Brian Martin hosted his last official meeting as our club president and provided an excellent, heartfelt summary of the past year that can be read here.
Be sure to attend our club meeting on Friday, July 11 to hear Marva's inaugural presentation as our new club president for 2025-2026.
Having just returned from attending the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary where lots of “Rotary merch” was on sale, Brian gifted Marva with a special pin denoting Rotary Club President 2025-2026. Great minds think alike, because Marva then presented Brian with a similar pin denoting Rotary Past President 2024-2025!
At the end of our meeting, Marva presented Brian with a thank you gift from our club, a spectacular wooden board hand-crafted by the one and only Helmuth Slisarenko. It is a work of art that will be treasured by Brian and Diana forever!
It was great to reconnect with Ray Funnel, Sharon Rice, Mahmud Hassain, Eric Holmes and Robert Eilers. We also welcomed a visiting Rotarian from Connecticut who was in Guelph for The Good Games taking place over the weekend.
FAREWELL TO CLUB MEMBER ROBERT EILERS
Robert attended our meeting
to personally bid a fond and formal farewell to our club as he is permanently relocating back to his home country of Switzerland after living in Canada for many years. Robert has been a Rotarian since 2002, the last 9 with the Rotary Club of Guelph. He plans to continue his Rotary membership with a club near his new home on the shores of Lake Lucerne, and he has already connected with them … instantly feeling at home there. Robert expressed his fond memories about his membership in our Guelph club, especially the welcome, kindness, connections and acceptance he always felt here. Those who know Robert even a little know that he is a born Entrepreneur (with a capital E!) having many different business interests. Foremost in Guelph was his company Vesterra Property Management which he has now wound down, based on his retirement and his relocation. Even though Robert will be living far across the ocean from us, he will always be remembered for the extraordinary legacy he leaves behind in Guelph. Read this 2021 Guelph Today story about Robert's incredible $50 million donation through Vesterra to the Canadian Mental Health Association of Waterloo Wellington, to support the realization of the CMHA-WW Children & Youth Services centre at 737 Woolwich Avenue (shown below), that also houses The Grove Hub on Woolwich.
Robert, thank you for your Service Above Self to our club and to our city. You will always be remembered with fondness and gratitude, and our welcome mat will always be out for you should you have the chance to visit Guelph now and again.
ANNOUNCEMENTS & HAPPY BUCKS
PHF-3 for Marva Wisdom: Brian congratulated Marva on receiving her third Paul Harris Fellowship pin. Way to go, Marva!
Bob Ireland (in absentia) has been awarded with a PHF for his many years of Vocational Service. The certificate will be delivered to him.
Rotary International Convention: Members from our club who attended included Brian, Marva, Crista, Noma, Lucy and Aidan. They are each filled with new inspiration and look forward to sharing amazing ideas they learned from other Rotarians around the world.
Patrick Grist has written a book and will soon be meeting with a publisher. We look forward to more details, Patrick!
Lobsterfest reminders: Rick reminds us to donate bottles of wine for the live auction (bring them to club meetings and hand them to Luisa); Marty tells us the Lobsterfest tickets are now on sale! Go here and also spread the word!
Mahmud Hassain thanked the club for our donation to the Royal City Masters chess tournament taking place in Guelph from August 1-6, 2025. It is exciting to see how many more sponsors and event registrants are signing up - including several international players. The organizers are looking for billeting for 3 people. Email Mahmud if you can assist. mahassain01@gmail.com
Peter McSherry's daughter just graduated from Gr. 8 - it involved some anxious moments balancing on high heels for the first time.
Rasa Levstein's daughter just graduated from high school and will be going to university in the fall.
Annual membership fees are due says Anne MacKay, and can be paid on the club's tap machine.
Marva's honourary degree awarded by the University of Guelph: Anne gave a shout-out to Marva for receiving an honourary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree from the University of Guelph. Read more here.
Barb Holmes expressed gratitude to the Rotarians who helped present Rotary Awards at recent high school commencements. Read details here.
