The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

AS--The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, March 20, 2007 487 L£uirAveCOMN T 878-2881 60 years.. and countic Rotary stili1 rewarding: founding member Amid milestone, Ledwith lookzs back fondly on club history By Stephanie Thiessen CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF The Rotary Club of Milton tbat Mike Ledwitb remnembers from 60 years back is quite different from the one that raises money for lovai causes today Perbaps the biggest dillerence is that when it started in 1946. it was for men only and tbey bad to be business owners. As owner of the Quality Greens food store at Main and Martin sîreets, I edwith was qualîfied for membersbip and saîd he liked the thought of the "prestige' assovîated with being part of such a well-known service club. Decades later, as tbe Milton Rotary Club celebrates its 6Oth anniversary I edwith is à still a dedicated member. In favi, be's tbe only remaining member from tbe original group that formed the club. "l'm atill aurpriaed 1 made it," be said jovially, explaining its tbe fellowahip and worthy causes that bave kept bim hooked. He vant easily revaîl the firat event of tbe club, whivh waa beld in 1946 at tbe old Town Hall, now tbe Milton Cbamber of Commerce. It waa a Halloween party for kids, complete with baga of vandy Sive tben, the gruup bas completed proj- ect aller projevt, event after event. One of the clubs biggest projeets tbat popa to mind - and perbapa tbe one witb which moat Miltonians are familiar - is Rotary Park on Mill Street. Tbe land for the park was purvhased in 1960 by tbe Rotary Club, having been uaed by a farmer to, grow hay and grains. "We tbougbt it would make a gond area (for a park)," Ledwitb said. Tbe pool waa added around 1965, witb tbe help of vommunity groupa invluding tbe local Lions Club. To tbîs day residents continue to enjoy Rotary Park, wbivh is extremely rewarding, Ledwith said. "Any day in summer you see kids on tbe swings and basebaîl gamea... Ita a wonderful feeling," he said. Theres also the geared-to-invome bous- îng on Bronte Street tbat the Rotary Club mi- tiated. Two of its moat well-known events are tbe GRAHAM PAINE / cANADIAN CHAMPION MARKING A MILESTONE: Foundîng member Mîke Ledwith (left) and longtiîme member Ries Boers dîsplay the Rotary Club of Milton banner as the local club celebrates its 6Oth anniversary. Good Neighbours Day - a vommunity- wide dlean-up - and its annual TV auction. On an international acale, one of the Rotary Clubs biggest accomplishments has been working to eradicate polio. There are currently about 25 members - women and men - of the Rotary Club of Milton. Tbey meet eacb Monday nigbt upstairs at Tbe Olde Dickens restaurant witb a different guest speaker. Guests are wel- corne. Tbe Rotary Club was tbe world's first service club, founded in Cbicago. Illinois in 1905. Tbe terni 'rotary' came from tie prac- ticc of rotating meetings amongat members' offices. Ifs now tbe world'a largest service club, witb 1.2 million members. Tbe object of the Rotary Club, as defined on the website of the Rotary Club of Milton, is to "foster tbe ideal of service" in personal, business and community life. It also aima to promnote international understanding, good- wilI and peace. Its motto is "Service above self." Programa include ecology and conserva- tion projects, community service, youtb travel excbanges and more. Ries Boers bas been a Rotarian for 25 yeara and bas served as club president for tbree terma. "Its become a lifestyle," be said, explaining ita rewarding participating in wortbwbile causes and meeting so many new friends. Altbough be leads a busy life, Boers said be couldn't imagine not being a member. "People wbo give back to tbe community definitely benefit'" be explained. He joined tbe organization after receiving support for bis bandicapped daugbter. After a wbile, be realized it was important tbat be pay tbe group back for its belp. Fundraising is a big part of Rotarians' lives. "Tbe neateat part is watcbing the money actually go to work," Boers said. The groupa next fundraiaing event is a murder mystery dinner thatîIl take place Marcb 31 at tbe Grand Chalet restaurant on Steelea Avenue. Cocktails will be at 6:30 p.m., witb din- ner at 7 p.m. and dancing until 1 a.m. There'Il also be a silent auction and raffles. Tickets coat $50, witb proceeda going toward a CT scanner for Milton District Hospital. Witb tbe theme being Heroes, Villains and Murder, attendees are invited to dress as their favourite auperbero or bad guy. For tickets, caîl (905) 878-4094. Tbe club is alwaya looking for new mema- bers. Boers said residents wbo aren't sure tbey vant make tbe full commitment rigbt away van become members of Friends of Rotary. Ledwitb likewise encouraged people to at leaat check out the organization. "1 would really advise anyone looking for a club to give Rotary a good look. Tbey're a good bunvh of people." For more information, visit www.milton- rotaryclub.com. Stephanie Thiessen can bc reached ait sthiessen@oniltoncanadianchampion.com. ZÏ\CQGECO Cogeco Cable Channel 14 Programming Schedute - Tuesday, March 20 - Monday, March 26, 2007 frily Local Televisiof 8 00.am 00pm ouggec In XTRA 8 Oam 0ri, Puged EXTRA 8 00am - 102 0, RlgA pl EXTRA 80am 1 00pm PIaooed ln' EXTRA 8 00e,- MdnAXI EIggeA An' EXTH RA 80a 6 001 PIugeA n EXTRA 800am 1 00pmugge ln01, SEXTRA Non1 SportsZONE 2l 00oe, Hno Wls AH Counc, 12 O2 SEap Talk 25.,P Tle 2007 Georgetown 6 Non Hanoi hIl CASc, 220 20 Hanoi FusconHu www.co e(cc) îý iptPqe HETAREARSH) H oey Herita (C)(C w w . o e o. aa0p,, 6: 0AM PqliITRA 0p ri -2e i 00pm PluggSIn EXTRA 1 Wi -8000s PIaaged W EXTRA AOardA RoA oo0er 8 00pm -,~,A %dr g oA P lU e'n EXTRA 32 AO AX 800) Pluggd In' EXTRA NORTH HALTON STUDIO lLi 7 00on SAmpHlAy H anoi O1 Lnang AIHeky 14 7:p Epie Pluoi EXTRA 8îfpm iporejZONIEL,,. 7AP 30m oggd il 7 20p.H Hl e InA EXTHA 9 Ope Tee 2007 Georgetown iODA,,, IV2 HA Sport AHL AOPM -A.A,îih, PA5ged In' EXTRA Laurier Plaza Awrd Boeb, ,eHA a,, ,pru ~ e Hope ,HHAH A0,, 9:1pula Haten Ails Çanii 9 OAXA Md,gtA Hlge InA ' eXHTRA 10H MAdrglu PI.Aged Hn EXTRA 10 222H Aldie' Hsgged In' AXTRA 5W0 Laurier Avenue 11 O0, Mingel PlugeA An EXTRA Milton, ON L9T 41R3 t 90-87-936 * '.' .5 H '. ' T, S.,1.aH.'%