Janet Stead
Formerly RC of Washago, now a member of ReCCO, an e club based out of Edmonton. For a direct link : https//portal.clubrunner.ca/8529
She spoke to our club about the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which her club is supporting.
They are funding books for ten indigenous communities in the Northwest Territories, ensuring that childrn 0-5 years receive age appropriate books. She outlined the many benefits to those young children that reading will bring.
These books, which are sent out monthly, cost about $3.70 each, including postage. Their club is asking for other Rotary clubs to help support them in this endeavour. This year's costs will be approximately $15,000.00.
Lynne Thompson Classification Talk
Born in Windsor On to two teachers. Father taught chemistry, physics and agriculture. Mother taught English, French, Latin and Home Ec.
Youngest of 3 girls, all of whom were taught to engage in their community and give back- even though we didn't have a lot of financial resources. We learned to respect, appreciate and care for our environment from a very early age. We always had a big garden, and cooked canned and froze much of our own food. We were doing the 100 km diet before it got its name.
We spent many family vacations camping our way across North America, visiting many many science related points of interest. Pulp and paper mills, mines, hydro electric dams, Columbia ice fields, natural hot springs and so on. That's six of us in a sedan, with a homebuilt wooden cartop carrier with a canvas tarp, a canvas tent , sleeping bags, and a single inflatable air mattress for my Grandma, in deference to her age.
As a young teen, we purchased a lot on Lake Cecebe near Magnetawan and we built our own cottage. I learned many skills- carpentry, roofing, basic plumbing and wiring. Skills I've put to good use in my career as an interior designer and project manager.
Attended UWO on a scholarship, where I met Jamie. We dated throughout our years at UWO and subsequently, the university of Windsor.
Married in 1977 and moved to Aurora, where Jamie started working in the family businesses- the furniture store and funeral home.
Now committed to staying in Aurora, I studied interior design and eventually joined the staff at our store, growing the design side of our business to meet our clients changing needs. Worked there for 25 plus years, going on many buying trips and attending furniture shows to source out new products. After we closed our store in 2010, I opened and ran a design resource centre for designers and their clients. I did that for 5 years, and then we moved to Huntsville, where I currently work part time from my home.
Two sons, Lee and Scotty.
Lee's a teacher working in Toronto and being married next month. Scotty is back at school attending the Vancouver film school, studying production design and cinematography.
Volunteer credentials: 30 plus years with NFPs , including Big Sisters of York, Big Sisters Assoc. of Ontario, Big Sisters of Canada; Co-ordinating Chairperson, Aurora United Church; BIA and Chamber of Commerce memberships.
I'm on 5 Rotary committees- Echo, Dockfest, Youth, Environment, co-chair Fellowship.
Interests include- curling at HCC, singing with the Almaguin Choral Society, cooking, gardening, skiing, biking, music, especially jazz.
Concluded by presenting myself with a Thompson Survivors medal , given for more than 4 decades of...well you can fil in the rest.