Alex Purdom gave us some insight to his family and his profession.  Besides being a Golf player at a high level, Alex showed some high level work he has done on the CN  Tower walk, including leaning backwards over the city of Toronto.  He has a long family history with Western and is a member of a fraternity his grandfather helped establish in the 1940's.

On a professional level Alex described the long run performance of various investment strategies and results of fund managers. Despite the relatively indifferent performance of fund manages, individual investors perform even worse due to their short term focus and trying to time the market and loss aversion attitudes.  His firm endeavours to make an impact on their client's,   whether it is investing for retirement or helping to finance a child's education. Alex provided detailed review of market performance and long range perspective. Their approach is understanding a client's goals, making a plan, acting on the plan, and monitoring progress.

The July 5th meeting had a packed agenda.  District Governor Tony Sheard's official visit to the club coinsided with our club change over meeting.  We were hououred to have the DG swear in President Joanne and the board of directors and avenue of service chairs for the new Rotary year.  Past President Bill started the meeting as his last official act and he thanked the club for supporting him in a successful year which saw our membership grow and our fundraising increase.

 

DG Tony explained his goals for increased membership, expanded promotion of the things we do, support for the Foundation, success through integrity, inclusiveness, diversity and "DOGOODERY".  He challenged us to participate in his Rotary Glasses photo promotion.

Our offsite meeting at Museum London was a success.  We met for breakfast in the cafe follow by a guided tour of some of the exhibits and "back room" collection. The tour was lead by Brian Meehan the Executive Director  of the museum.  We saw the finished construction that was underway at our last visit.

 

The art collection incorporates local paintings and renderings starting in 1839 with watercolours by garrison officers stationed at what is now Victoria park to current art work from local artists.  The collection also includes group of seven paintings, Paul Peel works, and many important donated items.  The tour took in some of the permanent displays and special exhibitions.

 

We saw the vaults where art is stored to protect it from heat and humidity.  

We visited the vast collection of historical items the museum houses to keep London's history alive. 

 

A great off site meeting and tour.

 

 

Recently packed kits are being sent to Senegal with the aid of a District Grant from our club and packed by these volunteers.

Jay Lawrence and Nicole Kamiki described the importance of basketball their lives and their experience in growing up in South Africa under apartheid.  Jay outlined the development of the YFC basketball program from a "place to hang out" to a more competitive level of sport.  The program grew and changed from a casual pickup games to an organized competitive league in the Compass league.  He emphasized coaching as a mentoring and connection process that will help young men be better men, husbands, fathers and individuals.  The basketball program has taken young men from the Glen Carin and other economically disadvantaged areas and allowed them to develop travel and have new experiences.

 

Nicole described her experience growing up in South Africa at the end of apartheid, going to school in a "white" school sponsored by Germany, and playing basketball at a high level- including the national team.  She was scouted by an American coach and given a scholarship to a university in Tennessee where she completed her undergraduate education.   She wanted to do graduate level studies and she searched out Canadian universities that would provide scholarship opportunities and found an opportunity a Western.  Nicole completed her Ph.D and is a researcher at Western.  Her husband plays basketball with Jay and discussed the Compass basketball program with him.  They are developing a program for young women to play in a league and hopes to provide the same character development the young men have seen.

Four Members of our club attended the District Learning Assembly/PETS held in Sarnia and broadcast to Owen Sound.  President Bill, Vice President Joanne, Kathleen Murphy, Joan Fisher and Jim Thomas attended on behalf of our club.  We heard and up date from DG Jim on progress this Rotary year.  We have turned around the decline in membership and added a significant number of new members and chartered a Passport Club.  As a welcome to the Passport Club, President Bill and Vice President Joanne presented a cheque from our club to provide registration to the Foundation Seminar for the Passport Club.   

 

 

 

DGE Tony reviewed initiatives by RI in environmental issues and the new RI and District strategic plan.  The plans provide for continuity of efforts and sustainability of direction. Emphasis was placed on growing membership, increasing Foundation contributions, expanded reach by clubs and increased public image.  All of these initiatives are linked for DGE Tony's year, DGN David's year and DGNN Erin's year.  DGE Tony pointed out that the Council on Legislation is meeting currently and will require review of by-laws

 

Breakout sessions were provided for membership development, Youth Services, Rotaraction, Service Project Sustainability, and Social Media image management.

