General Meeting ~ January 21st 2010

The Royal City Men's Club met at Trinity United Church Gymnasium on the above date. There were 45 members present. President Beale opened the meeting at 10.00 a.m. Vice-president and Membership Chair Ron Usborne presented a convalescent report outlining the recovery status of several club members. Following an amusing anecdote Ron indicated the he would be unable to assume the chair of President at the AGM for professional and personal reasons. John Pawley thanked Ron for his support of the club as a founding member, commencing at the first meeting of the interim executive committee in November 2005. John went on to report that the Nominations Committee will be looking for a new President, Vice-president, Treasurer and Program Committee Chair. He urged members to consider volunteering for a position on the board. Len Johnstone reported that the response from members for the Stratford excursion was not sufficient to allow the rental of a bus. A show of hands indicated that car pooling would be a suitable alternative. The President related some historical events occurring on this week in the past and then introduced the speaker, Dr. Ed Crispin. Dr. Crispin is a retired family physician in Guelph and is the local contact for the Guelph-Wellington Chapter of Canadian Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. Dr. Crispin suggested that we all have a role and responsibility to advance the cause of nuclear disarmament. He reported that the political posturing of some of the developing nations with respect to the need to acquire nuclear capability is a frightening spectre. He also related his fear that nuclear arms may fall into the hands of terrorists or that a technological failure could allow the inadvertent release of nuclear missiles. Dr. Crispin was very critical of the military/industrial alliance that perpetuates the stockpiling of nuclear arms. He cited the names of some senior U.S. Republicans who are especially prone to this way of thinking. Following an instructive question period Dr. Crispin was thanked by Tom Gordon and presented with a small gift as a token of appreciation for his presentation. President Beale reminded members that the next meeting will be at Trinity U.C. on February 4 when Ken Budd will be speaking on Power Squadron Boating. He adjourned the meeting at 11:00 a.m. John Pawley for Gordon Framst Secretary