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THE PROBE VOLUME 29 ISSUE 12 SEPTEMBER 2017

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE PROBUS CLUB OF ST. CATHARINES

To stimulate interest and participation in activities at a time of life when one often welcomes new friendships and an atmos-phere of sharing ideas and information. The PROBUS Club of St.Catharines meets at 9:30 a.m. on the second Tues-day of each month at the Grantham Lions Club, 732 Niagara St., St. Catharines, On-tario. Mail: 37 Wakelin Terr., St. Catharines, ON

L2M 4K7 Website: www.probusstcatharines.com Password: lionsclub

2016-2017 MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

President: John Senn 905-984-5360 Vice President Hugh Gayler 905-684-9097 Past President: Andy Redman 905-682-6029 Secretary: Jim Stangier 289-213-2460 Treasurer: Len Thibeault 905-397-6735 Programme: Tim Kaye 905-945-8677 Membership: Ralph Steffen 905-935-3282 Spec.Evnt/Ed. Visits: Emil Knebel 905-685-5976 Probe Editor: Hugh Learmonth 905-934-2268 Webmaster: Russ Milland 289-362-3420

NEXT MEETING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

GRANTHAM LIONS CLUB 732 NIAGARA ST., ST. CATHARINES

September will be the club’s annual General Meeting and our speaker will be Robert Fahlman talking about the illicit ivory trade and saving the African elephant.

GENERAL MEETING

TUESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2017

Call to Order: Vice-President Hugh Gayler called the meeting to order at 9:30 am.

O Canada: Bob Henderson led the singing of the national anthem.

Guests: Ralph Steffen introduced guests Art Wing

and Ivan Samson.

Outreach: Andy Redman gave us an update on members that he has sent cards to: Bob Barber, Jerry Benner, Jim Reive, Bud Walsh, Tom Longo, Bill McMullen, Don McCauley, and Harvey Bailey. Andy also contacted Bob Halfyard who had some health issues but is well enough to be able to at-tend today's meeting. Barry Dunbar has also had heart problems again.

Romeo Lunch: Art Currie said the July lunch was very good and fairly well attended. Next lunch is August 30th at the Dalhousie Yacht Club.

Juliet Dinner: Mac Gollert reminded everyone the next Juliet Dinner will be September 13 at the Grantham Lions Club and will feature a truly Cana-dian menu and a Canadian trivia quiz.

Education Visits: Emil Knebel informed us the next tour will be Sept 19 to the Two Sisters Winery. Price for the tour is $11.80 and the price for the tasting is also $11.80. You can sign up for either the tour or the tasting or for both.

Management Committee: Andy Redman pre-sented the final slate of nominations for the 2017-2018 Management Committee.

Men’s Breakfast: Jim Cameron reminded mem-bers of the initial men’s breakfast planned for An-gel’s Diner on August 14 at 8:30 a.m.

Car Rally: Robin Fancott appealed for help with the car rally scheduled for October 25

th. New mem-

ber Ted Higgins offered to help.

Guest Speaker: In Tim Kaye’s absence, Hugh Gayler announced that next month’s speaker will

(Continued on page 2)

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be Robert Fahlman who will talk about the Illicit Ivory Trade.

New Member Inductions: Hugh Gayler and Ralph Steffen welcomed and inducted new mem-bers Bryan Brodie and Ted Higgins and both presented interesting biographies.

Attendance: Ralph Steffen reported the atten-dance was 45% of membership.

(Continued from page 1)

Management Committee nominations for 2017-2018

In accordance with the PROBUS Club of St. Ca-tharines Bylaw 6 (a) nominations for the 2017-2018 Management Committee were published in the August newsletter and presented to the mem-bership. With no further nominations offered, the following slate of officers will be installed at the Annual General Meeting in September:

President: Hugh Gayler

Vice President: Len Thibeault

Past President: John Senn

Secretary: Jim Stangier (2nd

year)

Treasurer: Dennis Woods

Membership: Ralph Steffen

Programme: Tim Kaye (2nd

year)

Special Events/Educational Visits: Herb Woods (Al Higgins assistant)

The following are considered permanent mem-bers:

Probe Editor: Hugh Learmonth

Webmaster: Russ Milland

Membership Dues

Membership dues for the PROBUS Club of St. Catharines for the 2017-2018 year are payable as of the Annual General Meeting on September 12.

