As you know, I added the Rotary Moment to our club’s weekly agenda.  Each week a member of our club, like Sonia today, stood up and talked about great things that had happened to them in the past as Rotarians. Well to me, as a Rotarian, these things happen to me everyday. Everyday is a Rotary moment. For example, one day I’ll be talking to a Rotoract student at the University of Guelph, and the next day I’ll be having breakfast with a GSE member from South Africa in my kitchen. Or, I’ll be chatting with a member of another club in the grocery store, or visiting my exchange student in Germany. Just recently, I looked out the bus window in Mexico and saw a Rotary sign on the street that said “Rotary meets here”, and I thought about our club.  That to me again, is a Rotary Moment.

Now we’ve had many many Rotary moments this year, so it’s hard to know where to begin. So I’ll begin at the beginning.

My first Rotary moment had to be the 10th anniversary of Ribfest. Carrie and her team, along with fellow Rotarians, friends and family managed to make it the most successful Ribfest ever, and our club raised over 77,000 dollars for charity. What a great anniversary it was, and a really great way to start off my year.

Another Rotary Moment was when Jen Botteril, from the Canadian Women’s Olympic Hockey team came to speak to our club, courtesy of RBC (I had to put that in!). I’ll have to admit I was certainly in awe of her, and it was amazing to see a real gold metal. Of course, whether I was supposed to or not, I had to put it around my neck just to say I wore one once.

Next was the arrival of the GSE team from South Africa in October. We had a fabulous time hosting Jacintha, Chitra, Sarah, Michelle and Sylvia and showing them some of the highlights of our area including the Elora Gorge and Crawford lake. We even had them out decorating the bear one night on Gordon street with South African flags. They told us, after they had spent a month touring our district, that their most favourite week of all was spent with our club, and I believe them.  And I think if Sarah hadn’t decided to go back home, Ken and Diane Boyd were going to adopt her.

Other great speakers we had this year would certainly  include Police officer Neil Moulton and his dog Nitro, Alex Prentice, the Afghanistan Veteran, Sheila Markle from the “Give Yourself credit High school Program”, Colleen Clack from the River Run Centre, and of course Judy Noonan from Sunrise Equestrian who thanked us profusely for breakfast. And of course there was many many others as well, so thank you to everyone who organized a speaker this year.

However, as far as Rotary moments go, some of the most memorable talks came from the members of our club who spoke this year. I love hearing from our club members and their families. Not only were there the humorous classification talks from EJ, Julie and Mimi, but there was also Judy Folkard’s memorable talk about her trip to Nogales Mexico to deliver shoe boxes to poor children last January. And more recently, Bruce and Lorraine Macpherson entertained us with a slide show of their fabulous trip to Africa.  Listening to Judy, Bruce and Lorraine emotionally talk about their trips makes your realize how passionate about Rotary people in our club really are.

And while I’m on the topic of our weekly club meetings, I’d have to say that I’ve had many laughs this year at our Rotary meetings. I can now see why people are suddenly trying to join our club. Either it’s because I’m leaving, or it’s because they’ve suddenly realized that our club has way too much fun!!  What with Scott’s chimp impersonation (or was that an RBC exec impersonation?), Brian’s “You look Marvelous today” happy bucks or Mike’s jokes about Viagara, who wouldn’t want to be a member?

And speaking of great rotary moments, how about those amazing family of Rotary events we had this year!

First there was the Progressive pod party which started at our house, moved to Liz Fisk’s and finished at Bruce Folkard’s. What a great night that was!  Next was Winterfest at Mike and Laura’s. Always a club favourite and it was a huge success as always.  There was also learn to curl at the Guelph Curling club, the Land Mines dinner at Seelan’s, and Paint your Heart Out.  And how could I not mention Pub night...our monthly tour of the famous watering holes in town? Thanks to all those who organized, hosted and participated in those events.

Now Rotary moment 2,718 and 2,719 had to be my son Josh along with Emily Ryder attend Camp Enterprise (thanks Joe and Elizabeth), and the Rotary Shares publication...thank you Mike Baker and all that helped you put it together.

Some of my other Rotary moments include Wilf Wilkinson from Trenton Ontario, as he was our first Canadian Rotary International President in over 50 years, and our very own Ken Boyd as he was our Assistant Governor this year.

So as you can see,  the Rotary moments are endless in our club, and I could go on and on, and mention everything and everyone, for all the projects we’ve completed this year are all Rotary moments.  Instead, I’d just like to wrap it up and thank everyone together.  First of all I’d like to thank my Board of directors again for doing such a great great job this year. Carrie, Francine, Darlene, Jack, Cam, Scott, David, Clarence, and Barb (Barb who?), you made my job effortless.  Secondly, I’d like to thank each and every one of you for your hard work and dedication, for all the projects we did this year could not have been done without you.  When you think of our club’s accomplishments, it’s truly mind boggling.  So if someday you’re asked to do a Rotary moment, please just look at some of the things that have happened to you today, or yesterday, or even the day before. I’m sure you’ll find one.

I’m having one right now.