Next up, Doug Snider introduced our three special guests. Firstly there was Peter Matthewman, a stalwart member of our community who had in large measure led the charge to make our Hospice Prince Edward a reality as Chair of the original Building Committee and which included both Doug, himself and Grant Robinson together succeeding in bringing the conversion of a residence on Downes Avenue from a traditional family home to a model hospice on time and on budget! Peter was joined at today’s meeting by Linda Veenstra and Dr. Susan Brajtman the current president and chair of the Board.
Linda took the lead in the presentation by herself tying her remarks to the qualities outlined again on our website, being those of “partnership, humanitarian, history, change, diversity and equity”. She conveyed her appreciation for the long and ongoing involvement of Rotary every step of the way including participation on the Building Committee, the original donation of $100,000.00 which pushed the original campaign way over the halfway point at the time, subsequent annual donations and help with the annual Hike For Hospice fund raiser.
We learned that the “big” donation was made possible by a legacy of former member Harry Young who had stipulated before his death that it should be applied to a sustainable asset for the good of the community. It was then that we learned from Rick Jones that he now lives in Harry’s old house on the Glenora Road.
Linda concluded by appealing for volunteers to serve on the Board and in particular was seeking two “grillmasters” to help out at this Year’s Hike For Hospice event to be held on May 31st. in Bloomfield. Apparently in dire need of the offered set of inscribed BBQ tools, and as a Bloomfield resident, Rob Leek jumped right up. It was now that we learned that it had, in fact been Harry Young who had originally crafted our Club Lecturn still in use at our regular Club meetings today - who knew?