Will enough of this be done in time? Most experts insist it will. We'll see.
(adapted from Everything 2000)
References
Last Revised: April 17, 2000
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