President Bob had a rambunctious crowd in attendance tonight. A couple attempts at the call to order had to be made to get everyone`s attention. Dave Morris was present to aid with the lead into O Canada and Rotary Grace. Sarge Lyle Miller was handed the control of the meeting immediately for the introduction of our guests:
Present tonight were ADG Dan Sutton, Kelly Clements, Rohit (Roh) Goenka, Ron Thiessen (CPAWS).
ROTARY MOMENTS
ADG Dan Sutton (Winnipeg - West R.C.) presented information regarding his club`s upcoming Chicken Fest fundraiser. Tickets are $17/pp for the May 8, 2018 event. The chicken dinner is available for take-out or dine-in (with soup/salad & drink) at Canad Inns Polo Park. Please contact Dan, or any Winnipeg – West Rotarian for tickets. The groups supported by this dinner are listed on the back of the tickets.
Nancy Morris discussed M.U.N.A. It has been supported/organized by the Winnipeg-Downtown Rotary Club for the past 60 years, 61 years in 2018! They are requesting assistance with this event. Anyone interested in offering their individual assistance by serving on the M.U.N.A. board would be appreciated. Our Charleswood R.C. must decline to offer group assistance for this yearly event, as it conflicts with our own major event, the lobster dinner. Nancy advised that she will circulate the letter she received for anyone interested in getting involved with M.U.N.A. organization. The following is a short excerpt from the letter received from Roy Vallance; MUNA is self financing, although our downtown club does contribute about $1,500 each year for sponsoring schools and to help with website costs. If you decide to join us we would need the participation of only two or three of your members. As I mentioned on the phone, we are having a similar conversation with the Winnipeg Assiniboine Club.
We invite you and some of your fellow Charleswood club members to come to observe our 61st MUNA in operation on Saturday May 5th at the Canadian Mennonite University. High schools come from all over Manitoba, Saskatchewan, North Western Ontario, North Dakota and Minnesota. Rotary clubs and schools are sending 74 delegations this year, each comprising two grade 9-12 students and a counsellor.
Roy P. Vallance, MUNA Committee Chair, Rotary Club of Winnipeg (204)-298-0046
Rod Delisle advised that a lobster dinner meeting is booked for next week at 4:30 pm just prior to the regular dinner meeting. Anyone interested in helping with the organizational planning of the event is welcomed to attend. Jim Forestell thanked Ed Gramiak for the new ‘lobster crackers’ (square metal stock/tubes). There will be additional stations for lobster claw cracking this year. Details at the lobster dinner meeting next week.
President-Elect Mandy read out the list of desired products for the Westgrove breakfast program: healthy cereal, nut free granola bars, apple sauce, puddings, Mott's Fruitsations, Nutragrain bars, crackers and cheese spread. We will have one more week of collection, April 30, 2018, then deliver these collected items to the school.
Mandy also asked for any Rotarians with trade skills, or connections for materials (for the construction of raised flower beds), to please contact her regarding the Westgrove School Community Gardens project.
Elaine Thompson confirmed that the off-site meeting at Fort Whyte Alive is not going to happen on the 14th of May. Much too expensive. Any other ideas are welcomed. Brian Campbell may have a contact with World Trade Centre Winnipeg for a Fall off-site meeting. He will advise President-Elect Mandy regarding any further information regarding this opportunity.
Elaine Thompson reminded all present about the District 5550 Conference in Regina on May 24 to 27, 2018. The scheduled speakers for the event are;
Mitty Chang joined the Rotary family in 2005 as an Interactor. He transitioned into Rotaract in 2007 by chartering the Campus Rotaract Club of Davis. He went on to charter the Rotaract Club of Greater Fremont after graduating from his university. In 2015, he transitioned from Rotaract to Rotary by helping charter the Rotary E-Club of Silicon Valley. Mitty is the founder of RotaractWiki, Big West Rotaract, two Rotaract clubs, and one Rotary club. In addition to that he is a dynamic and inspirational speaker.
Steve Brown is the Charter President of the San Diego – Jalalabad Sister Cities Foundation and continues to serve as a President and Director. He served as Rotary District Governor for 5340—San Diego, CA in 1995-96. Steve served as a Trustee of the Rotary Foundation, beginning in 2010, and was also Vice-Chairman of the Foundation during 2012-13.