Please submit your cheque for $40, made out to the Probus Club of St. Catharines, to Membership Chair Ralph Steffen at the PROBUS meeting.

Alternatively, you can mail your cheque to:

Ralph Steffen,

2 Daley Drive,

St. Catharines, ON L2M 3H6

Please note: According to Bylaw #12, any mem-ber whose dues remain unpaid by December 15

th,

2017 shall be deemed to have resigned from the club.

Rabbi feels responsibility to insure Holocaust not forgotten

Harold Nash introduced guest speaker Rabbi

Gad Romang from Congregation B’nai Israel in St. Catharines whose subject was What it is like to be a Rabbi in today’s world.

Rabbi Romang, who was born in Argentina, moved to Israel when he was five and has been a Rabbi for 30 years and has lived in five countries. Before coming to St. Catharines he was Dean of Jewish Studies at the American Hebrew Academy in North Carolina.

Rabbi Romang said that he didn’t feel a call from God to enter his profession but rather was

deeply impacted by stories of the Holocaust. His own grandparents died in the Nazi camps and the story of a teacher who was a survi-vor of the camps but held his brother as he died had a huge im-pact on him.

He said that he determined that he must do some-thing to keep the

memory of family alive and remind people of what happened in the Holocaust.

He said a second reason for becoming a rabbi was that he belongs to a tradition that goes back 4,000 years to Abraham and Sarah and he feels a responsibility to maintain the link with the past and the future.

Rabbi Romang said that he is grateful for what he has received and wants to provide for future generations. He added that the most important thing is to live life now.

The Jewish Precepts are a way of life and Rabbi Romang said he feels it is his responsibility to maintain those traditions.

In closing he suggested the most important commandment is that we have to try to make this a better world.

Hugh Gayler thanked Rabbi Romang for his informative presentation.

Rabbi Gad Romang

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An introduction to Bryan Brodie A little background as a way of introduction of

myself.

I was born in 1941 and grew up on a farm just north of Toronto in the Stouffville-Markham area until 1957 when the farm was sold. In 1959, I was off to the Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph, where my father had also attended, to study Mechanical Engineering.

My year was the last before Guelph became a university and it was still an affiliate of U of T. This made it neces-sary to take a fifth year at the U of T to get my Engineering degree. I got more than a degree at Guelph as I got mar-ried between my third and fourth years.

My first job was at Dominion Rub-ber-Uniroyal in Kitchener. A great city to live in where we made good friends and went to the first and many follow-ing Octoberfests.

My second job at John Deere lasted a lot longer. At the Welland factory, the first three years were in new product design and the next three as a sales and marketing rep. In 1972, I became a terri-tory manager in London for two years. In 1974, I was moved into the Branch office which became the big white building beside the QEW in Grimsby. This is when we moved with our two children into our house off Geneva St. near the lake where I still live.

Over the next years I had a number of positions leading up to Division Sales Manager for Con-sumer Products – lawn and garden equipment

from walk-behind lawn movers, snow blowers up to utility vehicles, small diesel tractors, skid steer loaders and small excavators.

What looked like a lifetime job came to an end in 1992 when corporate re-structuring eliminated many middle level management positions like mine. I was off to another career, this time in insur-ance for three years.

The next career was back into the equipment business, this time at the retail level at a dealership as opposed to the previous corporate level. This lasted for five years where I very much enjoyed the work but finally could no longer put up with the constant down grading of pay.

In 2000, I started my last career as a self-employed carpenter, installing doors and trim, doing small renova-tions and finishing basements and family rooms. This continued until 2010, when I had a second hip re-placed. After that I did some mainte-

nance work and small jobs for previous customers. This has declined to where I finally consider myself retired.

