RCO June 29, 2020

RCO Meeting June 29, 2020
 
Rotary Club of Oakville
Meeting of June 29, 2020 – via ZOOM
By Mitch Sabsabi
 
The meeting was called to order by incoming President Mike Henry at 7:00 pm with a toast to Queen and Canada. The blessing was provided by Jean Wettlaufer.
 
 
Attendance:
A total of 30 people signed into the zoom meeting including 8 guests:
  1. Rhonda Cunningham - Judy Warrington's guest
  2. Jean Price - Judy Warrington's guest
  3. David Peters - George Vincent's guest
  4. Jamie Retief - Ralf Soeder's guest
  5. Kimberley Soeder - Ralf Soeder's guest
  6. Jad Dennaoui - Dana Dennaoui's guest
  7. Judy Dennaoui - Dana Dennaoui's guest
  8. Ghaith Zreikat - Rudy Habesch's guest (left early due to bad connection)
 
Announcements:
 
  • Mahendra provided an update on the following intiatives:
    • Guatemala- US$5K as part of MOB Cluster project.
    • India - US$4K as a lead International Club
    • South Africa - US$4K as one of International Clubs
    • Indigenous community:  Oakville indigenous scholarship is working to help Hayley to grant her a scholarship for her education 
 
  • Judy received a check via mail in the amount of $1,120 from children at the public school nearby. They have printed a picture on merchandise and sold it, then sent the money to Judy. Money will be sent the Dominican to help build a school.
  • On a separate note,the Burlington art gallery will donate a box full of supplies in support of the Art for Aid initiative.
     
  • Jean reminded members that the Education Award celebrations will be hosted in the evening of June 30th
     
  • Incoming president Mike Henry announced a District meeting highlight – Rudy was elected as governor.
  • In addition he highlighted the 4 key points made by Michael Angelo zone 29 - Rotary must:
    1. We need to show up on social media 
    2. Be clear on our goals 
    3. Outward facing programs – find speaker that will attract younger members 
    4. Improve Rotary experience
  • Next meeting: COVID 19 Update from an individual that manages UTMH - July 20 Mini Summit
 
August 10 Club Assembly
 
Happy Bucks:
 
Happy bucks were announced and accounted for.
 
Speaker
 
Tye Farrow was introduced by George Farrow who highlighted his credentials (see below):
 
  • Tye holds a bachelor of architecture from University of Toronto
  • Master of Architecture in Urban Design from Harvard University
  • Masters in Neuroscience science Architecture in design university of Venice, Italy
  • Volunteering:
    • President, Board of Governors, University of Toronto Alumni Association
    • Boundless Cabinet Member John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design University of Toronto
    • Alumni Faculty Representative, Faculty Council, John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design University of Toronto  
    • Past Vice-chair, College of Electors, University of Toronto Past First
    • Vice-president, Board of Governors Architectural Conservancy of Ontario
    • Past Chairman of the Board, Board of Governors, Royal St. George’s College.
Tye Farrow's topic was "What causes health - hint: isn’t your local hospital". Tye starts the discussion by looking at how the 
  • Front line health workers kept us safe and sound
  • Third of the population have Chronic disease besides COVID-19
  • 75% of each dollar is spend toward chronic disease
  • What happens if we can eradicate Hospitals?
  • Current hospitals have bee around for 100 years or so
  • We need hospital for pandemics and repairs
  • We need to create new narrative around health
  • Compared causes of health to Rotary efforts towards eradication of polio
  • Showed us wonderful pictures of indoor environments and high-performance buildings 
  • Shared studies of rats thriving in a stimulating environment perform 25% higher rates of increased brain activity
  • Key to creating Cognitive reserve; space is a factor in its creation
  • cognitive reserve gives you more brain muscle powers
  • Research suggest that lack of optimal stimulation impairs cognitive development
  • Robert King spent 29 years in windowless prison 23 hours/day resulted in damaged hippocampus memory, Spatial orientation & emotion regulation, lost ability to navigate, unable to recognize faces. Areas of his brain not being used whither
  • Similar effects from maternal deprivation, child neglect
  • Condo environment of 600SF leads to serious mental health
  • Cubical and current school environments impair creativity
  • What if your health was the basis for judging every public space every building?
  • What if we were dedicated to building places that cause health
  • Health is not passive thing it erodes our ability to thrive; physically, emotionally, societal, economic & environmental health
  • Optimal health is like a table with four legs; 1 environmental health. 2 design and relationship with societal health. 3 is physical health; we have put policy that created the condition of chronic disease. 4 is mind health and emerging area of Neuroscience and architecture. FMRI can track the electronic currents that are stimulated by the environment around us.
  • Gave us a breakdown form 3,000BC philosophy of Wellness and Holistic view of what causes health to the current growth of global wellness economy
  • We can accelerate Optimal health, architecture is like food it enriches our minds, body’s, and spiritual health.
  • Compared an apartment building to a burger … Full of empty calories (transactional space)
  • Well-designed spaces are like Superfoods Eclipse all others. Packed with minerals and Vitamins.
 
 
  • Elements of enriched environments:
  1.  Variety and Vitality
  2. Sense of occurrence
  3. Optimism
  4. Nature
  5. Solidness, Silence, Stillness and Intimacy
  6. Authenticity
  7. Legacy
  • Everything we do we must is to create a condition to thrive
  • Waves of COVID-19
  1. flattening the curve
  2. president of health association worry that people coming in for cancer treatment maybe life threatening
  3. chronic disease
  4. 8 months from beginning of pandemic Oct-Nov mental health issues
The many questions and dialogue following John’s presentation are a testimony to the interest in the content and topic area.  Questions ranged from how Water First originated, their collaborative approaches with both equipment and service providers through to the level of advocacy training included in the Water First program. . question and answer followed John’s presentation
 
Tareq thanked John for his presentation noting that the Water First approach is very aligned with Rotary principles.
 
 
Next Meeting
  • July 6th – ZOOM – COVID_19 Update
President Mike closed the meeting with a toast to friends and Rotarians around the world.