Chief Cadmus Delorme won the election for Chief of the Cowessess First Nation, located east of Regina, in 2016. Chief Delorme was featured recently in CBC’s Future 40 Winners. Chief Cadmus Delorme, who is an accomplished, award-winning golfer, said a competitive streak continues to drive him to succeed in other aspects of his life.“The drive for perfection, if I didn’t do it right the first time… I just wanted to do it again until I got it right,” he said. Delorme explained that as a kid, he would hit ball after ball at his father’s metal farming bin until he heard the satisfying ting of the shot connecting with his target.“I just liked the way the bin echoed,” he said. “I found enjoyment out of perfection.”Delorme used his knack for precision to excel in academics and previously worked as the Student Recruitment Officer at the First Nations University of Canada in Regina.
Paul K. Chappell is the Peace Leadership Director for the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. A graduate of West Point and a veteran of the war in Iraq, he created the idea of Peace Literacy after his time in the military. He develops the idea further in his seven-book series The Road to Peace, where he writes about waging peace, ending war, the art of living, and what it means to be human.
Elaine Thompson advised that President-Elect Mandy Kwasnica has been selected to be the ‘Voting Delegate’ at the R.I. Convention in Toronto, 2018.
President Bob reported that the Rotary Career Symposium was a success again this year. Great attendance from a wide variety of students and adult career seekers as well. Report on behalf of Greg Fraser.
Bob Eilers advised that there are FOUR Rotary Exchange trips planned. They are for; India, England, Brazil and Australia. The Rotary Exchange for Australia (March 7 to March 21, 2019), has a fast approaching deadline for application, June 8th, 2018. Bob has a copy of the application. Contact him if interested.
President Bob advised that Rod MacLean has decided to resign from the Charleswood Rotary Club. He did not want to be the Rotarian that just showed up for the weekly dinner and nothing else. He has a very busy personal schedule that is not allowing extra time that he feels Rotary deserves. He enjoyed Rotary, but not the right time for him.
President Bob reminded all regarding funeral arrangements for Past District Governor Wayne Claypool. The Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday, April 28 at 1:30 pm at McClure United Church – 4025 Taylor Street E. in Saskatoon. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either PolioPlus or The Rotary Foundation in care of the Meewasin Rotary Club. www.meewasinrotary.com . If you wish to send a note to his wife Carol, the address is 112-110 Armistice Way, Saskatoon, SK S7K 5L8.
Alan Roberts introduced our guest speaker tonight. Mr. Ron Thiessen is the Executive Director, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) – Manitoba Chapter. Al and Ron had their first contact via E-mail back in November / December 2017. At that time, they believed that they may be able to work together in ways that would help with our club`s management of the Assiniboine Forest. Ron has worked professionally in the non-profit wilderness conservation field for 27 years. He employs his experience in Aboriginal, media, public, industry and government relations to achieve protected areas and safeguard wildlife. Ron`s efforts have been instrumental in the establishment of several Provincial Parks and extended protection of park reserves. He was born and raised in Manitoba, an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys photography and playing music.
Ron opened his presentation with a warm “thank-you” to the club for the invite tonight as well as the great meal, especially the desserts! Ron advised that he had a good connection with Alan Roberts and believed that he and CPAWS could support the Charleswood Rotary Club with the ongoing stewardship of the Assiniboine Forest.
CPAWS was established in 1963 with the Manitoba Chapter opening in 1991. There are now CPAWS Chapters in all of Canada, except P.E.I. and Nunavut. It is a consensus organization; the goal is to get the involved parties in any situation to the ‘table’. This technique helps to ensure that a conversation about the issue at hand can be initiated.
