A Very Special Meeting

The meeting was held offsite from its normal location of the YMCA to the Town of Innisfil's township offices. With such dignitaries as 7010 DG Brian and Dorothy Menton, 7080 DG Brian Carmichael and 7010 ADG Joyce Campbell, the Innisfil Rotary Club held its first celebration of Paul Harris Fellows. President Al Gilchrist, Past President Shawn Gannaw, not only were given a Paul Harris Fellowship (PHF) they also were awarded a PHF +1. Fellow members Denise Carl, Anne Kell, Janet Morozuk, Susie Parker, and Doug Weber were awarded each with a PHF as well.

One of our newest members was recognized for his receiving a PHF in 2000. Jason Reynar received a PHF from the Rotary Club of Hamilton prior to ever becoming a Rotarian. He was recognized for his spearheading an anti-violence campaign in Hamilton, which culiminated in a city-wide Stop The Violence Conference and his work on CAVEAT (Canadians Against Violence Everywhere Advocating its Termination) as the President of the Youth Council and youth representative on its Board of Directors. We are very lucky to have him on board with our Club.

We also had the honour of recognizing two people as Honourary Members within our Club for the outstanding dedication they have shown us through the past few years. Doug Jernigan, a member of the Barrie Rotary Club, was honoured for mentoring our Club to a full charter as well has his continuing support and guidance. Shawn Parker, husband of Rotarian Susie Parker, was also recognized as an Honourary Member for his continuing support by participating and volunteering in many of our Rotary efforts, events and functions. The "engineer" of the Rotary Train he also has continued to help with the restoration, retrofitting and maintenance of the Train. Shawn and Susie have become Ambassadors for the Shelterbox initiative after seeing a presentation when participating in the RI's New Orleans Conference in 2011. It is in part, because of these two gentlemen, that our Club has left such a footprint in the community.

Closing out the 2011 year we celebrated with a powerpoint highlighting some of accomplishment in 2011. As the powerpoint was looped throughout the meeting it finally was realized how far, in its first year and a half, the Club had come. Looking forward to 2012 it is hard to think that we could top 2011 but with a humanitarian relief trip to the Dominican Republic for Displaced Haitians in March, and with at least seven of our members making the trip, we can only say we have already made 2012 a success!