Notes from the Rotary Meeting 12.30pm Thursday, October 9, 2025
President Olaf chaired the meeting.
Guest Edna Hodgett was introduced by Rotarian Marjorie and was welcomed.
President Olaf congratulated Rotarian Martin who with wife Sybil, will celebrate their 65thWedding Anniversary on Wednesday October 15th. Congratulations Sybil and Martin from all Rotarians!
Verbon spoke of the scholarship donated by Rotarian Jim and wife Sandra. They have endowed the Patriquin/Williams Scholarship to the MUN School of Nursing, Grenfell Campus in honor of their two cousins, Nancy Williams Gall and Natalie Williams Hutchinson. They were both nurses at Toronto when Jim was there in 1978 for his bone marrow transplant. They provided great support and accommodations for the family during that difficult time. The scholarship also honours his brother, Sheldon, his donor, and all the nurses who have cared for him and Sandra for over 50 years of multiple surgeries and procedures.
With this news, all present and guests from Grenfell Campus applauded Jim and Sandra for their generosity and the representatives from Grenfell Campus thanked them deeply for this endowed scholarship.
Guest Presentation
After lunch Kathleen introduced the guest presenter and guests who were representing Grenfell Campus, MUN to talk about some of the functions to be held at Grenfell Campus to celebrate its 50 Years Anniversary
The presenter of the presentation was Connolly Aziz who now serves as Grenfell’s first Development Officer in Corner Brook, working with donors to create scholarship, bursaries and award to support Grenfell students accompanying Connolly was Laura Edwards, Director of Marketing, Communications, and Advancement, Grenfell Campus and Brianna Hunt, Senior Development Officer at Memorial’s St. John’s campus.
While Connolly reviewed some of the up and coming 50-year Grenfell anniversary functions a video was played showing the present diverse student body.
The first function will be held on Friday October 17 from 4 – 6pm at the Ferris Hodgett Library with the Archives and Special Collections Grand Opening followed by a High Tea Reception. All are invited to officially celebrate the Grenfell Campus Archives and Special Collections, to learn about the treasures in the archives and rare book room, like the Bowater oral history collection and Sir Wilfred Grenfell collection and recently acquired Lundrigan collection. There will be an exclusive behind the scenes tour followed by a high tea reception.
Please note I was told by Laura there will be free parking for this event.
The second event will be presented by Dr. Rayner-Canham, Professor Emeritus, who started at Grenfell 50 years ago. During this PowerPoint visual feast, he will take the audience back in time and space to enjoy his past and continuing adventures. These adventures have involved some amazing Grenfell students the dedicated staff and the supportive faculty & administrators at Grenfell; and his co-researcher, Marelene Rayner-Canham.
50 Years of Amazing Grenfell Adventures In 10 Anecdotes will be held Wednesday, October 29 at 3:30PM in room AS2026.
The third function will be later in the year, but the date is not yet set when Dr. Jeff Keshen and Pat Rediger will launch their book Not by Accident, But by Design: A History of Grenfell Campus.
There will be more functions during in 2026, and Connolly will let Rotarians know about these events.
Throughout the whole year there will 50th Anniversary Scholarship Fundraising Campaign. This scholarship fundraising campaign is being held to support the next generation of students. It is hoped to raise $50,000 to establish renewable scholarships that will help students across all academic schools thrive throughout their studies.
After Connolly had finished his talk, many questions were asked of Connolly, Laura and Brianna. There was an active dialogue before Linda thanked Connolly, for his presentation and the meeting was adjourned