Club History, Local Youth Support Programs

Posted by Vi Hughes on Mar 14, 2024
Over the years our club has been a strong supporter of local youth through sponsorship and mentoring for school clubs, educational scholarships, opportunities for leadership training and the Rotary International Exchange program. Some of these program recipients are selected by the district or Foundation and then are funded by our club, either in total or in conjunction with another club.
 
Our club has supported the Rotary International Exchange Student Program almost since our club was founded. For almost every second year since our club has either sponsored or received a Rotary International Exchange Student. This program sends carefully chosen grade eleven High School students to live and attend school in another country as the guests of a participating Rotary Club in that area. Our Rotary District currently selects and sends several students each year to Rotary Districts abroad to a Rotary District that they have been paired with. Our club has provided funding for expenses and travel for many outgoing students and accommodations in their homes as well as many social opportunities for the incoming students to get to know Canadians and to learn more about Rotary, Alberta and Canada. This has proven to be a very rich and rewarding experience for many members of our club.
 
J Percy Page High School Rotary Interact Club where we sponsored and supported a Rotary Interact Club for High School students and supported them in many of their fundraising and volunteer service projects.
 
WP Wagner High School Rotary Interact Club where we sponsor and support a Rotary Interact Club for High School students in many of their fundraising and volunteer service projects.
 
Rotary Early Act where our club sponsored and supported a club for elementary school students at Riverbend Elementary School.
 
Rotary Adventures in Human Rights where our club sponsors a high school student to attend this five day event which is hosted by Rotary in Winnipeg.
 
Rotary Adventures in Citizenship where our club sponsors a high school student to attend this five day event which is hosted by Rotary in Ottawa.
 
RYLE, Rotary Youth Leadership Experience where our club sponsors high school student Rotary Interact Club members to attend a weekend at Lake Nakamun Camp near Edmonton where they learn how to be an effective leader.
 
RYPEN, Rotary Youth Program for Enrichment, a four-day personal development workshop for high school students aged fourteen to eighteen.
 
Ron Dobbin Memorial Scholarship where each year our club gives a one thousand dollar scholarship towards post-secondary education to a selected Edmonton area high school student who has overcome major challenges in their life.
 
Harold Kukertz Scholarship where our club awards a scholarship of one thousand dollars towards post -secondary education through the Edmonton Community Foundation to a selected Edmonton High School student.
Club History, Local Youth Support Programs Vi Hughes 2024-03-14 06:00:00Z 0

Lorephil Toledo, Canajan
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Mar 14, 2024
 
Lorephil Toledo with President Elect Loida Lumanlan
 
This past week we heard an informal talk from Lorephil Toledo, a local business owner and new-comer to Canada. Lorephil told us that she arrived in Canada from the Philippines in 2011 with no money and no English language skills.  She had only her hopes for a better life for herself and her family and a very hard working spirit. She first worked as a restaurant shift supervisor for several years before starting to do house cleaning as well. She found it quite lonely at first as she had no family here and had left her two small children with family in the Philippines to take this opportunity. Several years later, once she had obtained her permanent residency she immediately returned to the Philippines to bring her family here as well.  One day one of her house cleaning customers asked her why she didn’t start her own company as she was so hard working they thought that she would be able to make a success of whatever she did. At first she was scared of the idea, but after much encouragement she decided to go for it. She founded her own house cleaning company, Canajan, in 2016 and incorporated in 2019. Her business is doing well and she now has seventeen employees.
Lorephil said that she sees her success as having a responsibility to give back to others by giving them an opportunity to make a new life for themselves. She does this by helping other people to come here from the Philippines and giving them a hand up. She believes in doing what she can to make other people happy, whether it means taking the extra time to talk with a lonely senior customer or giving encouragement to other new immigrants that they can make a life for themselves here in Canada. She said that if she could do it, coming here with no money and no English, anyone can. Her hope for the future is that she will be able to expand her business to create more jobs that will build dreams for others as well.
Lorephil Toledo, Canajan  Vi Hughes 2024-03-14 06:00:00Z 0

Meeting With a Twist for March
 

Posted by Rose Marie Basaraba
Meeting With a Twist for March, scheduled for Wednesday, March 27th, 2024, will be a guided Walk Thru the Pyramids at the Muttart Conservatory in the River Valley at 9626 96A Street. The adult only event starts promptly at 7:00 and will treat you to the first real ‘taste of Spring’ with the ‘fresh’ aroma of tulips and narcissus. Tickets are $14.95 each payable at the door. If you arrive early you may wish to purchase your choice of a glass if wine or other beverage to enjoy along the way. This is a highly popular evening. As they require an approximate number of attendees in advance to ensure adequate staffing, please let me know if you plan to attend and I will provide that info to them. Please reply to me by Wednesday. March 20th. (Rose Marie 780-435-5224 or rmcon@telus.net) This is a highly popular event but well worthwhile AND proof that “Spring is on the way”.
Meeting With a Twist for March  Rose Marie Basaraba 2024-03-09 07:00:00Z 0

Club History, International Projects

Posted by Vi Hughes on Mar 07, 2024
Since it’s inception our club has been committed to supporting international projects, in particular those that support women and children in need. As required by Rotary International, all of these projects are vetted and done in compliance with their strict reporting guidelines regarding international projects. This means that they are each done in conjunction a local Rotary club to provide oversight and ensure funds are used as intended. Some of the projects we have supported over the years are:
 
Operation Eyesight where we donate funds to provide eyesight restoring surgery in several under privileged countries. The funds for this are raised by our meeting Sargeant at Arms as ‘fines’ for cuteness and any other wacky thing they can come up with, as well as donations to celebrate special occasions in our individual lives such as anniversaries or children’s and grandchildren’s accomplishments.
 
Amarok Society Canada, where we provide funding for a school for mothers in the slums of Bangladesh that provides schooling for the mothers and in return they are required to teach the children in their local areas what they have learned.
The Bosnian Refugee Project in Croatia where we provided funding for essential services to Bosnian refugees.
 
Medical Dental Mission to Ecuador in conjunction with the Edmonton Riverview Rotary Club where we provided funding and volunteer labour to support medical and dental teams that provided knee and hip replacements and children’s dental care.
 
We have partnered with the Rotary Club of Tomebomba. Ecuador to support several projects including portable dental equipment, a sanitation project and a shelter for girls.
 
We have supported a children’s school in Belize and offered preschool student support in Bogota, Columbia.
 
Shelterbox Canada where we provided funding for temporary shelters for people displaced by disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis.
 
KIVA Microfinance where members of our club provide funds which are in turn given as small business loans to women in third world countries. When the loans are repaid the money is then loaned out again.
 
New Hope School in South Africa, a joint project with the Rotary Club of Pretoria which we supported thru various means, local donations, global grants and a Go Fund Me Fundraiser to provide funding for students to attend and also for classroom equipment.
 
Mondesa Youth Opportunities in Swakopmund, Namibia where in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Swakopmund we provide funding for specific students to be able to attend an after-school program for under privileged children in their area.
 
Eleni Gyra Hospice in Greece for disabled adults in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Ioannina, Greece where we raised and provided funding to purchase and install needed clothes washer, dryer and air conditioning equipment.
 
Project Amigo Canada, where we provided funding for a student from Colima, Mexico to attend University for one year.
 
Wheelchairs for the Dominican Republic in conjunction with a Rotary club there, where we collected and shipped wheelchairs and then in conjunction with the local Rotary group we provided volunteers to assemble, fit and maintain them for people in need.
 
Building Bridges to Prosperity, where we raised and provided funding which then qualified for a District matching grant to help build a footbridge in Rwanda to allow villagers to reach their local schools and health care facilities more easily.
Club History, International Projects Vi Hughes 2024-03-07 07:00:00Z 0

Janet Hancock, Bonnie Blakely, Dr. Daniel De Luca,
Child and Adolescent Services for All
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Mar 07, 2024
 
Dr. Daniel DeLuca, Janet Hancock and Bonnie Blakely
 
This Tuesday we heard from a team of people from CASA (Child and Adolescent Services for All), a non-profit provider of clinical mental health services for over forty years in the Edmonton area.
Janet Hancock, CASA Board Chair and retired high school principal (Don Knott High School and Lillian Osborne High School) told us that CASA provides free wrap around mental health services for families and children aged three to eighteen in the Edmonton and Sherwood Park area. She also told us that they are planning to expand their services all over Alberta in the near future. Janet said that when she was a school principal she would often see children in crisis and would do her best to get them help, sometimes taking them to the hospital herself and sitting with them there until they got help. One of her proudest accomplishments was being able to set up dedicated classrooms in her schools in conjunction with CASA for children who needed intervention to give them the skills they needed to thrive.  CASA provides the ‘missing middle’ services between the two extremes of basic community support and hospital based crisis services.
Bonnie Blakely, CEO and mother of seven children, two of whom have chronic mental illness has lived experience with trying to get help for children in crisis and beyond. She has personal experience with the effects that this can have on a whole family, so she understands the need for the type of services that CASA provides. Bonnie told us that CASA has all of the mental health professionals you would see in an AHS setting, but they have community donors in addition to Federal and Provincial funding that allows them to provide these services. She said that they have three hundred staff who provided services for almost eight thousand families this past year. They have five locations around Edmonton and classrooms in seven Edmonton schools. They are expanding their school base to twenty classrooms in the near future. Bonnie said that they take clients with and without a referral. Community education is a big part of what they do. People can get to CASA through their family physician or by directly contacting CASA. CASA will then do an assessment to determine which services will help the children and their families to thrive. Bonnie said that they follow their children as long as it takes, they do not close files quickly once they leave their services and also try to maintain support for people beyond the age of eighteen.  They also believe strongly in research. She said that many of their children are on the autism spectrum and because they have a rich database on their clients going back many years it forms a very useful basis for many different types of research. As a result of this they now fund a joint Research Chair with the University of Alberta and have hired Dr Daniel Moreno De Luca, a Clinical Psychiatrist and expert on research in the field of genomic psychiatry as it relates to autism and other neuro psychiatric conditions, as Chair to work with them to study the genetic connections.
Dr. Daniel Moreno De Luca said he is helping CASA to model their services to meet the needs of their children based on his genetic findings. He told us that autism often has a strong genetic basis with one third showing some type of genetic cause. He is working with CASA to identify the causes and find ways to use that genetic information to help these children. Together they are developing research and clinical infrastructure and training professionals to be able to use this information.
Bonnie closed by saying that they are planning to enlarge their support across Alberta for this sliver of the population that mostly remains invisible. They hope to be able to give more people the supports they need to be able to thrive. We would like to thank all three of these excellent speakers for coming to give us more information about their services.
Janet Hancock, Bonnie Blakely, Dr. Daniel De Luca,Child and Adolescent Services for All  Vi Hughes 2024-03-07 07:00:00Z 0

Club History, Local Community Service Projects

Posted by Vi Hughes on Feb 15, 2024
Right from the beginning one of the basic tenets of our club has been to support community projects with an emphasis on helping women and children in need. The projects we have supported have changed over the years as the interests of our club and the needs of the community have changed. Some of the community projects that we have supported over the years are:
 
ARCH Enterprises, founded by the Edmonton Southside Rotary Club in 1973 and where since 1986 our club has provided board members and helped with fundraising to help them deliver vocational programs for disabled adults in the Edmonton area.
 
The Old Strathcona Historical Foundation, where we provided both funds and volunteer labour to build and promote neighbourhood meeting places such as the McIntyre Park Band Stand (Gazebo) which was inaugurated in 1980.and the Old Strathcona Caboose Visitor Information Center which opened in 1992.
 
Habitat for Humanity, where we provided volunteer labour to help build homes for families in need.
 
Mustard Seed, where we provided volunteer labour to prepare and serve meals to the needy in our community.
 
Valley Zoo, where we have provided funding for the building and maintenance of animal habitat for the Grevy Zebras.
 
Fort Edmonton Park, Edmonton District Rotary Project, where we provided funds to help complete the visitor center /train station.
 
YONA, Youth Orchestra of Northern Alberta, where we provided funds to support the purchase of instruments for children in several inner city schools.
 
YESS, Youth Empowerment and Support Services,  where we provided funds to purchase furniture for the lobby of their reception center and also towards the purchase of a van to be used to transport clients to appointments and meetings.
 
Meals on Wheels, where we have provided volunteer labor to prepare and portion meals for their handicapped and/or elderly clients.
 
Run for the Cure, where we provided funds and volunteer staff for a water station for those who were running to raise funds for Breast Cancer.
 
Operation Red Nose, where we helped in support of local charities to provide volunteer drivers to transport people home after a night on the town.
 
Comedy Club drivers, where we provide volunteer drivers for the entertainers who have come to Edmonton to entertain for the annual ATB Financial Edmonton Comedy Festival which raises funds for charity.
 
WIN (Women in Need) House, where we provided children’s pajamas and Christmas gift boxes of small gifts, personal care items for the women and children staying in their residence.
 
Inclusion Alberta where members of our club have provided employment opportunities to their clients.
 
Hope Mission, where we provided volunteer labour to prepare meals for those in need and also collected clothing for the use of their clients.
 
Coats for Kids where we collected clothing for children in need in our community.
 
Edmonton Food Bank, where we provided volunteer labour to sort food and pack hampers for those in need.
 
Ronald McDonald House, where we provided both groceries and prepared meals for families staying at their residential facility for families with children who are receiving care at the Stollery Children’s Hospital.
 
Pilgrims Hospice Society, where we provided fund to support their services for hospice clients.
 
Tools for Schools where we collected and donated school supplies and backpacks to an inner city school.
 
Edmonton Crisis Unit where we collected funds, purchased and wrapped Christmas Gifts and Hampers for Social Services to distribute to several families in need.
 
Ukrainian Canadian Social Services Edmonton where we donated Christmas gift boxes for new immigrant women from Ukraine.
 
Club History, Local Community Service Projects Vi Hughes 2024-02-15 07:00:00Z 0

Jeff Day, Inner City Youth Development Association
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Feb 15, 2024
 
Jeff Day with club member Jim Pedde
 
This week we welcomed Jeff Day, a member of the leadership team from Inner City High School and Youth Engagement Program. Jeff told us that the Inner City Youth Development Association (ICYDA) was started in 1986 by Dr. Joe Cloutier as a means to help poor inner city youth with their basic needs in the hope that they would be better able to focus on their schooling. Joe started working with street engaged youth who had no stability in their lives and most did not have access to any specific school. To address this problem, in 1993 he started the Inner City High School which ran in the Boyle Street Community League building. In 1994 they moved to their present location near the Royal Alex and are an Alberta Education accredited High School. They serve inner city youth aged fifteen to nineteen and provide wrap around supports such as food, with a hot lunch and after school snack, counselling and help with medical, legal and housing issues to help them to be able to complete their schooling. They provide housing referrals, help with court proceedings, provide medical support, addiction services and suicide prevention services. They try to provide these youth with the tools, resources and attitudes to help stabilize their lives.
Many have come to the city from elsewhere and have no stable place to stay or steady means of support.  Most test at an elementary school level of education and have attended anywhere between ten and twenty-seven different schools in their lives. Of the ‘street’ youth they serve, some live in group homes, many live in unstable/unsafe housing and some are totally homeless. Most of their young people come from indigenous backgrounds. The school and it’s staff are the one stable thing in their lives.
Jeff told us that in an average year they have between one hundred and eighty and three hundred students go through their program. The programming they provide is specially tailored to the needs of these young people, with all of the community supports woven into the program. The school has thirty three staff members, half of whom are teachers and half support staff. They also have an Elder on site to help students who want to learn more about their culture. He said that the cost of their program is about twenty-one thousand dollars per student per year and they do receive government funding towards some of this cost. The government only covers three years of schooling and many of their students need more than three years to complete their schooling. They also provide a twice weekly food bank, daily meals and transportation to school for their students which are not covered by government funding. All of these extra items are supported by donations.
We would like to thank Jeff for taking the time to come and tell us about this very deserving local program.
 
Jeff Day, Inner City Youth Development Association  Vi Hughes 2024-02-15 07:00:00Z 0

Wheel of Fortune Prize Donations Needed
 

We are desperately in need of more donations for our Wheel of Fortune. Please bring your donations to the meeting with you and give them to either Ken or Eric Germain. Small, new items such as wine, small gadgets, candy, books and any other small non-perishable items are welcome, in particular something you yourself would be happy to win!
Wheel of Fortune Prize Donations Needed  Vi Hughes 2024-02-07 07:00:00Z 0

Tammy Wiebe, Classification Talk
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Feb 07, 2024
 
Rotary President Elect Loida Lumanlan with Tammy Wiebe
 
This week we welcomed Tammy Wiebe to tell us a few things about herself. Tammy is the Executive Director of the Valley Zoo Fund Development Society. Her rotary classification is Fund Development. Tammy told us that she came to Rotary through Dennis and Donna Hutton as Dennis has served on the Valley Zoo Fund Development board. She came to know Donna when she approached her about our club sponsoring the zebras. Tammy said she has been a member of our club for one year now.
Tammy told us that she was raised in Red Deer by a single mum in a family of five children and is herself a single mum with three grown children and three grandchildren. She said that she worked for many years in marketing for various large law firms around Alberta. More recently, once her children were grown and gone, she became interested in giving back to the community and volunteered for the Valley Zoo board. She soon realized that she really enjoyed the work there and found that her business background was a valuable addition to their board. Gradually she became President of the board, where she served for two years and started hiring people with more professional backgrounds for the Zoo. A few years later she decided to take a pay cut, leave marketing and become the Executive Director for the Valley Zoo Fund Development Society. She found that it was a steep learning curve working for a charity board but she truly enjoys her work and has not looked back since. She has been at the zoo for twelve years now and said that doing something you are truly passionate about makes all the difference.
Her latest endeavor at the Zoo has been fundraising and building a new wolf habitat that will open later this year.  Another one of her projects has been ‘Pay it Forward for the Planet’, where the zoo subsidizes the cost for classrooms of children from poor areas to visit the Zoo when they make a commitment to take on a conservancy project. The Zoo has now sponsored over eight hundred students under this program.
We would like to thank Tammy for telling us a few things about herself and look forward to getting to know her better in future.
Tammy Wiebe, Classification Talk  Vi Hughes 2024-02-07 07:00:00Z 0

Club History, Strathconian Bulletin

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 31, 2024
 
Our First Bulletin, Jun 1974
 
One of the requirements of Rotary International was for clubs to have good printed matter- notices, minutes of meetings and newsletters and a practice of preserving these.
All types of newsletters were published by our club since it’s inception in 1974. From simple typed, hand formatted single page mimeographed letters and later photocopied multipage newsletters which were snail mailed to each member, to present day sophisticated electronically formatted bulletins that are e-mailed to each member.
Our editors and publishers are the heroes of these publications. They gathered information (club news, new member write ups, speaker write ups, jokes, logos, pictures), typed it up, did the page layouts (what would we have done without scotch tape!), had it copied, folded, stapled, stuffed into envelopes, addressed, licked stamps and put it in the mailbox for delivery. All of this was no small task, especially prior to e-mail.
Our first newsletter was titled The Tele-Rotary. The name then transitioned to The Rota-Teller and finally the Strathconian, which became the e-Strathconian in 2007. Hans Granholm has been instrumental in seeing that nearly every newsletter got distributed to our members, was instrumental in our shift to electronic formatting and mailing and still has a hand in as the administrator of our ClubRunner website.
Some of the editors over the years were Neil Weir (our first editor), John Barnes, Hans Granholm, Jim Ashton, Len Gierach, Peter deNooy, Ken Germain and since 2016, Vi Hughes. Many other people contributed over the years as well.
We definitely owe a big debt of thanks to all of the dedicated people who made our newsletter possible over the years.
Club History, Strathconian Bulletin Vi Hughes 2024-01-31 07:00:00Z 0

Ben Dela Cruz, Rotary Adventures in Human Rights
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 31, 2024
 
Ben Dela Cruz with club member Vince Campbell
 
We were pleased to welcome Bienaventurado Dela Cruz to our meeting to tell us about his time in Winnipeg last summer at the week-long Rotary Adventures in Human Rights conference for high school students. Ben told us that Rotary was new to him and he would like to thank us for sponsoring him for this opportunity to meet and get to know other young people with similar interests in Human Rights and activism. He said that each day there was a different field trip or learning experience on various topics. One day they visited the Immigrant and Refugee canter in Winnipeg to learn about the experiences and difficulties faced by newcomers to our country. Another day they visited Human Rights Museum where they learned about the holocaust, the Japanese immigrant experience in Canada and the experiences of indigenous people. He said that many of these resonated with him as he tries to find his own identity in Canada. They also helped out at a free barbecue for three hundred local people by cooking and serving food and talking to the people who came. He said that he learned to do a pretty good job of barbecuing hot dogs. The last day concentrated on learning about how to foster positive peace in the community.
Ben gave us his sincere gratitude and thanks for sponsoring him to attend and said that he learned many new things about the world, met and made many new friends, gained more confidence in himself and learned how he can help to make change happen around him.
Ben Dela Cruz, Rotary Adventures in Human Rights  Vi Hughes 2024-01-31 07:00:00Z 0

Mark Climie-Elliot, Operation Smile
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 31, 2024
 
Mark Climie-Elliot with club member Vince Campbell
 
This week we heard from Mark Climie-Elliot from Operation Smile Canada. Mark told us that Operation Smile was founded in 1982 by Bill and Kathy Magee with international headquarters currently located in Virginia, USA. Bill is a world recognized plastic surgeon and his wife a nurse and social worker. Mark told us that world-wide one in seven hundred children are born with this condition and that more people die each year from this condition due to lack of surgical care than die from Tuberculosis, Malaria and HIV combined. Cleft lip and palate can cause severe feeding problems in newborns and young children and many simply starve to death without care.
He said that Operation Smile has a worldwide network of teams of medical personnel who work to train local people and build operating rooms and equip hospitals to provide wrap around care for children with cleft lip and palate. They currently operate in thirty-six countries with one hundred and eighty facilities. Many of the hospitals that they use are Rotary sponsored. Their teams consist of about forty-five percent local personnel with the remainder coming from all over the world. These people provide their time and skill free of charge with Operation Smile covering their travel and living expenses. This care covers everything from providing pre-surgical nutrition to surgical care, which may include multiple surgeries over several years, orthodontic work, physical therapy, speech therapy, psychosocial care, family counselling and much more. This care can be ongoing up to the age of eighteen for some. Many of these children and their families also suffer from the social stigma of local superstition as this common deformity is considered to be a curse in many third world countries. This surgery can be life-changing for both the children and their families.
Mark told us that there are currently about five million people with untreated cleft palate with no access to safe surgery in their local area.  He said that just over two million of these are in countries where Operation Smile serves. Operation Smile currently has a ten-year plan to help one million of these. Our donations mean the world to these children and their families. He hopes that our club will consider supporting them. We can also make individual donations through their website at operationsmilecanada.ca.
Mark Climie-Elliot, Operation Smile  Vi Hughes 2024-01-31 07:00:00Z 0

January Twist, Sip and Solve

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 31, 2024
 
One week ago Thursday we met at Telus World of Science to have some fun checking out their Puzzles, Mazes and Games display and have a few drinks as well. Some of them were easy but others were quite challenging. Some people even got lost in one of the mazes for a while. The best part of the evening for some was having to show ID to prove we were over eighteen!
January Twist, Sip and Solve Vi Hughes 2024-01-31 07:00:00Z 0

Laura Brown, Classification Talk
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 17, 2024
 
 
This week we were pleased to hear from our newest member Laura Brown. Laura told us that she became a Financial Adviser many years ago and worked for CIBC Wood Gundy for ten years as part of a large team in eastern Canada before deciding to set up her own practice here in Edmonton with Edward Jones Financial. She said that she enjoys being able to run her business the way that works best for her. She told us that a big part of that means an emphasis on socially responsible investing. She said that running her own business has been quite a change from working with a large team, but she truly enjoys the challenge of learning what types of investments work best for her clients.
Laura told us that she went through a rough period as a teenager and young woman but came out of it with an entirely new perspective on life and now realizes that sharing her experiences and giving back to the community is something that she needs to be part of her life.
Laura also told us that she is very lucky to have an amazing supportive family in her partner, Guillaume and two young children. She also told us that she has a family connection to Rotary as her mother is a Rotarian, so she knows something of what it means to be a Rotarian. Service and helping others has been part of her life and always will be.
We would like to thank Laura for telling us something about herself and look forward to getting to know her better.
 
Laura Brown, Classification Talk  Vi Hughes 2024-01-17 07:00:00Z 0

Pints for Polio

 
Please Note:
The date for this event has changed to Wed., 31 Jan 2024
Pints for Polio Vi Hughes 2024-01-10 07:00:00Z 0

Mondesa Youth Opportunities Updates
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 10, 2024
We have recently received updates from Mondesa Youth Opportunies (MYO) on each of the five students that we have sponsored, Frans, Naambo, Romance, Fransina and Tangeni, in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Edmonton Riverview.
MYO is a well-known and intensive after-school education program located in Mondesa Township, Swakopmund, Namibia. It is the flagship project for the Rotary Club of Swakopmund, Namibia.
All five of our students are doing well in their studies. The detailed reports can be seen in our Club Documents section of our Website.
Mondesa Youth Opportunities Updates  Vi Hughes 2024-01-10 07:00:00Z 0

Edmonton Crisis Unit Christmas Donation
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 10, 2024
 
Ben Gomez and Rhonda Smith from our club Community Services Committee approached the Edmonton Crisis Unit and volunteered to provide gifts and hampers to two single parent families with multiple children recommended by them. We asked for cash donations at our Christmas Party and combined these with community funds to collect one thousand dollars. This was then used to purchase and wrap one hundred and twenty Christmas gifts and two hampers that were delivered to Mill Woods Social Services on the Friday before Christmas. They in turn delivered them to the two families. Social Services later told us that both families were greatly appreciative of our donations.
Edmonton Crisis Unit Christmas Donation  Vi Hughes 2024-01-10 07:00:00Z 0

January Meeting with a Twist
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 10, 2024
Telus World of Science, Sip and Solve
Adult only Event (18+)
Thursday, Jan 18, open from 6:30 -10:00 pm
We can meet near the entrance around 7:00 pm, but you can arrive later and join us as well.
 
Cost is $12.95 per person
Includes:
Entry to the Mazes and Brain Games Exhibit only with over 60 puzzling experiences to solve
Enigma Bar (Cash bar) where you can purchase alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks and snacks
 
If you wish to attend you may purchase tickets in advance, on-line from the Telus World of Science website, Experiences, Events, Sip and Solve and Select the Jan 18 event.
 
These events have sold out in the past, so don’t dawdle!
January Meeting with a Twist  Vi Hughes 2024-01-10 07:00:00Z 0

Nelson Sanchez, Prosper Place
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 10, 2024
Nelson Sanchez with our club Community Chair Carin Jansen van Vuuren
 
This week we welcomed Nelson Gomez to tell us about the programs at Prosper Place. Prosper Place is a program of the Canadian Mental Health Association. They have a building in the west end of Edmonton (10455-172 St) with a Café, meeting and program rooms. Members can join at no cost and are welcome to take part in any of the programs offered.
They have a cafe which offers subsidized daily meals to members for four dollars each. They currently have about eight hundred members with about thirty to forty people taking part in daily activities. They are open five days a week and offer programs to encourage skills building, personal growth, socialization, or simply a space to connect with others. Some of their current programs include Adjusting to Life in Canada, Parenting, Anger Management, Anxiety and Depression, Grief and Loss, Balancing Work and Family and many other topics. In addition, they have a small food and clothing bank on site. They offer drop-in professional psychiatric help every Tuesday which is open to the general public. They also sponsor a party for their members once a month with a meal and entertainment provided at a very minimal cost. Their members come from all walks of life and they are tied in to the 211 Help Line, local Hospitals, the Food Bank, Probation Officers, Group homes and many other agencies although referrals are not needed to become a member.
They have a very small number of paid staff and many of their programs are run by volunteer peer members. They receive funding for some programs through Canadian Mental Health but are also a registered Charity and rely on private donations for many of their additional programs. We would like to thank Nelson for his very interesting talk. More information on their programs can be found at www.prosperplace.org.
Nelson Sanchez, Prosper Place  Vi Hughes 2024-01-10 07:00:00Z 0

Laura Brown, New Member Induction
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 10, 2024
New Member Laura Brown with Membership committee members Stefan Jansen van Vuuren and Sean Murphy
 
 
This Tuesday Sean Murphy, from our Membership Committee welcomed Laura Brown as the latest member of our club. Laura’s classification is Financial Adviser.  We would like to warmly welcome Laura to our club and look forward to getting to know her better.
Laura Brown, New Member Induction  Vi Hughes 2024-01-10 07:00:00Z 0

Meeting date canceled 

Due to a volunteer conflict the Feb 20th regular meeting has been cancelled to allow any and all members to volunteer at our casino.
 
Any questions please contact the organizers. 
Meeting date canceled Hans GRANHOLM 2024-01-07 07:00:00Z 0

Amarok December Update
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Dec 20, 2023
We have recently received a letter from Nasima. a mother/teacher with the Amarok Program in Khulna, Bangladesh, whom we have sponsored. You can read her update in the Photo Album section at left.
Amarok December Update  Vi Hughes 2023-12-20 07:00:00Z 0

Meals on Wheels Volunteers

 
Some members of our club and one friend volunteered on Nov 20 for a morning at Meals on Wheels. We had a great time peeling and chopping veg and portioning meals. 
Meals on Wheels Volunteers Vi Hughes 2023-12-20 07:00:00Z 0

November Twist

Posted by Vi Hughes on Dec 07, 2023
 
 
Last week our club Twist meeting involved finding our way out of an Escape Room by solving the clues. We had one group looking for treasure hidden by pirates and another group trying to find their way out of the jungle. Fortunately we could ask for clues or some of us would probably still be there!! We all had a great time trying. You can see more photos from this event in the November Twist Photo Album.  
November Twist Vi Hughes 2023-12-07 07:00:00Z 0
Edmonton Food Bank Volunteers Vi Hughes 2023-12-07 07:00:00Z 0

Club History: Rotary Group Study Exchange Program

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 22, 2023
The Group Study Exchange Program was (and still is) a Rotary Foundation educational program that provides funding for the exchange of small teams of (non-Rotarian) young business and professional people between paired districts in different countries. The goals were to enable them to learn about the corresponding businesses and culture of another country for a four to six week study period. Their travel costs were covered by the Foundation and the hosting district/s provided accommodation, meals and arranged business meetings, tours, discussions and cultural events. The sending Rotary districts provided a Rotarian team leader responsible for organizing and leading each team. As can be seen, providing this type of experience requires a very large effort on the part of both the sending and receiving Districts, the District Governors and their committees in terms of logistics and planning. Visiting teams would meet with local people and tour offices and places of business that corresponded to the interests of the team members. In return the other district would send a team to visit our District and we would do the same for them. At the end of the exchange each team was expected to provide a detailed report of their experiences and what they had learned from that experience to their sponsoring District. This Foundation program still exists today with some changes, team members are now all from the same profession and there are some changes to funding.
 
In the spring of 1991, our District 5360 (Alberta, Northern BC, Northwestern Saskatchewan and NWT) sent a team of five young professional women along with their Rotarian Team Leader, Hans Granholm from our club to a district in southern Sweden. The team was comprised of a constitutional Lawyer from Yellowknife, a Family Medical Doctor from Calgary, an Accountant from Calgary, a Graphic Artist from Spruce Grove and a YMCA Program Director from Edmonton.
The teams were expected to represent Rotary wherever they went so they all wore matching jackets in public. Their red La Fleche Tailor jackets were custom embroidered with the Rotary Wheel. Hans said that they looked quite sharp when travelling together.
 
The district in Sweden that they visited had recently been assigned by Rotary International to support the redistricting of Rotary clubs in Poland. The fall of the Berlin wall in Nov 1989 had opened up many countries, who at one time prior to WW II had had many active Rotary clubs. The district in Sweden had recently sponsored the opening of two clubs in Warsaw, Poland. Shortly after our Exchange team arrived in Sweden, they were asked if they would like to spend part of their time visiting with these clubs in Poland.  Hans asked the team if they would like to do this and they subsequently spent three weeks in Sweden and two more in Poland.
 
Rotary would normally provide language training prior to departure but this was not possible due to the timing. Hans could get by in Swedish but not in Polish. As it turned out it was not a problem as almost all they came in contact with in Poland spoke very good English.
They visited clubs and places of business in Malmo, Eslov, the southern coast and Helsingborg as well as a few other areas in Sweden. In Poland they stayed with a very welcoming and wealthy businessman who had armed guards on the grounds of his home in Warsaw and visited with clubs in Warsaw and Krakow, Poland.
 
Hans said that they were very well treated by their hosts both in Sweden and in Poland. They were especially impressed by the living conditions in Poland being much better than they had expected. He also said that organizing the air travel was tricky as air travel in Europe was restricted due to trouble in the Middle East and they had to spend more time travelling than originally hoped. Overall they had a very informative and memorable time together.
 
 
In spring of 1992 another member of our club, Ron McCullough led a team from District 5360 (Alberta, Northern BC, Northwestern Saskatchewan and NWT)  to District 9790 in Victoria, Australia. His team consisted of five men, a Lawyer from Grande Prairie, a Public Utility Public Relations Officer from Calgary, a District Agriculturist and Regional Crop Specialist from Stettler, an Office Manager from Grande Prairie, and a Supervisor of Technical Services for Edmonton Power.
 
 
Their tour was seven weeks visiting clubs in the State of Victoria in south-eastern Australia- Melbourne, Albury-Wodonga, Corryong, Bright, Beechworth, Wangaratta and Euroa. They travelled from one area to the next staying in the homes of local Rotarians and visiting many different types of local businesses. These included a utility company, a cheese factory, a law office, cattle and dairy farms, sheep farms, a woolen mill, an oil seed mill, local hospital management and many more. They were given a good overall picture of the local businesses and how they were run, which in some cases was quite different from the way the same business operates in Canada. They became somewhat local celebrities in articles featured in several local newspapers. They also gained contacts and made friends with people they otherwise would never have met.
 
Ron stated in his final report that they truly appreciated all of the work that went into organizing their travel and time in Australia.  It was a very valuable experience of a lifetime for the young business people who took part in the exchange. 
Club History: Rotary Group Study Exchange Program Vi Hughes 2023-11-22 07:00:00Z 0

Chelsea Leach, Learning to Lead
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 22, 2023
 
Club President Heather deKok with Chelsea Leach
 
This week we heard from Chelsea Leach whom our club supported to attend the recent Learning to Lead event held in Toronto from Sep 27 to Oct 01. Chelsea was President (for the past three years) of the Vimy Ridge Interact Club.  The attendees came from Rotary International zones 28 and 32, covering Bermuda, Canada, France and the United States. It comprised four days of sessions on many different topics related to leading within Rotary. Attendees could select sessions from a wide variety of topics that were of interest to them personally. They also had many opportunities to meet, talk with and learn from Rotarians with many different points of view.
 
Chelsea thanked us for supporting this opportunity and gave us a very lively and entertaining talk about the people she met and the many different sessions that she attended. She truly appreciated the wide variety of people she got to talk with and she said that she learned a lot of new ideas on many different aspects of leading a Rotary club.
 
These included:
 
Ways to get club members to interact with each other more by having them pull a colored piece of paper as they came in the door to a meeting and then sit at the table to which that color was assigned.
 
How to bring new people into your club.
 
New ideas for service projects.
 
A mentor program for recent college or university grads where they are assigned a Rotarian who has worked in their chosen field for a long time and is willing to give them some advice on the opportunities in that field and some help with job hunting.
 
Setting realistic goals for your club.
 
How to start a fund raiser.
 
How to write grant proposals for projects.
 
She also learned more about Rotary clubs in other areas. One lady there said that in 2021 she decided to join Rotary and went to several different Rotary clubs in her local area of the eastern US before she found one that would accept women into their club.
 
In closing she thanked us again and said that it was an amazing experience and being able to go was just phenomenal.
Chelsea Leach, Learning to Lead  Vi Hughes 2023-11-22 07:00:00Z 0

District 5370 AGM

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 22, 2023
 
Several members of our club attended the recent Rotary District 5370 Annual General Meeting. Treasurer Brenda McCullough, Community Chair Ben Gomez, Youth Chair Carin Jansen van Vuuren and President Elect Loida Lumanlan.
 
 
Our President Elect Loida Lumanlan accepted an award from DG Brent Collingwood for our club support of the Rotary End Polio Now: Countdown to History Campaign.
 
 
District 5370 AGM Vi Hughes 2023-11-22 07:00:00Z 0

WP Wagner Interact Executive Visits our Club
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 16, 2023
 
 
WP Wagner Interact Executive with Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona and Rotary District 5370 Executive
 
 
WPW Pres Shafi Iqbal, WPW Treasurer Arman Khunkin, RCES Pres Elect Loida Lumanlan, District 5370 Asst Gov Jeanette Bancarz, District 5370 DG Brent Collingwood, RCES Youth Chairperson Carin Jansen van Vuuren and WPW Marketing Ved Thakar
WP Wagner Interact Executive Visits our Club  Vi Hughes 2023-11-16 07:00:00Z 0
Don't Bottle it Up Vi Hughes 2023-11-16 07:00:00Z 0

Brent Collingwood, Rotary District Governor
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 16, 2023
 
This Tuesday we were honored to hear from our District 5370 Governor Brent Collingwood. Brent talked about the Rotary Vision statement:
TOGETHER we see a world, Where PEOPLE unite and take action, To CREATE, CHANGE across the globe
Which can be shortened to - Together people create change.
 
He then asked us how does our club reflect the vision and also the theme of the year, ‘Create Hope in the World’?
How would we define our club’s identity?
What are we most proud of and who knows about it?
What is one goal our club can achieve this year?
 
He then went on to talk about how Rotarians are people of action and how we can make a change in our communities and the world. One of the things Rotary is addressing this year is helping to erase the stigma associated with mental health. He said that we can do this by encouraging those around us to open up and talk about it.
The Rotary ‘Don’t Bottle it Up’ campaign is part of this. He said that we can help by doing four things:
 
1.Speak up about mental health
2. Speak to family and friends, let them know it’s OK to not be OK and that it’s OK to ask for help.
3. Learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of a mental health challenge.
4. Continue to build social connections
 
He also said that more information on this can be found on the Rotary website ragonmentalhealth.org.
 
Brent then went on to talk about the Rotary Foundation Annual Fund and the Polio Plus Fund and encouraged all of us to make contributions to these funds and they enable Rotary to support many different causes around the world. In addition for every fifty million the Polio Fund raises, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation adds another one hundred million to this cause.
 
In closing he said that Rotarians many times create hope in the world just by showing up to help, and told a story of a woman in Thailand who had lost her home and family in the tsunami a few yeas ago and when she spoke to some Rotarians who had just arrived to help them, said that they had already helped by just giving her hope.
 
He then encouraged us to keep going with helping others, because we haven’t come this far, to only come this far.
Brent Collingwood, Rotary District Governor  Vi Hughes 2023-11-16 07:00:00Z 0

Ben Gomez and Rhonda Smith, October Clothing Drive
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 09, 2023
Club members Ben and Rhonda reported that their clothing drive was a big success with about 2585 items collected. Rhonda said that they advertised the drive throughout their neighborhood and each morning they put out a box and by the time they returned in the evening it was full. Our club members also contributed to the drive. The items were then sorted and divided between Hope Mission and Coats for Kids along with a few other smaller charities.
Ben Gomez and Rhonda Smith, October Clothing Drive  Vi Hughes 2023-11-09 07:00:00Z 0

Dr Denise Larsen, Creating Hope in the World
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 09, 2023
 
This week we welcomed Dr Denise Larsen, who is a Professor of Counselling Psychology with the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta and a Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association. She is also a co-director of Hope Studies Central along with Dr. Rebecca Hudson Breen. Hope studies Central is a thirty-one-year old research unit at the University of Alberta dedicated to understanding and effectively using hope in education, counselling therapies, and health contexts. Dr Larsen has published over 100 articles and books, has offered invited lectures around the world and works with a team of scholars, professors, graduate and undergraduate students.
Dr. Larsen said that hope is the ability to envision a future in which we wish to participate, but which we are not sure may actually happen. It is something about which we are pessimistic. She said that we all need hope in some form to be able to face a sometimes difficult reality. It has been found to be associated with life satisfaction and even with better grades in academic studies. Hope is one of the most commonly used words in the English language.
Things we hope for are something that are easier for people to talk about than hard goals, but at the same time they are something to keep looking forward to or working towards. Hope can help people find a way to live meaningfully. Hoped for things can be large or small. Hope can be many different things. We may not hope for things we know are not possible such a surviving a terminal disease but still hope for small things such as a visit from a friend.
Hope Studies Central has several different programs that teach others about hope and the use of hope in educational and health care settings. SHARP (Strengths, Hope and Resourcefulness Program) is one of those programs developed for use by teachers for use in grade 2 to 9 classrooms. It was developed to provide sustainable, effective mental health programming in schools. They have found that even very young children can have a pretty good concept of hope in their lives. Some of the activities they use to build hope are having children make collages of pictures showing things that they hope for, writing short messages of hope using sidewalk chalk on the entry sidewalk to their school and writing down the hopes that family members may have for them. All of these things have been found to create and build hope. These things can also serve as a reminder of hope for better times when they are feeling down in the future. In health care settings they have found that fostering hope can help people living with chronic pain and disability find a way to live meaningfully in spite of their difficulties.
We would like to thank Dr. Larsen for her very interesting and enlightening talk on the changes that having hope can make in our lives.
Dr Denise Larsen, Creating Hope in the World  Vi Hughes 2023-11-09 07:00:00Z 0

Ron Dobbin Scholarship Presentation
 

Posted by Carin Jansen van Vuuren on Nov 02, 2023
 
Club Youth Committee Chair Carin Jansen van Vuuren presenting the Ron Dobbin Scholarship to Zane Franchuk
 
Every year the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona gives out $1000 Ron Dobbin Memorial Rotary Scholarships to students who are all-round achievers, have shown leadership qualities by being involved in the life of the school and provided service in the community while overcoming significant challenges. These funds are raised by the club members who place a high value on education. Austin O’Brien student Zane Franchuk received his scholarship on Thursday November 2, 2023 at their Awards Ceremony.
Ron Dobbin Scholarship Presentation  Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2023-11-02 06:00:00Z 0

W.P. Wagner Interact Club Coat Drive for Hope Mission
 

Posted by Carin Jansen van Vuuren on Oct 31, 2023
 
The W.P. Wagner High School Interact Club collaborated with our club to collect coats and winter clothes for Hope Mission during the month of October. On Tuesday, October 31 their contribution was picked up. Thanks to all the W.P. Wagner students and faculty.
W.P. Wagner Interact Club Coat Drive for Hope Mission  Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2023-10-31 06:00:00Z 0

October Twist, Dancing at Elite Studios
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Oct 26, 2023
 
Our members enjoyed a night of ballroom and two step dancing with pizza, pasta and refreshments at Elite Studio. For more pictures of this event see the Photo Album below. 
October Twist, Dancing at Elite Studios  Vi Hughes 2023-10-26 06:00:00Z 0

October Coat Drive for Shelters and Kids
 

 
This month our club collected coats and other essential winter gear. The drive was led by club members Ben Gomez and Rhonda Smith who do this coat drive every year in October.
October Coat Drive for Shelters and Kids  Vi Hughes 2023-10-26 06:00:00Z 0

Club History, The Old Strathcona Caboose

Posted by Vi Hughes on Oct 26, 2023
 
Old Strathcona Caboose
 
Opening Ceremony for the Old Strathcona Caboose
 
 
In 1992 our club, under the leadership of President Eric Germain, decided to support the Old Strathcona Foundation in their project to restore a heritage (1949 Model) caboose donated by CP Rail and then install it as a Tourist Information Center in CP Park at Whyte Ave (82 Ave) and 103 St. This was the site of the original CP rail station in Strathcona where the first train into south Edmonton arrived in July of 1891. The caboose was part of their project for the End of Steel Interpretive Center.
Our club made a donation of ten thousand dollars towards this project.  The restored Caboose was unveiled on July 1st 1992. In return our club was granted rights to use the caboose for social events and occasions. We occasionally also supplied volunteers to staff the Travel Information office in the Caboose. The Caboose was later moved and reinstalled in the End of Steel Park on Saskatchewan Drive and Tommy Banks Way (near 104 St.) where it still stands today.
 
 
Club History, The Old Strathcona Caboose Vi Hughes 2023-10-26 06:00:00Z 0

G.E.M. and Tanys Munro, Teach Mothers to Teach the World, Amarok Society
 

Posted by Rose Marie Basaraba on Oct 24, 2023
 
G.E.M. Munro, along with his wife, Tanys Munro and their four children, established the Amarok Society some twenty years ago and since that time have immersed themselves amongst the poorest of the poor in Bangladesh.  In a society where women are given little or no recognition, the Society has built a system instructing mothers and having them share their knowledge of the basics, English and Math skills.
Each mother committed to teaching English and Math to five children in their own homes. The demand for a desire to learn is the core of this new-found happiness, instructing children and creating hope. As newfound leaders, mothers are now against and thereby eliminating early marriage.
Their attitude of “every child is my child” has led to one notable mother disallowing her daughter’s marriage until she achieved her medical degree. Of note is that medical degrees are given instruction in English only.
Currently extremism is rampant in Bangladesh. Opening doors to the slums are slammed in the face of extremism. Extremists depose education, ignorance distorts the mind. Through eighteen years Rotary has enabled the establishment of thirty schools in Bangladesh, plus four in India. There is a need. Lack of action threatens the world.
The cost to open a school is $100; to operate for one year $10,000. (Gem compared this to the cost of three million of building one IBM Missile.) Once again, the Amarok Society continues to thrive.
G.E.M.’s visit to our Club following several years, was a refreshing reminder that belief and perseverance creates hope and success in the poorest of the poorest.
 
G.E.M. and Tanys Munro, Teach Mothers to Teach the World, Amarok Society  Rose Marie Basaraba 2023-10-24 06:00:00Z 0

Menasha Nikhanji, Rotary Peace Fellowship Experience
 

Posted by Rose Marie Basaraba on Oct 17, 2023
 
Menasha Nikhanji /RCMP/GRC) captivated members with her factual report on her three-month Rotary Peace Fellowship studies in Thailand. One of twenty-one applicants, Menasha, learned about international conflicts, the global impacts, media’s role in the world, trauma and trauma informed approaches. She also learned about toxic stress, impact on the brain, child soldiers of war as well as those who had been trafficked, restorative and retributive justice, truth and reconciliation.
 
Menasha noted that Media creates an “us/them”, political players then leverage this to gain power by keeping people in their own ‘tribes’ leading to a rise in tribalism. She encouraged Rotary to continue Peace education, pointing out a need for dialogue leading to achieve ‘positive peace’. Creating peace is something we can do in our own backyards, take care of our neighbours, take care of the vulnerable, build bridges with communities that have been disenfranchised. No matter what your station in life, its everyone’s responsibility.
Menasha Nikhanji, Rotary Peace Fellowship Experience  Rose Marie Basaraba 2023-10-17 06:00:00Z 0

Hollywood North, Alan McCullough
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Oct 05, 2023
Speaker Alan McCullough
 
Club President Heather de Kok with the McCullough Family
 
This week we heard from award-winning writer and executive producer Alan McCullough. Alan is the son of long time Rotarians Ron and Brenda McCullough. Alan has worked in Canadian television for the past twenty years and has a long list of television credits to his name, including drama series, science fiction, kid’s programs, and animation. Alan told us that he first fell in love with theater in high school and at first he pursued an acting career. He trained as an actor both in Edmonton and New York for a total of six years. Alan admitted that he was not a very good actor, and after a few years of trying to make it as an actor he decided that maybe he should look into another film related role. He checked out directing, editing, producing and writing and soon found that he loved writing.
He then enrolled in the Canadian Film Center and transitioned into the film industry.  He said that he was very lucky when he landed a job as a writer that it was with a long running television series, Stargate.. He said that his time with this show was a true gift as it gave him good teachers to learn from and a steady income, which is a rarity in the film industry. Stargate involved producing forty episode a year for several years. Writing also meant he had to get up, get dressed and go somewhere to interact with other people every day.
Alan explained to us that in Canadian television, the writers are the ones who control the production of a show. The lead writer, also known as the ‘show runner’ is the executive producer for the series, and the assigned writer for each separate episode receives credit ae the producer of that episode.  He said that all those producing credits that run by at the beginning of an episode are the writers on that episode. The show runner is in charge of it all, the director plays a smaller role.
He said that when a show goes into production the whole writing team gets together and works out the outlines for each episode. The episodes then get assigned to individual writers to produce a first draft. This is reviewed by the show runner and changes are made to form a second draft.  Any change can affect cost or time it takes to prep, shoot, edit and finalize. The writer must know how to stage a scene to reduce cost and time and is normally on set for the shooting as it can often require last minute rewrites to accommodate unexpected changes. Sometimes the shoot location is bigger or smaller than originally planned for, or even worse, sometimes the lead actor is not available, for whatever reason.
Alan told us that before the rise of streaming television services, a broadcaster would normally order twenty episodes per year of a series. Nowadays that is down to ten, with streaming services usually only ordering six. The streaming services order less as they do not have the need to keep the audience coming back to watch in order to bring in advertising income, they already have their money from the subscribers. He said that the average cost for production of a series in Canada is two to three million dollars per episode. He said that Canadian writers are paid a fee per episode based on the series budget which is usually higher than American writers. American writers may also be paid residuals when or if a series is replayed at a later date. Streaming services do not pay residuals at all. The rise of streaming services has hit the industry hard in Canada and the US, making earning a steady income very precarious, but it has hurt the Americans harder as they also rely on residuals.
 Most recently Alan created and show ran the mystery procedural The Spencer Sisters which is currently airing on CTV, Crave and the CW network. Prior to that he show ran the hit Canadian procedural Private Eyes (GLOBAL/ION) for three seasons, winning the 2020 Golden Screen Award for the most popular Canadian series. He has also written and produced episodes for Rookie, Blue, Reign, Cracked, Lost Girl, Stargate:SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, Stargate Universe and Sanctuary and has won many awards for his work.  We would like to thank Alan for his very interesting and enlightening talk and wish him well in any of his future endeavors.
 
Hollywood North, Alan McCullough  Vi Hughes 2023-10-05 06:00:00Z 0

Hugo Lehman, Charter Member Passes
 

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of one of our Charter and long-time members, Hugo Lehman, on Oct 2, 2023, at the age of 92.
We send our condolences to his wife Lucie and family. He will be missed. Hugo Lehmann was a charter member of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona, 1974. Hugo served as a director for two terms and was active in several committees. He was a Paul Harris Fellow +1 and also had perfect attendance for eleven years. Hugo and Lucie were married for a remarkable 66 years. Hugo owned and operated Freeway Autobody for a number of years.
His funeral will take place at Trinity Lutheran Church, 10014-81 Ave on Tuesday, Oct 10 at 11:00 a.m. Club members can leave their tributes and remembrances of Hugo on the www.glenwoodmemorial.com website.
Hugo Lehman, Charter Member Passes  Vi Hughes 2023-10-05 06:00:00Z 0

An Inspiring Youth Leadership Seminar
 

Posted by Ben Gomez on Oct 02, 2023
 
Over the weekend we attended RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) - a Rotary youth leadership seminar with members of our W.P. Wagner High School Interact Club. Our group consisted of Carin (Youth Chair), Ben Gomez (Youth Committee Member), Rhonda Smith (Community Committee Member) and three students. The seminar was attended by students from various high schools from District 5370 and the respected members of their sponsor Rotary Clubs. Also, in attendance were Rotaract members from various universities.
The seminar had various Rotary club members speaking about what the true meaning of Rotary is; what it means to be a Rotarian (Service about Self); highlighting the seven pillars of Rotary and showing the global reaches of the amazing work we do worldwide and in our local communities. They also had a session on how to plan and execute a project.
There was strong emphasis on how they as our youth of today can make change and with that said gave them the tools on how to approach and implement their ideas with the help of their sponsoring Rotary club and its members to make their visions a reality. It was truly inspiring seeing the collective “want to make change”. The students there were asked to brainstorm their ideas on what areas our communities are in need. Not only did they have an acute knowledge of the real struggles today’s societies are facing but they also had concrete ideas on how they want to make a difference. They were extremely aware of the mental health struggles that our youth of today are facing from bullying, hunger, mental health, and abuse. It was astonishing how driven and determined they were to reach out to different organizations on these issues and do their part. As a Rotarian I felt a sense of pride and humility knowing that we are “in good hands” with these future Rotarians. It reiterated the reason I became a Rotarian. I wanted to work with our youth and help guide them to achieve the core values we as Rotarians live to serve by.
An Inspiring Youth Leadership Seminar  Ben Gomez 2023-10-02 06:00:00Z 0

September Twist, Gateway Bowling
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 28, 2023
 
 
Members of our club recently enjoyed an evening of ten pin bowling at Gateway Lanes. It was definitely a new way to experience an old sport, with the black lighting and musical background. Everyone enjoyed themselves with plenty of cheering and a little bit of rivalry as well.  
September Twist, Gateway Bowling  Vi Hughes 2023-09-28 06:00:00Z 0

Mondesa Youth Opportunities Project
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 28, 2023
 
MYO Learners, Frans, Naambo, Romance, Fransina and Tangeni
 
We have recently received letters from the five learners Frans, Naambo, Romance, Fransina and Tangeni that our club has recently sponsored through Mondesa Youth Opportunies (MYO) in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Edmonton Riverview.
 
MYO is a well-known and intensive after-school education program located in Mondesa Township, Swakopmund, Namibia. It is the flagship project for the Rotary Club of Swakopmund, Namibia.
 
It has been operating for almost 20 years. Their focus is on learners from disadvantaged backgrounds who deserve better education than they have access to. Thus, learners with potential but little support at home. At MYO, 120 learners ranging from Grade 4 to 8 receive extra instruction in English, Mathematics, Reading, Life Skills, Computers, Sports, and Music.
 
They cultivate positive thinking and high self-esteem to lay the path for a future generation of forward-thinking Namibian leaders. Their aim is not only to enhance the education of their promising learners but also to guide them into being responsive, confident, and well-rounded individuals.
 
MYO is a non-profit organization, and their learners participate in their programme free of charge. They rely exclusively on donations from their community and the wider world to sustain their operations.
 
Their letters are in photo format and can be viewed in the Photo Album below titled MYO Learners.
Mondesa Youth Opportunities Project  Vi Hughes 2023-09-28 06:00:00Z 0

Bruce Uditsky and Donna Barret, Rotary Employment Partnership
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 21, 2023
Club member Ken Germain thanking Bruce Uditsky and Donna Barret
 
This week we welcomed Bruce Uditsky, CEO Emeritus for Inclusion Alberta and his wife Donna Barret our past District Governor (2021-2022) to tell us about the Rotary Employment Partnership with Inclusion Alberta. Bruce told us that Inclusion Alberta is a family based, non-profit federation that has been advocating on behalf of families, children and adults with intellectual disabilities for sixty-five years. In 2000 they partnered with Rotarians, at the behest of Rotarian Wendy McDonald, who was then President of the Edmonton Mayfield Club to start the Rotary District 5360 and District 5370 Partnership to help find employment for adults with intellectual disabilities. She had approached Bruce and said that Rotary would like to get involved with this program. Rotarians often have a lot of connections in the business community and can help to find businesses who are willing to partner with Inclusion Alberta to find employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities.
Bruce told us that once an employer has come forward with an interest in employment, Inclusion Alberta talks to that employer about the suitability of work involved and helps them to find the right fit person for that work. They also work with both the employer and the employee to ensure ongoing stablilty of employment.
People with intellectual disabilities can and do want to work. They provide continuity and reliability for the employer.  Work gives them a sense of purpose and belonging. It prevents isolation, financial vulnerability and exclusion from society.  They can offer an employer less turnover, higher employee satisfaction and increased profits as a result.
Donna spoke to us about the difference this program has made in the quality of life for their son who has found employment through this program. She also spoke about how the staff at Inclusion Alberta have helped both his employers and him to become a better employee.
The Rotary Partnership has provided almost eight hundred jobs in Alberta, with almost four hundred of those in Edmonton. Employers come in all stripes, large and small, from public libraries to pharmacies to construction sites to warehouses.
Bruce asked us to consider talking to people we know to ask them to consider thinking about hiring someone with an intellectual disability. The staff at Inclusion Alberta, Brittany or Abigale, will then talk to the employer about how this might actually work.  Sometimes all it takes is a personal query to get things started.  More information can be found on their website at inclusionalberta.org.
Bruce Uditsky and Donna Barret, Rotary Employment Partnership  Vi Hughes 2023-09-21 06:00:00Z 0

Club History, The Old Strathcona Rotary Bandstand

Posted by Vi Hughes
 
The Original Rotary Bandstand
 
In 1977, shortly after the beginnings of the Edmonton Strathcona Rotary club, while Henry Neufeld was President, some members suggested that they should do something for the Strathcona neighborhood by building a bandstand similar to one that had existed there around 1910. They could then sponsor bands to play there on holidays and for special occasions. The bandstand was designed by architect Larry Taylor and was intended to be a replica of a band shell that stood near 102 St and 82 Ave. in 1910. Club member Peter Fairbridge was the committee head. The bandstand was a joint venture with the Old Strathcona Foundation, whose mandate was to restore and retain the history of the area, which supplied the land.
The location chosen was a small park next to the Strathcona Library branch near 104 St and 83 Ave that was informally known as Library Park. The bandstand stood in the middle of the park. It was also built to coincide with the 75th anniversary of both Rotary International and the Province of Alberta.  
As the original plans for the bandstand were a little pricey, the project was put on hold and was revived in the fall of 1979, under President Hans Granholm. Over the winter of 79-80, materials supplied by club members were cut and painted at the home of a club member. In the spring of 1980, the bandstand was assembled by club members in place in the park.
The band stand opened in the summer of 1980, under outgoing club President Hans Granholm and special guest Alderman Buck Olson, the bandstand along with a commemorative bronze plaque was presented to the City of Edmonton, followed by a brass band concert by the Old Strathcona Town Band.
It was soon hosting summer brass band concerts which could be heard throughout the neighborhood. The park was renamed in 1981 to McIntyre Park in honor of Wilbur McIntyre, the first Member of Parliament to represent the Strathcona area. With the advent of the Fringe in 1982, which suddenly brought thousands of people to this small park in Strathcona, the bandstand was used constantly.
In 1991, under President Hugh Faulkner and project leader Hans Granholm, our club repainted the bandstand, followed by a very enjoyable champagne lunch.
By the year 2000, the park was in need of refurbishment with changes to drainage and an updated electrical supply. During these changes in 2001, the band stand was moved by the City of Edmonton from the center of the park to the south-east corner. During the move the bronze plaque that had been with the original bandstand disappeared.
Our club attempted to have the city replace the plaque, but they declined, so our club had a replacement plaque made and installed and our bandstand/ gazebo is still standing and in use to this day.
 
Club History, The Old Strathcona Rotary Bandstand Vi Hughes 2023-09-18 06:00:00Z 0

Club Welcome

 
 
Peter Busiku with our club President Elect Loida Lumanlan
 
We welcomed visiting fellow Rotarian Peter Busiku from the Rotary Club of Kampala Central in Uganda to our meeting on Tuesday. 
Club Welcome Vi Hughes 2023-09-13 06:00:00Z 0

Putting Horse Ranch, August Meeting with a Twist

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 06, 2023
 
A good time was had by all who attended this chance to try out an eighteen hole putting course followed by a BBQ dinner. We had about five foursomes turn out for the day. We also got to see some of the animals that they have rescued and had a look at some of their other facilities for hosting banquets, sleigh rides and horse back riding. Our hostess Liz Poburan, who is the driving force behind the horse rescue group, will be a speaker at one of our upcoming meetings. 
Putting Horse Ranch, August Meeting with a Twist Vi Hughes 2023-09-06 06:00:00Z 0

Club Banner Exchange

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 06, 2023
 
Club President Elect Loida Lumanlan with Visitor Joe Ferreira
 
This week we exchanged club banners with Joe Ferreira of the Rotary Club of Valongo, Portugal who has been attending our meetings over the summer. 
Club Banner Exchange Vi Hughes 2023-09-06 06:00:00Z 0

Tools for Schools Donation

Posted by Vi Hughes on Aug 23, 2023
Our club donation to Tools for Schools that was organized by Youth Committee member Ben Gomez and Community Committee member Rhonda Smith.
 
 
Club President Heather deKok with District Governor Brent Collingwood and Youth Committee member Ben Gomez.
Tools for Schools Donation Vi Hughes 2023-08-23 06:00:00Z 0

Club History, Women in Rotary

Posted by Vi Hughes on Aug 22, 2023
Since the founding of Rotary in 1905, when membership was restricted to men by the Rotary Constitution, there were many appeals by clubs made to allow women to become members. There were also many attempts by the wives of Rotarians to be formally included in the club.
In 1914 at the Rotary Conference in Houston, Texas, two wives, both named Ann, who were helping their husband’s clubs with activities attended. They were acknowledged at this meeting as Rotary ‘Anns’. The name then stuck to all groups of Rotarian wives in North America thereafter.
In 1924 a group of women in England calling themselves the ‘Inner Wheel Club’, composed of ‘wives and womenfolk of Rotarians and past Rotarians’ was organized. It soon spread to ninety eight other countries with over one hundred thousand members but never really caught on in North America. In North America the informal groups of Rotary Anns endured.
A study done by Rotary in 1934 suggested that women were ‘unthinkable’ as Rotarians, as Rotarians were married men whose wives were already busy as homemakers and mothers. It was commonly thought that women would interfere with the fellowship at meetings and were thus to be excluded. In practice though, the ‘womenfolk’ did a large portion of the planning and organization required for the community services that Rotary performed and also did the same for most Rotary social functions.
At the 1950 Rotary Convention in India it was first proposed that the word male be deleted from the constitution. The proposal failed and subsequent proposals by other countries were also withdrawn over the years.
Our club was formed in 1974. Not all clubs in the Edmonton area at that time had a Rotary Ann group, but our club did. It was a tradition started by Betty Germaine, whose husband John Germaine was the first President of our club. They had come from the Red Deer Club and that club also had a very active Rotary Ann group. Betty insisted that our club should have this group as it gave the wives a chance to get together for a lady’s nite, have fun and get to know each other. This in turn made them feel more at ease and happy to come to the more formal social Rotary occasions with their husbands.
These women would get together once a month for a social occasion of some kind that was planned by two people who were chosen at the previous gathering. It was always the president’s wife who was expected to keep the Rotary Ann’s involved. The lady’s nite could be any kind of thing ranging from tea and coffee in someone’s home to attending a movie or the opera, trying out a new restaurant, travelling dinners, sewing, learning yoga or belly dancing. As long as they had fun and enjoyed each other’s friendship. They had a phoning committee that would call to personally invite the others to their gatherings and also offer transportation if needed and they always made a point of including widows of past members in their activities.
This ladies group did a large part of the planning for social occasions for the whole Rotary club such as summer BBQs, formal Christmas parties, the Governor’s visit dinner, children’s Christmas parties, golf tournaments, sleigh rides and on and on. Some prominent members of this group over the years were Betty Germaine, Joyce Flesher, Lillian McCullough, Brenda McCullough, Valerie Solash, Bernadette Raynor and Linda Granholm.  Everyone knew each other well and they formed many lasting friendships between wives and the children of Rotarians that have continued over the years.
It was not until 1978 when a club in Duarte, California whose membership in Rotary International had been terminated for allowing women into their club sued Rotary International for violation of their Civil Rights that things began to change. After almost ten years of grinding it’s way through the courts, the US Supreme Court finally heard the appeal and on the 4 May 1987 they ruled that Rotary could not exclude women from membership on the basis of gender. The Duarte club then got their Charter back from Rotary International. Based on a similar Canadian law, after an appeal by a Rotary club in Quebec, the Rotary International Board of Directors issued a policy statement in Oct 1988 that recognized the rights of Rotary Clubs in Canada to admit female members. This was quite controversial in many clubs but Rotary International had spoken. Our club subsequently voted to officially include women in our club and women Rotarians were warmly welcomed into our club a few years later.
Once women began joining the club itself and especially once a woman became President of the club it became too much to expect them to also keep the Rotary Ann group going and it slowly became less and less active.
 
1994 Governor’s Newsletter announcing our first Women Club Members, Barb Craig and Diana Parker
 
In 1994 our club welcomed it’s first women members, Barb Craig and Diana Parker. The next women to join our club were Heather deKok in 2001, Rose Marie Basaraba in 2004, Donna Hutton in 2010 and Carin Jansen vanVuuren in 2014.
All of these women have served as Presidents of our Club, Barb in 1999-2000, Diana in 2004-5, Heather in 2010-11 and again currently in 2023-24, Rose Marie in 2013-14, Donna in 2019-20 and Carin in 2021-22. Another almost thirty year Rotarian is Brenda McCullough who originally joined the Riverview club in 1994 and subsequently joined our club in 2014.
Since 2015 we have had many more women join our club, they now form about fifty percent of our membership, and are integral part of all club activities.
 
Club History, Women in Rotary Vi Hughes 2023-08-22 06:00:00Z 0

Club History, The Original 'Rules' of Rotary

Posted by Vi Hughes on Aug 22, 2023
Rotary was established in Chicago 1905 by a group of four businessmen led by Paul Harris, a young lawyer, to enable them to help each other out in their various business activities and to also give them an outlet for informal fellowship. The ‘rules’ they set down at the beginning included the following:
 
Only men were allowed as members.
 
Membership was by personal invitation only, was reviewed each year and had to be approved by a minimum seventy five percent of the club membership.
 
Meetings were to be held weekly.
 
Written records of each meeting were to be kept.
 
Attendance at meetings was mandatory. If you missed three meetings in a row without a valid excuse you were out.
 
If you missed a meeting you had to pay a rather stiff fine to the club, and these fines formed a major part of club income for many years.
 
There was an established list or classification of occupations/trades/professions, of which only one member per occupation, trade or profession was allowed in any club.
 
Fellowship at meetings was very important. Only first names or nick-names were to be used.
 
The club was strictly non-sectarian with no restrictions on religion or politics and a broad tolerance of the opinions of others was expected.
 
Formalities were to be left at the door. Many meetings were filled with song and laughter.
 
No drinking, cursing, off-colour jokes, stories or songs were allowed in meetings.
 
Members were expected to promote and patronize each other’s businesses and often helped each other out with advice or guidance. (Vocational Service) Some members realized benefits from this while others did not.
 
Integrity and honesty in business practices was expected, members could be and were expelled for violation.
 
All members were expected to take part in Club Service activities in some way.
 
All members were expected to take part in Community Service activities in some way.
 
To a large extent these basic tenets are still evident in Rotary today, with some obvious differences due to changing societal norms, however they still inform the spirit of every Rotary club around the world today.
Club History, The Original 'Rules' of Rotary Vi Hughes 2023-08-22 06:00:00Z 0

Heather de Kok, RI Convention in Melbourne, Australia
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Aug 16, 2023
 
This week our Club President, Heather de Kok, gave us a presentation on her time at the Rotary International Convention that was held in May this year in Melbourne, Australia which she attended as a representative of our club. Heather told us there were between fifteen and twenty thousand attendees and that she met Rotarians everywhere she went, even in the Brisbane airport where she changed planes on her way there. She told us that she had booked a small hotel that was only a short trolley ride to the convention area. She said that Rotary had made a deal with the City of Melbourne that made public transport free for all attending Rotarians. She said that she took lots of handheld Canadian flags that she handed out freely, garnering her a large flag waving contingent at the opening Flag ceremony. She said that she felt very proud of the fact that this past year’s RI President, Jennifer Jones, was a Canadian and this meant that everyone at the Opening Flag Ceremony sang the Canadian Anthem. She said that it was a surreal experience.
She told us that two of the speakers at this ceremony were especially good, incoming President Gordon McInally speaking on mental health ( the focus of our upcoming Rotary year ) and our own Jennifer Jones (RI President), who spoke about how she did not want empowerment of women to become the focus of her year as president, but as the year went on and she saw the effect that she was having on women in other countries, she became very proud to be a woman, a wife and also the President of RI.
Heather told us that they had a lot of sessions and workshops on membership building, and that she attended four different ones on this topic. She learned that people join Rotary for a myriad of different reasons, networking, fellowship, making a difference in other people’s lives and many more, but they overwhelmingly stay for the fellowship. She also said that the key to fellowship is to get people involved in club activities where they get to know each other better and this in turn encourages them to come out for more activities. Heather said that we need to be Joyous (the Rotary Theme for this year) and have fun, to look at where we are going, not back at where we have been.
 
Heather de Kok, RI Convention in Melbourne, Australia  Vi Hughes 2023-08-16 06:00:00Z 0

Amarok July Update from Nasima Begum
 

 
As a member of a poor community, poverty is always a challenge to me but I want to overcome all the barriers with my courage, education which we have got from my school. Crises, conflict, sickness and misperceptions are the regular scenarios of the daily life of the slum dwellers. But I do not care about that, rather I want to overcome it and help others to come out of it. Before my schooling, I couldn’t manage things well but now I can manage better. Now I understand the root causes of a conflict, problem and most of the time people’s unawareness is responsible for that. To me economic empowerment by own earning is important for a woman. So, I have been taking advanced tailoring training for 2 months so that I can make a better earning. I want to empower myself and develop my skills. My husband works hard and wants to educate our children. I can see a big change in him. At the start of my school, he did not support my learning and thought women are born for doing the domestic work, looking after children but now he thinks differently and values me as her wife, as a mother-teacher and loves me. You will be happy to know that I gave birth to a new baby. She is a girl and in good health.
 
 
In our slum all children are now learning but there are some elderly people who are completely illiterate and cannot even write their names. We have decided to give them some education like how to write names, numbers and counting. Not everybody is interested but many are. But when they try to write something, they hold the pencil strongly and it is difficult to run the pencil. Now I am teaching an elderly woman who lives next door. She came to our slum a year before to live with her elder son’s family.  She cooks and does some domestic work. Sometimes she visits our mother-school and observes our learning. She is hesitant to come inside the classroom. Her name is Rubia Khanam and about 70 years old. I call her Rubi Khala. In Bengali, ‘Khala’ means aunty. She often regrets, if she had an opportunity of learning in her childhood! I have told her not to worry, I would teach her that she can read & write simple things.
 
