The meeting began with a recap of the weekend’s 41st Annual Art in the Park, our Club’s largest fundraiser. Randy Winters confirmed that, in spite of having to close early on Saturday severe weather warnings, the event brought in over 21,000 attendees!
Through President Jules’ presentation of the Environmental Fact, we learned about the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, the only venomous snake still found in Ontario.
The Club then welcomed Rebecca Rivard, who was inducted as the newest member of our Club! Walter, Rebecca’s sponsor, told the incredible story about how he first came to know her; Shaun, Rebecca’s husband, was the paramedic who helped Walter’s wife, Jean while she was riding in an ambulance. They had a conversation about how Rebecca should speak to Walter about Rotary, and the rest is history. Welcome, Rebecca!
John Curtin introduced keynote speaker Garnet Fenn, who spoke about Financial Literacy in the workplace. He explained that “several government, professional and private organizations are promoting the importance of financial literacy for business success and employee engagement. The Ontario government has tasked the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) with three important new mandates 1) Identify Burden Reduction Initiatives for the Capital Markets, 2) Establish an Office of Economic Growth and Innovation and 3) Improve Investor Experience and Protection”. Amazingly, only about 2/3’s of Canadian business owners feel comfortable with financial matters (BDC 12/2017), and 53% of Canadians who responded to a 2017 CSA Investor Study were “Non-Investors” – respondents who do not have any savings or securities investments set aside for their future. Some more interesting - and frightening - stats: “Of the Canadian respondents with no savings, 66% of them failed the general investment knowledge test. Canadians ranked money as their greatest source of stress – higher than work, health or family obligations”. Financial literacy is important: according to an OSC National Investor Research Study, people with higher financial literacy are 1) Less likely to report high stress about their finances, 2) More likely to feel in control of their financial future and 3) More likely to plan ahead when it comes to finances. For more information about this program, visit https://www.getsmarteraboutmoney.ca.
Bob Morand and Ed Link (Rotary Windsor-St.Clair) introduced our Club to Southwestern Ontario Gleaners, an organization that transforms food that has been donated (mostly fruits and vegetables that are unmarketable, but still usable) into vegetable mix and fruit snack mixes that are then distributed to those who need it, both locally and internationally. This organization runs primarily on volunteers, and next Tuesday, June 11th from 6pm to 8pm, Rotarians from the area are gathering to help sort and inspect produce. Also planned is helping on a larger scale: August 16-17, Each Rotary Club will be asked to select a shift over a 24-hour period.