Bulletin February 11^th

 

OMG winter’s here! How did that happen? Gorgeous view of the sunrise and Bay from the windows on the warm side!

 

Our second installment of Alumni Weeks saw Randy Smallbone at the podium.

 

 

A touchy feely singalong Grace by Rene (aka Andre), the toast by Andrew and the Anthem led by Bernie.

 

Guest were introduced by Rod and included  Chi Ling, Lawrence’s lovely wife, Camila  Izuirado – our outbound student-and her Dad Greg Kitzul and of course Agustina.

 

Bernie assumed the responsibilities of SAA and after Andre ( or is it Rene) presented Karmel with 50.00 from the Super Bowl pool tried to get it into the shoe as protection money for Karmel. No dice.

 

Bob Martin was promoting the Burlington Winter Comedy festival being held from Feb 29^th to March 2^nd-a new to Burlington but tried and true concept to help obliterate the winter blahs. Joe Dog’s and the Water Street Cooker will be hosting some of Canada’s best comedians  over the 3 night span and you are encouraged to buy tickets. This is truly a great opportunity to see the likes of Sean Cullen, , John Wing and Pete Zedlecher to name a few in a very up close and intimate setting.  If you are an avid CBC fan like me you will recognize many of the performers. Bob had two pairs of tickets to auction off and they went quickly. Here is the link to buy tickets http://burlingtoncomedy.com.

 

Bernie asked that no close ups be taken anymore- he got scared at the looking at Gerry and Karmel up close! Bernie closed out his session with a happy birthday singalong to several of our members- Dave Becket, Dimitre,  Gerry . We’ll get Bernie next week on the 18^th!

 

Agustina and Camila presented a slide show of their winter weekend camping at Wanakita. Looked like a blast and I’m sure after this past weekend were happy to be there last weekend and not the Family Day weekend! Agustina commented that it was the coldest night of her life. Hang tight kid!

 

Nancy read us a note from Tristen our outbound student on a Water Project in Peru. Here is his note- a wee bit condensed.

Exchange students project inbound 2015-2016 D.4455

CLEAN WATER PROJECT VILLAGE CENTRE YANAMONO FIRST ZONE CONSTRUCTION OF AN EVEVATED TANK TOWER AND TREATMENT SYSTEM AND WATER FILTRATION FROM THE RIVER FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

The community of Yanamono first zone, is located in the district of Indiana, province of Maynas, department of Loreto. To arrive to this community you have to leave from Indiana (duration of the route is 1 hour and 30 minutes), their means of transport in the community is in a boat.
In Yanamono lives approximately 43 families (180 people), their basic productive activities for consumption, harvested rice and bananas and they fish in the Amazon River for their food.
It has a school for primary and secondary education where studies 70 children.
They don't have basic services of water and electricity, some families have funded solar panels.

Description of the project:
The project will develop in the Town Centre Yanamono first zone located 80km from the city of Iquitos. The project consists of replacing an elevated tank of wood that was built 13 years ago that is in bad state and to build a cement tower and install elevated tanks with the purpose that the water from the river be treated with chlorine, aluminum and after stored in another tank for their posterior filtration. 

Objective of the project:
Reduce the parasitological diseases of the population that consume water not portable,
Avoid stomach upsets and avoid the malnutrition of the children. 

Beneficiaries: 
It is a population of approximately 180 habitats ranging from adults, children, and the elderly. 

To help us: 
-You can deposit money in this account: BE02 0017 7781 0340
-To speak of this project to your friends, family...


Tristen

Next up were Chi  Ling and Lawrence to give us the Coles notes on Chinese New Year which was  Feb.8^th. I have pages of notes on the meaning of red , the importance of food, shopping and good fortune but in the interests of accurate information and length I sourced a good summary of Chinese New Year. Yeah Google so here goes.

Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. The Chinese year 4714 begins on Feb. 8, 2016.

Chinese months are reckoned by the lunar calendar, with each month beginning on the darkest day. New Year festivities traditionally start on the first day of the month and continue until the fifteenth, when the moon is brightest. In China, people may take weeks of holiday from work to prepare for and celebrate the New Year.

 

Legend has it that in ancient times, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one. He announced that the people born in each animal's year would have some of that animal's personality traits. Those born in monkey years are often fun, energetic, curious, and mischievous. People believe the monkey years bring bad luck to those born in the year of the monkey. Patricia Arquette, Chelsea Clinton, Tom Hanks, Eleanor Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Grover Cleveland, Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Douglas, and Will Smith were born in the year of the monkey as was the scribe!

At Chinese New Year celebrations people wear red clothes, decorate with poems on red paper, and give children "lucky money" in red envelopes. Red symbolizes fire, which according to legend can drive away bad luck. The fireworks that shower the festivities are rooted in a similar ancient custom. Long ago, people in China lit bamboo stalks, believing that the crackling flames would frighten evil spirits.

In China, the New Year is a time of family reunion. Family members gather at each other's homes for visits and shared meals, most significantly a feast on New Year's Eve. In the United States, however, many early Chinese immigrants arrived without their families, and found a sense of community through neighborhood associations instead. Today, many Chinese-American neighborhood associations host banquets and other New Year events.

The lantern festival is held on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Some of the lanterns may be works of art, painted with birds, animals, flowers, zodiac signs, and scenes from legend and history. People hang glowing lanterns in temples, and carry lanterns to an evening parade under the light of the full moon.

In many areas the highlight of the lantern festival is the dragon dance. The dragon—which might stretch a hundred feet long—is typically made of silk, paper and bamboo. Traditionally the dragon is held aloft by young men who dance as they guide the colorful beast through the streets. In the United States, where the New Year is celebrated with a shortened schedule, the dragon dance always takes place on a weekend. In addition, many Chinese-American communities have added American parade elements such as marching bands and floats.

 

 

One of the highlights of the presentation was Rob Sybersma dressed as  the God of Wealth. Pretty funny coming from a guy who works for the CRA. . You have never looked lovelier Rob!!!

Lawrence and Chi Ling handed out lucky envelopes to one and all at the conclusion of their great presentation. Happy New Year!

 

Ceebee Skwybe