Thank you very much for your support of my education and the children I am teaching.
Lovingly yours,
 
Nasima Begum
Amarok July Update from Nasima Begum  Vi Hughes 2023-08-16 06:00:00Z 0

Pete Desrochers, Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Society
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Aug 08, 2023
 
Club President Heather deKok with Pete Desrochers
 
This week we heard from Pete Desrochers, the President of the Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Society (AAMS). Pete began his talk with a unique twist by pretending to take a rather humorous call from the Russian President requesting mediation services. He then proceeded to explain to his caller what mediation is all about.
He told us that mediation is the only non-legal process recognized by the courts. He said that all information provided to a mediator is personal, confidential and privileged and may not be revealed to anyone, even a judge. Once a mediation agreement is signed by the involved parties it is considered legally binding.  He said that about ninety five percent of divorce agreements in the US are now mediated, rather than going through the courts. This saves a lot of time and expense. He said that mediation for all types of disputes has an eighty five percent success rate.
Pete told us that in the past this Society provided both professional training, certification and registration for certified arbitrators and mediators in Alberta as well as having a non-profit arm that provided advice and help for the general public. Recent changes made by the Federal Government required them to separate their training, certification and registry functions out into a new entity, the ADR Institute of Alberta.
This leaves the AAMS as an independent Federal non-profit society to provide information, advice and help to the general public. He said that many people are not aware of the services a mediator can provide outside of the legal system, in particular, the privacy afforded by these services.
Pete said that the avenues for not using lawyers to settle disputes are endless. The AAMS believes that no Albertan should fear conflict. The AAMS can help in settlements of many different kinds of disputes such as divorce, child custody, parenting partnerships, wills and estates, elder care, business and professional disagreements, school, government and indigenous group disputes. as well as many others.
They are rolling out a new Lighthouse Initiative which will see various representatives of their group visiting seniors groups, new immigrant groups, drop in centers and even setting up informal sessions in cafes around Edmonton (to be known as the Resolution Cafe) so that people who could use their services will not fall through the cracks. They are currently looking for support in the form of volunteers and funding to be able to expand these services.
We would like to thank Pete for his very interesting and informative talk. Mediation is something every one of us can use at some point in our lives.
Pete Desrochers, Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Society  Vi Hughes 2023-08-08 06:00:00Z 0

July Meeting with a Twist
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Aug 01, 2023
 
 
Our first Meeting with a Twist took place last week with about twenty attendees. The hot dogs and milkshakes from the Retro diner were delicious and the collection of restored vehicles wowed everyone. The guys were quick to choose their favorites while the gals took their time. Have a look at more pix in our July Meeting with a Twist Picture Album.
July Meeting with a Twist  Vi Hughes 2023-08-01 06:00:00Z 0

It’s a Boy!
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Aug 01, 2023
Several years ago our club decided to sponsor the Grevy Zebra exhibit at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. Our Grevy Zebras, mom Zuri and dad Cody are now the proud parents of a new addition to their family, a boy born on Sunday evening, 23 July. Baby was up and walking about twenty minutes after birth.
 
 
This picture was taken at noon Tuesday and baby is resting after running around all morning The new addition will be given a name at a later date. These Zebras are part of the Species Survival Plan for endangered species in which the zoo participates.
It’s a Boy!  Vi Hughes 2023-08-01 06:00:00Z 0

Ben Gomez, Classification Talk
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jul 20, 2023
Club President Heather de Kok with new member Ben Gomez
 
This week we heard from our newest member, Ben Gomez. Ben told us that he is a first generation Canadian whose parents came here from Chile many years ago. He said that they are both his inspiration and the reason he has such a passion for helping others. They came here with only twenty dollars and built a life together through hard work while also finding time for all kinds of charity work.
Ben said that he went to high school in Edmonton and that is where he met his wife Rhonda Smith, who is also a Rotarian and a member of our club. He said that he has worked in several different occupations, first in machining and tooling, where he travelled a lot setting up machine shops, then he started his own construction business and did that for a few years. Currently he and a partner are working with carbon capture technology to develop a device that will attach to diesel engine systems.
Ben told us that both he and Rhonda have a passion for helping others and have taken on many different projects over the years. These included different types of volunteer work and collecting donations themselves for many different charitable groups. Ben said that a day spent without helping others is not worth living. He said that he and Rhonda have done many projects on their own and can appreciate how much better it is to have a team to do it with. That is why he has joined Rotary and is looking forward to the opportunities that Rotary provides to help others. We would like to thank Ben for his very inspiring talk and look forwards to getting to know him better.
Ben Gomez, Classification Talk  Vi Hughes 2023-07-20 06:00:00Z 0

Club History, Beginnings of the Edmonton Strathcona Rotary Club
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jul 11, 2023
Rotary was first founded as a service club in 1905 in Chicago, Illinois by Paul Harris and three friends. They chose the name Rotary because they rotated meeting locations to each other’s offices each week, however within a year the club became so large this became impractical and it became necessary to find a regular meeting place. Rotary soon spread across the US and into Canada. The first club in Canada was founded in Winnipeg in 1910 and the first club in Edmonton was founded in 1916. By 1973 there were six clubs in the immediate Edmonton area.
 
In August of 1973, Edmonton Rotary District Governor Curly Galbraith asked the South Edmonton Rotary Club to consider sponsoring a new club which would take in south-east Edmonton and Sherwood Park. The proposed territory would run from the North Saskatchewan River south along a western boundary of 75 Street (with a small jog west to 86 Street from the CN tracks to 51 Avenue then back to 75 Street) south to Township Road 51, just north of Beaumont, then east along the township road to an eastern boundary of Range Road 22 (just east of South Cooking Lake) and then north to Highway 16. The northern boundary would be Highway 16 to the river and then follow the river back to 75 Street. The proposed area was applied for and approved in Dec 1973. The first organizing meeting of the new club took place on 13 Feb 1974 at the Regency Hotel (75 St and Argyll Road) with John Germain and Morley MacCalder from the newly proposed club and several members of the Edmonton South Rotary club in attendance.
 
The proposed new club would need to have twenty-five paid members before they could apply for their formal charter as a Rotary Club. In the following months they signed up new members and chose an Executive. They selected John Germain as their President, John Martin as Vice President, Henry Neufeld as Secretary and John Barnes as Treasurer.  A few months later, on 30 Apr 1974, they sent in their application with the names of the following charter members:
 
John Germain, John Martin, Henry Neufeld, John Barnes, Morley MacCalder, Archie Clark, Peter Boyle, Bill Bell, Ken Oates, Ernie Christman, Ross Fowler, Doc Helmut Koch, Neil Weir, Helmut Blocher, Ralph Sabirch, Monte Stout, Rome Nicholson, Hugo Lehman, Lawrence Priestman, Clayton Joyce, Clare Amies, Hans Granholm, Father Bert O’Brien, Bill Macklem and Bob Lang. Many of the new members were businessmen who worked in the Old Strathcona and Argyll Road area.
 
The Charter of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona was formally approved on 13 Jun 1974 by Bill Carter, the President of Rotary International.
 
Charter Presentation from Curly Galbraith to John Germain
 
 
Charter Night Program Cover
 
 
Charter Night Program Inside
 
 On 19 Sep 1974, the club held a formal dinner at the Regency Hotel for their Charter Night, at which the Past District Governor, Curly Galbraith formally presented the Club Charter to John Germain, the club President. There were Rotarians from fourteen other clubs in attendance, with an especially large contingent from the Red Deer club, in honor of their past president John Germain.
 
Club meetings were held every Tuesday at noon at the Regency Hotel. These included a buffet lunch with a short business meeting followed by an invited speaker. The club became known as the Friendly Club over the years as these meetings were and still are rife with corny jokes, kidding around and laughter.
 
Some of the first projects the new club undertook were to provide a massage therapy chair for a sixteen-year old with Muscular Dystrophy, to provide an ambulance for the St John’s Ambulance to be used at sports events, to provide a mini bus for the Parkland Nursing home, to support the Citadel Theatre, to build a bandstand for Strathcona Park and to provide funds and labor in support of the Edmonton Rotary initiative for the newly opened Fort Edmonton Park.
Club History, Beginnings of the Edmonton Strathcona Rotary Club  Vi Hughes 2023-07-11 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona History Project
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jul 11, 2023
On June 13 of 2024, our club will be fifty years old. Several years ago, under the Presidency of Jim Peddie, our club undertook to collect club historical items and memorabilia to be used to prepare a history of our club and then to pass these items on to the Alberta Archive to become part of their permanent collection. This is the first of twelve installments on the history of our club prepared from those materials.
Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona History Project  Vi Hughes 2023-07-11 06:00:00Z 0

Turnover Dinner Presentations
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jun 29, 2023
New Member Induction
 
 
 
We inducted our newest member, Ben Gomez, whose classification is Research and Development Carbon Capture. We would like to welcome Ben to our club and look forward to getting to know him better.  Welcome to our club Ben.
 
Thanks to Susan and Geoff Buxton
 
 
 
Vince Campbell presented a Paul Harris Fellowship to Susan and Geoff Buxton in honor of their help over the past five years with our Flag Program. Vince plants flags in Blackburn and they pick them up.
 
Patrick Gibson, Rotarian of the Year
 
Our Rotarian of the Year is Patrick Gibson, presented for his service over the years to our club as Treasurer and also as our Kiva Co-ordinator. Patrick could not be present today so his honor will be presented at the next regular meeting.
 
Executive Change Over
 
 
 
Our outgoing President Graham Gilchrist welcomed our new President for the 2023/2024 year, Heather de Kok.
 
 
Heather thanked Graham and presented him with the Past President’s pin.
 
Messages from our Incoming President
 
Heather welcomed her new executive board, President Elect Loida Lumanlan, Secretary Trina Vandermeer, Membership Stephan Jansen van Vuuren, Community Services Carin Jansen van Vuuren, International Services Norman Leach, Members at Large Vince Campbell and Donna Hutton.  The position of Treasurer is still open.
 
Heather went on to talk about the Rotary Themes for the upcoming year. The Rotary International Them for this coming year is ‘Create Hope in the World’. Our District focus for the upcoming year is Mental Health which happens to be a topic very near and dear to Heather’s heart. Heather has also chosen a theme for our club this year to be ‘Joy’. Heather said that she loves life, being a Rotarian, a mum and a working woman. She said that if you have joy, you have hope and can then give hope to others.
 
Heather said that we are going back to weekly meetings for this Rotary year. Fellowship is the core of our club and to encourage this, the last meeting of every month will be a non-traditional social gathering. Each month she will assign a random group of three members to come up with some type of social get-together for the last week of the month, of their own choosing, day, time and place. The goal of these is for us to have the opportunity to have some fun together and get to know each other better. Heather also said that the end of this upcoming year will be the 50th Anniversary of our club (1974 -2024) and we will conclude our year with a big birthday bash. We can  look forwards to a new and vibrant year together.
Turnover Dinner Presentations  Vi Hughes 2023-06-29 06:00:00Z 0

Beaumont Blues and Roots Festival Weekend
 

Posted by Graham Gilchrist on Jun 19, 2023
 
Four Rotarians and four friends of Rotary drove 65 km and raised 300.00 for Polio. We shuttled the festival goers going to and from the Beaumont Blues and Roots Festival.
 
Beaumont Blues and Roots Festival Weekend  Graham Gilchrist 2023-06-19 06:00:00Z 0

Dr. Sharon Ryan, The Sound of Silence
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jun 06, 2023
Dr. Sharon Ryan with Rotarian Donna Hutton
 
This past Tuesday we were pleased to hear from Dr. Sharon Ryan, who spoke to us about her mother’s palliative care experience both before and during the2020 COVID shutdown. Dr. Ryan is a University Professor of Business of twenty years with a PhD in Applied Management and Decision Making. Sharon told us that in December of 2019 her mother Louise was 91 and appeared to be in good health. She was happy and doing well when one day she told Sharon that her tummy hurt. They had it checked out and unfortunately, after a hospital stay for a biopsy on New Year’s Eve, they found it was pancreatic cancer.  She was given a prognosis of six months to live. Sharon promised her mother that she would be by her side all the way. In January of 2020 she was admitted to palliative care in Foyer Lacombe- Covenant Care Hospice in St. Albert. Louise was a devout Catholic and enjoyed praying and saying the Rosary with Sharon who visited her daily. There were cheerful nurses and many wonderful volunteers who helped with the care of the patients and many different activities, musical interludes and mass to attend every day, if she wished. The medications she was given helped a great deal and she was happy and content with her life there. The food was excellent and her overall experience those first few weeks was great.
On 17 Mar 2020 the COVID State of Emergency was declared and the volunteers and visitors who provided a break from boredom, feeding, comforting and ensuring that the non-medical needs of the residents were met suddenly stopped. The chatter and laughter, activities, musical interludes and daily mass stopped, the hallways became silent. Sharon was no longer allowed to visit her mum. The door was locked. The director came out to tell her that she would never see her mother again until she was actively dying, which was interpreted as being within two hours of death. She told Sharon they would call her when that time came. Sharon could not comprehend how they could determine that. Her mum was in palliative care, had already lived three months into her six month prognosis and could be expected to die at any time. Sharon was allowed to talk to her mum on the phone and through these conversations she could tell that her mum did not fully understand what was going on and was not doing well. The isolation was really affecting her. Her mum was also on morphine which compounded the situation.
 
Sharon decided that this treatment of dying people was not Canadian. Her mother and the others in similar circumstances were being subjected to isolation that is even prohibited by the UN for treatment of terrorists. Sharon went public with her appeal and the Edmonton Journal published an article which included a visit by her with her mother looking out from behind a window of the Hospice. She contacted her MLA Dale Nally and presented her story and arguments along with those of many others who had contacted her. He then spoke to Jason Kenney who vowed to help them out.  Finally, after three weeks of isolation, Alberta Public Health revised the definition of actively dying to within two weeks of dying, and the doctors then declared that everyone in palliative care was reasonably within two weeks of dying. This then meant that Sharon and other families would now be allowed to visit with their loved ones in person again. Outdoor visits were also to be allowed for all palliative care and continuing care patients. The hallways were once again somewhat filled with the sounds of families visiting their loved ones. Sharon has now written a book about her experience which is to be published soon.
 
Sharon ended by playing a version of Simon and Garfunkel’s song The Sound of Silence.  We would like to thank Sharon for her very heartfelt and moving presentation.
Dr. Sharon Ryan, The Sound of Silence  Vi Hughes 2023-06-06 06:00:00Z 0

Scout Troop Donation
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jun 06, 2023
Rotarian Trina Vandermeer making presentation to Russel Bridgeman
 
Our club was happy to present Russel Bridgeman, a representative of the 117 Rosslyn Scout Group with a donation of six thousand dollars towards the purchase of camping equipment for use at their camp at Bonnie Lake.
Scout Troop Donation  Vi Hughes 2023-06-06 06:00:00Z 0

Celina Jensen, Life Changing Lessons
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on May 25, 2023
Graham Gilchrist, Club President with Celina
 
Rotarian Carin Jansen van Vuuren with Celina
 
This Tuesday we were very pleased to welcome back Celina Jensen, our 2019-2020 Rotary Exchange Student from Denmark. Celina told us that when she first came to Edmonton in 2019 she was sixteen and in grade eleven. Now she is twenty and has finished high school, got her driver’s license and attended a year at the Georgia Rotary Student Program in Lawrenceville, Georgia on an ambassadorial scholarship for International Students. She said that through her experiences with Rotary she has learned a few lessons that will stay with her for life. Some of these are:
 
Dreams can become reality
Don’t wait, take the chance now
Accept that nothing lasts forever
Home is not a place, but a feeling
 
Celina said that when she first returned home to Denmark from Edmonton she experienced reverse culture shock and it took her a while to adjust to being back in Denmark. She said that she has continued with her knitting, which she first learned in Canada, by starting a knitting club in her High School back in Denmark and more recently one at her College in Georgia. She considers them to be a success because people showed up every week for them.
When she heard about the Georgia Rotary Student Program to promote peace and cultural understanding for young people aged eighteen to twenty-five she decided to apply and was glad to be accepted. She was one of forty-four students from twenty-six different countries.  The program has been offered by the Rotary clubs in Georgia since 1946.  Celina said that she personally had four Rotary Club sponsors, whose meetings she attended and whose volunteer projects she helped out with. She stayed in the college dorm with eleven other girls from the program and became very close with all of them. She really enjoyed college life and the many different activities going on around campus. She also had a host family whom she spent holidays and some weekends with. One goal of the program is to introduce the students to the American way of life and Celina said it did that very well. She said that all the people she met were some of the nicest, kindest people she has ever known. She also said that she had never seen so many guns and American flags before in her life.  She said that she learned a lot about their way of thinking and their opinions about gay people, democrats and mental illness were an eye opener. She also said that she got to experience the southern way of life through country music, rodeos, cowboy boots and many other cultural experiences. She also said she got to do some travelling with short trips to Nashville, Chicago, New Orleans, Washington DC and Florida. She said that as a result of hearing the disparaging way some people talked about their local police she decided to do a ride along with some and learned that they were actually pretty good people who had become police because they wanted to help others.
Through all of her experiences there she learned a few more lessons:
 
Diversity is a beautiful thing
Talk with everyone despite your differences
We are all amazing, but are not meant to be best friends with everyone
She loves travelling!
 
We would like to thank Celina for her words of wisdom and we wish her well in whatever future endeavors she undertakes.
 
 
Celina Jensen, Life Changing Lessons  Vi Hughes 2023-05-25 06:00:00Z 0

Flag Planting 2023
 

Posted by Carin Jansen van Vuuren on May 17, 2023
Ben Gomez Planting Flags
 
Ben Gomez (our newest member) and partner Rhonda Smith (2nd newest member) took over Rose Marie Basaraba’s flag route this year. Here is Ben being very Rotarian like. Way to go guys - jumping in there!
Flag Planting 2023  Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2023-05-17 06:00:00Z 0

Brittany Williams and Abbigale Herbert, Rotary Employment Partnership with Inclusion Alberta
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on May 09, 2023
This week we heard from Brittany and Abbigale about the partnership that Rotary has made with Inclusion Alberta to help to provide employment opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities.  Inclusion Alberta is a sixty year old family based non-profit federation that advocates on behalf of children and adults with disabilities in Alberta. Inclusion Alberta offers many different types of services for families and individuals with disabilities, one of which is help with finding employment.
Rotary Districts 5360 and 5370 have partnered with Inclusion Alberta to provide Rotary sponsors to help them find employment opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities in our Districts. Brittany and Abbigale were introduced to us by Bob McGinn from the St. Albert Rotary Club. To date this program has been able to provide 761 jobs in Alberta with 349 of those in the Edmonton area. Rotarians often have business connections that could help with their cause and these sponsors will help to make connections with employment opportunities. The hope is that we will be able to help them to provide even more opportunities. Brittany and Abbigale will be keeping in touch with our club in the future in this regard.
Brittany Williams and Abbigale Herbert, Rotary Employment Partnership with Inclusion Alberta  Vi Hughes 2023-05-09 06:00:00Z 0

Dawn Haines, 117 Rosslyn Scouting Group
 

Posted by Vi Hughes
 
 
This week we welcomed Dawn Haines, a leader of the 117 Rosslyn Scouting Group, who came to tell us about their programs. She told us that the mission of scouting is to develop well rounded youth, better prepared for success in the world. She said that leadership skills are the goal they work towards for these boys and girls. Scouting is a fully coed program for children and young people aged five to twenty-six with programs for five different age groups, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Venturers and Rovers. The Rosslyn Scout Group was formed in 1961 and currently has sixty-two youth from Beavers through to Rovers with twenty-six leaders.
Dawn told us that their group is one of the few in Edmonton to have their own camp facilities, located on Bonnie Lake, near Vilna. She said that camping and outdoor activities are a big part of scouting. This facility is used almost every weekend from spring through fall and many times in the winter for various Scouting activities. She told us that their group uses fundraising to help cover the cost of camping for their boys and girls.  She said that they are currently looking for service opportunities in order to raise funds for the purchase of replacement camping equipment for use at their scout camp and would welcome any service opportunities we might have or know about.
We would like to thank Dawn for taking the time to come and tell us about their group and for their offer of service.
 
Dawn Haines, 117 Rosslyn Scouting Group  Vi Hughes 2023-05-09 06:00:00Z 0

Volunteer Opportunity at Meals on Wheels
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Apr 26, 2023
Our club is looking for volunteers to help out at Meals on Wheels on Wednesday, 14 June from 8 am to 12 noon. Please contact Vince Campbell if you would like to help with this.
Volunteer Opportunity at Meals on Wheels  Vi Hughes 2023-04-26 06:00:00Z 0

Flag Pickup for Route Leaders
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Apr 25, 2023
Flag program route leaders will be able to pick up their flags the week of May 16. Please contact Vince at 780-239-3199 to arrange to pick up your flags directly from him.
Flag Pickup for Route Leaders  Vi Hughes 2023-04-25 06:00:00Z 0

Nike Fabiyi, Students First Campaign, MacEwan University
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Apr 25, 2023
Rotarian Carin Jansen van Vuuren and Nike Fabiyi, MacEwan University
 
This past week we heard from Nike Fabiyi, a Development Officer for Grant MacEwan University who gave us some information on their Students First Campaign.
She told us that April 2022 was the fiftieth anniversary of the University which they marked by a variety of fundraising campaigns. She said that they have recently received a one hundred twenty-five million commitment from the Alberta Government to build a new School of Business. The building is expected to be completed in 2027. She also said that as part of this they hope to be able to increase their student body by ten thousand students over the next ten years.
 
Nike told us that we can help by contributing to the Students First Campaign which provides scholarships, awards and bursaries. Scholarships are given based on academic performance, awards are based on a combination of criteria including volunteerism, leadership and or academic achievements and bursaries are given based on demonstrated financial need. She said that currently only about seven percent of those who apply can be funded. Students who are from underserved populations such as indigenous, disabled or who have child-care needs receive priority for this funding. In the 2021-2022 year they were able to help thirty-six hundred students.
We would like to thank Nike for taking the time to come and tell us about their fundraising programs.
 
Nike Fabiyi, Students First Campaign, MacEwan University  Vi Hughes 2023-04-25 06:00:00Z 0

Patrick Gibson, April is Microfinance Month, Kiva Loan Program Update
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Apr 11, 2023
 
At Tuesday’s meeting, our club Kiva loan co-ordinator Patrick Gibson, told us that our club currently has about fifteen thousand American dollars out on loan through our Microfinance Program. This program makes small interest free  loans of twenty five dollars or more to owners of small businesses in third world countries who would otherwise not qualify for business loans. They are expected to repay the loans, and once they do, the money is then loaned out again to someone else. He said that he is very proud of how well the small business owners that we have loaned money to in the past have done with repaying their loans and showed us a graph of how well they have done, with very few loans in default.
 
 
Patrick Gibson, April is Microfinance Month, Kiva Loan Program Update  Vi Hughes 2023-04-11 06:00:00Z 0

Michael Hrycun, Youth Empowerment and Support Services
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Apr 11, 2023
Club President Graham Gilchrist with Michael Hrycun, YESS
 
 
This week we heard from Michael Hrycun from Youth Empowerment and Support Services (YESS). Michael told us that their mission at YESS is to walk beside traumatized youth on their journey towards healing and appropriate community integration. The youth they serve are between the ages of fifteen and twenty four and come from many different types of backgrounds. All have gone through some kind of trauma in their lives, have unstable housing and finding a meal and safe place to sleep at night is a constant worry. Many are still attending school but find it hard to stay present due to lack of sleep and constant worry about everyday survival. Trauma can affect your sense of self, safety and ability to regulate emotions. YESS has three main facilities that provide services to these young people. The Nexus Shelter on Whyte Avenue, the Armoury Resource in Old Strathcona and Supportive Community Housing.
Young people are able to drop in for a quiet place to relax or talk to others, find snacks or a meal, receive help with their school work, finding employment, medical care, transportation to appointments elsewhere, finding housing, help filing taxes and much more. Their counselling services provide help with everyday living skills, harm reduction, how to get out of traumatic situations, how to build healthy relationships and more. The Whyte Avenue facility provides stable housing, meals and support for up to fifteen young people for several months at a time to help them get back on track.  The Old Strathcona location provides a drop-in facility that can handle fifty to sixty people for lunch and provides many different support and counselling services. Their supportive community  housing provides spaces for another fourteen youth on a more permanent basis. Michael told us that they have provided services to seven hundred fifty-nine young people in Edmonton over the past year. Their goal is to help them each to find their own voice, get their own place, finish their education and let them make their own life.
Michael said that providing food, clothing and shelter are basic to everything they do. YESS first began as a youth shelter in Edmonton in Sept 1981 and changed their name to YESS in 2012.  He said that they also collaborate with other groups helping youth in the Edmonton area. About forty percent of their funding comes from government, forty percent from fundraising and the rest from other funding through groups such as the United Way. Our Rotary club has provided funding in the past to purchase furniture and also a bus for the Old Strathcona location. We can get more information on them and making donations at email  giving@yess.org.  They also rely on in-kind donations of food and clothing which can be dropped off at the Bissel Centre on their behalf and they are always looking for volunteers to help with their various programs, so there are many different ways in which we can help.
We would like to thank Michael for his very interesting and inspiring talk.
Michael Hrycun, Youth Empowerment and Support Services  Vi Hughes 2023-04-11 06:00:00Z 0

UNBELIEVABLE UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE!  
Visiting MYO (Mondesa Youth Opportunities) in Swakopmund, Namibia
 

Posted by Carin Jansen van Vuuren on Apr 10, 2023
I am happy to report back on our visit to MYO in February this year when a donation of $8,000 was made. Five thousand dollars was donated by the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona and $3,000 by the Rotary Club of Edmonton Riverview.
MYO is a well-known and intensive after-school education program located in the Mondesa Township in Swakopmund, Namibia. It is the flagship project for the Rotary Club of Swakopmund, Namibia.
It has been operating for almost 20 years. Their focus is on learners from disadvantaged backgrounds who deserve better education that they have access to. Thus, learners with potential but little support at home. At MYO 120 learners ranging from Grade 4 to 8 receive extra instruction in English, Mathematics, Reading, Life Skills, Computers, Sports, and Music.
They cultivate positive thinking and high self-esteem to lay the path for a future generation of forward-thinking Namibian leaders. Their aim is not only to enhance the education of their promising learners but also to guide them into being responsive, confident, and well-rounded individuals.
MYO is a non-profit organization, and their learners participate in their programme free of charge. They rely exclusively on donations from their community and the wider world to sustain their operations.
We have had the opportunity to visit this project in the past as I do tours to Southern Africa and this year we were there on February 28th when we had the opportunity to tour the school, be entertained by the learners with their music and singing and afterwards socialized with local Rotary with a traditional braai (BBQ). The group included amongst other Canadians, seven Rotarians - PDG Judy Harcourt Brown and husband Ron, PDG Tim Schilds and wife Sally, Wayne Kauffman and wife Vivien as well as Stephan Jansen van Vuuren.
Thanks so much to the members for your hard work which enabled the club to make this donation to this worthwhile project.
Attached please find a short video showing you more about the school. Just click on this link.
 
UNBELIEVABLE UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE!  Visiting MYO (Mondesa Youth Opportunities) in Swakopmund, Namibia  Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2023-04-10 06:00:00Z 0

Kerry Diotte, Getting Involved in Your Community
 

Posted by Vi Hughes
 
Club President Graham Gilchrist, speaker Kerry Diotte and club member Richard Karlsson
 
This week we heard from Kerry Diotte. Kerry spoke to us about becoming involved in our community. He said that he has always admired Rotarians for their commitment to their communities and for finding ways to help others through becoming involved. Kerry has been a journalist for three decades and has also served as an Edmonton city councillor for three years and a Federal Conservative Member of Parliament for Edmonton Griesbach for six years.
 
Kerry said that he developed an interest for civic issues while covering city issues as a journalist. With the rise of online news he could see that journalism was not what it once was so he started to think about how he could stay involved with his community in other ways. Once he decided that he could make a contribution to his community as a city councillor he had to figure out how to go about doing this. He said that it was not an easy transition and involved getting outside of his comfort zone.
 
He talked to a lot of people about what it involved, and they all told him the best way was to knock on doors and talk to people. Knocking on doors is difficult, some people are simply not interested. You need to ask people what their concerns are and keep track by writing them down. This gives you a better perspective of your community.  Most of the concerns he encountered involved community safety, money management and using common sense to make decisions. He said that politicians should ask you what you think and what is important to you. He thinks that as a politician you are a servant of the public and should vote for things your constituents want even if you personally not support it. Even people of two very different political stripes can vote the same when they vote as their constituents feel.
 
When he later decided to run for federal election, he found that becoming a political party nominee is difficult. It involves selling party memberships to people in your constituency by knocking on doors. The constituency he decided to run in had sixty thousand households. In order to do this he spent four hours each day knocking on doors. His team consisted of a few good friends. Each day he sold between one and seven memberships but he kept at it. It was a very hard thing to do. When the day came to count up the results for the nomination he was quite worried about whether they had done enough. Some of his supporters were there but it seemed that the room had filled up with supporters of the other candidates.  He thought that his team had lost, but when the counting was done, he had won the nomination by forty three votes. He then needed to pull together supporters from the other candidates to work towards winning the election.  He knew that the party he was running for had an unpopular leader in his constituency so he emphasised that they were voting for him and not the leader of the party. In the end he won the election and enjoyed serving his constituents as their member of parliament.
 
Kerry said that as Rotarians, we are often out in the community. As we volunteer in our community we can get to know how they feel about various issues. This may involve stepping out of our comfort zone, but by getting to know the issues, it allows us to be able to make changes in the things we do and in turn to serve our community better.
 
Kerry Diotte, Getting Involved in Your Community  Vi Hughes 2023-03-28 06:00:00Z 0

Freida Richard, Insolvency 101
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Mar 02, 2023
Freida Richard with Rotary Past President Jim Peddie
 
This Tuesday we were pleased to welcome Freida Richard, a partner at Grant Thornton, to talk to us about the options available to us regarding financial insolvency. She has worked in the financial industry for twenty-nine years and has written a financial column for the Globe and Mail for the past eight years. She and her team at Grant Thornton work with clients to help them understand their options and choose the best one for their personal situation.
Freida began by saying the age group most affected by insolvency has shifted to a younger age group, Millennials aged 27 to 42, since the COVID pandemic. She said this is most likely the result of multiple factors. This age group grew up with using credit over cash and generally do not have enough financial smarts to navigate the much more complicated financial world we have today. They have also been affected by several big downturns in the economy that affected their ability to find and keep well paid steady work, find accommodations that are affordable and deal with the ever more complicated and expensive world around us.
She said that our relationship with debt is a major factor in the increase in the number of insolvencies since 2008. Our comfort level for more debt has increased, partially due to lower interest rates and has resulted in a buffet of credit card options. Some common myths about debt are that it only happens to low-income people, higher income people have higher financial skills, debt results from poor choices, or that having debt means you are lazy. In reality, the top reasons for debt are living beyond your means, relationship breakdowns, gambling or addiction, business failure, medical issues, non-compliance with tax filings and loss of income. Some warning signs to watch for are reliance on pay day loans, being in overdraft every month, and going from one financial crisis to another.
Freida  told us that the first things to do when you become overwhelmed are to consider budget revisions, selling non-essential assets ( this does not include pensions or RRSPs), negotiating with your creditors (only practical if there are three or less), consolidating or transferring your debt to a lower interest loan ( although this can cause issues) and consulting with a not for profit agency such as the Credit Counselling Society to help you negotiate with your creditors.
When these options are not practical there a several federally legislated programs involving the courts available that an insolvency specialist can help with. An Orderly Payment of Debt, a Consumer Proposal and Bankruptcy (the least preferred option). An Orderly Payment of Debt can be obtained through Money Mentors in Alberta. A Consumer Proposal should be prepared by an insolvency specialist and involves a court ordered stay of proceedings to freeze interest and stop collection action. You retain control of your property, it is budget friendly and involves joint proposals from you and your creditors. It presents your creditors with a comparison of what they will get if they agree to this as opposed to what they will get if you declare bankruptcy. The amount you agree to pay on dollars owing in debt must be agreed to by your creditors and the amount owing must be paid within five years Once agreed upon the conditions are legally binding.
The last and most onerous option is Bankruptcy. It is also the most highly regulated option with many specific rules that must be followed. It involves a sale of assets to cover your debts with a list of stipulated assets and amounts that you are allowed to keep. The time frame for payments varies depending on your past history with insolvency and the amount paid depends on your net income and number of people in your household. It also affects your ability to obtain credit for many years to come.
We would like to thank Freida for this very interesting and knowledgeable introduction to insolvency.
Freida Richard, Insolvency 101  Vi Hughes 2023-03-02 07:00:00Z 0

Interact Students Take Part in Anti Racism Summit
 

Some members of our Rotary Interact club from W.P. Wagner High School took part in organizing an Anti Racism Summit that took place at the Stanley Milner Library on 15 Feb 2023. It involved one hundred fifty junior high students from the W.P. Wagner catchment area. They gathered with students from several other schools to discuss how to deal with various issues, how to challenge stereotypes and deal with stigma. This summit was reported on for the Edmonton Journal by Madeline Smith and the article is publicly available on their website.
Interact Students Take Part in Anti Racism Summit  Vi Hughes 2023-03-02 07:00:00Z 0

QE II Platinum Jubilee Medal Presentation
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Feb 16, 2023
 
Hans Granholm being presented with the medal by Rotary District Assistant Governor Jeanette Bancarz
 
This past Sunday our club held a Dinner to present the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal to Hans Granholm in honor of his service and commitment to Rotary over the years. Hans is a founding member of our club (since 1974) and has made many, many contributions of time and talent over the years. He is well known in Rotary circles for his kindness and willingness to share his broad knowledge of how Rotary works to get things done. One of his major contributions was introducing our Rotary club to using the ClubRunner website to help streamline administration and give our club an internet presence in 2004. ClubRunner makes keeping track of members, communicating with members, and advertising meetings and social occasions both to our members and the general public quick and relatively easy. It also streamlines many other formerly time consuming and paper intensive administrative jobs and gives our members one central place to find all kinds of information on our club. He also encouraged many other Rotary groups to do the same and has served as a mentor and troubleshooter in this regard for Rotarians from all over Canada and parts of the US for almost twenty years now.  This one thing alone has probably streamlined many thousands of hours of paperwork for Rotary over the years.
 
 
Club President Graham Gilchrist with medal recipients, Tamara Larson, Hans Granholm and Norman Leach
 
Our club also honored two other Rotarians, Norman Leach, who received a QE II Platinum Jubilee Medal for his longstanding contributions to Canadian Military History and Tamara Larson who received a QE II Platinum Jubilee Medal for her work over many years with District Rotary youth programs.
 
 
 
QE II Platinum Jubilee Medal Presentation  Vi Hughes 2023-02-16 07:00:00Z 0

Edmonton Food Bank Volunteers
 

Posted by Vi Hughes
 
On 07 Feb some members of our club volunteered with the Edmonton Food Bank to help sort and pack items for distribution. Many thanks to Loida Lumanlan for organizing this and to Donna Hutton, Richard Karlsson and Dennis Hutton for giving generously of their time.
Edmonton Food Bank Volunteers  Vi Hughes 2023-02-16 07:00:00Z 0

Vi Hughes, Using Ancestry for Family History Research
 

Posted on Jan 31, 2023
Today we heard from Vi Hughes talking about Ancestry and Ancestry DNA and their use in family history research. Vi said that she has used both of these online subscription databases for many years. She talked about cost and then mentioned privacy and how to maintain it for both you and your family. She said that when she compared the cost of a subscription today with what she paid thirty years ago for time consuming, laborious access to only a few records, there is simply no comparison. This is a deal beyond imagining.
Ancestry allows you to build multiple family trees which are easy to navigate through and performs automatic record searches based on the information you have entered. It searches family trees, photos and stories entered by others as well as scanned and digitized government records, church records, immigration records, books, archive materials, local histories, maps and many other types of records. It has viewing software that then allows you to see and scan through the original record page by page and make your own decision on whether the document is relevant to you. You can then attach the document to the relevant person in your tree or save it to a ‘shoebox’ for later evaluation. It also allows you to easily add the information from the document that applies to someone in your tree directly to their profile.
Ancestry allows you to view the information in your tree and the information in each person’s profile in your tree in many different ways. You may view individual profiles, with facts only, or as a written story. You may also see several types of trees which make it easy to see how others are related. It will also generate many different types of both electronic or paper reports. It will also show your family members home locations on a map and add local history information to their story.
You can search their records either independently or using information from your tree. It will also link you automatically to free archive databases or other subscription based websites and then allows that information to be uploaded to your tree. When searching records it uses a system that will find names in records with many different spelling variations based on sound.
It allows you to message other members to ask questions or just to make contact with relatives. Their messaging system requires the user to log in before using and does not reveal contact information. In addition you can download information from your tree to your computer as either a gedcom file or a pdf and you can download any records you find as jpg files. There is also a free Ancestry Academy which has short educational videos and message boards with answers to common questions that will help you to learn more about family research in general and the best practices to follow.
A separate Ancestry DNA membership which gives you access to your DNA test results, ethnicity, basic info about your DNA matches or cousins and a limited family tree known as ThruLines. The testing identifies several thousand segments or ‘chunks’ of unique DNA from you and then matches them with previous results obtained from other people. These chunks are identifiable as to where on each chromosome they are located and can be matched with chunks from other people whose ethnicity is known. In this way, they can tell you what percent of your DNA matches people of certain ethnic backgrounds to show you an ethnic pie chart. It will also display your ethnic background on a world map showing communities where your ancestors came from and giving you a short historical trip through time of how these people came to North America. They can even show you a color coded map, using Chromosome painter software, of where on each of your chromosomes these ethnic chunks are located.
They can also match you with people who share exactly the same ’chunks’ and tell you how many chunks and how much total DNA you share with them. This allows them to say how closely related you are to each of these people. Since Ancestry DNA is North American based, if you have family that goes back a long ways in North America, you will have thousands of matches (relatives who have also had their DNA tested). You can also identify related matches by matching one against the remaining people. This allows you to see how many are related to each of your family lines. Her own match list shows many cousins that she can identify by family tree branch and common ancestor.
It will also build you a tree (called ThruLines) based on the trees that your matches and others have entered and show you how you are related to many of them as well as tell you who the common ancestor is that you share with each of your matches.
She said that once you have an  Ancestry subscription, there are some things to keep in mind. If you have never done any family history in the past, you will find there is a whole new language to learn before you will easily understand things. As with any interest, you need to learn the lingo. Take your time and look things up if you are not sure what something means. Even the words we use to talk about relationships, like first cousin, grand aunt, and great grandfather have different meanings in different cultures. Ancestry uses the North American standard, which is quite specific and can take a while for you to understand if your family uses these terms in a more generic way.
The Ancestry website view that you have and the ease of use will depend on what technology you are using. A computer or tablet signed on to the actual website gives the most complete access to everything. Using an app for tablet or phone will give you a more limited view of things and may be more cumbersome to use.
In Ancestry, start with yourself and work backwards, entering the information you have, taking care to connect people correctly. Ancestry will then start searching its databases for matching information. Check each suggested piece of information or ‘hint’ out carefully before adding it to your tree. Take it slow and be methodical. It is much easier to do it right the first time, than to have to go back and delete or fix relationships later. Use Ancestry Academy to help you out along the way.
In Ancestry DNA you should enter a very simple direct ancestor family tree going back several generations if possible and link it to your DNA results. This way it will be able to connect you with many of your matches and show you who your common ancestors are.
She closed by telling us a few stories from her own experiences and encouraged us to gather up our information and get started on a never ending journey of discovery.
Vi Hughes, Using Ancestry for Family History Research  Vi Hughes 2023-01-31 07:00:00Z 0

Rotary District 5370 Conference 2023, April 20 -23
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 17, 2023
 
We would like to encourage our members to register for and attend our annual district conference which will be held from Thursday to Sunday, 20 to 23 April at Jasper Park Lodge. The conference theme is Respect. There will be special programs for all ages for those wishing to bring children or other family members with them. One of the special programs is a quilting display and sale. Registration and details regarding programs and speakers can be found at respect5370.com.
Rotary District 5370 Conference 2023, April 20 -23  Vi Hughes 2023-01-17 07:00:00Z 0

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal Recipients
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 17, 2023
 
We have recently learned that two members of our club, Hans Granholm and Norman Leach, have been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (Alberta) for their significant contributions and achievements as Albertans. We would like to sincerely congratulate them both on this honor.
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal Recipients  Vi Hughes 2023-01-17 07:00:00Z 0

Rose Marie Basaraba Receives Paul Harris Award
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 17, 2023
 
District Governor John Nicoll presented Rose Marie Basaraba with a Paul Harris Plus Six Award for her contributions to the Rotary Foundation over the past year.
Rose Marie Basaraba Receives Paul Harris Award  Vi Hughes 2023-01-17 07:00:00Z 0

Visit from District Governor John Nicoll
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 17, 2023
 
This past Tuesday our club was honored to hear from our District Governor, John Nicoll. John was introduced by our District assistant Governor Jeanette Bancarz who told us that John is a retired Electrical Engineer. He is a member of the Edmonton North East club. John and his wife Donna have been travelling around Alberta in their motor home, since early summer, to visit all of the various clubs in our District.
 
John told us that this past summer we were honored to receive a visit from our Rotary International President Jennifer Jones. Her chosen Theme for this Rotary year is Imagine. She chose this theme because if you can not imagine something, you can not build it. The four pillars of her theme for Rotary clubs this year are:
  1. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Our clubs should look like our community with equal opportunity and a place for each member do what they do best.
  2. Comfort and Care. Our clubs should talk to our members, find out what their interests are and where they would like our club to go.
  3. Empowering Girls and Women. Our clubs should strive to find projects that support and empower girls and women to make contributions in non-traditional fields such as but not exclusive to Science, Engineering and Mathematics.
  4. Expand your reach.   Our clubs should try to expand their reach by supporting worldwide projects such as Polio Plus. We can do this by encouraging our club members to join the Polio Plus Society. Other ways are to support International projects such as the fundraising campaign to help Ukrainian refugees.  
John said that we need to continuously try to make our clubs a place of fellowship which present a nice place for people to gather and enjoy other’s company with service projects that are meaningful to our members.  He said that most clubs in Alberta are relatively small with between fifteen to thirty-five members. He said that our district suffered membership losses due to the changes brought about by COVID which necessitated some budgetary adjustments, including a relocation of our District office. Plans are to be able to relocate to a permanent office location at Fort Edmonton Park once renovations are completed on the new entrance building in a few year’s time.
John closed with a video promoting this year’s District Conference with the theme of Respect. He said that they chose the Jasper location in order to support our local tourist economy post COVID by having everyone travel a little in order to attend. He said that in addition to the usual Rotary presentations, his wife Donna, who is an enthusiastic quilter, has organized a short Saturday nite presentation on quilting, along with a quilt display and sale as part of the marketplace.
We would like to thank John for taking the time to visit our club and give us an update on what is happening district wide.
Visit from District Governor John Nicoll  Vi Hughes 2023-01-17 07:00:00Z 0

Christmas Box Presentations to Ukrainian Ladies at UCSS
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Dec 18, 2022
 
On Dec 18 we received a thank you from John Shalewa of Ukrainian Canadian Social Services. Twenty six Ukrainian nationals received gift boxes from Rotary Strathcona at an appreciation evening for all the volunteers that are helping out at the Ukrainian free store on 101 Ave. and 104 St. The ladies were thrilled to receive these gift boxes. The smiles on their faces and the love that came with each gift box, made it so special. All in attendance were also treated to a dinner that was provided by a potluck of delicious food.
 
Christmas Box Presentations to Ukrainian Ladies at UCSS  Vi Hughes 2022-12-18 07:00:00Z 0

Christmas Box Donation to Ukrainian Canadian Social Services
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Dec 14, 2022
 
Brenda McCullough presented John Shalewa, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Social Services based in Edmonton with Christmas boxes to be distributed by them to needy women who have recently come to Canada from the Ukraine.
 
 
Our club would like to thank Trina Van der Meer and her ‘Christmas Elf’ volunteers from Benaiah Guarding who generously volunteered their time and talents helped to put these beautiful boxes together.
 
John thanked us for the boxes and said that their group has had over seven hundred families visit their offices in the past year. He said that they have been overwhelmed by the support for recent immigrants from the Ukraine that they have received from the Edmonton community in the past year.
Christmas Box Donation to Ukrainian Canadian Social Services  Vi Hughes 2022-12-14 07:00:00Z 0

New Member Induction
 

Posted on Dec 13, 2022
 
Our club was pleased to induct another new member at our annual Christmas Party on Dec 13. We would like to welcome Rhona Smith whose classification category is Medical Clinic Manager. Rhona was sponsored by Stephan Jansen van Vuuren.
New Member Induction  Vi Hughes 2022-12-13 07:00:00Z 0
Violet Malbeuf, Hypothermic Half Marathon in Support of YESS  Vi Hughes 2022-12-05 07:00:00Z 0

Carin Jansen van Vuuren, RCES District Award
 

 
I was so proud on Saturday Nov 26th at the District Assembly to accept a District Award on behalf of our club for our financial contribution to END POLIO NOW for the previous Rotary year.
Kudus goes out to EVERYONE who donated, to our past Foundation Chair Bob Sandercock who did a tremendous job and Community Chair Trina Vandermeer and Amy Stewart with their Polio Fundraiser Events and their continued encouragement to us as members to donate. Congratulations!
Carin Jansen van Vuuren, RCES District Award  Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2022-11-30 07:00:00Z 0

Eric Solash, Why I Joined and Stay in Rotary
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 22, 2022
This week we were entertained by Eric Solash, a long-time Rotarian, with stories of his younger days which helped to explain why he is such a loyal Rotarian now. Eric told us that as a young man he attended the University of New Mexico where he majored in drinking and minored in partying. As a result of his failure to achieve much of substance there he decided to volunteer for the Navy. It would give him a chance to see the world and meet lots of admiring young women, or so he thought at the time. The Navy decided that he would make a good electronics technician, so that is the training he first received. Unfortunately, the locations he got sent to did not bring much chance to meet young women, so he volunteered (again) for a longer stint that would put him in Virginia (lots of beach babes there he thought) for computer training. Again, he was disappointed when he figured out two weeks in that this training was for service in nuclear submarines. Each tour of duty on a submarine was one hundred days long and usually involved spending sixty-two to seventy days underwater. Service on submarines is not considered mandatory and people who served had to volunteer for each tour (which he did multiple times, again).
Upon finishing his tour of duty with the Navy, he returned to University and this time he graduated. He then went to work for several different computer companies based in California as a service tech and trouble shooter for their various installations all over the country. Being single he was able to volunteer for some of the more far flung locations, one of which was Edmonton, where he was sent to fix the Public Library computer system. It was while there that he ‘fell in lust’, as Eric put it, with a good looking librarian, who he ended up falling in love with and marrying. Valerie was an audio visual tech at the time but later went on to become the manager of the downtown branch. His wife was friends with the manager of the Mill Woods branch (Linda Granholm) and when Linda mentioned that a group she volunteered for (ARCH) needed help setting up their computers, Eric again volunteered to help. It was thorough this that he became involved with Rotary, as Linda and her husband Hans were very involved with Strathcona Rotary.
Rotary brought him many more opportunities to volunteer his services to help others. Eric has been involved in the Belize Rotary Literature Project which supplied the curriculum for grades one to twelve for a school system in Belize. He built the two servers which held all of the information needed for the teachers in Belize. Eric has also helped to maintain and upgrade the computer systems at ARCH, a local group that helps adults with disabilities become gainfully employed in the community. A third group that Eric has volunteered for is SEESA where he introduces seniors to the world of computers and how to stay safe in it.
We would like to thank Eric for this brief insight into why he loves Rotary. As anyone can see, it is his love of volunteering and the people and adventures it brings with it that first attracted him and now keeps him in Rotary.
Eric Solash, Why I Joined and Stay in Rotary  Vi Hughes 2022-11-22 07:00:00Z 0

Remembrance Day Gathering

 
 
The morning of November 11, twelve members of our club, along with several partners and spouses met at the graves of two of our past members, John and Betty Germain, who both served in the Canadian Army in World War Two. We laid a wreath and observed a short ceremony of remembrance for all those who died fighting for our country. We also remembered all those who served and returned home to fight again only in their memories. 
Remembrance Day Gathering Vi Hughes 2022-11-11 07:00:00Z 0

Meals on Wheels Kitchen

Our club volunteered with meal preparation at Meals on Wheels on Wednesday this week. Everyone who helped out worked hard and had a great time doing it!
 
 
 
 
Meals on Wheels Kitchen Vince Campbell 2022-11-10 07:00:00Z 0
November Foundation Moment Vi Hughes 2022-11-10 07:00:00Z 0

October Amarok Update

October 2022
 
Combined Rotary Mothers' School Dhaka, Bangladesh
 
Dear Members of the Rotary Clubs of Strathcona, Mayfield, Urban Spirits, Whyte Avenue, Grand Prairie and Hinton,
 
 
This is our pleasure to share our news and community base social works with you. We are learning and developing ourselves as mother-teachers and social development workers in our neighborhood. We want to do more good work for my community, particularly for the children. We are now giving full support to our micro-school children and our neighbors. This is a very important time for us to recover their losses in education. Now a few mothers of our school have increased their teaching times from 1 hours to 2 hours a day to recover the lessons children missed but some of us work part-time. So, they could not manage extra time but we wish to. The poor families had lost a few valuable assets to buy food during the past pandemic and at present crisis but the situation taught us how to live better with humanity and loving to each other. We were taught in our mother school that humanity is the best creation of God which we proved by our actions and behaviors. We have started getting the benefit of learning in our life. Education has given us acceptance, knowledge, empowerment, humanity, courage to raise our voice against injustice & discrimination in family and in society. And we think, in this journey mothers of our school are the important part to carry out our social development activities. 
 
Now we will share with you a success story of our mothers, Hasina is a mother of Amarok School. Her husband’s name is Md. Moslem Uddin who works as a day laborer. They have two sons. They came to Dhaka from Barisal for a better livelihood in 2005. Staying in different slums, now they live in Rasulbug slum, East Badda, Dhaka. Moslem Uddin’s income is not stable and regular. So, the family often faced food & other crises in their livelihood. Sometimes children had to go to sleep without having a proper meal, Hasina silently cried, what else could she do until could earn by herself to support the family!  Neighbors often heard quarrelling and shouting between the husband and wife especially when her husband talked about stopping the education of children and engaging them in earning. 
 
Hasina was admitted in Amarok School for learning and operated a micro-school to teach 5 children including her own.  After a few months of learning in school, she thought about setting a street tea-stall to open in the morning and afternoon for a few hours and shared her idea with her husband. She saved some money as part of the ‘saving-group’ with 8 other friends of Amarok School as an emergency saving. Her husband supported her idea and agreed to assist her after coming back from work. So, she opened her tea shop with inexpensive light snacks like cookies, local slice cake and within a short time her tea shop started running well and her family got back in happiness. Some dishonest people tried to go away without payment after having snacks but Hasina every time caught them by hand as she is educated now and able to monitor payment well. However, during the COVID-19 situation she was bound to close her shop for a long time due to the order of the local government. Hasina’s family again fell down in problem managing food cost and the rent of her house as the COVD situation stayed prolonged. 
 
 
Hasina became irregular in Mother School. She was thinking about selling all the materials she bought to operate her tea-stall. One day, Amarok Teacher visited her house and heard about her struggles of livelihood. She advised her to discuss the situation with her friends in school if they could help her. Hasina visited her friends Afsana, Rupa, Shilpi and Nahar. They suggested she take a small loan from a local Cooperative and wait for an improving situation. Rupa and Shilpi, her friends, also agreed to sign as the grantors of the loan. Two months later, the situation started to change. Local government decided to lessen some restrictions informally and some street shops started to open. With the cookeries and tea-stand Hasina opened her tea-staff again but this time she used one-time plastic cups for the customers and placed a dustbin to throw the used cup there. Her thinking & techniques worked well as people found one-time cups as a better option. Hasina didn’t have to buy new kettles & other utensils required. She started paying back the loan from the cooperative and returned to her normal life. Her family starts to get back happiness, now she attends school regularly; education of her children is also going on fully. 
 
Hasina is grateful to her friends and to her teacher for being with her with their courage and support. She is also grateful to Amarok Society because of educating her and helping her find such great friends. She wants to educate her sons in higher grades and expand her shop. She believes good friends are wealthy and many ways better than money. 
 
Before our education we did not know many things and did not think about them but now because of our school, reading newspapers, watching television and current situation discussion by the teacher in the class session we can know about the symptoms and prevention of COVID, Dengue and price hike of daily goods. Also, we can know about the world situation like; war between Russia and Ukraine. We think it’s a big political issue. We can see the power practicing attitude by the Russian leader. Because of the war situation we are suffering a lot and our regular market prices are going up day by day. Now cooking oil, rice, wheat, vegetables and grocery items are out of control of our government. This is why we are really passing a bad time to feed ourselves and children. But we are trying our best using the learning from the recent pandemic & food and work crisis. This situation is better because the lockdown has not been imposed. We have learnt humanity, sharing, cooperation and believe we have to solve our problem, no miracle will happen. 
 
We can clearly remember that we were not like this before. Now we can judge what is right and what is wrong. We can make a clear difference between good vs. bad. Education of our children is the top priority which was not before.
Thank you very much for establishing the mother-school in our slum. 
With love and respect,
 
Masuma, Afsana, Roji, Shilpi, Tarpina and Surma 
(Mothers of the school)
 
October Amarok Update Vi Hughes 2022-11-10 07:00:00Z 0

Norman Leach, Broken Arrow, America’s First Lost Nuke
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 08, 2022
This past week we were treated to a fascinating true story with many pictures from Norman Leach, a Canadian military historian and author who is also a member of our club. The story took place in 1950 at the start of the cold war. It involved a trial run of the new top secret hi tech (for the times) B36 bomber, a legendary American General, Curtis Lemay, and a ‘Fat Man’ nuclear bomb that belonged to the Atomic Energy Commission.
Th B36 was an amazing piece of machinery for the times. It was three times larger than the next largest airplane, the B29. It was called a ten by ten by ten because it was designed to fly ten thousand kilometers at ten thousand feet altitude and carry ten thousand pounds of ammunition. They originally intended it to be able to fly from Labrador to drop bombs on Germany. It was ordered from Carswell Industries of Fort Worth Texas in 1940 but was not ready until 1948. The plane had several features that made it unique but also created major maintenance headaches and flying hazards. It had six pusher engines in place of puller engines. This gave it more thrust but also meant that it did not do well flying in cold air as the air went straight into the engines without being warmed first. It also had a very thin skin made of aluminum and magnesium which was very light but was also fragile and panels would shake loose on every flight, requiring them to be reattached after every flight. The aircrew also had to be able to make panel repairs as they flew. The cockpit at the front and the aircrew bunks at the back were pressurized, but the remainder of the plane was not. There was a pressurized tube connecting the bunks to the cockpit which the aircrew would use to pull themselves through by cable. The cockpit was designed such that the pilot could control the yoke but not the throttles. He would radio an engineer with instructions to throttle up or down.
The crew for this plane flew out of Carswell Air Force Base in Texas. The airplane required a crew of nine and the Air Force required that each crew member could fly at least three of the nine positions. The crew that flew these missions had to maintain strict secrecy about what they were doing and where they were doing it. One family was ordered to keep getting milk delivered for the airman, even though he was not home to drink it.
General Curtis Lemay was a legendary Second World War General who had come up with many kinds of winning strategies throughout the war. He could fly all nine positions on this plane. He was in charge of the training for the crew of this plane. Part of their training involved making secret training bombing runs over San Francisco, as the street layout somewhat resembled Moscow.  He then decided that this crew needed to have experience handling a nuclear bomb.  The only problem was the air force did not own any nuclear bombs, they were all the property of the Atomic Energy Commission, and there were only thirteen in existence. The bomb was comprised of a fat ball of Uranium surrounded by a casing, with a small hole in the center of the Uranium ball, into which a small plutonium core could be inserted. The outside of the casing had attachments for thirty-two small explosive charges which when detonated would set off an explosion of the plutonium core, if it was present, and then the Uranium would detonate resulting in a nuclear explosion. General Lemay, who was a very resourceful man somehow convinced the Atomic Energy Commission to loan him a bomb, minus the plutonium core. His crew could now practice handling and loading the bomb. The first flight they made, with a crew of fifteen, they planned to fly to New Mexico to pick up the bomb and then to Anchorage Alaska, land and then fly over San Francisco on their way back to Texas. Flying both north and south they would be over Canada, but of course the Canadians were not notified. Their problems began when they were approaching Alaska. Their radio had died, their radar was not working any more and they had lost one engine due to the cold. They hoped to be able to repair things once they landed in Anchorage, but the base commander there refused to let them stay. He gave them a portable radio and radar unit and they left Anchorage with only five engines working.  After a few more hours two more engines had died and the airplane was no longer air worthy, they were over Canada and they had to make a plan to get the crew out, ditch the bomb and the plane. They considered ditching both in the ocean, but they knew there were Soviet ships nearby that would be quick to recover it, and they could not risk having the Soviets find the bomb. They decided to attach the outer charges to the bomb and drop and shatter it in the air over the ocean. It had no Plutonium core so there would be no nuclear explosion. The bomb was dropped and exploded over Queen Charlotte Sound. The air crew then began to abandon the plane. The first four men to parachute out were never found. All but one remaining crew member left the plane and were rescued near Princes Island. One man, Ted Shryer insisted on staying with the plane. The plane was set on a course over the ocean, but somehow he managed to turn the plane around by himself and aim it toward land and head back towards Alaska. Rescue forces were sent out to look for the plane over the ocean but they could find no trace.
One year later the plane was found intact by a fisherman, crashed on a mountainside near Smithers, British Columbia. It had missed landing in the valley by only seventy-five feet. It was only at this point that the Canadian government found out some of what had happened. The location of the crash is now a National Historic Site.
We would like to thank Norman for this amazing story with a glimpse into American and Canadian military history. Norman has also published a book on this story which was published by Red Deer Press. Anyone interested in obtaining a copy can contact him at nsleach@telusplanet.net.  
 
Norman Leach, Broken Arrow, America’s First Lost Nuke  Vi Hughes 2022-11-08 07:00:00Z 0

Loida Lumanlan, Classification Talk

Posted by Rose Marie Basaraba on Oct 25, 2022
At the October 25th luncheon meeting, Loida Lumanlan, shared her life story during her honest and entertaining off-the-cuff Classification Talk.  Evident was her positive personality and her pride in her Filipino Canadian heritage along with her hard work ethic. Through all this she still finds time to smile and enjoy the life she has achieved as a Canadian.
 
Loida grew up in very poor country where, even as a child, she found ways to earn her own money. Her earliest opportunity at the age of 9 was helping her mother make turon, a popular banana treat rolled in sugar and selling it in the streets. Her mother recognized her talent for sales and realizing the importance of cleanliness, made her an embroidered apron. She then changed her produce to corn which was more lucrative. She was soon invited to professional homes with her wares which were staffed by working nannies which in turn gave her the opportunity to stay and play with the children before returning home. She was only 9, a child herself, so of course she was often late returning home.
 
Loida arrived in Canada with 3 young children on October 9, 1987, Thanksgiving weekend, a holiday she celebrates fondly every year.
 
Her first home was short-lived when she and her family were evicted for non-payment of rent.  In 1988 Win House became the first home for her and her family. It was there she found schooling, shelter, and family support and her first employment in housekeeping cleaning as many as 15 – 17 rooms a day. Canada provided a haven of part-time opportunities of which she took advantage. These included a deli role at Food for Less, a trial as a product/food promoter at Costco Strathcona and Sherwood Park. This in turn led to Strathcona IGA in Sherwood Park where she became front end manager responsible for hiring/scheduling of managers and cashiers. Her last role was with Sobeys. Next came an opportunity to ‘swim with the sharks’ in real estate sales with REMAX, Sherwood Park/Strathcona in 2000.  She is recognized for 22 years in the field which she credits to honesty with customers. A testament to this honesty is that she makes a point of discussing with potential customers, their ability to truly afford the monthly payments associated with the purchase. She genuinely cares for her clients. Through her dedication and hard work, she raised her three children who are now accomplished Engineers (2) and a Psychologist with the Provincial Government.
 
Loida’s father was a very social small-time politician who greeted everyone with an offer of a cup of coffee. In her own way, Loida inherited his personable manner and genuine interest in people, particularly with her REMAX advertising as the ever popular “Mary Poppins under her umbrella on the two-toned blue SUV seen around Edmonton and Sherwood Park. She is an active member of the Filipino Business Association and supports the community league where she resides. We are proud to say Loida has found the time in her busy schedule to contribute to our Club as an active Rotarian.
Loida Lumanlan, Classification Talk Rose Marie Basaraba 2022-10-25 06:00:00Z 0
Polio Plus Society Vi Hughes 2022-10-20 06:00:00Z 0

Chelsea Leach, Canadian Human Rights Museum

Posted by Rose Marie Basaraba on Oct 11, 2022

Chelsea Leech proved herself to be a delightful and knowledgeable speaker in her presentation to the Club on Tuesday, October 11, 2022.

Chelsea shared her recent experience in a visit, along with other youth, to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg. A personable presenter, Chelsea made us feel as though we were right there with her as she described her experience.

Upon arrival following only 6 hours sleep, her first need for a strong cup of coffee went unfulfilled as the Museum Coffee shop was closed for the Holiday. Her surprise in being greeted by Tamara Larson, Rotary Youth Coordinator, soon erased that experience. Board games brought out the competitive nature of all. As an upstander vs. bystander she felt she had a lot to learn.

Day 2 saw a visit to the Refugee Centre which focused on homework, languages, jobs, and social atmosphere. She particularly noted the extreme politeness of a Somalian refugee family, a mother and 6 children. Hot dogs for the homeless were the menu of the day and although offered more than one hot dog, they all responded with a polite ‘no thank you, one is enough’.

Day 3 focused on the Rwandan genocide, The Holocaust and Surviving Residential Schools. The Holocaust Museum was particularly memorable with haunting music, sounds of broken glass and crying children. She felt that Canada did not come away unscathed as history shows Canada pushing the Jews out of the country and of course, the history of the Residential Schools.

Day 4 brought with it discussion on how to use their talents to change the world, made more emphatic in the words of the song by Buffy Saint Marie. Later in the day they were given free reign of the Winnipeg Zoo and being witness to the polar bear baths.

Day 5 involved a debate about having a grandfather in a Residential School, a last look at the Gallery before running for their buses across the square in a torrential downpour.

Chelsea emphasized that it was a great trip all around and she hopes to return to relearn her experience. She loves to write and her takeaway from the weekend was in learning how to change the world using other people as a reference

Chelsea Leach, Canadian Human Rights Museum Rose Marie Basaraba 2022-10-11 06:00:00Z 0

Rowena Alido, Living a Life that Matters
 

Posted by Vi Hughes
 
Carin Jansen van Vuuren with Speaker Rowena Alido
 
This week we heard an inspiring life story from Rowena Alido, the owner of R3 Cleaning. Rowena told us that in 2003 she left her two small children behind in the Philippines to come to Canada to work as a caregiver in the North-West Territories so that she could support her family in the Philippines. She found that life here was full of twists and turns and many times it was her strong Christian faith that kept her going. She said that she truly feels the need to lead a life where she can make a difference in other people’s lives. After only a short time in Canada, due to problems in her sponsor family, she suddenly found herself without work or a place to stay. She was lucky enough to have a friend who helped her to find work and later, in 2006, to start her own cleaning company.  Through faith, determination and perseverance she has been able to build her company and also to help many newcomers to Canada to work and study, to make a better life for themselves and their families. She also sponsors children to come and study in Canada. She now lives in Sherwood Park, Alberta and her company has contracts across several provinces. They currently employ fifty people. Her cleaning company does both residential and commercial cleaning and more information on their services is available at r3Cleaning.com. We would like to thank Rowena for sharing her trials and tribulations with us, it was very inspiring to hear how she has persevered and overcome them through her determination to live a life that matters.
Rowena Alido, Living a Life that Matters  Vi Hughes 2022-09-27 06:00:00Z 0

Graham Gilchrist, Houston Rotary International Convention

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 13, 2022
 
This week our Club President Graham Gilchrist gave us an overview of his experiences at the 2022 Rotary International Convention. Graham began by giving us some idea of the scale of the Houston conference center, saying that it covers five city blocks and is three stories tall. The main level has a conference hall three times bigger than all three halls of our Expo center here in Edmonton and has one hundred small break-out rooms on the second level of the center. He also said that it is the only building in Houston that does not allow people to carry side arms (hidden guns).  Graham said that the temperature change from outside to inside took a little getting used to as the outdoor temp was 102 degrees Fahrenheit and the indoor temp was sixty six degrees Fahrenheit.
The message from our outgoing president, Shekhar Mehta, stated some of his accomplishments during his tenure. These included putting together four peace conferences and an international membership drive which added twenty-five thousand new members in India alone. He also proposed that Rotary should consider changing our organizational structure to become a Federation, as this would allow Rotary in other countries to change their structure to conform more closely to their local cultures.
One of the breakout sessions he attended was on membership building, with a presentation about the Dallas Fort Worth Rotary group on how their membership was impacted by COVID and how they managed to rebuild. Their membership dropped from seven hundred before COVID to two hundred during COVID. They had to change their approach after COVID to include more community involvement to meet and attract a broader demographic of people and have now managed to build their membership up to five hundred.
Lastly, he talked about our new International President Jennifer Jones and some of her goals for the coming year with the forward thinking theme of Imagine Rotary.  She talked about building membership and how we need to be willing to change within to make room for new members with new ways of doing things, then strive to provide what they need to flourish in our clubs by providing the experiences that they seek. We also need to make empowering girls first one of our priorities, as this will in turn empower women within Rotary and our society as a whole.
Overall we got the impression that Rotary is changing with the times, and in order to move forward we need to be willing to change along with it. We would like to thank Graham for this interesting and thought provoking presentation.
Graham Gilchrist, Houston Rotary International Convention Vi Hughes 2022-09-13 06:00:00Z 0

Norman Leach, The Chaos Navigator
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Aug 18, 2022
 
This week we were pleased to hear from one of our club members, Norman Leach, who gave us a very interesting and entertaining introduction into what he has done over the years. Norman told us that some of his clients refer to him as the chaos navigator, as he helps them to develop and implement marketing plans for their businesses.  When he first started developing business plans for people, he often found that they had trouble implementing the plan that he gave them. Marketing includes many different aspects of a business including the product, the price, the place, how to distribute it and promotion, but many people only consider it to be promotion. This is when he will step in as a contractor for them, to help implement the portions of the plan that the client feels they cannot on their own.
Norman told us that his inspiration in life came from his grandfather, who was orphaned as a small child, grew up in an orphanage in Quebec and was turned out to fend for himself at a young age. He then went on to find a homestead in Springside, Saskatchewan, raise a large family and become a very successful farmer. He also helped many of his neighbors with their farm businesses, by acting as an intermediary and translator for them in selling their crops, as he was one of the few people in the area who spoke both English and Ukrainian. Norman said that his grandfather strongly believed that the best way to succeed in life was to get lots of education and as much experience as possible, as those were the two things that other people could not take away from you.
Norman said that he first encountered Rotary when at age seventeen, he became a Rotary Exchange student to Japan. He took this as a challenge to learn as much as he could of the Japanese language and became proficient enough to win a Japanese language competition. He said that he still speaks Japanese fluently, along with several other languages including English, Spanish and French. He told us that he has now worked in thirty-seven countries, on many different types of projects.
He then related an interesting and entertaining story of how he met, pursued and married his wife, Maritza. Many years ago, when he was working in Mexico City as the Alberta Trade Office manager and she was the building manager for their office space, he did not speak Spanish well and used one of his employees as an interpreter to communicate with her. After several months and many meetings with her, his interpreter suggested to him that he should invite her as his guest to a social function. He thought this was absurd as he barely spoke any Spanish. The interpreter then told him outright that this was silly as she spoke English quite well and had only requested an interpreter for their meetings as she was not confident in her interpretation of details. After he recovered from the shock of this information, he decided to ask her out, she accepted, and they ended up being married several years later. He said that this also served as a lesson to him to never assume the people around you do not understand what is being said.
Norman then told us that as he is a private contractor, he can and does work on many other types of things. Shortly after marrying Maritza, she convinced him to turn his passion for collecting Canadian military memorabilia and trivia into a business by writing a book about it. His first book about the role of Canadian troops in the First World War, Battle of Paschendale, was promoted for sale to the Canadian Legion, but turned out to become a Canadian best seller, with over twenty-five thousand copies sold.  It was subsequently made into a movie by Paul Gross, with Norman acting as a consultant.  He has now written thirteen books, four of which have become Canadian best sellers (each with more than ten thousand copies sold). One of his other sidelines is teaching, and he now teaches courses for six colleges and universities across Canada. In addition, he has recently become the historian for St John’s Ambulance. He also said that in 2019, he and his wife Maritza, after much research and planning, bought a travel agency, just prior to the COVID pandemic. Through this they learned that not all plans work out as originally thought, but the business is now starting to take off.  
We would like to thank Norman for this very interesting and entertaining glimpse into the lives of both him and his wife Maritza and look forward to hearing more from him in the future.
Norman Leach, The Chaos Navigator  Vi Hughes 2022-08-18 06:00:00Z 0

Amarok Update, July 2022

July 2022
Combined Rotary Mothers' School
Dhaka, Bangladesh
 
Dear Members of the Rotary Clubs of Strathcona, Mayfield, Urban Spirits, Whyte Avenue, Grand Prairie and Hinton,
 
It makes us happy to tell you about how things have been here. We enjoy our learning very well. We are learning with joy and fun and we pass a joyful time in school without any stress and sadness, we feel this time as the best time of the day.
 
 
Now we would like to share some stories of our success, struggles and overcoming. This is rainy season in our country which is a perfect time for tree plantation. A group of mothers from our school Soniya, Monju, Josna and Pakhi have planted some vegetables in the free space of the slum and on the land owner’s rooftop, like cucumber, bean, eggplant, green chili and tomato inside containers. Plants grow very fast and easily in monsoon. Our teacher had a session about vegetable cultivation & tree plantation in school. We do not care who will eat the vegetables or won the trees but happy to do the work in the free space of the slum and any rooftops.
 
Afsana is our young friend, intelligent but she did not get any opportunity for education in her childhood. Her father had died before her birth and she has no brother and sister. Her mother did not get married again thinking about her daughter. They used to live in the village but their livelihood was very difficult there. So, when Afsana was 7, her mother moved to Dhaka for a better livelihood. Her mother rented a room in our slum and started working as a housemaid and Afsana used to go to the landladies’ house with her mother. There days were going well but suddenly her mother died by a heart-attack leaving Afsana only 13. One landlady gave shelter of the girl and arranged her marriage in 2 years with a poor boy considering her safety and security. He was a rickshaw puller. After the marriage Afsana had to faced many new challenges which she did not understand how to overcome. She was illiterate and did not know how to handle such situation. One day Afsana and her husband quarreled with each other. Her husband was very lazy. So, he didn’t go out for work regularly. He wanted Afsana to work as maid and take responsibility to run the family but Afsana couldn’t find a better way. One day a mother of our school Josna going beside their room, listened a sound of crying from the slum house. Josna became curious to know what happened! She entered into the room and saw a young girl was crying sitting on the floor. It was none other but Afsana. Josna sat beside her and asked her about the reasons for crying. Afasan said everything to Josna, after hearing Josna shared with her about our Mother School. Afsana became surprised to know about our mother school and its work. She was very excited to visit us. Josna told her that the next day I will take you to our school; and next day Afsana went to the mothers’ school with Josna and admitted here. There was a fellow water land beside Afsana’s house. Afsana took some seeds from the school for planting vegetables by the
 
 
side of the pond. Afsana planted those seeds and had got a lot of vegetable there. Later on, she has cultivated a vegetable garden in the free space of our slum, she grows all seasonal vegetables in her garden and earning money. She shares her vegetables with many of us including Josna. Now she collects more productive seeds from the market for her vegetable garden and finally she has found a way. In that way she turns her life, now she is learning and able to contribute to her family. Now they are a happy family. She is thankful to Amarok friends and Amarok society.  
 
