Thanks for your support and a few other thoughts

It’s been a bit of whirlwind lately but we were able to finally able to make our big announcement recently.

As you probably know by now, my co-worker Laura, her husband Dominic and myself recently purchased the River Town Times. The deal was finalized earlier this month and we were able to make the announcement in our July 5 issue.

There is and will continue to be a learning curve for us going forward. Laura and I will be the ones in the office on a day-to-day basis with the three of us also working remotely on the business end of it.

Thanks to the community for its continued support of the paper. We’ve been congratulated by members of the community as well as friends and family, so that is very much appreciated by us all. It’s been a process to get to this point, so it is nice to be able to let the community in on what we’ve been working on.

Just A Thought

Ron Giofu

We have some ideas for the future but the immediate goal is simply to get our legs under us and keep the RTT going from week-to-week.

We’ll pick up new skills, encounter a few bumps in the road and take on new things we haven’t done before, but we will get through it and continue to value our readers and advertisers. Thanks to everyone for your support thus far!

Track ideas

The recent discussion about fundraising for a new track within H. Murray Smith Centennial Park has me thinking of a related issue. I would welcome anyone who wants to see a track and wants to financially support it be able to do so. My issue is what is going to go on inside of it.

Like most tracks, there is a sports field inside of it. I know fundraising for the track itself is a large enough task, but I had a few ideas for the sports field. In a perfect world, I would like to see a turf field with lights so that soccer and football teams from North Star High School can use it as well as teams from Amherstburg and surrounding communities. Ideally, a field like that coupled with the one at the Libro Centre could attract tournaments and championships as a pair of nice facilities would be appealing.

I’ve been to the new sports complex at Holy Names Catholic High School in Windsor and I was impressed by it. St. Thomas of Villanova Secondary School has a grass field, which I would be OK with too, and their set-up is nice.

Again, I get that fundraising for the track itself is a big task. I am also aware of needs and wants at other parks within

Amherstburg. I just wanted to put some suggestions out there for a sports field at H. Murray Smith Centennial Park to ensure that is on the long-term radar as well.

Sharing a birthday

I celebrated my 50th birthday earlier this year and I am quickly realizing I am not alone. Amherstburg Community Services (ACS), the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) and Park House Museum are also joining the half-century club this year, with us recently covering some of their festivities. I jokingly think to myself that ACS, ERCA and the founding of the Park House Museum saved the year and that my birthday didn’t drag down the year too badly.

The founding of those three organizations are among those that continue to do good work in the area. I thank these organizations, and every other one, celebrating a milestone this year.

Rotarians host “Meet the Governor” night, thank outgoing Rotary International president

By Ron Giofu

Rotarians from southwestern Ontario and Michigan had an opportunity to meet their new District Governor and thank their outgoing District Governor as well hear from the outgoing president of Rotary International.

The Rotary Club of Harrow hosted the 70th annual Super District 6400 “Meet the Governor” night, with the venue this year actually being in Amherstburg. A packed room greeted each other and the Rotary dignitaries at Coachwood Golf & Country Club.

Prior to the dinner being served, past district governors paraded into the dining room holding lanterns they had received while visiting the Rotary Club of Amherstburg. The lanterns were custom-made by Hazen Price, who passed away in Dec. 2022 at age 99. Price, who was an Amherstburg Rotarian for 74 years, had attended the bulk of the “Meet the Governor” night before his health took a downturn.

Traci Sincock, outgoing governor of District 6400, was thanked for her year in the role.

“Alone, we can do so little. Together, we can do so much,” Sincock said.

Sincock said they can cultivate partnerships and try to groom Rotary leadership. She told the crowd their service matters and “each of you are inspiring to others.” She recalled the Rotary Day of Service Sept. 17 and her efforts to get to as many of the clubs in the district as she could to review their projects.

Growing the Rotary movement was also cited, and she also wanted to see more work done to improve the club experience.

“I get such energy being with people,” she added. “We have to imagine our impact, imagine Rotary and make a difference,” said Sincock, who is from the Northville Rotary Club.

Incoming District Governor Russ Jones, a member of the Plymouth Rotary Club, identified three goals for his one-year term. He said he wants to improve leadership opportunities within Rotary, boost membership and emphasize the “Be The One” motto to improve the world.

Russ thanked Sincock for her leadership and said Rotary tries to build on each year before them.

Relating to the goal of improving leadership opportunities, Russ thanked club leaders for their projects with their own clubs but wanted to foster chances to have presidents move up within the district once their terms are up.

“We all exist to support the clubs,” he said. “The clubs do the work,” he stated.

Pointing out there are 1,500 members within District 6400, Russ added, while new people are coming in annually, “people are falling off the back end.” He said work has to be done to keep members.

“We know we’re great but how do other people see us?” said Russ.

The slogan “Be The One” means being a person to step up and take leadership in improving their community and the world. That includes inviting more people to join their respective clubs.

“Be The One to create hope in the world,” said Russ.

Jennifer Jones, the outgoing Rotary International president and WindsorRoseland Rotarian, also reviewed her year. She was the first woman to be Rotary International president in the club’s 115-year history.

“We are members of an organization of leaders who perform service,” said Jennifer. “We are not elitist but we demand excellence and we should not apologize for that.”

With a lot of unrest in the world, Jennifer called the Rotary Club “a beacon” and believes they can change the world. She added she visited 57 countries in her year as Rotary International president.

“In order to live in the kind of society you want, you have to help build it,” said Jennifer. “I believe this is our call to action.”

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