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Chair: Garth Gordon Greeter: Rick Graham
O'Canada: The dynamic duo of Pierre Hoebers & Brian Smith
Grace: Garth Gordon
Introduction of Visiting Rotarians
- Peter Smith North Sydney Club
Introduction of Guests:
- Marie Ecobert Exchange Student
- Anya Vavrikova Exchange Student
- Sandy Smith Peter Smith
- Ellen Stoddard Rick Graham
Secretary's Report: Brian Smith
- Reminder of the Board Meeting & Development of the Strategic Plan
- Valley Faces of Business Meeting - January 17th
President's Report:
- Reminder of NEKEC Baking on Tuesday
- District Conference on May 22nd
Birthdays:
- Bill Denyar
- Karen Corey
- Jason Sharpe
Rotary Anniversaries:
- John Lohr
- Trevor Archibald
- Roxanne Brown
Wedding Anniversary:
- Pierre and Corrie Hoebers
Illness:
- Doug Morrison is recovering from a brain aneurysm.
Happy Dollars:
- John Lohr - Running for the Leadership of the PC Party
- Farmer John's Herbs has purchased Omega Crunch
- Marie has completed her term with the Lohrs and has relocated to Martha MacQuarrie's
- Anya has relocated to Trevor Archibald's
- Martha MacQuarrie - Happy to have Marie staying with her
- Recommends everyone check out johnlohr.ca
- Karen Corey - Happy that Andy has a new grandaughter
Guest Speaker: Peter Smith - Rotary's Impact in Cameroon 
Background:
Former: French Cameroon, British Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Cameroon
Etymology: in the 15th century, Portuguese explorers named the area near the mouth of the Wouri River the Rio dos Camaroes (River of Prawns) after the abundant shrimp in the water; over time the designation became Cameroon in English; this is the only instance where a country is named after a crustacean
French Cameroon became independent in 1960 as the Republic of Cameroon. The following year the southern portion of neighboring British Cameroon voted to merge with the new country to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. In 1972, a new constitution replaced the federation with a unitary state, the United Republic of Cameroon. The country has generally enjoyed stability, which has enabled the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite slow movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of President Paul BIYA.
Cameroon’s market-based, diversified economy features oil and gas, timber, aluminum, agriculture, mining and the service sector. Oil remains Cameroon’s main export commodity, and despite falling global oil prices, still accounts for nearly 40% of exports. Cameroon’s economy suffers from factors that often impact underdeveloped countries, such as stagnant per capita income, a relatively inequitable distribution of income, a top-heavy civil service, endemic corruption, continuing inefficiencies of a large parastatal system in key sectors, and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise.
Since 1990, the government has embarked on various IMF and World Bank programs designed to spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, improve trade, and recapitalize the nation's banks. The IMF continues to press for economic reforms, including increased budget transparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs. The Government of Cameroon provides subsidies for electricity, food, and fuel that have strained the federal budget and diverted funds from education, healthcare, and infrastructure projects, as low oil prices have led to lower revenues.
Cameroon devotes significant resources to several large infrastructure projects currently under construction, including a deep seaport in Kribi and the Lom Pangar Hydropower Project. Cameroon’s energy sector continues to diversify, recently opening a natural gas-powered electricity generating plant. Cameroon continues to seek foreign investment to improve its inadequate infrastructure, create jobs, and improve its economic footprint, but its unfavorable business environment remains a significant deterrent to foreign investment.
Peter will be making his 3rd trip to Cameroon in March of this year. The area that he travels to is 40 kilometers South of Bermenda. The area is served by a network of clay roads and is ruled by a King who has 17 wives and 34 children. Peter's first trip was in 2000 and he was accompanied by Barry Howie, Greg Trefry and Joe Ueffing. The trip was an introduction to Immunization for Polio.
The area in Cameroon has one nurse for every 15000 people. Since 2003 there have 25 projects for bettering the area with 10% being funded from the Rotary Foundation and 70% from the Rotary Clubs in the district. Every cent that is raised for the projects goes to the project, with the average projects cost being $12,000.
Rotary foundation projects are low cost with dramatically high impact.
The District Projects go to:
- various hospitals
- Buses which in three years have traveled 300000 kilometers
- Latrines for schools with wash stations
- All projects are recognized locally with a plaque.
Each trip to Cameroon includes a Polio Clinic, there are also School Book Projects with the schools being made of clay by locals most being 3 room school houses. There was on hospital in Cameroon that had been in action with no equipment for 6 years. As previously stated the Roads are clay packed and particularly dusty. The project equipment and medical supplies are packed and shipped in containers from here at a cost of $2300 and they are left for local use. Equipment shipped has included sewing machines, X-ray machine which was taken apart and reassembled on site.
Chase the Ace: Kate Savage held the winning ticket, but lost the draw.