 
Did we share with you that our school house is relocated a little far from the old location? Some new mothers have been enrolled and our learning progress has been going fast. You would be happy to know that  10 mothers of our school can write about myself, creative sentences & paragraph with any topic like on fruits, flowers, animals, about our school, and birds. We have started writing “journal” change of the life of individual mother. Once a week we practice it. Sometimes, we draw something and then we write about that. 12 mothers are very good in English, can write long sentences and 8 can write good story in Bengali. We are happy to see our learning progress and proud to remove the word ‘illiterate’ from our life.  
Now we will share about a Micro-school student named Liza and her change in characteristic and life. She is 8 years old and a good girl but little lazy. She loves long sleep. Her father sells nuts going door to door and her mother is a housemaid. When her mother went out to work, she loved to stay idle and sleep, did not help her mother. In an afternoon returning home from work, Liza’s mother saw a group of children were going somewhere with pen, pencil and notebook. Liza’s mother became surprised “this is not a schooltime then where are they going”? She asked them, “Where are you going”? The children said, “in our Micro School”. She said again. “Can I go with you? The children said, yes. Liza’s mother went with them and discussed with the mother-teacher Monira and proposed her to teach Liza. This is how Liza became the student of Minira and now an active girl and learning quickly.
Some of the children are graduated from our micro-school and now in the next grades in High School. Koli is one of them. She is 16 and studying in grade 9. She teaches her siblings. Her mother is a housewife and father is a day laborer. She has 2 younger sisters. She is the eldest among them. Her father is extremely poor, could not buy learning materials for the daughter. Koli collects materials from Amarok Mother School and teaches her sisters. Once her father thought about arranging Koli’s marriage but her mother-teacher Parvin after knowing about it and stopped him. It was not easy to change the mind of her father. Our friends Soniya, Josna, Nazma had several discussions and clarified the potential risk of early motherhood and finally her father changed his mind.
We are grateful to your support for our education    
With love
 Sonia, Popi, Fatema, Josna, Nazma and Parvin
(Mothers of Combined Rotary Mothers' School)
Amarok Update, July 2022 Amarok 2022-08-18 06:00:00Z 0

Ken Germain, Classification Update
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jul 19, 2022
 
 
Ken is a long-term member of our club, having joined in 1999 and has served in any different positions within the club over the years. He is probably best known to most of us for his corny jokes. This week he gave us a short talk on what he did for a living for most of his life.  Ken owns and operates two companies, Environmental Disposal Systems and Bullseye Marketing. Ken told us that he started out in retail sales, where he learned the ropes of customer service and how to sell just about anything. He then went on to work in the hazardous waste industry, at a time when WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) was just being introduced to the workplace. This is a system that requires all workplaces to educate their workers in the proper handling and disposal of any hazardous materials they may encounter. It also requires a lot of record keeping to be able to prove this has been done.
Ken soon saw an opportunity to set up his own company helping others identify and properly dispose of hazardous materials in a cost-effective manner, while still having all of the proper paperwork in place. He also realized that there were ways to reduce the cost of disposal by processing the waste to remove the small amount of truly hazardous from the bulk of material that could be recycled or resold. This reduces the cost of hazardous disposal substantially. An example that he gave is a mixture of oil, water and metal shavings. The shavings can be separated out leaving behind the oil and water, which can be easily disposed if they show no signs of other contamination once tested. He also said that often hazardous materials can be removed from large amounts of liquid by the use of special flocculents, leaving only a small amount of flocculent material that needs to be disposed as hazardous waste. He said that there are two ways these materials are disposed of in Alberta, one is by burning, in a special hazardous waste facility, the other is by pumping them into a deep well several kilometers down in the earth.
Ken’s ability to sort out the various types of waste, identify them, properly handle them and then know what to do with them has served him well. His many contacts within the industry also help a great deal. His knowledge of the many different companies in Alberta that process, test and dispose of different types of hazardous waste is quite specialized. He also has a special talent (patience and perseverance) for the reams of paperwork involved in this type of work. This is needed as many companies request a ‘death certificate’ for their waste once it has finally been properly disposed.
We would like to thank Ken for this very interesting glimpse into the world of hazardous waste.
 
Ken Germain, Classification Update  Vi Hughes 2022-07-19 06:00:00Z 0

21-22 Year End Presentations

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jul 07, 2022
 
Past President Carin Jansen van Vuuren was presented with our 2021-2022 Banner, ‘Serve to Change Lives’ by incoming President Graham Gilchrist.
 
 
Patrick Gibson was presented with the District Club Communications Award by Past President Carin Jansen van Vuuren in recognition of his work publicizing our club through Rafflebox to raise funds for several club projects, with recognition also to our Social Media guru Heather de Kok and our Newsletter Editor Vi Hughes.
21-22 Year End Presentations Vi Hughes 2022-07-07 06:00:00Z 0

Jun 2022 Rotating Wheel Dinner
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jun 21, 2022
 
Our year end dinner was held at the University Club, with Rick Harcourt as Master of Ceremonies and Donna Hutton assisting.
 
Presentations were made by Donna Hutton for Honorary Paul Harris Fellowships to Maggie Hegan in honor of her many hours spent keeping track of our five hundred plus Canada Flag customers,
 
Shane Thiberge (son-in-law of Eric Germain) and
Abinash Saravanan, President of the WP Wagner Interact Club.
 
Paul Harris Fellows were also presented to
 
Richard Karlsson,
Amy Stewart and Vi Hughes.  
 
 
Richard Karlsson, our Membership Chairperson then inducted three new members into our club,
 
Tammy Wiebe,
 
Sean McMurtry and
 
Maritza Meneses-Leach.
 
The Rotarian of the Year award was presented to
Vi Hughes in honor of her contributions to the club as content creator and editor for our website and newsletter over the past six years.
 
 Our President Carin Jansen van Vuuren thanked her executive and team for their enthusiasm and accomplishments over the past year, with a special mention to Bob Sandercock (Foundation Chairperson), Patrick Gibson (for running our Kiva, Rafflebox and Chase the Ace fundraising), Vince Campbell (for his work as our Canada Flag fundraising coordinator) Loida Lumanlan (International Projects) and Trina Van der Meer and her team for their enthusiastic approach to both club social occasions and Polio Plus fundraising. She told us that overall, our club raised over half a million dollars this year.
 
Finally, our incoming President,
 
Graham Gilchrist was welcomed
 
and presented his new executive for the coming year, President Elect Heather deKok, Treasurer Patrick Gibson, Secretary Trina VanderMeer and our two Directors at Large Richard Karlsson and Don Henry.
Jun 2022 Rotating Wheel Dinner  Vi Hughes 2022-06-21 06:00:00Z 0

Patrick Kizeke, Giving Refugees Hope in Uganda
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jun 07, 2022
This week we heard from Patrick Kizeke, a Canadian social worker who came to Canada from the Congo via Uganda many years ago. His family fled the Congo twenty-four years ago when the perpetrators of the Rwanda genocide moved into the Congo and started doing the same thing there as well. Anyone who remotely looked like Tutsi was persecuted, run out of their homes and their towns and villages were destroyed. Patrick’s family was among these people. His family were well educated and prosperous urban dwellers. He remembers when as a child, his school was attacked by gunmen and the children were sent home from school in the middle of the day. While walking home he was met by his mother and grandmother who told him they could not go home, they had to keep walking. He said that they walked for four days until they reached what they thought was a safe place. This turned out not to be true so they moved on to a refugee camp in the neighboring country of Uganda. In Uganda they faced a big language barrier. His family was fluent in several languages, but none of them were spoken in Uganda. His family were now destitute refugees. They were given a machete and a small patch of land to live on, but they knew nothing about farming, or how to build a home from scratch. They managed to live there for two years until his father finally made it out of the Congo, having been able to sell their home. They now had some money and were able to move out of the refugee camp and into Kampala. They lived in Kampala for eight years before finally coming to Canada.
A few years ago Patrick set up the ‘Giving Refugees Hope in Uganda’ foundation, based in Spruce Grove, Alberta with Canadian charitable status, to help refugees living in Uganda, who have gone there to escape violence elsewhere in Africa. They have nine unpaid board members in Canada and two paid staff in Uganda who are supported privately. They support several programs to help these refugees. They provide sponsorships for children to be able to attend school (which must be privately paid for in Uganda) , they help families find housing and they also provide some money for food. They fund a training center for women to learn occupational skills like sewing and hairdressing. They provide water filters for people and also teaching on health issues. They are also in the final stages of building a medical center next to one of the refugee camps. Anyone interested in giving to any of their causes can learn more on their website grhu.org, or by sending an email to patrick@grhu.org or by phone at 587-709-2061.
Patrick Kizeke, Giving Refugees Hope in Uganda  Vi Hughes 2022-06-07 06:00:00Z 0

Timothy Massawe, Empowering Poor Children Through Education
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on May 24, 2022
This week we heard from Timothy Massawe, Past President of the Rotary Club of Hai Kilimanjaro, Tanzania about his foundation that works to empower poor children in Tanzania by finding sponsors to support their educational goals. The foundation identifies candidates with academic potential and connects them with Rotarians willing to sponsor their education. He told us that they are not an NGO so that one hundred percent of the money donated goes towards the student’s tuition and school supplies. He also said that sponsors are allowed to visit their sponsor children if they wish. He said that they also try to instill the values of Rotary in the children by encouraging them to give back to others when they graduate. Many of their former sponsored children join Rotary later in life.
The foundation has been operational now for over twelve years and they have quite a few success stories about their students. Lecton, whose family are Masai tribe herdsmen that do not value education for their children, was able to continue his schooling and university education so that he could become a doctor. Neema, who was an orphan, was able to continue her education and is now a nurse. Oscar, whose father could not find work, was able to become a high school teacher. Eva, whose family was also Masai tribe, had been promised in marriage at a young age, was able to avoid marriage, continue her education and is now a pharmacist.
Most of their sponsors are individual Rotarians, some are groups or clubs, most of which are Canadian. One of their sponsors is our incoming RI President. We would like to thank Timothy for his interesting presentation on this sponsorship opportunity.
Timothy Massawe, Empowering Poor Children Through Education  Vi Hughes 2022-05-24 06:00:00Z 0
May 2022 Rotary Moment Vi Hughes 2022-05-13 06:00:00Z 0

Dates to Remember

MAY 24th
Next CLUB meeting Speaker will be Timothy Massawe, Past President Rotary Club of Hai Kilimanjaro Tanzania.
We need 20.
 
MAY 24th
Board meeting will follow the club meeting
 
May 27 & 28th
District Conference – Fantasyland Hotel WEM
15 going from our club!
New Members – Club pays!
 
June 17-18
Last Polio Fundraiser–Beaumont Blues Festival
$65 incl Brisket-on-a-bun
 
June 21st
Rotating Wheel Dinner
ONLY $50 – at University Club
 
Dates to Remember Vi Hughes 2022-05-13 06:00:00Z 0

Morton Polson and Scott Wilson, Children’s Autism Services
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on May 10, 2022
This week we heard from Morton Polson, Communications and Fund Development and Scott Wilson, Family Liaison with Children’s Autism Services of Edmonton about their Respite Lifeline Program. They are a not for profit group and registered charity (with a six percent overhead) that provides many different types of services to families of and children with autism spectrum disorder. This disorder affects about one in sixty-six children with symptoms ranging from mild to very severe. It causes problems with communication, socialization, eating and sleeping. Providing parenting is a 24/7 365 days a year commitment and being able to offer even  a small respite of an hour or two to these parents is a big deal.
They currently provide services for about three hundred local families. Their Respite Lifeline program currently serves one hundred and eighty of these families. Since regular babysitters are not an option for these parents, the Respite Lifeline program provides for a trained person who will look after their children for a few hours so that the parents can go out for dinner, run errands or whatever, without worrying about what is happening at home. Their cost to provide this service is thirty-two dollars per hour or two hundred thousand dollars per year. Recent government austerity has resulted in cuts to their programs and they are currently subsidizing this service.  As they will no longer be able to provide this service, they are now fundraising to try to keep it going. They accept all types of donations and our club has been a donor in the past. We would like to thank both Morton and Scott for their excellent presentation.
Morton Polson and Scott Wilson, Children’s Autism Services  Vi Hughes 2022-05-10 06:00:00Z 0

Kira Eberts and Rehma Khan, RYLE 2022
 

 
This week we heard from two organizers of the 2022 Rotary Youth Leadership Experience (RYLE), Kira Eberts, the 2022 Chairperson, and Rehma Khan, the External Chairperson. Kira and Rehma told us that RTLE is a four-day immersive leadership training camp for young people aged 14 to 18 years of age. RYLE will take place this coming weekend, Apr 28 to May 1. The attendees are selected and sponsored by local Rotary clubs. Our club is sponsoring four students this year. The RYLE camp will be held at Camp Nakamun, near Busby, this year. Last year RYLE was held on-line due to COVID restrictions. Most of the attendees are members of their school Rotary Interact club or the University Rotaract club but can also include students nominated by YMCAs, high schools without Interact clubs and other service organizations. Students come from all over Alberta for this event. The RYLE committee also organizes transportation to and from the camp for the students. The RYLE program covers the foundations of communication, goal setting, motivation and introduces them to the pillars of Rotary. It also includes many indoor and outdoor sports-oriented activities and team projects to encourage students to have fun, interact with and learn from each other. Many of the attendees will make long term friendships at this camp. We would like to thank both Kira and Rehma for their very well organized and informative presentation.
 
 
Kira Eberts and Rehma Khan, RYLE 2022  Vi Hughes 2022-04-28 06:00:00Z 0

Project Amigo Canada Society Thankyou
 

We recently received a thankyou from Project Amigo for our most recent donation from Project Amigo Canada Society liason Elly Contreras.
Thank you so much for supporting Karla in her studies! Many of our scholars tell us that when they feel overwhelmed with school or with challenges at home, they think about their sponsors and that helps them to keep moving forward. Your support is so much more than just the financial part.
Thank you for your contribution of $500.00 on 021 Feb 2022 to provide a university sponsorship for Karla Sarahi Carrillo Andres. With your gift, you are changing not just one life but the lives of the student’s family as well. Your generosity assures a better future for all of us because education creates change. Karla Sarahi Carrillo Andres will be able to have a career and change the destiny of an entire family for generations to come.
 
Education is powerful; our graduates have gone on to become mayors, doctors, teachers, and other professionals. One of our students, who graduated as a doctor and for a period of time oversaw 52 health centers in the State of Colima. Another is the Program Director of our new Quesería Education Center; another whose future would have been cutting bananas at a very low wage is instead the manager of a large banana plantation. During our Volunteer Weeks, you may meet one of these graduate students and hear their success story.
 
Please note: Sponsorships are not exclusive. All sponsorship funds are pooled to assure that every child and higher education student in our program receives the same benefits whether he/she has a sponsor or not. Some students in our program each year don’t have a sponsor, meaning that other students may have more than one to assure funding is available for the incentive programs and sponsorships of every student.
 
Thank you again for being part of this life changing program
Project Amigo Canada Society Thankyou  Vi Hughes 2022-03-31 06:00:00Z 0

Pilgrims Hospice Society Donation
 

 
Club Vice President Graham Gilchrist presenting our donation of $5,000 to Pilgrim’s Hospice Society representatives Liz Bartlick and Elaine Warick
Pilgrims Hospice Society Donation  Vi Hughes 2022-03-29 06:00:00Z 0

Tammy Wiebe, Valley Zoo Development Society
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Mar 29, 2022
Donna Hutton thanking Tammy Wiebe from the Valley Zoo Development Society
 
This week we heard from Tammy Wiebe on behalf of the Valley Zoo Development Society. Tammy told us that the Valley Zoo Development Society raises fund for many different zoo projects and that they give one hundred percent of donations they raise back to the zoo as they have other zoo related ventures that support their operating costs. She told us that the Valley Zoo plays an important role in the lives of many Alberta children. The zoo reaches over sixty thousand children per year who come to the zoo for registered programs. These numbers do not include regular zoo attendance numbers. The Valley Zoo is the number three attraction in Alberta behind only the Calgary Zoo and the Telus World of Science.
Some of the goals of the Valley Zoo are to promote awareness of conservation, biodiversity and climate change action. All of these will help to improve the lives of animals in the wild. Over the last several years the Zoo had embarked on a development program to improve the animal habitats at the zoo. Just recently the City of Edmonton approved funding for the latest phase of development called Nature’s Backyard. This will provide new habitats for some of the zoo animals that will allow visitors to see them where they normally hang out, in the tree tops, on the ground or underground.
The zoo also has other plans to bring the zoo to more people. One of these is the project they are asking us to support. During COVID the zoo came up with a program to provide remote access for the public via a rentable thirty-minute educational video focused on one or more of the zoo’s inhabitants, followed by an online thirty-minute live question and answer period with a zoo keeper or interpreter who could answer questions about that animal or group of animals. This project is called Pay it Forward for the Planet’. This was such a big success that they would like to expand it to ten different videos on various animals or groups of animals. The one which our club would be sponsoring would be the one on Canadian carnivores. She also told us that they have enlisted Daintre Christianson to be the presenter for this video.  These videos can be rented by anyone for a fee, they even allow groups pay for the video by performing a conservation project such as cleaning up their school yard.   
The zoo also has many other programs which we can donate funds towards, such as research on enrichment programs for the animals in the zoo that can be applied to help manage animals in the wild. These include such things as food, sensory, cognitive, social and habitat enrichment. Visit their website at www.buildingourzoo.com for more information on the many ways that we can support their efforts to improve the lives of animals both in the zoo and in the wild. We would like to thank Tammy for the very interesting presentation and look forward to being able to support some of their many projects.
Tammy Wiebe, Valley Zoo Development Society  Vi Hughes 2022-03-29 06:00:00Z 0
Bob Sandercock Presents Bottle of Bubbly to Brenda McCullough  Vi Hughes 2022-03-15 06:00:00Z 0

Abinash Saravanan, W.P. Wagner Interact Club Update
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Mar 15, 2022
 
 
L to R: W.P. Wagner Interact Club, Simar Sidhu (Secretary); Zalak Simar (Vice-President); Abinash Saravanan (President); Carin Jansen van Vuuren (President) and Richard Karlsson (Interact Club Liaison)
 
This past week we welcomed Abinash Saravanan, the President of the W.P. Wagner High School Rotary Interact Club. He and two other members of the club, Zalak Simar, Vic-President and Simar Sidhu, Secretary were introduced by Richard Karlsson, their Rotary club advisor. Richard told us that Rotary Interact Clubs are for students aged twelve to eighteen. They are self-governing clubs, sponsored by a Rotary club which are expected to support at least two service projects per year with one of these being an international project.  
Abinash began by thanking our club for our support and guidance.  He said that their club currently has about sixty members, thirty of whom are very active. He said that over this past year he has been blown away by their collective talents and abilities.  He told us that in the fall their club decided to clean up the ravine behind their school as a community support project. They called for volunteers to come out on a weekend and managed to pick up over forty kilograms of waste in only a few hours. Their second project was to go to the Edmonton Food Bank on a weekend and help to sort and pack food. They had a very good turn out and had a lot of fun doing it. They then decided to have a fundraiser for charity by their club before Christmas with a Candygram promotion. A Candygram is a small note attached to a candy cane or cookie. The purchaser then writes the name of the person they wish to send it to along with the classroom number and time it can be delivered. The club members then deliver the candygrams to the recipients. Their club set up two teams to help with all of the promotions, poster production, sales and delivery of the candygrams. Overall the project was a great success and they raised seven hundred and seventy dollars for charity. This money will be donated through Rotary to a charity of their club’s choice. They are presently promoting a local project to collect gently used coats for people in need in Edmonton. If any of our members would like to help we can contact Richard for more information.
Abinash said that his first year in Rotary has been very inspiring for him. He said that Rotary gives people who have a passion to help others the ability to do much more than one person alone can do. We would like to thank Abinash for his very eloquent and interesting update on activities of the W.P. Wagner Interact Club.
Abinash Saravanan, W.P. Wagner Interact Club Update  Vi Hughes 2022-03-15 06:00:00Z 0

Paul Harris Fellowship Award to Dr. Sean McMurtry
 

 
This past week our club presented Dr. Sean McMurtry with a Paul Harris Fellowship Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to health care in Alberta over many years. The award was presented by our club President Carin Jansen vanVuuren  and our club Foundation Chairperson, Bob Sanderock.
Paul Harris Fellowship Award to Dr. Sean McMurtry  Vi Hughes 2022-03-03 07:00:00Z 0

Dr. Sean McMurtry, Aging Well and Heart Health
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Mar 01, 2022
This week we were pleased to welcome back Dr. Sean McMurtry, to talk to us about strategies for aging well. He told us that aging well to most people means being able to do the things you enjoy. Everyone has different values, some of which are not health promoting. There are some things which we have no choice over, such as our age and genetic makeup, but the lifestyle choices we make can also have a big effect on how well we age. The main lifestyle choices that can affect our health are smoking, obesity, alcohol consumption, diet and a distant fifth, chemical exposure.
He said that heart disease is now the number two killer in Canada. It has dropped from the number one position (now held by cancer) as we have come a long way in being able to treat cardiovascular disease. The three major causes of death from heart disease are heart attack, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation.
Heart attacks result when blood vessels in the heart are blocked by plaque that causes them to thin and burst. Risk factors that we can treat for this are high blood pressure, high levels of cholesterol in the blood and diabetes. He said that everyone should ‘know their numbers’ for these and have them treated if necessary. That can go a long way towards lowering our risk of disability and death over time.
Heart failure results when the heart enlarges trying to compensate for damage that can be caused by many different things. The disability this causes can also be a big problem.  Some of the causes are uncontrolled high blood pressure, previous heart attack, coronary disease, damage from long term alcohol abuse, cirrhosis and many other things.
Atrial fibrillation occurs when the upper chambers of the heart become enlarged. Some of the causes are high blood pressure, heart failure and alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse over time (more than two drinks per day for women or three per day for men) can cause end organ failure resulting in dementia, heart and liver failure.
Dr. McMurtry said that many of the risk factors can be controlled by lifestyle choices, not smoking, keeping an eye on our blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels and getting treatment for them as needed, eating and drinking in moderation and staying active. The responsibility for aging well falls on us and the decisions we make every day.
Dr. Sean McMurtry, Aging Well and Heart Health  Vi Hughes 2022-03-01 07:00:00Z 0
New Hope School Video Link Vi Hughes 2022-02-28 07:00:00Z 0

Passing of Long Time Member Bill Skelly

It is with great sadness that we note the passing of long time member Bill Skelly on February 19th. He was in the Palliative Care unit at the Edmonton General Continuing Care Centre.
 
We send our deepest condolences to his wife  Lorraine and the rest of his family. 
 
Bill joined Rotary in 1986 and was President of our club in 1989-90. Twice he received the Rotarian of the Year Award, in 1988-89 and again in 1995-96. In 2016 Bill became an Honorary Member of our club.
 
Many of us will remember the lovely soap stone carvings he made.
Passing of Long Time Member Bill Skelly Vi Hughes 2022-02-28 07:00:00Z 0
Wear Your Pin 2022-02-17 07:00:00Z 0

Punch Jackson, Men’s Sheds
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Feb 15, 2022
This past Tuesday we were glad to welcome Punch Jackson to talk to us about Men’s Sheds. Men’s Sheds is an organization that began in Australia when a few men decided to get together to talk, drink coffee, swap stories and create things. The space was usually someone’s tool shed, but could also be a warehouse space, truck bay, coffee shop or meeting room. It is a space where men can get to know each other through a shared project such as woodworking, metal work, doing tech repairs, rebuilding things, learning to cook, carving, refinishing furniture, fixing things or just tinkering. It was a way for men to make new friends and have something interesting to do in their week.
Loneliness and boredom can often set in and finding a way out can be difficult. Men can often find themselves adrift after they retire or become unemployed, become separated or widowed, downsized their home and now have no workspace, or their wife just wants them out from underfoot.  This gives them a place to go, things to do and people to do them with. Men are often reluctant to talk to each other face to face but will talk shoulder to shoulder with other men while doing something else with their hands. Some groups also bring in speakers to talk about topics of interest. The men who come to Men’s Sheds come from all walks of life, old and young, professionals and tradesmen. The younger men help the older men with technology and the older men help the younger men with things like how to use woodworking tools.
Man’s Sheds has now spread to many different countries with about twenty-five hundred groups in all. We have around forty groups in Canada, with around nine groups in Alberta. Each group has it’s own focus with many different types of meeting places. Finding a suitable meeting place and sponsors to cover the cost of rent and maintenance for the meeting place is the most difficult issue for most groups. Rural areas seem to have less trouble with this than urban groups. Finding men who are willing to help to set up a group can also be a challenge.
Some of the projects that Men’s Sheds have undertaken are things like building a gazebo and planter boxes for a senior’s residence, making wooden toys for a day care, refurbishing bicycles for children or making benches for a local park. The benefits that the men receive are a sense of purpose, learning new skills, a chance to be creative, a chance to give back to their community. They also learn health by stealth, as many men’s groups talk about men’s health.
Rotary was a key to getting Men’s Sheds started in many places in Australia. Rotarians can help by letting them know of spaces that may be available for them to use, or by helping to get funding or sponsorships for groups.  We can get more information on their website mensshedsyeg.ca, by email at mensshedsedmonton@gmail.com, on twitter @mensshedsyeg, on Facebook at Edmonton Men’s Sheds or by phone at 780-717-6710.
Punch Jackson, Men’s Sheds  Vi Hughes 2022-02-15 07:00:00Z 0

Ivan Docker, Kona Sunrise Club Service Project
 

Posted by Ivan Docker
Last Tuesday I volunteered with the Rotary Club of Kona Sunrise for their monthly Meet and Eat program. We arrive at 4:30 p.m. at Kona’s Intermediate (Junior High) school. We bag up groceries, mainly donated by Costco and local produce farms, and these are handed out, along with containers of hot meals, to families as they drive by. This Tuesday, the cost of the hot meals was funded by the larger Rotary Club of Kona, and the meals were prepared and packaged by a large resort hotel. The cars start rolling by at about 6:00 p.m. There are many needy families, and anywhere from 100 to 200 cars come each Tuesday. The Rotary Club of Kona Sunrise volunteers on the first Tuesday of each month (and have been doing this for 3 years now), and other organizations volunteer on the other Tuesdays. We had about 10 volunteers, including spouses of Rotarians, help out this week.
 
 
 
In the photo are my two Rotary buddies Dennis Rast (a retired principal from San Diego, and also a past president of their club) and Mike Fraser on the right, who is currently club president. Mike and his wife Bev (also in the club) are Canadians who came to Kona many years ago from Invermere, B.C.
 
Ivan Docker, Kona Sunrise Club Service Project  Ivan Docker 2022-02-04 07:00:00Z 0

Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education and Action
 

Posted by Vi Hughes
The week of Jan 31 is World Interfaith Harmony Week, and in recognition of that we heard from Len Gierach, Netta Phillet, Guy Blood and Karen Gail from the Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education and Action (EICEA). They told us that their group began twenty-five years ago with the goal of bringing people of all faiths in Edmonton together through education. Their membership is a coalition of thirteen+ religious groups, including Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh, Hindu, Zoroastrian and Indigenous faiths. Their goal is to show people that we can find ways to keep our own faith while using it to help us unite with people of other faiths by offering peace and understanding through education. We need to recognize that everyone has a right to their own faith. They said that sometimes what we perceive as religious issues are really more about money and power.  We need to be more committed to peace, justice and compassion in our personal lives. They also said that we can help to break down differences by sharing our culture with others. Each of us connects with the divine in our own way.
They presented an excellent short documentary by film maker Eric Spoeth entitled ‘Building Bridges’, which hilites the roots of interfaith conversations and efforts in Edmonton. This documentary can also be viewed online at edminterfaithcentre.ca.
We would like to thank them for this very interesting and thought-provoking presentation.
Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education and Action  Vi Hughes 2022-02-01 07:00:00Z 0

Foundation Fundraiser Gala
 

Posted by Bob Sandercock
Wednesday, 23 Feb from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Mountain Time. Pre Gala reception starts at 5:15 p.m.
Celebrate the work of Rotarians with the 43 Districts in Rotary Zones 28 and 32. Funds raised will go to support the Rotary Foundation. Speakers District Governor Donna Barret and other District leaders. Entertainment provided by Ariana Whitlow.
Organise your own group of friends and join us with the ZOOM link provided on registration.
Consider joining the Gala and invite others to join you for a wonderful social evening.
Your guests can also be non Rotarians such as family, friends or neighbours.
 
The event fee for the evening is $120 US per person (about $148 Canadian)
You will get a tax receipt for about $126 Canadian so you will get about $63 back from revenue Canada on your next years taxes.
 
The evening can be a dinner, wine and cheese, potlatch, skip the dishes, pizza, take out or any other form you wish. Formal or informal. The venue can be your house, a restaurant or any other meeting place. Just have a wonderful social evening with people you may seldom see. It can be like the Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner socials that we used to have.
 
Go to :tinyurl.com/TRF-2022 for details.
Foundation Fundraiser Gala  Bob Sandercock 2022-01-20 07:00:00Z 0

Cindy Rivers, LGBTQ+ Inclusion and Diversity- Gender and Sexuality
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 18, 2022
This past Tuesday we heard from Cindy Rivers, a local trans advocate and actor, who spoke to us and answered our questions about the updated terminology and how to better ally ourselves with the community in general. Her very interesting, informal presentation set us at ease immediately and there were many questions people had which she was happy to answer.
Cindy started with explaining that gender is what your innate sense of self is.  This may not always align with your physical appearance or biological parts. It may be what we think of as masculine, feminine or neither.  It is also not always linked to your sexuality, which is who you are emotionally attracted to. They are two very different things.  Looks do not always translate into sexual orientation.
She explained that people in the trans community are almost always very happy to share what their preferred pronouns (he, she, his, her) for use in general speech are and we should not be afraid to ask.  We can also avoid issues by using gender neutral language as much as possible.
She also explained the meaning of the LGBTQ2SIAAP ‘alphabet’ that is often used.  The meanings are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans sexual, Queer or Questioning (not sure ) , 2S Two Spirited, Intersex (born with body parts of both) , Asexual (not attracted to either) , Agender (neither female or male) , and Pansexual. The terms Cis and Trans are also often used. Cis meaning ‘on the same side’ and Trans meaning ‘on the other side’. She said that people can be born with all kinds of combinations of body parts and the gender they are raised as by their parents does not always align with who they feel they are once they grow up.
Cindy said that people in this community are often confronted with threats to their personal safety, and that the better they present themselves to others the safer they are. The use of gender specific public washrooms can be a problem which is best dealt with by the inclusion of gender-neutral individual washrooms, just like you have at home. She said that people should use the washroom they are most comfortable with.
We would like to thank Cindy for her very open and interesting talk. She has hopefully made us more aware of the issues surrounding this community and has given us some ideas on how improve inclusion for people in this community.  
Cindy Rivers, LGBTQ+ Inclusion and Diversity- Gender and Sexuality  Vi Hughes 2022-01-18 07:00:00Z 0

New Hope School continues to equip Learners
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 04, 2022
This past Tuesday, President Carin, who has recently returned from South Africa, gave us an update on New Hope School which we have supported several times over the past six years. This was a joint international project with the Rotary Club of Pretoria. We have supported them through local donations, a global grant and a GoFundMe Fundraiser.
 
 
Patrick Gibson presenting our donation to the school with PDG Linda Robertson & previous principal Dawie Harmse
 
She told us that this school for children with disabilities has a mission to help each learner to develop their unique, individual skills to be able to function to the best of their abilities as an adult in their communities. Our funding was aimed at helping the students, especially young women, to have a way to support themselves as adults.
 
As a result of our gifts the school has been able to equip and develop new programs in the Technical Occupational Phase, a Hair and Nail Salon, a computer skills room, a new sewing machine and most recently a laser cutter.  The school has partnered with a nail academy to offer a diploma program. Students can take a diploma course during high school so that when they exit grade 12, they are employable.
They also have a partnership with the Ekurhuleni Artisans and Skills Training Center to equip students with essential skills in a workshop environment. The laser cutter has enabled them to train all levels of students to take part in the line production process from designing and cutting through to finishing of the final product.
 
 
Carin van Vuuren getting to see the laser scanner in action
 
The school presently has 417 learners from preschool through to grade 12. They have a staff of educators, psychologists, physio and occupation therapists, speech therapists, classroom facilitators, a nurse, a social worker and a counsellor. They offer three streams of learning, Academic main stream, Vocational skills and Life skills. More recently they have been receiving an increased number of students with more severe disabilities, so their challenges are increasing. This means that they find they need more staff, a larger emphasis on vocational and life skills training. More assistants per room in turn necessitates larger rooms.  There is a limited social safety net for young adults with disabilities in South Africa and so learning a vocational skill to be able to function in society becomes a case of life and death for many of these students.
 
All in all, things are going well with the school. They are blessed with a wonderful dedicated staff.
 
They would like to once again express their heartfelt thanks to all the members of the Rotary Club of Strathcona and all of the other clubs in surrounding areas who donated so generously to the school over the past six years.  They wish us all the best in 2022.
New Hope School continues to equip Learners  Vi Hughes 2022-01-04 07:00:00Z 0

Eleni Gyra Hospice Update
 

Posted on Jan 04, 2022
The delivery of the washer, dryer and AC equipment whose purchase we supported took place on 18 Dec 2021.
 
 
Members of RC Ioannina, Vasili Papayanis, President Kosta Kontis and Nikos Liolios delivering the washer, dryer and AC equipment at “Eleni Gyra” Hospice on December 18, 2021.
 
 
President Kosta beside the washer, dryer and AC equipment.
 
Eleni Gyra Hospice Update  Vi Hughes 2022-01-04 07:00:00Z 0

Incoming Executive for the 2022-2023 Year
 

The three positions that were up for nominations were President Elect, Secretary and Director at Large. These positions were filled by Heather de Kok as President Elect, Trina Vandermeer as Secretary and Don Henry as Director at Large. We would like to thank these people for stepping up to help keep our club running smoothly.
Incoming Executive for the 2022-2023 Year  Vi Hughes 2021-12-20 07:00:00Z 0

Dec 2021 Wings Donations
 

Posted by Audrey Martyn
 
This year the Strathcona Rotary did the Wings Christmas Project collecting gift boxes of personal items for women and pj's for children. We collected 75 gift boxes and 100 pj's for Wings - we met our target and Rhonda from Wings was thrilled with our donation. Thank you to all the Rotarians who took part and to Arch Enterprises who teamed up with us again this year with a generous donation.
Dec 2021 Wings Donations  Audrey Martyn 2021-12-14 07:00:00Z 0

Daniel Schieman, Wings of Providence  
 

Posted on Dec 14, 2021
 
 
 
The speaker at this year’s Christmas Dinner was Daniel Schieman, the Community Engagement Officer from the Wings of Providence Shelter for women with children who have experienced family violence. Daniel gave a short presentation in which he told us how they provide shelter and support along with quality trauma informed programs for both women and children. He said that this past year has been a challenging one for them due to the effects of the COVID pandemic, with them seeing larger numbers of women and children in need. He then went on to tell us about the debut of their Wingman Campaign, which is designed for men who stand up and oppose family violence. He told us that they really appreciate incredible people like us who have been supporting them for a long time. They could not do it without us. He then went on to say that they would like to thank us for this year’s donations and wish us all a very merry Christmas.
Daniel Schieman, Wings of Providence    Vi Hughes 2021-12-14 07:00:00Z 0

Sad News on the Passing of Betty Germain
 

Posted by Carin Jansen van Vuuren
It’s with great sadness I have to inform you of the passing of Betty Germain, honorary member & wife of Charter President Johnny Germain as well as father to club members Ken and Eric Germain.
 
Message from the Germain family:
 
'Sad news. Our Mom, Betty Germain passed away peacefully this morning, in her sleep. The past few months especially saw her flame diminish. Her spark will stay with us forever. She was 95 1/2 years old. The Germain family will advise you of funeral arrangements.
Love to all. Carolyn, Allen, Ken, Eric and Denise.’
 
Our deepest condolences to the Germain family. We will always remember Betty as a lady with a lot of spunk, always smiling, always positive. It has been a privilege to know her and to learn from her. What an example to aspire to.
Sad News on the Passing of Betty Germain  Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2021-12-05 07:00:00Z 0

Upcoming Summer 2022 Visit from Jennifer Jones, RI President Elect 2022-23
 

We have news of great upcoming events that will occur late June into July 2022. Our Rotary International President-Elect Jennifer Jones 2022-23, with her husband Nick will be travelling across Canada stopping off at 13 hubs. Jennifer is the first woman ever to become the President of Rotary International! And she is Canadian! Jennifer Jones has demonstrated exceptional leadership in her personal, professional, and Rotary life.
We have had four meetings with Jennifer and her Cross Canada Tour Team to determine her vision, purpose and what she hopes to accomplish with the tour. Her mission is to showcase to the world that Canadian Rotarians are People of Action!
To date, I have met with present and future Governors to share some ideas for July 9, which is Jennifer’s arrival for a day in Edmonton. I was thrilled at the synergy and the many ideas that we will discussed and will follow up on.
I have invited a group of Rotarians to form a core committee that will put into action a program inviting our family of Rotary to demonstrate that we really are People of Action. The plan is to extend an invitation to Rotarians in our District to gather your ideas and examples of doing good in our communities.
As one of the chairs of the hubs, direction to us has been very clear that there are no borders for this tour and this is not a District event but a Canadian Rotary event with one of the hub stops in Edmonton. We are the only province to have two hub stops. Calgary will be hosting the RI 2025 Convention so Jennifer will be making a stop there as well. Calgary hub stop will involve the Calgary Stampede so the competition is on for us to make her stop in Edmonton over the top.
I hope you will embrace this exciting opportunity and be part of the Jennifer Jones Cross Canada Tour on July 9, 2022. Mark your calendars!
 
Warm Rotary regards,
Betty L Screpnek, Director
The Rotary Foundation Canada
Chair, TRFC Program Committee
 
Upcoming Summer 2022 Visit from Jennifer Jones, RI President Elect 2022-23  Betty Screpnek 2021-12-02 07:00:00Z 0

Hope Mission Donation

Posted by Audrey Martyn on Dec 01, 2021
 
Rose Marie and Audrey delivering the Rotary Club’s donation of 14 large garbage bags of: socks, underwear, shirts and pants, for men and women to the Hope Mission south side depot . We were met by Lauren Reid, Community Relations and left our donation with them Dec 1, 2021. Special thanks to all the staff and clients at Arch Enterprises for their generous donation to our donation to the Hope Mission.
Thank you to all those who dropped off donations.
Hope Mission Donation Audrey Martyn 2021-12-01 07:00:00Z 0

Harald Kukertz Scholarship Awarded
 

Our Student Scholarship this year has been awarded to Alleya Bourne, a member of the University of Alberta Rotaract club at the U of A. She is studying for a Bachelors degree in Neuroscience with the goal of becoming a naturopath.
Harald Kukertz Scholarship Awarded  Vi Hughes 2021-11-17 07:00:00Z 0

Dec 14, Annual Meeting and Christmas Party
 

Our Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday 14 Dec at 12 noon.
 
This will then be followed by a Christmas Dinner and Party at 1:00 pm at the Woodvale Facility
 
Please register for this online as usual.
Dec 14, Annual Meeting and Christmas Party  Vi Hughes 2021-11-17 07:00:00Z 0

Chase the Ace Winner

We would like to congratulate Rose Marie Basaraba who was the winner of our latest Chase the Ace fundraiser for our Community Foundation which is used to fund our Student Scholarship program. 
Chase the Ace Winner Vi Hughes 2021-11-17 07:00:00Z 0

Step Up to the Plate Special Speaker, Paul Brandt
 

Nov 22, Rotary Club of Edmonton Downtown
 
We would like to extend an invitation to all Edmonton area Rotarians to attend the Rotary Club of Edmonton (Downtown)’s annual Step Up To The Plate Luncheon at noon on Monday, November 22.
This year’s key note speaker will be country music star Paul Brandt, chair of the provincial government’s task force on human trafficking. The primary beneficiary of the funds raised will be the Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation ICEASES).
 
There are both in person (at the Chateau Lacombe Hotel) and on-line options
 
Tickets are $75 which will earn a $30 tax receipt. Get tickets at:  stepup2021rotary.eventbrite.ca.
 
If you can’t attend, you can also support this worthwhile cause by purchasing tickets on our wine tree at  https://www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/rotaryclubedmonton .
 
Or by bidding on one of the attractive items in the online auction at  https://www.32auctions.com/StepUpRotary2021
 
Step Up to the Plate Special Speaker, Paul Brandt  Jim Saunderson 2021-11-17 07:00:00Z 0

2022 Flag Program, Early Bird Special
 

Our Price for 2022 Flags is changing to $60 per year.
 
From now until December 31 you can pay for the 2022 flag year and the cost will be just $50.00.
 
Starting January 1 the cost will be $60.00.
 
2022 Flag Program, Early Bird Special  Vi Hughes 2021-11-17 07:00:00Z 0

November is Foundation Month
 

Posted by Bob Sandercock
The Foundation is Rotary's fund raising charitable arm to" Do Good in the World".
Donations can be to the Annual Fund, Polio Plus Fund, endowment fund, bequest fund or as a benefactor.
 
Your donation to the funds will be given a tax receipt so you will get a reduction on your taxes by the government.
The focus areas of the foundation are:
 
1. Promoting peace and conflict resolution.
2. Fighting disease
3. Providing clean water, sanitation and hygiene
4. Supporting education
5. Growing local economies
6. Supporting the environment
 
The aim of the foundation is to have "Every Rotarian Every Year" donate at least $25 US toward the above areas of focus. That is only about $1 per day Canadian $ for one month or 10 cents per day for a year.
Please research the Foundation by going to My Rotary web site.
There is extensive information there.
 
Means of donating:
 
1. Rotary Direct which is an automatic donation via credit card monthly, quarterly or annually.
2. Phone direct at toll free 1 866 976-8279 to The Rotary Foundation Canada
3. By mailing a cheque to the foundation or the foundation chair
4. On line at rotary.org/donate
 
Donations will be credited to your account and a Paul Harris recognition will be given to you for every $1,000 US
that you donate over one or several years.
 
Don't put it off or I will be contacting you every month!!!
 
Our club is one of the highest contributors per member to the Foundation. Lets keep that up this Rotary year also.
 
Thank you in advance for all your generosity to Rotary.
 
Bob Sandercock
 
November is Foundation Month  Bob Sandercock 2021-11-17 07:00:00Z 0
1924 Rotary Cartoon Ken Germaine 2021-11-06 06:00:00Z 0

Oct Update, Amarok Mothers School, Dhaka

Dear Members of the Rotary Clubs of Strathcona, Mayfield, Urban Spirits, Whyte Avenue, Grand Prairie and Hinton,
We hope you all are well. We are not very good as our life is going through many challenges after the covid crisis.
 
The season is changing, children are suffering in fever & cough. As still very few less than 3% people are infection by covid, we always advised people to go a doctor if the sickness is longer. However, we have a common problem for children in our slum like ‘pneumonia’ in every year. Often the local doctors prescribe antibiotic which is very much harmful for the growth of human body especially for children and we strongly suggest not to take antibiotic rather wait or take other precautions to cure from the cough and fever. Actually, we have learnt about the bad impact of ‘antibiotic’ from our teacher which she learnt from Gem Munro sir who came from Canada. In our slum and country people do not know about it. We know and share with other people of the slums about the good bacteria and bad, how it damages the natural immunity.
 
 
Our friend Rubi has been sick for couple of days. She has a different case caught by Dengue fever. Doctor gave some medicine for treatment of dengue. After taking medicine she feels well now. She told us, “2 years before I had caught by typhoid very badly. I was very sick and nobody was there to take care of me. Even I couldn’t take the medicine properly following the doctor’s prescription because that time I was illiterate. A neighbor who lived little far from my house helped me to understand the doctor’s advice. But now my friends around me, supporting me and I can take care of myself easily. Nowadays, I help other in their needs”. Rubi added that she is confident now and believes she can do many things on her own. Our education has given us such courage and all mothers of our school is like Rubi.
 
Another common disease in our country is ‘diabetic’. In our communities many people are suffering in diabetics even some of our mothers, their husbands and family members are suffering in this disease. Even many people do not know about their disease as they do not test their blood sugar. When they feel weak, health break they do test and very scared to know about it. In our school our teacher arranged a drama session to give us the massage of diabetic. We performed in the drama and other community observed our drama and got many messages about diabetic. Drama and role-play are always a good way to say something to others keeping their full interest till the end. But when we discuss or say something people loss interest in a few minutes. People enjoy, understand the messages well, enter into their heart when the presentations are interactive like drama or through images. We also aware people to take less carbohydrates although rice is our main food. 
 
Our session covered;
  • What is diabetic and why it attacks?
  • Types of diabetics
  • Symptoms of the disease
  • What should do and shouldn’t for a diabetic patient
  • Perfect food chart for a diabetic patient and such
 
Baby Begum and Molina of our friends in school were very attentive and interested in the session because they are suffering in diabetic. After getting information they keep control of foods, do exercise, eating more vegetables and do regular walking. A diabetic patient needs periodic checkup of blood sugar and by any reason if the sugar level goes high or very low should go to doctor for medicine. Our teacher also provides us the name and address of a government specialized diabetics hospital where we can meet specialized diabetic doctors and do blood test with very little cost as a token. We are grateful to her for the information. More interesting our friends Baby Begum and Molina are leading the team to share the message in the slums around that people become aware about ‘diabetics’.
 
 
We shared before about the days of Shorifa, now her baby is 8 months and she is giving him a compact meal with crashed rice, lentils and vegetable which she has learnt in ‘child food & nutrition training’ in Amarok School. She told us “When I play with him and talk to him. It seems to me that he understands my words. He is healthy and not suffering in any major disease as I take care of him very well because now, I know how to take care and feed at this age. After joining in Mother School there are lots of changes in my life and I am a happy person. But when I was new in school, I had many wrong believes about child development but after receiving many sessions now I am fully aware about child development and nutrition”. She is attending in school regularly with her little baby. We all love her baby very much. Our school is running well. Last week Shorifa conducted a session in our classroom on “caring newborn baby”. She smiled and conducted the session with confidently from her own experience.
Mina is enjoying her responsibility as the Librarian of Amarok library and focusing her goal to develop reading habit among children. She can see community people & children like to read story books more. If she can develop a large number readers including children, we will successful.
Now many of our friends do small street and mobile selling for earning as we all want economic empowerment. Fully depending on husband’s income is not safe and respectful, almost all mothers are experienced of that. We have realized the need of savings during the covid lockdown and joblessness.  Our friend Jhinuk has started to sell inexpensive cloths, with her little savings. She went to ‘Islampur’ a wholesale market to buy cheaper ladies wear and child readymade dress with help of Rumi. Sheuli is very good at sewing work. Sometimes she buys old dresses and modify size. Jhinuk shared her initiative with her and got the business idea. After that she collected cloths and sells them by feet for 2 hours every day walking around. She also has started to go door to door for selling. Her husband is very happy as her earnings afoords the family to eat better and could save some to meet the future crisis. Her husnad sometimes goes with her and carries the goods. We want to change our lives by education, by educating all children of our slum and being independent in earnings.
We are not only learning in our school but also doing good for our community. Our friend Parul has a small deposit in a Cooperative which is in Satarkul a little far from our place. She goes there once in a month for deposit her saving. One day she examined her deposit book with the office ledger and became surprised to see the balance as they did not put entry all the amount. Immidiately she raised her voice and asked for a checking. The staff wanted to do it later but she said, “it has to be now, in front of me”. After the checking the errors found in the office ledger and possibly the corruption was done by the corrector intentionally. But the in-charge instantly corrected her book adding the amount she should get. Next day in our school she told us her story confidently and we all inspired. It happened to many of our lives when we were illiterate but now does not happen now.
 
With our love and respect to you,
Rubi, Sheuli, Baby, Jhinuk, Molina and Mina
(Mothers of Combined Rotary Mothers’ School, Dhaka, Bangladesh)
 
 
Oct Update, Amarok Mothers School, Dhaka Vi Hughes 2021-11-06 06:00:00Z 0

Monica Robson, Pilgrims Hospice
 

This past week we heard from Monica Robson, the Executive Director of the Pilgrim’s Hospice Society. The hospice was founded in Edmonton in 1994 by Dr. Helen Hays and Marion Boyd. They offer hospice services including a Day Program, Grief Support for both individuals and groups to adults, teens, children and families. They also have the new twelve bed Harold Roozen Family Hospice Center, a residential hospice which opened this year. They are a registered charity that is ninety seven percent funded by donations. Their day program is supported by Alberta Health Services, which comprises three percent of their overall funding. They are governed by a Board of Directors. In addition to their professional staff they rely on trained volunteers for many different functions. They also have five physicians working with them who work in the facility as well as doing home visits. All of their programs are free to participants. They are located in west Edmonton near 148 St and 98 Ave.

Monica told us that most people would prefer to die at home, but in Alberta about sixty percent of people die in hospital. Most people need some level of 24/7 care in their final days and this is very hard to provide at home. A hospice which sits between home and hospital care can provide a residential atmosphere while still providing the nursing and health care aide support needed. She said that they rely on the same criteria as AHS for admissions, but they are not part of the AHS hub system. They keep their own waiting list, take direct referrals and make their own decisions on admissions.  She said that quality of life should also include death.  Families need room to grieve and they do their best to assist this. They firmly believe in the principle that no one dies alone. She then showed us a video of the new hospice facility through the eyes of a family with a family member who was a resident of the facility.  We would like to thank Monica for her very interesting and moving presentation.

Monica Robson, Pilgrims Hospice  Vira Hughes 2021-11-02 06:00:00Z 0

WP Wagner Interact Club Day of Service

Posted by Richard Karlsson on Oct 17, 2021
Background for the Joint Service Week:
 
Rotary International is partnering with our friends at Kiwanis International, Lions Clubs International, and Optimist International to increase our collective impact through community service.
 
Celebrate Community was a weeklong service event taking place 10-16 October. During this time, Rotary, Rotaract, Kiwanis, Lions, and Optimist clubs were encouraged to collaborate with one another to complete a service project that benefits the community.
 
 
 
We chose to collaborate with our Interact club at WP Wagner High School. We were very curious about our young partners, since we have not been able to see them during the pandemic. This gave us a wonderful opportunity to “interact” with the students in a relaxed and cooperative way.
 
The mission was a cleanup in the sports field in front of the school and the ravine behind the school. We met at the greenhouses at WP Wagner in the morning. The event lasted just short of three hours. There was intense activity, and the group almost filled the refuse container at the school.
 
7 Rotarians attended (+1 grandson who worked hard as a human scale for weighing the collected bags). They were:
 
Vincent Campbell
Patrick Gibson
Carin Jansen van Vuuren
Stephan Jansen van Vuuren
Richard Karlsson
Jim Peddie
Amy Stewart
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We were very impressed with the 12 interact members that attended. They are mature, friendly, and intelligent. We had lovely weather & it was interesting and fun talking with the students while we were working.
 
 
 
A big thank you to the president of WP Wagner Interact Club, Abinash Saravanan. This was a very nice format; we should do it again next year!
 
WP Wagner Interact Club Day of Service Richard Karlsson 2021-10-17 06:00:00Z 0

Oct Foundation Moment
 

 
 
Please make your donation online at Rotary Foundation Canada or send cheque by mail to Bob Sandercock at 120 Twin Brooks Cove, Edmonton, T6J 6T1
 
Oct Foundation Moment  Bob Sandercock 2021-10-12 06:00:00Z 0

Calen Paine, Wise Warrior Gym
 

Posted by Trina Vandermeer on Oct 05, 2021
In the Self-Defence Industry, there is a standard that states you may not recognize the best trained people because you never see them coming. They don’t flaunt their skills/talent/training, they just DO it.
 
This is the standard Wise Warrior Gym Founder/Owner/Director, Calen Paine, not only practices in his personal humble style, but the standard to which he leads and challenges his students to attain and maintain.
 
With 26 years in the Self-Defence industry, Paine, a 50 something, braided mohawk sporting, wiry, part-time musician, brings his quick wit, a wealth of knowledge, and experience to all his classes and students.  Whether they come from a career-based learning (Law Enforcement/Security/EMS/Social Services or a needs-based learning (students being bullied/persons being stalked); or the general public who want a 2-for-1 (physical fitness and Personal Safety) Program—wrapped up into one, time-saving package.
 
Asked how he got involved with training, Paine, with his usual self-deprecating humour laughed, “…I was a skinny kid, tired of being picked on….I wanted to meet girls…It was just my thing.” And over the years, his thing became a passion, and his passion became a career.  “Let’s face it, Self-Defence can be a “dark” subject—nobody likes to consider the need for it, so I wanted to make it “light”—take away some of the things that intimidate people about training and make it accessible for everyone.” A gong, music, the occasional personal serenade by Paine are regular Training techniques at the Wise Warrior Gym which focuses not only on the physical but also on the mental processes useful to self-protection and in many cases, personal growth.
 
“The best part of my job now is watching the development in others—seeing them reach their goals, whether it a new skill that helps their confidence, or tactical thinking that helps them feel safe in their surroundings, or them (the student) bringing real-life, on the job situations they didn’t know how to handle, or maybe weren’t successful with, and working it through so they can try something new the next time they face the situation. It’s just a great feeling.”
 
Paine doesn’t believe self-defence is just for kids or athletes. His brand of Jiu-Jitsu based martial arts, incorporates a number of other practices which has resulted in a fluid teaching style which allows him to, when needed, tailor the program to the needs of the student based on their age, fitness level, training purpose, and commitment level.
 
Located at 12832-141St, Wise Warrior Gym serves the Edmonton community with classes for those age five to 75, including the “SAFE” Program (Situational Awareness For Everyone/Everyday/Everywhere) which he is offering the three-session “Hard Target: Intro to Self-Defence”  through October and November to Rotary Club members for an Introductory price of $125 vs the usual $175 price. The program which focuses on awareness, pro-active planning vs reactive response, and some basic de-escalation techniques is a good place to start your self-defence/fitness routine in a Training center where Safety Procedures—including all Co-Vid protocols and Social Distancing are in place.  For those with some basic training and looking for something a bit more challenging,  personal one-on-one sessions, Weapons Training and Retention, and group training sessions are all available upon request.
 
You’ll need a comfy pair of pants and t-shirt, indoor shoes or clean socks as street shoes are not permitted, and the expectation of learning something new to attend, BUT, leave your ego at home as everyone attending class is there to learn and connect with others with the same purpose.
 
For more information or to register for the Rotary Club Special, Calen can be reached directly at 780-667-9911.
Calen Paine, Wise Warrior Gym  Trina Vandermeer 2021-10-05 06:00:00Z 0

Bob Sandercock, Sep Foundation Update
 

Posted by Bob Sandercock on Oct 01, 2021
So far five members have donated to the foundation this Rotary year.
 
The club donations since chartering now stand at $498,922 US so we have $1,078 US to go to go over the top of $1/2 million US in donations.
 
I have a nice bottle of bubbly for the member who puts us over the top! November is Foundation month but any time is donation time. Whether it is $25 US or greater any donation will count toward the bottle of bubbly.  Also I have in my budget over $200 to celebrate at an in person meeting with a glass of bubbly for everyone.
 
The executive has again passed a resolution to match up to 200 recognition points to members who have never contributed or did not contribute last year.
 
Just let me know when you contribute and the amount, the exchange rate is 1.27 this month.
 
The easiest way to contribute is to phone RI toll free at 1-866-976-8279. Other methods are to mail in, use rotary direct payments, benefactor donations, bequests, or give your donation to me made out to The Rotary Foundation Canada and I will process it.
 
By Phone:           1-866-976-8279
Rotary Direct:    my.rotary.org/rotary-direct
Online:                 rotary.org/donate
By cheque:         The Rotary Foundation (Canada)
                                c/o 911600
                                PO Box 4090 Stn A
                                Toronto, ON, M5W 0E9
To me:                  120 Twin Brooks Cove
                                Edmonton, T6J 6T1
 
Donations are to be in Canadian dollars and you will receive a Canadian tax receipt for your donation.
 
Bob Sandercock, Sep Foundation Update  Bob Sandercock 2021-10-01 06:00:00Z 0

Attention, ALL Members

In person meetings have been put on hold. Our Club is once again meeting by ZOOM every two weeks. A link to the ZOOM meeting will be emailed by Graham Gilchrist to all members and invited meeting attendees. 
Attention, ALL Members Vi Hughes 2021-09-28 06:00:00Z 0

Alan Nursall, Telus World of Science
 

Posted by Vi Hughes
This past week we heard from Alan Nursall, President and CEO of Telus World of Science. Alan thanked us for the sensory back packs and read a note that he had recently received from a mother who had recently visited the Telus World of Science with her nine year old son. She said that the backpack had really helped him to be able to enjoy their visit to the Science Centre.
Alan told us that the Science Centre opened in Edmonton in 1984 and that when he came to it in 2014 they were thinking about how to update it to best serve the City. The plan that was decided upon was called the Aurora Project, which was an ambitious multi year program to completely update the facility. At that time they asked the city for twelve million dollars and since then they have raised forty one million dollars towards the renovation.  This renovation which began in 2016 is almost complete now. They plan to be done in early 2022. The Science Centre space has been expanded to twenty thousand sq ft. housed in the new Cardinal building and includes many new or reimagined galleries including CuriousCITY (for children eight and under), The Science Garage (with hands on experiments), The Nature Exchange, The Health Zone in the Allard Family Gallery, a reimagined S.P.A.C.E. Gallery and a new Arctic Exhibit in the Newell Gallery. The renovations also included a completely renovated state of the art Zeidler Dome.
Alan told us that the Telus World of Science is the second largest ticketed admissions facility in Alberta after the Calgary Zoo. In 2019 (pre COVID) they had 560,000 ticketed admissions. They also have about 90,000 students visit per year and have recently put 30,000 students through online school programs and 1,000 students through online summer programs. Their hope is to be able to inspire young people to become thinkers and creators. They also take part in many projects that bring science to the general public around the province such as the dark sky event that takes place in Jasper every fall.
We would like to thank Alan for his very interesting presentation and look forward to being able to work with them in some small way again in  the future.
 
Alan Nursall, Telus World of Science  Vi Hughes 2021-09-21 06:00:00Z 0

Bernd Reuscher Memoriam
 

Posted by Rose Marie Basaraba
The Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona mourns the loss of our member of 31 years following a major brain aneurism. Bernd Reuscher was a staunch supporter of the Paul Harris Fund who shared his physical support at meetings and special events.  As guest speaker at our July 27th Rotary meeting he shared some of his personal connection with Germany and Canada as well as his International ventures. During his presentation to our Club based on his personal experience with COVID and loss of business, Bernd quoted a phrase used in Germany following the recent major flooding in Lipsieg: “The end is near: actually, it is just the beginning” prior to describing changes in his own life which resulted in poor health, depression and bankruptcy. Sadly, his personal commitment to change his own life based on having a ‘second chance’ ended with his passing exactly three weeks after his presentation (he did not share these thoughts with his family). Bernd’s intelligence, thoughtful and kind demeanor will be missed.
Bernd Reuscher Memoriam  Rose Marie Basaraba 2021-09-14 06:00:00Z 0

Membership Event- 11 Sep 2021

Posted by Richard Karlsson
 
  • Membership chair (Richard Karlsson) welcomed everyone to the event
  • New members were finally properly introduced to the club:
    • Norman Leach (in the company of wife Maritza)
    • Amy Stewart
  • Prospective members were introduced:
    • Kim Schmidt & husband Peter (guests of Heather de Kok, introduced by Carin Jansen van Vuuren)
    • Rhonda Smith in the company of partner Ben Gomez (introduced by Stephan Jansen van Vuuren)
    • Candace Cole (introduced by Amy Stewart)
    • Jacquie Riske in the company of husband Ken (introduced by Ken Germain)
  • Information of the objectives of Rotary were given as information to new & prospective members
  • Assistant District Governor (District 5370) Jeanette Bancarz (in the company of husband Marc Hanatschek) was our honored guest and gave the club the best wishes from the district.
  • The Paul Harris Fellowship Award was given to Ellen Weber.
  • Committee Reports:
    • Foundation (Bob Sandercock)
    • International (Patrick Gibson for Loida Lumanlan)
    • Youth (Brenda McCullough)
    • Flag Program (Vince Campbell)
    • Community (Carin Jansen van Vuuren for Trina Vandermeer)
  • An outstanding brisket was served, and the rest of the evening was a successful social event.
 
Membership committee
Richard Karlsson
Stephan Jansen van Vuuren
 
Membership Event- 11 Sep 2021 Richard Karlsson 2021-09-13 06:00:00Z 0
Sep Foundation Moment Vi Hughes 2021-09-13 06:00:00Z 0

Ellen Weber, Paul Harris Fellow Presentation

Posted by Bob Sandercock on Sep 11, 2021
The Rotary Foundation was set up over 100 years ago to raise money for the many international and community projects that the various worldwide Rotary clubs sponsor each year. The donations are divided into district grants which each club has access to, global grants for larger projects and disaster response grants. Global grants are for support of fighting diseases, providing clean water-sanitation and hygiene, education, women and child welfare, promoting peace, growing local economies and protecting the environment.
 
Our club has raised almost half a million US$ for the foundation since being chartered. Last year we raised over $27,000 US for the annual and polio plus funds with 75% of our members donating $25 US or more to the foundation. Of charitable organizations, ours (Rotary) has received the highest 4 star rating from the Charity Navigator for 13 straight years. There are several ways of donating and I will outline them in the club bulletin in the future. You can also look up all the information on the Foundation by going to the My Rotary Foundation web site.
 
Paul Harris Fellow recognitions are given out to members who have contributed $1,000 US or more and to persons who the club or other members feel have contributed to the well being of Rotary. Last year 27 Paul Harris Fellow were given out plus 3 major donor recognitions.
It is with pleasure that we give a Paul Harris Fellow to our past member Ellen Weber for all the work she had done for the club.
Ellen Weber, Paul Harris Fellow Presentation Bob Sandercock 2021-09-11 06:00:00Z 0

New Member Welcome BBQ
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 11, 2021
This Saturday we held a BBQ at the home of Carin and Stephan Jansen van Vuuren to welcome our new members to Rotary.
 
 
See the photo album below for more pictures from this event. 
 
Our very generous hosts opened their home and large outdoor patio and served us smoked brisket with a large helping of hospitality. The word was that Stephan got up at 3 am! to start smoking the brisket, which was perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious!
The program from Richard Karlsson, our Membership Chairperson and Carin, our President gave a short introduction to Rotary and what it represents for our new members. It also included a Paul Harris Fellowship presentation to Ellen Weber, our past Membership Chairperson.
Everyone who attended had a wonderful time visiting with each other while knoshing on snacks and warming themselves around the three fires (two propane and one bonfire). The cloudy weather held off and we ended the evening with an almost clear sky.
A good time was had by all who attended and we would like to extend a very big thankyou to our very gracious hosts, Stephan and Carin.
New Member Welcome BBQ  Vi Hughes 2021-09-11 06:00:00Z 0

Terry Vaughn, What’s the Buzz about Bees
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 07, 2021
This past week we were pleased to welcome Terry Vaughn, a local business woman (The Humble Bee) and bee keeper. Terry brought along a live observation hive that was buzzing with bees and gave a very engaging presentation on the lives of bees and their importance in the environment.
 
 
Terry, who is a former schoolteacher, and her husband Jeff, started bee keeping in 2016 after her husband was diagnosed with arthritis and found he could not tolerate many different kinds of foods, including nearly all sugars, with the exception of natural maple syrup and honey. Switching up his diet made a huge difference in his life, so he and Terry decided to go into the bee keeping business, both to supply their household with enough honey for their needs and as a profitable business. They now have twenty-six hives. Terry said that it was a very steep learning curve and they are still learning. Terry also shares her knowledge of bees by giving talks to local schoolchildren and other groups. They  make and sell honey (two thousand pounds this year) and bees wax products such as wax coated food wrappers and bees wax candles.
Terry says that bees are like babies, they take a lot of care and attention. In our climate they need hives made of material that can resist the extreme cold and keep the bees warm and dry thoughout the year. The bees need to keep their hive at a constant thirty five degrees in all weather and they also need to control the humidity in their hive in order to stay healthy. The outside of the each bee hive is painted in a different colour so the bees can find their way home. The only colour not used is red, as bees cannot see this colour.
The yearly cycle of a beehive starts in the spring when the queen bee can lay up to three thousand eggs a day. The eggs take twenty-one days to become adult bees. The worker bees (girl bees) do all the work in the hive from cleaning out empty cells to feeding and cleaning the queen, gathering nectar (honey) and pollen, making new cells, feeding the young and helping to maintain the constant temperature and humidity in the hive by fanning their wings. The drones (boy bees) only purpose is to fertilize the queen. The drones are killed off before winter as they are not needed again until spring. Queen bees live three to five years, worker bees only forty-five days in spring and summer and up to one hundred days in winter. By fall the queen is laying very few eggs and the hive is preparing for winter by filling and capping cells with honey and pollen to keep them over winter. The hive is still buzzing all winter long as the bees still raise a small number of young to replace those who die. They also need to go outside once in a while to do their business, as they will not go inside the hive. They will fly a short distance from the hive just long enough to do their business on warm winter days. The main threats to a hive are mites, moisture, humidity and starvation, especially in April before the flowers come into bloom. It is important for bee keepers to leave their hives with enough honey to last through the end of April.
Bees are the main pollinators of most of our native plants and agricultural crops. Bees will forage up to six kilometers out from their hive. They look for nectar and pollen from all kinds of plants, so no bee keeper can truly say their honey is only from one plant. They also need a clean safe source of water for drinking year round. Bees are an essential part of our ecosystem and we need to support them in every way we can. We would like to thank Terry for her very interesting and entertaining presentation.
Terry Vaughn, What’s the Buzz about Bees  Vi Hughes 2021-09-07 06:00:00Z 0

Sep 21 Project Amigo Update
 

Posted on Sep 06, 2021
Hello, good morning, dear members of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona, I introduce myself, my name is Lety and I am part of Project Amigo.
I am getting in touch with you to inform you that unfortunately your goddaughter from Project Amigo, Yosselin Méndez Ramírez, is leaving the scholarship program, since she did not manage to be accepted at the University of Colima where she took the admission exam, she did not remain in the career in the which did the paperwork, which was Architecture and since it was not, she was insisting both at the University of Colima and at the Technological University of Colima, both schools are the only public schools that offer the Architecture degree, but it was not accepted either, so decides to study in a private school, which is called Vizcaya University, Yosselin is aware that Project Amigo cannot support her to study in private schools, she is determined to study in this private university and to pay for the expenses, she will work and her parents will also they will be helping to cover expenses.
Yosselin will contact you shortly to thank you for all the time you have been supporting her with her generous sponsorship.
Thank you for the trust placed in Project Amigo, thank you for helping to change the lives of children and young people.
For any clarification, please direct your questions to Mr. Kirk Dretzka, General Manager and Mr. Jorge Torres, Director of Student Services.
I bid you farewell with gratitude and respect.
Sincerely,
Lety Valle
 
Dear Rotary Club Edmonton Strathcona sponsors!
Hello, dear sponsors, how are you?
It is a pleasure for me to be able to greet you through this letter, but I also feel sad since I will stop being a fellow at Proyecto Amigo, due to complications that I had at the school I wanted to enter since I was not accepted, that is why I decided that I am going to study Architecture at another school that does not qualify for the Proyecto Amigo scholarship.
I assure you that even if I no longer continue in the Scholarship Program, I will always continue to strive to achieve my goals and be able to finish a professional career, just as I have always told you.
During this time that I was a fellow at Proyecto Amigo I felt very good, I learned many things and was always supported, I met great people and always learned from them, I keep many good things and many experiences.
I thank you with all my heart and I will always be grateful for all the support you gave me during these 3 years, I feel very happy to have shared so many things with you, but above all for knowing that there are people like you with a good heart and very generous who they are always ready to support others. My family and I are very grateful to you for all the financial support you gave me for my school expenses, as I told you at the beginning, even if I do not continue with the scholarship, I will always strive to meet my goals and be able to finish a professional career and be a great professional.
I say goodbye to you, wishing you have an excellent day, that you always have good health and that you are always very lucky in the work you do every day, I will always remember you and carry you on my mind and in my heart. My family and I send you a big hug.
Thank you for everything, I will be eternally grateful, I love you.
With much affection, love and gratitude,
Yosselin Méndez Ramírez.
Sep 21 Project Amigo Update  Vi Hughes 2021-09-06 06:00:00Z 0

Bernd Reuscher’s passing

 
 
Our dear friend and fellow Rotarian Bernd Reuscher passed away August 17th from a devastating stroke.
Our deepest condolences go out to his wife Wendy, his children, and the rest of the family.
 
The Club was blessed to have Bernd as our speaker on July 27th when we returned to in-person meetings. Bernd was a ​Rotarian for almost 21 years and his extraordinary skills to create goodwill and better friendships, even over the Atlantic, stands as a testament of the exceptional person he was. He will be ​missed, but never forgotten.
 
The Funeral Service for Bernd Reuscher will take place on Monday, Aug 30th.
 
To respect everyone's comfort level and given the evolving nature of the COVID pandemic and restrictions on both gatherings and travel, they are providing two options for attendance (in person and by live stream).
 
The family is asking you to RSVP how you will be joining them by using this LINK https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdgSPVuZIW_vEpSvYWdSt78cgQTy3uJA79-PNYS9vzMKXaP3g/viewform
 
 
 
Bernd Reuscher’s passing 2021-08-26 06:00:00Z 0
Rotary Foundation Moment Vi Hughes 2021-08-25 06:00:00Z 0

Norman Leach, New Member Induction
 

Posted on Aug 24, 2021
Our Newest Member
 
This Tuesday, Past Pres Stephan Jansen van Vuuren inducted Norman Leach as our newest club member with the classification of Marketing Consultant.
 
He reminded all that Rotary is not just another club. It's a way of life. He told Norman he was elected to membership because we felt he would fit into this way of life. Always remember Rotary's two official mottoes: “Service Above Self “and “One Profits Most Who Serves Best.”
 
Every member is expected to perform his share of club and community service, and the committees of our club will afford him opportunities to give service. For the rest of this Rotary year, Norman will be serving on the International committee.
 
In closing Stephan said “Lastly, but by no means least, is our ideal of friendship. As you expect to receive, so give. May you be stimulated by the friendship you find here and may we in return know you to be an added source of strength to our club. Rotary is like everything else - you get out of it what you put into it.”
 
We would like to welcome Norman to our club and look forward to getting to know him better.
Norman Leach, New Member Induction  2021-08-24 06:00:00Z 0

Graham Gilchrist, Classification Talk
 

This Tuesday we were pleased to hear a very interesting talk from our long-time member Graham Gilchrist. Graham told us that that he first became interested in Rotary in 2002 when he went to Indonesia on a Rotary Group Study Exchange. After returning to Canada he joined Rotary in Vegreville, and then continued with Rotary once he moved to Edmonton. Graham told us that he has been a licensed Agrologist for more than thirty years and currently holds two licenses, one in Alberta and the other in British Columbia. When he left public service, about five years ago, he started his own consulting company, focused on the corporate side of agrology. Four years ago he started doing forensic agrology, working as an independent expert witness in cases involving disputes concerning agriculturally related cases. He now also holds a private investigator license which allows him to testify in court in these types of cases.
 
He then went on to talk about some of the many interesting public cases he has been involved with over the past few years. He has been asked to certify that fields qualify for inclusion in the carbon credit market or to determine how many acres have been damaged for insurance or remuneration purposes. He has also been asked to determine whether the cattle included in an estate still exist, whether a crop has been harvested last fall or more recently and is often asked for evaluations on farming corporations, land or labour (seeding, fertilizing, combining) used to determine settlements between two opposing parties. He also does costing out calculations for valuations of carbon credits, supply chain systems, and costing out of expenses used to set prices for products. In some cases he advises on the division of labour, which types of decisions are best made by the corporate board, and which should be made by the corporate manager. He has also done water flow trending for the Milk River in order to inform how Canada can fulfill it’s commitment to the international water commission. Graham said that he often finds he can give people solutions to problems they never even knew they had!
 
We would like to thank Graham for this very interesting glimpse into his work and can see that he is a good representative for the principles of Rotary.
Graham Gilchrist, Classification Talk  Vi Hughes 2021-08-24 06:00:00Z 0
No Advance Registration or Payment Required for Meetings  Vi Hughes 2021-08-05 06:00:00Z 0

Bob Sandercock, RCES Final Foundation Report for 2020-2021 Year
 

Posted by Bob Sandercock
Our club’s total donations since being chartered stand at $496,848 US.
We will easily surpass the half million $ mark in the 2021-2022 year.
I will give a prize to the member who puts it over the top.
I can get that information from RI.
Also I will have an open bar with members getting one drink ticket for a bubbly wine to celebrate.
 
