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Gordon Harper (ShelterBox Board Member), Alison Wallace (CEO ShelterBox International-Guest Speaker), Moe Rodgerson (Chair), District Governor Stella Roy (Guest of Rotary), Rick Gallant (President)

 

 

wh-4p-ol   Rotary Club of Charlottetown

September 29, 2014

Meeting Minutes

Meeting Chair Moe Rodgerson opened the meeting and asked all those in attendance to join in the Island Hymn and Rotary Grace.

Dale Turner, Sargent of Arms canvassed the group for happy dollars.

Secretary Kim Nickerson welcomed all guests in attendance that evening.

  • 18 members present, 1 guest, 29 make ups.
  • Myron MacKay from the Charlottetown Royalty Club won the 50/50 draw. The Queen was not drawn and the pot stands at $634.

President Rick Gallant provided those present with his weekly report.

  • President Rick welcomed Alison Wallace, CEO of Shelterbox International and District Governor Stella Roy to our meeting.
  • In addition, Rick welcomed Bob Gray, Jennifer Dunn, Pam Borden, Thane Smallwood and Tom Rath, Presidents of the Royalty, Hillsborough, Stratford, Summerside and Montague Clubs.
  • President Rick and District Governor Stella noted that Larry Sider is being honored along with other generous donors to the Million Dollar Dinner being held at Ashburn Golf Club in Halifax on October 1, 2014. Congratulations Larry!
  • In addition, Kingsley Lewis was presented with the True Rotarian Award. The True Rotarian Award is presented to a Rotarian who demonstrates through his/her Rotary and community life that he/she lives by the four way test and provides service above self. Congratulations Kingsley!
  • The October 6th lunch meeting will be held at the PEI Brewing Company.
  • There will be a Club Assembly on Wednesday October 8th from 7pm to 9pm.

 Moe introduced guest speaker Allison Wallace, CEO Shelterbox International.

  • Allison has had an extensive career focused mainly on funding raising and lending her expertise to a variety of international aid organizations.
  • A native of New Zealand where she obtained a Bachelor or Law and a Bachelor Commerce, later adding a Masters in Global Politics, Allison quickly moved to the international scene joining Greenpeace in 1995 with the responsibility of Direct Marketing fundraising.
  • Two years later she became Donor Development Director for Orbis International - a UK based organization specializing in blindness treatment and prevention.
  • Two years later she moved to the British Refuge Council as Head of fundraising.
  • 2002 she was named Director of Fundraising and Communications for Friends of the Earth.
  • In 2006 she took on the role of Director International fundraising for Amnesty International and in April of 2013 moved to CEO of Shelter Box.
  • Shelterbox International was founded 14 years ago in 2000 and since that time has had a strong relationship with Rotary International.
  • The organization consistently visits families to get feedback on the contents of the shelter box to determine if the right items are in the box.
  • Allison noted that Rotary is not just viewed as a sponsor, but is becoming an extension of the organization providing volunteers, translators and warehouse space to different areas of the world in time of crisis.
  • Recent shelter boxes have been sent to the Philippians, and North Korea in 2013, Syria, Bolivia and Serbia. In addition, Shelter Kits were sent to Paraguay in 2014.

Co-Chair Tom Deblois congratulated Larry Sider and Kingsley Lewis on their recent recognitions and service to the Rotary Club of Charlottetown and Rotary International. Tom also thanked Allison for her inspiring message on the wonderful work Shelterbox International accomplishes around the world.