Notes from the Rotary Meeting 12.30pm Thursday, October 16, 2025

President Olaf chaired the meeting.

 Two guests were introduced and welcomed Bob Huxter husband of Rotarian Elaine and Casey D’Angelo. Casey is a Rotarian from the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa, California.  Casey was visiting friends in Corner Brook whom he knew when he was working as an exchange teacher in 1991 – 92.

 Guest Speaker

 Jackie introduced local author Bradley Anderson

Bradley is the manager of Speedy Auto glass and has a diverse background.  His first book, Where Love Grows, A Legacy in Bloom was inspired by his wife’s battle with cancer.  His second book, Resilient Tides: Love and Legacy in Bonne Bay is historical fiction based on his family history. His third book, also historical fiction is underway. 

Brad began by speaking about how he always had an itch for writing.

 Last year on June 21^st he lost his wife to cancer.  Her passing inspired him to write his book “Where Love Grows, A Legacy in Bloom” a book about the journey of living and then dying with cancer.  His wife Karen was a great mother and grandmother, and she battled for 10 years with the disease.

 In writing the book Bradley hoped to inspire others and to show that life can be lived to the fullest even when cancer is being battled. To quote Bradley who stated in the book “I believe you should strive to live your life to the fullest during the battle.”

 This first book poured out of Bradley and he self-published through Amazon from which the book can be bought.

 This year his mother passed at 92 years and after her passing he began remembering stories of her and his father’s life in Bonne Bay. These family stories resulted in the historical fiction Resilient Tides: Love and Legacy in Bonne Bay. This novel is set from 1918 to 1967 and deals with the trials and tribulations of family.

 Bradley is currently working on a third book which will deal with family life in more modern times.

 Discussion followed and Bradley answered lots of questions about his writing, research and self- publishing.

 Rotarian Gerry thanked Bradley for his most interesting talk and several copies of Where Love Grows, A Legacy in Bloom were bought by Rotarians.

The meeting finished with good news stories being shared before the meeting adjourned.

 

Notes from the Rotary Meeting 12.30pm Thursday, October 2, 2025

President Olaf chaired the meeting.

Rotarians and guests were welcomed

For the program today, two musical artists currently employed by the School of Music at the campus of Texas A&M University – Kingsville (TAMUK): Dr Elizabeth Janzen on flute and her associate Dr Sehee Lee on piano were introduced and welcomed

They gave a brief performance of the first movement of a composition by Bernard Kane called "The Gulf Stream" by Bernard Kane. This movement was inspired by the composer's experience here in Corner Brook, Newfoundland a few years ago, and is called "The Rock".

 

As well as being Professor of Flute at TAMUK, Elizabeth currently serves as Interim Director of the School of Music as well as Professor of Flute.  She performs as 2nd Flute/piccolo in the Victoria (Texas) Symphony Orchestra, is a Burkart Artist, and serves as co-chair of the National Flute Association's IDEA Committee.  Her playing has established her as a prominent musician, teacher and clinician across Canada, the United States and Mexico.  

 

She was accompanied on the piano by Sehee Lee, DMA. Sehee is a distinguished pianist celebrated for her versatility as a soloist, chamber musician, and collaborative artist. With a dynamic career that spans continents, she has performed extensively across the United States, Korea, Germany, Mexico, Luxembourg, and now (for the first time) in Canada, delivering over fifty recitals annually in collaboration with leading instrumentalists and vocalists. 

 

Elizabeth began her talk with a reflection on the impact of people like Alison (Steele) McHugh, Vicky Crocker, and Gary Graham who influenced her musical training while growing up in Corner Brook. She also recalled the influence of local Corner Brook businesses, churches and coffee shops where she performed, as well as her education in French Immersion and what was then Herdman Collegiate, where she was a member of the school band. She gave particular attention to the impact of participating in the Rotary Music Festival, not just for the obvious musical experience, winning two Senior Rose Bowls and the Rotary Music Scholarship, but for the way it instilled life skills such as time management, goal setting, supportive competition, and the influence of guest artists and adjudicators. These allowed her to continue her music education, first at the undergraduate level at the University of Toronto and then earning her Masters and DMA at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City (this last also included a Post-Graduate Fellowship with the Juilliard School and Carnegie Hall).

