Premier David Alward was the guest speaker at the meeting on Monday, October 3rd which was hosted jointly by the Greater Moncton Chamber of Commerce and Entreprise Greater Moncton.  Premier Alward made the announcement that the provincial government has launched an "open dialogue" with the residents of New Brunswick on the issue of shale gas.  This will include town hall meetings as well as an online forum with information on shale gas.  Premier Alward noted that the new web site can be found at www.gnb.ca/naturalgas.  Approximately 200 Rotarians, Chamber Members and guests were in attendance. 

At the meeting of September 26th, Rotarian Rob Clinch presented James Loubert and Denis Allain of Ability Transit a cheque in the amount of $9,300, representing the second of three installments of the Club's donation for the purchase of a new bus.   

Wade Hamilton visited the Rotary Club on Monday, September 19th where he spoke on Sistema, a project of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra.  The program is based on a successful model of social change in Venezuela where music is being used to change the future of disadvantaged children.  Sistema was launched in September 2009 in Moncton and is located in Beaverbrook School (drawing students from Birchmount, Edith Cavell and Queen Elizabeth).  The program currently has space for 50 children but plans are to open centres in 3 other communities over the next four years with 500 children enrolled by 2014. Wade presented the campaign entitled "Orchestrating Change" which has a goal of raising $3,680,000 for the continuation and expansion of the program.  Further information about the program and campaign can be found at http://www.nbyo-ojnb.ca/.

Mike Walsh, of the Rotary Club of Moncton West-Riverview, spoke at Monday's meeting on the ShelterBox Program.  ShelterBox is an international disaster relief charity that delivers emergency shelters and warmth to people affected by disaster worldwide.  An actual ShelterBox was assembled in the meeting room for members to tour and the contents of each box was on display.  Mike touched on the current urgent appeal for the East Africa Drought and the fact that the Canadian Government is matching all donations until September 16th.  The Rotary Club of Moncton will also match individual member donations.    

Congratulations to the Winners of the Prestige Car Draw!

Ticket # 1300 sold to Pat O'Brien was the winner of the BMW X1

Ticket # 0060 sold to Charles Berube was the winner of the 55" TV

Ticket # 1000 sold to Gilles Bujold was the winner of the West Jet Trip

Ticket # 1056 sold to Gary Cook was the winner of the Delta Beausejour Package

Thank you to all of our sponsors and all who purchased tickets to the draw.  We appreciate your support! 

Jean-Philippe Gervais is a senior agricultural economist with Farm Credit Canada and has more than 15 years experience in domestic and international analysis of agricultural policies and markets.  Mr. Gervais spoke to Rotarians and members of the Greater Moncton Chamber of Commerce on November 8th in a joint meeting where he shared his insights about the effect of economic recovery in agricultual markets and the prospects for inflation and economic growth in local and international markets. 

Dr. Rody Canning of the The Moncton Hospital spoke to the Rotary Club on November 1st regarding the Friends of the Moncton Hospital Annual Campaign for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.  Dr. Canning has been the neonatologist and the Director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Moncton Hospital since 1987.  The aim of the Annual Campaign is to raise $700,000 which will be used towards the purchase of Radiant Warmers, a RetCam (would be the first in the province), Isolettes (formerly known as incubators) and a Clinical Systems Cardiac Monitors Upgrade.  At the end of the presentation, the Rotary Club presented Dr. Canning with a donation towards the campaign.

Leslie Van Patter, District Chair for World Community Service, presented to the Club on October 25th.  Leslie informed Rotarians of the Rotary District 7810 World Community Service Project for 2010 which is providing BioSand water filters in the Dominican Republic.  The District is asking that all clubs consider making a donation to the project, which will include District Designated Funds as well as Rotary Foundation Matching Funds.  The total amount of the grant, taking into consideration all avenues of funding, will be $62.500.  Leslie also noted that, in addition to participating as a Rotary Club, there is the option of traveling with a RD7810 team to La Romana in the Dominican Republic in February 2011 for hands-on involvement.  The Rotary Club of Moncton has supported this district initiative by contributing $500. Leslie concluded her presentation by providing information on how the Rotary International Matching Grant system works.

The Rotary Club celebrated Oktoberfest at an evening meeting on October 18th. The event took place at the Centennial Park Rotary Lodge.  In addition to sausages, beer and music, Owen Fraser of the Rotary Lodge updated the members on how our Rotary dollars are being used through the lodge and for the benefit of the community. The lodge is currently used year round by local community, corporate, private and youth groups as well as provincial assocations for annual events.  The lodge also operates the highly successful Camp Centennial throughout the summer.   

