SlapShot News
Posted by Marlee Diehl
MY VISIT TO SLAPSHOT
Saturday, April 23 was a treasure for my memory book! The weatherman hadn’t forecast great weather in my area of New York State, so I went prepared for a wet and cold day as I headed out for Canterbury Hills, Ancaster, Ontario, however it was sunny and cool. This was a first for me; I had never been to SlapShot. Although as President of the Rotary Club of Hamilton AM in 2009-2010, we had sent three students from Sir John A. McDonald High School and they returned to regale us with wonderful tales of their weekend adventures.Nearly one hundred teens from across our district had gathered for a leadership training weekend and by the time I arrived for Saturday lunch – they were fired up! Lunch was a rowdy session of youthful exuberance; yet when leader Jim Sykes, Welland Club, held up his arm there was wave of raised arms and silence fell like magic. I wish I had learned this trick for my two children…I missed that boat. As over three-quarters of this year’s group were young women, I took the opportunity to talk about how it has only been since the mid-80’s that women were allowed into Rotary. Given their enthusiasm and energy, I left all with the challenge to take their lives and careers to new heights, as they help Rotarians continue to improve the lives of all in our global community.
After lunch, I watched in awe as these teens worked together in the treetops on ropes…now that is trust in your new friends. They had already forged teamwork in spades! What a blast!