Our total donations this past year were $27,309 US.
That comprised of $18,043 US for the Annual fund.
and $9,286 US for the Polio Plus fund.
36 members donated which is 75% of our members which is short of my lofty goal of 100%.
29 members were Every Rotarian Every Year ($25 US or more).
27 were sustaining members ($100 US or more).
The average donation was $535 US per member.
 
We had 27 Paul Harris Fellows presented.
Also there were two new Major donors recognized ($10,000 US or more).
And one Major donor level 2 recognized ($20,000 US or more).
I will try to present all of the recognitions at in person meetings.
 
I would like to thank all our members for being so generous in such a difficult year.
Contacting each member is so much better in person than on the phone.
However I did enjoy all of the phone calls.
Bob Sandercock, RCES Final Foundation Report for 2020-2021 Year  Bob Sandercock 2021-08-05 06:00:00Z 0

Bernd Reuscher, Living Through Trying Times
 

Posted by Rose Marie Basaraba on Jul 27, 2021
 
 
Bernd engaged the attention of fellow members and guests with a partial review of his life as a child escaping East Germany with his family through the underground tunnels of Berlin in 1946 to completion of his Engineering degree in 1994. Through the years he has continued to promote relations between Canada, Alberta and the Republic of Germany along with fellow Rotarians, Fritz Koenig and Hugo Lehmann.
 
In his presentation which he referenced to a newspaper article “The end is near, actually this is just the beginning” he focused on a personal experience that reflected on being allowed another chance in life, much as the Germans who survived two major floods and rebuilt their communities and their lives.
 
In late January, 2020, with no direct flight from Hong Kong, he was forced to take a flight home from Singapore in less than admirable conditions. After arriving home he began experiencing respiratory problems which resulted in his being admitted to the Royal Alexandra Hospital from the end of May to the end of June when he was discharged after determining he did not have COVID.  His recovery meant that he was unable to monitor his business and was forced to sell his assets: keeping afloat was a nightmare. This situation brought on a severe depression and referral to a Psychiatrist which eventually lead to a personal testament to his ability to overcome procrastination in completing those ‘personal duties’ ie. Wills, etc.
 
Recalling his involvement in assisting provinces in Germany to rebuild following devastating flooding and loss of lives (more recently Leipzig), he determined he now had been given a second chance to rebuild his life as well. His determination is built in the belief that there is always a new beginning: fear and worry or makes us stronger. People come together to help one another in a show of solidarity: being there for one another. COVID affected everyone: adversity is a part of life’s plan; suffering is optional. Bernd recommends the following for a more satisfying life:
 
Switch off the TV: it provides an endless embodiment of bad news.
Be selective with the people: surround yourself with positive people.
Music: Enjoy favorite music: it is an absolute healer
Be in Nature: nature is therapeutic
Start treating yourself: small things in life are a big deal.
 
Thank you, Bernd, for this very sobering and therapeutic presentation.
Bernd Reuscher, Living Through Trying Times  Rose Marie Basaraba 2021-07-27 06:00:00Z 0

Trina VanderMeer, Community Service Committee Update
 

Posted by Trina Vandermeer on Jul 26, 2021
A busy time for the Community Services chaired by Trina VanderMeer
 
A Walk to Remember took place June 29th in the INEW Indigenous Park, a subsection of Queen Elizabeth Park, which combined both a ParticiPACTION Grant from the Federal Government with the Diversity Focus implemented by Rotary at both the District and International levels.
 
The walk saw 16 participants review North American history from the Indigenous perspective through a blanket ceremony and Smudge presented by a representative of the ISKEW healing center. Cree Subs provided soup and Bannock for the event which had 13 of the 16 attendees indicate they enjoyed the experience, and 4 attendees ask if another such event could be held with time for a Q and A session, and the suggestion of possibly a Sweat Lodge experience be included. This is currently being looked into as an educational opportunity to be arranged privately, so if you’re interested, please let Trina know.
 
The second priority Phase 2 and 3 of the “Accessibility Back Pack Program.”
This joint effort between Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona (RCES) and Variety Children’s Charity, saw the “building” of 30 backpacks at Wise Warrior Gym by two AMAZING teams of Rotary members—The Tuesday night team was led by Vince and Vi, who had MOST of the entire team’s focus completed before everyone showed up…which allowed for some face-to-face friendship!
 
The Wednesday night team took longer—TWO Presidents on site, Jim Peddie and Carin Jansen van Vuuren - what do you expect — they broke or broke-in new member Amy Stewart who had some difficulty keeping track of her squeaky toys!
Thank you to both Loida, and Rose Marie—who were quite disappointed the work were completed too quickly for them to feel like they worked hard!
 
 
 
 
Then Phase 3 of this project kicked off with President Van Vuuren and Community lead Vandermeer dropping of 10 completed back packs at the Edmonton Co-op in Hawkstone to District Manager Kris and Store Manager Karl, for Distribution to their 5 local stores. Training for these folks is slated for July 28th via Zoom.
 
Ninety-minutes later, Jansen van Vuuren, Peddie, and Vandermeer, met up with Variety Children’s Charity representative Carole Alvarez-Cornell, and presented the Telus World of Science Center with two backpacks.
 
 
The team of Telus, including CEO Alan Nursall and a representative from each department, took our team to the new children’s imagination center, where they promptly started playing with all the Sensory-based toys supplied, while OUR team played in the Airplane. Jim said Sir Richard Branson reached the edge of space & Jeff Bezos successfully completed a historic space launch. Now two Rotarians are on their way - one small step for Rotary!
 
Watch out for Alan Nursall and his team to visit a future club meeting and update RCES on the $40m renovation the Telus World of Science Center is currently undergoing over the next year and offer funding opportunities for our two groups to work together on.
 
In the meantime, if you have any suggestions on where you think we should put the Sensory Backpacks, let Trina know. She is currently working on supplying them to the Edmonton Zoo and West Edmonton Mall and waiting for contact info from members regarding Ronald McDonald House and Stollery Children’s Hospital.
Trina VanderMeer, Community Service Committee Update  Trina Vandermeer 2021-07-26 06:00:00Z 0
Pradeep Das, Space Race Global News Interview  Vi Hughes 2021-07-20 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary End Polio Now! Virtual Run September 11 - 19, 2021
 

JOIN a Rotary Days of Service Project

Participate in a 5K & 10K Fun Run or Walk to raise funds to ERADICATE POLIO

 
Fellow Members - Our CLUB has registered a TEAM!
Sign up and complete your virtual 5K or 10K walk or run anytime between September 11th and 19th, 2021.
 
Together we can End Polio Now!
 
Interested? Contact Past President Jim Peddie at jim@peddieinsurance.ca
 

 
 
Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors and others are encouraged to sign up to complete their virtual 5K or 10K walk or run anytime between September 11th and 19th, 2021.
 
Together we can End Polio Now!
 
Rotary End Polio Now! Virtual Run September 11 - 19, 2021  Vi Hughes 2021-07-08 06:00:00Z 0

Amarok Dhaka, Bangladesh Women’s School Jul 21 Update
 

Dear Members of the Rotary Clubs of Strathcona, Mayfield, Urban Spirits, Whyte Avenue, Grand Prairie and Hinton
 
 
We hope everything in going well in Canada. Here we are doing well with our family and Amarok Friends. The children of our neighborhood are also doing very well. This is rainy season in Bangladesh and flooding is a common problem for our communities. This year rain falls heavily throughout the month and when it rains another disaster comes to our life, dirty water blocks on the road for days. Toilet lids submerged and dirty things mix up with water surrounded by our houses, pathways and all around. It became difficult for us to keep open our school as dirty water overflows and enters into our living rooms & schoolroom. Children like to play in water and often get sick. Our daily life become painful but this is our life and we have to survive in such situation. Rain has another positive effect to our lives, farmers in the village plant paddy, vegetables and jute in their field and rain water brings fortunes for them. However, a continuous rainfall creates flooding and washes out all their crops and put them into debt to maintain their livelihood. In our school we often argue about the effect of rain in our life and it’s hard to come to a conclusion with this debate!
 
Now other news of our school, our friend Shorifa has given birth a baby who is boy. We shared about her in our last latter. She had lots of struggles during the pregnancy during the covid situation but now she is happy with her baby. She was on maternity leave for a few months, now she has started to join and teaching children in her little school. Mothers of our school visited her house to know about her health, to make her happy during her absence in school but we visited mostly individually, fewer cases in smaller groups to ensure the social distancing. Sofia lives in a tiny room; we know going together in a large group during covid with be a violation of health rule.
 
Another mother of our school Jhinuk is doing very well in learning. When we do group work, she sits with the weaker mothers who need support in English. Jhinuk is very good in English and we are proud of her. In these days we are practicing about 6 seasons. You know there are 6 seasons in our country and each season has its own characteristics. Madam divides us into 6 groups and tells each team to talk about the season in English or do role play to express the character of the season. It takes few days to complete the session. I belong a member of spring team. We acted about that season and other enjoyed it and understood the characteristics of the season nicely. In such way, we all talked and acted on six seasons. This is an interesting method of learning and our teacher follows such many techniques to teach us. Most importantly we learn teaching methods from our school and follow when we teach children in our micro-schools.     
   
Ranu our friend is also doing very well. For last few months the financial condition of her family was not going well because her husband lost his job as an effect of covid lockdown and now does irregular odd jobs. So, it became difficult for her husband to run the family all alone. Ranu shared with us and asked for support. One of our friends in school Rokeya connected her with a private clinic and Ranu has found a part-time job in that hospital as an assistant. Her job there is to carry doctors’ file from the patients to the doctors’ cabin, office and again placed the files to the patients’ bed. She could not do the job if she were not educated and good in English. The money that she earns from the work now is the main source of income of their family. She is very much thankful to Rokeya and to Amarok School. In the evening Ranu teaches children in her micro-school and becomes more euthanistic in learning English.  
 
 
The Performances of Sheuli’s neighborhood school is very good. Children are attentive and keen to learn. Sometimes her son helps her teaching the children as he has developed and reached to the upper grade. In her little school, Rubel is a brilliant boy. He achieves first passion in his class in school. Rubel teaches her little brother and a cousin in the evening time at home. Rubel’s father is a hawker and sells vegetables going door to door. He helps his father to keep accounts of daily selling & income. His father is proud of Rubel and wants to take him to the upper level of education.
 
Monoara’s granddaughter Shamia likes to read story books. So, she takes books from the school library. There are different types of books, she takes books on fish, fruits, and flowers and storybooks for sharing with some of her little friends in the community. Sometimes they also come with her and ask for books to take home. Our school-library has created a learning environment and developing reading habit of some children and elderly people of the slums around. Children are very happy to read new books as they enjoy reading and could learn about new things.
 
We feel filled with love for others. Thank you for coming into our lives from the Canada to help us to improve our world so much here.
 
Yours Lovingly
 
Monuara, Sheuli, Ranu, Rubi and Shorifa
(Mothers of Combined Rotary School)
Amarok Dhaka, Bangladesh Women’s School Jul 21 Update  Vi Hughes 2021-07-08 06:00:00Z 0

Participaction Walk to Remember the Future
 

Posted by Trina Vandermeer
Members of the Edmonton Strathcona Rotary Club and guests rolled two activities into one for their June 29th event, when they Participacted in the second of four planned summer walks and then attended a Blanket Teaching under the trees at the INIW Indigenous Artwalk located within Queen Elizabeth Park.
 
Sixteen members and guests strolled the parkway and then met in a sharing circle where they shared a meal of soup and bannock provided by Indigenous operated company Cree Subs delivered personally by owner Kyle Peacock.
 
Following the meal, a Smudge and Blanket Teaching was led by Michelle Nieviadomy of ISKWEW Health and Wellness, where members and guests were able to experience Canadian/Turtle Island history through the traditional Oral style and perspective of our First Nations peoples.
 
Members and guests were invited to participate by asking questions and sharing some of their own perceptions of the relationship between the two Nations, and the challenges faced by both.
 
 
Rotary Members Richard and Loida share a meal of soup and bannock provided by Cree Subs during Tuesday’s Participaction/Blanket Teaching event.
 
 
Ivan Docker, in bright orange shirt—a nod of support to our Indigenous Peoples at Tuesday’s event.
 
 
Beef Barley soup and Bannock “made from Kokum’s recipe” was provided by Cree Subs owner Kyle Peacock, and was “ a real surprise at how good soup was on a HOT day!” according to incoming President Carin Jansen van Vuuren
 
 
Newest club member, Amy Stewart, sharing soup and shade with outgoing club president Jim Peddie who referred to the event as “ very, very interesting and something we should be doing more of”.
 
 
 
Past President Donna Hutton, just back from knee surgery, chats with Ivan Docker prior to the Smudge and Blanket Teaching.
 
 
Speaker Michelle Nieviadomy of ISKWEW Healing and Wellness presented a condensed version of a Blanket Training at INEW Park located within Queen Elizabeth Park.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Event organizer and Community Chair, Trina Vandermeer joined outgoing President Jim Peddie in thanking speaker Michelle Nieviadomy of ISKWEW Health and Wellness during Tuesday’s PARTICIPACTION/Indigenous Blanket Teaching combined event.  The PARTICIPACTION walk fulfills the $250 grant requirement obtained by Membership lead Richard Karlsson and Trina Vandermeer, from PARTICIPACTION Canada, and the Blanket Teaching is part of the new “Indigenous Relations” learning identified by District Rotary and recently requested within the Community Portfolio by Trina Vandermeer.
 
Participaction Walk to Remember the Future  Trina Vandermeer 2021-06-29 06:00:00Z 0

Project Amigo Scholar Thanks
 

 
 
Dear Rotary Club Edmonton Strathcona sponsors!
 
Hello dear godparents, how are you?
 
I hope you are very well, especially your health, I hope you are having an excellent day, I send you this letter that I wrote with much affection, love and gratitude to you, because I want to thank you once more for all the effort they make every day to continue supporting me with my studies and thus be able to fulfill one of my greatest goals, which is to finish a professional career.
 
It is a pleasure for me to greet you once again and through this letter to be able to share a little more of my life, first of all I want to thank you for the pantry that was given to us this month in Proyecto Amigo, it is serving us a lot to me and my family, since they are things that we need every day in our house. I also want to thank you for the money, with which you supported me this month for my school expenses, because although we are in online classes there are things that we have to pay for such as the internet, since it is the way in which we communicate with our teachers to continue studying.
 
I tell you that my last semester of high school is about to finish, I am very happy to have finished, but at the same time a little nervous since I am waiting for my results to enter the university, and although I studied a lot for the entrance exam I do not leave to worry, I just hope I can enter the faculty of architecture.
 
This month has been very good for me, but at the same time very difficult, full of many new things, I had to prepare for my entrance exam and this past Thursday I presented it, on the other hand I am doing very well at school, it is very tired and sometimes difficult but I'm trying hard to get good grades.
 
In this vacation I want to do many things, I will prepare more for when I enter classes, I will continue to exercise and I want to spend more time with my family, especially with my grandparents, since I have not visited them for a long time.
 
And how have you and your families been? What have they done during this time? I hope you are very well and that you have had a nice month.
 
I say goodbye to you, wishing you have an excellent day, a beautiful month, that you have good luck in the work you do every day, but above all, that you are full of good health.
 
With much affection, love and gratitude,
 
Yosselin Mendez Ramirez,
Project Amigo Scholar
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Project Amigo Scholar Thanks  Vi Hughes 2021-06-29 06:00:00Z 0

Jun 2021 Turnover Meeting

This past Tuesday we had a virtual Turnover ‘Dinner’ on ZOOM where we heard from our current President Jim Peddie who thanked all of the members in our club who have helped to make this such a successful year, in spite of the fundraising and volunteer work difficulties resulting from the COVID pandemic.
In particular he thanked:
‘Three Amigos’- Audrey, Rose Marie and Maggi for their efforts raising donations for Basically Babies, Hope Mission and twice for Wings
Audrey in person for single handedly raising funds for the hospice in Greece,
Trina and Richard for obtaining a grant to supply Variety backpacks with sensory toys and books to various outlets
Trina for hosting a Polio Plus event
Patrick for getting us together with Raffle Box and helping to raise funds for Little Warriors, Meals on Wheels, Dogs with Wings, the Edmonton Food Bank and the currently underway fundraiser for Wounded Warriors.
Jim chose two people as Rotarians of the Year:
Patrick Gibson for doing such a phenomenal job with fundraising which has helped both our club and also the district with new ideas for ways to raise funds.
Audrey Martyn, for being a great community resource in knowing where the needs are, for keeping him organized and on track and for her upbeat and positive approach.
Bob Sandercock then told us that our club had a total of twenty-five Paul Harris awards to give out this year along with three major donor awards. All together our club raised almost thirty thousand dollars for the Rotary Foundation this year with seventy six percent of club members donating.
Carin Jansen van Vuuren, our incoming President then spoke about her vision for the coming year and said that Jim would be a tough act to follow. She said that our theme this year is ‘Serve to Change Lives’ and that we would be trying to organize a Rotary Day of Service that would also include our two Interac clubs.  She then introduced us to her incoming executive and board members and noted that they represent fifty percent of our total club members.
We were then treated to a very entertaining and musical hour with Tracie Gray and Matt Day of GrayDay Events and it was a great way to end the evening.
 
Here is the link to the recording of the meeting:
 
Jun 2021 Turnover Meeting Vi Hughes 2021-06-22 06:00:00Z 0

Participaction Walk
 

 
On Sunday, 6 Jun we hosted a walk at Laurier Park for our club members and their families as part of our participation in the Participaction program. Richard Karlsson also organized a game of Kubb (a gothic Swedish lawn game) and the winners received walking poles to use along the way. It was a beautiful sunny day, everyone enjoyed a chance to get together in a safe and responsible way and a great time was had by all who attended.
Participaction Walk  Vi Hughes 2021-06-06 06:00:00Z 0

Link to recorded ZOOM Meeting for 01 Jun 2021
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jun 01, 2021
Here is the internet link to the recorded Rotary meeting held on 01 Jun 2021 which included the introduction of two new members, Amy Stewart and Gail Martin, a TED Talk on whether self-interest should motivate service in Rotary by Patrick Galvin and a thank you to our club from the WP Wagner Interac club attendees to the recent Rotary Youth Leadership Experience workshop.
 
 
 
Link to recorded ZOOM Meeting for 01 Jun 2021  Vi Hughes 2021-06-01 06:00:00Z 0

Amy Stewart, New Member Introduction
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jun 01, 2021
This week our club welcomed Amy Stewart as a potential new member. Amy is being sponsored by Treena VanderMeer. Amy is an Alberta native who grew up in Sherwood Park and now lives in Edmonton, She works as a Real Estate Agent. Amy attended NAIT, taking the Radio and TV Arts program. Amy later attended the U of A where she obtained a BA in Psychology and Sociology.  She also has a DOOLA certification. Some time ago, Amy spent some time working as a volunteer in Tanzania and the experience opened her eyes to the plight of many people around the world. Since then, she has been involved with several different service groups and has a few service projects that are near and dear to her heart. She says that she believes in putting people before profit in her business dealings and to above all be kind. We would like to welcome Amy to our club and look forward to getting to know her better.
Amy Stewart, New Member Introduction  Vi Hughes 2021-06-01 06:00:00Z 0

Gail Martin, New Member Introduction
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jun 01, 2021
This week our club welcomed Gail Martin as a potential new member. Gail is being sponsored by Treena VanderMeer. Gail is an Alberta native who grew up on a small farm in the Horse Hills area just north of Edmonton, which is now part of the Raven Crest Golf and Country Club. She works as a Property Manager handling commercial rentals. She originally trained and worked as a paralegal but changed professions when she realized that she really missed the social interactions with other people. Gail is also very interested in family history and told us a few stories about some of her ancestors and their experiences in coming with nothing to make a new life in a strange land. She said that she truly believes that the world is able to look after everyone. She looks forward to being able to help make this world a better place through Rotary. We would like to welcome Gail to our club and look forward to getting to know her better.
Gail Martin, New Member Introduction  Vi Hughes 2021-06-01 06:00:00Z 0

Patrick Galvin, TEDxMcMinnville Talk
 

This week we watched an excellent TED Talk by Patrick Galvin entitled ‘Should Self Interest Motivate Service’. This talk was presented on 26 Feb 2020. In this talk Patrick Galvin, a former membership officer of the Portland Rotary Club presented some insightful ideas on how to present the goals of Rotary, so that we can appeal to a younger generation of potential members. He suggested that the past appeal to people’s sense of altruism, may not be the best way to attract people in today’s much busier world where every adult family member needs to hold down a job, just to make ends meet. In the past Rotary relied on people volunteering their time in to help others because it was good for the world in general, but maybe we need to shift this view to appeal more to the physical and mental benefits that service engenders in those who volunteer.
This talk can be found at:
 
 
Patrick Galvin, TEDxMcMinnville Talk  2021-06-01 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary Youth Leadership Experience, RYLE Thankyou
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jun 01, 2021
This week we were pleased to hear from Ekjot Brar, Vice President and Jasmine Virk, co-President of the WP Wagner High School Interac club about their experience attending this two day training workshop. Five students from WP Wagner club attended. They both thanked us for the chance to meet other Rotary youth and for the opportunity to learn more about Rotary. They said that the sessions helped open their minds to the opportunities and possibilities that they may not have otherwise considered when it comes to the things that are possible when people work together towards a common goal. The creative approaches that they gained will help them when considering the projects their club chooses in the future.  
Rotary Youth Leadership Experience, RYLE Thankyou  Vi Hughes 2021-06-01 06:00:00Z 0

Natasha Larson, Adventures in Citizenship
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on May 18, 2021
This week we heard from Natasha Larson, a senior student from WP Wagner High School and co- President of the Rotary Interac Club at WP Wagner.  Natasha told us that due to COVID restrictions this year, the one week event hosted by the Rotary Club of Ottawa was a virtual event. The week included many different speakers, many of whom were previous Rotary AIC program participants, on all kinds of topics related to Citizenship. She said that prior to the event she received a package which included a T-shirt, pin and mug. The event topics included two days with various speakers on Canadian government, one day on Indigenous issues, one day on Citizenship and one day on a variety of topics.  They were also given a choice of several topics for one talk, and the topic she chose was climate change. 
 
Some of the government speakers and topics covered were the Right Honourable Joe Clark talking about how Rotary fit into his life, Senator Joe Day speaking about the role of the Senate, former Prime Minister Paul Martin talking about his role on government, past Speaker of the House of Commons, who talked his role in government, and a past Page in the House of Commons, talking about her duties in the House of Commons.  Natasha said that one of the sessions she enjoyed the most was the chance to get to know a war veteran who spoke about her experiences, and the discussion session that followed. The fourth day was focused on Indigenous issues and the final day was focused on Citizenship, including a citizenship judge who spoke about how she came into her job and what it involved. Overall, they were given a lot to think about when considering career options for the future. Natasha said that politics, legislation and parliament were things that she had never really considered as a career and the week learning more about them as very enlightening.  She thanked us for the opportunity to take part in this program and said that she had made some new friends across Canada in Rotary as a result.
Natasha Larson, Adventures in Citizenship  Vi Hughes 2021-05-18 06:00:00Z 0

Richard J Davidson, PhD, TED Talk
 

This week we watched an excellent TED Talk entitled How Mindfulness Changes the Emotional Life of our Brains. This talk was presented in San Francisco on 12 Dec 2019. In this talk Dr. Davidson presents some very good strategies on how we can train our minds by using mindfulness to give us focus, connect us with others more, give us better insight into ourselves and finally to give us a sense of purpose.
This talk can be found at
 
 
Richard J Davidson, PhD, TED Talk  Vi Hughes 2021-05-04 06:00:00Z 0
ARCH Enterprises Update Vi Hughes 2021-04-25 06:00:00Z 0

Kwame Damon Mason, Soul on Ice
 

This Tuesday we were pleased to hear from Kwame Damon Mason, the director, producer and writer of the 2015 documentary Soul on Ice: Past, Present and Future. In this film he tells the history, contributions and stories of black athletes in hockey. Kame talked to us about his background and how he came to be interested in this project. He said that he had always been a hockey fan, but as a young man growing up in Ontario he considered hockey to be mostly a white boy sport. It was not until fourteen years later, while working as a radio host in Edmonton, when he worked and became friends with a former hockey player, Georges Laraque that he really became interested in hockey again. He was becoming unhappy with his work as a radio host and a close family member encouraged him to follow his interests, whatever they may be.
Around 2011, he started gathering information about black players in hockey and was surprised to find that there had been a black hockey league in Canada. He knew that he wanted to make a documentary film so he set about finding people to interview. One of the first people he interviewed was Herb Carnegie, who played pro hockey in Quebec in the 1940’s and 50’s. He was lucky in this regard as Herb was 93 when he interviewed him and passed away only a few weeks later. He also interviewed his friend Georges Laraque, and along with these and many other interviews of younger players, his documentary began to take shape. He found that sometimes he had trouble because some older players did not want to talk about their experiences at all because they had been so traumatic. He did his best to present their stories in an unbiased manner. Many of these players went through adversity, but their love of the game was what mattered most, and he did his best to portray this. He was learning as he went along and finally in 2015 his film premiered at the Edmonton Film Festival, where it won the Viewers Choice Award. It has since been shown many, many times in many different places, including just recently on SportsNet. He thinks that his film has helped people to be able to talk about the issues that existed, but not in a bad way, it is all in how you approach it. Currently Kwame is doing some consulting for the NHL and also does hockey related Pod Casts. His film can be viewed online at vimeo.com/141191285 (password: mason) and you can find his podcasts at player.fm/podcasts/Kwame.
 
Kwame Damon Mason, Soul on Ice  Vi Hughes 2021-04-20 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary Foundation Update

Due to COVID, world-wide donations to the Rotary Foundation are unfortunately very much down.
As a result, the district grants were $3200 this year but will only be $2000 next year and the Global grants will also be reduced. Scholarships have also had to be reduced by $50.
Our club has exceeded the Annual Fund donations and almost matched the Polio Plus donations of last year.
However, we have only about 60% of our members donating to either, this year.
I would like to encourage each member to donate at least $25 US which is about $32 C to the foundation.
As mentioned previously, the club will match new donations up to 50% for those who have never donated, up to 500 recognition points and up to 200 recognition points for those who have not contributed for over two years.
If you wish, you can send donations to me made out to “The Rotary Foundation Canada” and I will fill out the required paperwork and submit it for you.
 
Bob Sandercock
120 Twin Brooks Cove
Edmonton
T6J 6T1
780 469-5571
 
Rotary Foundation Update Bob Sandercock 2021-04-14 06:00:00Z 0

Judy Mill, Grandmothers of Alberta for a New Generation
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Apr 08, 2021
This week we heard from Judy Mill, a retired university professor of nursing who has spent a large part of her life working with and advocating for people in the HIV/AIDS community, both here at home and abroad.
She is currently trying to put together a media presentation that would tell the stories of three different advocacy groups that work in this area. The first group is GANG (Grandmothers of Alberta for a New Generation), which raises funds locally for the Stephen Lewis Foundation that supports health and human rights in relation to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in fifteen different countries in sub Saharan Africa. GANG has been operating for fifteen years in Alberta and has raised over one million dollars for the Stephen Lewis Foundation. The second group is CANAC (Canadian Nurses in HIV/AIDS Care) which is a specialized group of the Canadian Nurses Association, and the third group is HIV Edmonton. They are working on bringing the professionals from all three organisations together to a promote their common cause.
The video will tell the stories of what they do in relation to the AIDS pandemic and how their efforts have been impacted by the COVID pandemic. These groups provide such things as medical support, housing, food, help with grant applications and many other types of help for individuals and families affected by this disease. It will help with public education and to build public awareness of these three organisations and what they do.
Judy Mill, Grandmothers of Alberta for a New Generation  Vi Hughes 2021-04-08 06:00:00Z 0

Easter Dinner for Wings
 

Posted by Vi Hughes
 
This Easter our club put together Easter Dinner boxes for the families in first stage housing at Wings. Our club provided twenty boxes of food, eight bags of clothing, socks and assorted makeup and jewelry. We would especially like to thank Audrey for organizing it all and Rose Marie and Maggi for helping shop and pack the boxes, as well as Arch Enterprises for donating the empty boxes and eight bags of clothing.
Each box contained a ham, mustard, potatoes, carrots, apples, cucumber, tomatoes, pasta and pasta sauce, fruit cups and cookies, buns, coffee and tea, apple juice, snacks and napkins. We also included a bag of assorted makeup and jewellery as well as a makeup bag and a pair of socks.
Rhonda from Wings picked up the boxes and said that they were thrilled with the donation. She said that they provide housing for the families, but the families supply their own food, and with the pandemic strain on their incomes, many families also need food, so our donation was greatly appreciated.
Easter Dinner for Wings  Vi Hughes 2021-04-02 06:00:00Z 0

Entertainment Day with Matt Day and Tracie Gray
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Mar 23, 2021
This ZOOM meeting was a blast, with entertainment provided by Matthew Day and Tracie Gray. It was really nice to be able to have a different focus for our meeting this time. Matthew and Tracie entertained us with their musical and public speaking talents. They both have a different focus in their daily lives, Matthew works at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital using the power of music to help stoke patients, brain injury patients and people with other types of mental health issues. The methods he uses, such as cognitive stimulating games and things like musical bingo help people with all types of injuries to recover some of their memories. He says that is also gives people hope for the future. He has also developed a program called EASE (Enrichment Activities for Seniors Everywhere) that he uses to bring entertainment and enrichment to many different groups of seniors. Tracie Gray is a professional emcee with movie, TV and stage credits. She is a stand up comedian and public speaker who does customized presentations, corporate team building and morale boosting presentations for all types of groups. We truly enjoyed our time with them and hope to be able to do it again some time.
You can find more information about them and the entertainment they offer at MattDay.ca for music and speaking, GrayDay.ca for virtual team morale boosting and EaseMusic.ca for entertainment for seniors.
Entertainment Day with Matt Day and Tracie Gray  Vi Hughes 2021-03-23 06:00:00Z 0

Christi McTaggart, ABC Headstart Society
 

On Tuesday we heard from Christi McTaggart who is a manager of stake holder development at ABC Headstart in Edmonton. Christi said that they offer the largest early pre school early development program in Edmonton. The currently operate out of five different sites and sixteen classrooms located in Delwood, Mill Woods, Afton, Westmount and Newton. They offer both half day and full day programs for children with many different kinds of problems that cause language and learning delays. They currently work with about five hundred children per year. Eighty five percent of their children come from low income families, representing sixty four different countries and speak forty six different languages. She said that ABC Headstart began in the 1960’s in the United States and came to Edmonton in the 1980’s. They employ teams of professionals to work with the children and their families. Their program considers the parent or guardian as part of their team and offers workshops for the families of the children.  They also try to support the families within their own communities.
Their headquarters is located in the Gerry Forbes Center, which is home to many other non-profit organizations and has common warehouse facilities which they can use. They are a registered charity and have a budget of about eight million dollars per year. They employ ten people in their offices and about one hundred professionals such as teachers, early childhood assistants, social workers, speech specialists etc. In normal times they also have many volunteers that help with various aspects of their program. Their program is very similar to that offered by the Edmonton Public and Catholic School systems, both of which have been shut down due to COVID. This means that demand for their services is now higher than ever. Some of their programs have very long wait lists.
One of their current campaigns is the Pre School Toolbox Campaign which creates packages of supplies such as books, paper, crayons, glue sticks, markers, tape and other supplies for the children to use either at school or at home in these COVID times. Christi said that monetary donations allow them to buy these items in bulk. They are also in need of volunteers to assemble and deliver these items to the various locations around the city. We would like to thank Christi for her presentation and look forward to possibly supporting their group in the future.
 
Christi McTaggart, ABC Headstart Society  Vi Hughes 2021-03-09 07:00:00Z 0

Mike Fraser, Kona Rotary Sunrise Club
 

This past week we were pleased to be joined in our ZOOM meeting by some members of the Sunrise Rotary Club of Kona, Hawaii. Some of our members attend this club on the big island during their winter vacations.
Their Past President and current President Elect, Mike Fraser, is a Canadian who moved to Hawaii about twenty years ago. He is a charter member of the Kona Sunrise club, which began in 2009. This club currently has twenty-three members.
Mike said that they have taken part in many different projects both in their local community and abroad over the past twelve years. They raised eighty-five thousand dollars by collecting donations for Shelter Boxes for local people whose homes were damaged by the tsunami caused by the Japanese earthquake a few years ago. They also raised ninety-five thousand dollars which provided running water for schools in Kosovo. Their club is proud to have been an EREY (Every Rotarian Every Year) member for the past ten years. He also said that their club generously supports both Polio Plus and the Peace Initiative. He said that they are the number five top giving club in the State of Hawaii, in spite of their size.
Being a small club has some disadvantages, in that the same people end up doing everything, but they enjoy each other’s company and have done their best to support other clubs as well. They support Interact clubs both in Hawaii and in South Africa, and have a sister club in Nagoya, Japan.
They currently have their meetings both live, with ten people in a local restaurant, and via ZOOM. They meet at seven AM Hawaii time (ten AM our time) and would be happy to have any of our members who are interested join them in their ZOOM meetings. Please email Jim Peddie if you are interested.  
Mike Fraser, Kona Rotary Sunrise Club  Vi Hughes 2021-02-23 07:00:00Z 0

Kosta Kostis and Eva Tsinavou, Rotary Club of Ioannina, Greece
 

This article was partially prepared using additional information kindly provided by our own Dimitri Papanicolas.
We were pleased to be joined on ZOOM by several members of the Rotary Club of Ioannina, Greece. Their President Kosta Kostis thanked us for the help we have given them in the past supporting some of the work they do in Greece, with ELEPAP, a school for handicapped children, and also with Eleni Gyra, a hospice for autistic adults.
Their Past President Eva Tsinavou spoke to us about the Eleni Gyra Boarding House (EGBH), near Zitsa which is about thirty-two kilometers from Ioannina. It is part of the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Autistic Persons (HSPAP), headquartered in Athens. This is a non-profit, philanthropic society run by volunteer parents. The HSPAP also has other facilities in Greece.
Together with the Rotary Club of Ioannina, we recently supported the repair of the roof, for the Eleni Gyra (EGBH) facility (which is now complete), helped to replace the electrical board and provided a computer for their use.
The EGBH facility (property and building) was donated by a doctor from Zitsa, Greece in memory of his first wife. Presently around twelve severely autistic residents aged from 30 years to over 50, one of whom is also blind, live twenty four hours per day at the boarding house.
The twenty-four staff at EGBH are paid by the Hellenic Government, they are government employees. The government contribution covers 85% of costs that are salaries and the remaining 15% is for operational costs. The latter is not enough to cover all the operational costs and is definitely not enough for maintenance or repairs. The local residents of Zitsa, the village nearby, sometimes help with food and minor financial donations as well.
Eva told us that the boarding house is currently in dire need of new clothes washing machines, as the current ones are very old and are becoming quite unreliable. They currently have eight household type machines, only two of which are still working, and use them to wash about fifty kilos of clothing each day. They have looked into replacing these with a larger commercial type washing machine, which would cost about thirty two hundred euros each.
We then discussed various ways that we could help them with this, as well as other items for this facility. We look forward to working with them in future to find ways to fund this and other projects.
Kosta Kostis and Eva Tsinavou, Rotary Club of Ioannina, Greece  Vi Hughes 2021-02-09 07:00:00Z 0

Harjeet Panesar, Perspectives
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 26, 2021
This week, as part of the collaboration between Rotary and Toastmasters, we welcomed Harjeet Panesar from the Millwoods Vocabulaires Toastmasters Club. Harjeet is a Professional Engineer and past colleague of Dmitri from Thurber Engineering.
Harjeet spoke to us about Perspective and how we are not truly able to understand other people until we can see things from their perspective, and when we do, it helps to make the world a better place.
He illustrated this point by giving us some examples from his personal experience. Harjeet said that he grew up and received his engineering education in Punjab, India. On graduation his first job was in Dubai. From there he came to Canada. When he arrived in Vancouver, he purchased a calling card, but when he went to pay for the five dollar card, he became upset when he found that the actual cost was sixty five cents more. When he asked why, they told him it was for taxes. He did not understand. In the countries where he had previously lived there was no tax on goods. Once he had been here for a short while he came to appreciate all the benefits that type of tax provided and was more accepting of the tax. His perspective had changed.
He gave another example. When he came to Canada, he had left his wife behind in India. His first job here was the night shift or graveyard shift, at a seven eleven store.  When he told his wife about his job, she made no comment at first. On the second call he made to her she was quite upset and told him that he had to quit his job in the graveyard. I was then that he realized she did not understand the term graveyard as it is used here in Canada to describe the night shift. Once he explained this to her, she was much relieved. Her perspective had changed.
One last example he gave was some sage advice he had received from Dmitri, when he was Harjeet’s manager. Harjeet had been promoted to a managerial position and Dmitri called him in one day and gave him some advice on decision making. He told him that every time he had to make a difficult decision, he should try to imagine how others will see things from their perspective. Harjeet said that that advice has served him well.
In closing, he said that everyone sees things differently. We need to put ourselves in the shoes of others to fully understand their point of view and prevent misunderstandings.
Harjeet Panesar, Perspectives  Vi Hughes 2021-01-26 07:00:00Z 0

Doreen Slessor, Dogs with Wings
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 12, 2021
This week we heard from Doreen Slessor, the Executive Director of Dogs with Wings Assistance Dog Society. This is a group that breeds and trains service dogs. These dogs are trained to help people with many different disabilities. They primarily help people with sight impairment, people who are wheelchair bound, people with autism and as facility companion (child abuse center) dogs. The dogs are carefully selected for calm, quiet personalities and then are given basic training to behave well in busy public situations. Once they have been assigned to a specific person, they are given training specific to the needs of that person. They can help to pick up objects, lead people safely though busy places, sleep on top of autistic children who tend to wake up a lot at night, or simply to lie calmly while strangers talk to and touch them. These dogs help relieve the worry and stress of living with a disability for both the disabled person and their family.
It takes two years and about forty thousand dollars to train each dog but their clients pay only one dollar. Not all dogs will meet their strict requirements. They belong to the Canadian Association of Guide and Assistance Dog Schools and their dogs are accredited through internationally recognized Assistance Dogs International which ensures that they can travel internationally and on airplanes without issues. They are based in Edmonton, but also have sites in Grande Prairie and Calgary for training. They supply dogs to people throughout BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan. In 2020 they placed twenty dogs and had forty eight puppies brought into the program. Only about sixty percent of the dogs make it through the full training process. If they growl, bark or bite, they fail. They must also be in perfect health. The breed of dog they use most is the Labrador Retriever as they are medium sized, even tempered, are very food motivated, do not get strongly attached to their owners and are relatively easy to care for. All of their dogs live in foster homes while they are in training. They are placed with the client at about two years of age. They work until they are about ten years of age. Dogs with Wings keeps track of their dogs and gives them a senior assessment at age eight to determine how well they are doing. They currently have about one hundred twenty dogs living in the community that are ageing out and will need to be replaced fairly soon. Senior dogs usually stay in their client home after they have been replaced.
Dogs with Wings does not receive government support for their program. They are funded through group and individual donations. They also offer sponsorships where for a donation of ten thousand dollars, the sponsor’s name is displayed on the dog’s harness. We would like to thank Doreen for her very interesting and enlightening presentation.
Doreen Slessor, Dogs with Wings  Vi Hughes 2021-01-12 07:00:00Z 0

Simon Cusack and Matthew Broussard, Raffle Box
 

We were pleased to hear from Raffle Box founder Matthew Broussard and IT and Sales VP, Simon Cusack. They have helped us to organize and run two of our online fifty-fifty fundraising events. Raffle Box provides an online platform that allows small groups to more easily fundraise using a fifty-fifty raffle. They were inspired to start doing this when they saw how much funding can be raised this way by very large groups like the Calgary Stampede or the Edmonton Oilers. They are a Calgary based tech company with a small staff of twelve enthusiastic people. They are Alberta and Maritimes based for now but are planning to expand nation-wide by next year. They have found that the COVID pandemic has forced a shift to online fundraising for a lot of groups. They are currently running three hundred raffles per month and raising about four million dollars per month in total. They are licensed by the gaming commissions in the provinces where they run raffles. They help their customers by handling the technical end of things, providing an online platform where their customers can share links as well as doing marketing and advertising or them. Customers pay a fee based on a percentage of the funds raised.
Their customers range from minor and junior hockey teams to volunteer fire departments to rotary groups to the United Way. Keeping up with all the varying regulations in different locations where their raffles are run is a challenge. They work with government agencies in trying to unify the regulations from province to province. They hope that in future things will become more uniform so that groups across the country will be able to raise funds on a more level playing field. We would like to thank both Matthew and Simon for their presentation. This company has been a great help to us in fundraising for several charities and we look forward to using them again in the future.
Simon Cusack and Matthew Broussard, Raffle Box  Vi Hughes 2020-12-22 07:00:00Z 0

Shannon Stewart, Basically Babies
 

This week our speaker was Shannon Stewart, the founder and Board Chair of Basically Babies. Shannon told us that this locally based charity has been operating for twenty-seven years in Edmonton and has just expanded to Calgary as well. She said that their goal is to help families with babies that are living in extreme poverty by providing a complete package of baby clothing and supplies designed to last for two years. The layette package includes one hundred and ten items based on a carefully thought out complied list that will provide items for use in spring, summer, fall and winter from newborn to two years of age. Basically Babies partners with other agencies that provide life skills training and the families that they help are recommended to them by these agencies based on their family situation. They also work with social agencies dealing with addictions, refugees, indigenous people, women’s shelters, homeless people, and people with disabilities. These are usually people or families living in extreme poverty, often with other complicating circumstances such as unemployment, low education, language difficulties, and sometimes mental or physical handicaps. Their partner agency picks up and delivers the layette to the family or person in need.
Basically Babies accepts donations of new and gently used items and volunteers clean, sort, iron and prepare the baskets using the compiled list. She said that about ninety percent of their items are gently used. They also accept monetary donations and use these to purchase any missing items for their baskets. Their hope is that by supplying these basic supplies they can help these families to focus their resources on other things. They maintain a warehouse that normally has about four hundred part time volunteers that help out over the year. They usually handle an inventory of one hundred thousand baby items over one year. Their operations protocols have been modified to deal with the pandemic restrictions. They now have a curbside donation set up and their inventory has dropped to three thousand items. Shannon also described some of their management principles and how they plan for contingencies. They recently had a donation trailer stolen, but they did have insurance and are hoping to be able to replace it soon.  Their protocols for handling clothing items has changed to ensure the safety, protection and prevention of infection for their staff, volunteers and customers. Their three major fundraisers for the year have also been cancelled. Most of their funding comes from grass roots donations with about twenty to thirty percent from grants. They can use donations both monetary and in kind and were happy that we helped them out this past year
Shannon Stewart, Basically Babies  Vi Hughes 2020-12-15 07:00:00Z 0

Mike Drak, Retirement Lessons from a Pandemic
 

Mike is a retirement lifestyle planner and author of several books about retirement. His latest publication is “Victory Lap Retirement’. Mike said that with the advent of COVID on our lifestyles, a lot of people are getting a taste of what retirement can bring if there is little planning involved. People are isolated, bored and generally unhappy.
Mike believes that retirement should not be something we just save money for, it should be a time when we transition from our working life into a new life of our own making, where we can do things that we truly love. A time when you get the freedom to do whatever interests you. A time for adventure, a time to help others, a time to get outside your comfort zone. A happy retirement takes planning and work. We need to have savings, so that we can afford the retirement that we would like. Financial security is a cornerstone. But in addition, we also need to be physically fit, healthy and have enough interests to keep us busy full time. Exercise, eating right and having interests outside of our work are things that we need to start early on if we want to be able to enjoy our retirement. Relationships are important as well, we need to ensure that we are on the same page with our partners before retirement. People who are unhappy in retirement usually have only one or two pursuits that interest them. Happy retirees have at least three or four pursuits.
We need to remember that retirement is often thirty years of your life. Sleeping in, golfing and travel can fill some time but we need more than that to keep us busy fulltime. Time slows, days blur together and some people even take to drinking. Having lots of money is not a panacea. People need a sense of purpose. Some people look for something they enjoy doing that can also earn them an income, others volunteer doing work they love. Whatever you choose, it should be challenging, involve some social interaction and give you a sense of fulfillment.
Retirement can last almost as long as your working life, it should be a time to reconnect with ourselves, our family and others. It should be your victory lap that lasts for the second half of your life.
 
Mike Drak, Retirement Lessons from a Pandemic  Vi Hughes 2020-12-02 07:00:00Z 0

Tim Schilds, Rotary Foundation Month
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 24, 2020
This week we heard from Tim Schilds, our Rotary District Foundation Chair. Time lives in Dawson Creek and made his presentation to us on Zoom.  Tim said that the Foundation is how we can get to be part of a premium community that can help us to do whatever needs to be done, both in our own community and around the world. Our Rotary Foundation was voted the number one of the tem best charities by Charity Navigator as ninety two percent of the funds donated go towards programs.
There are several fund choices within the Foundation that e can contribute towards. The Annual Fund provides micro loans to small businesses in other countries. The areas of focus are peace building, disease prevention, water sanitation and hygiene, maternal and child services, basic education and community economic development. About fifty percent of all funds go towards disease prevention. He said that next year they will be adding one more category for environment.
Global Grants help to support large long term projects like the school in South Africa that our club supports. The programs must have measurable and sustainable outcomes, they must align with the Rotary areas of focus and a common assessment is required. Sustainability is of particular importance, local people must be involved so that whatever is provided can be maintained locally.
District Grants are another category. These include local efforts such as our support of the Be Brave Ranch, or the Dawson Creek club partnering with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to provide books to children in small, isolated communities. They also provide scholarships that we give out. The goals are the projects must be small and short term, less than two years. They can be local or international and they are awarded yearly. They must adhere to stewardship guidelines and must demonstrate cultural sensitivity.
The Annual Fund Share program will invest whatever you contribute for three years, before the money starts to come back out. Fifty percent of the mone goes towards local districts to be used for District Grants. The remainder is used for Global Grants.
Our club’s average donation per member last year was one hundred and thirty dollars. Each time we make a donation to an eligible fund we gain points that are applicable towards a Paul Harris Fellowship. Once we have given one thousand dollars (American) we are awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship. We can also donate our points to other people.
The End Polio Now Campaign is also an important part of our Rotary giving. In 1985, when it began there were one hundred countries in the world where polio was endemic. Now, thanks to our efforts and those of others, there are only two countries left with endemic Polio. Afghanistan and Pakistan had one hundred thirty five cases last year. We are almost there in eradicating this terrible disease, we must keep on giving until it is gone completely. In our present COVID times, an added benefit of the Polio eradication effort has been that we have raised awareness of viral diseases worldwide, and we have trained people all over the world who are able to give vaccinations.
Rotary makes giving easy, through the MyRotary website. You have many different options to choose from. Please consider giving.
 
Tim Schilds, Rotary Foundation Month  Vi Hughes 2020-11-24 07:00:00Z 0

Norman Leach, Canada on the Home Front WWI
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 03, 2020
This past Tuesday we were pleased to hear another very interesting talk from Norman Leach. This time he spoke about the impact that World War I made on the lives of Canadians on the home front. Canada sent almost ten percent of it’s population, six hundred thousand men and women to fight in the war, and about ten percent of those died fighting. This was a very big contribution for a small country like Canada.
The popular song ‘How ya gonna keep them down on the farm, after they’ve seen Paree’, was an apt description of the changes the war made to the lives of these people, and once they returned home, Canada changed forever.  These mostly young men and women were overseas for up to five years. They had lived and fought in both small rural regions and the big cities of England, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Egypt and many other countries. The armed forces had a policy of sending their troops to live in local billets set up in local homes, barns or public buildings that were located in relatively safe regions at least five kilometers back from the front. They would be sent to the front to fight for one week then return to their billets for one week on a rotation basis. They were also given two weeks off each year to go back to London, Paris or another safe large center of their choice. These mostly rural Canadian farm boys got to see some very exotic places and many very different ways of life from what they had previously known.
Combine this with the technological advances that the war brought and the subsequent applications to everyday life, such as tractors and other heavy duty equipment for use on the farm and in industry, which meant that two people could now do the work it took twelve to do in the past and the impact on daily life in Canada was immense. Prior to the war farm families often had eight or more children as their labor was needed to get all the chores done. Smaller farm families now became viable. Trains became more efficient with the introduction of better engines, meaning transportation of people and goods became cheaper. People began moving into towns and cities for more industrialized mechanized jobs. Another technological advance from the war was the use of the airplane and after the war it helped to open up the country, with many of the wartime pilots becoming well known bush pilots, in the distant North.
The war also had a big impact on the roles of women in society. The absence of so many men for almost five years, meant that women had to become more independent and they were encouraged to take on work that would normally have been a man’s domain. Many women also served overseas. Most of these were nurses, who were given the status of officers to keep them from fraternizing with the enlisted men. They got a taste of having more independence, of making their own decisions and earning their own money. They did not want to give this up when the war ended. Women’s suffrage got a large boost from this.
The war also changed our financial ways of life forever as Canada introduced an Income Tax after the war to help to pay for the immense debt the country had incurred. This also resulted in the loss of the concept of ‘Noblesse Oblige’. This concept that ‘From whom great things are given, great things are expected’, where the more affluent in society were expected to make financial and other contributions to the country as a whole. During the war, the Eaton family gave up their mansion to the war department and lived in a small apartment throughout the rest of the war. They also made large financial contributions and paid for the salaries of many soldiers. These types of things all ended once income tax, came in.  
Lastly, the war changed the opinions of the British about the abilities of Canadian servicemen. At the beginning of the war they envisioned Canadians as fill-ins for units when they lost men. By the end of the war Canadian units were fighting side by side under their own leadership with the British. A Canadian officer Major General John Elmsley even commanded the British troops in Siberia near the end of the war. Canada was now considered to be a full and equal partner in the war effort.
Thus the war had resulted in permanent changes that would change our way of life forever.
We would like to thank Norman for this very interesting and informative talk and the renewed respect it gives us for the many thousands who have served our country as well as the many unexpected life changing impacts that this service has had on our country.
Norman Leach, Canada on the Home Front WWI  Vi Hughes 2020-11-03 07:00:00Z 0

Polio Plus Event Thanks
 

Posted by Jim Peddie on Oct 23, 2020
Congratulations to Trina Vandermeer and Benaiah Guarding Ltd for hosting a great Polio Plus event at MKT on Friday.
 
I want to express my and the club's appreciation for hosting a great event. Trina and her team put in a lot of hard work to make this an outstanding event. Trina also had many non-Rotarians there to introduce them to the Strathcona Rotary club. She had several retailers showing what their companies do and supplying prizes.
 
We were also live on Zoom thanks to Graham Gilchrist and Judith Pinto and Vince Campbell joined us. We also had Constable "pat me down” Heather de Kok making sure we raised money and providing frisking services as required, along with posting it on social media.
 
Thanks to all who attended and once again thanks to Trina and her team for making it possible.
Polio Plus Event Thanks  Jim Peddie 2020-10-23 06:00:00Z 0

Jim Ferguson, District Governor’s Message
 

This Tuesday we were glad to hear from our new District 5370 Governor, Jim Ferguson. Jim has been a Rotarian since 2005. He currently lives in Stony Plain, but due to the nature of his work, has been a member of E-Club of Canada since 2012. This means that he is also a bit of a techie and his presentation to our club on Zoom was done in the traditional e-club fashion of a pre-recorded video.
Jim presented the Rotary priorities for this year, in keeping with the Rotary International President Holger Knack’s theme of Rotary Opens Opportunities.
He encouraged strategic planning based on what we would like our club to look like five years from now. This includes increasing our impact in our community and expanding our reach by bringing in younger members. We can partially do this by increasing our Rotaract to Rotary crossover rate, which is currently only about five percent. Enhancing member participation through a variety of community volunteer, fundraising and social group activities and by increasing our ability to adapt to a changing world.
He said that the challenges of this year have forced Rotary to expand into areas that we may never have gone otherwise. He also asked us to keep in mind that our local Rotary districts have partnered with Inclusion Alberta to provide employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.
Jim commended our club on it’s wide variety of activities, fundraising opportunities and community support, and in particular how well we have adapted to the shift towards the use of technology in fundraising, hosting of meetings and other activities on-line The current restrictions on group meetings have forced each of us to think outside the box and come up with solutions to ensure that Rotary can continue to open opportunities for all.
Jim Ferguson, District Governor’s Message  Vi Hughes 2020-10-20 06:00:00Z 0
Maxwell de Kok receives Shelterbox award Heather de Kok 2020-10-09 06:00:00Z 0
District 5370 award 2020-10-09 06:00:00Z 0

COVID-19 Ventillator. Local development

Posted by Pradeep Dass on Oct 09, 2020
 
Pradeep is working on a unique ventilator to be provided to governments in the quest to support Covid -19 patients.  He advises that the prototype will be made public on May 6 and has shared the specifications with us. As well I have attached the presentation regarding the ventilator for all of us to see.  As a former ICU nurse and Instructor, I truly see the value of an artificial intelligence component which would monitor and manage a patient's ventilatory status without human intervention... Way to go Pradeep... We are all amazed at what you do!!!!
Below is the information Pradeep shared with me and now you...  The reference to the pages relates to the attached presentation.
 
Basic design attached refer page 6/7. It is a simple operator proof design and yet the most sophisticated ventilator available in the market if it goes to the market at all. It uses aerospace components and none of the medical components used by others.
 
 
The 1st prototype video will be out on May 6th for the world to see.  I hope I make it by this time.
 
 
A video of our first prototype will be out on or before May 6th.   Additional features included.
 
Just some extra information why our Ventilator will be very unique compared to even the largest manufacturers of ventilators in the world.
 
  1. It can be adapted to feed one and 20 + patients. Independently controlled for each patient.
  2. Medical personnel does not need to be close to the patient once hooked up as it can be operated remotely once hooked up.
  3. Screens are made large for quick visual and controls with remotely operated systems too.
  4. Specialists can dial in to the ventilator from anywhere in the world and operate it if required while supported by general hospital medical personnel at location.
  5. It can be hooked up in the hospital or in any field area set up to treat as it has its own oxygen and mixture device too. Assembled in module formats as required.
  6. Can be hooked up on the patient’s bed so that unhooking the ventilator while moving the patient may be avoided.
  7. Build in AI where you don’t need a highly trained nurse or respiratory specialist or a trained doctor as it will synchronize with the patient and make recommendations or continue to operate as required manually. Aerospace and Space Technology implemented. “Operator proof” is the plan by introducing AI features in the system. You enter data from around the world and see recommendations in real time for specific patients.
  8. Aerospace, Space and some Oil & Gas equipment parts are mainly used in the entire system with oxygen cleaned and certified as we will not run out of standard ventilator parts used by others.
 
Will go to certification by any interested manufacturer under Covid-19 expedited certifications initially if all goes well.
 
“There is many a slip between the cup and the sip” but we are learning quickly and used various medical consultants from the US and UK.
 
Pradeep
 
 
COVID-19 Ventillator. Local development Pradeep Dass 2020-10-09 06:00:00Z 0

Dr. Sean McMurtry and Berth Barberree, Canadian Centre for Men and Families
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Oct 07, 2020
This past Tuesday our speakers were Dr. Sean McMurtry and Beth Barberree from the Canadian Centre for Men and Families. The Canadian Centre for Men and Families is a national charity based in Ontario.
They first spoke to us last year when they told the story of their hopes and dreams for a local presence to our Rotary club. Sean and Beth both thanked us for our donation and said that with our help and that of many others, they have been able to organize and set up several programs in Edmonton to meet the needs of men and their families when families break down. Over the past year they have become much more organized and are now able to offer several programs based on what they have heard from the men they help. These men have told them that they need to feel heard, with no judgement, to be offered facilitated solutions that give them a better path forward, and all to be done with empathy and respect.
 
The programs that they currently offer are ones that were not available from other groups in our community. They now have a website (CCMF.ca) and a Facebook and Instagram presence to help let people know what they offer. Their programs include a thirteen week family abuse Recovery Program, a Men’s Peer Support Group, and a Legal Resources Program. These programs are designed to prevent feelings of isolation and stigma and to help prevent the acute mental health crises that can result.
 
They would especially like to thank rotarians Graham Gilchrist, Donna Hutton, Jim Pedde and Gord Sheppard (of Expert Training Solutions) for their help and advice. Over the past year, their programs have been able to give men a place to go where people listen and understand. They are now hearing that social services are recommending their programs to people in need. They now have a full-time program director and are building their trained volunteer base so that they can expand their services. Their top three goals for the next year are to increase their outreach, diversify their fundraising and implement organizational strategies to improve and stay on track with their goals. They aim to be professional and offer a high quality of service to their clients.
 
As Sean and Beth both said, when you help men and their families when families break down, you help the entire community.
Dr. Sean McMurtry and Berth Barberree, Canadian Centre for Men and Families  Vi Hughes 2020-10-07 06:00:00Z 0

Basically Babies Donation
 

Posted by Rose Marie Basaraba on Oct 07, 2020
Thanks to the generosity of Club members, President, Jim Peddie, along with Rose Marie Basaraba, delivered an SUV filled with bags and baskets of baby clothes, blankets and accessories to Basically Babies on September 30th.
 
This local charitable organization provides layettes to newborn babies whose families are in financial need. On behalf of Basically Babies, Chelsea, their representative, expressed her gratitude to Club members who donated the items during the month of September. Our substantial donation was transferred into a trailer outside the facility. Due to COVID restrictions, tours of the facility are cancelled. 
 
This was yet another proud example of RCES serving the community. (Thank you to Audrey Martyn for storage and organization of donated items prior to delivery).
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basically Babies Donation  Rose Marie Basaraba 2020-10-07 06:00:00Z 0

Basically Babies Donation Deadline

Posted by Rose Marie Basaraba on Sep 18, 2020
Please be reminded that the deadline for donations to "Basically Babies" fundraiser is September 22, or the day of our face to face meeting at the University Club, formerly Faculty Club.
 

We are collecting clothing items for 0-24 months  to make up layettes for families  lacking the financial resources  to provide for their babies.  The baskets are designed so thst family members feel a great deal of personal worth and dignity as they enter parenthood.  We plan to make one layette for a boy and one for a girl.

These layettes provide the basic necessities for the first 24 months of life.  Please purchase items from the list below and you can bring them to the meeting on September 22 at the University Club.

Questions call Rose Marie (780) 951-5224 or Audrey 780-722-4262.

ITEMS NEEDED:: socks, shoes, slippers, bibs, towels, receiving blankets, blankets, snowsuits, hats, mitts, sweaters, jackets dresses, pants shirts , tops, storybooks, stuffed toys (small and new).  clothing can be new or gentally used.

Basically Babies Donation Deadline Rose Marie Basaraba 2020-09-18 06:00:00Z 0

Jordan Schwann, 2020 Economic Update
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 17, 2020
This Tuesday we heard on ZOOM from Jordan Schwann, a Portfolio Manager with Newport Wealth. Newport has been in business for twenty years and has about three billion dollars in assets under management. About thirty percent of their client base is in Alberta.
 
Jordan first talked about the effect of the COVID pandemic on our economy. COVID is a world-wide pandemic with significant numbers of infections and deaths which have had and will continue to have a significant effect on economies around the world. He said that there is no way we can go back to normal until we have a vaccine. Vaccine development is ongoing in many companies and countries around the world. There are presently nine companies with a vaccine in final approval Stage 3 trials. Hopefully, several of these will be available sometime next year.
 
The economic effects of this pandemic have been the sharpest and deepest global recession since the Great Depression. Real GDP growth was already slowing in 2019, but the pandemic effects of business shutdowns pushed it down even further. Central banks and governments have provided monetary stimulus and have cut interest rates to help to compensate. This has resulted in massive purchases of bonds, securities, ETFs and hi yield bonds. Globally governments have spent ten trillion US dollars. Our economy in North America lost about ten-years-worth of job gains in the first few months of the pandemic.  Jordan said that only about fifty percent of those jobs have been regained so far. Fortunately, consumer spending has held up really well throughout, which shows that government transfer payments for low income individuals are working. Unfortunately, one area that is not doing well is small businesses, which are still down about twenty percent. Very large corporations are doing fine finding funds as they can issue bonds, but some large companies in hard hit sectors such as travel, energy and real estate are going bankrupt, if they did not have enough cash flow to cover their debt.
 
Financial markets sold off quickly at the beginning of the pandemic but rebounded as soon as the central banks stepped in. At the moment the market is showing some unusual trends. The S&P 500 is currently dominated by the values of just six stocks, Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google and Microsoft. They currently make up twenty five percent of the entire value of the S&P 500. These companies are attracting a lot of interest right now, but investors should be sure that they are purchasing good companies at a good price as well. Some market corrections are most likely coming. Governments are using low interest rates to support markets, and this is bad news for the bond market. This means people are putting their money into the stock market. Average investors need to think about how to generate income in this environment as low interest rates are here to stay for a while. Some factors to consider are the speed of vaccine development and the correlated economic recovery, the current social and political unrest, inflation rates and levels of pre-existing debt. He said that a broad diversification of investments is the best approach to deal with all of these things.
Jordan Schwann, 2020 Economic Update  Vi Hughes 2020-09-17 06:00:00Z 0
Celina's YEX presentation Celina Jensen 2020-08-15 06:00:00Z 0 Celina
Little Warriors playground Jim Peddie 2020-08-11 06:00:00Z 0 little warriors

History in the Making

Posted by Hans GRANHOLM on Aug 07, 2020
Congratulations to Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland (Ontario, Canada) member Jennifer Jones - who will become the first female Rotary International President in the organization's 115-year history in 2022-23!!
 
 
 
Jennifer Jones, Rotary Foundation Trustee 2019-23
 
Jennifer Jones is the president and CEO of Media Street Productions Inc., an award-winning television production company in Windsor. Jones has served Rotary in many roles, including as RI vice president in 2016-17. She is co-chair of the End Polio Now: Make History Today campaign to raise $150 million. She has been a leader in cultivating experiential fundraising opportunities such as Rotary’s Polio Golf Day with Jack Nicklaus in Jupiter, Florida, USA, which raised over $5.25 million for polio eradication.
 
Jones has been recognized with many awards, including the Service Above Self Award and the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service, the YMCA Peace Medallion, and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, and she was the first Canadian to receive Wayne State University’s Peacemaker of the Year Award.
 
Jones and her husband, Nick Krayacich, are members of the Arch Klumph Society and the Paul Harris Society and charter members of the Bequest Society.
History in the Making Hans GRANHOLM 2020-08-07 06:00:00Z 0 Jones

Carin Jansen van Vuuren, Classification Talk
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jul 23, 2020
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This Tuesday we heard from Carin Jansen van Vuuren. Carin has been a member of our club for six years, but in some ways she has been a Rotarian all of her life.  Carin was born in South Africa and grew up in Pietersburg in a Rotarian family. Carin’s father was an active Rotarian, and a Past District Governor (PDG) in South Africa, all of his life and Carin was encouraged to take part in many different Rotarian causes and activities from the time she was a child.  
 
Carin attended University in South Africa and obtained an honors degree in Political Science and Administration. She then went on to work in the office of the Minister of Constitutional Development in South Africa. When at dept of constitutional development we were tasked to negotiate the new constitution for SA. While there she had the privilege of meeting many well-respected people of the 1980’s in the government of South Africa.  In 1988 she married Stephan and in 1990 they decided to come to Canada. Stephan had been offered a position in Eston, Saskatchewan. At first, they had not planned on staying in one place for long, planning to travel around and see North America, both US and Canada. Carin said that stepping off the plane, for the first time, in minus twenty weather, in Saskatoon, was quite a shock.
 
They then moved on to Two Hills in Alberta. As Carin was not allowed to work here, she kept herself busy around Stephan’s office and with community activities. They soon decided to invest in a local newspaper and Carin learned how to do layout and printing. She would get Stephan to help out as well in the evenings. In 1995 they became Canadian citizens with dual South African citizenship.
 
Carin loved organizing and administrative work. For several years they organized a South African music festival that took place in Canmore each summer and had a lot of fun doing this. In 2000, Stephan and Carin started organizing yearly tours for people to South Africa. These trips include tours of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. She still does these tours and has made met many wonderful people and made a lot of new friends doing this. In 2008, Carin started a property management company, focused on single family housing. It was quite a challenge for Carin to become familiar with home maintenance and dealing with all of the various trades involved.
 
On 15 Jul 2014 Carin became a member of our Rotary Club. Her father came for her induction. She said that he gave her one piece of good advice. He said, ”Be a Rotarian, don’t just wear a badge.” We know that Carin has followed this advice in every way and has been a wonderful asset to our club ever since. This sage advice is something that we all should strive to follow.
Carin Jansen van Vuuren, Classification Talk  Vi Hughes 2020-07-23 06:00:00Z 0

Amarok Update Jul 2020

Posted by Amarok on Jul 20, 2020
AMAROK UPDATE – JULY 2020
 
OVERVIEW
 
COVID-19 has reached a new height of infections as of mid-July, penetrating every slum in which we operate. The healthcare system is woefully underequipped to deal with or track an outbreak of this magnitude. The best calculation we can get on COVID’s impact is through the grave diggers who, by mid-June, were burying 10 times the number of people on a daily basis as pre-COVID-19.
 
But the immediate impact on the physical health of people is only part of the story.
 
 
The lockdown has caused severe economic hardship – in particular for our families living in the slums. Just imagine being confined to stay in a hut barely larger than the bed you lay on. There is no television or internet and you’ve never been able to afford a phone or even a radio.
After two months of such confinement, domestic violence and mental health are serious issues. So is constant hunger, and even starvation, as there is no way for most to make money to buy food.
 
All of the Amarok mothers have shared the importance of regular hand-washing and social distancing with their community, like Helena below. Though, short of growing a pair of wings, there’s little a person in these communities can do to avoid close interaction with others in shared spaces.
All of the Amarok mothers have shared the importance of regular hand-washing and social distancing with their community, like Helena below. Though, short of growing a pair of wings, there’s little a person in these communities can do to avoid close interaction with others in shared spaces.
 
 
Many of the Amarok mothers have helped the very poorest families register for the government’s sporadic handouts of rice and occasional onions or potatoes. And, despite most of our mothers and families not having enough food, to date no one has died of starvation. When a neighboring family is absolutely desperate, others come together and provide gifts of rice, lentils, onions, etc. The tone of these neighborhoods has been coloured by the Amarok mothers.
 
Quarterly Highlights
 
ASMA BECOMES A SINGLE MOTHER
 
 
In mid-April, Asma’s husband, jobless since the lockdown, left the shack and never came back. 28 year old Asma and her 2 little girls, 8 and 4, had to manage on their own, in the face of starvation.
 
As a mother attending an Amarok school, Asma had become resourceful and had learned to sew. But people were not interested in new dresses these days with the lockdown. But Asma had an idea. With the last of her small savings, she went to the market and bought small pieces of patterned material. Out of these she made attractive masks for both adults and children.  She is now earning almost $1/day in a time when others are jobless.
 
This has allowed Asma to buy enough food for herself and the girls with some left to help those in greatest need. She gives masks for free to some of the poorest children. And like all the other Amarok mothers, she keeps in communication with the 5 neighborhood children she’s been teaching and their families throughout this stressful time.
 
 
PARTNER ROTARY CLUBS
 
The Rotary Partners of Amarok in Bangladesh include the Rotary Club of Shaikat Cox’s Bazar, Cox’s Bazar City and Inner Wheel Cox’s Bazar. They  have all provided food assistance to the mothers of Cox’s Bazar during the pandemic.
 
 
Our other partner, the Rotary Club of Midtown Dhaka, is also planning to provide a food package soon. Through generous support from Canadians and Americans, Amarok has also been able to provide food packages to all mothers of the 23 schools and is a wonderful demonstration of the heart-to-heart connection around the world.
 
 
 
SUJON
 
 
My name is Sujon. I’m 13. I have 2 older brothers and 2 younger brothers. We live in one small room with my parents. Me and my brothers share 1 bed. Since I was 11 I’ve been working but I did not like the work and the days were very long. I had to lift heavy things from morning ‘til night.
 
One evening on my way home from work, I met another boy who lived nearby. He told me about an Amarok mini-school that was teaching him to read and write. We asked the mother who was teaching the 5 children if I could join. She met my parents and they said yes. I was so happy. This has let me enroll in the government school too because I don’t need to hire a tutor –my mother-teacher helps me. I am teaching my other brothers what I am learning.
 
When COVID hit our slum, my government school and my mini-school were closed down, my dad lost his job and my brothers were paid less for the same work. We fell behind in our rent by 3 months and every night I was hungry.
 
Then my mother-teacher told me the corner store needed a boy to work 3 hours every morning. I went with my dad to meet the shop owner. The man thought I would not be able to do it. But he gave me some tests of reading labels, weighing and calculating price of vegetables. I could do it and he immediately hired me. Now, every day I work in the shop in the mornings, do my own studying in the afternoon and teach my brothers in the evening. The owner loves me very much and I am so proud to help my family.
 
SHAHINUR’S MISSION
 
12 year old Shahinur has attended a neighbour-mother’s mini-school for the past 3 years. Now,  she can read almost anything. When lockdown came to her slum she could see how desperate, scared and alone everyone felt. The children were crying, Adults were arguing. She saw how sad people were. And her own parents were desperate. The landlord was threatening them with eviction for nonpayment of rent for 3 months, and they were hungry.
 
Shahinur, wearing green below, decided she would do something about this. At first, she talked to people she saw about the importance of frequent hand-washing. But then she had an idea to make a bigger difference:
 
 
  • She went to the landlord and asked if she could tutor his 2 daughters in exchange for rent. He agreed.
  • Next, she decided that every day she would read tales from her mini-school book of stories to groups of little children.
  • With older children she teaches them new games – and always carries extra masks (from Amarok) to give to others.
  • She talks to other girls her age about things that matter to them.
  • She reads the newspaper to older people.
Shahinur is making a very big difference to the well-being of others by connecting with them and helping them. She’s not feeling so very little anymore  - she knows she’s making a big difference.
 
WHAT’S NEXT?
 
With the number of new cases still peaking, it’s likely that the families in the slums of Bangladesh and Pakistan are in for several more months of the COVID-19 lockdown. We can count on our Amarok mothers to continue the leadership role they’ve assumed, but mass starvation looms with a continuation of this situation.
 
We will be launching Facebook campaigns starting mid-July to raise money to buy rice and lentils for the thousand families we work most closely with.
 
ZOOM UPDATES
 
If you’re a member of a Rotary club, other service club or connected to another group of concerned people and are interested in receiving an online-update about what’s happening with the mothers, children and families we serve in the slums of Bangladesh and Pakistan, please be in touch with us at amaroksociety.org@gmail.com
 
 
 
Amarok Update Jul 2020 Amarok 2020-07-20 06:00:00Z 0

ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS!

Posted by Donna Hutton on Jul 03, 2020
 
ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS AND GUESTS OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF EDMONTON STRATHCONA
 
Over the past week, the implications for group meetings as a result of the Corona Virus have changed. Some of the notifications we have recieved from national and international health advisory organizations are suggesting curtailment of group meetings.
 
Although our Rotary meetings have usually less than 50 people our concern is that our population is an at risk group because of age and predisposition to international travel.
 
As a result, our Board has decided to  cancel our weekly meetings until further notice and reassess based upon further developments. We will provide updates to all of you as we continue to monitor developments. Please let us know if anyone needs assistance during this trying time....as always we support each other! 
 
