Rotary Club of Sackville Bulletin June 2, 2016

Photographer: Sandy

 

George was in the chair, standing in for Trish who was starting her new job today (best wishes !).   The Town Engineer for some 20 years, George is a believer in Ducky’s as a place to meet people and even to be asked to join Rotary.

 

Two Gold Mine cheques were presented.  Barry Rothfuss collected a cheque for $494 on behalf of the Atlantic Wildlife Institute.

 

 

Chris Falconer received a cheque for $482.50 on behalf of Dorchester Consolidated School.

 

 

50/50 Draw.  Guylaine’s ticket was drawn but she failed to pick the Jack of Spades so the pot of $17 will grow a bit more by next week.

 

 

Happy Dollars began with a not so happy report by Wynn on Ove who has had a setback with a couple of falls (Ove - please learn to take it easy !).  On a happier note Wynn was glad to play his first round of golf for the year on the local course.  Gayle wanted to thank Jamie for the great job he did organizing the Wine/Beer Bash.  Susan F was happy David is fit enough to help painting the deck.  Bill was glad to see a brand new screen (even if no one had noticed), but sorry it was not going to be used today.  Charlie likes the new electronic sign at TRHS which is now in operation.  Guylaine was glad to win $5 and also happy to be back at Rotary after missing the last two weeks.  George is looking forward to leaving on Saturday heading for golf at Myrtle Beach.

 

Next week is a Club Assembly with Dianne doing all the jobs including greeting.

 

President’s Time:  Dianne went with Louise to the TRHS Beautification celebration (plus Activities Banquet) and was pleased that Rotary was thanked for its contribution to the project.

 

Speakers:  Darrell introduced speakers John Read, (below, left) chair of the Citizens’ Advisory Committee at Dorchester Penitentiary and Ed Muise (below, right) who is the warden. 

 

 

John gave an overview of the work of the Advisory Committee which has “lots of freedom but no real power.”  They can observe, question and advise.  The 10 person committee meets once a month and has good relations with the staff and with inmates. Ed then gave an excellent talk on the Canadian prison system, the Atlantic region, and specifically on Dorchester Penitentiary which is the second oldest in Canada (opened in July 1880).  The prison has a staff of 400 and around 700 inmates of whom about 440 are in the medium security section with the rest in minimum.  The staff come from the surrounding area and with a salaries budget of $40 million there is obviously a considerable impact on the local economy.  The “cascading” system of different levels of security was explained.  All prisoners in the region go to Springhill initially to be assessed for the appropriate security level.  (All women in the Atlantic region go to the institution at Truro). 80% of the prisoners have problems related to drugs or alcohol.  Everything possible is done to rehabilitate them and prepare them for re-entry into society. “We never give up on any inmate,” said Ed.

A lively question period followed including queries as to why the prison farm was closed since it had proved so beneficial.  Basically it was a political decision but it was felt that very few prisoners returned to farm-related occupations.  Instead there are courses in various trades (landscaping, welding, electrical, etc.).  The farm program was also very expensive to operate.  Prison staff go out into the community including speaking at high schools; they take inmates with them whose talks often make a significant impression.

 

 

Louise thanked the speakers in the usual way, and the meeting closed with the Four-Way Test.