Notes from the Rotary Meeting 12.30pm Thursday, October 10, 2024

Vice-President Olaf chaired the meeting.  

The Toonie Quest West 50-50 weekly draw had a winner this week who took home $3476 from the draw. Remember sign up and weekly put in your toonie or you can pay in advance so you could be a winner.

Olaf referred to the representatives of Volunteers Canada visiting Corner Brook and the province and some shared ideas they had on increasing club memberships in general.

 Western Regional Hospital Foundation 

 Rotarian Bernd announced that he delivered a $1000 cheque donated by the Corner Brook Rotary Club on October 4^th to the Western Regional Hospital Radiothon. He noted at the meeting that since the Foundation came into being the club has donated $73,185 and Rotarians should feel proud of how the club is supporting through its donations Western Regional Hospital Foundation and the local community.

Rotarian Karen introduced her guest presenter Melanie Gosse. Melanie, the founder, and keyboardist and driving force spoke about the beginning of the special needs singing group “Spirit Within”. She had to help her and to perform three members of the group Dylan Bennett, Rebecca Hampton and Sarah Flight.   Before the group was formed Rebecca began having singing lessons and attending music camps and this grew into more special-needs musicians joining the singing group and from this beginning Spirit Within was formed.  The first song performed ‘Fly Away for just One Day‘ was sung by Rebecca accompanied by Melanie on keyboard and Dylan on ukelele.  Rotarians were wowed by this performance. 

 Rebecca besides singing also writes songs. She explained she just hears the tune in her head and then she works with Melanie who transcribes the lyrics and accompaniment. 

The group have become fundraisers for Special Olympics. The song written by Rebecca ’Spirit Within’ was written as a fundraiser for Special Olympics and it resonated so much with the group it became the name of the group.

 The group have performed in the Rotary Music Festival several times and this year performed in West Street as part of CB Nuit 2024.

 The musicians finished the presentation by singing ‘Shine’ the first song written by Rebecca followed by ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ Rotarians greatly enjoyed hearing about the group and especially the songs sung so well and with so much enthusiasm. Karen on behalf of Rotarians thanked Melanie, Rebecca, Sarah and Dylan for their inspirational presentation and noted their next performance will be a Halloween Show.

 After this wonderful presentation the meeting was adjourned.