Thank you, 
ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS! Donna Hutton 2020-07-03 06:00:00Z 0 covid
Highlights (pictures) from parking lot turnover meeting 2020-06-19 06:00:00Z 0

Letter of appreciation from Ronald McDonald House

Posted by Eric Germain on Apr 27, 2020
 
Hello Rotary Friends,

Trust you and your families are OK in these challenging times.

Please find below, a nice letter we received today from Ronald McDonald House recognizing their volunteers, including our Rotary Interact Clubs.

We have participated in the RMH Home For Dinner Program for over 10 years.

In addition our Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona recently donated money for groceries for the residents at RMH. These funds had been allocated to the future Home For Dinner events this year that were cancelled.

Thanks to everyone who helped and supported our Rotary Interact Clubs at J. Percy Page & Wagner Schools. We had a great Rotary Interact school year until we had to hit the pause button with the community and global health concern.

Nice to know we are still positively impacting people on a daily basis in the community at this time including RMH.


Until we meet again, either in person or virtual.

Healthy Best Rotary Regards,

Eric
 
 
THANK YOU!

On Volunteer Appreciation Week, we want to send a message of thanks to the 337 in-House volunteers and the over 8,500 event and Home for Dinner volunteers who contributed their time to RMHC Alberta last year.

It has been said that our volunteers are the heart of our Houses, and this simply can't be overstated. Our volunteers give so much more than just their time; each of our volunteers play an essential role in supporting our mission and caring for our families.

Whether it's a warm cookie, a greeting smile, a clean room, a hot meal, a fun craft, or selling raffle tickets at an event, our volunteers indirectly touch our families in all kinds of different ways.

Most recently, in light of COVID-19, many of our Home for Dinner volunteers stepped up as a part of our #HeroFromHome campaign and we are so grateful for your contributions to keep food on the table for our families.

We wish we could celebrate with you in person, and we miss your presence greatly. Like all of you, we are staying safe with our families, and looking forward to a time when the RMHC Alberta family can be together again.

Please know that we are thinking of you -- not just this week, but every week. RMHC Alberta simply couldn't do what it does without our volunteers.

All the best,
[https://mcusercontent.com/f65ef96142494dca388df0eca/images/ec93a522-a187-44d7-ad3e-157227db939d.jpg]
Jason Evanson
CEO, RMHC Alberta


UPCOMING EVENTS


Due to COVID-19 some of our Signature Events have been rescheduled or postponed. The dates below may still be subject to change, but more volunteer details will be shared in the coming months.


  *   Hustle for the House VIRTUAL Run: July 6 - 12
  *   Red Deer Charity Golf Classic: TBD
  *   RMHC Alberta Polo Classic: Postponed until 2021
  *   Grande Prairie Charity Golf Classic: TBD
  *   Shoot for the House Lethbridge: Postponed until 2021
  *   Shoot for the House Winfield: TBD
  *   Shoot for the House Grande Prairie: September 12
  *   Canmore Charity Golf Classic: September 17
  *   Lakeland Charity Golf Classic: September 26
  *   Once Upon A Time Ball: October 17
  *   Taste of Home Calgary: November 14
  *   Taste of Home Edmonton: November 18
  *   House of Hope: December 11

 
Letter of appreciation from Ronald McDonald House Eric Germain 2020-04-27 06:00:00Z 0

A Lesson From History

Posted by Frank Helman
Publ.: Frank Helman is a nonagenarian Rotarian in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. His wife, Marty, is a PDG in district 7780, currrently governor trainer and past zone newsletter editor 
 
The most lethal pandemic to hit the United States was the 1918 Spanish flu, which was responsible for about 675,000 American deaths, according to estimates cited by the C.D.C.
 
The Institute for Disease Modeling calculated that the new coronavirus is roughly equally transmissible as the 1918 flu, and just slightly less clinically severe, and it is higher in both transmissibility and severity compared with all other flu viruses in the past century.
 
Researchers studied deaths during that pandemic a century ago, comparing the experiences of various cities, including what were then America's third and fourth largest, Philadelphia and St. Louis.  In October of that year Dr. Rupert Blue, America's surgeon general, urged local authorities to “close all public gathering places if their community is threatened with the epidemic,” such as schools, churches, and theaters."  There is no way to put a nationwide closing order into effect,” he wrote, “as this is a matter which is up to the individual communities.”
 
The mayor of St. Louis quickly took that advice, closing for several weeks “theaters, moving picture shows, schools, pool and billiard halls, Sunday schools, cabarets, lodges, societies, public funerals, open air meetings, dance halls and conventions until further notice.”  The death rate rose, but stayed relatively flat over that autumn.
 
By contrast, the epidemic had started in Philadelphia before Dr. Blue's warning, so it had taken none of those measures.  Its death rate skyrocketed.  (Source:  The New York Times, March 14, 2020)
 
The lesson:  The more drastic the restrictions, and the sooner they are implemented, the more favorable will be the outcome. 
 
Please forward, especially to anyone who can take appropriate action. 
 
Frank G. Helman
88 Appalachee Road • Boothbay Harbor, Maine 04538
(207) 233-8740 • frankhelman@polaris.net
A Lesson From History Frank Helman 2020-03-27 06:00:00Z 0

Celina home safe

Posted on Mar 27, 2020
 
Celina arrived safely in Denmark today, March 27th, and received the Royal treatment on her arrival home.
Here she is with her dad, Allan, mom Katja and sister Fiona and note the RED CARPET at their home!
 
Thanks to the Youth Exchange Board consisting of inbound counselor Lynne Fisher (Edmonton South), outbound counselor Vince Campbell, Donna Hutton, Kelsey Demer (Edmonton South) and Al Pierog (Edmonton South) and our treasurer Graham Gilchrist.
 
 
 
Celina home safe 2020-03-27 06:00:00Z 0

Some usefull tips from the Jewish Seniors Center

Posted on Mar 26, 2020
 
USEFUL INFO
 
North Edmonton Seniors Association has created a handy list of seniors' shopping hours at grocery stores. During these times, the intention is that stores will only be open for seniors.
  • Costco: 8-9 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday
  • Italian Centre Shop: 9-10 a.m., Monday and Thursday
  • Safeway: 7-8 a.m., daily
  • Save-On Foods: 7-8 a.m., daily
  • Shoppers Drug Mart: 8-9 a.m., daily (hours vary by location) 
  • Sobeys: 7-8 a.m., daily
  • Sunterra: 8-9 a.m., Wednesday and Saturday
  • Superstore: 7-8 a.m., daily
  • Walmart: 7-8 a.m., weekdays 
STAY FIT BY EXERCISING AT HOME
 
Just because you're at home doesn't mean you have to go into couch potato mode. This collection of exercise resources can help you work up a sweat from your living room and maintain your active lifestyle. 
 
JDIC Senior Citizen's Centre
10052 - 117 St.
PO Box 17017
Edmonton, AB T5K 0G4
 
Some usefull tips from the Jewish Seniors Center 2020-03-26 06:00:00Z 0

News from Stephanie Leach in France

 
Salut tout le monde,
 
I hope all is well with you, I'm doing very well here in France. As the seventh-month mark of my exchange nears, I am so amazed by how fast everything is going by. Right now all I wish would happen is that everything stops and will never end.
 
Rotary Youth Exchange is made to push you out of your comfort zone, this is something I've learned time and time again. It was never made to be easy. Exchange is designed to make leaders that can move forward in life and change the world.
 
In January, I switched host families. What a change!  I've never had any brothers, only sisters. My extent of "brothers" in my life would be my two dogs Whiskey and Baileys back home.
 
Imagine my surprise when I found myself right in the middle of a family with four sons. I can tell you that I am not prepared for this upcoming April Fools. My younger brother, Charles-Antoine and one of my older brothers, Axel, have had the opportunity to take these two weeks to begin planning April Fool pranks.
 
This will be the first year that I will be needing to be on my toes, as it will not be like my father who said: "look there are coyotes in the backyard" and that was April Fools.  I am now preparing myself for toothpaste Oreos, hot sauce in ice cream and ice cubes down the shirt.
 
As the French government has asked everyone to stay at home, my host mom is with us 24/7.  I'm very happy that she's here because it balances out the boy to girl ratio in the house. Though the balance is thrown off when my host dad comes home from work.
 
My host mom is a speech therapist, putting her incredible teaching skills to use she is teaching me with my grammar. My host Dad works in the military and works 4 days out of 7.
 
It's been two weeks since school has been officially closed, yet classes continue. My teachers have switched to online courses. For the first time this year, my class is completely silent. Not a peep nor complaint breaks the silence that fills the room, also known as my bedroom. I am pretty sure the fact that we have to mute our microphones might have something to do with it.
 
Even though I'm at home enjoying the weather and the pool, there is no lack of homework, and there is no lack of not wanting to do the homework.
 
When I'm not working at school I am either exercising with my host mom, having family conversations, or beating my host brothers at video games.
 
It may seem that the routine of school, grammar, poolside lounging, and video game victories may become boring, but I promise you that there is no lack of adventures. Just this past week I got the chance to experience what it would be like to be an exterminator.
 
How did I  experience being an exterminator from the comfort of my own home you may ask, well let me tell you. As I am doing online courses, I've found myself working at my desk and in my room quite frequently.  Last week,  I would see ants parade across my desk or on the floor near my desk.
 
My host family and I assumed that the ants, looking for someplace warm, were coming from the vents that are in my bathroom. We placed ant poison in the vents and waited a couple of days.
 
Still, I had ants using my desk as a fashion runway. It was only when my host mom, when searching through her papers in the desk drawer that she located the colony of ants that had found a way into the wood of the desk drawer. With a spritz of ant spray, they were all dead.
 
My host family is taking this time to teach me not only French grammar but the fine arts of cinema, opera, and music that the French have to offer.
 
I have watched two incredible French films, La Grande  Vadrouille and Les Choristes. As the Opera House of Paris has closed, they have decided to stream their performances of ballets, operas, and plays for the public to see on TV. My host mom and I take some of our afternoons to enjoy these performances.
 
To take a break from our busy week, my host family has taken Wednesday afternoon as our anti-technology and family bonding time. We take this time to play board games, talk, eat cookies and chocolate.
 
My host dad takes this time to purposely mispronounce English words to bother me. Further, as we have many more Wednesdays ahead of us, I decided to order an 890 piece 3D puzzle.
 
Back home in Canada my family and I enjoy completing puzzles such as this one, and my host family is very excited to take on the challenge.
 
As you all know, many exchange students have decided to go back to their home countries. My parents back in Canada and I have decided to finish my exchange. In a district that started as 17 students, we are now down to 6. I've said farewell to many friends. I will not lie, many tears have been shed.
 
One of the hardest farewells was to one of my best friends, Osha. Eva ( from Argentina), Osha (from the U.S), and I have become sisters. At the airport, my heart was breaking as I said "see you soon" to a sister, not knowing when it will be.
 
Eva was also considering leaving, but the Argentinian embassy told her to stay put. I am very happy with that decision - I will not lie. I was very prepared, and scared, that I would have to "say see you soon" to another sister.
 
Though I miss all my friends who have left, I know that I will see them in the years to come, and at the 5-year reunion set for 2025. So this is just a pause on our adventures together.
 
The French government may have me at home, but I would not want to be anywhere else. I am so happy to be here in France living out a dream that is my reality.
 
I am going to use each day to the fullest. I am going to enjoy French cheese and baguettes; swim in the pool while enjoying the wonderful 20-degree weather, as much as I can in the remaining months.
 
I am waiting for all the adventures ahead of me. I promise that I will make you proud, and I promise to bring home the trophy of "Survivor of RYE 2020."
 
Au revoir,


Stephanie Leach
 
News from Stephanie Leach in France Stephanie Leach 2020-03-26 06:00:00Z 0

Survey Results 2020

Posted by Donna Hutton on Mar 18, 2020
 
Edmonton Strathcona Rotary Club Members, please find attached the results of our most recent member satisfaction survey which many of you completed in February of this year. 
 
Please note that Dimitri has done an outstanding job of analyzing the results and providing us with a report format which clearly demonstrates the progress we have made related to the issues identified last year. The information on the right of the chart indicates the responses from last year and the table on the left are the results from this year. 
 
As you can see, the issues from last year regarding the meeting venue and meals are no longer issues thanks to Woodvale and its staff!!! We appear to have strong support for fellowship meetings, so we will be reviewing how these might be  incorporated into our weekly schedule on an ongoing basis.  Thirdly, we still need to focus on how we might increase opportunities to have members invite family, colleagues and friends to our meetings.
 
Lastly, we need to address our annual fees.  If you have any questions about these results please email or call me.

In the coming weeks, while we do not have our meetings, I will communicate each Tuesday with you by email through the very helpful assistance of Hans...  thank you Hans..  so stay tuned to more information each week.

Donna
Survey Results 2020 Donna Hutton 2020-03-18 06:00:00Z 0

Dr. Jim Sandercock

Posted by Bob Sandercock on Mar 18, 2020
This is a presentation our son Jim (Dr. J.R. Sandercock) did for NAIT
   Many of us are in the highly susceptible age so take all precautions!!
 
He is a PHD in micro biology Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.  
 
Hi Everyone,
 
I don’t post to these groups too often – I sort of smushed a few of them together into a single mail list.
 
Recently I did a safety moment for our school and then re-recorded a version of it for people who were absent.  You might find this helpful: this disease is definitely something we should be vigilant about, and fortunately there are some logical and simple steps we can take to minimize the impacts on ourselves and our society. 
 
You can watch the talk at https://nait.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=3fb6cd12-2b5d-492f-9c23-ab80016de90d. Some of the animations were not captured, but you can reproduce these at the Washington Post at this link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/
 
Stay well!
Jim Sandercock
Dr. Jim Sandercock Bob Sandercock 2020-03-18 06:00:00Z 0

Shelterbox and COVID-19

Posted on Mar 18, 2020
 
USE for all EMAIL
USE for all EMAIL
 
As trusted partners in disaster relief I want to give you an update on the measures ShelterBox is taking regarding Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) as well the possible impacts on ShelterBox and our work.
 
ShelterBox is taking the spread of COVID-19 very seriously. We are implementing precautions and measures to protect our staff and volunteers as well as the communities we work with. We are working hard to prevent the transfer of the virus through our work and to reduce any potential disruption of our support for families after disaster.
 
It is not yet clear what the extent of the impact the virus will have on our supply chain but we have a significant quantity of aid stored in prepositions warehouses if needed. Our team is also working closely with our travel and security provides, and we are committed to following the advice of local health authorities and the World Health Organization.
 
While things feel very uncertain at the moment, I know that as people of action we are keen to lead and support our communities through this challenging time.
 
As more and more clubs are looking to continue their fellowship and meetings online, ShelterBox is offering virtual presentations to engage members. We are available for live virtual presentations or we have a pre-recorded 20th anniversary presentation here: shelterboxcanada.org/actiontoolkit/presentation.
 
Even while the true impacts of COVID-19 remain unclear we know that disasters are unpredictable and it is a possibility that a disaster will occur in the coming months. We will continue to work hard to prevent the transfer of the virus through our work and to reduce any potential disruption of our support of families after disaster.
 
It is through your previous and continued generosity that we are able to provide safe emergency shelter, light for families on the darkest nights, clean drinking water to promote hand washing and prevent the spread of other diseases and ultimately the ability for families to recover. Thank you.
 
Please stay safe during these times and we will keep you updated if anything changes.
 
Yours in Service,
Tess Widdifield
Acting Executive Director
Member, The Rotary Club of Toronto Twilight
 
Please note, the ShelterBox Canada office is currently working remotely. You can still reach our office between 9am - 5pm EDT or you can reach me directly with any questions or concerns at (519) 318-0886.
Shelterbox and COVID-19 2020-03-18 06:00:00Z 0

W.P. Wagner Rotary Interact Club Update

Posted by Vi Hughes on Mar 12, 2020
This week we welcomed several members of the W.P. Wagner Rotary Interact club to our lunch meeting.
Their president, Jasmine, gave us a short update on some of the fundraisers and events they have organized this past year.
Two of the charities they have chosen to support are Ronald McDonald House and the Grandmother’s Campaign.  
W.P. Wagner Rotary Interact Club Update Vi Hughes 2020-03-12 06:00:00Z 0

Brent Francis, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce

Posted by Vira Hughes on Mar 12, 2020

This past Tuesday we heard from Brent Francis, the Director of Advocacy and Outreach for the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. Brent told us that the role of the Chamber is to Advocate, Educate and Connect businesses from the greater Edmonton area. He said that they have nineteen hundred member companies in the metro Edmonton area. They help their members to grow and succeed by hosting events, providing trade workshops and providing networking opportunities. They also have partnerships with other business communities around the world. They are part of the Canadian Global Cities Council, a coalition that represents more than fifty percent of the people in Canada. They also work with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and those in more northerly communities to ensure that businesses in all of Alberta benefit.

Brent said that right now, many businesses are struggling trying to keep the doors open and to attract investment. The chamber advocates on behalf of their members to promote projects such as the trans mountain pipeline. They also advocate for regulations that will make running a business easier for their members, such as more consistency from province to province. He said that right now, when moving large loads on highways, BC only allows transport during daylight and Alberta only allows transport at night. Sizes of product allowed for sale are often different from province to province. Certification for trades is different from province to province. All of these things make it difficult for a local business to expand to other provinces. On the federal front the pipelines are a big issue right now. Eighty percent of our oil is currently exported to the US, but they are becoming a less reliable customer so we need to expand and sell our product to overseas markets.

He said that he wished he had some good news to give us, but that he was actually here to tell us the truth. We would like to thank him for his very honest and interesting presentation.

Brent Francis, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce Vira Hughes 2020-03-12 06:00:00Z 0

Just when I thought I’d seen it all at a makeup

Posted by Ivan Docker on Mar 06, 2020
Just when I thought I’d seen it all at a makeup,  today a visiting Rotarian, who is the current president from the Rotary Cub of North Kohala in Wimea, about a 1.5 hour drive from Kona, brought along an item that had been given to his club by an elderly lady from Wimea. 
 
The item:  a licence plate (shown in the photo) from the St. Albert Rotary Club!  An impromptu auction took place as a fund raiser, and the licence plate went for $100!
Just when I thought I’d seen it all at a makeup Ivan Docker 2020-03-06 07:00:00Z 0

Nathan Cooper, The Role of the House Speaker

Posted by Vi Hughes on Mar 05, 2020
This week we heard from the Honorable Nathan Cooper, the UCP MLA for Olds, Didsbury, Three Hills and the fourteenth Speaker of the Alberta Legislative Assembly. Nathan told us that he is a former Rotary Exchange student and that he still feels the impact that the people he met during that year made on him.
 
He was first elected to the Legislature in 2015 and was re-elected in 2019.
He said that as speaker he is responsible for the five hundred employees of the legislative office. He is also responsible for ensuring that the rules for the assembly are applied equally and that every member has the resources they need to do their job.  He said that he thinks that people are losing faith in their democratic institutions because they don’t know what goes on behind those doors. He thinks that educating the public about the processes of the legislature, such as the role of the speaker, will help to restore their faith.
 
The role of the speaker is to be a non-partisan arbiter, calling out people for offensive language and defending the rights to free speech and assembly. It also includes enduring filibusters that are long on speeches and short on bathroom breaks. He then went on to talk a little about the history of the role of the speaker in our British system. He said that originally the speaker was responsible for relaying the wishes of the monarch to Parliament, and that quite a few speakers in the past were executed by Parliament for just doing their jobs. We still see a little of this history when the speaker is preceded by the mace, the symbol of the monarch, when they enter the assembly each day.
 
In closing he said that our provincial motto, Fortis et Libre, (Strong and Free) captures the spirit of our province by stating that we want to remain strong and free. He hopes that in his role as speaker he helps to ensure this.
Nathan Cooper, The Role of the House Speaker Vi Hughes 2020-03-05 07:00:00Z 0

Letter of Thanks from Combined Rotary Women’s School, Dhaka, Bangladesh
 

Posted by Ken Germain on Mar 02, 2020
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Dear Rotary Club of Strathcona, Mayfield, Urban Spirits, Whyte Avenue and Hinton,
 
We hope you all are well in Canada. We are fine and our school is going well. The children we are teaching are also well in good health. Their education is going well. This is our pleasure to share with you about our progress and initiatives. We het inspiration from our school to improve our life and develop our livelihood. We dream for a better future for our children and for the neighborhood children we teach.
 
 
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Letter of Thanks from Combined Rotary Women’s School, Dhaka, Bangladesh  Ken Germain 2020-03-02 07:00:00Z 0

Letter of Thanks from Karla Sarahi, Project Amigo, Colima

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Dear Godparents, Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona.

 

Hello, I hope you are very well, and thank you very much for continuing to support me in my studies, I thank you very much with all my heart and I will not let you down, I am really looking forward to my studies so that you feel lucky of me and do not regret Of having supported me.

In this month I had a great time, they have already left me homework, I already entered the school again and beginning the first week they left me homework, but for my part it is fine to be able to understand new topics that we will see , they are still the same teachers, I already know them all and also how is their way of teaching, but more than anything I have to feel like it because it is the last semester, about to end this stage.

 

I feel very happy but at the same time very nervous because we have to see the races which one we like the most, it catches our attention, I really feel very stressed about all this we have to do, apart from all the tasks that leave us and projects, but I know that I can get ahead, I know that all I am achieving is for all the effort and dedication to my studies and because I want a nice future and be a graduate, work on something that I like, but All this is worth it, so I have more courage to move on and it doesn't matter if I reveal myself, stress, cry. But I know that everything I am doing will be worth it.

Letter of Thanks from Karla Sarahi, Project Amigo, Colima Ken Germain 2020-03-02 07:00:00Z 0

Letter of Thanks from Yoselin Ramirez, Amigo Project Fellow

Posted by Ken Germain on Mar 02, 2020
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Dear godparents of Rotary club of Edmonton Strathcona!

 

Hello dear godparents, how have you been ?, I hope you are in very good health and have a nice day, I send you this letter that I wrote with love to you to thank you for all the support you give me day by day to continue with my studies and future plans, because thanks to your support I have more possibilities to meet my goals and achieve my goals.

 

It is a pleasure for me to greet you once again, I tell you that this month of February began a new semester and like all other times I am putting a lot of effort into the school to be able to get good grades, these days have been very tired since in Some subjects I am learning very difficult subjects, but the truth I have learned a lot and although the topics are difficult I have managed to understand them and even when a partner or friend finds it very difficult I explain the subject.

 

With my family I am very well every day we get along better and support each other when there is a very complicated situation.

On February 14, Valentine's Day I had a lot of fun. I went out with my friends for a meal and at night we had a delicious dinner at home, and you, how did you spend Valentine's Day? I hope you have a good time and have fun a lot.

 

I hope you are having a nice month and that the work you do every day is good, that you are in very good health and that you have beautiful, pleasant days and a lot of living with your families.

 

I say goodbye to you, wishing you a beautiful day full of blessings to

You and your families.

 

With a lot of love and thanks, Yoselin Méndez Ramírez, Amigo Project Fellow.

Letter of Thanks from Yoselin Ramirez, Amigo Project Fellow Ken Germain 2020-03-02 07:00:00Z 0

Shelterbox -- Thank You!

Posted on Feb 28, 2020
 
 
Donna,
 
Your support has made a big difference around the world. You've given families the chance to recover from terrifying storms, rebuild after major disasters, and return to normal after losing their homes. Thank you for being a part of the ShelterBox family!
Your support helps change families lives all around the world.
 
Today, you're helping families like Erti's, whose home was turned to rubble after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit. Because of you, ShelterBox was there to help her family recover.
 
Please read Erti's story to see the impact you make possible every day. Thank you for your continued support, and for believing that no family should be left wihtout shelter after disaster.
 
USEfor all EMAIL
ShelterBox and Rotary are official Project Partners in international disaster relief. ShelterBox Canada is a registered charity independent of Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation. Charitable Registration # 84628 3208 RR0001
Shelterbox -- Thank You! 2020-02-28 07:00:00Z 0

Dr. Jack H. Jhamandas, Quest for a Novel Therapy Against Alzheimer’s Disease

Posted by Vi Hughes on Feb 27, 2020
This past week we were honoured to hear from Dr. Jack H. Jhamandas, (MD and PhD) Distinguished University Professor, from the Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology. Dr. Jhamandas, a clinician and scientist at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, spoke to us about his search for a novel therapy against Alzheimer’s disease. He opened with a story about how random luck can play a life changing part in our lives, with a clip from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, where Indiana Jones chooses a non-descript cup to drink from, in place of a gold one, and lives as a result. Those who had chosen the golden cup died.
 
Dr. Jhamandas told us that Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, comprising about eighty to ninety percent of cases. It causes a global loss of intellectual function. It affects about one in nine people at age sixty-five, increasing to about one in three at age eighty-five. About half a million Canadians are presently living with various stages of Alzheimer’s disease. It has been calculated that about one in six Albertans are affected either directly or indirectly by this disease. He said that this disease is not an obvious out-front type of disease that attracts public health attention. It plays out silently in our homes and lives on a daily basis. He then showed us a series of self-portraits made by an artist who made yearly drawings of his face, showing the slow dissolution of self that was very obvious in the changes from year to year, as the face became more and more distorted, until it was almost unrecognizable as a face.  He said that, to date, there have been four hundred and thirteen clinical trials testing two hundred and forty four different compounds as treatments for this disease, and none proven to be effective or practical enough
Dr. Jack H. Jhamandas, Quest for a Novel Therapy Against Alzheimer’s Disease Vi Hughes 2020-02-27 07:00:00Z 0 alzheimer

You never know who you meet when doing a makeup...

Posted by Ivan Docker on Feb 24, 2020
You never know who you meet when doing a makeup --  a fellow Rotary ambassadorial scholar! 
 
Yukari started out as an ambassadorial scholar from Japan to Munich.  After completing her year of undergraduate studies, she stayed in Munich to complete both her Masters and PhD degrees in Linguistics.  Yes, although she was from Japan, she got hooked on Munich and stayed there, speaks excellent German naturally, and joined Rotary in 2009.  We stayed after the meeting for a chat.
 
What a delightful and dedicated Rotarian!  Hopefully the photo she sent is attached with her email.
 
Yukari wrote:
 
I was ambassadorial scholar from 2001-2002. I studied in Munich Linguistic (PhD). Since 2009, I am member of Rotary Club Munich Bavaria. I am still not club president. But I have lot of positions of Rotary. I am District Chair for Almuni, ICC in Germany (Contact Point Japan) and member and Board member (since 2019) of RFAD (= Rotary Foundation Alumni Deutschland).
 
This is an old home page. We are working to complete a new Home page of RFAD. 
 
Ivan's bio:
 
It is not often that I meet a fellow ambassadorial scholar.  My club is the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona (District 5370) , in Edmonton, Alberta Canada.  I was an ambassadorial scholar from 1972 – 1973, and my year of study was at the University of Southampton in England.
 
I joined the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona in January, 1984, and was our club’s president from 1988 – 1989. 
 
You never know who you meet when doing a makeup... Ivan Docker 2020-02-24 07:00:00Z 0

Do You Know YEG?

Posted by HANS GRANHOLM on Feb 21, 2020
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How well do you know Edmonton? Test your Edmonton smarts and help rid the world of Polio by joining us at our 'Do You Know YEG?' Trivia Night!  

Donna Hutton, Linda & Hans Granholm did their best but fell short of the three-way share of first place. (I think there were more than four groups competing ;-))

The Details:

Where: Polar Park Brewing Company (10416 80 Ave NW)

- The Rotary Club of Edmonton Whyte Avenue
Do You Know YEG? HANS GRANHOLM 2020-02-21 07:00:00Z 0

JDIC Programmer

Posted on Feb 21, 2020
 
Are you interested in learning bridge?   Please let us know as we have an experienced bridge player who is willing to teach. Lessons to start Tuesday afternoons after lunch at 1:00pm, from the beginning of March.
 
Tuesday, February 25:       Lunch & Learn with Jacob on
                                               “How to train your brain”
 
Tuesday, February 25:      1pm - Marilyn Lizee & Norma Spicer
                                                Metis History 101: Culture & tradition of Metis People
 
Wednesday, February 26: Winter Wednesday Series
10a.m. – 12p.m. Prof. Emeritus David Barnet
Theatre and the Liberation Phase of Life: a look at the work of the intergenerational theatre company.
12p.m Lunch
1p.m. Book Club - postponed
 
Thursday, February 27: Birthday Thursday with Dr. Jerry Katz and a special celebration of Bozena’s dedication to the Centre!
If you want to acknowledge Bozena, please approach the Office!
 
Winter Wednesday Series
Wednesday, March 4:      10a.m – 12pm- Rabbi Zolly Claman
                                              The Jewish Concept of the Soul
 
Thursday, March 5:           1pm – Abe Silverman
                                               Deal of the Century: What it means for Israel & peace     
                                               for the Middle East. 
 
Luba Allen,
Executive Assistant
 
JDIC Senior Citizen's Centre
10052 - 117 St.
PO Box 17017
Edmonton, AB T5K 0G4
 
 
780.488.4241 phone
780.488.6591 fax
JDIC Programmer 2020-02-21 07:00:00Z 0

Ellen Weber, Linking Science to Service through an Amygdala

This past Tuesday we had a presentation from Ellen Weber, our membership director at large, on how a small part of our brain (the amygdala) is responsible for our responses towards other people, and how we can hone our responses to be healthy, balanced, good and kind.

Ellen said that this part of our brain stores our emotional responses, be they good or bad, and the responses we use most often then become our automatic go to responses when we need to respond quickly or are under stress. She spoke about some of the different types of ‘intelligences’ that each of us has, intrapersonal (are we moral, ethical, confident, humble), interpersonal (are we willing to listen to and learn from others) and how these can impact our influence within our club and our community.

Ellen also let us know that our club is now allowing corporate memberships as a prototype for two years and spoke a little bit about how these would work.

She then had us pair off and talk to another person about what initially drew us to this Rotary club and what currently keeps us coming back. It was very interesting hearing other people’s responses to these questions. Everyone in our club has different reasons for belonging. Some of the responses said that it was this diversity of members and our commitment to service that drew them in and keeps them there.

Ellen Weber, Linking Science to Service through an Amygdala Vi Hughes 2020-02-20 07:00:00Z 0
Happy Valentines Day HANS GRANHOLM 2020-02-14 07:00:00Z 0

Welcome to the ShelterBox Family.

Posted on Feb 14, 2020
 
Dear Donna,
 
“Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts for helping us.”
– Rona from the Philippines, who received a ShelterKit and other aid items after Tropical Storm Urduja caused flash flooding that washed away her home.
 
I am so grateful to welcome you into the ShelterBox family! It is because of you that families all over the world, devastated by disaster and conflict, will receive shelter and aid when they need it most.
Welcome to the ShelterBox Family. 2020-02-14 07:00:00Z 0

Myrna Fundt, Rotary Youth Exchange

Posted by Vi Hughes on Feb 13, 2020
This past week we had a visit from Myrna Fundt, the Youth Exchange Co-ordinator for our district. She gave us an update on some minor changes they are making to the application and training processes for students, counsellors and host families. Rotary International has some very strict rules in place surrounding the student exchange experience that are there to ensure our students have a safe and enjoyable experience. In order to be able to prove that we are doing our part we need to have documentary proof. We have had an online database in place to document all of this for several years now, but it has not always been used and this leaves gaps in our system.
 
Going forwards, all applications from prospective students must be made in the online database. Paper will no longer be accepted.  Counsellors and host families will also be required to use this database to both register and record their required training and the results from that training. Required courses must be taken, completed and the final quiz must be passed. We need to ensure that we meet all of Rotary International’s requirements in order to ensure we can provide our students with the best experience possible. We would expect no less from our international hosts, so we should expect the same from ourselves.
Myrna Fundt, Rotary Youth Exchange Vi Hughes 2020-02-13 07:00:00Z 0

Jennifer Jones, End Polio Now

Posted by Vi Hughes on Feb 13, 2020

This week, when our scheduled speaker could not make it on short notice, Karen and Jim Peddie downloaded a TEDx/Purdue University talk for us to view that was given in March of 2017 by Jennifer Jones, a past Vice President of Rotary International. It was an excellent overview of the fight against polio and the impact that the elimination of this dreaded disease will have throughout the world. It emphasized that we are not done yet, but we are very close and we need to keep up the fight. It also noted that the public health systems that have been put in place worldwide as part of the fight against polio are now being used to fight other infectious diseases and have allowed us to respond to several other potentially deadly infectious diseases. The implication is that our legacy will live on, in another form, well beyond polio and into the future. For those interested in viewing it, the video can be viewed on YouTube by looking for End Polio Now Jennifer Jones TEDxPurdueU.

Jennifer Jones, End Polio Now Vi Hughes 2020-02-13 07:00:00Z 0

McCullough in Action

Posted by Ken Germain on Feb 08, 2020
 
Ron gave us an abbreviated recollection of his 1960s flight in a small plane to South America and back to eastern Canada and back to Red Deer.
We were enraptured for 15 minutes as he recalled nights in jail,  flights with no gas left, and the sheer thrill of six months on the road. I mean “in the air“.

Thanks Ron for sharing!

I for one want to hear more about this marvellous trip and your coming of age.
 
Ken Germain
McCullough in Action Ken Germain 2020-02-08 07:00:00Z 0

STRATHCONA NEIGHBOR CENTER  

Posted by Donna Hutton on Feb 07, 2020
 
 
STRATHCONA NEIGHBOR CENTER   10050- 81 Ave.
 
A joint service opportunity between Edmonton Strathcona and Whyte Avenue Rotary Clubs Thursday, February 27, 2020   from 4:45-7:00 pm
 
Prepare, Serve and Join the homeless in our neighborhood for dinner and fellowship.
 
Three volunteers from our Club needed CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER
 
RSVP to Donna
STRATHCONA NEIGHBOR CENTER Donna Hutton 2020-02-07 07:00:00Z 0

Patricia Estabrooks, Music Enrichment Program

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 30, 2020

This last Tuesday we heard from Patricia Estabrooks, the Program Coordinator for the Music Enrichment Program of the Edmonton String Players Association. She was assisted by Kristine Dahm, the Vice President of the association. We were also treated to a violin selection by one of their students, Andrew Veldkamp.

The Music Enrichment Program is a long established program that was originally sponsored by Edmonton Public Schools, but became independently run in 2013 when the Public Schools withdrew from funding them. They are now a charitable, volunteer run non-profit group. Their goal is to provide music enrichment and affordable instruction in a group setting. They provide instruction in violin, viola, cello, bass and classical guitar to both children and adults through graduated group instruction. They also provide orchestral and chamber group instruction, music theory and music history instruction. They currently have one hundred twenty-two students, spread over fourteen different classes and five orchestras.

String instruction has many benefits. Playing a string instrument requires one to be able to read music and transfer that knowledge out through one hand to the instrument, while listening to the sound and controlling the other arm and hand on the bow. It also requires teamwork, co-operation, concentration, focus and an innate understanding of mathematical principals. The program’s aim is to teach their students to play with skill and finesse. The program can serve as a stepping-stone towards playing at a higher level.

They currently operate out of one small office space and leased spaces in six different schools. Recently they were able to find space in a church that will give them a small office space and a reliable practice space. The use of school spaces has become more of an issue recently with the advent of P3 schools where there is a private building owner in addition to the school administration to deal with when negotiating spaces, times and costs for their classes. Communication about last minute changes to availability of spaces is sometimes not timely and the students and instructor end up out in the cold with no one to let them in to the building.

They currently rely mainly on casinos and bingos for funding and are currently looking to find alternative source of funding. This program can open up a whole new world for children who would otherwise not have this opportunity. More information is available on their website at musicenrichment.ca.

Patricia Estabrooks, Music Enrichment Program Vi Hughes 2020-01-30 07:00:00Z 0

WINGS 

Posted on Jan 29, 2020
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Rotarians from Edmonton Strathcona brought gifts for residents of the WINGS women’s shelter to their Christmas party

The decision by the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona to make Women in Need Growing Stronger the beneficiary of its 2019 Christmas project flowed naturally from members’ discussions last year to define the focus of the club’s community service efforts. 

“Our emphasis is on women and children, so WINGS fits very nicely,” say Rotarian Audrey Martyn. “It looks like WINGS will be sticking around with us for a little while now.”

WINGS was established by the Sisters of Providence in 1986. According to its website, “At WINGS, we address the social, psychological and health issues affecting women and children, extending our programs inclusively to clients of all races, cultural and religious backgrounds.”

“It’s a two-stage housing project for women who are leaving domestic abuse,” Audrey says. “In their first-stage housing, they take people in who have just left situations of abuse. Most of the women come with children. They provide them with shelter for the first six months. They also provide counselling for the mothers and the children and they provide daycare services. 

“Then they have stage-two housing, which is after you have been there for six months. Then they place you in an apartment. Organizations and people donate things to help them furnish their apartments. The women are encouraged to go into education, because they need to find a job and move on with their life.

“They can be there for a couple of years before they are phased out. It depends on how successful they are and how much background and education they have.”

Each Christmas season, members of the Edmonton Strathcona club select a charity to support. “We have always done something with a charity that deals with homelessness or people in need in some way,” Audrey says. 

This year, the club prepared Christmas boxes for women and members purchased pyjamas for children at the centre. These were presented to WINGS director Rhonda Jansen, who made a presentation during the club’s Christmas party at University of Alberta Faculty Club.

Rotarians were asked to fill shoeboxes purchased at a dollar store with personal care items for the women. 

“We tell people to put in things like hand lotion, body lotion, lip gloss, deodorant, socks, mitts and small things, because it is only one little box. You need to get it in the box,” Audrey says.

This year, Rotarians also provided pyjamas for the approximately 100 children living at the shelter.

“People were told to wrap them in Christmas wrap and put boy or girl and the size on it,” Audrey says. “We had over 100 pyjamas and more than 60 boxes.”

Members brought the pyjamas to the Christmas party, after which Rotarians loaded them and the boxes into the WINGS director’s van.

20191217_203857

Rotarians from Edmonton Strathcona filled a trunk with gifts for women and children at WINGS

In addition to the support they provided at Christmas, members of the Edmonton Strathcona club have donated $5,000 for the daycare facility.

Also they collected clothing for the women. 

“A bunch of us who have a professional background asked if anyone wanted to donate clothing, especially for women who are looking for jobs,” Audrey says. “Many of us are retired or semi-retired, so we don’t need as many things in our closet, or they don’t fit anymore. We collected 12 large garbage bags full of clothing.” 

One member brought in 40 purses. 

“She didn’t want everyone to know, but by the time the evening was over, everyone in the room knew that she had shown up with 40 purses,” Audrey says. “We had a laugh about that. We were like, ‘How many?’”

The Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona meets on Tuesdays at 12:15 p.m. at the Woodvale Facility and Golf Clubhouse, 4540-50 Street NW

 

WINGS 2020-01-29 07:00:00Z 0

Kiss your sweetheart Goodbye

Posted on Jan 24, 2020

Kiss Your Sweetheart Goodbye Raffle

(In support of the Vision 2020 District Conference)

Grand Prize: 10 nights in a two-bedroom home on the island of Rhodes, Greece (value: $2,200)

2nd Prize: Seven days in a one-bedroom condo in Lake Arenal Condos, Costa Rica. Valid May 1 - June 30, 2020. (Value: $1,250)

3rd Prize: One-week volunteer vacation at Project Amigo, Colima, Mexico. Includes accommodation and meals. (Value: $3,000)

Note: All prizes exclude airfare.

Tickets: $20 each (1,000 tickets printed). Text Terry Demers 780-893-8683, then e-transfer payment to terridd@yahoo.ca. Sales end February 13; winners drawn on February 14.

Kiss your sweetheart Goodbye 2020-01-24 07:00:00Z 0

Dayna Hyman, KidSport

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 23, 2020
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Last Tuesday we heard from Dayna Hyman, the Executive Director of KidSport in Edmonton. Dayna said that participation in sports can be a game change in a kid’s life as it gives them a sense of participation and belonging to their community. It can really help to overcome feelings of loneliness and isolation and has a ripple effect on their lives, families and schools. Sport can have a big part in making us who we are as adults and give us advantages that are well beyond what most people realize. It instills confidence, teamwork and persistence among other things.
 
KidSport helps kids living at or below the poverty line in Edmonton take part in forty different sports in the Edmonton community through partial payment of registration fees and also through the provision of sports equipment.  They support all different types of sports such as hockey, dance, soccer, swimming, and many, many more through their All Kids Can Play grant program. The child must be registered to play the sport with qualified instructors. Their application process is a simple one page application that is then reviewed and if the family meets their requirements they send a cheque directly to the sport’s registrar.  The amount to be funded can range up to two hundred fifty dollars per year per child. They work directly with many different sport associations around the city to encourage families who would qualify to apply for financial assistance to help pay for their children’s expenses. They also partner with Sport Central to supply pre-approved equipment.
 
KidSport Edmonton is part of a non-profit national organization that was founded in 1993 with the local group founded in 1995. Since that time KidSport Alberta has provided over eleven million dollars to support sixty-two thousand children in Alberta to play a season of sport. All funds raised in Edmonton stay in Edmonton to support local children and the local board can approve amounts spent in accordance with local costs for the various sports. Dayna said that KidSport has several ways that we can contribute and they also sponsor several fund raising events each year. This sounds like it would be a very worthwhile cause for us to consider.
Dayna Hyman, KidSport Vi Hughes 2020-01-23 07:00:00Z 0
Interclub Meeting Donna Hutton 2020-01-18 07:00:00Z 0 Shelterbox

Robert Burns Luncheon

Robert Burns Celebration

Each year, the world celebrates the January 25th birth of Scotland's greatest poet - Robert Burns and his many famous works of poetry and songs. This year, the Rotary Club of Edmonton's members (many of whom are of Scottish descent), will be able to participate in these celebrations at our Monday, January 20th luncheon meeting.  

 The Chateau Lacombe's chefs have welcomed the idea of a Scottish-themed lunch for our Club and have promised to serve us an exquisite cuisine of beef barley soup, mashed potatoes (tatees), mashed turnips (neeps) and yes, even haggis! (For those less adventurous, roast beef will be available as an alternative to haggis). You will also enjoy a typical Scottish dessert - bread pudding with a side of custard. A wee dram of Scotch is available for $8 to complement the haggis and for toasting purposes.

This is a first for our Club so we have pulled out all the stops! One of Edmonton's pre-eminent bag pipers will commence the luncheon with some Scottish pipe tunes. Our speaker of the day is a member of The Edmonton Burns Club who hails from Ayre, Scotland. Alex Thomson is a Robert Burns aficionado who will tell us about the influence of famous Scots such as Burns and the many Scottish immigrants who helped in the formation of Canada as we know it today. 

 In keeping with the theme of the day, feel free to wear Scottish tartan socks, a tartan tie or scarf and celebrate the occasion! Come ready to buy some raffle tickets as the winner(s) will enjoy a prize of a bottle of scotch or wine!

 If you know of someone who might be interested in joining us for this unique event, please invite them!

 As we are expecting a good turnout, please be sure to register in advance by going to:

 1. Click on "Register/Modify Registration"below. 

2. Enter your first/last name and e-mail address. On this screen enter your plate number if you require parking.

3. Click on "Select Options", (bottom right hand corner). 

4. Enter how many lunches, parking... you would like to purchase.

5. Click on "Continue to Payment Selection", (right hand corner).

6.  This screen is where you have the option the pay on-line or to save your registration by clicking on "Pay by Check" (you can save your registration and pay at the door)

7. Once registered you will receive a confirmation e-mail.

Click on the link below to register:    

https://www.crsadmin.com/EventPortal/Registrations/PublicFill/EventPublicFill.aspx?evtid=8261a6af-3367-4594-9c04-f8c44c60ce2c 

By registering on-line and paying on-line, this saves time for everyone. Note the hotel is told the attendance numbers on Thursday prior to the Monday lunch.

If you have any issues or questions please do not hesitate to contact Geeta at  admin@edmontonrotary.com 

 DATE: January 20th, 2020 at 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM

FEE: Lunch - $32
           Attendance - $10    
           Wine - $7 
           Scotch - $8
          Parking - $5  

LOCATION: Salon B, Main Floor
                         Chateau Lacombe Hotel
                         10111 Bellamy Hill 
                         Edmonton, AB T5J 1N7

Robert Burns Luncheon 2020-01-18 07:00:00Z 0 Robert Burns

Joe Schultz, Courage

This Tuesday we heard from Joe Schultz, a speaker from The Memory Project, on the topic of courage. The Memory Project is a voluntary speakers bureau that connects groups with military veterans or Canadian Forces members who are willing to share their stories of military service. Joe told us that he is an infantry veteran, but not a combat veteran. He served in the PPCLI (Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry) for thirty years, from 1959 to 1989. He served in Cypress, Germany and many other locations. He was trained in many different types of warfare and performed many different types of peace time services, such as riot control, security for royalty, interpreter, parachutist, intelligence gathering, jungle warfare training, rappelling from a helicopter and senior explosives instructor.

Joe said that one of the favorite topics for a vet to be asked to speak about is courage. There are many different types of courage- physical, social, moral, spiritual, emotional, intellectual and more. He said that courage and bravery are often confused. He gave the analogy that it takes bravery to grab the balls of a lion, but it takes courage to keep on squeezing. Joe said that he believes that courage can be taught. Proper training gives both physical and moral courage to do things that one would not normally consider such as parachuting, jumping into snake infested waters and trekking for days in bitter cold conditions. The teamwork involved in training also encourages you to do many things that you would not even consider doing on your own, if only from the fear of group mockery or humiliation. Things like parachuting, rappelling both forwards and backwards from a helicopter, winter survival training, wading through snake infested water, explosives training and many more. He also said that the experience gained also gives moral courage to do the right thing, as when he was once tasked with transporting the bodies of dead service members home in a respectful manner, and had to ask two senior officers to recuse themselves from duty as they had had too much to drink.

Joe Schultz, Courage Vi Hughes 2020-01-15 07:00:00Z 0

Australian Bushfires

Posted on Jan 10, 2020
The notice below originates from Tim Schilds, District 5370 Rotary Foundation Chair
 
Hello and Happy New Year Everyone
 
So far it is not a very Happy New Year in Australia.  I am sure you have all been watching the devastating situation as Australians suffer through the worst Bushfire season in their history.  District Governor Tracey has been receiving many inquiries regarding the situation and Rotary’s reaction.  The Rotary Foundation is not generally a First Responder in disaster situations.  I am sure that many Rotarians in Australia are on the frontline and there is worldwide support of the idea that we need to help.  And we will help, Rotary will be there for the long term rebuild. We have heard from The Rotary Foundation that they are working with Australian Rotarians to develop a plan which will ensure any donations will get to where they are needed most.  We will wait to hear from our partners and follow their direction.  If you or your club wants to help now I would suggest the options set out below:
 
Australian Bushfires 2020-01-10 07:00:00Z 0

Thank you from L'Arche Edmonton!

 
It has taken us some time to purchase the appliances that the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona so generously provided funding for in October 2019.
 
We wanted to wait until Black Friday sales in order to maximize our purchasing dollars, and I am forwarding you some photos of four appliances (two fridges are the same) that we were able to purchase with your grant.
 
We had requested funding for two fridges, a washing machine and a dryer, and we were able to purchase all four with the funds from the Rotary Club, because of very competitive pricing in November. In fact, you provided us with $3,000, and these four appliances totalled $2,900. We put the additional $100 toward another washing machine that we had requested in our letter of application.
 
Thank you again for your support, and all of us at L’Arche Edmonton wish all of you at the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona a very Merry Christmas!     
 
Debbie Weismiller
Grant Writer
 
L’Arche Association of Edmonton
10310 56 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T6A 2J2
 
Phone: 780-465-0618, ext. 213
Fax: 780-465-8091
 
 
 
L'Arche Logo - Blue - Horizontalmimi2 (4)
Thank you from L'Arche Edmonton! 2020-01-10 07:00:00Z 0

Pradeep Dass, Space Engine Systems

This last Tuesday we were delighted to hear from one of our members, Pradeep Dass, who spoke to us about his company Space Engine Systems. This company was voted as one of the top six space companies in Canada in 2019. Pradeep said that they are developing an engine that will be able to take off horizontally and land horizontally, while also being able to attain speeds sufficient to take a vehicle into earth orbit and beyond. Obtaining funding from the Canadian government for this venture has not been possible so far as they are not presently interested in launch vehicles.
 
 
Currently he is funding the development mostly from his own funds. Only a few other companies are working in this field but the vehicles they are using are all rockets of one kind or another. Rockets are inherently expensive as they are one-way vehicles, that may recover and reuse some parts, but a large portion of the vehicle is not reusable. Pradeep’s DASS GNX engine and vehicle will be fully reusable. The engine has both a jet fuel portion that uses nanoparticle injection combined with a smaller rocket engine that burns hydrogen. It also has a unique heat exchanger that allows it to operate more efficiently.
 
Pradeep Dass, Space Engine Systems Vi Hghes 2020-01-09 07:00:00Z 0
New Member Meeting, Dec 10 Ellen Weber 2019-12-07 07:00:00Z 0

YESS Volunteer Call

Posted on Nov 29, 2019
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YESS Volunteer Call Out 11-26-2019
 
 
We need your help for the following:
 
Event:  Battalion Breakfast – (15 & 41) Service Battalion coming to ARC to bring some holiday cheer.  Hot Breakfast will be served.  Elf will facilitate gifts being given to the YESS youth in attendance.  Youth & Guests invited to look at Military Vehicles and any extra restored older military vehicles that the Battalion may bring.
Address:  10310 85 Avenue, Edm.
Date:  December 8th, 2019 Sunday
Time:  8:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Volunteers Required: 6 total;                
2 -Greeting/Doors/Shovel & Salt walkway & stairs (if it snows), Mop floor, assist with tear down at end of event at the Armoury
2 – Kitchen assistance to help make the Coffee/Hot Chocolate/Tea and set up of Buffet Table and Refreshments Station, assist with tear down at end of event.
2 – Set up Tables/chairs on main Floor & Tear Down of Tables/Chairs at end of event.
 
Please let me know if you are available to help.  Thank you.  volunteer@yess.org  780-468-7070
______________________________
 
We are still in urgent need of volunteers to help in our kitchen at Whyte Avenue.  The YESS kitchen is undergoing a major renovation and we will still be preparing all the meals for our youth.   It could be a great opportunity to learn new skills.
 
                . You could be asked to make or prep salad’s, potatoes, vegetables, tray desserts, crack eggs,
                  make sandwiches. 
                . Organize fridge, freezer and pantry.   Sweep and mop floors, take out garbage/recycling and
                  help transport food between locations. 
 
Shifts:  Monday To Fridays starting Nov. 27 (9 AM to Noon) to Dec. 13th
Address: 9310 82 Avenue, Edm.
Dress Code:  Closed shoe’s, hair tied back
 
______________________________
 
We are also in search of volunteer Tutors, for Math 30 and Math 10.   Our youth are preparing for exams and would be grateful for any help working on their studies over the next couple months.   Flexible 3 hour shifts available.  Please let me know if you can help in any way.   Thank yo                                                                _____________________________ 
 
We need a volunteer on Monday and Wednesday Mornings (9 to Noon) starting Dec.  9th, 2019. The task would be sorting Christmas donations here at Whyte Ave. through to Dec. 30th.
 
If you or anyone you know would be interested in volunteering for any of these opportunities, please let me know volunteer@yess.org  or 780-468-7070.
 
YESS Volunteer Call 2019-11-29 07:00:00Z 0 yess

WIN House - Christmas

Posted on Nov 29, 2019
 

WIN House's Christmas Hamper Program

Help sponsor a family this Christmas season!
We currently have 20 families still in need of sponsors. 

Christmas is just around the corner and for many of us this is an exciting time of year; a time when we can enjoy the company of our families and friends. For some though, Christmas can be a time of worry. The Christmas Hamper program supports families who have recently left shelter by giving them a magical Christmas experience.
Are you interested in sponsoring a family?
How do I get involved?
Step 1: Review the form and determine the family size and plan that best suits your budget.
Step 2: Once you have determined the family size you would like to be matched with and the type of plan, submit your form to marketing@winhouse.org.
Step 3: Once you have submitted your form, we will get to work on matching you up with your preferred family size. Once you are matched, we will contact you by email with your family’s wish list
Step 4: Happy Shopping! It’s time to hit the stores! Take your family’s wish list with you when you shop to use as a guideline. Remember to keep receipts if you require a tax receipt 
Step 5: Hamper drop off dates are December 10th and 11th at the Knights of Columbus Hall (11112-95 A Street) from 9:00am to 9:00pm. Once you have dropped off your gift, our team will put on their reindeer hats and ensure the gifts are delivered to your sponsored family before Christmas Day!
Become A Sponsor - Download Form
WIN House - Christmas 2019-11-29 07:00:00Z 0

Programs of Interest at the Jewish Senior Citizens Center
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 28, 2019
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The JSCC (10052-117 St., Edmonton) is sponsoring a series of free guided conversations with both Jewish and Indigenous presenters dealing with the loss of culture which may be of interest to many of our members. Please call their office at 780-488-4241 for further information. Here is a selection of some of their offerings:
 
Mon
Nov 25
Dec 2
1-3 pm
Living with Loss
Mon
Jan 13
Jan 20
1-3 pm
Wannabe
Mon
Feb 3
Feb 10
1-3 pm
Image and Reality
Mon
Mar 16
Mar 23
1-3 pm
Living in Two Worlds
Mon
Apr 27
May 4
1-3 pm
Food and Power
 
Programs of Interest at the Jewish Senior Citizens Center  Vi Hughes 2019-11-28 07:00:00Z 0 jewish,jscc

Donna Hutton, Rotary Int’l Conference, Jun 2019, Hamburg
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 26, 2019
This week our President Donna Hutton gave us an inspiring update on the Rotary International Convention which she attended in June. Firstly, she said that she would like to thank our club for supporting her in attending this Convention. Donna said that the venue for this Convention was just huge, covering twenty square blocks in Hamburg. She said there were over twenty-seven thousand attendees from over thirty-six hundred clubs around the world. It was so big that just getting from one workshop or presentation to another could be a very long walk of more than thirty minutes, so she had to plan her choices carefully with this in mind. The presentations covered four main topics, leadership, the new strategic plan, the impact of volunteerism and the importance of integrity and innovation.
 
 
In the area of leadership, they emphasized that we should all make a personal vow for challenging times that entails asking ourselves, what can I do now to change the world for the better. The outcome will become your legacy, whether good or bad, but it will be something to be proud of as it was undertaken with integrity. Inspired leadership involves demonstrating kindness, friendship, recognition, fairness and truth. Rotary should be a social network for service that creates decisive action.
Rotary’s New Strategic Plan has four pillars for our clubs to strive towards. Increase our impact, Expand our reach, Enhance engagement and Increase our ability to adapt.
Donna told us the Rotary’s world-wide impact on volunteerism is huge. In one year, Rotarians performed forty-five million hours of service, equivalent to eight hundred and fifty million dollars. She said that last year our club alone gave forty-five hundred hours. The challenge is for all Rotarians to do what they love in the service of people who love what they do.
 
The final topic of Integrity and Innovation involves believing in ourselves and our own ideas and abilities to get things done and encourages us to avoid allowing HIPPO (the highest paid person’s opinion) to take the front seat when we put forward our ideas. When we innovate and try new things we never know where it can take us, but it is worth the journey. We need to make value based decisions, be vulnerable, humble and willing to admit mistakes. We also need to persevere and not walk away from an idea or project when things get tough. A person of integrity expects to be believed because what they speak is the truth. We need to have the courage to do what we believe is right.
Donna Hutton, Rotary Int’l Conference, Jun 2019, Hamburg  Vi Hughes 2019-11-26 07:00:00Z 0

Interactors at Ronald McDonald House

Posted by Eric Germain on Nov 22, 2019
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Rotary Interact Clubs Visit Ronald McDonald House  For "Meals That Mend"
 
The Rotary Interact Clubs from J. Percy Page & W.P. Wagner Schools combined forces to provide an Italian Lasagna Feast Dinner for over 100 people at Ronald McDonald House on Thursday November 21st. They also cleaned things up, including surfaces and windows in the big main area including a kids play room just off the dining room and kitchens.
 
It was the first time to RMH for the Wagner Interactors, and they seemed to enjoy the experience and meeting the Page Interactors and Celina Jensen, our lovely Danish Rotary Exchange Student, who makes friends fast with her friendly nature.
 
 
The families in residence at RMH were very appreciative to have a lovely dinner provided and served with style. It makes them feel a bit more at home with a home cooked meal that they don’t have to worry about preparing, all while going  through some challenging children health issues. Families were from Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Fort McMurray, Saskatoon, and anywhere else outside of 45 kms. from Edmonton. Fun to see the cute kids finger painting after supper with Moms and Dads and brothers and sisters. Makes you appreciate children’s good health, and the good children health care services in Edmonton for Western Canada and beyond.
 
Thanks to everyone who helped out ,especially our Rotary Interact Club members, many who were rookies, who made it out, and our Rotary Teachers Karen and Taso from Page, and Neesha and Jeff from Wagner. Thanks to our Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona drivers and helpers Hans, Dennis, Richard, Vi, and Les.
 
Yours in Rotary,
 
Eric
 
Rotary Interact Club Advisor
Interactors at Ronald McDonald House Eric Germain 2019-11-22 07:00:00Z 0 interact

GEM Munro, Amarok Society Combined Rotary Women’s School
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 19, 2019
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This week we welcomed G.E.M. Munro from the Amarok Society which we support along with several other local Rotary clubs (Mayfield, Urban Spirits, Whyte Avenue, Grande Prairie and Hinton).  He spoke to us about their ‘Teach a Mother, Change the World’ school program in Bangladesh. This program teaches mothers in the slums of Bangladesh to become teachers, so that they in turn can go home and teach their children and their neighbour’s children (both boys and girls) everything they have learned. It then gives many of these children an opportunity they would otherwise have no opportunity to do. He used the example of one young boy named Shabo, of about ten, who spends every day working in a tea shop earning a living, who attends a mother’s school program after work. This child (and many others like him) should really be in school during the day but his family is so poor, he must work to help support them.
 
 
The Amarok program empowers these mothers, children and their families by giving them the gift of an education. It then in turn helps to lift them out of poverty by giving them skills that will help them get better paying jobs. It also gives them a wider window on the world at large. This makes it less likely that they will become radicalized as they learn to make their own judgements and think for themselves. It is well known that uneducated children are easily radicalized. Schooling gives them critical thinking skills as well as the practical skills needed to be productive citizens. We would like to thank Gem for his short informative update on this Amarok Society program.
GEM Munro, Amarok Society Combined Rotary Women’s School  Vi Hughes 2019-11-19 07:00:00Z 0 amarok

Jacquie McNulty, YONA-Sistema
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 19, 2019

YONA Sistema

This past Tuesday we welcomed Jacquie McNulty, the YONA (Youth Orchestra of Northern Alberta) site manager who spoke to us about their program which gives youth in our community an opportunity to learn to play an instrument and hopefully inspires them to think beyond any limitations they may currently face in life. The program is sponsored by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and provides instruction five days a week for three hours each day.
 
This after school program is currently based at St. Alphonsus School, with about eighty-five students in grades one to nine, with a smaller (about thirty), younger (grades one to three), group at St. Teresa of Calcutta School in Edmonton. The program provides daily activities that include singing, musicianship, music instruction on orchestral instruments (string, percussion, horn, trombone and reed), nutritional snacks, academic time and free play time. It also includes arts time, movement classes and visits from ESO members. These students receive instruments and instrumental group lessons, led by qualified teachers, at no cost to their families. They also offer special Saturday workshops for the Junior High students. The students also get to demonstrate their skills to their families and the wider Edmonton community through two major concerts, at the Winspear Centre each year. This coming year, these will take place on January 24, at 7 pm, and June 9, at 7 pm.
 
Jacquie told us that music helps to create a sense of community, gives confidence and pride in addition to providing a sense of humanity that everyone can relate to. It helps to empower students by giving a sense of belonging. It also gives their parents an opportunity to get to know their community better. The program has been operating since 2013 in Edmonton and has recently expanded to a new twice a week program at the Kipohtakaw Education Center on the Alexander Reserve, an hour north of Edmonton, with thirty students where two YONA teaching instructors offer one hour of violin instruction twice a week during school hours.
 
Jacquie said that their biggest challenge is finding enough classroom space for their expanding program. They currently occupy three classrooms, a kitchen and a hallway at St. Alphonsus. They currently have to combine children of differing ages and abilities due to space constraints. Their program is largely funded by private donations and they also have an instrument donation program.  We would like to thank Jacquie for her update on the program and hope to be able to support them in the future.
Jacquie McNulty, YONA-Sistema  Vi Hughes 2019-11-19 07:00:00Z 0 YONA

Maggi Hegan, Foundation Month Moment, Paul Harris Society
 

Posted by Maggi Hegan on Nov 19, 2019
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Today our Foundation Month moment is dedicated to the Paul Harris Society. This Society recognizes Rotary members and friends of the Rotary Foundation who contribute $1000 or more (US) each Rotary year to the annual program fund, the PolioPlus fund or the other humanitarian grant programs of the Rotary Foundation.
Paul Harris is the founder of Rotary. In 1905 he worked as an attorney in Chicago. His vision of fellowship and service led to him persuading other local businessmen to meet and discuss forming a club for commercial trade, community and fellowship. On February 23, 1905, they held what would later become known as the first Rotary Club meeting.
The Paul Harris Society was formed and administered by the districts until July 2013 when it became an official Rotary Foundation recognition program.
The purpose of the Paul Harris Society is to identify, engage, thank and recognize members who have the ability and desire to make substantial gifts to help communities around the world.
Rotarians who contribute $1,000 US (or in whose name $1,000 US is contributed) are recognized as Paul Harris Fellows. A Paul Harris fellow receives a special certificate and a gold pin.  Paul Harris Fellows continue to receive recognition for each additional $1000 US they contribute.
We currently have 40 Paul Harris Fellows in our club! 
Next week I will talk about Foundation recognition points that are awarded to contributing donors at a rate of 1 point for every US dollar contributed.
Maggi Hegan, Foundation Month Moment, Paul Harris Society  Maggi Hegan 2019-11-19 07:00:00Z 0 paul Harris society
Friendship Seniors Society Loida Lumanlan 2019-11-16 07:00:00Z 0

DG Tracey Vavrek

Posted on Nov 16, 2019

Tracey Vavrek

Dear Friends of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona, 

Thank you for the warm welcome and sharing in fellowship. It was wonderful to spend time together celebrating your impact to community.  Vince and I truly appreciate your fellowship and incredible commitment to serve.  Be proud of your dedication to service and to make a difference for others. Edmonton and surrounding areas, and communities abroad are stronger as a result.

Please know from my heart I am grateful for everything you do. 

Together, we are connecting Rotary with the world. 
 
Best wishes, 

Tracey Vavrek
Rotary Club of Grande Prairie After Five  
District Governor 2019-2020, Rotary International District 5370
 
alt
DG Tracey Vavrek Donna Hutton 2019-11-16 07:00:00Z 0

Celina's Hockey Night in Canada w/pictures

Posted by Eric Germain on Nov 16, 2019
 
Our Rotary Exchange Student from Denmark, Celina, went her first hockey game ever. It was the Edmonton Oilers against the St. Louis Blues, the defending Stanley Cup Champions on Wednesday November 6th . She was the guest of yours truly, Eric Germain.
 
 
   
 
In her words, “It was an awesome night. I love hockey” . Celina had her photo taken by the Wayne Gretzky statue, and she tried her hand stick handling before the game at the Connor McDavid interactive display. First time holding a hockey stick and deciding she shoots right not left. It was amazing to watch her innocence, and appreciation regarding ice hockey, our great Canadian traditional game.
 
Celina was impressed with the new Rogers Place arena. Apparently there are 17,000 people in her home town in Denmark, so they would all fit in the arena.
She picked up the rules of the game quickly, and was impressed at how fast the players “run” on their skates, and how hard they hit and shoot the puck. She liked how fast and fluid the game was compared to the Eskimo football game she recently went to.
 
  
 
It was a pleasure introducing this confident young lady to a number of people at the game. Folks were impressed with her excellent English, maturity and friendly nature.
 
It was a great night, except for the final result. The Oilers were trailing 3-2 with 2 minutes to go and had a power play, only for the Blues to shoot into the empty net with the goalie pulled for an extra attacker. The good old hockey game.
 
Celina was pleased to see #52 on the Oiler roster is Patrick Russell from Denmark. In fact he is from Bickerod (not Bickenrod as spelled in the Oiler program) [Publ. I believe the correct name of the town is: Birkerød], Denmark. Interestingly it is also the home of the Rotary Club that sponsored Celina to come to Edmonton as a Rotary Exchange Student, and very close to her home town.
 
Oh well, like we say, it’s always a great night when it’s Hockey Night In Canada.
 
Cheers,
Eric
 
Celina's Hockey Night in Canada w/pictures Eric Germain 2019-11-16 07:00:00Z 0

Passchendaele, October 1917

Posted on Nov 16, 2019
Guest speaker, Nov 5
 
Norman Leach,
military historian – topic Battle of Passchendaele, October, 1917
 
The Canadians were tasked with taking Passchendaele, which like Vimy Ridge several months earlier, had been the site of unsuccessful Allied assaults.
 
  • It took four days for the Canadians to seize Passchendaele
  • the artillery barrage which preceded the attack resulted in a shell hitting every 18 square inches
  • the artillery barrage and heavy rains left the ground a muddy cesspool. Canadian soldiers had to be ordered not to pull their comrades from the pools of muddy water to avoid being pulled in by drowning men
  • Canadian troops by this time were referred to as “Storm Troopers” by their German counterparts, because they came at the Germans “like a storm.”
  • Arthur Currie, the Canadian commander, correctly predicted the cost would be approx.. 26,000 Cdns killed or wounded
  • Field Marshall Douglas Haig, gave the Canadians full credit for the victory
Passchendaele, October 1917 Peddie 2019-11-16 07:00:00Z 0

Tracey Vavrek, District Governor
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 12, 2019
This past Tuesday we were pleased to welcome Tracey Vavrek, our current District Governor, to our meeting.
She spoke to us using the new Rotary logo of multiple colored ribbons as representative of the many different people that make up both Rotary and the people we endeavor to help through service above self. She said that since taking office in July she has travelled over twenty-nine thousand kilometers throughout Alberta in her trusty and colorfully beribboned vehicle named Amelia and has met an amazing group of Rotarians. She also said that both she and her husband Vince have met many different people around the world over the years as members of Rotary.
The Rotary logo or wheel is a recognizable symbol to many around the world and helps to connect people with like minded values. It also serves to provide a sense of connection and fellowship within the Rotarian community. Tracey emphasized that we never truly know the impact we are making through the projects we support in that  they often act as seeds in the minds and hearts of others that grow and multiply in many unforeseen ways. A small act of kindness to someone can have a very big impact on both them and others later in their lives. We show others through the change that we create, that they too can have opportunities they may never have dreamed of.
She said that sometimes we may get disheartened and tired, especially when we forget that we have others around us to encourage and support us in our efforts. After all, this is one of the reasons that we joined Rotary.  
People today have an endless list of causes that they can join, so why choose Rotary? Rotary is unique in that it can provide fellowship, friendship, and the opportunity to serve any sector of the community that we choose through it’s six avenues of service. Our wheel of rotary, the four way test and the well known objects of Rotary all combine to give us an instantly recognizable international reputation that results in trust from communities, charities and governments. This trust is invaluable in enabling us to carry out our projects and contributes to the power of Rotary. The number of volunteer hours alone, put in by Rotarians, saves our communities many millions of dollars. We need to continue to keep changing and listening to our communities and clients in order to remain relevant in the world. Rotary also keeps changing to accommodate what their members would like and will continue to do so.
 
She then presented our President Donna Hutton with a certificate in thanks for our club’s contributions to Polio Plus. She closed with a quote stating: ‘The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in service’.
Tracey Vavrek, District Governor  Vi Hughes 2019-11-12 07:00:00Z 0

Amarok update

Posted by Ken Germain on Nov 09, 2019
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Amarok in action


Now we would like to tell you about our friend ‘Ameena’ that how she stopped early marriage of her little sister. ‘Ameena’s sister is only 14 years old and she reads in grade 7 in a Government School. Ameena’s parents lives in their village. One day she came to know from a relative that her father is thinking to marry off her youngest daughter soon. After hearing Ameena straightway went to the village at her father’s home without any delay. ‘Ameena’ talked to her parents about the bad effects of early marriage but they weren’t convinced.  Then she went to the school where her sister reads in. She shared all the things with the schoolteachers and requested them to help her to stop the early marriage. Then she came back home with some of the schoolteachers of her sister. They explained to Ameena’s parents about the bad impact of early marriage and clearly shared the law of our country against early marriage. Her parents were surprised because the schoolteachers told them the same things Ameena told a little before. Ameena’s father replied the schoolteachers that he will think. 
 
After the teachers left her father asked to Ameena from where she has learnt these things. She replied to them that in Dhaka she is now in Amarok Mother School and beside of learning how to read and write she has also learnt many other relevant things of life from her school. Finally her parents agreed with her and didn’t marry off their little daughter. We are very proud of Ameena.  She is really a good example of empowerment.
Now we like share with you another successful story of our friend ‘Shahana’. She has one son and one daughter. Her son’s name is ‘Pavel’. He is a very good student and very well mannered. He always achieves first position in exam.  ‘Pavel’ helps his little sister at home is learning. ‘Shahana’s’ husband runs a street shop.  ‘Pavel’ helps his father in his free time. ‘Shahana’ says that she is very lucky to be mother of ‘Pavel’. His aim is to be a schoolteacher in his future.
Thanks to you and Amarok Society for supporting us for learning.
 
With love,
Rehana, Panna, Khorsheda, Ranu, and Khuku
On behalf ofCombined Rotary Women’s School
Amarok update Ken Germain 2019-11-09 07:00:00Z 0

Auction of a Danish dinner, Nov 12

Posted by Celina Jensen on Nov 09, 2019
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A Note from Celina re the Auction of a Danish Dinner
 
The auction for a three course Danish dinner for four will be held on November 12. I will come, cook, and serve the food in your home and eat it together with you. My counselor, Lynne, will also come. The date for the Danish dinner is not announced yet, but we will arrange the date together, so it can work for everyone. If you or any of your guest have allergies, please let me know. 
 
This auction is a fundraising for two trips that I hope to attend with the other Rotary exchange students. We are going to ski in Jasper in December, and we are going to the Human Rights museum in Winnipeg in March to learn more about Canada, human rights and indigenous people. The two trips are extraordinary expensive, $2850, I therefore hope that the auction will help me to collect some money to pay for the two trips.
 
What I have already learned during my two months in Canada is how important it is to give back to the community and help other people. I want to give something back to the community and help people in need. I have therefore decided to donate half of the money I get from the auction to Polio Plus.  My goal for this year is to raise $2850 for my trips and $1000 for Polio Plus. So – I might need to do a little more fundraising through the year, too. 
 
This auction is a lifetime opportunity for you, if you want to learn more about how it is to be a Viking, what the so called “hygge” is, what a Danish dinner tastes like and more about Denmark.
Auction of a Danish dinner, Nov 12 Celina Jensen 2019-11-09 07:00:00Z 0

Glögg anyone?

Posted by Richard Karlsson on Nov 06, 2019
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You're invited...

Richard and Laurina invites you to join them for a traditional Swedish Christmas Fika* on December 14 at their home.
 
Do I see Glögg on the horizon?
 
