District Governor Visits (and Survives)

District Governor Gay Ratcliffe and Assistant District Governor Charles Hammond pose with their festive XMAS hats. Governor Gay holds Mr. Rab-bit, our club mascot, a small white rabbit with big pointy teeth.

Heritage Christmas B&B House Tour A Success!

The B&B House Tour held on Saturday December 1st was a great success. Approximately 135 visitors toured the five B&Bs and raised over $2,000 for the Stratford General Hospital.

The historic homes on the tour were:

The Ambercroft Bed & Breakfast
The Chisholm's In Stratford
River Garden House
Buckingham House
Stewart House Inn

Rotarians from our club assisted the owners by greeting guests, selling tickets and shepherding boots.

Comments from guests included:

• The quality of the homes was outstanding
  
• The personal Christmas decorating of each home made it unique
  
• Well organized
  
• Each home different
  
• 5 homes was a good idea had time to cover all homes
  
• Love the opportunity to visit old homes
  
• Please do it again next year, we will be back
  
• Great cause the Stratford Hospital
  
• Most homes close together little driving around
  
• The map was an excellent idea knew where each home was located
  
• Owners friendly offered great detail on each house
  

David and Carolyn promise not to play hide-and-go-seek fire extinguisher tag at their assigned B&B next year.

Rotary Reads Rocks!

Rotary Reads is a joint Rotary Centennial project conceived and implemented by both the Rotary Club of Stratford and Festival City Club. It aims to promote literacy by placing bookcases of kid's books throughout the community. Book titles were selected by a local Children's Librarian to include some of the best children's literature available.

The picture says it all.

David Does a Make Up Meeting

David attended a meeting of the Pittsburgh East Rotary Club on Tuesday November 6th at the Pittsburgh Centre for the Arts. He is seen here exchanging club banners with a member of the Pittsburgh East Club.

A "make up" meeting is defined as attendance at any Rotary organized meeting within two week previous or two weeks prior to the missed meeting. Make-ups may consist of:

• attending other Rotary Club's meeting;
  
• attending an Area or District meeting or conference;
  
• attending a Club Board meeting;
  
• attending a Club Committee meeting; and
  
• attending a Club fundraising event or activity.
  

Make up meetings are an excellent way to share ideas with other Rotary clubs and reinforces the international nature of Rotary. Check the Official Directory or use the Club Locator on the Rotary International website to get meeting and contact information. Be sure to call or e-mail before you show up for a meeting.

The William Tell Bingo - November 18

The William Tell Bingo on Sunday , November 18, 2007
Shifts start at 5:00 pm.

You won’t want to miss this one, after all William Tell didn’t miss. Please contact your sergeant at arms who is as straight as an arrow, if you are available at west@cyg.net

William Tell shoots arrow at apple on his son’s head Bürglen was known as an expert marksman with the crossbow. At the time, the Habsburg emperors were seeking to dominate Uri. Hermann Gessler, the newly appointed Austrian Vogt of Altdorf raised a pole in the village's central square with his hat on top and demanded that all the local townsfolk bow before it. As Tell passed by without bowing, he was arrested. He received the punishment of being forced to shoot an apple off the head of his son, Walter, or else both would be executed.

Tell had been promised freedom if he shot the apple. On November 18, 1307, Tell split the fruit with a single bolt from his crossbow, without mishap. When Gessler queried him about the purpose of the second bolt in his quiver, Tell answered that if he had ended up killing his son in that trial, he would have turned the crossbow on Gessler himself. Gessler became enraged at that comment, and had Tell bound and brought to his ship to be taken to his castle at Küssnacht. In a storm on Lake Lucerne, Tell managed to escape. On land, he went to Küssnacht, and when Gessler arrived, Tell shot him with the crossbow.

This defiance of the Austrian, Gessler, sparked a rebellion, leading to the formation of the Swiss Confederation.

Theatre Brunch 2007

Pictures from the Theatre Brunch Fundraiser held on Sunday October 14th, 2007 at the Fleck Marque, Festival Theatre, Stratford, Ontario.

		Club President Etienne welcomes the guests.
		The brunch was catered by the Queen's Inn, Stratford.
		Rotary Exchange Student Kate Parkin was the Guest Speaker
	Peter Moreton wore his best shoes.

Meet Kate's Parents

The Rotary Club of Festival City Stratford was honoured to host David and Sue Parkin, parents of our Rotary Exchange Student Kate Parkin, at their October 2nd meeting.


Her parents were surprised to find Kate in one piece, not frozen solid and with little psychological scarring. Mr. Parkin thanked the Club for taking such good care of Kate during her visit and for not having abandoned her on an ice flow. Club members explained to Kate's parents that they were, in fact, trying to introduce Kate to the national sport of ice curling. The unfortunate event of Kate licking an aluminum pole in January was not mentioned.

Club Mascot MIA!

At the last meeting of the Festival City Rotary Club, it was discovered that our beloved mascot, Mr. Rab-bit, was missing in action (MIA). He was an active and dearly beloved member of the Club. His very appearance would strike fear into the hearts of Noon Club members.

While we would normally consider the involvement of the "other" Club in his disappearance, this proved not to be the case. After an exhaustive investigation, it appears that the Inn's staff found Mr. Rab-bit, and not knowing what or who he was, sent him off to the big rabbit field in the sky (or the landfill). They offered us a fuzzy plush pink pig, but somehow, its just not the same.

Mr. Rab-bit will return! He is undoubtedly digging his way out of the landfill as we speak.

Theatre Brunch Silent Auction

Rotary Club of Festival City Stratford
Theatre Brunch & Oklahoma
Sunday, October 14, 2007
11:00am at the Festival Theatre

This year our Theatre Brunch will not only feature fine food by the Queens Hotel and an entertaining programme with sheep, but a Silent Auction.

Some of the items generously donated by fellow Rotarians, their spouses and community businesses are:

• fine blankets
  
• luggage
  
• clothing
  
• sports equipment
  
• round of golf
  
• facial care products
  
• numerous and varied gift certificates
  
• auto products
  
• books
  

The monies raised will allow Rotary to continue its work with youth locally and internationally. So bring your cheque books for this great cause.

Membership Drive

David asks Franklin the Turtle to join the Festival City Rotary Club.

Who have you asked lately?