-PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUT NEXT MEETING ON DECEMBER 9th-
Our next meeting is on Monday, December 9th, at the Highland Country Club, 1922 Highland Heights, London, Ontario. Our special guest speaker for this meeting is District Governor Katherine. This meeting costs $30.00 per person, and it will be a self-serve light buffet. The meeting room will be open from 11:30 AM for fellowship, and the buffet will also be available. So, please plan on arriving no later than 11:45 AM so you have time to serve yourself and find a table. Our business meeting will start at noon. We will endeavor to end the meeting by 1:00 PM. As usual, we were hoping you could register for this meeting. The Registration Link will close at 2:00 PM Friday, December 6th so we can advise The Highland Country Club regarding numbers. Please register as soon as possible but be sure to register before 2 PM Friday. If you are registering yourself or any guests. Please make sure you pay for the lunch, as the Club will get charged for the meal by The Highland regardless of your attendance. After registering, please arrange to e-transfer your payment to The Rotary Club of London at sronson55@gmail.com. Also, be sure to put who you are paying for in your memo section on the e-transfer so that Sandy Ronson can track payments.
District Governor Katherine joined the Rotary Club of Stratford in 2003, she began her leadership journey in 2015 joining the board of directors. Then serving as president during the 2020-21 term and leading the club through the pandemic, thriving and ranking in the top 5% in North America for growth. Katherine is District Polio Chair, a member of the Bequest Society, Polio Plus, and Paul Harris Society, and dedicated to eradicating polio. She and her son traveled to India demonstrating the importance of Rotary's work in the world. Katherine has three children, is a grandmother of two, living on a small farm near Stratford. She holds Honour’s BA in both Exceptionality in Human Learning and Crime and Deviance from the University of Toronto. She has enjoyed her time leading up to her year as District Governor, and continuing her journey of making a positive impact both locally and globally through Rotary.--HALF YEARLY MEMBERSHIP DUES--
Thanks to all who have remitted payment of the dues invoices sent via Clubrunner. If you have not remitted payment yet please do so-Thanks
--DECEMBER 16th EVENING DINNER MEETING--
Though the meeting notice has yet to be sent out by President Kirk, to avoid payment at door on Dec 16th (reception desk members want to join in and chat with other members) if you plan to pay cash or use credit card for payment on Dec 16th rather than the preferred e-transfer, please give Sandy your credit card info, cash or cheque on Monday Dec 9th.
--519 PURSUIT NEEDS SOCKS--
With winter fast approaching, many in our community will be experiencing the cold season without the necessities they need to stay warm. This winter, 519 Pursuit is working to collect and distribute warm socks to those in need. Warm socks are one of the most requested items in homeless shelters and can significantly protect people from cold-related illnesses and injuries. Your generosity can bring comfort and hope to someone struggling to stay warm this winter. Donations of new socks can be dropped off at our meetings on December 9th. Thank you for embodying the Rotary spirit of “Service Above Self” and supporting our efforts to care for our community. Together, we can make a meaningful difference for those experiencing homelessness this winter.
--YOUTH EXCHANGE LETTTER--
November Newsletter Bonjour de France! Three months! November went by crazy fast; it was a little bit of a shock for me because the newsletter is already due. Luckily everything is still going well; with friends, tests, birthday parties, Le Chateau de Chantilly, food, some difficulty and fun; November was great. One big difficulty I have is people refusing to speak French with me (even when their English isn’t very good). I am very aware my French isn’t perfect, school is still hard, and I can’t understand everything, but I’m trying so I wish they would do the same. While this happens, many people luckily don't speak English and are forced to speak French with me. I have even made friends that don't speak English, I find these people great to go to lunch with and just have a good time. Sure, I make mistakes when speaking, but it's nice to just laugh about it and move on. In fact, I went to lunch outside of my school with some people. This lunch was an amazing experience, it was just some random restaurant with tacos and burgers, but it was SO GOOD. When I ordered my food, the man working there found out I am Canadian and asked about that too, a completely random interaction, but it was so nice just to talk in French. Sometimes these little moments are the best moments. Rotary here has been fun; in November we had an event where everyone brings in food from their country. While the food was great and it was amazing to see my friends at the event, somehow poutine is impossible to explain to French people. Even with poutine right in front of me they didn't understand; in French there is no word for gravy, it isn't in France, it only translates to “sauce” so often they assume gravy is a weird Canadian word for cheese sauce because I say poutine has it as well, but even after saying it is more of a beef sauce nobody understands. Luckily even though the French people don't understand what poutine is, they all loved it. Recently Rotary also tested each student on their language skills. I have not received my results, but I think the test went well (I studied HARD for past and future tense). Third month in and things should only get better. In December I switch my host families which is going to be very bittersweet, but I know it's just a part of the experience of exchange. I can't wait to go on vacation, see more, try more new things and continue to learn in the craziest but most fun way possible. Georgie Street
--YOUTH EXCHANGE NEED STUDENT BILLET VOLUMTEER FAMILIES--
The Rotary Club of London Youth Exchange Program is in need of a third host family for our Inbound Student Sho Fujimoto. I am reaching out to everyone to hear if you are aware of anyone who may be interested. The time frame would be Mid-April to Late-June. Sho is attending H B Beal and doing very well. Hosting is a wonderful opportunity for a family, as much as the exchange is for our student. There is no ‘perfect’ host family… young, old, children, no children, married, divorced, widows, same-sex—they can all make wonderful host families for our Inbounds. Also, host families do not have to be Rotarians or Rotaractors, and they do not have to have children (living at home or otherwise). Older Rotarians who may be living alone might enjoy having Sho's company for a few months! Please Contact Randy Harden if you are able to help randy.harden@gmail.com
Weekly Coffee Klatch
Weekly ZOOM “Coffee Klatch” each Thursday from 10:30 to 11:30 am. Bring your own coffee of course.
Join ZOOM meeting
Meeting ID: 814 3038 7672
Passcode: 125083
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London, ON N6C 2T4
Canada