My wife passed three and a half years ago. I have a son living in Philadelphia and a daughter in Burlington with three lovely granddaughters.

I learned of PROBUS from a friend who was a founding member of a chapter in Ancaster. I was looking for additional activities and a means to meet new people. So far, this is working out very well – you people are a great bunch to be associ-ated with.

Bryan Brodie

DIRECTORY CHANGES Changes/additions to members mail and/or e-mail ad-dress will be published monthly in the Probe. Please inform any member of the Management Committee of your changes.

Bryan Brodie: (new member) 41 Bayshore Cr. St. Catharines, L2N 5Y7 Phone: 905-932-4502 Email: bwbrodie@gmail.com

Ted Higgins: (new member) 125 Westgate Park Dr. St. Catharines, L2N 5X5 Phone: 905-646-9187 Email: higgit3@yahoo.com

Membership chair Ralph Steffen and vice-president Hugh Gayler officially wel-comed two new members to the club in August. Ted Higgins, left, was spon-sored by George Park and Bryan Brodie, right, was sponsored by Jim Stangier.

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Getting to know Ted Higgins

(Ted Higgins presented his detailed bio at the Au-

gust PROBUS meeting outlining his involvement in many different businesses over the years. Here he has used a resume format to touch on the highlights of his varied business career.)

Small business manager with venture capital experience. Over the years, has been a director

of over twenty-five small businesses.

Since 1997, self-employed as a small business consultant.

Born in 1939 and raised in Montreal. Attended McGill Uni-versity – B. Eng. (Civil) 1960; Univer-sity of Western On-tario – MBA - 1964.

After the MBA de-gree:

P.S. Ross & Partners (now Deloitte) - Con-sultant - Montreal;

J. Walter Thompson (advertising) - Vancouver;

Eaton’s - Department Manager - Vancouver;

International Laboratories (paint manufactur-ing) - General Manager - Winnipeg;

Bowring Gift Shops - General Manager - To-ronto;

Mac’s Convenience Stores - Exec VP/General Manager - Toronto;

BG Acorn Capital Fund (venture capital) - Founding Partner - Toronto;

Innovation Ontario Corporation (venture capi-tal) - Toronto;

Yorkbridge Capital Management (investment banking) - Toronto;

E.C. (Ted) Higgins Management - St. Cathari-nes.

Married (Jennifer) with four children and five grandchildren

Retired and moved to St. Catharines in 1997. Spend winters in Hilton Head Island.

Interests and activities:

Past: squash, tennis, sail boating,

Present: cycling, golf, bridge, travel

Volunteering: (new hospital and food bank).

Ted Higgins

PROBUS visits/events by Emil Knebel:

Two Sisters Winery, 240 John St. East, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Sept. 19, 1 pm: Sign up for this tour and tasting at the September general meet-ing. Cost is $11.80 (including tax) for the tour and $11.80 for the tasting. One or both events can be purchased. Maximum tour size is 20 to 25 people. Spouses and guests are welcome. Further details will be provided at the September meeting.

PROBUS Fall Car Rally: October 25. See Page 8 for details.

Second men’s breakfast set The initial PROBUS men’s breakfast was held

in August and a dozen members enjoyed the food and conversation.

After consultation with others, Past Presidents Jim Cameron and George Allan have set Monday, September 18th as the date for the next breakfast. An invitation is extended to interested members.

It will again be held at Angel’s Diner in Henley Plaza on Ontario Street starting at 8:30 a.m.

Reminder of next Juliet Dinner Hopefully your have already signed up but don’t

forget that the first Juliet Dinner of the fall season is planned for September 13th at the Grantham Lions Club.

Co-convenors Andy Reyes and Mac Gollert have arranged for a special menu and evening to help mark Canada’s 150th birthday.

The buffet dinner will be served at 6 p.m. and you can bring your own wine.

SUB COMMITTEES AND SOCIAL

EVENT CONVENORS

The following activities are approved and spon-sored by the PROBUS Club of St. Catharines.

