On October 6th, Marva Bailey-Wisdom interviewed our long-time members Ruth Thatcher and Joe Valeriote as part of our Rotary Rewind series. 

 

She began by asking the question, "did you have a favourite toy as a kid and why was it your favourite?" Marva explained that in previous interviews this question had revealed interesting aspects of the interviewee. 

 

Ruth: her favourite toy was her Eaton Beauty doll. Ruth and her friend would play dolls all the time as kids. 

 

Joe: at first, couldn't think of a favourite toy, but then he remembered when he got his first bike. 

 

The next question Marva asked was, "how did you become a Rotarian?"

 

Ruth: in the 70s her husband was asked to join the Rotary club of Guelph. The first big event they went to was an international trip to Birmingham, England with 30 fellow Rotarians. Ruth emphasized how welcoming everyone was and how much they did for her husband when he had to undergo chemotherapy in Toronto. Ruth ended by saying "I am a proud Rotarian". 

 

Joe: Pat O'Brien, a long-time Rotarian, had a factory near Joe's business. One day he approached Joe and told him he would be joining Rotary (a voluntold experience) and sponsored him into the club. Joe explained that at the time he didn't know much about Rotary and "joined because he asked me". Joe ended up staying because he realized Rotary was the place where all the most influential people in the city worked together to accomplish great things. 

 

Marva concluded the talk with the question, "what are some of your high points at the Rotary Club of Guelph?"

 

Ruth: the establishment of the Rotary Crippled Children (now Children's Ability) a program designed to aid children with disabilities. Ruth discussed how proud she was of this program and what it has accomplished. 

 

Joe: didn't know where to begin, "there are so many to talk about," he said. Eventually, he landed on the Drive to Eradicate Polio. Joe was the chair of this committee and was so proud of what the Rotary Club of Guelph and Rotary International had accomplished. The Rotary Club of Guelph in each of its drives doubled the amount of money it was supposed to raise ($120,000 in the 90s and $60,000 in 2003). 

 

The talk concluded with a standing ovation from the club. 

 

Notes by, Marva Bailey-Wisdom.