 

Her musical career also activated another skill learned from Corner Brook, namely commitment to community service. She explained how her parents led by example, but she stressed as well that Rotary was also a recurring illustration of how people and organizations can serve as the backbone of a community through community engagement, leadership and advocacy. Now that she lives in South Texas, these skills have never been more valuable. Kingsville, where she lives and works, serves some of the poorest counties in the United States, with many first-generation students and students with immigrant families. Furthermore, both post-secondary education and the arts are increasingly dismissed, both in Texas and the United States, as a luxury for those who can pay or as something which is not a right for all. Increasingly, universities there (like those here) face financial aid cuts and reduced grant funding for science and the arts. This puts more pressure on faculty to find community resources and supportive individuals to make ends meet. Corner Brook already has that and is exceedingly lucky. The dedication of the Rotary Club of Corner Brook to service, to the arts, to the community is invaluable to the tapestry of this community. This service shapes programs, community diversity and the life skills, confidence and talents of individuals of all ages. 

 

The Rotary International website boasts that for more than a century, Rotary has bridged cultures and connected continents. It displays all the lofty achievements and goals of a truly international organization: promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, etc. But two weeks from October 2, Elizabeth will have the opportunity to speak at Rotary again, in Kingsville, Texas. She plans to share with them a very similar presentation, which she hopes will inspire them to support the arts, and young local students of all backgrounds, with a focus on developing, sustaining, and expanding their own community in the same way you have. She concluded with a resounding “Thank you for your service!”

 Elixabeth and Sehee were thanked for playing and Elizabeth for her heartfelt talk.

 The meeting was then adjourned 

 

 

Notes from the Rotary Meeting 12.30pm Thursday, August 28, 2025

President Olaf chaired the meeting.

Guests, Lisa Snow, prospective Rotarians Linda Carroll, Janice Spencer, Kim Legge, and Kim’s guest Jennifer Lewis were welcomed. 

 The Toonie Quest West 50-50 draw had a winner this week. Remember if you have paid in advance to the weekly toonie draw do check the date you need to start paying again your weekly toonie.

 Gerry announced he has booked the Rotary Christmas Dinner for November 20^th.

 This will be a meal at the Wine Cellar for Rotarians, partners, family and friends.

 Rotarians reserve and mark the date in your calendar. Details will follow closer to the November date.

Olaf announced that Corner Brook Rotary Club has donated to the Canadian Red Cross in support of wildfire relief in Newfoundland and Labrador. This donation will be matched by the federal government and the provincial government with the result that every $1 donated will become $3 to support the families and individuals most impacted by wildfires in the province. 

 Club Sergeant-at–Arms

President Olaf invited nominations from the membership for a Sergeant-at- Arms.

Gerry was nominated and agreed to accept this position for the coming year. 

Kathleen introduced guest speaker Louise Gauthier who was to speak about CB Nuit 2025.  Louise was joined by fibre artist Larry Weyland.

 Louise began by introducing fibre artist Larry and spoke of the giant lobster she had created.

 She then turned to the CB Nuit web site on the screen and both Louise and Larry used this to talk about the CB Nuit 2025.

CB Nuit’s aim is to create community through Art and this year it will be held on Saturday September 13 on West Street, Corner Brook.

 This is the 9^th year of the festival and again what has been planned will be a   magical and inspiring evening of art.

Louise and Larry looked first at the members of the board and then continued by reviewing some of the projects based on the theme for this year BLOOM and the artists behind the different projects.  They talked in detail about several projects including the one in which Bernice Hillier and her son Noah Hamilton will give a 25 – 30-minute talk blended with music and live radio.

 Louise and Larry’s talk about the different many varied projects made everyone eager to visit CB Nuit on West Street, September 13 for a wonderful varied artistic experience.

 Jackie thanked Louise and Larry for the interesting talk and how CB Nuit 2025 will give Corner Brook a marvellous evening to look forward to and to attend.

  Before the meeting adjourned, President Olaf announced that the club will be donating to CB Nuit 2025 to support the wonderful evening planned.