Rotarian Cassandra Bonn was pleased to introduce Tatyana Haddock to the Rotary Club of Belleville as one of its newest members.  As Tatyana's sponsor, Cassandra shared how she became known to Tatyana and her eventual membership in the Club.  Past President Peter Malone shared information on the criteria for becoming a Rotarian based on a quote from Paul Harris in 1933, Rotary's Founder who said “if you have the love of your fellow men in your hearts, my friends, you are a potential Rotarian”. Today's Rotary values remain consistent and include integrity, leadership, fellowship and Service Above Self.  These characteristics were evident in Tatyana, someone who was willing to serve their community at home and around the world. The Membership Committee accepted Tatyana's application to become a member and recommended her to the Rotary Board and the members of the Club. As a member of Rotary International and its 1.4 million Rotarians in over 200 countries worldwide, Tatyana was welcomed into a great adventure of friendship and service to the community.  Past President Peter presented Tatyana with her name badge, a Rotary History Book and lapel pin and a copy of the Roster and encouraging words to become one of the Club's great Rotarians. We will hear further from Tatyana when she presents her Classification Talk to the Club!

As Remembrance Day approaches, we take a moment to honour the men and women whose courage and sacrifices have helped shape the country we are so fortunate to call home.  November 11th is a day dedicated to remembering.  Our gratitude for those who have served should extend far beyond this one day.  Rotarian Cristina Cadavid was honoured to introduce today's guest speaker, someone who has devoted so much of her life to serving both her country and her community.

Captain (retired) Russell was very pleased to be invited to Rotary today and share a little information about the Canadian Cadet Organizations.  Cynthia Russell reached the Compulsory Retirement Age and released from the Canadian Armed Forces four years ago, after serving 10 years as a member of Cadet Instructor Cadre, specifically with 608 Duke of Edinburgh Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron here in Belleville.  Since the late 1800's the Canadian Cadet Program has offered valuable training to young Canadians free of charge.  Army Cadets came first as part of a young militia school program with the mandate of training boys over the age of 12 in military skills and drill.  The program thrived with more than 64,000 Cadets enrolled, thousands of whom would go on to volunteer to serve Canada overseas.  In 1917 the Navy League of Canada established the Boy's Navy Brigade to encourage young men toward a seafaring career and provide basic training in citizenship and seamanship.  In 1941 the Air Cadet League of Canada was officially incorporated as a voluntary organization with the mandate of working in partnership with the Royal Canadian Air Force to sponsor young men as future Air Crew.  As far as the 608 squadron in Belleville, during WWII, an Air Cadet squadron was formed and operated in the City.  Although no records were retained on this original unit, it did serve to found a legacy to be built upon in the future.  In the 1950's Air Cadet Corps and Air Cadet Squadrons were established in various high school locations throughout Hastings County.  Squadron 608 (Belleville) was chartered in 1955 and house in Quinte Secondary School.  By 1962, 608 began parading out of the Belleville Armouries (and does still to this day).  In 1973, Army Navy and Airforce Veterans in Canada, Duke of Edinburgh, Unit 201 petitioned HRH Prince Philip for permission to use the Duke of Edinburgh appellation as part of the squadron name.  The Prince granted permission and so it has been since that time, 608 Duke of Edinburgh Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron.

There are approximately 53,500 Cadets in cities and towns all across Canada – 8,490 Sea Cadets, 18,920 Army Cadets and 25,890 Air Cadets.  There are 235 Sea Cadet Corps, 429 Army Cadet Corps and 453 Air Cadet Squadrons.  Girls were admitted to the program in 1975 which means that although Captain Cynthia Russell would grow up to command a squadron, she was not allowed to be a member in her youth.  Training for the air cadet program is significant and consists of 5 levels of training where the cadets learn about leadership and citizenship, instructional techniques, conflict resolution, drill and ceremonial, aviation and aerospace, military history, marksmanship, aircrew survival.  From a personal perspective as a Squadron leader, Captain Russell remembers the times when cadets exhibited the highest levels of community benevolence and citizenship and showed their community an example of the very best their generation had to offer.  They stepped up and made a difference.  Captain Russell has been immeasurably proud of these young people.   They are committed, dedicated and possess such focus in their pursuit of excellence.  They are respectful and aware.  These are future leaders!  Rotarian Jennifer Savini thanked Captain Cynthia Russell for all the information she shared.  Jennifer's nephew is in the air cadet program out West so she is aware of the program's foundation and focus on leadership and citizenship.

