Notes from the Rotary Meeting 12.30pm Thursday, March 3, 2022
President Chris welcomed Rotarians and guest Shelby Pike and the guest speaker Don Burden.
Club Business
Before lunch was served Chris spoke of the executive meeting held the previous week. At that meeting, the annual donations made by the Club were discussed.
- The End Polio Now District Tulip Bulb sale will go ahead this year but because the Club has sold bulbs in the last two years and tulips are perennial it was decided the Club would not participate this year.
- Various annual Club donations are made and were or will be reviewed more fully.
- A donation is regularly made to the Sea Cadet Corps. The amount donated should be reviewed. It would be hoped one of the officers of the Corp could speak at a Rotary lunch on the benefits and needs of the Corp.
- Rotary usually sponsors a high school student, chosen by a speak-off with the winner attending the annual Adventure in Citizenship Conference sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ottawa. Last year the conference was virtual. The program chair Lesley will find out the conference plan for this year and present her findings to the Club.
- A donation has annually been made to Kids Eat Smart Foundation. This Foundation raised much money last year so the Club’s donation should be reviewed.
- The Rotary High School Scholarship was discussed at the executive meeting and will remain in its present form.
- The Rotary Read along will take place this year with a donation being made for classroom libraries and if possible, depending on covid and school regulations a visitor reading session. More information on this will follow.
- The five-year MOU the Club has with the Rotary Arts Centre ends this June. A meeting will be arranged with the RAC financial officer to discuss the needs of the RAC and the help Rotary could give.
- Treasurer Jackie spoke of hosting a Wine tasting function as a fundraiser. She will investigate possible dates for this event at Canada House. Any Rotarian who would be interested in chairing this fundraiser, do let Chris know.
Program
Program-chair Bernd introduced the guest speaker Don Burden, Director of Public Works, Water and Wastewater at the city of Corner Brook. Don began by noting this has been a very challenging year for snow clearing and ice cutting in the city. This year has been hard on equipment and operators because of the changeable weather with much rain falling resulting in flooding, freezing as well as much snow. He reviewed the amount of salt and sand used in the winter season with the resulting cost.
Don went on to talk about the order in which roads are ploughed. The priority roads that link schools and the hospital are ploughed continuously after a snow fall so these roads should always be clear. The bus routes and collector roads are completely ploughed next followed within 12 – 14 hours of a snow fall other roads. This year the city has three pieces of machinery to clear sidewalks.
He explained how the city is broken into seven sections with Curling and Humbermouth having the largest routes. The city also has contractors hired to deal with small side lanes. He continued by talking about the city’s fleet of equipment for the winter.
He referred to the pot-hole situation in Corner Brook and how this winter with heavy rain and snow has resulted in more than the usual number of potholes appearing. Some of these have been plugged with recycled asphalt while some others have been filled with sandbags.
He finished his interesting and informative talk noting again that this had been a very challenging year because of the amount of snow and rain causing freezing, flooding and much snow clearing.
Don answered questions before being thanked by Gerry.
The meeting was adjourned.
The next meeting will be on St Patrick’s Day March 17 when green should be worn.