- Meeting started at: 19:00 sharp – Military Time
- Michael: Toast to Queen and Canada
- Viv Naidoo provided the Invocation
- Attendance was 16 members and 3 guests
- Fine Master/Happy Bucks: Frank Morewood,
- Fines: name Polio Viruses – every one was fined
- Happy Bucks: Frank is happy to be out in the community safely, he went to the symphony and the Opera. Joe has a resident coyote as a neighbour, Ralf’s daughter Jamison completed her 3rd Half Marathon on Sunday.
- Prem Nair introduced our two guest speakers:
- Lieutenant Colonel Isabelle Morin & Major Ryan Gregg
- Topic was Canada’s Disaster Assistance Response Team, known as DART
Isabelle started the presentation with an overview and history of DART Current Commander of DART is in Poland helping with evacuation of Ukrainians, so Isabelle stepped in to present. DART is involved in International disaster relief only, not Domestic relief efforts. It is designed to compliment, not replace existing relief mechanisms, and rarely provides direct assistance such as food distribution. Typically provides Indirect Assistance, such as opening roads, airports etc. DART History: - When the Cdn Government wanted to provide assistance in Rwanda in 1994 the response was very slow due to logistical issues. Canadian Government decided to create DART for quicker response times.
- First DART deployment was to Honduras after earth quake 1998
If DART is deployed it is a Gov’t decision (Prime Minister), but executed by the military. DART is not a standing unit, it is a core group of members who are held at high readiness (12 hours notice). Trenton is strategic airbase and primary supply depot. DART keeps enough supplies to be fully self sufficient for 40 days upon arriving at a disaster sight. To date there have been 7 official DART CAF Responses Major Ryan Gregg was deployed in 2013 to Philippines when they were impacted by a Super Typhoon ( Category 5 hurricane) His role was Task Force Engineer. Ryan shared with us in detail the 45 day deployment by sharing pictures and stories. - Ralf thanked both speakers
- Announcements:
- Michael shared upcoming meetings for May. Either the meeting on the 16th of May or the 30th will be at the Oakville Golf club
- Diane Farrow’s Celebration of Life will be held on June 18th @ 1:30pm. Location will be Knox Presbyterian church in Oakville. George Farrow will send out an invitation to all members of our club.
- Electric Car Lottery: $62,000 in ticket sales plus 50/50 ticket sales. Social Media bringing in sales. Members are encouraged to reach out to their contacts by forwarding the information flyers that were distributed last month. Also consider your Linked In contacts, and other social media networks.
- Michael closed the meeting with a Toast to friends and Rotarians everywhere
- The meeting ended at 8:10pm
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