Romeo Lunch: Art Currie 905-938-1264 Juliet Dinners: Mac Gollert 905-934-1813 Andy Reyes 905-937-2982 Wood Carving: Jerry Benner 905-892-5878 Curling: Jack Corbett 905-682-9923 Poker: Doug Wright 905-988-5539 Theatre Visits: Bob Henderson 905-682-3724 Outreach: Andy Redman 905-682-6029 Bridge: Couples: Len Thibeault 905-397-6735 Dancing: Andy Reyes 905-937-2982

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2016-2017 Annual Reports

Following are annual reports provided by man-agement committee members and various activity convenors.

Program Report The following speakers presented at the PRO-

BUS Club during 2016-2017:

October: Steve Gill - GM, Niagara College Brew-ing Enterprise (NC teaching winery, NC teaching brewery).

November: Leon Evans - The Lancaster Project.

December: Ed Kidd - Principal Ridley College.

January: Dennis Ray – Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.

February: Bob Martin - Manager Martin Green Houses - History, purpose, and goals of his organi-zation and how this falls into the larger picture of greenhouse industry and its challenges.

March: Meeting cancelled due to winter storm.

April: Adrian Phair - Welland Canal Fallen Work-ers Memorial.

May: Art Currie - Vimy Ridge - film documentary on VR by Norm Christie.

June: Annick Gionet - The Owl Foundation.

July: Bradley Hammond - Canada's plan for safe, long term management of nuclear waste.

August: Rabbi Gad Romang - What does it mean to be a Rabbi today.

September: Robert Fahlman - The Illicit Ivory Trade & Saving the African Elephant.

— Submitted by Tim Kaye

Membership Membership statistics for 2016-2017:

Full Membership………………………………….133 Life members…………………………………...… 4 Inactive members…………………………...…… 4 New members……………………………..…...... 5 Deceased members…………………………..…. 8 PROBUS materials inventory Lapel Pins. — President………………………...... 6 — Past President……………….….... 4 — Regular……...…………….……... 10

Pens…………………………....………………….. 18 Name Tags / Badges………………...….………. 3 Mugs………………………………...……….……. 2 — Membership chair, Ralph Steffen

Romeo Lunch The purpose of the Romeo lunches (Retired Old

Men Eating Out) is to give members an opportunity to socialize in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere over a light meal and beverage; something that is not possible within the more formal format of the monthly meetings. The Romeo lunches also give members an excellent opportunity to introduce new prospects to our club.

This past year the Romeo lunches were held each month except January at the Dalhousie Yacht Club on Lighthouse Road. We also cancelled the end of May lunch since we held the Management Barbecue at the Yacht Club the following week.

The Yacht Club dining room/bar serves our needs very well, offering a pleasant, comfortable, relaxed atmosphere, and good food and drinks at reasonable prices.

Our attendance this past year averaged 24 – 26 members and guests each month.

This past year we again invited spouses and friends for our Christmas turkey buffet lunch with an excellent turnout of 90 people.

Again, the June lunch was replaced by the man-agement barbecue for members, spouses and friends with a very satisfactory turnout of 90.

Thank you very much for your encouragement and support.

This coming year I hope more members will join us for a fun time during our Romeo lunches.

— Submitted by Art Currie, Convenor

Juliet Dinners In the previous 12 months, there have been

three Juliet dinners — in September, November, and April. The support of members, spouses and guests resulted in very high attendance...and Why Not?

The buffets are always delicious as provided by Classic Caterers and the setting at the Grantham Lions Club is so comfortable with the round tables format conducive to socializing over tasty food and an entertaining program.

We remind you of the upcoming Juliet Dinner to be held on September 13, 2017, as hosted by Andy Reyes and Mac Gollert. These new convenors will provide members, spouses and guests with excep-tional food, festivities and fellowship.

Submitted by co-convenors Glenn Steel, Dick Holden and Bruce Knicley.

