Month: February 2014

For about two years, the Optimist Club of South Dundas has been working towards the mission of Optimist International.

The Optimist mission: By providing hope and positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in kids.

The service organization, which calls itself a friend of youth, has 2,600 clubs around the world, including one in South Dundas.

The club which meets monthly at the Dixon’s Corners Community Centre (the building which formerly housed the public school).

Club representatives, Hugo Desrochers (president), Audrey Ortwein and Ben Luimes, spoke about their club and some of the work they have been doing, after a recent donation made at Iroquois Public School.

“Optimists are friends of youth, and work to help bring out the best of youth,” said Desrochers. 

They have about 30 members, who meet regularly on the last Monday of the month. Although the club is relatively new, they have already been involved in many activities in the community and plan to be involved in many more.

“We are a fairly young club,” said Desrochers.

The South Dundas Optimists organized a bike rodeo last year and Dixon’s Corners, and this year will host another, this time in Morrisburg. 

They support two youth groups weekly, with an average of about 20 kids in total attending weekly. The older members of those two groups are building a fishing shack at the community centre that will be sold as a fund raiser.

This year, the Optimists are working to raise awareness of their organization in the community.

Last week, they donated almost $500 to Iroquois Public School for books. February 17, they are hosting a Family Day Skate at the Dundela outdoor rink, where they will serve hotdogs and hot chocolate from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. They also plan to particpate in summer festivities.

Adult volunteers join Optimist Clubs to conduct positive service projects in their communities aimed at providing a helping hand to youth. 

Each club determines the needs of people in its community and conducts programs to meet those needs.

The South Dundas Optimists are always interested in welcoming new members to the club. Anyone interested can contact Desrochers by email (hdesrochers@live.ca).

[…]

Cancer volunteer driver, Jennifer Hindorff was delighted with the 25 of  ‘pink pigs’ she put out for adoption at Valu-mart on Saturday.

Hindorff, of Winchester, is a Wheels of Hope driver for the S.D.G. Prescott Russell branch of the Canadian Cancer Society. She quickly jumped into the adoptive piggy pasture when she heard of the unique fundraiser first run this past fall in Owen Sound, says Carolyn Bourassa, the Community manager for the Cancer Society.

“This (the fundraiser) is a brand new idea, so we thought we would give it a go,” said Bourassa, Saturday, as Hindorff’s was kept busy handling piggy adoptions. “It was a volunteer who came up with the fundraising idea. They (Owen Sound) tried it in the fall and were very successful.” 

“Wheels of Hope is a fairly expensive program to run, but it is hugely beneficial program to people who need help with transportation to get to their cancer treatments. So we thought we would try the Piggy Adoption fundraiser. We thought it was a fresh idea and a catchy concept, so we put the idea out to our local drivers.”

Last year the Wheels of Hope program in S.D.G. Prescott-Russell, supported 28 families with a child and 506 individuals with their transportation needs. The total cost of the service was $150,716.

“We are lucky that Winchester Hospital provides some cancer treatments, but most of our local people go to Ottawa,” said Bourassa.

Hindorff, a single mom who is fighting her own battle with cancer, drives two to three times per month in the Wheels of Hope program for this area. “It is so very sad. If someone calls needing help with their transportation, you know it is because they don’t have family to help out, or they don’t have a car,” said Hindorff. “It is scarey enough to be dealing with the cancer. You don’t want to have to worry about how to get to your treatments. I figured I can drive, so this could be my way of helping others.”

Prior to bringing the Piggies of Hope to Morrisburg, Hindorff set up her first adoption pasture in Finch where she adopted out 20 pigs. “It was the first time, and we were all quite excited about it.”

It is hoped that each piggy that is adopted is returned at the end of February (to Valu-mart) stuffed with $75 which is the average cost for a round-trip to cancer treatment.

In addition to the money required to pay the costs of transportation, the Wheels of Hope program is always looking for drivers. “Some drive weekly, some monthly,” explained Bourassa. “We have lots of drivers who are retired, some of whom are away in the winter. So we would love to have more drivers.”

Anyone who was unable to adopt a piggy on Saturday, or who would like more information on becoming a volunteer driver is invited to call the office at 613-932-1283. Hindorff will also be placing some Pigs of Hope in various businesses in North Dundas.