Please RSVP to Richard (see image)
 
*(Fika (pronounced fee-ka) is a Swedish custom, a kind of social coffee break where people gather to have a cup of coffee or tea and a few nibbles. Fika is such an important part of life in Sweden that it is both a verb and a noun)
Glögg anyone? Richard Karlsson 2019-11-06 07:00:00Z 0

Celina Jensen

Posted by Hans Granholm on Nov 01, 2019

Celina Adelheid Schøn Jensen

Following president Donna's efficient and detailed quarterly update on the club's affairs with directors and committee chairs as supporting cast, we were treated to an excellent presentation from our co-sponsored exchange student Celina from Denmark.
 
In a slick power point presentation she told us about her family and her daily life now compares with her daily life in Denmark. Very interesting.
 
We were, unfortunately, running out of time and the audience did not have an opportunity to ask questions of Celina, but she is quite prepared to do so at any of our meetings she is attending.
 
Please consider including this fascinating young lady in your family activities.
Celina Jensen Hans Granholm 2019-11-01 06:00:00Z 0 Celina

Community Service with a smile

Posted by Hans Granholm on Nov 01, 2019
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During the Edmonton Comedy Festival, Oct 16-20, members of the Edmonton Strathcona Rotary Club provided drivers to transport performers to and from the airport and between performance venues on show nights.
 
This was the ninth year of the festival and members like, Patrick Gibson, Vince Campbell, Donna Hutton (also Dennis Hutton), Ivan Docker, Dennis Freeman, Len Gierach generously donated their time to drive the performers. 

This endeavor generated 107 hours of community service hours. 

Thank you to all.
 
Hans G.
Community Service with a smile Hans Granholm 2019-11-01 06:00:00Z 0 comedy,ecf

YESS urgent need for volunteers

Posted on Nov 01, 2019
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URGENT 10-30-2019 YESS Volunteer Call Out
 
We need your help for the following:
 
Event:  YESS will be hosting Remembrance Day Refreshments of Coffee/Tea/Hot Chocolate at the Armoury Resources Centre this year.  We will be preparing for 200-250 guests.  A Remembrance Day Ceremony will be taking place in the Light Horse Park next to the YESS Armoury Resource Centre.
Address:  10310 85 Avenue, Edm.
Date:  November 11, 2019 Remembrance Day
Time:  8:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Volunteers Required:  2 -Greeting/Doors/Crowd Control/Shovel & Salt walkway & stairs(if it snows)                                 2 – Upkeep (1 Volunteer for main floor and 1 Volunteer for 2nd floor)
                                2 – Kitchen help to make the Coffee/Hot Chocolate/Tea (Main Floor)
Please let Eileen.papulkas@yess.org know directly if you are available to help.  Thank you.
 
______________________________
 
We are in urgent need of volunteers to help in our kitchen at Whyte Avenue.  The YESS kitchen will be undergoing a major renovation and we will still be preparing all the meals for our youth.   It could be a great opportunity to learn new skills.
 
                . The volunteers would need to know how to use knives and commercial kitchen equipment
                  (oven, steamer etc). 
                . You could be asked to make or prep salad’s, potatoes, vegetables, tray desserts, crack eggs,
                  make sandwiches. 
                . Organize fridge, freezer and pantry.   Sweep and mop floors, take out garbage/recycling and
                  help transport food between locations. 
 
Shifts:  Starting Nov. 1 to 15th (9 AM to 3:30 PM)  and Nov. 18th to Dec. 13th  (9 AM to 12PM)
Address: 9310 82 Avenue, Edm.
Dress Code:  Closed shoe’s, hair tied back
 
______________________________
 
We are also in search of volunteer Tutors, for Math 30, Chemistry 30, Biology 30 and Science 30.   Our youth are preparing for exams in January to get their diplomas and would be grateful for any help working on their studies over the next couple months.   Flexible 3 hour shifts available.  Please let me know if you can help in any way.   Thank you.
If you or anyone you know would be interested in volunteering, please let me know volunteer@yess.org  or 780-468-7070.
YESS urgent need for volunteers 2019-11-01 06:00:00Z 0 yess

New Hope School >NEWS<

Posted by Carin Jansen van Vuuren on Nov 01, 2019
 
Learners from New Hope School, South Africa equip themselves with RI Grant
 


We are pleased to inform you that eight (8) Learners from the New Hope School (NHS) in Pretoria, South Africa completed courses in refrigerating and air conditioning, electrical and arc welding at the Ekurhuleni Artisans and Skills Training Centre. They were awarded their certificates on the September 14, 2019 after the successful completion of the three-month courses.

The Learners will forever be grateful to Rotary for the funding received from the Rotary International Grant. Two of the Learners have already secured part time work, because of these newly required skills!
 

Thanks go out to all the members who tirelessly fund-raised, the District 5370 for their matching grant, to the clubs who donated; Drayton Valley, Nisku Leduc, Sherwood Park, South Edmonton, St. Albert and Stony Plain and the international public who donated online at GoFundMe for making the RI Grant a reality. “This is the beginning of great results of the projects funded with the Grant!, says Ys Visser, Rotary Club of Pretoria: Projects”
 
New Hope School &gt;NEWS&lt; Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2019-11-01 06:00:00Z 0 new hope

Event Coming Up with Saint City Rotary

Posted on Nov 01, 2019
 
Rotary Club of St Albert - Saint City is proud to share with all of your members and freinds two wonderful trips!!
This is a fundraiser for our club and we would love to have your members and friends join us this Febraruary to Vietnam!!
We have a short amount of time to get your reservations in but I can guarantee you will have a fantastic trip.  It is all inclusive flying out of Vancouver.  Airfare, four/five star hotels, 3 meals a day, English speaking guides and all entrance fee to attractions.
Deadline is November 3rd, 2019 for final payment.  Trip leaves February 11th-20th
Please share with your members.  If you get a group of 20 you will have your own bus.
We also have a second trip to offer your members
China in April!  This is all inclusive from Edmonton Interrntaional airport!  $2499! 
Deadline is December 4th.  We have offered this trip in past years and it is the most wonderful trip for the bet price.  Over 200 people have gone through our club and loved it!
See attachments for the details on these two trips/
Please call me at 7809826716 and leave a message.  Thank you.
I hope you can join us on this trip-of-a-lifetime brought to you by Saint City Rotary.

Diane Ellis

President Elect 2020-2021

Saint City Rotary

Event Coming Up with Saint City Rotary 2019-11-01 06:00:00Z 0

Word of Thanks

Posted on Nov 01, 2019
 
It is with a heavy heart to inform you that my father, Eugene Sekora passed away suddenly on Oct 18. We were sent flowers from the Rotary Club. Please pass the message onto whomever sent us the beautiful flowers. They are very comforting during our time of loss.

Thank you

Melisa

Eugene's daughter
Word of Thanks 2019-11-01 06:00:00Z 0

“Personal Story of the Day” or “Getting to Know You”

Posted by Donna Hutton on Nov 01, 2019
 

Our "Staying Connected" committee, chaired by Rose Marie Basaraba, in response to my request to recommend an alternative to our Story of the Week, has suggested that we rename the weekly opportunity as:

“Personal Story of the Day” or “Getting to Know You”.

This would  enable fellow members to get to better know the speaker whether it be interests, experiences (Rotary or otherwise), life happenings learned through experiences, etc. (humorous or otherwise). 

 As of November 12, I would request that individuals scheduled to share their stories, keep these guidelines in mind and manage this sharing within a two minute time frame.  I look forward to learning more about each member of our club and thank you to Rose Marie and the Staying Connected Committee for their suggestion.

Donna

“Personal Story of the Day” or “Getting to Know You” Donna Hutton 2019-11-01 06:00:00Z 0

Sad News, Eugene Sekora 1940-2019

Posted by HANS GRANHOLM on Oct 22, 2019

Eugene Sekora, 

We are so sad to inform you that early in the morning, October 18, our fellow Rotarian, Eugene Sekora died from a massive heart attack.
 
We extend our most heartfelt condolences to his wife Mary Ann and his family for their most profound loss.
 
Devine liturgy on Friday October 25th - 10:00 am at St. Basil's Ukrainian Catholic Church, 7007 109 Street, Edmonton
 
 
Hans G.
Sad News, Eugene Sekora 1940-2019 HANS GRANHOLM 2019-10-22 06:00:00Z 1

The Honourable Paula Simons, Senator, When the Dust Settles…
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Oct 16, 2019
This past Tuesday we were pleased to hear from the Honourable Paula Simons, Senator, who spoke to us about her first year in the Senate of Canada.  She said that Wednesday, the 16th of October, would mark the anniversary of her first year in the Senate. Currently the Senate meets in the beautiful old beaux arts Ottawa train station with their various personal offices spread out in several other buildings, as their original offices in the House of Parliament are under renovation. She said that the Senate was formed in 1867, at the Confederation of the four founding provinces of Canada- Ontario, Quebec New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. She explained that in order to get all four provinces to agree to the confederation they needed to put in place some safeguards to protect the rights of the less populous, but more economically advantaged maritime provinces. They had to guarantee they would somehow have an equal influence on any legislation. They agreed on a bicameral system with two equal governing bodies, one of which, The House of Commons, would be elected by representation by population, and another, The Senate, which would be appointed for life. The approval of both bodies would be required to pass any legislation. The less populous provinces were granted greater influence in the Senate, such that it would counterbalance their lower influence in the House of Commons. As Canada did not have an aristocracy who could be appointed to the Senate, they came up with the next best thing. Any appointees would have to be male, over the age of thirty, owning more than four thousand dollars value in property and having other assets in excess of four thousand dollars. At that time, it meant that the senate would basically be composed of rich, old, white men.
 
The Honourable Paula Simons, Senator, When the Dust Settles…  Vi Hughes 2019-10-16 06:00:00Z 0 Paula Simons,senator

Arch Enterprises featured

Posted by Maggi Hegan on Oct 12, 2019
Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/annelisedotca Follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/annelisedotca
 
 
This week we are at Arch Greenhouses in the South Edmonton Business District. Arch greenhouses started as a therapy program for those with disabilities and they now have turned into a non-profit organization that employs those with disabilities. They have over 250 varieties of plants including, annuals, perennials, and seasonal products in their 35,000 sq ft greenhouse. You can visit Arch Greenhouses at www.archgreenhouses.com
Follow Small Business Saturday at www.annelise.ca/smallbusinesssaturday
 
 
 
Arch Enterprises is one of our community partners.
 
If the Youtube window is missing above you can CLICK HERE
Arch Enterprises featured Maggi Hegan 2019-10-12 06:00:00Z 0

Christmas boxes

Posted by Audrey Martyn on Oct 12, 2019

Wings of Providence

Christmas boxes and PJ’s for Wings

This year our Christmas project is to support the women and children staying at Wings over  Christmas. There are 49 women and 100  kids.
We will give gift boxes for the women as in other years and PJ’s for children (sizes 4-12 most needed).
Start collecting now- there are only 6 weeks to put Christmas Party.

Questions call Audrey
Christmas boxes Audrey Martyn 2019-10-12 06:00:00Z 0

Charter president John Germain tribute

Posted on Oct 12, 2019

John Germain, dob October 8, 1919

On this date, October 8, 2019, our charter president, John P Germain, was born in Quebec.
 
His son, past president Eric Germain had arranged a display at our meeting place as a tribute to John's life as a family man, military hero and Rotarian.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
Charter president John Germain tribute 2019-10-12 06:00:00Z 0 John Germain

Dr. Stephan Jansen van Vuuren, Medical Cannabis
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Oct 10, 2019
This Tuesday we heard from one of our members, family physician Stephan Jansen van Vuuren and his associate, Kristen Stefanec, an LPN and Cannaboid Therapist and Educator from Canada House Clinics. Stephan gave us some background on the use of cannabis, which has been used for medical purposes in China for many thousands of years. He said that the first of many active chemical compounds to be discovered was THC (delta 9 tetra hydro cannabinol). It was first described in 1964 by medicinal chemist, Raphael Mechoulam. Since then over one hundred and fifty different compounds have been found in this plant, many of which have physiological effects. He was also instrumental in the discovery of the endogenous (naturally found in the human body) compound anandamide and it’s receptors in the human body in the 1990’s.  It was found to have receptors on cells both in the brain and in various locations throughout the body. This and related compounds have effects on things like pain relief, sleep patterns, anxiety and the immune system. Only two of the compounds found in cannabis cross the blood brain barrier, THC and CBD (cannabidiol). The others all have their effects in other parts of the body.
 
Stephan first became interested in these compounds about ten years ago when he encountered patients who suffered from PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and who had found that cannabis greatly relieved their symptoms. Families and friends of these people said that cannabis had given them back their loved one.  At that time very little was known about the medical uses of cannabis and in his words it was ‘the wild west’ of cannabis use, prescriptions were only very loosely controlled. He thought that caution was called for, so he decided that he first needed to learn as much as possible about this new treatment. Since then he has learned a lot about the medical uses of cannabis, and the interactions it can have with other medications. He cautioned that it is not considered a first line therapy and that it should only be used when the first line treatments have failed. He said that there are a lot of preconceived notions about cannabis and these can be hard to dispel.  
 
Dr. Stephan Jansen van Vuuren, Medical Cannabis  Vi Hughes 2019-10-10 06:00:00Z 0 canabis,marijuana
District 5370 Pictures Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2019-10-05 06:00:00Z 0 conference

Ron Dobbin
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Oct 03, 2019

Ron Dobbin, 1933-2019

We are sorry to have to say that one of our long-time members, Ron Dobbin, passed away this past Saturday.  We would like to extend our condolences to his family and friends. We observed a moment of silence in his honor at our last meeting. He was a long time Rotarian and good friend to many of us and he will be sorely missed.
 
Ron Dobbin  Vi Hughes 2019-10-03 06:00:00Z 0 Ron Dobbin

Gift for Nicole and baby James
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Oct 01, 2019
James Evan Theberge
This Tuesday, we were pleased to be able to see and cuddle the newest addition to the Germain family, Nicolle’s baby James. Rose Marie Basaraba presented our gift to Nicole for baby James and then we cut a cake in honor of him. Nicolle thanked us for our gift and said that she hopes to be able to raise another giving person and future Rotarian.
===
What a special day to have Nicolle Germain to bring her baby James Evan Theberge, at 4 months old, to his first Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona lunch meeting on October 2nd.
 
James, the great grandson of our Rotary Club’s Charter President John Germain, and grandson of Eric and Karen Germain, was well received and well behaved on the day. He seemed to enjoy the company of everyone who got to hold him, and those who appreciated having him attend the lunch.
 
Thanks to the Rotary Club for their warm reception, and special recognition for parents Nicolle Germain and Shane Theberge.
 
Cheers,
 
Grandpa Eric
 
Gift for Nicole and baby James  Vi Hughes 2019-10-01 06:00:00Z 0

Heather de Kok, Club Social Media
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Oct 01, 2019
This past Tuesday Heather talked to us about how she is using social media to promote our club. She said that it has been a very busy time so far setting up everything and she along with her committee are now trying to set some goals for how to best spend our budgeted funds to advertise our club to the people who we would like to encourage to join Rotary.
We are currently on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. She said that each of these media have different audiences that follow them. Twitter is text based very short messages and their audience is mostly younger male businessmen and women, promoting their businesses. Instagram is a photo-based system with short descriptors added and appeals mostly to younger women.  Facebook is mostly used by older folks who want to keep up with their family and friends.   She said that she is using a program called Buffer to help her to make the many daily posts that are required in order to keep each of our social media accounts active.
 
Each of these media use a lingo of their own which takes a while to understand. On Twitter each user has a unique ‘handle’ or user-name.  In order to make it easier for their users to see only the things they are personally interested in they use ‘tags’ which are prefixed by # (a hash mark). A user can then ‘follow’ a particular handle or hashtag. Thus, when a posting includes the word ‘flower’ or has the hashtag #flowers attached to it, all users interested in this topic will receive this posting in their ’feed’. By attaching the international descriptor of ‘yeg’ for Edmonton it helps to narrow it down to a more local audience. Since it is obvious that these tags can snow people under, they need to be very specific and relevant to the audience that the user wishes to attract. Coming up with good hashtags that will work for our group is very important and we are still working on developing these. They do have analytics that we can look at to see how many people are reading our posts and they give a breakdown by location, age, sex etc.  Heather said that seventy percent of our twitter followers are from the Edmonton area. Our club hash tag is #yegstrathcona. Some other hashtags that she uses a lot are #giveback, #volunteer and #yegdonates. She said that the #rotary hashtag seems to include a lot of odd mechanical posts probably relating to motors and rotors, so it is not very useful.  She makes a point of also attaching the hashtags used by our speakers so our audience can then easily get to their postings as well.  She said that after doing this for a short while and seeing how much time and effort it takes, she can fully understand why a lot of companies have full time staff to manage their social media.
 
Heather said her biggest challenge right now is coming up with content to post. She needs to make three postings a day to Twitter alone. She said that she would greatly appreciate it if all of our members would email or text her with any and all Rotary related activities that they take part in. She also said that photo quality is best if sent by email. Our club pays for each posting we make so she needs to make them current and relevant to the audience we want to reach. Otherwise it is like throwing money at a wall.  So please, keep Heather in the know so that she can in turn let others know what our club is doing.
Heather de Kok, Club Social Media  Vi Hughes 2019-10-01 06:00:00Z 0 social media
ELENI GYRA BOARDINGHOUSE - visit Dimitri Papanicolas 2019-09-27 06:00:00Z 0 elepap

Westlock Rotary Dinner Theatre

Posted by Donna Hutton on Sep 27, 2019
 

Performance Dates at the Westlock and District Community Hall

Oct  - Friday 18th Saturday 19th matinee Sunday 20th  ( show only no meal)

Oct  -Thursday 24th Friday 25th Saturday 26th matinee Sunday  27th  ( show only no meal )

Nov - Friday 1st  Saturday the 2nd

Doors at 5 pm show at 7:15

Matinee Doors at 1pm show at 2

Prices -  $65 per seat first three row from the stage

           -  $60 per seat balance of tables

           -  $30 per seat Matinee

Westlock Rotary Dinner Theatre Donna Hutton 2019-09-27 06:00:00Z 0

Congratulations Hans!
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 26, 2019
 
At the recent Zone Conference 2019 for Rotary International Zones 24 and 32 held in Niagara Falls, our own Hans Granholm was presented with an award by Rotary International Director Jeffry Cadorette for his outstanding support to our international zone.
Rotary International Zones 24 & 32 is a four country, two language, community of Rotarians in Bermuda, Canada, France and United States spanning six time zones. Hans Granholm is the Website Administrator for this administration zone which encompasses a total of 827 clubs in Zone 24 (covering all of Canada and St. Pierre Miquelon) and 987 clubs in Zone 32 (covering the North Eastern US and Bermuda).
Congratulations Hans!  Vi Hughes 2019-09-26 06:00:00Z 0 hans

Celina Jensen, Exchange Student Short Report
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 26, 2019
This past Tuesday we heard a short report from our exchange student Celina. She is now enrolled as a grade eleven student in Vimy Ridge Academy. She goes to school each day with the son of her host family who is also a student there. She said that she just loves the skyline of downtown Edmonton that she sees each day on her trip to the school.
She has had a busy couple of weeks and has had a lot of fun getting to know her host family, local Rotarians and the other exchange students from around the Edmonton area at various social functions. She said that she also had a good time making cinnamon buns, which she had thought were only a Danish thing, and now knows that they are also popular here as well.
We look forward to getting to know her better and to hearing more of her impressions and adventures in Edmonton.
Celina Jensen, Exchange Student Short Report  Vi Hughes 2019-09-26 06:00:00Z 0 Celina,exchange student

Dr. Shawn McMurtry and Shane Hudson, Canadian Centre for Men and Families
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 24, 2019
Last Tuesday we heard from Dr. Shawn McMurtry, Branch Director and Shane Hudson, a volunteer for the Canadian Centre for Men and Families. Dr. Shawn McMurtry, a local cardiologist, spoke about why it is important to think about men more than we have traditionally in the past. Why do more men die younger than women when there is no obvious biological reason. Could it be that their lifetime experiences are very different from women. We know that more men die from cardiac disease, liver disease and suicide. For some reason men are more vulnerable to these preventable outcomes. The reason in some cases could be the stress brought on by the inequalities our justice system visits on many men whose marriages have fallen apart.  
 
The impact of separation and divorce on their lives that happens with the division of property, child custody, and the financial burdens of child and spousal support. When we look at the decisions of the judicial system we can clearly see that most of the time the woman gets custody of the children. In most cases where there is unequal access to their children this in turn means there is also a greater financial burden placed on the father for child support.  This also places these men in a precarious position if they happen to lose their job or experience a change in their physical or mental health that affects their income. Even large incomes can be insufficient to support mortgage payments and support payments.
 
The government is very punitive in its treatment of men (or women in some cases) who fail to make their support payments, regardless of the reasons. In turn when these individuals also lose their connections to their children and are more vulnerable to financial pressures, the stress can lead to mental health issues, changes in sleep patterns, and sometimes may lead to substance abuse, violence and criminal behaviour.  This can also have an effect on their work lives as safety can be an issue when they are preoccupied by family worries. This is one of the things that can send men’s lives off the rails in mid life. These types of situations are also not good for the children involved.
Dr. Shawn McMurtry and Shane Hudson, Canadian Centre for Men and Families  Vi Hughes 2019-09-24 06:00:00Z 0

Programs of Interest at the Jewish Senior Citizens Center
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 23, 2019
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The JSCC (10052-117 St., Edmonton) is sponsoring several programs, talks and films that would be of interest to many of our members. Please call their office at 780-488-4241 for further information on cost and registration. Here is a selection of some of their offerings:
 
Mon
23 Sep
1-3 pm
Israel: Past, Present and Future
Abe Silverman
Tues
24 Sep
12 noon
Lunch and Learn, Traditional Jewish Melodies
Jack Goldberg
Wed
25 Sep
7 pm
Italian Opera Masterpieces
Edmonton Opera
Thurs
26 Sep
12 noon
Lunch and Learn, Traditions and Symbolism Associated with Rosh Hashana
Rabbi Mendy
Mon
28 Oct
04 Nov
11 Nov
10-12 noon
Politics: Edmonton and Alberta
Stephen Mandel
Tues
29 Oct – 03 Dec
1-3 pm
Solo Flight: The Concerto from Vivaldi to Ravel
Michael Thomas Roeder
Wed
30 Oct – 04 Dec
10-12 noon
Revolutionary Exploration: Rock’n Roll’s First Tumultuous Decade
D T Baker
Thurs
31 Oct – 05 Dec
1-3 pm
YEG’s Public Art
Kathleen Silverman
Tues
12 Nov
12 noon
Lunch and Learn, Geriatric Psychology and Dementia
Dr. Leon Kagan
 
Programs of Interest at the Jewish Senior Citizens Center  Vi Hughes 2019-09-23 06:00:00Z 0

New Hope School--UPDATE
 

Posted by Carin Jansen van Vuuren on Sep 20, 2019

new hope school, South Africa

We are pleased to inform you that eight (8) Learners from the New Hope School (NHS) completed courses in refrigerating and air conditioning, electrical and arc welding at the Ekurhuleni Artisans and Skills Training Centre. 
They were awarded their certificates on the September 14, 2019 after the successful completion of the three-month courses. 
 
The Learners will forever be grateful to Rotary for the funding received from the Rotary International Grant. Two of the Learners have already secured part time work, because of these newly required skills!  Thanks to the members of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona and other Edmonton and surrounding clubs for making the RI Grant a reality. This is the beginning of great results of the projects funded with the Grant!
New Hope School--UPDATE  Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2019-09-20 06:00:00Z 0 new hope

Alison McIntosh, Climate Change in Alberta
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 17, 2019
This last Tuesday we heard from Alison McIntosh from the Parkland Institute. The Parkland Institute is based in the Faculty of Arts at the U. of A. They take a political economy approach to issues affecting Albertans. Their work is supported by grants received mostly from unions and also some individuals.
She started her talk by saying that climate change happens in cycles of warm periods followed by ice ages.  One of the contributing factors in these changes is the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, when it’s levels are high, warming occurs, when it’s levels are low, cooling occurs. The highest levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in the past were around three hundred parts per million. At present the level is around four hundred parts per million. A large part of this increase is due to world wide combustion of fossil fuels by humans. When they break down the percentages of carbon from various sources in Alberta the major contributor is fossil fuel extraction. She discussed the changes in weather over the past fifty years and some of the many ways in which Albertans have experienced changes over that time. In particular, she said that the most costly two weather related disasters in Canada in that time were both in Alberta. The 2016 forest fires in Ft. McMurray and the 2013 flooding in Southern Alberta. When combined with the recent drop in provincial revenues, being able to plan for possible future disasters becomes problematic. We need to work out how to respond and set policies that will create a more resilient approach to weather related changes while at the same time recognising that these will also create employment issues for Albertans as oil and gas production is a very big part of our economy in Alberta.
 
She said that there are a lot of issues that government needs to address in order to comply with agreements on climate change that they have already signed and at the same time reduce the impact on workers and their families whose lives will be impacted in a serious way. They need to find ways and set policies so that communities will be able to support themselves in a ‘new economy’ that relies less on fossil fuels. One such proposal is the ‘Green New Deal’ and the associated ‘Just Transition’ that it will bring, as proposed in the US by some Democratic senators. In closing she said that we need to keep the conversation with our politicians and policy makers going to ensure that they know what we think on these issues.
Alison McIntosh, Climate Change in Alberta  Vi Hughes 2019-09-17 06:00:00Z 0
Shelterbox in action Donna Hutton 2019-09-13 06:00:00Z 0 Shelterbox

Sad News

Posted by Rose Marie Basaraba on Sep 13, 2019
Condolecence thoughts are extended to Sam Lilly in the loss of his mother in Vancouver last week. Our thoughts are with him.
Sad News Rose Marie Basaraba 2019-09-13 06:00:00Z 0 sam lilly

Meals on Wheels fundraiser

Posted by Vince Campbell on Sep 13, 2019
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Join Edmonton Meals on Wheels at our Annual Fundraiser September 19th! Event proceeds to benefit low-income seniors and homebound individuals throughout our city.
 
The event features a DJ, live artists, silent auction, door prizes and delicious appetizers made by our Red Seal Chef!
 
Purchase tickets to our annual fundraiser on EventBrite HERE
 
 
Don’t forget about our 2 raffles:
 
WestJet Travel Voucher, get your raffle tickets HERE                                      
                  
                     
 
$500 VIA Rail Travel Voucher, get your raffle tickets HERE
 
                                                
 
+18 only
Meals on Wheels fundraiser Vince Campbell 2019-09-13 06:00:00Z 0 meals on wheels
Gibson's in Greece with the Greek Dimitri Papanicolas 2019-09-13 06:00:00Z 0 greece

Judith Pinto, Classification Talk
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 10, 2019
This past Tuesday we heard from one of our newest members, Judith Pinto. Judith’s classification is Occupational Therapy and her club sponsor was Jim Peddie.  
Judith told us that she first encountered Rotary about twenty-three years ago when she was working as a community health development worker and she was giving talks to various community groups. Judith said that she originally studied zoology and was hoping to go into genetics, when her father suggested she apply to become an occupational therapist. She was hoping for a rejection letter when she got accepted and her life’s direction changed completely. She said that sometimes life is like that and we just have to find a way to pull ourselves into a field that we never would have considered at first. Judith said that she has always loved music, art and playing with doll houses and miniatures, and now she gets to do it every day.
 
She now has a private practice as an Occupational Therapist specializing in Psychotherapy and is a certified sand play therapist. She works with children with special needs, learning disabilities and mental health challenges.  Many of these children are non-verbal and the sand play is an opportunity for them to understand their world better and also to let others know what their inner world is like. They get to build a mini version of their inner thoughts using miniature figures of all different kinds in a tray of sand. Judith said that she has shelves and shelves full of all kinds of figures, toy furniture, mini houses and other kinds of objects that they can choose from.  She said that doing this often helps these children with things like recurring nightmares and other issues that they may be having. In the end it helps the children grow into who they are. Judith also gave us some background on the rationale for sand play and said that it is often useful with adults as well.
 
On a more personal note, Judith told us about her love of animals, in particular birds. She said that she used to keep budgies and that one pair they had actually had a clutch of babies. She now has a twenty-six year old blue and gold Macaw. She said that when they first got it, it did not know how to fly even short distances and would launch itself onto the ground from it’s perch, often breaking off feathers or worse in the process. She and her daughter also have two dogs, a maltese cross and a husky cross.  She said that as a teen she played piano, guitar and ukulele, but now her musical passion is to sing jazz. She first got interested in it while living in Japan where it is very popular. Then a co-worker encouraged her to give it a try. She ended up taking a lot of workshops and has sung in public a few times.
 
Judith said in closing that she hopes to get into more volunteer work and be able to use some of her talents to help others through Rotary. We would like to thank Judith for her very interesting and entertaining talk and look forward to getting to know her better.
Judith Pinto, Classification Talk  Vi Hughes 2019-09-10 06:00:00Z 0 Judith

Max de Kok, ShelterBox Canada Donation
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 10, 2019
 
This week we were very pleased to have Max de Kok, Heather’s son, come to our meeting to donate the sixteen dollars he earned by selling lemonade to ShelterBox Canada to help with the disaster in the Bahamas.
 
 
 
Max de Kok, ShelterBox Canada Donation  Vi Hughes 2019-09-10 06:00:00Z 0 Max de Kok,Shelterbox

22 October O’Byrnes Irish Pub Fundraiser
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 05, 2019
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Come and join us for a pint and listen to a Celtic band any time after 6:00 pm at
 
10616-82 Ave. NW, Edmonton.
 
There will be a Cover Charge of $25 which will go to Polio Plus. SIGN UP HERE
 
There will be no regular meeting this day so that everyone can attend this event.
22 October O’Byrnes Irish Pub Fundraiser  Vi Hughes 2019-09-05 06:00:00Z 0

Lucy Hines, Royal Alberta Museum
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 03, 2019
This past week we heard from Lucy Hines, the Assistant Curator of Western Canadian History at the Royal Alberta Museum (RAM). Lucy’s major interest is in clothing and textiles.
 
She began with telling us about the currently running Viking exhibit at the RAM. They have a very good You Tube video that was used to introduce the exhibit when it opened in June. It can be viewed at YouTube.com, #yegvikings, The Vikings are Coming! She told us that the RAM is the largest museum in western Canada, with four hundred nineteen thousand square feet and thirteen curatorial programs. This includes two main galleries, a children’s museum, a bug gallery and a feature gallery, which currently houses the Viking exhibit.
 
Lucy said that the move to the new location in the heart of downtown from an outlying neighbourhood was an adjustment for the staff at the museum. They embraced this by partnering with the Mustard Seed to sponsor a Greeter program, whereby clients from the Mustard would be hired and trained as Greeters at the Museum. This program has been such a success for the Mustard Seed and the RAM that the greeters are now able to find other jobs and they need to train new staff.
 
Lucy Hines, Royal Alberta Museum  Vi Hughes 2019-09-03 06:00:00Z 0 RAM,museum

Cabaret 2019

Posted on Sep 03, 2019
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Edmonton Comedy Festival presents:

Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona is proud to participate with the Edmonton Comedy Festival to raise funds that contribute to our End Polio Now campaign!
 
Tickets go on sale September 2nd – priced at $25.00 each
 
 
Our club has 20 tickets to sell for this fundraiser.
 
Rotary members can purchase online from our Clubrunner site. You can also purchase directly from us at our Tuesday meetings. See Audrey or Maggi
Cabaret Series
 
Friday, October 18th at 8:00pm at the Varscona Hotel on the PRODUCTION WORLD STAGE - RUN TIME: 90 MINUTES
 
Comedians tell us every year that the Varscona Hotel is their favorite venue so we brought it back. The Cabaret Series has a more casual feel to it with the audience up close and personal. We pack the room with local charity and not-for-profit groups looking to raise money for their organizations and then deliver a great comedy show. This one features L.A.’s Lisa Alvarado with Edmonton’s Mike Dambra and Vancouver’s Julie Kim hosted by the “Edmonton Comedy Festival On Tour” regular Paul Sveen.
 
Cabaret 2019 HANS GRANHOLM 2019-09-03 06:00:00Z 0 comedy

Hurricane Relief Efforts

Posted by RID Jeffry Cadorette on Sep 02, 2019
 

HURRICANE DORIAN RELIEF EFFORTS

Hi everyone,
 
This morning (Monday) I texted with Past President Barry. While Nassau was spared the full force of Dorian, and he and Esther are fine, other parts of his country are devastated having been dealt a blow with Dorian’s full fury. Dorian is now headed toward the US and other parts of our neighboring  Zones 33 & 34.
 
Whether you want to help Barry’s District, the Bahamas, or one of the states in the southern part of the US that are awaiting Dorian, the link below will give you information on how to do that.
 
At the bottom of the link is a form telling you additional ways you can donate. The Rotary Foundation Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is set up in North Carolina and is able to make international donations. You can designate where you would like the funds to be directed in the memo portion of the check you write. A representative from each district in Zone 33 &34 will determine where to allocate the funds. They have experience with this DAF and process having had multiple hurricanes last year. Share this link on social media wherever you deem appropriate
 
       Thanks
       Jeff
 
 
Hurricane Relief Efforts RID Jeffry Cadorette 2019-09-02 06:00:00Z 0

RC St. Albert October Fest

Posted on Aug 30, 2019
 
Guten tag!
 
You are cordially invited to join us at our second annual Oktoberfest event!
 
 
September 21, 6:00pm
Red Willow Place (7 Tache Street, St. Albert)
Tickets:  include first drink free, full traditional German meal, live band, fun activities, and free collectors mug: $65 for 15oz mug; $85 for 33oz mug (supplies limited)
 
For more details and to order tickets, please go to this link.
 
We hope to can join us for an über good time!
 
Mark
RC St. Albert October Fest 2019-08-30 06:00:00Z 0 October Fest

Karla Sarahi Letter from Project Amigo, Colima A.C.
 

Posted by Karla Sarahi on Aug 28, 2019
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Dear Godparents, Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona.
 
Hello, I hope you are very well, and thank you very much for continuing to support me in my studies, I thank you very much with all my heart and I will not let you down, I am really looking forward to my studies so that you feel fortunate and do not regret having supported me.
 
In this month I had a great time, they have already left me homework, I already entered the school again and starting the first week they left me homework, but for my part it is fine to be able to understand new topics that we will see , but in school I am doing very well until today. This semester does not look as difficult as I thought, but on the contrary, a little easier, because several of the teachers who give us I already know them and I know how it is their way of teaching and how to evaluate, but I know I have to really want it because it is my last year in the Baccalaureate, and I feel very excited because I am advancing a lot in my studies and I never imagined going as far as I am doing today, time passes quickly and little by little we are seeing How our life progresses.
 
In the same way I feel very good because most of my classmates are still studying and that is what makes me more happy, because they are noticed that they still want to continue studying, and they went on to those who I thought would not be able to pass, but what I see they really wanted to continue being with us this last year that we have left in the Baccalaureate.
 
 
Karla Sarahi Letter from Project Amigo, Colima A.C.  Karla Sarahi 2019-08-28 06:00:00Z 0 project amigo

Brenda Johnson, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, MADD
 

Posted by VI Hughes on Aug 28, 2019
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This past Tuesday we heard from Brenda Johnson, the National Board Chairperson of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Brenda is also currently the President of the Parkland County Chapter of MADD. Brenda told us a little of her personal journey as the mother of a victim of an impaired driver. Thirteen years ago, she lost her son in an accident caused by impaired driving, so she knows first-hand the long lasting effects that an accident like this can have on a family.
 
MADD Canada was founded in 1989 with a mission to stop impaired driving and to support both the victims and the families of those affected by impaired driving (whether from alcohol or drugs). They now have over one hundred chapters across Canada with seventy-five hundred volunteers. Brenda said that there were sixty-five thousand people who were impacted by impaired driving in Canada last year.  This averages out to four people killed each day in Canada which makes impaired driving the leading criminal cause of death in Canada. They estimate that one in ten drivers on the road today are impaired in some way and expect the numbers to go up to three in ten with the legalisation of cannabis. Their areas of focus cover victim/survivor services, youth services, public awareness and education, public policy and the use of technology to stop impaired driving.  
 
MADD Canada conducts research and constantly lobbies for policy changes to government legislation that will lower these numbers.   MADD Canada has a lot of legal people, scientists and health professionals as advisors to help them with this. Some of the changes they have lobbied for in the past that are now making a difference are graduated licensing for new drivers, and more recently the passage of Bill 46 in March of this year, the new impaired driving law which brings in screening for three new drug related driving offences.  They estimate that this new legislation took three hundred and fifty impaired drivers off the road in June alone. They are currently partnered with other organisations to bring in other new programs related to the sale and use of Cannabis.
 
They sponsor may different educational campaigns and public service announcements to educate the public and also work closely with both national and local law enforcement personnel to provide both information and support. They also run many different types of fund raising campaigns across the country and locally. In addition, they sponsor a yearly national conference which is held in September each year. This year the focus of their conference is to educate law enforcement services about the effects of cannabis. Her local group is sponsoring attendance for three local law enforcement personnel to this conference.
 
In closing Brenda said that we need to remember that driving is a privilege, not a right. We would like to thank Brenda for taking the time to present this very informative and interesting talk.
Brenda Johnson, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, MADD  VI Hughes 2019-08-28 06:00:00Z 0 MADD

Flag Program

Posted by Vi Hughes on Aug 28, 2019
 

Canada Flag Program

We would like to give a big thank you to all of those who have planted, picked up or helped in any other way with our flag program to raise funds for our club this year.
Flag Program Vi Hughes 2019-08-28 06:00:00Z 0 Fl;ag Program

Ron McCullough honoured

Posted on Aug 24, 2019

Ron McCullough

On behalf of the University of Alberta Alumni Association, we wanted to pass along information about the Alumni Awards, September 19 at which  Ronald Grant McCullough will be recognized with an Alumni Service Award for extraordinary volunteer service to the University of Alberta.
 
University of Alberta honours Ronald Grant McCullough
Community invited to celebrate at 25th annual Alumni Awards ceremony
 
The University of Alberta is pleased to announce that Ronald Grant McCullough, ’54 BSc(Ag) will receive an Alumni Service Award for extraordinary volunteer service to the University of Alberta. UAlberta President David H. Turpin will present Ron and 31 other alumni with their awards on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton.
 
The Alumni Service Award recognizes extraordinary volunteer contributions to the University of Alberta.
 
 
Ronald Grant McCullough, ’54 BSc(Ag)
Ron McCullough’s love of agriculture is matched by his passion for his faculty. Since graduating 65 years ago, McCullough has helped the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences develop partnerships with industry and other post-secondary institutions. He suggested a “Centennial Club” to mark the faculty’s 100th anniversary, inspiring 100 donors to each give $100,000 to ALES. McCullough and his wife, Brenda, have sponsored the Lilian McCullough Chair in Breast Cancer Surgery. His career has bridged cattle ranching and public service, serving as Red Deer alderman, Alberta assistant commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission and director general of the federal Department of Regional Economic Expansion. McCullough still nurtures the bonds of his beloved Class of ’54, publishing his “Saggie Aggies” newsletter and being a homecoming class booster since 1990. 
 
 
All community members are invited to celebrate Ron McCullough’s contributions at the 25th annual Alumni Awards ceremony:
 
Date:               Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019
Location:        Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium (11455 87 Ave), Edmonton, Alberta
Time:              7 p.m. ceremony with dessert reception to follow
Cost:               Free, register for tickets at uab.ca/aw2019
Dress:             Business attire
 
 
For more information, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 780-492-3224, toll free 1-800-661-2593 or alumni@ualberta.ca 
 
Ron McCullough honoured HANS GRANHOLM 2019-08-24 06:00:00Z 0 Ron McCullough

Bruce Flesher

Posted by Bob Sandercock on Aug 23, 2019
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Bruce Flesher

Bob Sandercock has graciously submitted the following UPDATE:
 
Bruce is and has been in the hospital for two weeks.
I had talked to him when he first went in but he was discharged after one day.
I did not know he was readmitted a day later.
He is in good spirits but still needing tests and therapy.
He is turning 88 on Saturday!!
 
Bruce is now at the Glenrose rehab facility.
Bruce Flesher Bob Sandercock 2019-08-23 06:00:00Z 0 Bruce Flesher

Welcome two new members

Posted on Aug 23, 2019
On Tuesday, August 13, we welcomed two new members:
 
Judith Pinto sponsored by Jim Peddie and with the classification, Occupational Therapy, and
Ryerson Christie a former Rotarian sponsored by Hans Granholm and with the classification, Management Consulting-Retired.
 
Please introduce yourself to both at our future meetings and make them feel welcome.
 
Welcome two new members 2019-08-23 06:00:00Z 0 new members

Two Ivey MBA students back for 2nd year after S. American tour, 6 June - 25 Aug. '59

Posted by Ron McCullough on Aug 23, 2019

what a story!!

 

We found our airplane 60 years later, just 40 km. south of Edmonton

Sixty years later, Class of ’60 MBA students Ron McCullough and Robin Eccles find an old friend.  

 

The story begins during a Marketing class in April 1959 with a note from Ron to Robin reading: “Let’s do something different on this summer  break!”

“Sure, what’ve you got in mind?” Robin wrote back.

“Let’s buy an aeroplane and tour South America!” -  Ron was a licensed pilot with over 2000 hours.

“You’ve got to be kidding.......... seriously?”

“Seriously!”

“OK, let’s do it!”

And so began an adventure which was to take them a total of 27,000 miles in 92 days down the Pacific coast of Central and South America; to cross the Andes via the Curico Pass 150 miles south of Santiago de Chile; across the Pampas to Buenos Aires; returning north through Brazil and the Caribbean across N. America to Ron’s home ranch headquarters near Red Deer, Alberta.

Ron had already identified a single-engine Piper aircraft which they bought for $4,200.00.  

A frantic three weeks followed, securing the charts, visas, flight permits and other paraphernalia they would need to overfly the countries they would be visiting.  Robin rushed through a crash course for his pilot’s license. 

Finally, on 6th June, Mrs. F.W.P. Jones, the Dean’s wife, christened the  aircraft “The Canada Goose”.  Fellow student Rev. Barry Brooks, MBA blessed it. And away they went to Laredo, Texas.   

In Laredo they had the back seats replaced by a large auxiliary fuel tank to give them the 1,000 miles range they would need in places where aircraft fuelling facilities were few and far between.

Of their many adventures, the closest call they had was the passage through the Curico Pass.  The charts showed the altitude as 12,000 ft.  The ceiling of the aircraft was about the same - leaving no margin for error with controls made sloppy by the thin air.  Members of the local flying club were adamant the altitude was less, and that The Canada Goose could get through quite safely. (“American charts...... gringos.......what do they know!”).  In fact the charts were accurate.  But by the greatest of luck there was a strong breeze off the Pacific blowing up the valley towards the summit. The updraft this created lifted the ‘plane sharply over the crest with 400 or 500 ft to spare and dropped it equally sharply down the other side.  Without that following wind, they would certainly have crashed in the high Andes - one of the bleakest places imaginable.

But their relief was soon tempered by the realisation that they were seriously off course.  The plan had been to follow a valley running northeast out of the mountains towards Mendoza where they intended to spend the night.  Instead, they were dropped into a valley which veered southeast towards flat grasslands without any features they could use for navigation.  They were lost. The only thing to be done was to keep going in the hope of finding a ranch or village where they could land before running out of fuel. Again fortune was on their side when they came across a well-equipped runway complex not marked on the charts.  They landed - only to be arrested and jailed for landing at a military airport without permission.

That incarceration was the first of three in which the Canadian Consular Service demonstrated its skill in getting their citizens out of trouble!

Over the years since that trip - it was once described as “Our Dream Flight to South America” in an article they sold at the time - Ron and Robin had wondered whatever happened to the little CANADA GOOSE aircraft that served them so well.  This year, sixty years later, another search discovered it near Edmonton - owned by commercial pilot Forrest Miller - extremely well maintained and still happily flying! 
Two Ivey MBA students back for 2nd year after S. American tour, 6 June - 25 Aug. '59 Ron McCullough 2019-08-23 06:00:00Z 0 Ron McCullough

Patrick Gibson, Future of Drones in Alberta
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Aug 20, 2019
This Tuesday we were treated to a talk by one of our long-time members, Patrick Gibson, on his latest obsession in retirement, drone flying and photography. Patrick said that the use of drones is just starting to take off and they have a very bright future in Alberta and Canada in the future. Drones have opened up a whole new world of aerial photography.
 
All basic drones come with a camera, but the quality varies a lot. They also come in all sizes, from very small fold up hand-held drones to very large drones built to carry heavy payloads. Some come with a built-in camera and others have a mount to which any type of camera can be attached. The quality of the cameras is commercial grade and Patrick said that he has lowered the picture quality from 4K to 1080p so that his small drone is easier to fly. They are able to be flown either in first person mode, by active control using the screen, or by preprogrammed computer control. The memory needed to save the photos or to send them to a computer as it flies, was causing pauses in the screen picture and made the drone harder to control in first person mode.  This meant that the drone could collide with an object in a second while the screen was on pause. His small drone also takes thirteen Mega pixel still photos., which is more than enough for the average person.
 
Commercial uses for drones are just beginning to be realised. Most drones come with built in GPS, altimeters, collision avoidance sensors and WIFI. The types of camera that can be attached are almost limitless. Drones, cameras and software to control them and analyze the data for all types of commercial uses are now available. One of the most common types of software to control the drone is called waypoint software. It allows the user to preplan the route they want the drone to fly and upload it to the drone. It will then take off, fly the pattern that was programmed, which can be well out of sight of the operator. It will return to the point is was launched from for a battery or memory card replacement and then take off again and return directly to the pattern where it left off to continue with the planned route.
 
Aerial mapping and three dimension modelling is the future of drones. The images taken by the camera can be used to identify where a sod crop needs more water, where there is standing water in a field, what type of tree saplings are present on a piece of land, what the elevation of selected points of land are and many, many other uses.
 
The larger drones that can handle payloads, can also be programmed to spray crops and orchards. They can do a better job in nearly all cases, as they are not restricted by accessibility issues and do not crush the crop as they move across it. Drones will put some types of occupations onto the scrap heap of time and will, in turn, create new ones to take their place.
Drone users are big proponents of a 5 G network as this would make it easier for a drone to transmit data as it flies along without having to return to home to get its memory card swapped out. Technology is changing so fast in this field that it is hard to imagine where it will take us.
 
All drones over a weight of two hundred fifty grams (a very small drone) require a license to fly them for recreational purposes. There is currently no commercial licensing for drones, but this is coming and will open up all kinds of new uses for drones. Patrick is confident that drones will find all kinds of new and currently unimagined uses in the future.
Patrick Gibson, Future of Drones in Alberta  Vi Hughes 2019-08-20 06:00:00Z 0 drone flying
New member Day Ellen Weber 2019-08-17 06:00:00Z 0

Eye Ball Gala

Posted by Audrey Martyn on Aug 09, 2019
 
 

Saturday September 28, 2019

Westin Hotel

10135 100 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta

Our second annual Eyeball Gala will bring together ophthalmic specialists, surgeons, business and community leaders, and loyal friends to raise awareness and funds for the fight for sight and life-enhancing work of the Eye Institute of Alberta.

 
Please contact Audrey Martyn for more information.
audrey01@telus.net 
Eye Ball Gala Audrey Martyn 2019-08-09 06:00:00Z 0 eye ball

Mark Polet, An Ethical Journey
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Aug 08, 2019
This past Tuesday we heard from Mark Polet, a retired biologist, who along with his wife Terry has spent the last seven years in the middle east helping companies to become more ethical in their business practices.
They are currently helping a cleaning company in Tajikistan. Tajikistan is a small Persian speaking country that borders Afghanistan, with which it shares many of the challenges found in that part of the world. Tajikistan is the smallest and poorest country in the region, but, is also very culturally rich.  Tajikistan is a former Soviet Republic, which has since suffered through a civil war and is now a familial dictatorship.  As the country is extremely poor they do not pay their civil service a living wage and they are expected to pay bribes to ‘buy’ their jobs, collect bribes from their customers and pay kick backs to their superiors. For those who refuse to pay bribes the penalties can be very harsh. School students who have been doing well will get final marks that are failing, young men in the military can suffer beatings, businesses ‘caught’ on trumped up charges of not meeting regulations or paying all of their taxes must pay onerous fines ( bribes). All of this results in a society that is very untrusting of everyone but their inner family.
 
Their host family is a devout muslim family that love what Mark and his wife do in Christian service.  He compared what they have been doing to our Rotary Four Way Test. Their overall lack of honesty means that the truth is often hard to discern. It is not fair to anyone and even those who try to be fair get tarred along with everyone else. Goodwill does not exist as the atmosphere of mistrust shadows everything. The benefits flow only to those who threaten and mistreat others. Mark and his wife work with small businesses helping them with payroll, labour standards, bookkeeping and taxes to become so scrupulously honest that the government auditors have a very hard time finding holes to use to extract bribes. It costs the business more in taxes and less in bribes, but they also gain personal dignity. For example, many companies there keep multiple sets of books, some of which do not include the bribes and kickbacks paid to others, or the wages paid to some employees. In one business they started keeping only one set of books which included everything and confessed their past mistakes to the auditor, who was impressed that they were so honest. Along the way they have come to know some government inspectors who now have respect for their business practices.
 
In a final comparison with the Four Way Test for this business they can now say yes to all of the criteria. Yes it is the truth, it is fair as they now pay all taxes due, it has built goodwill, as the people they come in contact with respect them for their honesty, and this has proven beneficial to all.
Mark Polet, An Ethical Journey  Vi Hughes 2019-08-08 06:00:00Z 0

Membership Adventure Aug 13th

Posted by Ellen Weber on Aug 02, 2019
 

 Join the adventure on Tuesday, Aug. 13th  meeting to help us roll out our exciting new rotary mentorship program. We’d love to meet your applicants and introduce guests to our friendly Rotarian community at the same time.   

Our meeting goal is to grow our Rotary club and enhance both personal and collective roles of service and fellowship in ways that benefit all. You will find opportunities to speak up and feel heard through fun two-footed questions that relate Rotary’s vision to what we each do and care about most.
 
Get to know newer participants over lunch and learn how we each can win a $20 lunch ticket by participating in this mutual mentorship rollout. 
 
 Any questions? Contact Ellen.
Membership Adventure Aug 13th Ellen Weber 2019-08-02 06:00:00Z 0

Donna Hutton, Strategic Plan
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Aug 01, 2019
Our meeting this past Tuesday was a presentation by President, Donna Hutton and several committee chairpersons about their plans for the upcoming year. We will be having several updates like this throughout the year with presentations from different committees at each one.
 
The first presentation was from Heather de Kok with her plans for our Communications Committee. Heather’s committee, which also includes Patrick Gibson and Carin Jansen van Vuuren, plans to expand our club communications publicize the many things our club and members do to a wider audience. They will use part of their budget to purchase a program which will allow Heather to prepare all of our activity updates at once and the program will then post them in a timely manner on our social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Social media accounts require that you make a certain number of posts (usually two or three) either daily or weekly in order for them to remain active. She will also apply hash tags (ways to connect) to any of the speakers or events that have their own social media accounts. This will help to spread knowledge of our activities to a wider audience and will also allow each of us to follow the things we are interested in such as the activities of our exchange student, Stephanie Leach, who has her own social media accounts. Heather asked us to help her out with this by letting her know of any upcoming things, both small and large, that we are doing to support our Rotary club.
 
The second presentation was from Rose Marie Basaraba and the Staying Connected Committee. Her committee members are Audrey Martyn, Don Henry and Barb Craig. Rose Marie said that when they notice someone is missing, they will get in touch with that person to say hi, we missed you, and ask if everything is OK. They will also send cards or flowers. They asked that if we know of anyone they should do this for, to please let them know.  Their committee will also be organising monthly events throughout the year which will alternate between social and service events. Audrey told us about the first four ones that they are working on. They include driving for the comedy club, a baby shower for Nicole, the Wings project and a Christmas Party.

 
Donna Hutton, Strategic Plan  Vi Hughes 2019-08-01 06:00:00Z 0 strategic plan

New Members BBQ -- MARVELOUS!

Posted by Ellen Weber on Jul 26, 2019
Thanks to member hosts Stephan and Carin van Vuuren,  our club’s  2nd new member BBQ brought most of us out for sheer fun and fellowship on Saturday, July 20th.
 
Newer members and the rest of us enjoyed a welcoming extravaganza at van Vuuren’s  Ardrosan acreage. After weeks of rain, weather cooperated, members relaxed in mixed circles with delicious Alberta beef and top grade trimmings from the grill that graced plates. Premium wines were graciously donated by Leslie and Doug Milne.
 
Once again, this widely popular, semi-annual BBQ allowed our club’s newer members to mix with valued senior members. We especially enjoyed hearing one another’s stories over a few laughs and a refreshing glass of wine together in this warm home setting.
 
New Members BBQ -- MARVELOUS! Ellen Weber 2019-07-26 06:00:00Z 0 new members

Joanne Patterson and Jamie O’Connell, Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jul 24, 2019
This past Tuesday we heard from Joanne Patterson and Jamie O’Connell from the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation. They spoke about how donations can help children reach their full potential by helping to fund the hospital beyond the government supported standard level of care. Our donations make a difference through helping them to invest in the best people, programs, equipment and research.  
 
The Stollery Hospital is one of three most specialised hospitals in Canada for children’s care. Some of the specialised services they have are pediatric intensive care, pediatric cardiac care and pediatric organ transplants. Last year the hospital served over ninety eight hundred pediatric inpatients and almost two hundred and twenty three thousand pediatric outpatients. About forty percent of those came from Northern Alberta and elsewhere, outside of Edmonton.
 
The Stollery Foundation invests in many different pillars. Recently they have helped to provide changes to the heart transplant unit to provide for an enlarged, better equipped and much more child friendly operating unit. They are also working on converting their three intensive care units to more child and family friendly spaces. This also includes providing for a wider range of equipment better suited to pediatric care. They are also co-funding a new pediatric mental health care facility which will open near the RAH in 2024.  
They showed us a video entitled ‘Little Fighter’, which touchingly presented the story of Cameron, a premature child who has been a patient at the Stollery for several years. It documented his journey from birth to present and the ways in which the Stollery has helped him to reach his full potential.
 
In addition, they support neonatal care units at the Royal Alex Hospital, the Sturgeon General Hospital and the Grande Prairie Hospital.  In future they hope to be able to build another tower at the U of A site, as the current Stollery Hospital is at capacity now.
 
The foundation has many different ways that we people can help. Through their community initiatives program they will provide signage, online support, letters of approval, donation tracking forms, event signage and even a representative speaker to groups or individuals wanting to sponsor a fundraising event. These can range from a lemonade stand or a dinner party in your home all the way up to a golf tournament or large fundraising dinner. Donors can choose to direct funding to a specific cause or into general funding.
 
We would like to thank our speakers for a very interesting and informative talk that clearly presented the many different ways that we can help them to support children’s care in northern Alberta.
Joanne Patterson and Jamie O’Connell, Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation  Vi Hughes 2019-07-24 06:00:00Z 0 Stollery

Mike Brecken, BMO Wealth Planning
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jul 16, 2019
This week we head from Mike Brecken, a Wealth Planning Director with BMO and also Nesbitt Burns. Mike said that he helps clients to develop comprehensive wealth plans in conjunction with a team that includes an estate planner, a tax planner, an insurance specialist, a business succession planner and a cross-border tax specialist. The first things they look at are the family members, corporate organisation, estimates of returns (using conservative estimates), tax planning, insurance planning, philanthropy, disability planning, family law issues and estate planning.
 
They determine the client’s goals and objectives in order to customize the best plan for them. Financial planning is then used to develop a current net worth and work forwards taking into consideration things like business partnerships, transition from a business ownership, the impact of capital gains, sale of assets and the possible use of an estate freeze to make the transition easier for your heirs in the future.
 
He then discussed each of these items in more detail and the pros and cons of each, using examples of how common situations such as the ownership of a second home, or a home in the US can affect your plans. He said that we should all ensure that we have a will, a power of attorney and a personal directive in place to ensure we can be looked after if we become incapacitated and to ensure the smooth passage of our estate to our heirs after death. He discussed the use of a Henson trust to ensure income for any handicapped family members and then talked about some ways to make probate easier and ways to include philanthropy in your plan. In particular, he said that if you wish to leave money to a charity on your death it is best to state an actual number rather than a percentage value, as this can greatly complicate matters for your executor. He also said that you should be careful when choosing your executor as this can be a very complicated job. If you do not have anyone you think can handle it, the bank can also serve as an executor and that they charge the same fees that an independent executor is entitled to charge.
 
In closing, he said that they tie all of these things together to set up the best plan for you and that any advisor you have should also be doing the same, with a focus on things such as family, business and legacies.
Mike Brecken, BMO Wealth Planning  Vi Hughes 2019-07-16 06:00:00Z 0 planning,wealth

News from the Combined Rotary School - Amarok Society

Posted by Ken Germain on Jul 12, 2019
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July 2019
Combined Rotary Women's School 
Dhaka, Bangladesh
 
Dear Members of The Rotary Clubs of Strathcona, Mayfield, Urban Spirits, Whyte Avenue, Grand Prairie and Hinton,

We hope you all are fine and here we are doing well too. In this letter we will tell you more about us and about our School. Our school is located in Dhaka. The school is in a slum of ‘Uttar Badda’ area. One of the rooms in our slum is our School. 25 mothers from our community come here to learn and we 25 mothers teach 125 community children. Our school starts in the afternoon for two hours. Many mothers of our school work as part-time housemaid. We enjoy our schooltime as this is the only time, we are free from work and live in happiness. Our school is our meeting place for learning and sharing our topics with one another. We take help from each other, share problems & ask for suggestions from our friends.
 
 
 

 
News from the Combined Rotary School - Amarok Society Ken Germain 2019-07-12 06:00:00Z 0 amarok

Alexis Ksiazkiewicz and Emily Ball, U of A Community Engagement
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jul 09, 2019
This week we took part in a Community Engagement Consultation with two people from the University of Alberta Government and Community Relations department.  Alexis Ksiazkiewicz is the Associate VP of Government and Community relations and Emily Ball is the Director of Community Relations. This consultation is part of the University of Alberta’s institutional strategic plan entitled ‘For the Public Good’ to engage with the community.  The university wants to know how they are doing, what things are they doing poorly, what things they are doing well and suggestions for how they could do better to engage the community. As part of this plan they have struck a twenty-five member committee composed of half university members and half general public.
 
They have developed a plan to survey people from across the province to engage with people, gather and compile information. The four main questions they are asking people are:
 
  • Is the university doing a good job of creating reciprocal, mutually beneficial learning experiences, research projects, partnerships and collaborations with the community? Community being their campuses, city and region, province and nation.
  • Is the University doing a good job of engaging with the community, and if not, what is missing?
  • How can the University improve existing programs, initiatives and activities?
  • How can the university move forward on fulfilling it’s objective to engage with the community?
 
Alexis Ksiazkiewicz and Emily Ball, U of A Community Engagement  Vi Hughes 2019-07-09 06:00:00Z 0 U of A
Mentor Opportunity 2019-07-05 06:00:00Z 0 DiscoverE
Bon Voyage Stephanie Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2019-07-05 06:00:00Z 0 Stephanie,student

Dues are Due!

Posted on Jul 03, 2019

membership dues are due!

The 2019-20 membership dues are due. An electronic invoice was emailed on July 3, 2019. The due date is August 16, 2019.
 
You can pay online from the link in the invoice or you can always open and click the link in the My Billing Account Balance link in the My ClubRunner box on the Admin page after login.
 
If you wish to pay by cash or cheque, give the $280.00 made out to "Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona" to Graham Gilchrist at your earliest convenience.
 
Membership fee in the club covers District dues, CN$80.00 annually and Rotary International dues, US$55.00 semi annually or US$110.00 annually.
 
Thank you for your prompt attention.
 
If you have any questions, please contact Graham Gilchrist, Treasurer, e: grahamtg@telus.net
Dues are Due! 2019-07-03 06:00:00Z 0

David Ries, ConnectAd
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jul 02, 2019

David ries

Our speaker this past Tuesday was David Ries, from ConnectAd, a company that helps non-profit organisations with the use of Google Grants for Digital Marketing. He told us that Google has a grant program for non-profit organisations that offers them ten thousand dollars worth of free Google advertising per month, if they meet certain criteria.
 
When anyone makes a computer search using the Google search engine, Google returns the answers in a specific order. People who wish to have their websites appear close to the top of the list, pay Google an advertising fee for each time their website is clicked on.  They do this by submitting AdWords that relate directly to the service or product they are promoting, and when these words appear in a search request their website is listed near the top where people are more likely to see it. This is called pay-per-click advertising.
 
Google has some requirements for the non-profit organisations that apply for their grant. Some of these are that they must be a registered non-profit. They must be registered as a non-profit with Tech Soup Canada. They must have a clean high quality website landing page that leads directly to the relevant search result. They must not be a government entity, child care center, hospital, academic institution or university. They also need to be able to set up their website appropriately, select the best words for the project they wish to advertise and must be able to monitor their results.  The Google grant is in the form of advertising credits that recur with no end date as long as the organisation continues to meet Google’s standards.
 
Organisations wishing to use this form of advertising can do it themselves or they can hire an outside company to do it for them. This is where ConnectAd comes in. They have the computer expertise to do everything needed from defining the project to be advertised, building the landing page, finding appropriate key words and on to monitoring the results. Google Grants could be one way our group advertises itself and our various projects and is something we could consider in the future.
David Ries, ConnectAd  Vi Hughes 2019-07-02 06:00:00Z 0 ConnectAd,Google
Canada Day Hans Granholm 2019-07-01 06:00:00Z 0

Honorary Membership at Rotary Club of Ioannina - Greece

Posted by Dimitri Papanicolas on Jun 29, 2019

Dimitri honoured

It is my pleasure to inform you that at the Turnover Dinner of the Rotary Club of Ioannina, Greece, I was presented, by outgoing President Foti Drougas, with an Honorary Membership at the Club. I received this membership with honor filled with emotions as it is coming from my family's hometown Rotary Club.
 
This Honorary Membership also recognizes the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona for all its support for ELEPAP and recently the "Eleni Gyra" Boarding Residence. During the speeches there were several references to the RCES for its support and acknowledgement that without the financial assistance from RCES those two centers could not have been supported. I thank the RCES too.
 
Point to note, the President for the 2019-20 year is Eva Tsinavou the first lady President of the RC of Ioannina. Some of you that participated in the Tour of Greece have met Eva.
 
 
 
Yours in Rotary.
Dimitri Papanicolas
Honorary Membership at Rotary Club of Ioannina - Greece Dimitri Papanicolas 2019-06-29 06:00:00Z 0 dimitri

Year End Rotating Wheel Dinner
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jun 28, 2019
Our outgoing President Vince Campbell thanked all of the members of his Executive and extended thanks to everyone in the club who has helped to make his tenure a success.
 
Photos by Carin Jansen van Vuuren
 
He presented our Rotarian of the Year Award to Carin van Vuuren for her outstanding service to our club over the past year.  
 
Our incoming President Donna Hutton introduced her Executive and also the members of the various committees that will be helping to keep our club running smoothly. Donna said that almost eighty percent of our club membership help out in some capacity with club business. 
 
She said that the three key commitments for our club this year will be Communication both with our membership and others including the use of social media, Staying Connected with our members and Having Fun.
Year End Rotating Wheel Dinner  Vi Hughes 2019-06-28 06:00:00Z 0 rotating,wheel

Induction of Trina Vandermeer
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jun 28, 2019

trina vandermeer

We were pleased to welcome Trina Vandermeer as our newest member at our year end Rotating Wheel Dinner. 
Trina’s classification is Security Services and she was sponsored by both Donna Hutton and Anna Syrianou.
Induction of Trina Vandermeer  Vi Hughes 2019-06-28 06:00:00Z 0

Don Wedman

Posted by Hans Granholm on Jun 28, 2019

Don Wedman

Effective immediately, Don Wedman, has graciously accepted the task with scheduling door duty and setup duty responsibilities.
 
If you have any questions or concerns as we move forward, please contact Don directly by text: 780-953-0358  or email: dwedman01@gmail.com  
 
Please REMEMBER if you notice a conflict with your personal calendar, it is YOUR responsibility to arrange a switch with another member. Both schedules are posted and updated weekly on the club home page www.EdmontonStrathcona.Rotary5370.org  
 
Thank you for your kind cooperation.
 
Hans G.
Don Wedman Hans Granholm 2019-06-28 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary Golf & Barbecue June 25, 2019
 

Posted by Eric Germain on Jun 25, 2019

Golf 2019

Photos by Eric Germain
 
The Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona held their annual golf tournament and barbecue on June 25th at the Millwoods Golf Course.
This was the fall back date from our rainout last week. The rain did fall heavy before our tee off, but the skies cleared for dry and sunny afternoon. We had 19 golfers and 30 people out for the barbecue. The golf game was a 9 hole best ball game, requiring team work and strategy.
 
The golf game with our random golf ball team selection process ended up being very close. We had 3 teams who scored 40 and 2 that had 45 on the 9 hole tourney.
 
The winning team, determined by a total team par and birdie count, was Eric Germain, Ivan docker and Daryl Eggen. Second place team was Ellen Webber, Barb Craig, Rose Marie Basaraba, and Don Hughes. Third place team was Doug Mulholland, Scott & Cherri Montgomery, and Alison de Haan. Fourth place team was Donna Hutton, Gary Frohlich, Les & Jutta Cyrynowski. The final place team, often referred to as “the most honest golfers” was Ken Germain, Val Solash, Maxine Hetherington, and Vi Hughes.
 
The individual awards were, Men’s longest drive – Doug Mulholland; Men’s closest to the pin- Eric Germain; Ladies longest drive- Cherri Montgomery; Ladies Closest to the pin- Alison de Haan; Longest Putt- Rose Marie, and the putting contest 50/50 winner- Daryl Eggen.
 
Thanks to everyone who made it out and making it a great day. Thanks to Hans Granholm for his tech support, and to Ken Germain our MC and prize and silent auction set up guy & co-organizer.
Rotary Golf & Barbecue June 25, 2019  Eric Germain 2019-06-25 06:00:00Z 0 golf

Day of Caring

Posted on Jun 21, 2019
On Tuesday June 18, a number of dedicated Rotarians, championed by Carin Jansen van Vuuren, Wally Romaniuk, Bob Sandercock, Rose Marie Basaraba, Sam Lilly and Jim & Karen Peddie, did kitchen duty at the "Operation Friendship Seniors Society".
 
 
  
Day of Caring Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2019-06-21 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona Golf and Barbecue,

Posted by Eric Germain on Jun 21, 2019
 
  

 
 
 
Rotary Club Golf and Barbecue, June 20 was Cancelled
 
We have been advised the Millwoods Golf course is closed today due to the rain.
 
We have cancelled our Rotary Club golf tournament and also the barbecue.
 
We have rescheduled to Tuesday June 25th (we have no Rotary lunch meeting that day) .
 
Golfers will meet at the Millwoods Golf Course at 10:30 AM on Tuesday June 25th , with tee times starting at 11 AM.
Our barbecue lunch will follow at 2 PM at the Millwoods Golf Course Woodvale facility.
 
Please advise if you are able to attend the golf and/or the barbecue.
 
We will provide full refunds for anyone who can not attend our rescheduled date.
 
Best regards, on a rainy day,
Eric Germain
 
 

The June 25th Fun Golf Day is a good chance to have some Summer fun with other Rotarians and friends.

It can be an opportunity to support some worthwhile cause. Last year we raised food, money and awareness for the Edmonton Food Bank. Previous years we’ve assisted Operation Eyesight, Polio Plus and The Amarok Society.

With the flood of refugees into Bangladesh recently we felt it to be a good time to dedicate this Golf Day to The Amarock Society once again.

“Bang the Ball For Bangladesh”

An Auction and Putting contest will be the highlights of this fun raiser.

Auctions (Both Silent and Noisy) for items left over from the Oil King February event.

Including Hotel Nights! Oiler Photos, Framed Sketches, Spa treatment. Maybe More!

Please plan to attend.

Guaranteed fun or Double your Golf Balls Back!

The golf will start at 2 PM at the Millwoods Golf Course in Edmonton.  The 9 hole golf tournament will be a 4 player Texas Scramble. No previous golf experience or skill required. An experienced golfer will be the Team Captain, and the team plays the best ball on each shot. The golf package includes your nine hole green fees, shared power golf cart, practice range balls to warm up, use of the practice putting green, a tee gift which includes 3 Taylor Made golf balls, golf tees, ball marker, divot repair tool and a bottle of water. The golf package cost is $55 per player.

The Barbecue Dinner will start at 5 PM at the Woodvale Community Center at the Millwoods Golf Course. We will have the prime rib burger dinner with buns, fixings & condiments, fries, Caesar salad, coleslaw, vegetable pasta salad, dessert squares, fruit, coffee & tea, and a cash bar. The barbecue dinner package cost is $25 per person.

The combined Golf & Barbecue package cost is $75 per person

REGISTER HERE

Eric Germain,  E-mail: egermain@is2.ca or telephone 780-991-0417. All Rotarians, family and friends are welcome to attend.

Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona Golf and Barbecue, Eric Germain 2019-06-21 06:00:00Z 0 golf

Eric Germain, J Percy Page Rotary Interact Club Update

Posted by Eric Germain on Jun 19, 2019
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The club has selected to support the following charities with the funds they have raised this year in their club account for this purpose:
 
  1.  Rotary Polio Plus- $200
  2.  Operation Smile- $100
  3.  Food For All in Pakistan- $100
  4.  Edmonton Compassion House- $100
  5.  Edmonton SPCA - $100
  6.  Amorak Bangladesh- $100
  7.  Kiva- $100
 
The sub-total amount is $800.
 
In addition, they have already made donations to:
 
  1.  J. Percy Page School for 4 underprivileged Grade 12 students to attend the high school graduation ceremonies- $200
  2.  Landscaping supplies for the school planter rejuvenation project- $500
 
The total amount of the above donations is $1,500.
Eric Germain, J Percy Page Rotary Interact Club Update Eric Germain 2019-06-19 06:00:00Z 0 interact

Stefan Cherwoniak, Junior Chamber International

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jun 19, 2019
On Tuesday this week we heard from Stefan Cherwoniak, the Executive VP for Junior Chamber International (JCI) Canada. JCI is a worldwide organisation with over two hundred thousand members and forty-six hundred local groups in one hundred and twenty countries.  It was founded in 1918 with similar goals to Rotary and is focused on the age group of eighteen to forty. There is one local group in Alberta, based in Edmonton, with thirty-five members.
 
JCI aims to connect and develop young people, to create positive change in themselves and their community. They provide leadership workshops, public speaking training and mentorship training opportunities and encourage their members to dream big, get involved and be active. JCI gives young people opportunities through volunteer work and through partnering with other organisations to take on larger projects than they could do alone. Their goal is to create measurable, sustainable change. They look for projects in areas affecting health and wellness, education and resources to help others in need.
 
The JCI group in Edmonton is looking to partner with a local Rotary group so that we can pool our talents and work together on some local projects to create some small lasting change in our community.
jci
Stefan Cherwoniak, Junior Chamber International Vi Hughes 2019-06-19 06:00:00Z 0 jci

Rose Marie Basaraba, Margaret-Ann Armour, A Remarkable Life

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jun 13, 2019

Dr. Margaret-Ann Armour

This Tuesday we heard from long time member Rose Marie Basaraba, who gave a fitting tribute to Margaret-Ann Armour, who was scheduled to speak to us on Tuesday. Margaret-Ann Armour may have passed away just over two weeks ago, but the legacy she gave to many through her mentorship and passion for science lives on.
 
Margaret-Ann was born and raised by a single mother (her father died during the war) in Scotland and received her first two degrees from the U. of Edinburgh, worked for a few years and then earned her Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the U. of Alberta in 1970. She held post docs at both Universities and then joined the U of A Chemistry Department in 1979. Her field of research was in hazardous chemical waste management, with a career spanning over four decades, but her true legacy lies elsewhere.
 