Kelly Franklin described the use of horses in helping survivors of abuse start their recovery.  However, Kelly brought us so much more information about human trafficking especially along the 400 series of highways.  London in particular is a frequently used stop over spot because of the junction of the 401 & 402 and easily accessible hotels along the Wellington strip.  Some of the statistics Kelly reported were shocking.  Trafficking in you girls is on the rise and has become the second highest level of crime second only to drug dealing.  The median age of girls starting being trafficked is 13.  A pimp can earn $250,000 to $300,000 from a girl in a year.  The girls are recruited by romancing and drugging them.

 

Kelly has trained Police in identification of trafficked girls and other groups.  She provides level one training to seniors because seniors frequent Tim's, McDonalds and other coffee shops where identification can be made.  The solution is stopping demand.  The average "john" is a married man with children, a post secondary education and earning $70,000.

 

To increase awareness of the problem a one hour presentation is being made at all the On Route stations on the 400 series of highways on July 30th from 9:30 to 10:30 AM.  July 30th is also the " International Day to End Slavery."

It was a busy meeting on March 22 -  Alex Purdom was inducted as our newest member and Dawn Kershaw gave her classification speech. 

Alex induction ceremony was lead by PDG Al Hardy and Alex's sponsor David Kirwin presented Alex with his Rotary pin under the watchful eye of President Bill. After the Induction ceremony all club members greeted Alex with a warm handshake.

 

Dawn Kershaw gave her classification speech.  Dawn Rotary history extends back to her mother who was the London Club's Administrative Secretary. As a child she stuffed envelopes for the March of Dimes at the Rotary office and later she was an exchange student in Germany.  Dawn returned to study law in university and obtained a bachelor's in law at U of T and a Master's in Law at Dalhousie  and along the way obtained a BA.  

 

Dawn practiced law in Stratford and London for several years before taking on adjudicator roles in several tribunals including Human Rights, licensing appeals and the parole board.

 

She met her husband Steve through a contact she made in Nepal on a walkabout.  They have a daughter who is interested in dressage and skating.  Dawn brings an interest in international affairs to our club and will serve on the international committee and will be hosting an exchange student from Brazil next Rotary year.

 

Patti, Kathleen and Lorna brought us up to date on the planning for the East Coast Kitchen Party on May10th.  Patti gave directions in making an ugly stick.

On March 7, Kirk Langford enlightened our Club informing that communicating with LGBT students is no different than any other Exchange Student. As a teenager, Kirk was an outbound exchange student to Brazil and spoke openly about his "coming out" during third year University.   Kirk is currently the District Public Relations Coordinator and Outbound Coordinator for Youth Exchange Students.

Ken Smid and Christine Lefebvre joined us to discuss North Aid's mission.  Ken described the living conditions in many of the northern reserves and the lack of opportunity facing young people.  60% of children live below the poverty line. Poor overcrowded housing, lack of suitable water, poverty and expensive food costs are part of the problem.  Ken suggested part of the solution is self government and self determination.  North Aid has sponsored " A Taste of Indigenous Canada" dinners to raise funds for their programs.  Among the programs North Aid has sponsored is hockey exchanges and medical supplies sent North.  There are six reserves on the Thames; this is a possible joint project.

 

Christine described the significance of the dress and symbols she brought with her.  She presented a program to London school children later in the day.

 

 

Michael Tesfay described his work with Western Heads East (Rwanda).  During his trip to Rwanda to help set up the probiotic yoghurt kitchen at the University of Rwanda. These probiotics contain a bacteria which helps the immune system fight HIV. 

 

Michael worked on a number of projects while in Rwanda including a Days for Girls distribution of 146 kits.  He worked with Les Enfants de Dieu to help street kids rejoin society.  They provide food, shelter and education to boys who are street kids.  He developed a partnership proposal for them and set up a Gofundme page. 

 

The small donation we provide before he left was used to give shoes to needy students in the program.  

 

Our support of Days for Girls and Western Heads East pay off in ways that we do not anticipate. Michael's presentation gave us insight into to how our donations to programs impact people on the ground.