Those unable to take on the sole responsibility of one of these adorable creatures, can keep an eye out for those located in businesses in South and North Dundas. 

One such little pink guy is grazing on the front counter at The Leader for anyone who would like to make a donation.

[…]

Unless someone comes forward to take over the Tubie Festival, South Dundas will lose its longest running annual festival.

The Tubie Festival organizing committee of the Morrisburg and District Lions Club confirmed last week that they can no longer commit to the time and effort that is required to run the 43 year old event.

The Tubie Festival Committee is a 10 member club within a club of younger Morrisburg and District Lions. 

Michael Domanko and Matt McCooeye, co-chair the Tubie Festival Committee.

After eight years of hosting Tubies, the committee is starting to experience volunteer fatigue, and thought now would be the time to step away, leaving the door open for someone new to take it over.

Domanko said the ‘red tape’ involved with organizing such an event can be a frustrating part of the process, but while contributing to fatigue, it is not the main factor in the decision. 

“The municipality has taken steps to try and help with things like festival insurance, but you do spend a significant amount of time dealing with red tape at various levels of administration,” he said.

Domanko believes that Tubie interest is on the rise, compared to what it was about five years ago.

He said the decision was not about money. “When the Lions took over the event it was to support an important community festival. It was never about being a fundraiser for the club.” While some years, the profit was minimal, the event has never lost money for the Lions.

“While the number of crafts have been steady over the years, I think it’s encouraging that we are seeing a number of younger participants,” said Domanko. 

The committee has been working over the years to make Tubies a more family oriented event, bringing in activities for the kids, and encouraging more youth to get involved. 

“I think we’re seeing that pay off,” said Domanko. “Now, a lot of those kids look forward to Tubie weekend too. In my opinion, we’ve crossed a threshold. More people are coming forward an showing an interest.”

“I think it’s better to make a change in organization while things are on an upswing, rather than on the decline,” said Domanko. 

“As lifelong residents of the community, and former Tubie Weekend participants, it was a privilege to be involved with the organization and execution of ‘Tubie Weekend’ for the last eight years,” reads a letter to the community drafted by the committee. 

“Tubies have been part of our community’s fabric for over 40 years, and we took pride in being one of the many and varied groups that has worked to ensure it remains the longest continuous running local festival.” 

“It is our hope another group steps forward and continues the tradition with the enthusiasm the weekend deserves.”

Domanko says he is optimistic about the future of the Tubies. “I think enough people have fond memories of Tubies, that enough of them will get involved to ensure that Tubies continue.” 

“I think they also recognize the weekend as having significance both as a tourist draw and a community event,” he added.

Looking back at the years where he and the Lions CIC have steered the event, Domanko says, “I feel good about that too.”

Although it has been a lot of work, Domanko has always enjoyed his time as organizer, and taken great pride in seeing every aspect come together. 

“People always tell me, ‘I come home every Tubie Weekend, because I know that is when everyone else will be coming home too.’ I think that is one of the greatest attributes of Tubie Weekend,” said Domanko.

Anyone interested in getting involved with keeping the Tubies afloat can contact Domanko by email (mdomanko@gmail.com). The committee is happy to share information and help facilitate a change in leadership.

The Tubie tradition started in 1970, as a fun event where a couple of guys teamed up, built a craft of an inner tube and paddled from Arlor Haven Campground at Mariatown to the Morrisburg Beach. 

The race winners were crowned ‘Kings of the River’. 

The fun of the event caught on. Powder puff and junior classes even drew competitors to the race. 

A Tubie parade has always been part of the Tubie tradition.

Over the decades, certain names dominated the races year after year, – Veley, Cassell, Farlinger, McGee. 

The Lions Club took over Tubie weekend in 2006, from the Flamingos hockey team, and formed the Tubie Festival Committee.

In 2009, they changed the race format. Instead of racing from Mariatown to the Morrisburg beach, they organized a series of elimination round heat races from the Morrisburg dock to the beach, with the winners of the final being named Kings of the River.

In 2010, the dance was moved from the Morrisburg arena to the waterfront under a big tent. 

“Keep in mind, Tubies have seen a number of different incarnations over the years,” said Domanko. “You don’t have to do it the way we did it.”

[…]