Margaret-Ann was a lifelong champion of women in science and worked tirelessly to promote the sciences as a career for women every chance she got. She was also known for her patience, kindness and inspirational mentorship among both colleagues and students.  She championed women as a co-founder of WISEST (Women in Scholarship, Engineering and Technology) and the WinSETT Centre. Over the years she became known as a leader and public speaker promoting science education and the sciences as a career for women. She served as the associate Dean of Science, the board chair of St. Stephen’s College and held many other positions throughout her life. She was also a Rotarian, being a charter member of the Rotary Club of Glenora and a past president.
 
Over the years she received many honours for her tireless work as a champion for diversity and women in the Sciences, the Governor General’s Award, the Canada 150 Ambassador award and for her work as researcher and teacher with the Montreal Medal from the Chemical Institute of Canada and the prestigious 3M Teaching Fellowship. In 2016 she was honoured in having a public school named for her in Windermere, Edmonton. She also received multiple honorary degrees from various institutions including University of B.C., NAIT, McEwan University and Concordia College with the most recent being from the U of A, presented at her bedside the day before her passing.  
 
She will long be remembered for her selfless, kind, patient approach and for her abiding passion for Science.
Rose Marie Basaraba, Margaret-Ann Armour, A Remarkable Life Vi Hughes 2019-06-13 06:00:00Z 0 Armour,Margaret-Ann

Norman Leach, D-Day, The Beginning of the End

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jun 06, 2019
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This Tuesday we were pleased to hear from Norman Leach, a historian, award winning writer, documentary producer and professional speaker. Norman has his own consulting company specialising in marketing, sales and security services for private companies. He is also the author of multiple books, a speaker and a consultant on military history related topics.
 
Norman is the father of our current Rotary exchange student, Stephanie Leach and a former Rotary exchange student himself. Norman said that as a young man he had a love of history but found that once he had graduated from the U of Manitoba, finding work in that area was tough, so he went into sales and marketing. Once he met his wife, she encouraged him to find a way to make an income from his abiding love of military history. In his search, he went to see a movie producer to ask if they had any need for a historian to help with military productions. This producer then asked him if he knew anything about Passchendaele (the first World War battle) and whether it had Canadian connections. Being the salesman that he was, and a salesman never admits ignorance, he said he did. This was fifteen years before the movie Passchendaele, the story of a young Canadian soldier from Calgary, was eventually released. Norman ended up working on the production as a historian.
 
D-Day took place on the 6th of June 1944 on the beaches of Normandy, France. In D the name comes from the planning of the operation which referred to it as simply the Day. The planning had started in 1942 when Hitler started building an Atlantic Wall, a chain of defence battlements along the coast of Normandy.  On that day one hundred fifty thousand troops hit the beaches, a mix of British, Canadian and American soldiers and support personnel. There was also air support provided by this same international mix of airmen. Canada put fifteen thousand men on Juno beach in the first day of the battle. Three hundred and eighty-nine Canadians were killed and over one thousand were wounded on the first day alone. The leader of the Canadian troops had requested a piper to lead the men off the ships. He was the first man to disembark and played his pipe all the way to the top of the embankment.
 
Norman talked about how we need to think about these men and women as individuals who risked their lives for us. He went on the give some details of the experiences of three men whose experiences have been made into three separate Historical Minute documentary films.  
 
Norman Leach, D-Day, The Beginning of the End Vi Hughes 2019-06-06 06:00:00Z 0 D-Day

Nicolle & Shane had a son!

Posted by Carin Jansen van Vuuren on May 31, 2019

James Evan Theberge

"Shane and Nicolle Theberge (Germain) are pleased to announce the birth of James Evan Theberge. Born May 27th, 7 lbs 13 oz, 21 inches long. Congratulations from all of us at the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona to Shane & Nicolle as well as grandpa Eric & grandma Karen Germain and great grandma Betty Germain (honourary member).
 
Nicolle &amp; Shane had a son! Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2019-05-31 06:00:00Z 0 germain

Dr. Lee Foote, U. of A. Botanic Garden

Posted by Vi Hughes on May 28, 2019
 
This Tuesday we had the pleasure of meeting at the U. of A. Botanic Gardens and enjoyed a lunch in the open air Pine Pavilion followed by a nice walk in the sunshine and a guided tour of the Aga Khan Garden by Rotarian Lee Foote. Dr. Lee Foote is a professor in the Department of Life and Environmental Science in the Faculty of Agriculture and Director of the UofA Botanic Gardens. Lee told us that he is a lifelong Rotarian, having been an Interact Member and Rotary Exchange student in his youth and is now a member of the Edmonton Rotary Downtown club.
 
He spoke to us on the topic of gardens and their meanings to various people. He said that gardens have a special place in the human psyche, having a calming effect and on the human soul. They bring solace when our lives are full of inconsistencies and trouble. Gardens take us back to perfection. Gardening is an exercise in perfection, even if we never fully get there.  The U. of A. Botanic Garden has all kinds of people who visit, from the school children to young people who sneak off into the bushes for a little hanky panky, to the young moms with their children in strollers and on to older folks with canes or wheelchairs. They come because the garden offers something different to each of them and brings them peace in some way.
 
The garden now occupies two hundred and fifty acres, all of which was donated over the past sixty years to the U. of A. by various people who saw the value in gardens. It is composed of twenty-three modules each with a different emphasis, and many of which support ongoing research studies at the U. of A. He said that they have twenty five hundred different species of plants, both native and non-native. The garden hosts about seventeen thousand school children each year who come to learn about nature, He said that they have three basic rules for the children who come , they have to get dirty, they must experience something gross and they should know that there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing. As we walked through the garden after his talk we passed several groups of children down on the muddy edges of the many waterways and ponds fishing for bugs and critters with their hand nets.
 
Dr. Lee Foote, U. of A. Botanic Garden Vi Hughes 2019-05-28 06:00:00Z 0 Devonian

W. P. Wagner Interact Club Report

Posted by Vi Hughes on May 23, 2019
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This past Tuesday we heard from the members of our newest Interact club at W. P. Wagner. President Ore reported that they have had a very good year, with a few first-year bumps along the way.

WP Wagner Interact Club. 

L to R. Anya Wolfe, Hannah Key, Ore Osinboyejo, Dree Beaudry and Jim Peddie. 

Their Roses for Valentines fundraiser raised four hundred and forty dollars for their club. They also hosted an Open Mike Nite. Some of their members attended the RYLA and RYLY camps and they said that they learned a lot about how to solve problems that affect their Interact group. They also received an Emerald grant this year and plant to use it to clean up the yard behind the school. They are really looking forward to next year.

W. P. Wagner Interact Club Report Vi Hughes 2019-05-23 06:00:00Z 0 interact

ClubRunner Mobile

Posted by Hans Granholm on May 17, 2019

ClubRunner MObile -- are you in?

Quick question -- How many of you have taken the time (5 minutes) to download the ClubRunner Mobile app to your iPhone or Android device?
 
Complete feature information on the home page widget.
 
Are you familiar with the features of this app and the freedom it gives you to contact members on the fly?
 
I would love to get some feedback.
 
780 918-1079
 
 
ClubRunner Mobile Hans Granholm 2019-05-17 06:00:00Z 0

J. Percy Page High School Commencement Ceremonies

Posted by Carin Jansen van Vuuren on May 17, 2019
J. Percy Page High School Commencement Ceremonies
 
On Tuesday May 14, 2019 at the J. Percy Page High School Commencement Ceremonies, Hamda Ahmed was presented with the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona’s $1,000 Scholarship. The decision to select her for this prestigious award was unanimous from a panel of seven staff members. Her personality, commitment to her studies, engagement in many, many school activities and her amazing community involvement truly exemplify what it means to be a J. Percy Page Ambassador and Rotary Club Representative. By overcoming personal challenges, she has achieved extremely high academic standings, yet was an engaged, incredibly active leader throughout all three of her high school years. Hamda is involved in the Rotary Interact Club, Students’ Union, Key Club, and Earth Club, just to name a few. Along with her tireless involvement at school, she is extremely busy with her volunteer work in her community, which are too numerous to mention, except to say this young lady managed to maintain her rigorous schedule even with a broken leg during the second semester!  Hamda has been accepted to the University of Alberta, Augustana Campus, where she will be continuing her studies in September.

Together with the $1000 scholarship, Hamda was also given a token with the Rotary 4-way test on it. The Rotary 4-way test is a meaningful tool to use to make decisions and thus making the world a better place despite differences in belief and opportunities.

Carin Jansen van Vuuren
J. Percy Page High School Commencement Ceremonies Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2019-05-17 06:00:00Z 0

Dr. Ioanis Nikolaidis, Wireless Communication and Privacy (or not)

Posted by Vi Hughes on May 15, 2019

Wireless Communication and Privacy (or not)

This Tuesday we heard from Dr. Ioanis Nikolaidis on the topic of ‘’. Dr. Nikolaidis is a Full Professor and Assistant Department Chair (Research) in the Department of Computing Science and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the U. of A. His research interest lies in the area of building inexpensive wireless communication systems to be used in conjunction with small complicated equipment such as medical devices.
 
Dr. Nikoaidis said that wireless communication allows us to communicate more easily, but it can also affect our privacy. He said that even though large parts of the radio spectrum have been licensed to various businesses, this does not mean that they are securely linked to just that provider. All of these frequencies are relatively easy for others to intercept, especially with todays equipment. Signals like those from an exercise watch can easily be picked up. If money is no objective and satellites are used, they can focus it at any desired location and pick up many different signals. These signals can then be combined with other types of information. For example, they can be combined with a photo also taken by satellite of the same area and each signal can then be associated with a particular location, buildings, vehicles, people etc. to create a much more informative picture. On a budget, one can now buy from Amazon a receiver that will pick up signals and identify them, even those that have been encrypted. In some countries possessing these types of devices is illegal.
There is also a device that will track he signals sent out by all airplanes and these are commonly used by some people to follow the movements of people they are interested in.
Our devices are very chatty. A single mobile phone sends and receives WiFi, Cellular and Bluetooth signals. They are constantly trying to connect to nearby devices and networks by sending out signals.  In doing this they also reveal your identity to some extent.  If you think you are not being tracked, think again. We do now have identity randomization technology that will transmit a false identity, but this technology can be easily defeated by some tranceivers that have protocols to recognize and break through this type of technology. Once your device is connected to a local network, they no longer need to triangulate your location. Most merchants can now track your movements up and down their aisles, recording where and for how long you stop. Some even combine it with video to get a much more complete picture of your visit to their business.
 
All devices have implicit identifiers. That means that they can be identified as to manufacturer and type by the type of transmission they use, the length of the transmission and the timing of those signals. Due to the restraints on military budgets, they nearly all use commercially available devices, which means they too can be identified to some extent. When combined with a satellite, the individual transmissions can be tracked from their point of origin, through the repeaters and on to the final destination of the signal. Thus the signal can be seen and heard, even if not decoded.
 
We would like to thank Dr Nikolaidis for his very interesting and enlightening talk. It certainly gives all of us who use these devices daily some food for thought.
Dr. Ioanis Nikolaidis, Wireless Communication and Privacy (or not) Vi Hughes 2019-05-15 06:00:00Z 0

Mother's Day Essay

Posted by Ellen Weber on May 10, 2019
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Hope you are all well and blessed and that a spring week will soon opens its arms to you all again. Wanted to let you know that my latest essay that will appear in the Globe and Mail on May 10th, and online at https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/first-person/article-why-dont-we-celebrate-mother-daughter-day-instead/ one week from this Friday may relate. 
 
You may enjoy it as it was written with our moms, ourselves, and many we care about in mind, as Mother’s Day approaches a couple of days after it appears. Enjoy the week😎
Best, Ellen
 
Mother's Day Essay Ellen Weber 2019-05-10 06:00:00Z 0 Mother's Day

Summer Solstice Celebration

Posted by Donna Hutton on May 10, 2019

Summer Solstice Celebration

As a proud sponsor of the 2019 Fort Edmonton - Rotary Fundraising Event  the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona invite you to be our guest on Wednesday, June 19th at the Summer Solstice Celebration!
 
To register, please Click Here 
 

Attached is a revised invitation to the June 19th Summer Solstice Fundraiser at Fort Edmonton Park.  The deadline for registering on May the 1st has come and gone.  The attached revised invite notes that if you RSVP by May 27th, you’ll be eligible for a trip for 2 to Las Vegas.  Your live link, previously sent, will direct your guests to Eventbrite which has also been updated to reflect the May 27th RSVP date.  You’ll want to use this invitation for additional guests that you may wish to invite. 

TO DONATE:
Your admission into the event is your 100% tax-deductible donation to Fort Edmonton Foundation.  The amount is up to you.  Details about how to donate will be included in your RSVP confirmation e-mail and in the package you will be receiving in June.
 
ABOUT FORT EDMONTON:
Fort Edmonton Park holds a special place in our Region’s history.  With the Capital Expansion, we will continue to share this community treasure with the world for generations to come.
 
All levels of government have contributed to the $168 million project.  The remaining $11 million is being raised by the community and events like this.
 
We hope we can look forward to your support and that you can join us for a great “Summer Solstice Celebration” featuring Trooper!
 
Sincerely,
 
 
The Edmonton Strathcona Rotary Club
 
Donna Hutton
President-Elect
Summer Solstice Celebration Donna Hutton 2019-05-10 06:00:00Z 0 fort edmonton park

J Percy Page Interact Club

Posted by Vi Hughes on May 08, 2019

J Percy Page Rotary Interact Club

This Tuesday we had a visit from some members of the J Percy Page Rotary Interact Club. They gave us a short update on the many activities they have done over the past year. These included a Halloween fundraiser, a movie night fundraiser and a Valentines fundraiser. They also worked to clean up the planters in front of the school. They were presented with Rotary Youth Leadership Award.
 
Additionally, this year they teamed up with the Earth Club to help plant trees around the borders of the school. They thanked our club for providing them with club logo shirts. One of their members, Abiya, spoke about her opportunity to attend the RYLY camp this year. She said that the environment there, and the relationships she made have really helped her to grow both as a person and as a leader.
J Percy Page Interact Club Vi Hughes 2019-05-08 06:00:00Z 0 interact

Dr Eleni Stroulia, Sensors, Data and Health

Posted by Vi Hughes on May 08, 2019
Our speaker this week was Dr. Eleni Stroulia, from the Department of Computing Science at the U. of A. Eleni spoke to us about four new technologies that are helping to transform our health.  The first new technology is data collection in the form of life logging. Many people are now using many different types of computer applications and services to maintain a running log of everyday things that are happening in their lives. This data can hen be used to help us determine patterns in our physical and mental health. The second technology is machine learning which allows us to build data driven models of health and disease. It also allows us to build decision trees that can help us to make predictions. For example, if we learn that walking makes us feel good, we can incorporate more walking into our daily activities.  He third technology is gamification. Games engage people in a deep way because they allow people to do things that they are goo at, while challenging them at the same time to improve their skills. In this way, they can be used to incentivize healthy behaviours by encouraging people to move a little more, eat better and improve their quality of sleep.  The fourth technology involves decision making based on ubiquitous augmented intelligence. This is where a logging device such as an activity logging watch, can be connected in real time to software housed on the web which can then feed information back to you in real time on whether you are meeting your current goals, or need to do a little more activity that day.
 
Eleni said that the key to all of these improvements, is the sensing devices being used. There are currently many different types of sensing devices available, and many more are in development. Eleni is interested in intelligent sensors, that can be swallowed, or attached to your body, that will then send messages to your smart phone, letting you know what they have found. One such sensor is a small pill sized device that can be swallowed and will then sense the presence of heme, a component of blood, in your digestive tract. This can let you know whether you have a bleeding ulcer or other problem with your digestive tract.  Another type of sensor is a wearable sensor with a sticky pad that attaches to you and can track you heart rate. This sensor can alert you when it detects something that is not right and then ask you to record how you are feeling at that moment. This can, in turn, help to create a real time record for a health professional to evaluate later. Another type of sensor is one that attaches to your skin and can sense you blood glucose levels. It can talk wirelessly to an implanted insulin pump which can then supply more insulin to you as needed, without the need for intervention by the wearer. These can be invaluable for people with diabetes who are not physically or mentally able to handle their daily insulin dosing.  One more type of device is a sock for babies that can sense blood oxygen levels, which can provide care givers with notification that a problem is present.
 
Other types of sensing are the smart condo, which is an apartment like space that is fitted with sensors throughout to follow the movements and activities of the inhabitant. There are sensors built into all of the doors, cupboards, appliances, chairs and beds. This allows for a person to be evaluated on their daily activities without having another person present watching them. The information gained can then be used by occupational therapists to determine the type of treatment that may be required in order to improve a person’s quality of life.  One more type of sensor is a functional mobility analysis that entails the use of a virtual gym to evaluate a person’s balance, walking and other activities to allow an occupational therapist or physical therapist to make recommendations or create a treatment plan.
 
Eleni said that the Tricorder of Star Wars fame is now a reality, albeit one with limited ability. It will only be a matter of time before we have a hand held device that will allow us to perform many types of complicated testing in even the most rustic of places.  The use of these technologies is now and will continue to transform modern medicine.
Dr Eleni Stroulia, Sensors, Data and Health Vi Hughes 2019-05-08 06:00:00Z 0

Dr. Michelle Fuko, Intersections of Race and Gender in STEM

Posted by Vi Hughes on May 02, 2019
This past Tuesday we heard from Michelle Fuko, a U of A researcher, on the intersections of race and gender in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine). This topic was the subject of her master’s thesis where she examined data collected in another study that surveyed the members of the science, technology, engineering and medical faculties of a large eastern Canadian University. She used a quote from Dorothy Vaughn, an African American mathematician and early computing specialist who worked for NASA, in regards to the discrimination she faced in the workplace, ”I changed what I could, and endured what I couldn’t” to illustrate the many faceted character of discrimination in our society. Michelle said that over the last several decades, the field of science in general has expanded and become much more accessible to the general public in many ways and along with this has come higher visibility for scientists and the discussion around diversity ( or lack thereof) of gender, race, indigeneity, disabilities, nationality and many other factors in our academic ranks.  There is now a discussion of- are we giving everyone what they uniquely need in order to succeed, or are we simply saying everyone is treated equally?  
 
Academia tends to be a very slowly changing field in that the higher ranks have been filled with white men for many years, and the policy of tenure ( a job for life, essentially) combined with education budget cuts, means that established people do not change jobs, and there are very few job openings for younger people of any type.  This is then combined with the fact that each person has their own unique niche of gender, race, sexuality, language, disabilities etc. that could, and does, affect their chances of being hired for any rare opening.  In addition, in academia, there is the bias with regard of the quality of someone’s academic qualifications, which country, which institution, etc.  Currently our legislation strives for more equality in some of these areas, but it falls short when multiple factors are involved.  Black women have different issues than white women, people whose first language is not English, or whose name has not been anglicized have issues that are unique to them. The ranks of academia are also affected by the innate, unconscious biases that we all have when we see someone who is ‘not like us’, which also has a subtle but real effect on the careers of people in academia.
 
Michelle’s study showed that males dominated the higher ranks, with women falling into the lower ones. Visible minorities were lower in rank as well, with visible minority women the lowest of all. Trends varied largely from one discipline to another and could be skewed by the specific hiring practices of individual departments, such as actively recruiting more women, or recruiting more candidates from a particular country, such as China or India. The experiences of minority academic members in general are also different in that they are often asked to do much more committee work, or to supervise more students than others so that the institution can present a more balance ‘face’ to the public at large. This then puts them at a disadvantage by giving them less time for research and their teaching duties.
 
Overall, we as a society have a long way to go the give everyone what they uniquely need in order to succeed. We need to open our eyes more to the many ways in which discrimination creeps into our everyday lives and try to look at the experiences of others from their point of view.
Dr. Michelle Fuko, Intersections of Race and Gender in STEM Vi Hughes 2019-05-02 06:00:00Z 0

Harald Kuckertz receives prestigious award

Posted by Bernd Reuscher on Apr 26, 2019
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On April 23, Harald Kuckertz was presented with the Dr. Horst Schmid Life Time Achievement Award sponsored by GERMAN CANADIAN BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ALBERTA
 
 
 
This award is given to persons who have made significant contributions to the German-Canadian Community in Alberta.
 
Harald Kuckertz receives prestigious award Bernd Reuscher 2019-04-26 06:00:00Z 0 harald kuckertz

Someone in our club is $851 dollars richer!! Guess who?

Posted by Patrick Gibson on Apr 26, 2019
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If you attended our Christmas party this past December at the faculty club and bought some of those yellow 50/50 tickets from me, you could be the winner of  $851.
 
So dig out those tickets and check your numbers, the lucky winner will be the holder of
 
                                                 ticket number 7708123
 
...And the winner is HARALD KUCKERTZ -- who graciously surrendered the mulah to his wife Irene who had twisted Harald's arm to buy more tickets.
 
Someone in our club is $851 dollars richer!! Guess who? Patrick Gibson 2019-04-26 06:00:00Z 0 50/50

Someone in our club is $851 dollars richer!!

Posted by Patrick Gibson on Apr 26, 2019
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If you attended our Christmas party this past December at the faculty club and bought some of those yellow 50/50 tickets from me, you could be the winner of  $851.
 
So dig out those tickets and check your numbers, the lucky winner will be the holder of
 
                                                 ticket number 7708123
 
...And the winner is HARALD KUCKERTZ -- who graciously surrendered the mulah to his wife Irene who had twisted Harald's arm to buy more tickets.
 
Someone in our club is $851 dollars richer!! Patrick Gibson 2019-04-26 06:00:00Z 0 50/50

Rotary Interact Club of J. Percy Page School Spring Cleanup & School Planter Revitalization Environmental Project April 2019

Posted by Eric Germain on Apr 26, 2019
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The Rotary Interact Club of J. Percy Page School Environmental Project to rejuvenate the school planter boxes was in April , 2019.

The project involved over 30 Rotary Interact Club Members and 2 Teachers. It was great to see everyone working hard on a blue sky Alberta spring day.
 
They worked to clean up and refresh the planters they worked on last year, and to rejuvenate some other large planter boxes on the South and North sides of the school. They brought in, and distributed 3 truck loads of mulch for the planter beds to help maintain moisture and improve the planter soil conditions. They cleaned up, and plan to plant additional  perineal trees, shrubs, plants and grasses, and some annual flowers.

The planters are  a key feature to the entrances of the school, and will provide a nice backdrop to the upcoming graduation celebrations. The planter boxes also add a good home and feeding area for the bees and birds in the area.
 
The Rotary Interact Club appreciates the support of the Alberta Emerald Foundation and the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona to make this environmental improvement project possible.

Good work on a job well done!

Cheers,
Eric
 
 
 
 
 
     
  
 
 
Rotary Interact Club of J. Percy Page School Spring Cleanup &amp; School Planter Revitalization Environmental Project April 2019 Eric Germain 2019-04-26 06:00:00Z 0 interact

Sam Lilly, Classification Talk

Posted by Karen Peddy on Apr 23, 2019
This article was transcribed by Vi Hughes from notes taken by Karen Peddy.
 
On Tuesday April 23 we heard from one of our newer members, Sam Lilly’s classification is Charitable Gaming, Compliance. Sam came to Alberta from B.C. He was raised in a single parent family. He has served in the Canadian military and has worked as a civilian in the security field. He spent some time at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. He then was convinced to go to work in the casino industry.
 
Sam Lilly, Classification Talk Karen Peddy 2019-04-23 06:00:00Z 0 sam lilly
Membership Launch April 2019 Ellen Weber 2019-04-19 06:00:00Z 0 membership

2018/19 Rotary Hockey Pool season comes to an end

Posted by Patrick Gibson on Apr 12, 2019
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The end of the current NHL regular season brings an end to another Rotary Hockey Pool for PolioPlus

 

We had great success this year and set a new record with 50 teams competing, that’s a 56% increase in participation over last year.  The goal for players was to win one or more of the following categories:

  1. highest overall team score

  2. highest performing group of forwards

  3. highest performing group of defencemen

  4. highest performing group of goalies

 

A $1000 was collected with $500 of that going to PolioPlus and the rest being allocated across  the winners of each class….and the winners are!!

 

Highest overall team score: 12274 points accumulated by team “WOP” (Bernie Giacobbo)

                                                  Bernie wins 35% of the prize pool

Highest performing group of forwards: 8107 points accumulated by the team “Flying Irish”  (Patrick Gibson)

                                                              Patrick wins 20% of the prize pool

Highest performing group of defencemen: 3934 points accumulated by the team “In It To Winnik”  (Destiny Reay)

                                                                   Destiny wins 20% of the prize pool

Highest performing group of goalies: 413 points accumulated by the team “EWBT”   (Brian Thompson)

                                                          Brian wins 10% of the prize pool

 

In conjunction with the hockey pool we also ran a 50/50 draw, the winning ticket will be drawn at the regular Tuesday luncheon meeting of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona on Tuesday April 16th.  The current pool is $1601 dollars which will make the winner $800.50 dollars richer.

 

We are opening up further ticket purchases to hockey pool participants, you have until midnight Monday April 15 2019 to purchase more tickets at $1 each.  Let’s see if we can push the winners purse to $1000

 

Tickets can be bought here    tinyurl.com/hockeypool1819.

 

The Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona thanks you for your support.
2018/19 Rotary Hockey Pool season comes to an end Patrick Gibson 2019-04-12 06:00:00Z 0 50/50

Brooklyn Alcock, Zebra Child Protection Centre

Posted by Vi Hughes on Apr 10, 2019
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This week we heard from Brooklyn Alcock, a child protection worker with the Zebra Child Protection Centre. She told us that when danger appears in the wild, zebras form a circle around their young, with all of their stripes blending together to protect them. The Zebra Centre here works in much the same way with their multidisciplinary team of thirteen full time staff, over one hundred highly trained volunteers. and three very special service dogs. They work in conjunction with child protection police officers, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, public defenders and court officials.
 
When the police receive a call concerning a child in need, they notify the Zebra Centre and they start their investigation. They will send out a police officer teamed with a social worker to begin the investigation. The child in question will be brought to the Zebra Centre for their interview, and never have to set foot in a police station.
 
The Zebra Centre has six child friendly spaces that are bright, colourful and filled with toys for the children to become settled. They have several support dogs for comfort and play. They also have several calming interview rooms that are fitted with cameras for recording the child’s story, so that they need only give their story to one person, one time. Court dates can sometimes be five years in the future, so having a recording is very valuable. The child is also given the choice of having a support dog to be with them during all of this. The children are given a choice of who they would like to tell their story to. If they are nervous around men, they can choose a woman. Once they have given their statement, they are given a chance to choose a toy from the toy closet to take with them.  If the case does go to court, each child is assigned a court worker to accompany them throughout the court preparation and all of the court proceedings. When they testify, they do so behind a screen, hidden from the court room, and are allowed to keep the support dog with them throughout. They do not have to walk through the court room, but have access through the judges chambers. The children and their families also receive regular support and follow up that can last for many years regardless of whether the case goes to court or not.
 
The majority of their cases, eighty-three percent, involve sexual abuse, about ten percent are physical abuse, five percent are child witnesses to a criminal act and the remainder involve child abductions and other crimes. Most of the children are between the ages of twelve and fifteen, but can range from very small children to older teens.  Ninety percent of the children know their offender, as a family member of family friend. The conviction rate for these crimes has gone up dramatically to seventy percent since the institution of the court support program. Last year the Zebra Centre handled over eight hundred referrals, and just under two hundred fifty court cases and their volunteers put in almost six thousand hours.
We can help by giving of our time, as volunteers, by making donations to their toy closet or by making monetary donations.
 
The Zebra Centre provides a valuable resource for our community that we, as Rotarians, should try to support.
Brooklyn Alcock, Zebra Child Protection Centre Vi Hughes 2019-04-10 06:00:00Z 0 zebra
Edmonton Community Foundation 2019-04-05 06:00:00Z 0 Endowment fund
An elegant evening of Scotch Mist 2019-04-05 06:00:00Z 0 scotch

Brent Collingwood, River Valley Alliance

Posted by Vi Hughes on Apr 02, 2019

This Tuesday we heard from Brent Collingwood, a fellow Rotarian and the Executive Director of the River Valley Alliance. This is an alliance of seven municipalities in the Edmonton region formed with the goal of creating trail connectivity to the North Saskatchewan river valley from the U of A Botanic Garden in Parkland County in the west, to the mouth of the Sturgeon River east of Fort Saskatchewan. When completed the project will have created the largest metropolitan park in North America, covering eighteen thousand acres with a single trail that has a length of one hundred kilometers. Currently our river valley is used by over twelve million people a year.
 
Our river valley was very industrial at one time, filled with with coal mines, lumber yards, brick yards and other businesses. In the flood of 1915, this was all swept away and the businesses there never rebuilt. In 2003 a group of people with a common vision got together and they formed the River Valley Alliance. It is a non-profit organization made up of shareholders from seven municipalities, with sixteen representative members on their board. This was quite an achievement, as trying to get even some of these municipalities to agree on anything is a challenge.
 
The Alliance has a twenty-five year plan for connecting all of these municipalities with one continuous trail, and also helps to provide amenities and facilities that would otherwise be unaffordable for some of the smaller municipalities, such as better access to the river, cross river pedestrian bridges, boat docks and launches, and community centers. Phase one of their plan was completed in 2017 and helped to create seventy kilometers of new trails as well as a funicular, a footbridge, a community center along with several other projects. Phase two of their plan is now underway an is expected to be completed by 2025/6. The municipalities cover one hundred percent of the up front costs and the River Valley Alliance then reimburses them for sixty percent of their costs from Federal and Provincial government grants they have applied for and received. This really helps the smaller municipalities to be able to afford this type of amenity. We can see several maps of the trails and plans for the future on their website, rivervalley.ab.ca.  We would like to thank Brent for coming to tell us about this very interesting and inspiring project.
Brent Collingwood, River Valley Alliance Vi Hughes 2019-04-02 06:00:00Z 0 river valley

Carrie Creaser, Valley Zoo Development Society

Posted by Vi Hughes on Apr 02, 2019

This Tuesday we also heard from Carrie Creaser, the Director of Fund Development for the Valley Zoo Development Society. Their mandate is to raise funds and promote awareness to ensure the continued development of the Edmonton Valley Zoo. The society is a registered charity. The Edmonton Valley Zoo has been in continuous operation for sixty years and is continually changing. The Zoo’s goal is to educate people about the natural world around them. She used quote from Baba Dioum which says: ‘We only protect what we love, We only love what we understand, We only understand what we are taught.’
Zoos and aquariums attract more visitors each year than all of the major sporting franchises combined. This provides a get opportunity to educate people about becoming strong towards of our environment and to promote the preservation of species. Our zoo alone saw half a million visitors last year.
 
In 2007 the Edmonton Valley Zoo began an ambitious plan to transform the zoo. The first phase, Arctic Shores, opened in 2012. The second phase, The Urban Farm, opened this spring. The next phase, called ‘Nature’s Wild Backyard’, will include an ‘Over Zone’, to show off the animals that live above us in the tees, a ‘Between Zone’ to show off animals that live on land and in water and an ‘Under Zone’ to show off animals that live underground. The highlight of this phase will be a new Red Panda habitat. This phase also includes an area called ‘The Yard’, which provides plenty of space for adults and children to rest, have an ice cream or lunch and run off some energy playing.
 
The society receives some funding form the City of Edmonton, but also does a lot of fundraising throughout the year through various activities.  Some of these include behind the scenes animal experiences, special events such as the Christmas light display, ‘Zoominescence’, a food vendor and zoo visit in June entitled’ Zoofest’, a fashion show, entitled ‘Zoolander’ and an event in August called ‘Zoobrew’, where you can sample brews from fifty different vendors. Another of their fundraisers is the ‘Adopt and Exhibit’ program, which our club has done. There are many ways that we can help to support our zoo that are both entertaining and educational at the same time.
zoo
Carrie Creaser, Valley Zoo Development Society Vi Hughes 2019-04-02 06:00:00Z 0 zoo

Lunch at the Devonian Gardens

Posted by Audrey Martyn on Mar 29, 2019
 

On  Tuesday May 28, 2019 Strathcona Rotary will hold its regular meeting at the Devonian Gardens followed by a tour of the gardens. [MAP]

Lunch is $20.00 but, you  must sign up online.

You can pay online for you and your guest(s) [CLICK HERE]

Come and join us for a fun luncheon and bring guests.

Lunch at the Devonian Gardens Audrey Martyn 2019-03-29 06:00:00Z 0

Rotating Wheel Dinner 2019

Posted by Audrey Martyn on Mar 29, 2019
 

Annual ROTATING WHEEL DINNER

Please join  the Board of Strathcona Rotary at the Rotating Wheel Dinner on June 28 at the Faculty Club. 

We have a  wonderful BBQ dinner with a chance to visit and meet the new Executuve for 2091-2020.  Bring a spouce or friend for a great night. 

[CLICK HERE]

Rotating Wheel Dinner 2019 Audrey Martyn 2019-03-29 06:00:00Z 0

Inspiring Peace Event for Members and Exchange Students

Posted on Mar 29, 2019
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This would be a great event to have youth exchange student participate in! It will be interactive and very inspirational. The $25 fee covers the workshop and lunch! 
 
Saturday April 6 at 0900-1400 (includes lunch)
 
Here is the EventBrite Link to purchase tickets and the poster is attached! 
 

Paul K. Chappell is an international peace educator and serves as the Peace Literacy Director of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. He graduated from West Point, was deployed to Iraq, and left active duty as a Captain.
 
Realizing that humanity is facing new challenges that require us to become as well-trained in waging peace as soldiers are in waging war, Chappell created Peace Literacy to help students and adults from all backgrounds work toward their full potential and a more peaceful world. 

Peace Literacy frames peace not merely as a goal, but as a practical skill-set that allows us to increase realistic peace in our lives, communities, nations, and the world. Peace Literacy also helps us fully develop our human capacity for empathy, conscience, reason, and realistic hope.
 
Chappell is the author of the seven-book Road to Peace series about ending war, waging peace, the art of living, and our shared humanity. The first six published books in this series are Will War Ever End?, The End of War, Peaceful Revolution, The Art of Waging Peace, The Cosmic Ocean, and Soldiers of Peace.

Lecturing across the country and internationally, he also teaches college courses and workshops on Peace Literacy and Peace Leadership and leads a Peace Literacy curricular development team for k-12 and higher education.
 
Chappell was raised in Alabama, the son of a Korean mother and a half-black and half-white father who was a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars. Having grown up in a violent household, Chappell has forged a new understanding of war and peace, rage and trauma, and vision, purpose, and hope.
 
His website is www.peacefulrevolution.com; for more information about the Peace Literacy curricular project, visit www.peaceliteracy.org.
Inspiring Peace Event for Members and Exchange Students 2019-03-29 06:00:00Z 0

Larry Vanderveen and Scott Roberts, Building a New Fiber Network

Posted by Vi Hughes on Mar 26, 2019
This Tuesday we were given a very interesting presentation by Larry Vanderveen, from Telus Broadband Technology, and Scott Roberts, from Telus Communications. Scott spoke about the changes that are coming to small business as a result of the shift towards internet technology and also the shift in customer demographics towards a younger age group.  
 
Telus is currently in the process of upgrading it’s copper based transmission system to a new glass fiber network. Their new network will bring the technology into every home in Edmonton, whether they are a Telus customer, or not. The new network will be able to carry much more data. Data usage has been growing at a rate of thirty percent per year. People have shifted from using physical storage for music, video and many other types of information to using web-based storage and this in turn necessitates the transfer of large amounts of data from web storage (the ‘cloud’) to the user.  Only a few years ago the biggest user of web storage was big business, but that has now filtered down to the individual.  The next wave of change will be the personalisation of all of this data by the use of artificial intelligence in marketing so that people can receive only the information that may interest them personally. The transmission of all of this data requires a much larger data ‘pipe’. Telus, in one internet minute, currently sees over one million facebook log-ins and over eight hundred thousand online purchases. In terms of businesses, online shopping is now the lifeblood of many.
 
Millennials, those between twenty-two and thirty-six years of age, are the up and coming customers of the future. They make up thirty seven percent of the current workforce and have a very different approach to how they look for and buy things.  They prefer to do their research online and compare items using the opinions of others that have been posted online in the various social platforms such as facebook. They use their smart phones for nearly all of their online interactions, so this means that applications specific to mobile platforms are needed. They also do not use credit cards to purchase items, preferring to use debit instead. They tend to be debt averse. They do a lot of their purchasing online, so businesses that want to sell to them need to have an online presence in several different ways. This can be done much more cheaply now than a few years ago and there are many companies that can help with this. The world of technology keeps changing and we need to keep changing along with it.
Larry Vanderveen and Scott Roberts, Building a New Fiber Network Vi Hughes 2019-03-26 06:00:00Z 0 Telus

Boot camp for Rotary Exchange

Posted by Vince Campbell on Mar 22, 2019
Here are a few pictures from the boot camp I went to with our student Stephanie Leach and her parents Norman and Maritsa. We learned a lot about what to expect for the next 2 years like what not to do and first hand accounts from previous students. Tamara and crew did a great job of presenting this info and I would say we had a good time learning it. 
 
 
     
Boot camp for Rotary Exchange Vince Campbell 2019-03-22 06:00:00Z 0 boot camp,youth exchange

Roberto Alas, International Business Relations

Posted by Vi Hughes on Mar 20, 2019
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This past Tuesday we heard from one of our newest members, Roberto Alas and one of his business associates, and a possible future Rotarian, Richard Leafloor, of Monarquest VIP Medical Tourism. Roberto is originally from El Salvador and has been involved in many different types of business relations for many years. His company, Alas International Business Relations Inc., specialises in corporate training, marketing, business consulting and business development. He also assists companies in making connections with other businesses in Central and South America.
 
Roberto introduced us to Richard Leafloor, who gave a presentation on his business, Monarquest VIP Medical Tourism. Richard was born in Ottawa into a diplomatic family and he travelled a lot as a child, learning several other languages along the way. A few years ago, he and his wife looked into an alternative treatment for her that was offered in Mexico.  In the end it turned out to be a very expensive and stressful experience for them for several reasons. On their return to Canada they decided that this did not have to be the way things went for others and decided to set up their own company to help others who would like to travel outside Canada or the US for medical treatment.
 
Their company, Monarquest VIP Medical Tourism, offers Stem Cell Treatments provided by carefully vetted doctors and medical clinics in Central and South America. About one year ago he overheard Roberto having a phone conversation in a local Costco store and struck up a conversation with him. They have been collaborating on this business ever since.  Stem cells are naturally present in the body and they help to combat disease and injuries. There are several ways that they can be isolated, activated and then injected into the body where they can do the most good.  The clinic in El Salvador that they recommend, isolates them from the patient’s own fat cells, purifies and activates them overnight and then injects them back into the same patient the next day. The procedure when done this way is quick and low risk. The company makes all arrangements for airfare, accommodations, treatment and even some tourist activities while in the country, providing a bridge to make the whole process less stressful.
 
Roberto is involved with other companies as well, helping them to grow their businesses, to develop their expertise and to make new connections with other businesses. We look forward to getting to know more about him and his company in the future.
Roberto Alas, International Business Relations Vi Hughes 2019-03-20 06:00:00Z 0 Monarquest,stem cells

She's All That

Posted by Vi Hughes on Mar 13, 2019
District 5370 Governor, Ingrid Nietsch invites all Rotarians and their guests to celebrate the dynamics of Women leaders in Rotary.
 
 
She's All That Vi Hughes 2019-03-13 06:00:00Z 0

Kerry Woodland, Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters

Posted by Vi Hughes on Mar 12, 2019
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This Tuesday we heard from Kerry Woodland, Director of the Boys and Girls Clubs Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Edmonton and Area. She said that the two groups merged into one eight years ago in the Edmonton area. They provide services for youth between the ages of six and twenty four, such as providing after school activities and connecting them with mentors. They have about three thousand volunteers who help them out each year along with one hundred and twenty full time staff and a budget last year of six point eight million.
 
They provide after school services in many locations throughout the Edmonton area, sometimes in schools and sometimes in their stand-alone locations. They currently have reading programs in fifty local schools. They also provide one on one mentoring and work with new immigrants to help them bridge their connection to the community. For their mentoring program, they interview the child’s family and do their best to match them with an appropriate mentor.  
 
They are always looking for volunteers and prefer to have people who can make a one year commitment of their time as it takes time to build a relationship with a child and their family.  Volunteers must complete an in-depth enrolment process, submit an application, provide three references and go through the Vulnerable Persons Police check and meet several other requirements. Their volunteers range in age from teenagers to people in their seventies.  She asked that if we know of anyone who would make a good mentor for a young person, please encourage them to look into helping them out.
 
Kerry Woodland, Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters Vi Hughes 2019-03-12 06:00:00Z 0 Big Sisters,Boy and Girls,big Brothers

Free Footie Volunteers Needed: 2019 Spring Season

Posted on Mar 12, 2019
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I am reaching out to your Rotary/Interact Club in efforts to find volunteers for the upcoming Spring Soccer Season.
 
Our organization is called Free Footie, and we provide an afterschool free soccer program. This upcoming season, we have 11 different game locations located throughout Edmonton with 60 schools participating and close to 2,000 kids playing.
Game Days are Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday from 3:45/4:00 PM – 4:45/5:00 PM.
Season runs from May 6 – June 21st.
 
Free Footie Volunteers Needed: 2019 Spring Season 2019-03-12 06:00:00Z 0 footie,soccer

Volunteer Drivers needed for Interact

Posted by Eric Germain on Mar 08, 2019
 

We are looking for volunteer drivers for Thursday March 14th . This is for our Rotary Interact Club members to travel from J. Percy Page School to Ronald McDonald House to supply and prepare dinner.

We will be picking up at Percy Page High School (2707 Millwoods Road) at 3:30 PM and driving the students to Ronald McDonald House (7726-107 Street).

You are welcome to stay at RMH or return at 7 PM to drive the students back to Percy Page High School.

All drivers are required to have completed the police check for working with youth.

Please advise if you can help out.

Best regards,

Eric

Tel: 780-991-0417

e-mail: egermain@is2.ca

  MAP TO JPP                                MAP TO RMH

If you have any technical issues, contact Hans Granholm 780-918-1079

 

Volunteer Drivers needed for Interact Eric Germain 2019-03-08 07:00:00Z 0 interact
International Womens Day 2019 Dimitri Papanicolas 2019-03-08 07:00:00Z 0

Meena Deccan, Instructing Honor, “Black Sheep Crimes”

Posted by Vi Hughes on Mar 07, 2019

Transcribed from notes taken by Audrey Martyn

On Tuesday we heard from Meena Deccan, a practising lawyer in Alberta and a member of RC Edmonton West. Meena has been interested in the socio-economic constructions of honour for many years.

In some ethnic communities in Canada, persons at risk are dealing with honour issues. In 2007 there was a death in Ontario that was an honour killing. In 2009 Sharia Law was introduced in Ontario, but it was ultimately rejected, as it would have replaced Canadian law in the Muslim community.

Authorities dealing with domestic violence in these communities do not have a full grasp of the issues at hand. The present toolkit involves looking for alcohol, substance abuse, police calls, hospital visits, and displaced aggression or impulsivity. These indicators are not present in these cases.

Domestic violence in ethnic communities does mark an alternative community in Canada. The construction of honour rather than ‘code’ implies a system of rules and regulations honouring a dynamic of societal differences in ideology.

Dishonourable anti social behaviour against society takes place in Muslim, Hindu and Sikh communities in Canada. Gender based violence is community based. The crimes are most often committed by a cousin, uncle, or neighbour. Related female victims outnumber unrelated ones. 43% of murder victims are males, thus denying males access into the group. For example, Saudi women would not marry an outsider, but a Saudi male could take an outsider as a wife.

Religion based violence is seen in Islam, Sikkism, Hinduism and Catholicism. Divorce laws in Catholic countries have only changed in the twentieth century. Intermarriage only works when the family agrees to help each other. As long as everyone buys into the plan things work, but when one person disagrees or refuses the marriage, then the system breaks down and violence occurs. Dissension from the family plan causes violence.

Meena Deccan, Instructing Honor, “Black Sheep Crimes” Vi Hughes 2019-03-07 07:00:00Z 0 honour

Renate Sainsbury, The Butterfly Approach

Posted by Vi Hughes on Feb 28, 2019

Dementia Care

This Tuesday we heard a presentation from Renate Sainsbury and Dorthe Flauer on the implementation of the Butterfly Approach to dementia care at their Lifestyle Options Communities locations at Whitemud and Leduc.
 
The Butterfly Approach was developed in the UK some twenty years ago by Dr David Sheard and his UK based organisation, Dementia Care Matters, and has spread to Canada and then to Alberta, where there are now seven accredited Butterfly Care Projects. Lifestyle Options became part of the project in 2015 and now operates two participating facilites in the Edmonton region, at Whitemud and in Leduc.  A third is currently in planning, to be located in north Edmonton, at Schonsee. All of these facilities incorporate multiple levels of seniors living, ranging from independent living apartments to studios with services designed for supportive living for people living with dementia.
 
The Butterfly Care Home Program involves changing the environment from being large units, sterile, colorless, empty of stuff, that are very structured and task focused, to being colorful, full of memory stimulating stuff, small living households with staff who spend more time connecting with their patients. Patients who are stimulated and engaged change from being wandering, aggressive, loud and exit seeking to being calm and happy with a much improved quality of life. Care is tailored to the experiences each patient has so that they can connect with their environment.   Staff wear normal street clothes, to help create a more homelike environment. Dining room, kitchen, household, recreation and nursing staff, who are trained extensively during the implementation of the program, are much happier and look forward to going to work each day. They are encouraged to spend more time with each patient so that they get to know their patients better. Scheduled meal times are much longer, and staff are encouraged to converse with their patients, which improves the overall mealtime experience.
 
Renate said that they have published the results of their experience on the Alberta Health website. They noted a decrease in the need for anti-psychotic and pain medication, a decrease in falls and also a decrease in staff sick time. There has been an increase in the well being of the people living with dementia, an increase in family engagement and an increase in staff satisfaction. Renate noted that there is a very good video made by a facility in the UK on the Butterfly Project available on you tube, entitled ‘We are Family’. She is really encouraged by the results they have seen since they started with this program, and hopes to see it implemented in many more dementia care homes in the future.
Renate Sainsbury, The Butterfly Approach Vi Hughes 2019-02-28 07:00:00Z 0 Butterfly,Dementia

50/50 tickets for the Food Bank

Posted on Feb 22, 2019

The Food Bank needs you support

Hi Everyone,
 
Doug from the Food Bank is looking for Volunteers to sell 50/50 tickets at the Oilers game to raise money for the Food Bank. If your club would like to participate please call him directly.
 
-- 
Annie Mueller
Rotary Club of Edmonton West  
Club President 2018-19
Club Service Chair
rotaryannie@telus.net
780-271-4518
 
Here is his email:
 

Good Afternoon Volunteers:

 

Can you help us out?

 

Edmonton’s Food Bank is excited to announce that we have been selected by the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation, to be the beneficiaries of 50/50 ticket sales at the upcoming March 26, 2019 NHL Game vs the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Place.

 

This is a wonderful opportunity for us, with the potential to receive upwards of $10,000+!

 

But we need YOUR help to make this possible.

 

We require 55-70 volunteers for this event. 

 

Please sign up as an individual or get a group together and help us raise money to feed our neighbours in need.

 

Event Details

Where: Rogers Place (10220 104 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5H 2X6)

When: Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Time: 4:30 pm-10:00 pm

What: To sell raffle tickets, assist in counting money collected and perform such other duties as requested 

 

Volunteer Requirements:

  • Volunteers must be 18+ no exceptions.
  • It is imperative that volunteers arrive on time. Late volunteers may not be admitted.
  • Valid government-issued photo ID is required for entry to Rogers Place. 
  • There is NO free or public parking. You are encouraged to take public transit. The Metro Line LRT stops right at Rogers Place (MacEwan Station).
  • All Food Bank volunteers are to meet at the south entrance of Ford Hall, please see the attached map.
  • An Oiler Foundation designated contact will bring our group to the designated 50/50 room where we will receive our orientation
  • Volunteers will be required to pass through a metal detector upon entry to Rogers Place.
  • Volunteers can only wear the following branded items: Oiler friendly Apparel, Food Bank pinnies will be provided to all 50/50 ticket sellers
  • Edmonton's Food Bank will provide snacks for the volunteers.

 

Volunteers will be given breaks throughout the duration of the event. Volunteers are encouraged to bring an non-branded EMPTY reusable water bottle to be filled inside Rogers Place. Break times will be determined by each volunteer role (i.e. seller, counter, etc.).  (pinnies can be removed when on break)

 

Smoke breaks will NOT be permitted, as there is no re-entry to Rogers Place. If you leave the building, you will not be allowed to come back in.

 

As with all Food Bank events, volunteers are not permitted to purchase or consume alcohol at any time during their shift. Volunteers are also not eligible to win the 50/50 prize.

 

 

Group Volunteers please call Doug directly.

(group size can range from 2 to 30 people)

 

If you have any questions regarding this opportunity please reach out to Doug Hunter at 780-425-2133 ext 238 or giving@edmontonsfoodbank.com

 

Thank You, Doug

 

Resource Development Assistant

Edmonton's Food Bank

(cell: 780-245-3250)

50/50 tickets for the Food Bank 2019-02-22 07:00:00Z 0
ROTARY NIGHT, End Polio Now Donna Hutton 2019-02-22 07:00:00Z 0 end polio

Lauren Becker, Bissell Centre

Posted by Vi Hughes on Feb 19, 2019
This Tuesday we heard a presentation from Lauren Becker on the Bissell Centre’s vision for the future. The goal of the Bissell Centre is to eliminate poverty, both financial and social poverty and give people hope for the future. To this end, they provide a wide range of supports and programs for inner city families and residents. They currently operate twenty different programs with a staff of one hundred and forty people.
 
Their recently renovated building has offices, meeting rooms and spaces for all kinds of programs. They have a large indoor space where they offer coffee, meals and snacks, which are available at all times, washrooms, shower facilities, clothes washing facilities, and various meeting rooms.  It is a warm welcoming space for people to just come and hang out, if they so desire. They regularly serve one thousand cups of coffee every day. They offer services such as acting as a mailing address for people living on the street, offer supports to help with basic banking, help with filing tax returns and accessing government benefits, and financial literacy workshops. They also have a large kitchen where they teach people how to prepare meals. Some other programs they provide include a drumming circle, Yoga classes, sharing circles and computer basics.
 
Another of their programs is Employment Services to help people with applications and resumes, They also offer help with housing in conjunction with Homeward Trust, and have a team of people who go out onto the streets to help people living there to find housing. They offer loans to help people who already have housing, but need some financial help, to stay in their current housing. Another of their programs is Victims Services, for people who have been a victim of crime. They help with filing police reports and applying for victims services aid.  In addition, they currently operate a Day Care for thirty-seven children, which will soon be expanding to serve seventy children as part of the Alberta government daycare initiative. They also offer clothing and supplies to their clients and their families.
 
The Bissell Centre is always looking for volunteers to help prepare meals, teach classes, sort clothing and help with their various fundraising endeavours. All of their volunteers undergo a short training session prior to starting their service. The Bissell Centre receives some government support for their programs but also rely in individual donations, so there are many ways that we can help them out.
Lauren Becker, Bissell Centre Vi Hughes 2019-02-19 07:00:00Z 0 bissell

Stephanie Leach, Rotary Exchange Student

Posted by Vi Hughes on Feb 12, 2019
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This Tuesday we were introduced to Stephanie Leach, the Rotary Exchange student that our club is co-sponsoring along with the Edmonton South Rotary club.
Stephanie is sixteen and a student at Vimy Ridge Academy in Edmonton. She told us that she will be following in her father’s footsteps, as he was also a Rotary Exchange student to Japan many years ago. 
Stephanie will be going to France for her exchange. She told us that she is really looking forward to this experience. Her mother Maritsa also spoke and thanked us very much for giving their daughter this wonderful opportunity.
Stephanie Leach, Rotary Exchange Student Vi Hughes 2019-02-12 07:00:00Z 0 youth exchange

Honorable Betty Unger, Retired Senator

Posted by Vi Hughes on Feb 12, 2019
We were very pleased to have the Honorable Betty Unger speak to us this past Tuesday. She told us that she was very pleased to be asked to speak, and that she has never attended a Rotary meeting before.
Betty is the first woman ever to be elected and then appointed to serve on the Senate. She was elected to represent Alberta in 2005, but was not appointed until a Conservative government, under Stephen Harper, came into power in Ottawa in 2012. She served as one of the six senators representing Alberta, until her retirement last year at age seventy-five.
 
Betty was born and raised in Sexsmith, Alberta.  She went on to take her nursing training at the Misericordia in Edmonton, and then worked as a nurse for some years before she founded her own nursing services company. She is a strong Catholic Women’s League supporter and has served on many different boards across Edmonton and Alberta.
 
During her time as a senator she thought it was her duty to be present for the full time that the senate was sitting. She maintained a residence in Ottawa and only returned to Alberta for short visits. She said that the senate is known for it’s in depth study of each bill that comes before them, as most senators spend much more time in Ottawa than the Commons representatives. She attended the Alberta conservative party caucus meetings in order to stay up to date on all local Alberta issues and the national Conservative Party caucus meetings as well. Betty said that sometimes she had very long days, where the meetings or sessions would start in early morning and go until after midnight.
 
Betty served on several different senate committees during her time as a senator. The first committee she served on was the Transportation and Communications committee, which during her time, had to deal with the Lac Megantic rail disaster. The second committee she worked on was the Agriculture committee, which was dealing with the honeybee disease issue.  The last committee she served on was the Banking committee. She said that she greatly enjoyed her committee work as the people and speakers she came in contact with were so knowledgeable and the work was very interesting. One other thing that she greatly enjoyed was the public speaking and information sessions that she had the opportunity to do with so many of the grade nine (the grade when they study Canadian government) students across Alberta. Betty said that she truly enjoyed her time in office and was very thankful that that she had the opportunity to represent all Albertans in this way.
Honorable Betty Unger, Retired Senator Vi Hughes 2019-02-12 07:00:00Z 0 senator,unger

Mustard Seed Dinner

Posted by Sam Lilly on Feb 08, 2019
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It was a great success. We fed around 200 people a hot meal of ravioli pasta, salad, buns, and baked goods for dessert. 
It was around -22 degrees celcius outside and some of the folks who came to the old converted church were shivering so bad they had difficulty steadying their plates. 
 
We met some real characters. I cracked up when one of the fellas (who sounded like he was from the maritimes) said jovially with a smile, “Sorry miss, I don’t eat that rabbit food” as he came up for seconds. He skipped the salad and made a B-line for a second helping of pasta and dessert. He wore a dangly trapper hat with a big grey beard and kept people laughing at his table; a real comedian!
 
Another fella’s glasses had a layer of frozen condensation on them and when asked to choose the dessert he wanted he said, “Oh, I have no idea, I can’t see them. Just surprise me!”
 
A young mom with three young kids came up and after modeling a pronounced “please and thank you” for the kiddos the oldest came up 3 more times to display his “please and thank you” just for the dessert station! 
 
The whole of the group was well mannered and the high spirits folks had was inspiring. I heard “please”, “thank you”, “god bless you” several times. Some of the folks humbly kept their heads down too. Not everyone was able to muster good spirits. You saw the various stages of poverty in our community and the toll winter was taking on them.
After leaving the event to go home I felt a sense of sadness for I didn’t know what many of the people we just met would be going to after they left the building. 
 
Our situations are more fragile than we think and many people in our society are only a pay cheque away from homelessness. What Rotary does makes a difference and we know there is much more to do. 
 
A huge thanks to our super volunteers:
 
Vince Campbell
Donna Hutton
Dennis Hutton
Louise McNeil
Matisse Nikolopoulos
Dimitri Papanicolas
Anna Syrianou
 
Couldn’t have done it without them... and a big shout out to Anna’s 12 year old grand daughter Matisse, her home made sugar cookies were a hit.
 
Thanks!
 
Sam
 
Publ.: Sam, Thanks for organizing.
Mustard Seed Dinner Sam Lilly 2019-02-08 07:00:00Z 0 mustard seed

Youth Environmental Engagement Grant

Posted by Eric Germain on Feb 08, 2019
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Good news!
The J. Percy Page High School Rotary Interact Club was again successful in obtaining the Alberta Emerald Foundation Youth Environmental Engagement Grant for 2019. We thought you would like to know.
Cheers,
Eric
Youth Environmental Engagement Grant Eric Germain 2019-02-08 07:00:00Z 0 interact

A CHALLENGE HAS BEEN ISSUED...THE GLOVES ARE OFF!!
 

Posted by Patrick Gibson on Feb 08, 2019
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The Rotary Club of Bakersfield California thinks they can bring more people to a Condors game then we can to an Oil Kings game....REALLY???  
 
 
Can't make this game....buy a 4 ticket voucher ($100) to any Oil Kings game this season.
Don't like hockey... you can still support the cause by buying 4 tickets ($100) and donating back to OEG's "classrooms and hockey" program.
 
 
 
A CHALLENGE HAS BEEN ISSUED...THE GLOVES ARE OFF!!  Patrick Gibson 2019-02-08 07:00:00Z 0 oil kings

David Rayner

Posted on Feb 08, 2019
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David was discharged on Monday, Jan 28 and is at home resting.
He went for a consultation this week on how to move forward with physio.
 
Will let you know when his is ready to welcome visitors
 
Hans G.
780-918-1079
David Rayner Hans Granholm 2019-02-08 07:00:00Z 0 david,rayner

Eric Solash

Posted by Hans Granholm on Feb 08, 2019
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Update on Eric Solash as per Friday, February 8 - 1000hrs
 
As mentioned last week Eric was discharged from the Grey Nuns on Wednesday January 30 for a short recuperation at home.
He is resting getting ready reconstructive surgery within the next week.
 
 
Updates will be distributed as they become available.
 
Hans G.
Eric Solash Hans Granholm 2019-02-08 07:00:00Z 0 Eric Solash

Charles Teeuwson, Competition Aerobatics

Posted by Vi Hughes on Feb 05, 2019
This Tuesday we heard a very interesting talk from Charles Teeuwson, a member of the Sherwood Park Rotary club, about his love of competition aerobatics. He has been flying airplanes since 1982 and started flying aerobatics in 1983. He currently has a Class 2 Aerobic Instructor rating and also does judging for various aerobatic contests. He is a member of the Aerobatic Club of Alberta, which has between fifteen and twenty flying members.
 
The local members fly out of the Villeneuve airport. They host two competitions a year, one in Killam and another in Rocky Mountain House. They also attend and compete in one US competition, held in Cutbank, Montana each year. The airplanes used are small one or two seaters, with powerful engines and other modifications allowing them to perform the various aerobatic manoeuvres, such as flying upside down, without stalling.
 
Competition aerobatics has a large number of possible manoeuvres that are organised into families of similar moves. Each manoeuvre also has an associated symbol that represents it on paper. The sequences of manoeuvres can then be represented as a kind of map on paper that the pilot can place in front of them to help them remember the sequence when they are flying.  They also have a restricted airspace that each sequence must be flown within, with a maximum one cubic kilometer box. There are five levels of difficulty to the sequences, called power categories, that are flown in competition, with the highest level of difficulty having the largest box. Judging has a strict set of rules, a point value for each manoeuvre, and with points deducted for errors. The judges have an assistant who calls out the manoeuvre just before it takes place so the judges can keep their eyes on the competitor.
 
Charles brought along a small model airplane and used it to demonstrate two of the sequences that are flown in competition. The sequences of rolls, loops, backward slides, turns, vertical flying and spins made most of us a little dizzy just watching the model. We could all see that this is a sport that takes a special type of person, and also how it could be a very interesting and challenging life long addiction. We would like to thank Charles for his very interesting and entertaining talk.
Charles Teeuwson, Competition Aerobatics Vi Hughes 2019-02-05 07:00:00Z 0 aerobatics

Eye Ball Gala Invitation-March 2, 2019

Posted by Audrey Martyn on Feb 02, 2019
 
 
On behalf of the Eye Institute of Alberta with support from the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation:
 
Please join us at the Second Annual Eye Ball Gala!
Saturday, March 2, 2019 
The Westin Hotel
10135 100 Street NW, Edmonton AB
 
 
It will be an enchanting evening with live entertainment and the opportunity to participate in a special, immersive virtual reality experience through Alice in Wonderland! We are bringing together ophthalmic specialists, surgeons, business and community leaders, along with loyal friends to raise awareness and funds for the fight for sight and life-enhancing work benefiting our patients being cared for at the Eye Institute of Alberta. 
 
To purchase your ticket/table please visit: www.ualberta.ca/ophthalmology/eyegala
 
Eye Ball Gala Invitation-March 2, 2019 Audrey Martyn 2019-02-02 07:00:00Z 0 eye ball

Heather deKok, My Life as a Florist

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 29, 2019
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This Tuesday we heard from long time member Heather de Kok, who spoke about her life’s passion of flowers and floral art design. Heather has been a rotarian for eighteen years and a florist for many years more.
She bought her florist shop from her father at age twenty-one and has never looked back. She is very passionate about showcasing floral art and either sponsors or takes part in many different competitions and displays. She is a member of the American Institute of Floral Designers, which is an elite group of designers who must pass a rigorous competition to become a member.
In the past few years she has had the opportunity to spend a week designing flowers at the White House for a visit from the Chinese president and more recently, to travel to Brazil to take part in an International competition as a representative for Canada, where she came in third. More recently Heather helped to put together two floats for the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. Part of this entailed working non-stop for thirty-six hours straight, with one float having forty one thousand roses that each needed to be placed in a water pic.  One of the two floats she worked on won the Sweepstakes Award.   Last year she was honored to be invited by the Hawaiian government to help promote the use of their flowers, especially orchids, in Canada.
Heather also has two more competitions coming up in the near future. She is sponsoring the Canadian Maple Leaf Cup of Floral design, which will take place on April 5 at the Ice Arena in west Edmonton Mall. It is a cross Canada competition where twenty to twenty-five designers will each compete when given the same materials and theme. She has also been asked to be a technical advisor for the FTD World Cup of Flowers, to take place in Philadelphia at the end of February. It is an International Expo with hundreds of booths and there will be twenty-five floral designers from around the world competing.  
Heather is always looking for ways to pass along her passion for floral design and is starting work on a pilot for a television program to be called The Flower Seekers to be aired on NetFlix.  It was inspiring to hear from Heather about her most recent achievements and her plans for the future.
Heather deKok, My Life as a Florist Vi Hughes 2019-01-29 07:00:00Z 0

Congratulations and Thanks to Harald Kukertz

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 29, 2019

Harald was kind enough to treat our club to an open bar at this week’s meeting, as an opportunity to share the honor he was given by the government of Germany and to show us the medal that he received in recognition of his many years of service as the Honourary Consul of Germany to the German community in Edmonton, Alberta and Canada.

​​​​​​

 

Ambassador Sabine Sparwasser, Harald Kuckertz, Irene Hoch, Sabrina Kuckertz

 

Congratulations and Thanks to Harald Kukertz Vi Hughes 2019-01-29 07:00:00Z 0 harald kuckertz

Induction of New Member, Richard Karlsson

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 29, 2019
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This Tuesday, January 29th, we were pleased to induct our latest member, Richard Karlsson. Richard’s classification is Medical Research. He was introduced to us by his sponsor, Ellen Weber. We look forward to getting to know Richard better over the coming months.

Club Membership Chair, Ellen Weber and Richard Karlsson

Induction of New Member, Richard Karlsson Vi Hughes 2019-01-29 07:00:00Z 0 new member

Harald Kuckertz receives high award

Posted by Carin Jansen van Vuuren on Jan 25, 2019
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On Monday, January 21, 2019 the German Ambassador to Canada, Sabine Sparwasser, awarded our member Harald Kuckertz, Honorary Consul of Northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories, the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany at her official residence in Rockcliffe Park, Ottawa.

The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany - also known as the Federal Cross of Merit - is the highest tribute the Federal Republic of Germany can pay to individuals for services to the nation. It is the  only federal decoration of Germany. It was created by the first President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Theodor Heuss, on September 7, 1952 and has been awarded to over 200,000 individuals since, both German citizens and foreigners. Since the 1990's the number of annual awards has declined from over 4000, to 1752 in 2011.

Close to one hundred people, including Harald's wife Irene and daughter Sabrina, attended the ceremony. Amongst the guests were the other five German Honorary Consuls of Canada, three German Consul Generals, the German Military Attache to Canada and various other members and staff of the Embassy in Ottawa and Consulates in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, as well as special guests invited by the Ambassador. 
The Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona now boasts three members who were awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany; Fritz Koenig and Bernd Reuscher having received the award previously. Congratulations Harald - we are very proud of you!
 
See below for the ambassador's speach
Harald Kuckertz receives high award Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2019-01-25 07:00:00Z 0 harald kuckertz

Shannon Gill, Drive Happiness

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 22, 2019
This Tuesday we heard from Shannon Gill, the Executive Director of Drive Happiness Senior’s Assisted Transportation. Drive Happiness provides low cost transportation for seniors in the Edmonton area. Their volunteer drivers will help clients from the door to the vehicle and all the way into their appointment. They will handle walkers and smaller foldable wheel chairs. They will then return later to pick up the client and return them to their door at home.  
 
Drive Happiness provided an average of fifteen hundred rides per month in 2018, and their drivers logged over two hundred sixteen thousand kilometers last year. Drive Happiness is a registered not for profit and relies on both government and private funding.
 
Clients must register and have a yearly income under thirty-five thousand dollars, if single or under sixty five thousand if a couple. There is a thirty dollar yearly fee and each ride is ten dollars per ticket. The ticket covers both to and from their appointment. The client must be able to get into and out of the vehicle with limited assistance.
There is a ninety minute limit on the ride, although under some circumstances they will provide a longer ride if they have a willing driver. They will take someone to multiple stops and wait for them as long as it is within the time limit. So a trip to the grocery store and the drug store or elsewhere and then back home is possible. They will take people anywhere, any time. To the airport at three in the morning, to church on Sunday, to an appointment at the hospital which requires a long walk through many corridors, or out of town to visit a relative. They also have drivers who can speak other languages. They currently provide service in Edmonton, St. Albert, Leduc, Sherwood Park and Strathcona County, and are in talks to expand their service further.
 
Their customers have an age range from fifty two to ninety nine and eighty percent are women. The client must arrange the ride several days in advance, by calling their office. All of their trips are made by personally talking to the client, not online, as most of their clients are not tech savvy. They ask to know where and when the ride is needed and approximately how long the appointment will take. Many of their clients are single individuals who greatly enjoy the company of someone else and their drivers are happy to provide conversation along with the ride.
 
Their volunteer drivers are interviewed, screened, vetted and trained to deal with all types of clients. They must all have a vulnerable persons record check in place. They must also have a clean driving record. They are trained to recognize problems with their clients and are able to connect them with other agencies that can help. They range in age from twenty one to eighty six. Their drivers go online and choose which rides they are able to handle and create their own schedules. They reimburse their drivers for the kilometers driven. Insurance coverage is through the driver first, but Drive happiness also carries extra insurance to cover their drivers in case of an accident.
 
Drive Happiness is funded by a New Horizons government grant which is coming to an end soon. They have two full time staff and three part time staff, housed in an office inside Steinhauer church . Their cost per ride is twenty seven dollars and their annual budget is about five hundred thousand per year. They received two hundred sixty thousand from government funding last year. Their current goal is to spread their funding sources out further. They are always looking for volunteer drivers and for other funding sources.
 
Shannon Gill, Drive Happiness Vi Hughes 2019-01-22 07:00:00Z 0 drive happiness

Concordia Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 17, 2019
This article has been prepared by Vi Hughes from notes taken by Audrey Martyn.
 
This past Tuesday we heard from Mike Wade and Ed Bonar from the Concordia Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence. Concordia added Artificial Intelligence (AI) to it’ Research and Education programs two years ago. The center’s focus is the application or artificial intelligence to everyday life. AI is growing in use much more now than it was ten years ago, in the future it will change our world. AI can learn to read, write, speak, draw, interpret material, and to create art and music. AI can demonstrate creativity just like humans. AI can also control and adapt to it’s environment.
 
AI can help robots to walk, do human activities and react to new situations.  Robots are then able to control themselves without any human oversight.  The use of robots in business will expand greatly in the future. Oxford reports that half of all current human jobs could be done by AI in the future.
 
AI has helped Google to reduce their data center costs by forty percent. Google also now uses AI for translation as it is cheaper and faster than humans. In the future, AI could help to meet challenges in many fields from business to cancer research. When combined with the growing size of computer power due to technological advances, the use of AI will continue to expand greatly in future. Projects now underway at Concordia include it’s use in Computed Tomography, language programs, student performance tracking and helping with decision making.
 
Overall, knowledge of the uses of AI will expand job opportunities for our students in the future.
Concordia Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence Vi Hughes 2019-01-17 07:00:00Z 0 AI,concordia

Mustard Seed Dinner

Posted by Sam Lilly on Jan 11, 2019
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The Mustard Seed

 

The Edmonton Strathcona "Friendly" Rotary Club has sponsored a meal at the "Mustard Seed 96th street drop in centre" for Saturday February 2nd 2019 from 3pm to 7pm. 

10 volunteers are needed to prepare and serve food to members of the community. AND WE ARE NOW FULLY BOOKED--THANK YOU!

 

Sam Lilly or email lillysam@yahoo.com

 

Click HERE to sign up

Mustard Seed Dinner Sam Lilly 2019-01-11 07:00:00Z 0 mustard seed

WISHES FROM THE CHILDREN OF ELEPAP

Posted by Dimitri Papanicolas on Jan 11, 2019
. OUR CLUB HAS SUPPORTED  ELEPAP FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
(This is different form the "Eleni Gyra" center which is for adult autistic persons and you received a card last week)
Dimitri
 

image
WISHES FROM THE CHILDREN OF ELEPAP Dimitri Papanicolas 2019-01-11 07:00:00Z 0 elepap

New Member Induction, Roberto Alas

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 10, 2019
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This past Tuesday, Ellen Weber inducted our newest member, Roberto Alas, sponsored by Carin Jansen van Vuuren. Roberto’s classification is International Business relations. We would like to welcome Roberto to our club and look forward to getting to know him better.

New Member Induction, Roberto Alas Vi Hughes 2019-01-10 07:00:00Z 0 new member

Kaitlyn Fleming, Meals on Wheels

Posted by VI Hughes on Jan 09, 2019
This past Tuesday we heard from Kaitlyn Fleming, the Fund Development co-ordinator for Meals on Wheels.  She spoke to us about the top ten things that we should know about Meals on Wheels, and to keep things interesting she did it in reverse order.
 
10. Meals on Wheels was founded in 1969 by some members of the Victorian Order of Nurses. This year is their fiftieth anniversary.
 
9. They have their own commercial kitchen, which has been in operation since 1988. It is run by a Red Seal chef along with nine staff and teams of volunteers who come daily to help with meal prep. All of their meals are prepared fresh each day.
 
8. They prepare an average of seven hundred and eight meals each week day.
 
7. They also have a grocery shopping program, where customers provide a list and they do their shopping and deliver their groceries.
 
6. Meals on Wheels prides itself on being more than just a meal delivery service. Many of their customers are not mobile enough to shop for, or prepare their own meals, so they do not get out very often. The volunteer delivery people are often the only contact that some of their customers have with the outside world.  
 
5. Meals on Wheels relies on volunteers in their kitchen, where teams of eight people help prepare meals, as meal delivery drivers (whom they reimburse for kilometers driven), as personal shoppers and for help with special fundraising events such as ‘Beers and Bands’. They had over fourteen thousand volunteers in 2018.
 
