Sergeant at Arms: Nilam
Reflection: Craig
“If you focus on success, you'll have stress. But if you pursue excellence, success will be guaranteed.” ― Deepak Chopra.
Attendance:
There were 16 members, and guest, Annelise Jorgensen.
Happy Bucks
Mike M apologized for his "grubby appearance”, but just came from a job painting a ceiling
Stephen B announced that we’ve had another $1000 donor to our fall fund raiser
David CS thanked the members that have helped with silent auction items, and reminded everyone that we need their support.
Stephen S thanked Mike M for showing up in a tee shirt that looked worse than his
Annelise gave a happy buck, but kept us in suspense as to her reason.
Mike H reminded everyone that the RTE funded Philpott Tennis Camp kicks off a new season soon
President’s Report
President Joe reported on his attendance at the national conference in Hamburg. It was inspiring to see so many nations involved in Rotary. The opening ceremonies were very long, but the speakers were interesting. The breakout sessions were excellent.
If you have not been to Hamburg, it is well worth a visit. It is beautiful, and friendly.
- Please be reminded that the annual Golf Fundraiser is Wednesday August 28 – Contact: Bill
- Foundation Walk – Sunday September 8 – Contact and leader: Chad
- JCPI Rotman Presentation – 9:00 to 11:00 am Friday June 14 – Contact: Mike H
- Fall Fundraiser – Auction items and Donations. We urge every member to produce at least one item for the live or silent auction by end of June. Contact Barb at 647 294 4662 or rotarytorontoeglinton@gmail.com with items of for more information. PLEASE ACT NOW.
- If you cannot donate an auction item, a cash donation is also welcomed. Contact: Stephen at 416 930 8138. Please donate – our target is a net $50,000 – up from $42,000 last time.
- We have been invited to attend the JPCI Commencement on June 27, at 7pm. There will be four students presented with RTE awards.
- Next Board meeting is June 18. All members are invited to attend.
Paul Harris Fellow – Annalise Jorgenson
President Joe spoke about the Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship award. This is one of the highest honours Rotary can bestow upon a person. Recipients are Rotarians and community professionals, in recognition of their outstanding contributions, exemplifying the highest ideal in Rotary in placing “SERVICE ABOVE SELF.” This honour accompanies a donation of $1,000 or more, in the recipient’s name, to Rotary International’s “Annual Program Fund,” which supports Rotary’s world-wide programs. Being named a There are over one million Paul Harris Fellows worldwide, including many famous leaders.
Today, a Paul Harris Fellow was awarded to Annelise Jorgensen in recognition for her significant scholarship award donation to Ryerson University. This new award will encourage indigenous students to pursue studies with the hope of increasing the number entering careers in academia. Thanks to her generous donation, and matching by Ryerson though the President’s Award to Champion Excellence at Ryerson University, 2 SAGE (Supporting Aboriginal Graduate Enhancement) awards of $15,000 ($30,000 total) will be awarded annually for 5 years.
Annelise gave a heartfelt thank you to RTE. She told us her donation was just a token compared to all that Rotary has done for her. It was a Rotary Foundation scholarship 50 years ago, that changed her life. It allowed her to travel, achieve academic excellence, and make many lifelong friendships. She hopes the SAGE award will change the lives of indigenous students, that way that Rotary changed hers.
Guest Speaker: Norma – Midwives Save Lives
Jackie introduced Norma. As one of our best known members, Norma hardly needs an introduction. She encompasses all that is good about Rotary. Always positive, welcoming, and a tireless volunteer, Norma is a friend to everyone she meets.
Norma loves to travel to remote and unusual locations, so when the opportunity to visit Ethiopia to see the work being done to help midwives by our district, in partnership with Cuso, she did not hesitate to go.
The Midwives Save Lives (MSL) initiative will help reduce deaths and illness in women and their newborns and ensure safe childbirth by strengthening the availability, access to and quality of reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health services delivered through midwives Ethiopia. Activities include developing and delivering training, mentoring and providing equipment to midwifery instructors, and facilitating meetings to review and discuss national regulatory and licensing infrastructure for midwifery.
The four-year project (2016-2020) will send more than 50 volunteers to these four countries, with approximately 13 short-term placements (one month) and more than 40 long-term placements (up to one year).
Norma shared images of the hospitals and clinics she visited. They were in poor condition, and lack basic medical equipment. As a result, most women do not give birth is these facilities, and infant mortality is high. While the people are very poor, the hospital staff members they met were positive and very welcoming.
After touring with Cuso, Norma took the opportunity to explore the country on her own and traveled north. Ethiopia is a very old country, with a rich history. Her tour included the following locations:
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is Ethiopia’s capital and the country’s commercial and cultural hub. Its National Museum exhibits Ethiopian art, traditional crafts and prehistoric fossils, including replicas of the famous early hominid, "Lucy." The burial place of the 20th-century emperor Haile Selassie, copper-domed Holy Trinity Cathedral, is a neo-baroque architectural landmark.
Gondar
Gondar is known for the walled Fasil Ghebbi fortress and palace compound, once the seat of Ethiopian emperors.
Bale National Park
Bale National park is located 400km southeast of Addis Ababa, Bale Mountains National Park contains a spectacularly diverse landscape. The high altitude, afro-montane Sanetti Plateau rises to over 4,000m and includes the highest peak in the southern Ethiopia highlands. It is home to many endangered species.
Aksum
Aksum is known for its tall, carved obelisks, relics of the ancient Kingdom of Aksum. Most are in the northern Stelae Park, including a huge fallen pillar, now in pieces. Centuries-old St. Mary of Zion is a Christian church and pilgrimage site believed to have housed the biblical Ark of the Covenant. The neighboring Chapel of the Tablet is said to contain the Ark today.
Lalibela
Lalibela is a town known for its distinctive rock-cut churches dating from the 12th and 13th centuries, which are pilgrimage sites for Coptic Christians. Carved out of rock, the subterranean monoliths include huge Bete Medhane Alem, and cross-shaped Bete Giyorgis. Many are joined by tunnels and trenches, and some have carved bas-reliefs and colored frescoes inside.
Norma was thanked by Nilam
Unfortunately, Norma’s slideshow presentation ran into technical issues, and time ran short. However, in thanking Norma for her presentation, Nilam let her know that we would like her to present more about her trip at a future meeting. We look forward it!
A copy of Norma’s presentation will be posted on our website.
50/50 Draw
Julian wins the wine, but not the cash prize.
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