AT OUR CLUB October 6, 2020
President Krysta Logozzo-Daniele welcomed 29 members and guests including Shelley Crawford, Mal Balachandran (Rotoract President), Peter Burke (Fort Severn FN corporate member), Mark Tilbury (LU corporate member) and our guest speaker Bruce Morrison).
Co-hosts today were Bob Tomlinson and Mary-Anne Mackett (first for M-A!). Thanks owed to Kevin Holloway for tireless Zoom training and mentoring (for some time now).
Krysta reflected on Thanksgiving - its meaning for Rotarians in particular - and encouraged us to reach out to our many adjuncts for Rotary Reconnect Week such as RYLArians and 4 Way Test writers of the past. This is also Economic and Community Development month in Rotary International.
GUEST PRESENTATION
Bruce Morrison (brother of our Past President Rod Morrison) is an international expert in nuclear power plant development, currently working out of Abu Dhabi, capital of United Arab Emirates.
President Krysta Logozzo-Daniele welcomed 29 members and guests including Shelley Crawford, Mal Balachandran (Rotoract President), Peter Burke (Fort Severn FN corporate member), Mark Tilbury (LU corporate member) and our guest speaker Bruce Morrison).
Co-hosts today were Bob Tomlinson and Mary-Anne Mackett (first for M-A!). Thanks owed to Kevin Holloway for tireless Zoom training and mentoring (for some time now).
Krysta reflected on Thanksgiving - its meaning for Rotarians in particular - and encouraged us to reach out to our many adjuncts for Rotary Reconnect Week such as RYLArians and 4 Way Test writers of the past. This is also Economic and Community Development month in Rotary International.
GUEST PRESENTATION
Bruce Morrison (brother of our Past President Rod Morrison) is an international expert in nuclear power plant development, currently working out of Abu Dhabi, capital of United Arab Emirates.
Past President Vonnie Cheng introduced and thanked Bruce and gave us insight into a marvelous career that took Bruce and his wife Jackie around the world. They have been to UAE, Korea, Japan, China, Argentina and many more exotic lands...even Canada (Halifax!!) He was preeminent in his work at AECL in Canada starting in the 1950s.
His presentation was entitled "Expatriate Views" and was most fascinating. A slide show showed the many facets of life in the Arab world largely unknown to us westerners.
His slides started with golfing scenes showing Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy and Formula 1 auto racing. The opulence of the country was on full display (see accompanying pic of a famous mosque).
His presentation was entitled "Expatriate Views" and was most fascinating. A slide show showed the many facets of life in the Arab world largely unknown to us westerners.
His slides started with golfing scenes showing Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy and Formula 1 auto racing. The opulence of the country was on full display (see accompanying pic of a famous mosque).
Bruce works just out of town near the Saudi border where he has experienced the amazing desert and a sweet relationship with a pretty young camel. He informed us of the country's culture (interestingly 90% expats now), the contrasts with Saudi Arabia ("serious" Muslim) vs. Abu Dhabi ("light" Muslim) vs. neighbouring Dubai ("Las Vegas" Muslim).
Bruce has had a lifetime of travel experiences (he even showed us his time and photos at the DMZ between North and South Korea).
The Q and A period could have gone on at great length (we covered only desalination plants, flooding and food)...another invitation would be welcomed.
The club is indebted to Bruce, his wife, Rod, Vonnie, Krysta and Jim for making this presentation happen.
ANNOUNCEMENT HIGHLIGHTS
- The Rotary Clubs of TB annual Christmas Parade is cancelled for this year. Colin Bruce enlarged on the difficult decision. Some options were brought forward
- Similarly the Christmas Coral Concert (usually at St. Paul's church) is cancelled. Some creative alternatives are also in the plans.
- Canada Club meeting is on for October 15th
- The club is deferring in-person meetings until at least January 2021. New options are being discussed re formatting
- the meeting ZOOM link is now a constant going forward (so save or bookmark it!)
- Jackie Dojack is looking for members to contact our fellow members in October and November (Well Being Committee)
- The October 13th meeting will feature the Thunder Bay Port Authority CEO. The October 20th meeting will be an informal "open" meeting without a scheduled speaker, but time for fellowship.
Enjoy Rotary!