The main topic tonight will be the boreal forest. Manitoba is actually mostly boreal forest and wetlands. The vision that most people get when they think of Manitoba is a flat prairie grassland or farms. Familiar areas of boreal forest are the Whiteshell and parts of Birdshill Park. Trees common to boreal forests are; pine, poplar, spruce and birch. Wildlife found in the boreal forest would include; moose, caribou, elk, deer and bison. The goal of CPAWS is large scale conservation of the boreal forest with a balance to allow for prosperous livelihoods for those living in and around the forest lands. The following images show a drastic difference in the frontier forest from 8,000 years ago to the last remaining untouched forests of today. The boreal forests remaining are in the far north of North America (from coast to coast), the far north of Russia and the core of South America (Amazon);
The boreal forests store more carbon in their trees and soil than any other natural site on earth. There are 19 billion tonnes of carbon stored in the boreal forests of Manitoba. If all of this carbon was to be released, it would be the equivalent of 1000 years of constant burning of all fossil fuels being used in Manitoba for vehicles, heating etc.. The forests help to moderate climate change. Therefore, we must replace what we take – plant trees after logging activities. The boreal forest is considered to be the ‘northern lungs’ of the planet. They contain more unfrozen fresh water than any other source on the planet.
We use the boreal forest for:
Recreation zones
Health – fitness and activity trails
Culture identity in Canada – coins contain images of the forests
Celebrate boreal wildlife – 500 species / 5 billion birds migrate to the boreal forest
Food security for Aboriginal communities
Education and knowledge base – all aspects of the original ancient forest remains. Scientists can study the boreal forest in its healthy state to get ideas and techniques to repair broken ecosystems
Natural Resources – prosperity
Work to preserve for future generations
Ron then showed slides of a trip that was organized by CPAWS for youth of a northern Manitoba community. The youth came from Moose Lake and they travelled to Little Limestone Lake. Little Limestone Lake is the world`s largest and most outstanding example of a marl lake. Marl is a calcium carbonate-rich deposit. When temperatures are high, it`s formed as calcite and separates out of the water, creating crystals and leading to a milky turquoise hue. When it`s cold, the calcite dissolves, the marl decreases, and the water is perfectly clear. The ever-changing levels in calcium carbonate rich marl cause dramatic color changes in the lake. It can range from dull blue-grey to brilliant aquamarine to sky blue throughout the course of a day. The lake is in the Moose Lake resource management zone, but 4 hours away by car. They spent 5 days at the site camping, setting wildlife trail cameras, canoeing – taught different paddle strokes, boat rides – fishing. FYI, if you ever need a stretcher in the wilderness – try using a tarp! The youth were taught about the various types of fires that you can light; for warmth, for cooking, to keep mosquitos away. Then a final cleaning, 1/2 day spent picking up trash left in the area for years. The Moose Lake community has an unemployment rate of 80%. They want to develop a responsible tourism-based business in the Little Limestone Lake area. This would be a community environmental stewardship project.
The Seal River Watershed is a vast piece of Manitoba that is truly pristine. It represents 8% of the land in Manitoba. There is no commercial activity in the region because there are no roads. No roads equals no power. Tadoule Lake is the only community in the Watershed area. They want to develop a tourism industry but at the same time preserve the land as it is now, pristine. CPAWS is helping to develop the plan.
The 9 Islands area of Lake Winnipegosis is a wild bird and moose habitat. The Aboriginal people of the region consider the land as sacred. There has been mining exploration granted in the past. CPAWS has worked with all stakeholders with a position that ‘parks and mines don`t mix’. There has been a compromise that protects the habitats, with the government giving mining exploration rights elsewhere to the mining companies.
Canada Target 1 is one of the 2020 biodiversity goals and targets for Canada. It states: By 2020, at least 17% of terrestrial areas and inland water, and 10% of marine and coastal areas of Canada are conserved through networks of protected areas and other effective area-based measures.
CPAWS has 50 years in the conservation field. All parties involved in the planning and implementation of the plan truly want to reach the goals set out for 2020. How can you help to make this happen? Sign up on the website to be a volunteer. Join the Action Team (sign-up for E-mails). Donate money to the fund.
Ron closed his presentation by stating that we have been the caretakers of the Assiniboine Forest for 30 years. Most people don`t realize our Charleswood Rotary Club`s connection to the Assiniboine Forest has been so long, or that it even exists! He believes that with collaboration we will gain extra capacity to see our goals for the Assiniboine Forest become a reality.
Q/A
1.- Lloyd Talbot stated that those working to protect the environment and those working to develop economic opportunities must work together. He advised Ron that we have supported a scholarship at Tadoule Lake through the Caribou Board.
2.- Bob Eilers questioned if only 11% of the land and fresh water is protected now, how do we expect to get to 17% in 3 years?