Rotarian and Director Ruth Mathieson, Co-Chair of the International Service Committee introduced today's speaker, Rotarian Peter Chabursky, Chair of Intercountry Committee Canada Ukraine, a non-profit organization focused on building bridges of peace, service and friendship between Canada and Ukraine.  Originally Ruth connected with Peter through an initiative to help the Ukrainians survive a freezing winter without heat or electricity.  A critical need for generators was identified, ensuring food could be prepared and water heated during the winter months as well as keeping institutions running.  Various capacities of generators come at a cost of $667 to $2,500 Canadian dollars.  Peter is a perfect ambassador of this project as he is fluent in 4 languages, English, French, Ukranian and Russian.  He earned a BA (Hon) in Public Administration, followed by a degree in International Business Development and Organizational Behaviour.

The Rotary Club of Belleville donated money towards procuring generators to be used in hospitals, schools and apartment buildings and Peter Chabursky met with Ruth Mathieson to thank the Club for their generosity and present them with a banner from his Rotary Club of West Ottawa.  Overall, more than 50 generators and power equipment were delivered across regions like Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk and Volyn.  This was one of the committee's core humanitarian projects as well as children and refugee aid, supporting war orphans, internally displaced families and children with specialized medical needs through home renovations, supplies and community care programs.  Further assistance was provided for animals affected by ongoing conflict by supporting animal and community shelters.

Peter thanked the Rotary Club for their contribution.  By working together, light, warmth and hope has been brought to communities living in areas without electricity, where even in the harsh conditions of darkness and cold, everyday life continues.  Peter also pointed out the incredible efforts of Rotary Clubs in Ukraine, whose volunteers ensured efficient logistics and fully transparent, fast distribution of the generators.  The project is ongoing.  Unfortunately, as the number of damaged energy facilities continues to grow, so does the need for support.  The committee remains committed to continuing this important work.

Rotarian Andrew Kole thanked Peter for sharing the efforts of this important work and to help us gain an understanding of tangible ways that we can support this work.  It is very important and is making a difference in a meaningful way.  Andrew was born and raised in Ukraine and seeing the work being done and the magnitude of continuing with this work hits home for him.  Andrew presented Peter with a book on the history of the Rotary Club of Belleville.

A short story title for a long, challenging journey for Past President Kristin Crowe who invited everyone to follow her along a road that she never imagined she would be on.Twenty years ago, Kristin was the President of the Rotary Club of Belleville and describes herself as a dues-paying, missing-in-action Rotarian.  In true Kristin fashion, she brought her humour to the podium when she said if people got bored listening to her, they could quietly exit and she probably wouldn't see them leave, but she would hear them.  So leave quietly. No one left and you could hear a pin drop.  Kleenex boxes were in abundance and the room was packed.

Kristin became a member of the Rotary Club in 2002, having moved back to the area with her two boys to run the family business.  She immersed herself in Rotary, having grown up in a Rotary family, her dad being incredibly involved. She became President in 2007-2008, a special Rotary Year because Wilf Wilkinson was Rotary International President.  One of our own.  But not long after her President term, cancer entered her life with a primary diagnosis in 2009 when she was in her early 40's, her father had passed very suddenly the year before and her boys were only 10 and 8 years old.  Their little hearts were broken and Kristin didn't know then how many times cancer was going to try and rewrite their story.  Cancer consumed Kristin's life, but with determination she got back to living, doubling the size of the family business, running a marathon, elevation hiking, cycling through the Rockies with Lance Armstrong, raising $57,000 in 5 weeks for breast cancer research.  Breast cancer returned in 2017, this time to her lungs, but again, once treatment was done, Kristin went back to living, adding to her collage of travel adventures.  In 2022 following an MRI, alone  and terrified, she was told that breast cancer had found its way to her brain.  Following two craniotomies, radiation and complications from surgery and treatment, Kristin's vision was compromised and she found herself facing a mountain she didn't know how to climb!  Kristin's brain was receiving only half the visual information, an incomplete picture that made no sense.  And then came grief for herself, her boys, her family, losing her independence and the life she knew and loved.  Kristin lost hope, but eventually, picked herself up and slow started learning how to navigate the world differently.