Rotary District Governor, John Carkner, paid a visit to the Club at the October 4th meeting.  DG Carkner brought greetings from 2010/11 Rotary International President Ray Klinginsmith and updated the club on Rotary International and District events and issues.  He focused his presentation on the three key areas of Public Relations, Membership and Foundation and how they contribute to the continued growth and success of the Club.  DG Carkner posed with the three incoming Rotary Youth Exchange students: Nicolas, Camille and Luisa.

The Paul Harris Gala Event was held on September 21st at the Delta Beausejour.   The event also marked the 90th anniversary of Rotary in Moncton.  The Club recognized and honoured four community leaders as Paul Harris Fellows.  In addition, Rotary Club member Stan Steeves received a special award from District Governor John Carkner as he celebrated 50 years in the Rotary Club of Moncton.

Named after the founder of Rotary, Paul Harris, these awards are in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world.  These community volunteers also exemplify the essence of Rotary’s motto “Service Above Self”.

Each of these outstanding contributors to our community has had a significant donation made in their name to The Rotary Foundation, the Rotary International body that contributes significantly to world peace, eradication of Polio, and many other humanitarian causes.

Barb Pelletier was a founding board member and chair of Moncton City Council appointed Accessibility Committee and she was a founding member of Able-Sail/Handi-Voile.  Barb also has a 25 year history with Ability Transit as a founding Board member and over the years has served in all executive positions. She is as keen and as committed to doing her part and being involved with Ability Transit as she was 25 years ago.  After all, this accessible bus service is often the only connection of those with a physical disability to our community.

Luella Smith, MD has been a tireless volunteer with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) beginning with her first assignment with Doctors Without Borders to Darfur Sudan for six and a half months.  There she treated “rebels and refugees alike”.  This was followed by four months in Niger in 2007, four months in Central African Republic in 2008, two trips to Sri Lanka in 2009, and earlier this year to the crisis in Haiti, followed by two months in Burundi.  She has also been active in and volunteered and coached in skiing, orienteering, and Boy Scouting.  Dr. Smith continues to work in Emergency Medicine at The Moncton Hospital.

Bill Whalen has been a strong community supporter beginning as one of the founders of the Moncton Mets Baseball Club in 1984 which revived baseball in Moncton.  Bill was Chairman of the Greater Moncton Airport Authority from 1994-1998; chaired the Greater Moncton United Way 2000 campaign, and has been active in Juvenile Diabetes causes.  Bill is a Vice-Chair of the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation and chaired the Marketing & Communications for the Healthy Returns Capital Campaign for The Moncton Hospital which raised a record $7.5 million.  Most recently, Bill served as Vice President of the 2010 IAAF World Junior Championships which was a resounding success in Moncton this past summer.

Flora Dell is a committed volunteer and activist who has long worked to improve the health of older Canadians.  While working at the Province of N.B., she was active in what evolved as the Active Living Coalition of Older Adults (ALCOA).  She served on the Executive of Osteoporosis Canada ; was the founding member of Osteoporosis New Brunswick; served on the Board of the Canadian Arthritis Network of Excellence; Secretary of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee (Moncton); and is a Past President of the Rotary Club of Moncton.  Flora has received the Order of Canada, the Order of New Brunswick, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, the Laval University Centennial Award, The Osteoporosis Canada Builder Award and the Frosst Healthcare Foundation Citation Award.

Mr. Joseph Benoit executive director for Turning Points, addressed The Moncton Rotary Club on August 16th, 2010.  Mr. Benoit provided an update to the Rotary club about the on going efforts of the Youth Parent and early Childhood Education Centre.  Mr. Benoit provided a very interesting update on the services provided by the centre, including their daycare program and efforts to provide daycare services for 57 children.  The daycare provides healthy snacks and meals for the children as well as a number of activities!  Mr. Benoit explained his desire to do more in his passionate address to the club!

Rotary Club of Moncton President Murray Simard and Past President Catherine Dallaire presented a cheque in the amount of $28,000 to Denis Allain, Chair, and Barb Pelletier, founding member, of Ability Transit at the Rotary Club  meeting of July 19. The donation, which will be paid in three installments over three years, will be used towards the purchase of a greatly needed new bus.