— Bruce Knicley

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Outreach Report Sickness and Disability:

Several members experienced sickness or dis-ability, especially over the winter. Some have re-covered and continued attending club meetings and other social events. Others cannot attend due to their own or partner’s health. One such past member is Don McAuley, President 1999-2000. I recently visited him at Shaver Hospital.

Others who have experienced ongoing chal-lenges include: Koos Smoor; Harvey Bailey; Lorne Finn; Doug Court; Tom Longo; Henry Becker; Barry Dunbar and ever reliable carving leader, Jerry Benner. If you know any of these members, please reach out to them, they would benefit from caring contact. Surprise, the resilient Koos and Henry returned to PROBUS in July. Welcome back!

Three members have relocated closer to family. Founding Life Member and Past President, Stuart Glass, has moved to Chatham. Bob Mitchell, has moved to Dundas. Tom van Loenen, has moved to the Burlington area.

Deceased:

Sadly, it is reported that the following members have passed on:

Don Brown. Past President. October 9, 2016.

Bill Finley. November 6, 2016.

Don Ashdown. November 26, 2016.

Keith Pullin. December 26, 2016.

Bill Tytanek. April 30, 2017.

Ray Muirhead. May, 2017.

Leo MacDonald. July 2, 2017.

Frank Colbourne, August 23, 2017.

Comment:

Thanks go to back-up “Outreach” members: Vic Cicci; John Senn; Jim Cameron; John Con-gram, who stand ready to assist with this impor-tant PROBUS service. They, and many others, have attended funeral services to let families and friends know that PROBUS Club of St. Catharines cares about each other. Thank you.

How can YOU help Outreach? Please let any of the above committee members know of any mem-ber who is needing a kind word between each meeting so that we can be pro-active in reaching out.

As I step down, thank you all for supporting me and allowing me to be of service.

— Outreach chair Andy Redman

Tours/Visits and Events During 2016-2017 the following Educational

visits/events were organized for PROBUS mem-bers and their guests:

Sept. 19, 2016: Megalomaniac Winery, Vineland.

Nov. 29, 2016: Hendriks Greenhouses in Beams-ville.

March 2, 2017: Ice Dogs vs Kitchener Rangers hockey game at the Meridian Centre.

April 18, 2017: Willowbank Centre in Queenston

June 1, 2017: Management Barbecue.

June 6, 2107: Kemira Industries, chemical plant in St. Catharines

The tours/events were well attended with visits that included agriculture, winery, entertainment, heritage and an industrial chemical plant.

— Submitted by Emil Knebel

Theatre Trip On Friday June 16

th, PROBUS members, wives

and friends, went to the Stratford Festival to see the Musical “GUYS AND DOLLS”.

After a lunch at the Queen’s Inn, we proceeded to the Festival Theatre for the 2 pm performance.

Everyone enjoyed the musical and especially the dancing in this production.

Great Canadian supplied the travel arrange-ments and the theatre tickets cost $153 each. The seats were in the premium section A+ and our driver was excellent.

We look forward to seeing another musical in June 2018. — Bob Henderson

Woodcarving The PROBUS woodcarvers, although small in

numbers, continue to meet weekly with some other carvers at the Port Dalhousie Seniors’ Centre.

The group’s long-time convenor Jerry Benner was laid up with health issues this year but hopes to return when they reconvene in September.

A welcome is extended to any PROBUS mem-bers interested in trying carving. Jerry has said in the past that lessons are free and, if he knows you are coming, he will provide knives and blanks.

The group meets from 9:30 until 11:30 am. starting the second Thursday in September and continuing through until the end of May.

Jerry can be reached at 905-892-5878.

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Couples’ Bridge

In 2016-2017 the PROBUS Couples Bridge group was comprised of five couples who formed the core group and a number of couples on a spares list. The number of couples has dropped from the year before.

The PROBUS Couples Bridge group meets at 7 pm on the second Thursday of the month from October through to about May. Six couples meet at the home of one of the core members on a ro-tating basis. With a reduced number of couples we are having some trouble having three bridge ta-bles.

We have a great time playing bridge and social-izing until about 10:30 pm. At the end of the eve-ning we reward the high female and male competi-tors. We don't forget the low scorer either.

