PORT ARTHUR ROTARY
President David Sillman presiding, Photos by Kevin Holloway.
Welcoming at the door from the left were Laurie Tulloch and Fred Baker
New Member Induction
 |  |
| President Dave Silliman pins New Rotarian Johnny De Bakker | From the left: President Dave Silliman, newly inducted Rotarian Johnny De Baker, District President Roly Turner and Past President David Legge |
Here is the text of the biography of new member Johnny DeBakker as presented by David Legge:
Johnny was born in Thunder Bay, and except for a three-year absence to attend university in Wales, he has resided on Winnipeg Avenue. John graduated from the French Immersion programs at Ecole Gron Morgan and Hammarskjold High School and represented his classmates as valedictorian at both of levels. He attended Lakehead University from 2003 – 2007 where he earned his Bachelor of Arts and served as Vice-President – Finance of the student government. This past spring, Johnny completed his law degree, graduating with honours from Cardiff University in the UK. Johnny was a founding member of the Rotaract Club of Thunder Bay, where he filled the positions of Sergeant at Arms and President. He was a catalyst who not only helped establish the club, but made it into a vibrant organization, and never missed an opportunity to be involved in such projects as selling sand bags, hosting spaghetti suppers, organizing the St. Patrick’s Day pub crawl, packing and delivering Boxes of Hope, and planning the Joe Vanderwees Christmas party. Along with Katie Ischkin, Johnny played a significant role organizing and leading the Rotaract Leadership Camp. He travelled to Guatemala twice with members of the Fargo Moorhead Rotary Club to help in the construction of two schools. Johnny attended the District Conference for Rotary District 5580 in Detroit Lakes, MN in 2005. John has become particularly well known and respected for the annual fundraising event that he and Katie organized in 2002. Since that time, the Ischkinakker Shaker has raised in excess of $50 000.00 for local charities, including a gift of $5 000.00 to the building of the Rotary (shelter) House. In 2009, Johnny received the Citizen of Exceptional Achievement Award, a distinct honour for this young man. With his extra time, Johnny became an entrepreneur in 2008 with the creation of Mariday Enterprises. The apparel and giftware line bearing the I ‘heart’ TBay slogan originated to promote pride in our city. The t-shirts are being worn world wide. Johnny is currently continuing his studies in law, while working at the Richard Courtis Law Firm. His enthusiasm for his community and a sincere desire to help people will continue as he commits his energy to being an active member of the Port Arthur Rotary Club.
Special Recognitions
Commendations were awarded to Past President David Legge for his successful year 2009-2010 by District Governor Turner
Paul Harris Fellowships were awarded to two of our Rotarians by District Governor Roly Turner:
 |  |
| Don Smith is awarded a Paul Harris Pin | Alex Matiece is awarded a Paul Harris Pin |
Guest of Honour and Guest Speaker — District President Roly Turner
 |  |  |
| Roly giving his speech | President Dave Silliman thanking the Governor | Rotarian Judi Turner enjoying one of the many funny moments of Roly's (her husband) speech |
Here is Roly's prepared text for his address to our club on Nov 23:
It is good to be here in Thunder Bay and it is good to be in District 5580. Trust me we have a great district but you already know that. When Judi and I visit with fellow Governors most are overwhelmed by the geographic size and perceive it as a real challenge to govern and travel to each club visit. I see the Club Visits as does every Governor before me, they have all told me that the best part of this job is driving throughout our district and meeting the Rotarians that make it great --- You Guys. Thank you for the warm welcome.
And what those fellow Governors see as a challenge I see as one of our real strengths’. From the Great Plains of North Dakota across the rolling hills of Minnesota to the rugged coast of Lake Superior it shares with Wisconsin and Northwestern Ontario our culture changes like the landscape, subtle but effective. Most of our Clubs are somewhat, or maybe definitely isolated from others, like the pioneers here, so that each grows independent and strong allowing us to share skills and ideas. In many districts that have a high concentration of clubs in a relatively small area it is the District that initiates many of their service projects be they community or international. In 5580 we have a history of Individual Clubs Initiating Projects that identify the needs of their own community and in the developing world; many form partnerships with Rotary Clubs there to identify and complete projects that meet the needs of the international community thereby mirroring 2010-11 RI President Ray Klinginsmith’s theme Building Communities Bridging Continents. Over the years a number of district club partnerships have developed to expand those projects into programs that now ensure the expansion and longevity of their initiatives. Yes we have a great District.
This Year Rotary International is under the leadership of a very laid back and approachable country lawyer from
In my meeting with your President and Directors we discussed my goals for the district so I will only touch on them here. No matter what I say about the Goals of President Ray and the Foundation or even my own goals I must stress that notwithstanding all this, individual Rotary Clubs are autonomous and free to set their own path and goals. Rotary International, The Rotary Foundation, and District 5580 are here to serve our Clubs and Rotarians by helping you access the programs of Rotary like RYLA, Interact, Rotaract, and Youth Exchange to mention a few. Yes we are constantly asking for your financial support for the Foundation but keep in mind the Foundation gives back 50% of your contributions to the Annual Program Fund in the form of District Share dollars that support programs like Group Study Exchange, Ambassadorial Scholarship and Matching Grants for Humanitarian Projects and some community service projects by way of a District Simplified Grant all of which you have an opportunity to benefit from. The remaining 50% goes to the World Fund that you can access for additional funds your humanitarian projects. So by giving with one hand we have an opportunity to take back with the other. The Annual program Fund is on a tough playing field competing with other TRF programs like Polio Eradication, and Rotary approved programs like Shelter Box. My goal for our district is I believe modest $100.00 every Rotarian every year. If each of us gave just $100.00, that’s Twenty Eight Cents each day District 5580 would be giving TRF $325,000.00 (May 2010 membership 3253) and three years from now we would take back $162,000.00 for District sponsored programs. Back to Shelter Box. I am just so proud of our Clubs and individual Rotarians in for their incredible response to the recent earth quake in
Interact and Rotaract: Something I failed to mention earlier is that Rotary is about to identify a Fifth Avenue of Service as “New Generations” to focus on long standing programs like Interact and Rotaract, Youth and Group study Exchanges, Ambassadorial Scholarships, RYLA and of course the New Generation Rotary Clubs. Our focus on all these youth and young adult programs keeps Rotary alive and relevant and I believe is the future of our membership growth. We need to nurture all these programs.
District History ; I need everyone’s help with this one. The older I get the more I appreciate History and the most current History available that I know about is “Rotary As We Saw It” Written by PDG Max Moore first published in 1962 then updated and published in 1975. I would really like to initiate a project to bring the history of District 5580 up to date. To do so I need a whole lot of help. First I am issuing a Challenge to each and every club to prepare or update a concise history. Then I need to identify a district wide resource group, to organize the whole thing, some qualified editors and authors to make it all come together, then an editor, publisher, and printer that can provide a finished product at a reasonable cost. I see it as a five year plan from implementation to finished product. So what do you think? How many would like to see a nice printed Book complete with pictures of our history. (I know that’s pretty old fashioned) I think it is do-able but I need some Long Term Commitments. If anyone is interested in being involved in any capacity please let me know.
Rotary magazine: Now, available electronically. Or receive only one copy to a household with more than one Rotarian. Do You Recycle the magazine? Waiting rooms in clinics, garages,etc.
District Conference:
Rotary International Conference: May 21 to 25 2011
So lets all continue Building Communities Bridging Continents
Thank You