3.-Roh Goenka believes that the biggest challenge will be to get people onboard with the plan. People under-estimate the global environment problems we are faced with.
A.-Agreed, there is so much competition for people`s attention. Technology has people staying indoors. Need to get people back out into the parks, trails and wilderness. How can you be inspired if you don`t experience it?
4.- Ed Thompson questioned how do you get tourism developed into these remote areas with no roads?
A.- Fly-in only. Most are global citizens, travel from great distances and the cost is secondary to the experience.
5.- Glenn Campbell wondered if fly-in parks exist now?
Bob Eilers thanked Ron for his presentation. He stated that the facts of climate change are all there. It is just difficult to explain to some people and get them to believe. A donation in Ron`s name will be made to ShelterBox.
One of the ways that Rotary helps around the world is with various supports for Mothers and Children. We are very lucky to have been born in a country with great resources, sanitation, education and medical care. Jeff was born in a small rural town about one hours travel from medical care. Distance from medical care as well as the ability to have a mode of transport are essential in obtaining healthcare.
As Rotarians, we all volunteer to raise funds that are used to improve healthcare and education around the world. There are 7 million children under the age of 5 years old dying each year due to poor sanitation, lack of healthcare, lack of food, lack of education. In areas where all these factors are improved, the life expectancy is also improved significantly. When immunization and antibiotics are made available for the population, the health of these mothers and children vastly improves.
As we have all heard in recent presentations, there are still many places in the world where gender-based discrimination exists so strongly that women will commit suicide when their husband dies. Some of these women have a very limited vocabulary (500 words) and can`t write. They have no access to medical care in many countries and if they happen to be born in a remote area such as an island or a village in a mountain range, the place of birth is a barrier to all levels of help. There is no 911 for those in 3rd world countries.
Rotarians have provided medical professionals in the Philippines, assisted in Nigeria in a variety of ways, provided a mobile medical clinic on a Jeep in Haiti. Just a few examples of Rotary`s work. A Rotary Foundation Global Grant was used in Brazil, a Rotary partnership raised over $170,000 to purchase infant incubators to save fragile infants. This reduced the infant mortality rate significantly. When the infant girl survives childhood and receives proper healthcare support through to child bearing age, the birthrate improves. There is a connection from the fundraising that we do to the improved sanitation and transportation to healthcare, right down to the increased chance at survival of a baby born in a distant country.
Mandy Kwasnica`s birthday was Monday. Dave Morris also celebrated a birthday this week. Just happens to also be Dave and Nancy`s wedding anniversary (55 years) on the same date. Makes it easy for Dave to not forget his wedding date! All present sang for both celebrants.
Happy Bucks
Jim Forestell was happy to see all the Charleswood Rotary Club members that came out to the District 5550 Learning Assembly on April 21, 2018. We represented a significant percentage of those in attendance.
Ed Gramiak was exhibiting pride and excitement with the Jets Hockey Club`s win in the first round of the NHL playoffs.
President Bob was happy to have purchased his season tickets for the 2018 CFL Football season.
Lloyd Talbot is happy to be travelling to England soon.
Rod Delisle took a day off last week and spent a full day at Thermea Spa. A complete couples day with great food, sauna, cold and hot pools. A fantastic time and recommended to all, experience what Thermea has to offer.
Rod Thiessen threw a H.B. into the pot to add a ‘Go Jets Go’to the meeting!
50/50
Sarge Lyle explained that there are only two marbles in the pouch tonight. One is the winner, blue. Ron Thiessen was asked by SAA Lyle to pull the potential winner. # 761 was pulled. Dave Morris had the matching stub and was given a chance at the 50 % odds. Not tonight! Next week is an automatic winner out of the pot. No marble pull required. Buy big for Polio+ next week.
Fines
Elaine Thompson was fined for getting confused over what President-Elect Mandy`s duties will be, as well as where and when she has been asked to act as our representative.
Boyd Halls was fined for -tweeting someone. Actually doing a web search for a table companion. Sarge wanted his dollar anyway!
Note: Al Roberts wanted to remind everyone about the Art Club show & sale this Saturday and Sunday. His wife, Pat, is very artistic and is showing some of her work at the event. The group of artists meet once a week and have great talent in the group. The location is the Charleswood United Church. Sarge Lyle just had to jump on this, Fine for self promotion / benefit.
