Directors: Henny Boeters, Kees Boeters, Ben Van Heeswijk, Bob Wilson and David Brian
Attendance:
Members: 11
Guests:
Birthdays: None
Anniversaries: None
Meeting Date: Jan. 20, 2025 at the Anglican Parish Hall. After the usual wonderful meal prepared by the ACW, David started this meeting by thanking the ladies in the kitchen.
Correspondence: Paul
a) Diabetes Canada request for a donation
Since it is for Diabetes Canada, not local, we will not contribute
b) Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation request for a donation
$1000 from the Home Care Account will be donated to the C-K Hospice Foundation
Program: Kees introduced Paul – “The Mary Webb Centre Story”
Using PowerPoint, Paul went over the history of the Highgate United church starting with Mary Webb Gosnell in 1834 and moving to Highgate in 1879
The present church was built in 1898, but burned down in 1917
It was rebuilt in 1918
In 2009, the church could no longer continue to operate, and was purchased by a group of citizens from Highgate and vicinity
The first concert was held in May 2010, with the deconsecration in June 2010 and incorporation in Jan. 2011
Paul explained the objectives of the Mary Webb Centre for the Arts (MWC) and its four main uses, a concert/performing arts centre, an art gallery and community centre plus a museum
Paul explained the uses of the museum including the history of Highgate Mastodon
He explained the unique stained glass dome, the complicated process to take it down in May of 2023, and how it is being totally repaired by Magnolia Stained Glass in Blenheim ON
There are 8 sections to the dome, each made up of 3 sections, with each section containing about 100 pieces of glass
There is also a centre portion with another 100 pieces for a total of over 2500 pieces
There is a fund raising project, “Weave a Webb of Support”
A donation of $25 pays for the refurbishing of one pain of glass
It will be finished in May, 2025
He showed how the Centre helps preserve pieces of art in Highgate, including the metal sculpture in front of the MWC and the late 1880s pump organ that has been totally cleaned and repaired and is in the lobby going into the concert hall
A number of recent developments at the MWC include totally repairing the heating in the original part of the MWC, an addition that includes an office, a lift, and new washrooms
Also, new carpeting and updated stage in the concert hall, plus Wi-Fi throughout the building
The 2024-25 concert schedule was shown
To find out more about the MWC, go to a concert, access marywebbcentre.ca, look on Facebook and Instagram plus go to the MWC on Thursdays from 2-4 pm
Membership is $10 per year which gets you e-blasts and an opportunity at each concert to win two tickets to the next concert
“ Without Music Life Would Bb “
Committees:
a. Bob: Car Show + 150 Anniversary
Sunday, July 13, 2025
A committee meeting will be held to organize, but those on the committee have done this many time before
b. Kees: Pancake Breakfast
Saturday, April 5th
The Scouts will take the lead this year
c. David k/Judie; Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, April 19th
We have $400 to buy gifts, with the BIA donating the bicycle for the child who finds the golden egg
An ad will be placed in the Independent inviting children to participate and asking for donations of to
Other : David B:
Thursday, April 3rd, there will be a Rotary Fun Night for all Rotary clubs in C-K
More information to come
Happy Bucks::
Reinout and Debbie to Florida in Feb. and March
Jeff G will cover the books over that period
David B: his wife has a job teaching for a few months, so David has the house to himself
Kees and Henny have a new vehicle, a hybrid Rave 4
50-50 winner was Paul Brown
Leader David asked if there was “Anything for the good of Rotary?”
Leader David closed the meeting at 7:50 pm
The next meeting is on: Feb 3, 2025 - speaker, David Brian: “Jing-Hang”, China’s Grand Canal - longest, oldest, canal in the world.
The theme for the 2024-25 Rotary year is The Magic of Rotary
l-r:Speaker and Rotarian Paul Brown and Leader David Brian
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