Our ranks are getting a wee bit depleted, so we are looking for new members to fill out our ranks. It's really a fun evening of bridge!

If you are interesting in joining our fun group, contact me at:

Len Thibeault 905-397-6735 or at len.thibeault@cogeco.ca

— Len Thibeault

Poker

The PROBUS Poker Group meets on the Fri-

day after each monthly PROBUS meeting, for an entertaining evening of fun, camaraderie, humour and cards.

The games' hosts are scheduled in alphabetical order and several substitutes are available, if nec-essary. Each player starts with $20 in chips, each bet is 25c maximum with three bumps allowed. If you run out of chips, you continue playing but can-not bet until you win a pot.

The games played are 'dealer’s choice' (cards 'talk'), and the host supplies snacks and drinks.

The games start at 7 pm, the last hand starts at 11 pm, and the evening is over.

Anyone interested in joining this group please contact Doug Wright at (905) 988-5539.

— Submitted by Doug Wright

Dancing Dancing in Niagara remains popular among the

young adults and seniors as old as 70 or 80 years of age. My wife, at 81, and myself at over 86, par-ticipate in dancing weekly in the Niagara region, generally in the St. Catharines area. The ball-rooms are generally packed!

There are many dances held in St. Catharines but the popular ones are in the Seniors’ Centre on Dunlop Drive, Club Heidelberg on Lake Street, Polish Legion on Vine Street and Club Roma on Vansickle Road. Dances start at 2 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Seniors’ Centre; 7:30 p.m. every third Tuesday of the month at Club Roma; 7:30 p.m. every first and third Friday at Club Hei-delberg or 6:30 p.m. every Sunday at Club Heidel-berg.

There is music provided by a DJ or a live band for ballroom and Latin dances and for social or line dancing.

The cost is free at Club Roma, $5 per person at the Seniors’ Centre and $10 per person at Club Heidelberg or the Polish Legion.

— Andy Reyes

Website The PROBUS St. Catharines website at www.probusstcatharines.com continues to provide the public with information about our club and con-tinues to attract new members. This includes cop-ies of reports of the presentations at each of our monthly meetings (as published in our Probe news-letter). The website also provides our members with additional information about us as well, such as many years of past “probe newsletters” and a roster of our members with their pictures. Do check out your picture on the website and if you wish to change it, send a “head and shoulders” picture of yourself to russmilland@probusstcatharines.com .

Be reminded that the password for the mem-bers’ area is “lionsclub”.

— Russ Milland

Curling The PROBUS Club came up one player short of

having two full teams compete at the annual Ser-vice Club Bonspiel at the St. Catharines Golf and Country Club in February.

Playing as one four-man team and one three-man entry were Hugh Learmonth, Vic Cicci, Jack Corbett, Brian Duckett, Stan Oprendek, Harry Col-lier and Bob Close.

The teams enjoyed a good day of fellowship and avoided winning the points championship which would have meant organizing next year’s bonspiel. — Convenor Jack Corbett

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WEEKLY ACTIVITIES: Wood carving resumes Thursday September 14.

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 2

3 4

5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

13

JULIET DINNER

14 15

POKER

16

17 18

MEN’S BREAKFAST

19

THREE SISTERS

WINE TOUR

20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27

ROMEO LUNCH

28 29 30

September 2017

Announcing the Great 2017 Probus Fall Car Rally

Wednesday, October 25th, through the scenic and historic Short Hills area. Participants will

leave from the parking lot of the Decew (Decou) Stone House on Decew Rd. just west of Merritt-

ville Highway at 9:15 a.m. finishing for lunch at the Dalhousie Yacht Club.

Departure between 9:15 and 10:00 a.m.. The rally should take about 2 hours. Cost is minimal - $2

per person to pay for prizes . Prizes will be awarded to the 2 cars with the most correct answers.

You need a driver and a navigator (your wife, your girlfriend or a PROBUS buddy) and a pen.

Sign up at the September meeting.