Kristin became a researcher, an advocator and almost medical doctor as she learned how to navigate the world differently.  In 2025 Kristin did the Camino de Santiago with Rotarian Doug Peterson and Judi Rufo, two very special people and turned that walk into one incredible fundraiser, funding a much needed tissue processor for the lab at BGH!.  Kristin explained the impact of her declining vision.  Although the cancer appears to be stable, Kristin encounters daily challenges and the neurological effects that come with those challenges.  Testing, digging, advocating, learning for herself alongside her doctors who are also learning.  Still looking for answers, alternate treatment, possibilities, asking questions.  One of Kristin's most important lessons was to completely redefine what strength looks like.  Strength is not being capable or independent, holding things together, figuring things out, not needing too much from people.  Kristin has learned that her strength is to reach out, ask for help, cry, accept her fears, her hopes, her sadness and finding that enormous strength comes from vulnerability, being willing to accept and receive service from others.  Another lesson to learn is how to slow down, to become an observer, having the courage to sit in a quiet room and meet yourself there, to notice more of life without going anywhere.  None of us know how much time we have and Kristin's focus is being here, intending to live, not waiting for the future, knowing life is precious.  It can be messy, beautiful, heartbreaking, hilarious, unpredictable and Kristin is not finished living yet.

Two new members were introduced to the Rotary Club of Belleville at the club's lunch meeting on October 22nd.  Alex Bruce and Janet Jarrell.  Alex is a local entrepreneur who has given much to the community since he moved here with his family 10 years ago.  Busy opening a restaurant called The Lark, raising his two daughters with his wife Celine, meeting many wonderful people along the way, adopting a couple of dogs and getting involved with a few volunteer groups, Alex recognizes the kindness of people and feels privileged to be able to do more to give back and pay the kindness and generosity of the community forward.  He is particularly focused on Rotary's philosophy of “Service Above Self” and is excited to bring his energy, business experience and perspective to Rotary.  We will hear more from Alex when he presents his Classification Talk to the membership.

Rotarian John Smale introduced Janet, the Executive Director of the Quinte Arts Council, leading the organization since 2018.  With a background in business, not-for-profit leadership, marketing and strategic planning, Janet is committed to building strong organizations, fostering community partnerships and demonstrating the economic and social value of arts and culture.  Janet also serves as Chair of the Alliance of Arts Councils of Ontario, is a part-time Professor of Business Studies at Loyalist College, a published author, editor and grant assessor as well as raising 6 children and 8 grandchildren.  The strong partnerships that Janet believes in will be carried into her Rotary life as she brings her expertise to the Club.  More to come from Janet when she presents her Classification Talk to the membership.

The evening Rotary Club meeting held at Capers on Thursday, October 29th saw the introduction of five (5) new Rotarians and here is a little information on each of them.  Their upcoming Classification Talks will give us a bigger picture of themselves and why they chose to join the Rotary Club of Belleville.

Melissa Haig has called Belleville home since 1987 when she returned to manage the family business following her father's retirement from Kwik Kopy, now Allegra Belleville - Marketing, Print, Mail.  Melissa has been active in community service since childhood and that has expanded into her current career and volunteer work.  She admits to looking for a lasting community connection and has found that in Rotary with much encouragement from Past President Peter Malone.  Melissa is looking forward to learn more about the Club, the events and opportunities it provides in the community and getting involved.

Paul Haig was born and raised in the Quinte area and proudly calls Belleville his home.  His career has been focused on telecommunications, technical support, product trials, design testing and product ownerships with many opportunities to travel.  Paul is looking forward to becoming more involved in the community through Rotary and sees it as an opportunity to learn, grow and contribute in a meaningful way.

Heath Beatson is the principal of the Junior School at Albert College, with more than 20 years experience in education, including teaching and leadership roles in Canada and internationally.  Heath is passionate about creating environments where young people develop confidence, curiosity, character and a strong sense of belonging.  Heath has volunteered as a Big Brother with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hastings and Prince Edward County as well as with the Children's Safety Village.  He is looking forward to being part of Rotary, contributing and supporting initiatives that make a meaningful difference in the lives of people.

Paola De la Pena Seijas is a financial controller with White's Mechanical and Fabrication, a local manufacturing company.  Paola loves the culture of helping and community involvement and being part of Rotary that connects those dots.  She has volunteered with the Quinte Home Builders Association Home Show and has served on the YouthHab Board.  Paola loves numbers and is looking forward to sharing her expertise with others.

Patti McDougall is currently the Director of Sales and Growth with Tulips and Maple Catering following her professional life in the area of management with McDonald's and later Papa John's Pizza as owner/operator.  Patti's true passion is with children to ensure every child has the proper start and support to a successful life.  Patti's volunteer work includes being on the Learning Foundation Board and volunteering with a lunch program at one of our schools.  We look forward to hearing more about the experience that Patti brings to the table.