Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 28/01) - When Rotary Club president Austin Marshall, received a peculiar letter, cold sweat ran down his back.

The letter, dated Nov. 19, was from the Yellowknife Lyons Club.

In the bell's absence, president of the Rotary Club Austin Marshall uses a horn to call the meeting to order. - Jennifer McPhee/NNSL photo

"Just recently, a member of our club found your "bell" in an unsecured public location," the letter read.

"Realizing that without this bell, you would have a difficult time controlling your meeting, he took possession of this bell, fearing some unsavoury character would steal it."

As it turns out, the Lyons Club is holding the bell for ransom. It wants a $200 cheque made out to the Yellowknife Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

"I get myself into enough trouble without being plunged into calamity," an obviously distraught Marshall told rotarians last week. "They've got our bell!"

In the bell's absence, the Rotary Club is using a horn to control its membership, a poor substitute for the glorious bell, members remarked.

Marshall said members believe the bell is worth a lot more than $200 and he hopes other groups will get involved in efforts to save the bell.

Rotarians at the meeting appeared split over whether the Lyons Club found the bell or stole it.

The bell went missing almost two weeks ago, after a Rotary Club meeting at the Explorer Hotel.

Usually, Explorer staff secure the bell after the meeting is adjourned.

"It seems to me they stole our bell, they didn't just take it," said James Clark, Rotary Club services director.

"We are considering kidnapping the president of the Lyons Club and asking for $500" he continued.

"But we're not sure he's worth that much."

Sergeant at Arms, Don Kindt offered up another theory.

"There has been a breach of security of some sort," he said. "I'm sure they found it. They were probably so taken with it, they needed to share it with others."

Rotarians will mull over this invitation to do goodwill and return with ideas for a plan of action.

The Rotary Club did send a letter back to the bell-jackers, asking them to take good care of their beloved instrument.

"The bell has to be polished regularly. The custodian must be constant with the care it deserves," Marshall wrote.

"We are confident the task is in good hands."