4. Most of their customers are seniors, but that is not a requirement.
 
3. Their number two source of customer referrals is from family members.  
 
2. Their fee for service has not increased since the 1990’s. Their meals cost between $4.50 and $13.00 per day with two levels of subsidy available for low income clients.
 
1. They need our help! They have lots of opportunities for volunteers and will also gladly accept cash donations which go towards maintenance of their four aging delivery vans and help to reimburse their volunteer drivers.
Kaitlyn Fleming, Meals on Wheels VI Hughes 2019-01-09 07:00:00Z 0 meals on wheels

RCES new mail address

Posted by Graham Gilchrist on Jan 05, 2019
 
We have a new mail address:
 
Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona
Box 4253 STN SOUTH CRO
EDMONTON AB T6E 4T3
 
For complete club contact information, click HERE 
RCES new mail address Graham Gilchrist 2019-01-05 07:00:00Z 0

Happy New Year!

Posted by Hans Granholm on Dec 22, 2018
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H a p py N e  Y e a r
to
Everyone.

 

Please be reminded that the next regular lunch meeting, January 8th 2019,  and the first meeting of 2019, will be held at Woodvale Facility & Community Club House.

MAP

Happy New Year! Hans Granholm 2018-12-22 07:00:00Z 0

New Hope School Update

Posted by Carin Jansen van Vuuren on Dec 21, 2018
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If the video doesn't show, click this link: https://youtu.be/1K8bibZ_rrc
 
Carin van Vuuren went to the New Hope School this past week. Here is a note from the visit.
 
 
Dear fellow Rotarians I had the distinct pleasure to pay a visit to New Hope School, Pretoria, South Africa on Tuesday December 4th to see how they are proceeding since the RI grant and District Grant were awarded to them earlier this. I’m happy to report the they are busy beavers. The laser cutter has been installed and the teachers have started receiving training to operate the design program Corel Draw as well as the laser cutter, so they can teach the students. Although it’s the end of their school year in South Africa there were still some students busy working and I was able to make a short video. Roedolf Smit, Technical Department Head, said the running cost of the laser cutter is between 60 and 80 cents per minute. Ys Visser, our liaison at the Rotary Club of Pretoria, accompanied me and said they will be promoting the products that can be made with the laser cutter to Businesses through their Rotary network. Ys Visser also reported that as a spin off from the relationship with Rotary, the Bowls Division as well as the Young Members Division of the Pretoria Country Club in South Africa, have donated R13,500 (Approx. $1,350) to the NHS. This is in addition to the Rotary Club of Pretoria’s donation of R70,000 (Approx. $7,000) after their bowls day in May 2018. Thank you once again to all the members of the Rotary Clubs of Edmonton Strathcona, Edmonton South, Sherwood Park, Drayton Valley, St Albert, Stony Plain and Nisku Leduc. "
 
 
New Hope School Update Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2018-12-21 07:00:00Z 0 new hope

Tim Loreman, Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) then and now

Posted by Rose Marie Basaraba on Dec 18, 2018

Concordia University of Edmonton

Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) then and now, was very aptly represented to Club members by Tim Loreman, PhD. President and Vice-Chancellor. Tim exuded an air of excitement and pride in the future of this small campus located midway between Highlands area and downtown Edmonton, a river valley oasis.
 
 
 
Little known facts about Concordia University are:
 
Tim Loreman, Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) then and now Rose Marie Basaraba 2018-12-18 07:00:00Z 0 concordia

Merry Christmas

Posted by Hans Granholm on Dec 14, 2018
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On behalf of the editorial staff, we wish all of you a very Happy Christmas and a healthy and fulfilling New Year. the next e-Strathconian will be January 11th 2019.
 
Please be reminded that we will not meet on December 25th and January 1st. Our next meeting will be on January 8th, 2019 at
 

Woodvale Facility & Community Club House.

MAP

 
 
Merry Christmas Hans Granholm 2018-12-14 07:00:00Z 0 christmas,new year

Youth Exchange Update

Posted on Dec 14, 2018
This wonderfull story appears on the Rotary Club of Edmonton South website
 

Youth Exchange Update - Monica Blanco Rivero

What happens after a Rotary Youth Exchange student goes back home?
Monica Blanco Rivero was co-sponsored by our club, Edmonton South and the Strathcona Club in 2014-2015

 

Hello to everyone, I’m Monica for the ones who don’t know me and I am currently 20 years old. I was an exchange student in 2014-2015 from Bolivia, I was hosted by two clubs, the Edmonton South and Edmonton Strathcona. In both clubs I met awesome people, which with some of them I still keep in touch with. I’m going to tell you a little bit what I have been doing since I got back from Canada. 

I got back to Bolivia in July 2015, and I graduated high school in December of that year, I had to hustle a little bit with my courses if I wanted to graduate with my class, it wasn’t easy but I did it.

In February of 2016 I moved to Brazil to go to university. I live in a small town called Uberaba in the state of Minas Gerais. I live with 4 other girls, which two of them are my friends from school, and the other two I met them here. I’m currently studying Zootechnics, its basicly the science concerned in breeding animals. Right now, I’m about to finish my 6th semester out of 9. Here in Brazil I have learned so many things, like cooking, Portuguese, etc. And I had the chance to explore several cities, and share some unbelievable experiences with the friends I have met here.

I'm still not quite sure what am I going to do once I finish school, not sure if I am going straight to work or keep studying, but I guess I´ll figure it out once I get there. 

So far that is how my life turned out, and I am excited for what the future holds me. Im hoping to visit you really soon and get to hear what you have been up to these years. 

Forgive me for my English, I am a little bit rusty, haven’t used it in a while, haha. I hope everybody is doing well, sending you my best regards, take care!

Monica

Youth Exchange Update 2018-12-14 07:00:00Z 1 exchange,youth
St. Teresa of Calcutta School Dinner 2018-12-14 07:00:00Z 0

Rotary Interact visit to RMH December 6, 2018

Posted by Eric Germain on Dec 08, 2018
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Rotary Interact Club of J. Percy Page High School Provides the “Meals That Mend” Dinner for Ronald McDonald House
 
The Rotary Interact Club of J. Percy Page High School visited Ronald McDonald House (RMH) on Thursday December 6, 2018. They provided the groceries, prepared and served dinner for an Italian Feast  featuring a lasagna dinner for 100 people, while spreading holiday cheer to all. They also did some house chores, and cleaned up, including preparing dinner packages for families returning later in the evening from the hospitals.
 
The Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona provided the groceries and the drivers to transport the Interactors to RMH and back to the school. Thanks to our drivers Hans Granholm, Ken Germain, Dennis Freeman and Vince Campbell. Also a special thankyou to our great Percy Page  school teachers with our Rotary Interact Club, Karen Huculak and Taso Garanis ,who were out in full force for the evening.
 
RMH has 35 family rooms that are always full, with a waiting list, for sick children from across Canada who are receiving treatments from the excellent children’s hospital services in Edmonton. Year to date for 2018, 360 families have stayed at RMH with up to 5 family members in a room. The average stay is 26 to 32 days, with over 11,000 individual family member overnight stay days in 2018, with the better part of December to go. The cross section of families at RMH illustrates that a full spectrum of Canadians from every background, require access to a home away from home for sick children and their families. The staff and volunteers at RMH are a pleasure to work with, including Matt Mang, Executive Chef & Meals Coordinator.
 
Rotary Interact visit to RMH December 6, 2018 Eric Germain 2018-12-08 07:00:00Z 0

Rotary's Got Talent

Posted on Dec 08, 2018
 
As you may have heard, our club is planning the 2nd Annual Rotary's Got Talent. DG Ingrid Neitsch has agreed to come back as a "celebrity judge."
 
We'd love to see this become an annual event that brings Rotarians across the district together. Last year, members from several clubs performed and attended, and we're hoping to build upon that fellowship.
 
So, I have two simple requests:

1) Could you pass the word on to your members that we've got room for a few more acts? Any kind of talent is welcome, so musicians, singers, comedians, magicians, jugglers . . . really, any kind of talent is welcome, and it could be Rotarians themselves who perform, or it could be their spouses, partners, children, friends. It could be solo performers or duos or trios or small groups/troupes. If anyone wants to perform, just tell them to contact me at pauldusseault@outlook.com and I'll pass their contact information on to our talent coordinator.

2) Could you send out the attached poster (pdf and jpeg attached) about the event to your members to encourage them to attend? It's a family-friendly event, so they can bring their families, their relatives, their friends. It's simply a fun evening that brings Rotarians together and generates awareness of Rotary. By the way, as you can see from the poster, profits from the event are going to Operation Friendship, to support programs for our city's underprivileged and homeless seniors. 
 
Thanks so much for your attention.
 
ClubRunner Link: 
 
Facebook Link:
Rotary's Got Talent 2018-12-08 07:00:00Z 0

Support Amarok Society

Posted by Ken Germain on Dec 08, 2018
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Thanks to all who donated to the recent Amarok appeal. 
More emphasis will be put on corporate sponsors who can match our efforts and contributions.
 
I thought you'd like to hear that things seem to be picking up for Amarok Society.

We're likely opening either 3 or 4 more schools this year in Bangladesh in partnerships with Rotary Clubs there, which will make a big difference. And there are other North American business partnerships we're starting to form which is part of our plan to broaden our funding support. At some point, once our revenue grows even more, we'll probably hire a social media expert (part time) to start to build more support from individuals "adopting" mothers and other things. So, we can see 2019 is off to an exciting start.
 
 
 
Please read the article and decide if your family has a desire to positively impact the lives of Mothers and Daughters in Bangladesh. 
They become teachers in the slums by the hundreds!
 

Democracy isn't a Pizza.

                                    It's a Tree.

Ostensibly, democracy is one of the chief exports of the western world. It’s conflated with freedom and is seen as inherently valuable for its own sake. There’s also a belief that once democracy is introduced to a country, the citizens will use it to resolve all the country’s problems.
But Democracy isn’t a pizza: we can’t just deliver it to a society’s doorstep, never giving a thought to what’s on the other side of that door. Democracy, rather, is a tree that we’re transplanting: it requires numerous other factors to help it thrive. An uninformed public, for instance, can’t exercise an effective democracy. Likewise, a corrupt government can stand in the way of fair processes and accessibility. It takes more than the advent of an election to realize the democratic ideal.
Rupa never used to leave her slum. This isn’t strange; none of the women there felt comfortable venturing far from their home. Mobility was just one more privilege of men. She couldn’t read, either. I know that her city, Dhaka, has municipal elections, but how on earth that practically functions in the slums is beyond me, where most people can’t read, almost half of the voting-age population feels repressed by the other half, and even something as simple as going for a walk can be problematic. How does unbiased information find its way into such a place? How does an informed, representative vote come out?
 
 
 
Support Amarok Society Ken Germain 2018-12-08 07:00:00Z 0 amarok

Volunteer Drivers Needed
 

Driving Interactors

To take J Percy Page High School Interact Club members to Ronald McDonald House so they can cook dinner for the families staying there, and then to pick them up and return them to the school afterwards. All drivers must have a vulnerable persons police check in place.
 
Dec 6
 
3:30 pm at J Percy Page (meet inside the west facing front doors of the school)
 
7:00 pm at Ronald McDonald House
 
Contact: Eric Germain 780-991-0497, egermain@is2.ca
Volunteer Drivers Needed  2018-11-29 07:00:00Z 0 interact

Anna Syrianou, Classification Talk
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 29, 2018
This last Tuesday we heard from one of our newest members, Anna Syrianou, whose classification is Beauty Consulting. Anna came to Canada from Greece when she was fifteen years old. She said that while in Greece she really didn’t have any idea what Canada was like. She assumed that it would be very much like New York and other American cities which she had seen on television in Greece.
 
When she landed in Halifax, she thought they were in the wrong place. It was quite a culture shock for her to get used to Halifax, a much smaller place with wooden houses, when she had come from Athens, a very large city of five million. In 1976, she married and moved to Toronto, and then across Canada, ending up in Saskatoon. Her husband had a restaurant and she had a salon business. Anna’s business did very well. She entered and won many competitions and awards. She also did make overs on the local television channel, which were very popular.
 
After fifteen years of marriage, when her husband wanted to move on again, they decided to go their separate ways.  Anna remained in Saskatoon and became a single mother. When her daughter started University at the U of A in Edmonton, Anna decided to move here. She opened a new business in Edmonton. Two years ago she closed her business and now works out of her home.
 
She now has more time for her daughter and her grandchildren, and also to enjoy oil painting.  She is glad to now be able to the things she loves, and to do them unconditionally.
 
We welcome Anna to our Rotary club and look forward to getting to know her better.  
 
Anna Syrianou, Classification Talk  Vi Hughes 2018-11-29 07:00:00Z 0 anna

Kids With Cancer Society -- invitation

 
 

YOU'RE INVITED!

You’re invited to a fundraiser in support of the Kids with Cancer Society co-hosted by MP Matt Jeneroux and Dr. Elizabeth Clement.

Help raise community support for this important cause in our City by enjoying your favourite breakfast cereals from your youth and hearing from speakers about the great work accomplished by the Kids with Cancer Society.
 
Please join us on Friday, November 30 from 7:30am-9am where 100% of the proceeds go to benefit the Kids with Cancer Society.

For more information or to purchase tickets please visit https://kwc.akaraisin.com/BreakfastEvent2018 .
 
Kids With Cancer Society -- invitation Rose Marie Basaraba 2018-11-24 07:00:00Z 0 cancer

Double Your Money >>UPDATE<<

Posted by Ken Germain on Nov 24, 2018
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This is a better link to click for donations to Amarok.
Remember to type "match" under comments for a bigger impact .
 
 
A dollar for dollar match for your donation to my favourite Canadian charity, Amarok,is being offered!
Only 4 Weeks!
Please read the article and decide if your family has a desire to positively impact the lives of Mothers and Daughters in Bangladesh. 
They become teachers in the slums by the hundreds!
 

Democracy isn't a Pizza.

                                    It's a Tree.

Ostensibly, democracy is one of the chief exports of the western world. It’s conflated with freedom and is seen as inherently valuable for its own sake. There’s also a belief that once democracy is introduced to a country, the citizens will use it to resolve all the country’s problems.
But Democracy isn’t a pizza: we can’t just deliver it to a society’s doorstep, never giving a thought to what’s on the other side of that door. Democracy, rather, is a tree that we’re transplanting: it requires numerous other factors to help it thrive. An uninformed public, for instance, can’t exercise an effective democracy. Likewise, a corrupt government can stand in the way of fair processes and accessibility. It takes more than the advent of an election to realize the democratic ideal.
Rupa never used to leave her slum. This isn’t strange; none of the women there felt comfortable venturing far from their home. Mobility was just one more privilege of men. She couldn’t read, either. I know that her city, Dhaka, has municipal elections, but how on earth that practically functions in the slums is beyond me, where most people can’t read, almost half of the voting-age population feels repressed by the other half, and even something as simple as going for a walk can be problematic. How does unbiased information find its way into such a place? How does an informed, representative vote come out?
 
There are a hundred ways in which education has transformed Rupa’s sense of herself. She and her classmates are now leaders in their community. So, when a group of them went to speak to a city counsellor to discuss an unfulfilled campaign promise, that marked a huge shift in the community. Democracy wasn’t achieved when Bangladesh got the vote. But when Rupa marches freely with her fellow students to hold local government accountable, they are taking an admirable step in democracy’s direction. 
 
 
 
Double Your Money &gt;&gt;UPDATE&lt;&lt; Ken Germain 2018-11-24 07:00:00Z 0 amarok

Carol Devereaux, Paul Harris Awards
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 21, 2018
On Tuesday, Carol Devereaux, our district chairperson of the Paul Harris Society, presented several awards to some of our members. She noted that our club is a strong supporter of the Rotary Foundation.
She presented the Paul Harris Fellow Award, for their contribution to the Rotary Foundation of one thousand dollars, to Graham Gilchrist and to Augie Annicchiarico.  She then presented a Paul Harris Society membership certificate to Jim Peddy for his commitment to donate one thousand dollars a year for five years to the Rotary Foundation.
 
Carol Devereaux, Paul Harris Awards  Vi Hughes 2018-11-21 07:00:00Z 0 Paul Harris,Society

Wayne McCutcheon, The Rotary Foundation
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 21, 2018
This past Tuesday, Wayne McCutcheon, the district chairperson for the Rotary Global Grants program, gave us a short introduction into the Rotary Foundation, what they do and why they do it. He started by describing a project that our district was involved in about ten years ago, where we provided the seed money to bring clean water to a village in Ecuador. The children in this village were always getting sick. The problem was eventually traced to their water supply, which came from a surface water ditch. Three hundred families participated in this project by digging the trenches for a new water supply system that included a storage tank, purifying system and piping to each home and the local school, as well as new latrines for the community. Each family now pays about five dollars a month for the upkeep of this system and they have not had any incidents of sick children due to water since it was installed. This has improved their quality of life immensely as the children in the village can now attend school more regularly and are able to play and have a more normal life. In all this project cost seventy-two thousand dollars.
 
Rotary has the vision to see a world where people can unite, take action and create lasting change. This also aligns with our fourth object, which is to create understanding, good will and peace. The Rotary Foundation is committed to funding humanitarian projects both locally and internationally. It does this through providing District Grants, Global Grants, Vocational Training Teams and various types of Scholarships through matching programs that help to greatly increase the original contribution. The projects they fund are thoroughly vetted and must meet a strict set of guidelines.
 
Locally, our district is currently overseeing fourteen global grants, with a contribution amount of just over one point five million dollars over the past four years. This past year our club alone raised over thirty thousand dollars for the New Hope School in South Africa, by contributing just over nine thousand dollars of our own funds and then applying for and receiving matching grants to make up the difference.  
 
Currently the members of our district pledge two hundred seventy-seven thousand dollars a year to the Foundation, and only one in two members take part. Imagine what we could do if everyone took part? The vision of the Rotary Foundation and the fact that it can make such a big difference in helping  Rotarian’s chosen projects come true, should make it our charity of choice.  We can be a part of a wide variety of different projects both at home and around the world simply by making a contribution to this one foundation.
 
Wayne McCutcheon, The Rotary Foundation  Vi Hughes 2018-11-21 07:00:00Z 0 Foundation,Wayne

Visit Greece with the Greek anyone?

Posted by Dimitri Papanicolas on Nov 16, 2018
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Visit Greece with the Greek anyone?

Posted by Dimitri Papanicolas on 16 November 2018
 
INQUIRY FOR INTEREST FOR A TRIP TO GREECE IN SEPTEMBER 2019
 
After two successful Tours of Greece in 2016 and 2018, a couple of club members have asked me if I will be organizing a tour in September 2019. I would like to have an idea of how many members of our club (and their friends) will be interested in participating. The bus tour is about 10 days and takes place in the middle of September. If interested in participating, please send an e-mail to Dimitri Papanicolas at 
dpapanicolas@outlook.com . The number of participants is in the order of 20, on first come first served basis. We will also connect with a few Rotary Clubs during the trip. Of course, the tour is open to non-Rotarian too.
 
The tour will take place in the mainland visiting archeological sites, religious sites, overall site seeing (see map) and of course some local food, wine, ouzo and shopping. Island and cruise tours can be organized separately before or after the tour.
 

 

 
Visit Greece with the Greek anyone? Dimitri Papanicolas 2018-11-16 07:00:00Z 0 greece

Lorette Garret, George Spady Society
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 15, 2018
Last Tuesday we had the pleasure of hearing from Lorette Garret, CEO of the George Spady Society, about their various programs. Lorette told us that it first began thirty-seven years ago with George Spady, a United Church minister, whose vision was to give people living on the street with addiction issues a safe place to sleep and hope for a better future. It was first housed in on old church. In 1983, the government funded Alcohol and Dug Abuse Commission became involved and they started the George Spady Society.
 
The Society operates many different programs housed in various places around the city. All of their programs are fully funded by various branches of the Alberta government, Alberta Health Services, Alberta Community Services and Homeward Trust. Their buildings are leased from various agencies, so they do not have to worry about maintenance or physical plant costs.  They do not rely on donations for their programs but do accept donations to help provide food and clothing for their clients. They currently employ about two hundred staff members. Their aim is to provide a safe, non-judgemental service, treat their clients with respect and dignity, and give them an opportunity for change.
Lorette Garret, George Spady Society  Vi Hughes 2018-11-15 07:00:00Z 0 George Spady

Remembrance

Posted by Hans Granholm on Nov 09, 2018
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Why the Poppy?

Today, fields of brilliant poppies still grow in France.
 A writer first made the connection between the poppy and battlefield deaths during the Napoleonic wars of the early 19th century, remarking that fields that were barren before battle exploded with the blood-red flowers after the fighting ended.

 During the tremendous bombardments of the First World War the chalk soils became rich in lime from rubble, allowing 'popaver rhoeas' to thrive. When the war ended the lime was quickly absorbed, and the poppy began to disappear again.

 After John McCrae's poem In Flanders Fields was published in 1915 the poppy became a popular symbol for soldiers who died in battle.

 Three years later an American, Moina Michael, was working in a New York City YMCA canteen when she started wearing a poppy in memory of the millions who died on the battlefield.

 During a 1920 visit to the United States a French woman, Madame Guerin, learned of the custom. On her return to France she decided to use handmade poppies to raise money for the destitute children in war-torn areas of the country. In November, 1921, the first poppies were distributed in Canada.

 Thanks to the millions of Canadians who wear flowers each November, the little red plant has never died. And neither have Canadian's memories for 116,031 of their countrymen who died in battle.
Remembrance Hans Granholm 2018-11-09 07:00:00Z 0 remembrance

New Member Induction
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 07, 2018
 
 
On Tuesday, Ellen Weber, our membership chairperson, introduced us to three new members of our club,
 
Sam Lily, Charitable Gaming - Compliance, sponsored by Eric Germain;
Karen Peddie, Education - Secondary, sponsored by Jim Peddie;
Jeanette Goerz, Beautician, also sponsored by Jim Peddie.
 
We look forward to getting to know these new members better over the coming year and to building a vibrant community together with them.
 
New Member Induction  Vi Hughes 2018-11-07 07:00:00Z 0 welcome

Ingrid Neitsch, District 5370 Governor
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 07, 2018
This past week we welcomed a visit from our current District Governor, Ingrid Neitsch. Ingrid has been travelling round our large district visiting with each club. Our district has fifty-seven clubs, with over two thousand members and stretches from Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories and Ft. Nelson in northern BC, south to include Jasper, Camrose and east to Battleford, Saskatchewan. So far Ingrid has put forty-two thousand kilometers on her vehicle travelling to visit various clubs.
 
Her message to our club, and to all of the clubs in our district, follows this year’s Rotary International’s theme of ‘Be the Inspiration’. It also includes a heavy emphasis on taking care of our family of members and growing our membership so that we an continue to make a change both in our community and beyond. We need to remember that the change we bring will endure beyond us and will continue to spread outwards. We are like the members of an orchestra that starts playing one at a time but when all of the members have joined in the message is overwhelming. She also asked us to think of a moment when we were inspired and then asked us what we did in response. Then she reminded us that we can be the vehicle that helps other people’s dreams of a better education, a better life, and many other hopes and dreams come true.
 
She then talked about how our support of the Rotary Foundation is a key in this goal. She then presented our club Foundation chair, Patrick Gibson, with a banner, as every member of our club made a donation to the Foundation over the past year. She also talked about how our support of Polio Plus  has helped to eliminate polio around the world and stressed the need for us to continue our support for this program as the fight is not over yet.
 
Ingrid has also been working together with other people in our district to create a strategic plan to support our current members and to increase our membership. Their goal is to establish three new clubs and to attain a net increase of fifty members. This would mean that each club would have a goal of retaining their current membership and also adding three new members this year. In order to do this she reminded us that we are the best advertisement to bring in new members for our clubs.
 
She also spoke about the role that Rotary can play in peace and conflict resolution. This is something we can work with and teach our children about. Rotary supports Peace Scholars through the  Peacebuilder District Fund who work in many places around the world to promote peace in many different ways. Our District has not sponsored an applicant for this in several years, but this year we will. Our district would need to raise the equivalent of sixty-one dollars per member each year in order to support this.
 
Vince Campbell then presented Ingrid with a cheque for thirty-four hundred fifteen dollars, which works out to sixty-one dollars per member towards the Rotary International Peacebuilder District program from our club. Ingrid thanked us and said that we were the first club to make a contribution for each member in this way.
 
She closed by have everyone stand and hold hands as we repeated the Rotary theme for this year, that we will ‘Be the Inspiration’.
Ingrid Neitsch, District 5370 Governor  Vi Hughes 2018-11-07 07:00:00Z 0 DG,Ingrid

Fall Leadership Assembly

Posted by Donna Hutton on Oct 25, 2018
 
 
Are you a current and potential future leader?  
Are you new to Rotary?  
Are you a member of Rotaract?
Have you been a member for a period of time and interested in learning what is new in Rotary?  
 
Rotarians are leaders in making change in the world.
 
This Leadership Assembly "Inspiring Leadership" is designed for you!  The agenda was created for us to come together in a smaller setting for facilitated discussions, learning's, and sharing on the specific topics noted in the attached document. 
 
Thank you.  I appreciate your support in strengthening Rotary. Together, we are people of action!
 
Warmest wishes, 
 
Tracey Vavrek
District Governor 2019 - 2020, Rotary International District 5370
 
Fall Leadership Assembly Donna Hutton 2018-10-25 06:00:00Z 0 leadership,training

L'Arche Association of Edmonton

Posted by Rose Marie Basaraba on Oct 23, 2018
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Our Rotary Club hosted presenters Pat Desnoyer, Executive Director and Community Leader and Greg Alcorn, Chairman of the Board for L'Arche Association (not to be confused with Arch Enterprises, one of our community partners) in a very informative presentation.
 
The L'Arche Community serves adults with various disabilities and from different ethnic backgrounds, offering training and employment opportunities. The organization was founded by Jean Vanier acclaimed as "a Canadian who inspires the world" (Macleans magazine) and a nation builder (The Globe and Mail). In 1964 Jean welcomed two men from an institution to live in his home with him in the French village of Trosly-Breuil. This was the beginning of an international movement of L'Arche communities around the world where people with and without developmental disabilities share life together in communities that belong to an International federation. Today, there are 146 L'Arche communities in 35 countries on 6 continents.
 
L'Arche Edmonton began in Sherwood Park in 1972. Today they have 2 homes in Sherwood Park and 4 homes in Edmonton. In addition to the residences, they have a community centre located in Fulton School, a community hub of like-minded organizations . At the heart of their Community Centre is their Discovery Day program where people with and without developmental disabilities use their gifts to expand their circle of friends by continually finding ways to reach out to people beyond their community. As a community they are committed to personal and spiritual growth, discovering each day what it means to be in relationships. Currently 12 people with disabilities and from diverse cultures, some from other countries, live in a home for one year. A strong hospitality pace creates friendships where day-to-day joy and celebration are a strong part of life. They celebrate diversity by sharing experiences, community holidays and community visits i.e. greenhouses. L'Arche (ages 40-80) also offers the gift of outreach services to seniors in the community who may be isolated. Public community events include an art pageant by members and allow members to access the story of Christmas through their annual Christmas Pageant.
 
As a retired City Policeman, Greg Alcorn considers his role unique in creating awareness of this program as well as seeking monetary support for the organization. Although partially supported by the Provincial Government, the organization also currently receives support from the Melting Pot as well as the provision of boards and expertise --in the breaking of same-- from a South Edmonton Tae Kwon Do College of Martial Arts. Naturally they welcome any support with gratitude. his was truly an interesting and heart-rending presentation.
L'Arche Association of Edmonton Rose Marie Basaraba 2018-10-23 06:00:00Z 0 L'Arche

Project Amigo

Posted by Rose Marie Basaraba on Oct 17, 2018
Looking for a unique  one-week vacation experience? Edith Martin, pictured, member of the Edmonton North East Rotary Club and member of the Project Amigo Canada Society Board of
Directors and Merle Taylor from the Edmonton Glenora Rotary Club shared  this interesting and refreshing opportunity with Club members.
A Project Amigo Volunteer Week is a true Mexican Cultural Experience.  Each week is designed to give the volunteer a balanced perspective. The students and their families have great needs. They also have a rich and ancient culture and are keen to welcome you, the 'Amigo'.
 
 
 
Project Amigo Rose Marie Basaraba 2018-10-17 06:00:00Z 0 project amigo

Santa Clothes

Posted by Donna Hutton on Oct 12, 2018
We now have an opportunity to volunteer for the event on November 4 to assist the children with purchasing clothes at Old Navy in West Edmonton Mall..  They need 100 volunteers so that each child has an adult to assist them.. ALL VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS MUST HAVE THEIR SECURITY CLEARANCE COMPLETED and registered with the District.  Below is the sign up link...  I will send you the brochure that explains the program for those that missed the presentation or who have senior's memories...   Tx Donna

 

On the sign up - disregard the Dec 15 date . Everything is on Nov 4/18.

 
Here is the sign up:
 
 
 
Santa Clothes Donna Hutton 2018-10-12 06:00:00Z 0 santa clothes

End Polio Walk 2018

Posted on Oct 12, 2018
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Rotary Club Of Edmonton- End Polio Now Walk
 
The Annual End Polio Now Walk, hosted by the Rotary Club of Edmonton, is being held in conjunction with our 2018 District 5370 Conference.  The Walk is a total of 3.6 Km , will take approximately 45 minutes and takes place October 17 2018 at 11:45 am.  This will be an opportunity to gather Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interactors from all over the district and make Rotary visible to downtown Edmonton so please wear your Rotary T-shirts, jackets or hats!   Please register for this walk by clicking the link below.  When you register you will be asked for your Club name.  All donations will be credited to the club you identify.
 
 

Please join us for walk to End Polio Now in the Fight for Global Polio Eradication.
 
 
Date: October 17, 2018
Starts at 11:45 AM
Location: Beaver Hill House Park (10404 Jasper Avenue)
 
 
End Polio Walk 2018 2018-10-12 06:00:00Z 0 end polio walk

Anna Syrianou new member induction

Posted by Hans Granholm on Oct 12, 2018
 
This past Wednesday Donna Hutton introduced Anna Syrianou as our newest member. Anna’s classification is Beauty Consulting. We would like to give Anna a warm welcome to our club.
Anna Syrianou new member induction Hans Granholm 2018-10-12 06:00:00Z 0 new member

Andrew Ottway, Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Oct 04, 2018
This past Tuesday, October 2, we heard from Andrew Ottway, the President and CEO of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation. The Royal Alex Hospital was founded n 1899 and although it has moved several times it has always been near the current location. The Foundation was started in 1984 and Andrew has been the President and CEO for the past twenty years.
 
The hospital serves the population of Alberta from Red Deer north and also includes northern BC and the Territories. With nine hundred beds, it served over five hundred thousand patients last year, it has the busiest emergency department in Alberta and also does the most surgeries of any hospital in Alberta. It has thirty-one operating rooms and does thirty thousand surgeries a year. It also does the most robotic assisted laparoscopic surgeries in Canada. One of their biggest challenges is finding post operative beds for these surgery patients, many of whom have complex health issues. There is also an issue with discharging these patients from the hospital as many people do not have appropriate home care to go to.
 
Andrew Ottway, Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation  Vi Hughes 2018-10-04 06:00:00Z 0 Royal Alexandra

The Boys of 1905

Posted on Sep 29, 2018
Thanks to Harald Kuckertz for capturing this video during a make-up meeting to the Rotary eClub of the South West USA
 
 
CLICK ON TITLE OF THIS ITEM TO OPEN AND PLAY THE VIDEO
 
 
The Boys of 1905 Hans Granholm 2018-09-29 06:00:00Z 0 Rotary One

Prospective Member Meeting

Posted by Ellen Weber on Sep 28, 2018
 

Our October 9th meeting will be pre-empted with a special meeting at the U of A Faculty Club on October 10th.

Regarding your sign up for the Wed., Oct. 10th  5:30 dinner event at U of A. Thanks to those already signed up! Still time to bring prospective Rotarian members and enter a draw for $50 Cash prize.
To those not yet signed up, thanks for signing in online today so we can give numbers for U of A fabulous dinner prep. It’s $30 for your dinner and $30 for guests. FREE dinner for all prospective members.
 
Thanks all for bringing a prospective member and/or helping us welcome Rotarian prospective members on Wed., Oct. 10th. Remember, NO ROTARY MEETING on Tues. OCT 9th.
In a relaxed setting, over wine we’ll share wit ‘n wisdom of our members, propose service project ideas for the coming year, and laugh with our own comedians’ quips starting after dinner. Guaranteed out before 9.
Dinner and new member meeting at U of A Faculty Club located at 11435 Saskatchewan Dr.  
 
In fun ways, through many voices, we’ll reconsider the 4-way test’s relevant “what if” questions. Gain new insights from neural discoveries and Rotarian noodles. Surprise humor entries. We’ll also play a gender-circle-game to stir up diverse views, laugh together, and look at enormous gender differences through both sides of the brain!
 
Rotarians and guests will toss in humor, offer ideas to inspire us, help design service opportunities for our new era, and consider opportunities to serve up Rotarian ways that benefit all. Let’s kick off our new membership meeting with new zip! Thanks for signing up here – and see you there!
 

If you are bringing your partner or other family members, then register them with your own registration.

Enter the names of prospective member(s) from the [GUESTS] button on the registration, but don't proceed with payment for the prospective member(s)..

Ellen Weber (PhD) 
Director - MITA International Brain Based Center
Email ewebermita@gmail.com
MITA Brain Leaders and learners  blog: www.Brainleadersandlearners.com 
MITA Brain Based TPT Site  at https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ellen-Weber-Brain-Based-Tasks-For-Upper-Grades
 

For technical support, contact Hans Granholm. hgrdane@telusplanet.net  780-918-1079

 

OPEN THE ONLINE REGISTRATION

Prospective Member Meeting Ellen Weber 2018-09-28 06:00:00Z 0 prospective

Tamara Larson, District Youth Exchange Program
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 27, 2018

Youth Exchange 101

This last Tuesday we heard a presentation from Tamara Larson, our District Youth Chairperson. Tamara spoke to us about how the district Youth Exchange Program works and what we can expect to happen when our club takes part in this in 2019.
 
We have partnered with the Edmonton South Rotary club to sponsor an inbound and an outbound student for this exchange. Our club has sponsored many students in the past, so we do have some idea what is involved, but Tamara gave us an overview of how it is managed, our legal responsibilities, and estimates of costs that we can expect.
 
Tamara Larson, District Youth Exchange Program  Vi Hughes 2018-09-27 06:00:00Z 0 youth exchange

Loida Lumanlan, Trip to the Phillipines
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 19, 2018

Loida Lumanlan

This past Tuesday we heard an informal talk from Loida Lumanlan, who spoke about her recent trip to the Philippines. She and her brothers and sisters all returned home to visit their mother on the occasion of her eighty eighth birthday. Her mother is still living in her own home and near to other family members.
 
Unfortunately, the long twelve-hour flight to Manilla in the Philippines became even longer as their flight was diverted to Cebu due to bad weather. This would then entail arranging another flight to get back to her home town near Manilla. Her plane landed near noon and her mother’s birthday was the next day, so it did not leave much time to arrange a flight, collect her luggage, take a bus to the proper terminal, go back through security and onto the next plane. Then things got really hairy when her luggage took four hours to come. Once she finally got through security they were already calling her name for the flight, so she grabbed her shoes and ran barefooted for the plane.  However, she did make it home by evening and in plenty of time for the party the next day. She and one of her sisters had arranged to stay at their mother’s home in the spare bedroom. They knew they were back in the Philippines once they spotted a dead cockroach under the bed and a live lizard on the ceiling of their room.
They had a great time at the party and the food was amazing. Lots of fresh fruit, fresh fish and fresh vegetables. To cap off the trip, Loida had arranged to treat her sisters to a holiday together in Macau for a few days. No husbands, no children, no talking about money or troubles at home, just enjoy themselves, shopping, sightseeing and eating. She said they all had a wonderful time and she would recommend doing this to anyone. She said that if you have someone you love who you know can not afford this type of trip, but you can, go ahead and treat them to the trip of a lifetime. You will not regret doing it. Loida certainly does not. They all had a great time.
Loida Lumanlan, Trip to the Phillipines  Vi Hughes 2018-09-19 06:00:00Z 0 Loida,Philippines

Banner exchange at RC Athens

Posted by Dimitri Papanicolas on Sep 14, 2018
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γεια σε όλους
Our Secretary Audrey exchanging banners with President Kostas Lerekis of RC Of Athens Goudi and RC Partnitha. ADG of District 2470 was also present. 
 
Dimitri                                                    
Banner exchange at RC Athens Dimitri Papanicolas 2018-09-14 06:00:00Z 0 greece

Informal Talks

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 12, 2018

Informal Talks

This past week, since there was no official speaker, Stephan Van Vuuren suggested that we have some of our members give short informal talks on issues that interest them and would also interest other members of our club.
 
Stephan volunteered to be the first speaker, on the topic of his involvement with the issues surrounding the medical use of marijuana.  Stephan told us that few years ago he decided to learn more about cannabis from a medical point of view and took a certification course to learn more about it’s use for medical purposes. He then joined a clinic that prescribes marijuana for medical use. He described marijuana as a chemically ‘fuzzy ball’ made up of about fifty different compounds, many of which have various effects on the body. The main active compounds are THC, which is a psychotic and hallucinogen, CBD, which is an anti psychotic, and many varied types of terpenes, with various physiological effects.
The effect one gets from cannabis can vary dramatically depending on the variety used and how it is consumed. The amounts of the various compounds present in a strain of cannabis can vary widely. Strains grown today have up to ten times more THC than older strains. It can also be purified into various products, each of which can have different effects. It can also interact with other medications people may be taking so that needs to be considered as well. He said that one needs to know quite a bit about the particular strain you are using, in order to get the desired effect. One strain can make you sleepy while the next will get you energized. Some work well for pain relief and others do not. He has found that it can be a very useful medication for some people, but it is definitely not a first or even a second line treatment for most people.
 
Our second informal speaker of the day was Bernd Reuscher, who spoke about the rise of populism in Germany and many other countries in northern Europe. Bernd gave us short history of immigration patterns in Europe as an introduction to this topic. In the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s many people from less prosperous southern European countries of Spain and Italy, Greece and even Turkey immigrated to Germany and other more prosperous countries looking for work and a better life. Those who had closer ties to the language, customs and religions of the country they settled in integrated well, but others did not and kept to themselves. When German reunification took place, those in eastern Germany were very eager to take part in their new chances for freedom and prosperity, and at first this did happen. This was followed by more immigration from the newer EU countries in eastern Europe. But as the recent flood of new immigrants from even farther east started to happen, one million refugees in one year, in Germany alone, they saw their chances for prosperity falter as the economy struggled to support the large numbers of refugees.  Some people are becoming more right wing and are speaking out more. Freedom of speech is OK, but demonstrations that result in violence are not. Dealing with the underlying economic issues is going to be very difficult for all of the countries involved.
Informal Talks Vi Hughes 2018-09-12 06:00:00Z 0 canabis,marijuana

Leslie Cleary, Rotary Santa Clothes Program

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 06, 2018
This past Tuesday we heard from Leslie Cleary from the Edmonton Riverview Rotary club who spoke about the Rotary Santa Clothes program. This is a program that originated with the Las Vegas Rotary club, in 1998.
 
Three years ago, the Edmonton South Rotary club decided to do a similar thing in Edmonton. They have partnered with other local rotary clubs, the Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Boys and Girls Club of Edmonton. The Old Navy store at West Edmonton Mall provides the shopping experience, with extra staff who volunteer their time, and provides an additional fifty percent discount on all items in the store. The goal of the program this year is to provide two hundred dollars worth (four hundred with discount) of new winter clothes and shoes for at least one hundred elementary age students from needy families in Edmonton.
 
The clubs in conjunction with the United Way program of ‘All in for You’ helped in the selection of four Edmonton schools from which the children are chosen.  The chosen schools this year are Tipaskin, Delton, St. Alphonsus and John A. McDougall. The children prepare a list of items they would like to have that will fit into the allotted budget. Various rotary clubs provide over one hundred volunteers who act as chaperones on the buses and personal shopping assistants for the children. Each child has one person assigned to help them with their shopping.
 
The event takes place on the first Sunday morning in November. The children are bused from their respective schools to West Edmonton Mall where they meet their personal shopping assistants. The store dedicates this time slot for this group alone. The children make their selections with the help of their volunteer assistants and their purchases are bagged and labelled. Their bags are held for them and returned to them just before they leave for home. They are then treated to a private marine life experience and then are taken to the Fantasyland Hotel for a pizza lunch. Their bags are then returned to them and they are bused back to their respective schools. Edmonton South Rotary has committed to cover the cost for fifty students and is looking for volunteers and sponsors to cover costs for shopping and lunch, the marine life experience and bus transport. They have both individual and group packages available.
This program gives us an opportunity for us to have an impact on the children in our community and to demonstrate the rotary belief that ‘We Care and We Share’.
Leslie Cleary, Rotary Santa Clothes Program Vi Hughes 2018-09-06 06:00:00Z 0 santa clothes

Aug 28 Short Reports
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Aug 30, 2018
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Patrick Gibson gave us a short update on planning for the Rotary Oil King’s game which is now a fundraiser for our club. In the past this game was organised by the district. Patrick presented two members of the Oil King’s organisation, Kevin and Derek, who gave us a short update on their ideas and suggestions for the game in the new year. This sounds like it will be a good fundraiser for our club and thanks to Patrick for all of his work on this so far.
 
Al Pierog, from the Edmonton South Rotary Club gave us a short update on progress so far for the Youth Exchange program. They will partner with our club to sponsor one high school student to be selected from our area to participate in this exchange. The exchange will take place in 2019, for ten months. Our two clubs will in turn, host a student coming from abroad. Donna Hutton is the contact for our club in this exchange.
Aug 28 Short Reports  Vi Hughes 2018-08-30 06:00:00Z 0 student,youth exchange

Fun Golf Day 2018 Was A Fun Golf Day!!

Posted by Eric Germain on Aug 29, 2018
 
 
Dennis getting a line...betting money at the ready!
 
 
Rotary Club Of Edmonton Strathcona Golf Tourney and Barbecue
 
Our Rotary Club had our annual golf tournament on Friday August 24th.
We changed things up, and had a Texas Scramble at Coyote Crossing in Sherwood Park, played by 22 golfers. It was a taste of playing St. Andrews in Scotland on a summer day. The golf groups had a great time, spoiled by chasing a little white ball.
 
A fun Happy Hour and Putting Contest followed. Carin Van V was our putting contest hostess, again, doing a great job.  The final 2 putters were Jim Peddie & Nicolle Germain. Jim clinched the putting contest, and donated all the proceeds to our charity of choice for the day , the  Edmonton Food Bank.
 
The dinner for 40 friendly folks, was a lovely barbecue cuisine.
Ken & Eric Germain, the Blues Brothers, rolled out the program, highlighting the golf awards of the day.
 
  • Longest Ladies Drive- Barb Craig
  • Longest Men’s Drive- Stephan Jansen Van Vuuren
  • Closest to the Pin- Carin Jansen Van Vuuren
  • Longest Putt- Donna Hutton
 
The low score of the day was 36, par, by 2 teams. We cut cards for the gold medal, and the winning team was Dave Prince, Con Basaraba, Don Hughes, and Judy Brown. Special mention to our silver medalists, Donna Hutton, Gary Froleich, Dennis Freeman and Ellen Weber.
 
            Best joke of the day was by Ken. Something about a hole in Juan (one).  Thanks for everyone who made it out, and made it a special day!
 
Cheers,
Eric & Ken
 
Fun Golf Day 2018 Was A Fun Golf Day!! Eric Germain 2018-08-29 06:00:00Z 0 golf

Maggi Hagen, New Member Induction
 

Posted by VI Hughes on Aug 28, 2018
 
This past Tuesday, Eric Germain reintroduced Maggi Hegan as our newest member. Maggi’s classification is Non-profit Administration. Maggi works at Arch Enterprises as Program Director. We would like to give Maggi a warm welcome to our club.
Maggi Hagen, New Member Induction  VI Hughes 2018-08-28 06:00:00Z 0 new member

Fun Golf, Aug 24 >>FOOD BANK UPDATE<<

Posted by Eric Germain on Aug 24, 2018
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NEWSFLASH UPDATE:
 
 
We have secured some better pricing for our golf day on August 24th !
 
We are also pleased to ask you to bring food items for the Edmonton Food Bank. Please open the Most Needed Items document HERE. For more information about the Edmonton Food Bank, click the link HERE.
Donna Hutton will also collect food items brought to the Aug 14 and 21 meetings.
Monetary donations are most welcome and tax receipts are available.
 
We now have the plans set  for the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona golf tourney on Friday August 24 at Coyote Crossing Golf Course in Sherwood Park. ‎
 
Golf groups will start out at 2:00 and probably start returning by 4:30.
Social time and a putting contest will be going on. Drinks are available at the bar.
Dinner will be planned for 6:00
 
The attendees as per Eric's and Ken's list are:
Donna and Dennis Hutton 
Gary and Edith Froleich
Anna
Ellen Weber
Bruce and Joyce Flesher 
Rosemarie and Con 
Barb Craig 
Stephan and Carin 
Maggi Hegan 
Dennis and Joan Freeman
Jim Pritchard
Maxine Heatherington
Wally Romaniuk
Graham Gilchrist
Vi Hughes 
Ken and Sandy Germain
Eric Germain 
Bruce Kemp
Vince and Ann Campbell 
 
We will play a Texas Scramble for 9 holes starting at 2 PM. A team of 4 playing the best shot, captained by a seasoned golfer is Texas Scrable. Everyone is welcome , including any friends or family.
 
Golf is $40 including a power golf cart. The dinner is $20, and features grilled and barbecued chicken breast & honey grilled sausage. The dinner comes complete with seasonal steamed vegetables, baked potatoes, a variety of salads, dinner rolls, and lemonade & ice tea.
 
Please RSVP at your earliest convenience for golf and/or dinner,  to egermain@is2.ca
 
This is ‎our Rotary Club's summer fun event. Please plan to attend, and feel free to  forward this invite to any one who may be interested. All golf prizes graciously accepted. 
 
Cheers/Fore,
 
Eric

tel: 780-991-0417

 

Fun Golf, Aug 24 &gt;&gt;FOOD BANK UPDATE&lt;&lt; Eric Germain 2018-08-24 06:00:00Z 0 food bank,golf
South African, Canadian Rotary clubs partner to improve the future for students with disabilities Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2018-08-17 06:00:00Z 0

Chavi Kausha, Adventures in Citizenship Progam
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Aug 15, 2018
This Tuesday, August 21, we heard from Chavi Kausha, current past president of the J Percy Page Interact club and whom we sponsored to attend the Adventures in Citizenship Program held in Ottawa this spring. Adventures in Citizenship is a four-day program in Ottawa for around two hundred high school students who have been sponsored to attend by their local Rotary clubs. It is organised and hosted by the Rotary club of Ottawa. Chavi said that she will forever remember the people, experiences and connections she made with the other attendees.
 
She arrived the day prior to the program and was billeted, along with another attendee, with an Ottawa family. They went for a walk that evening around the local neighbourhood and got to see the homes of several ambassadors from various other countries. On day one they were introduced to the organisers and then toured the Canadian War Museum. In the evening they made a trip into Quebec for a traditional Quebecois meal. On their second day they toured the Parliament buildings, but parliament was not in session that day. In the afternoon they received a presentation from Library and Archives Canada and in the evening they attended a dinner in Ottawa. On their third day the were taken on a tour of the University of Ottawa, the Rideau Canal, the Indigenous Peoples Center and then Ottawa City Hall. On their last day they attended a citizenship ceremony and then went to a conference center for their final day ceremonies. A representative from each Province gave a short speech and all attendees received a certificate for their attendance. Some special awards were also presented and Chavi received the Young Citizens Scholarship of one thousand dollars towards her first year of University. She will be attending Ryerson University in Toronto this fall.
 
Chavi thanked our rotary club for this opportunity and said that she is very grateful to have had a chance to meet so many like minded people. She gave special thanks to Carin Jansen Van Vuuren from our club and to Karen Huculak, the J Percy Page teacher co-ordinator for the Interact club for all of their encouragement and support.
Chavi Kausha, Adventures in Citizenship Progam  Vi Hughes 2018-08-15 06:00:00Z 0 adventure,citizenship

Ryan Milne, CASA Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Aug 08, 2018
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This past Tuesday we heard from Ryan Milne, a Finance and Development officer for the northern Alberta branch of the Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association (CASA). CASA is the Alberta Health Services sponsored provider of mental health services for children and adolescents for all families in northern Alberta. It is known that up to seventy percent of adults with mental health problems, have had that problem since childhood.
 
CASA was founded in 1991 and is a community based non-profit organisation. They currently provide services for 4300 children and their families in northern Alberta. They have about one hundred fifty professionals from many various professional disciplines. They operate from four locations in the Edmonton area and also have a travelling team of specialists who serve outlying areas. One of their facilities is a residential facility with nineteen beds in Sherwood Park for high school age clients. They provide clinical services for children from birth to eighteen years of age. All of heir clients are referred to them through the health care system. They provide twenty-two types of specialised programs for their clients. Their programs include infant and preschool services, school age services, specialty services such as family therapy, day programs, and the addiction and mental health program. Their programs are based on the four pillars of quality care, access, sustainability and partnerships with research and health providers. They received fourteen million dollars last year to provide services for a population of three point four million.
 
Their government funding is based solely on intake numbers and is not tied to the services provided, as these can change over time. They are always looking for new sources of funding and would like to be able to fund a research chair based at the University of Alberta, Edmonton. It would provide funding for three researchers to develop a front-line program to address mental health for children. They would also like to be able to fund a shift to electronic record keeping for all of their facilities.
 
This was a very interesting and enlightening presentation that gave reason for thought to all of us, as we realise what an enormous undertaking they have made. Any and all donations towards their programs would be very welcome.
Ryan Milne, CASA Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health  Vi Hughes 2018-08-08 06:00:00Z 0 casa

Another great picture from the Germain photo archive

Posted by Ken Germain on Aug 04, 2018
 
Here is another nice blast from the past. 
 
 
This photo is probably from 1983 as our charter president, Johnny Germain is presented with a 20 year attendance pin by then club president and charter member Larry Priestnall.
 
Thanks for sharing Ken.
Another great picture from the Germain photo archive Ken Germain 2018-08-04 06:00:00Z 0
Eye Institute of Alberta Grand Opening Audrey Martyn 2018-08-03 06:00:00Z 0 eye clinic

Les Campbell, Digging Deeper into Family
 

Posted by Audrey Martyn on Aug 02, 2018
This summary of Tuesday’s presentation was prepared by Vi Hughes from notes taken by Audrey Martyn.
 
This Tuesday we heard again from Les Campbell, pictured, Genealogical Courses and Outreach chairman of the Edmonton Genealogical Society, who gave us some more information on family research. He described his personal experiences, when in 1995 his father asked him to help find more information about his grandfather. He gathered up what information they had at home such as certificates of birth, marriage, and death as well as family photos to start his study. His grandparent’s marriage license gave him the name of the place they had come to Alberta from and his grandmother’s maiden name. It also contained both great grandfather’s names. He found that they had used his grandmother’s family name as a middle name for their sons. It also gave him the location of their marriage, the date and their religion. With their death certificates he was more cautious accepting the information as the personal information such as full name, birth date and place was provided by a second person and could have been inaccurate. He said that the only really accurate way to determine your origin is with DNA testing.
 
He found that old photos and postcards were a good source of information as to dates, names of relatives and even places they had lived. He said that some other places that are good to look into for information include local libraries and archives as their records are free to access. The Alberta Genealogical Society also maintains a library with a variety of information for family research. The LDS Library in Salt Lake City is another excellent resource to check out and you may even be lucky enough to find an already published book on some of your family members. Census records are another place to look for information, although the information they contain may not be entirely accurate as it could have been supplied by a secondary source. You need to be a bit of a detective to put together the truth.  
 
Many online resources are also free and easily searched. Some large search websites such as familysearch.org are also free. Ancestry charges a monthly, Semi-Annual or Yearly fee for it’s use. Learning more about historical localities where your ancestor’s lived is also helpful. He also found that attending conferences was very useful. In the end, although he did not really have a personal interest in family history, he was glad he had done it for his father.
Les Campbell, Digging Deeper into Family  Audrey Martyn 2018-08-02 06:00:00Z 0 ancestry

Mustard Seed needs volunteers

Posted by Vince Campbell on Jul 28, 2018
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We received the following request for help from Mustard Seed:
Please be mindfull that Caroline, AB is approx. 300 km from Edmonton and that all volunteers MUST have prior 'Vulnerable Persons' police clearance as per our district's insurance regulations.
 
 

Dear Volunteers,

 

This year we embarked on a very special project to send youth to camp as many of our facilities across Alberta serve families in need and we learned having their children attend camp would be a blessing to them this summer. Donors have contributed thousands of dollars to send 50 kids to Camp Caroline. 

 

Unfortunately we hit a road block with our Edmonton drivers taking the youth to camp for two weeks of the summer so we're emailing you to see if this is something you'd consider doing for youth we're working with. 

 

We need a driver(s) for:

  • Sunday, July 29th 1:30pm Departure time, 7:00pm Return to Edmonton - Drop youth off
  • Friday, August 3rd 3:30pm Departure time, 8:30pm Return to Edmonton - Pick youth up
  • Sunday, August 19th 1:30pm Departure time, 7:00pm Return to Edmonton - Drop youth off
  • Friday, August 24th 1:30pm Departure time, 7:00pm Return to Edmonton - Drop youth off

Because we are transporting youth, it's most ideal to partner our drivers with another volunteer, so ideally we're looking for 2 people to ride with the children. These weeks have no more than 4 youth attending and we are happy to arrange payment for gas/mileage and cover all other outstanding logistical details. 

 

If you and your partner, friend or other companion would consider to give an evening or two to serve these children, we would love to hear from you and processes you to do so! Simply reply to this email or give my cell a call as listed in the signature below. We are coordinating this effort out of our Calgary office, so please do not be confused about the long distance call. 

 

Thank you for reading and considering to help!

 

Kindly,

 

Drew Gusztak

Volunteer Services Manager

Cell/Direct: 403.999.0193


The Mustard Seed

102 11 Ave SE

Calgary, AB T2G 0X5

Web: www.theseed.ca

Mustard Seed needs volunteers Vince Campbell 2018-07-28 06:00:00Z 0 mustard seed

New Hope School receives Global Grant

Posted by Patrick Gibson on Jul 28, 2018
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This is taken directly from the pending New Hope School press release. The $33,900 USD budget on the project will translate into R424,150.00 (South African Rand)

 

With the approved grant we will be able to continue and expand our Skills Training Program for learners with disabilities in such a way that it would be sustainable and ensure an income for students after school.  They can also be placed in the open market with trained skills to become a successful adult in society.

Training centrums that will be improved:

  • Computer Skills Training centre including entrepreneurial skills and programs suitable will be installed.

  • Welding and woodwork: Machinery and equipment will be upgraded and material will be provided. Quality products can be made to sell and orders can be placed by outside companies. Equip any learner in the school to participate in these programs. Workshop can be equipped according to the health and safety act.

  • Basic maintenance under supervision will be included in skills training.

  • Food production and hospitality will be trained according to the Differentiated Caps with the correct equipment and stock.

  • Sewing, beauty and nail technology: Training will be more professional in terms of the curriculum with suitable equipment, stock and materials provided.

  • School to work program will be able to expand to give more students the opportunity to work in the open labour market to prepare them for job opportunities after school.

  • Accommodation in hostel for students

New Hope School receives Global Grant Patrick Gibson 2018-07-28 06:00:00Z 0 new hope

Susan Padget, Edmonton Food Bank
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jul 26, 2018
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This last Tuesday we heard from Susan Padget, the Communications and Resource Development officer with the Edmonton Food Bank, pictured. The Edmonton Food Bank was the first Food Bank in Canada, when it was founded in 1981. At the time, they could not officially call it a bank, due to government legislation, so their official name to this day is the Edmonton Gleaners Association.
 
They serve about twenty two thousand people per month in the Edmonton area. They do not receive any regular government funding and rely on the public to donate both time and food, and they are a registered charity. Last year volunteers put in over seventy-six thousand hours, the equivalent of forty full time staff.  They have volunteers coming in six days a week. They also rely on the public for donations of dry goods and corporate donors for donations of fresh food. They do purchase some items like eggs as well. They will also gladly accept home garden produce as long as it is fresh and in good condition. The hampers they distribute usually contain tinned meat, vegetables, soup, pasta sauce and fruit, dried goods such as pasta along with fresh vegetables, fruit, eggs and bread. They re designed to last about five days.
 
They have two main warehouses in Edmonton, just west of the old municipal airport. They have eight to ten drivers who pick up and deliver hampers and meals to over fifty local depots around the city, where individuals can pick them up.
 
She spoke to us about the many volunteer opportunities with the Food Bank. These include working at various events accepting donations and thanking people, helping to sort incoming donations and checking freshness at the warehouse, picking and packing items for hampers, loading trucks, accepting calls for information from clients, and various other warehouse duties. Many of their volunteers come with a friend. The benefits also include making new friends, and the opportunity to do lots of walking,
We can find out more about how to volunteer our time by either phoning or checking out their website. https://www.edmontonsfoodbank.com/
 
Susan Padget, Edmonton Food Bank  Vi Hughes 2018-07-26 06:00:00Z 0 food bank

Best Practises for E-Clubs

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jul 12, 2018
This week we had the pleasure of meeting our District Governor Nominee, Jim Ferguson and then hearing a recap by our former past president Peter DeNooy of the presentation on Best Practices for E-Clubs which was recently given at the Rotary International Conference in Toronto. Both Jim and Peter are members of the Rotary E-Club of Canada One. The members of this club are from all over the world and most of them are not able to meet the attendance requirements of a local club due to physical limitations, work commitments or extensive travel abroad. It gives them an opportunity to still be part of the Rotary family and meet the attendance requirements on their own time table. It also provides an opportunity for the fellowship that is an essential part of every Rotary club.
 
The E-club has weekly web-based coffee chats that can be attended wearing whatever, from their living rooms, from anywhere in the world. In addition it also presents monthly speakers, whose presentations can be viewed from anywhere in the world. Their club decided to contact other E-Clubs to try and come up with the best type of overall platform that could be used by E-Clubs. The full presentation can be viewed on their club’s youtube channel.
 
Peter said that their club had decided to try to improve their club’s practices by looking at how other clubs did things. They subsequently looked at the websites of three hundred other clubs and sent out e-mails asking for more information. They then contacted seventy of the clubs that responded for further information and compiled their findings. Once they had compiled their findings they thought that maybe other clubs might be interested in them and decided to make it into a presentation at the Rotary International Convention that was held in Toronto this year. The presentation, organised and hosted by Peter DeNooy, was ninety minutes long and included participation from ten different E-Clubs giving both live and virtual presentations on their various types of E-Clubs. The presentations covered the things that they have personally found that worked best for their clubs. A lot of the ideas presented can easily be applied to regular rotary clubs as well. There were a few technical glitches that had to be overcome prior to the presentation, but it went over without a hitch and was enjoyed by the two hundred and sixty some attendees. Their presentation was made on Monday afternoon, the first day of the conference and Peter was glad to then be able to enjoy the remainder of the conference worry free.
 
The presentation was recorded using Zoom software and then converted to a presentation that was uploaded to their club’s youtube channel where it can be easily viewed by anyone with a computer.
 
photos curtesy of Heather de Kok
Best Practises for E-Clubs Vi Hughes 2018-07-12 06:00:00Z 0 e-club

Rotating Wheel Dinner
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jul 04, 2018
Our year end dinner was held on Tuesday evening at the Ellerslie Rugby Club. Vince Campbell, our outgoing president for this year and also our incoming president for next year gave a short presentation on our clubs achievements over the past year. He said that we have supported just over thirty different projects and have donated just over sixty seven thousand dollars to those projects over the past year.
 
He then gave out perfect attendance awards to Graham Gilchrist, Eric Solash, Harald Kukertz, Rose Marie Basaraba, Ivan Docker (not present) and Hans Granholm. He went on to give out Rotary Foundation awards to Graham Gilchrist, Eugene Sekora (not present), Ron Brown (not present) and Rose Marie Basaraba.
 
He then thanked all of he many members who have given generously of their time to keep our club running smoothly over the past year, starting with a special thanks to Hans Granholm for all of his advice and guidance to Vince in his first year as president and to Eric Germain for his amazing work with out Interact club. He then went on to thank Dennis Freeman and Sandy Germain for their work on our flag program, Vi Hughes as editor of our bulletin, Hans Granholm, as publisher of our Bulletin and ClubRunner website admin, Eric and Ken Germain for their entertaining Rotary Wheel efforts each week, Eric Solash for tracking attendance each week, Heather de Kok for managing our social media, Audrey Martyn for organizing all of our wonderful speakers and Stephan Jansen van Vuuren for being our Sergeant at Arms each week. Finally he thanked the members of the board that have served with him over the past year, Dmitri Papanicolas as past president, Donna Hutton as president nominee, Rose Marie Basaraba, who has just completed her second three year term as secretary, Graham Gilchrist, our treasurer, Ken Sutley as administrator, who did some excellent work re-organising our door duties roster and also in reviewing and revising our bylaws, Carin Jansen van Vuuren as youth services, and finally Patrick Gibson for his efforts organising the Polio Hockey Pool, the Go Fund Me campaign and the grant application that raised matching funds for the New Hope School.
 
Next year’s board will be Vince Campbell continuing on as president, Dmitri Papanicolas as past president, Donna Hutton as president elect, Jim Peddie as president nominee, Audrey Martyn as secretary, Graham Gilchrist continuing on as treasurer, Bill Sinclair as administrator, Eugene Sekora as community services, Carin Jansen van Vuuren as international services, Nicole Germain in youth services and Doug Milne as the member-at large. In addition, the following people will also be contributing their time to our club, Hans Granholm as bulletin publisher and ClubRunner website admin, Vi Hughes as bulletin editor, Ellen Weber in membership services, Eric Germain as Interact club co-ordinator and hosting our board meetings at his business offices, Dennis Freeman and Sandy Germain for our flag program, Eric and Ken Germain for our weekly Rotary Wheel, Eric Solash will be tracking attendance, Loida Lumanlan will be organising speakers and finally our Sergeant at Arms will be Dennis Freeman.
 
Vince then presented the Rotarian of the Year award for our club to Graham Gilchrist, who has put in hundreds of hours this year as treasurer re-organising and smoothing out the job of treasurer.  Vince said that this is undoubtedly the most time-consuming position on the board.
 
In his message as incoming president, Vince said that we have many things to look forward to this next year. These include adding new members to our club, organising the Polio Plus Hockey Game (to be chaired by Patrick Gibson), training of host families for the Rotary student exchange and organising a new Interact club at W.P Wagner High School with Jim Peddie as advisor.  In addition, we will be voting on our revised by-laws in a few weeks. We will also be continuing with our efforts for other projects, our support of the young people at the J Percy Page Interact club, our flag program and our flag program partnership with the Venture group. He also hopes to see more meetings in other venues and maybe even a Pie Night. In closing he thanked everyone for their ongoing support of Rotary and said that he is looking forward to a great year.
 
Photos curtesy of Carin van Vuuren
RWD
Rotating Wheel Dinner  Vi Hughes 2018-07-04 06:00:00Z 0 RWD

Eric G. got published...

Posted by Carin Jansen van Vuuren on Jun 29, 2018
Congratulations Eric having your pic in the July 2018 Rotary Canada magazine. That must have been quite the sight.
 
Eric G. got published... Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2018-06-29 06:00:00Z 0

Rose Marie Basaraba, New York Experience
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jun 27, 2018
Last Tuesday, one of our long-time members talked about her recent experiences on a trip to New York. She said that she had never dreamed that she would get a chance to sing in Carnegie Hall in New York city. When a local choir that she sings with, the Cosmopolitan Chorus, was invited to perform as part of a concert in Carnegie Hall, she eagerly accepted.
 
An American production company routinely invites choirs from across North America to perform in Carnegie Hall. Her choir, along with two other western Canadian choirs, Chorale Saint-Jean from Edmonton and Nova Borealis from Smithers, BC were also invited, and members from all three choirs performed together at Carnegie Hall on Saturday, 19 May, under the direction of Laurier Fagnan of the Chorale Saint-Jean. The piece they chose to perform was ‘Requiem for the Living’ in Latin.
 
Each choir member was responsible for covering their own expenses. They left Edmonton on the Wednesday prior to the concert, so they would have a few days for everyone to practise together before the concert on Saturday evening, and returned home on Sunday.
She showed a short video taken of the three choirs on the West Jet flight from Edmonton to Toronto, when the stewardess asked them to all sing Oh Canada.
 
 
She had never been to New York before, so she did as much sight seeing as she could handle. They stayed in downtown New York in an old hotel with a very small elevator, so trips up and down for the large group had to be carefully orchestrated. They took the subway to a local church for their daily practices, and she was glad she did not have to navigate underground by herself. She got a chance to walk around in Times Square and in Central Park and also took in a stage show. She found the volume of traffic and crowds of people to be quite disconcerting, especially the noise from all of the emergency vehicles that seemed to appear out of nowhere from time to time.  They got caught in a downpour once and the number of jostling umbrellas on the street was more than she has ever seen.
 
She said that Carnegie Hall is a very large, very old theatre with excellent sound qualities. Their concert went off without a hitch. One disappointment was that they do not allow anyone to take photos or sound recordings in the Hall, so she has no actual proof that she really performed there.  They ended their trip with a late night dinner cruise on the harbour, after their concert. She said that she felt very privileged in that a girl from small town Alberta, who did not understand Latin and could not read music, could somehow get this once in a lifetime chance. In closing, she said that we should always take advantage of the opportunities that life presents, or they will pass us by.
Rose Marie Basaraba, New York Experience  Vi Hughes 2018-06-27 06:00:00Z 0

Les Campbell, Tracing Your Family Tree- Getting Started
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jun 20, 2018
This past Tuesday we heard from Les Campbell, Genealogical Courses and Outreach chairman of the Edmonton Genealogical Society. Les has been researching his own family history for over twenty years and gave us a very knowledgeable talk on how to get started on our own family histories. Les admonished us to get organised before you start. The paper can pile up fast and having a system to keep track of it all as time goes on is important. He also said that making assumptions about things can lead to disappointment. Keep an open mind and don’t believe anything until it is backed up with the facts.
 
Start with yourself and work backwards, gathering all the information you can on each person before moving on to the next person. Keep in mind that most people have trouble getting back any further than four generations easily. Always make sure you have citations for all of your information. Names, dates, places and any other information. Write down each piece of information as you find it and record where you acquired the information (your source). Take your time and keep good records, even if you searched some record for information and came up empty handed, write it down. It will save you from repeating the same search later on, when you have forgotten all about it.
 
Setting goals for yourself helps, as does keeping a written research log of what you have done and what you think is next to be done. Things to look for at home that will help you with your search are baptism and confirmation certificates, birth, marriage and death certificates, diaries and journals, family bibles, newspaper clippings and family photo albums. Recording your information on preprinted forms that are available for free online ( from familysearch.org and other sites) is a good idea and helps to keep your information organised. Some of the forms you can use are pedigree charts and family group record sheets. These are handy to help keep you focused on your goal. You can use either paper or genealogy software to keep track of things. Each has it’s own merits. There are many different computer software packages to choose from, so choose carefully, which one is best for you. Three of the most popular ones are Roots Magic, Legacy and Reunion. 
 
Remember that accuracy is vital, typos and abbreviations can cause all kinds of problems. Spell out the month when recording dates to save confusion.  You may also find the internet databases are handy for putting out queries that may eventually be answered years later. If you are not sure about a name do not guess, simply leave it blank. Databases can also help with record searches, and there are many of these available online.
 
Les will be back in a few weeks to give us some information on more advanced searching, and we look forward to hearing from him again.
Les Campbell, Tracing Your Family Tree- Getting Started  Vi Hughes 2018-06-20 06:00:00Z 0

Kevin Keough, Alberta Prion Research Institute
 

Posted by VI Hughes on Jun 13, 2018
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This last Tuesday we heard from Kevin Keough, the Executive Director of the Alberta Prion Research Institute. The Institute was created by the Alberta government in 2005, in response to the mad cow disease incident that took place in Alberta in 2003. It is funded by the government of Alberta and is a part of Alberta Innovates. To date, it has received over seventy-five million dollars in funding. It’s function is to promote and support research that focuses on innovative approaches to prions and prion like diseases.
 
Prions have and will continue to have an impact on our lives. They cause unusual diseases in animals and are also suspected of being involved in some human diseases as well. Prions are unusual infectious agents, as they have no genetic material, being composed of a single protein, that can vary from disease to disease. The protein is one which in it’s normal state has a useful function in the body, but once it becomes deformed, it can then cause more of the same proteins to also become deformed, building up in the body like a chain reaction. Because of this, it can not be ’killed’, which creates all kinds of challenges. The main animal diseases caused by prions are Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) which affects cattle, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) which affects deer, elk, moose, caribou and reindeer, Scrapie which affects sheep, and Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease (CJD) which can be spread from cattle to humans when they eat infected beef. CWD, in particular, is expected to have an increasing impact on our local wild populations of grazing animals as the prions are found throughout the infected animal, and are deposited on the ground in feces and urine, where they contaminate the soil and vegetation. They can then be eaten by other grazing animals and cause them to become sick.
 
This disease was first found in Alberta about twelve years ago, near the border with central Saskatchewan and is slowly spreading north and west through the river valleys in populations of wild white tail and mule deer.  There is no known treatment, and the infected animals can not even be diagnosed until after they are dead.  Other prion like diseases in humans are some forms of Alzheimer’s disease, Frontal-Temporal Dementia (FTD), Parkinson’s disease. Tauopathies, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and other dementias. Each of these diseases have a characteristic build up of a specific deformed protein that is a hallmark of the disease, although they do not have the ability to infect other people, in the way that the animal prion diseases do.
 
Current research supported by the Institute includes things like developing new animal models to study these diseases, searching for new diagnostic methods and biomarkers, looking for therapeutic approaches and investigating the fundamentals of what is going wrong.  The Institute currently supports the largest group of prion researchers in the world, through offering grants and fellowships to qualified Alberta based researchers with innovative approaches. They are very proud to be supporting world class research into prion diseases, right here in Alberta.
Kevin Keough, Alberta Prion Research Institute  VI Hughes 2018-06-13 06:00:00Z 0 prion,research

Our Interact Club receives Emerald Foundation Award

Posted by Eric Germain on Jun 12, 2018
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The Rotary Interact Club of J. Percy Page High School were awarded the Alberta Emerald Foundation Youth Environmental Award for 2018.
 
 
 
The presentation was made May 24th at the school. The award recognizes the great project our Interact Club completed. They transformed some old forgotten large planter boxes at the South entrance to the school into an environmental rejuvenation of flowers, perennial flowers and bushes and trees. The South entrance will be used for the first time in school history as the entrance to the high school graduation prom party at the end of June.
 
The Alberta Emerald Foundation presented a “Large Cheque” , literally, for $1000 to the Interact Club. They shot a video of the occasion to be shown at the Alberta Emerald Awards Ceremony June 4th in Calgary. Ironically the video producer was a former student  our Interact Club Teacher Advisor, Karen Huculak , and graduated in 2004 at  J. Percy Page High School.
 
 
 
 
 
Congratulations to all the members of our Rotary Interact Club at J. Percy Page High School who made this project and the overall Rotary year terrific!
 
 
Cheers,
Eric
Our Interact Club receives Emerald Foundation Award Eric Germain 2018-06-12 06:00:00Z 0 interact

Kathleen Bell, St. Albert Amplify Festival

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jun 06, 2018
This past Tuesday we heard from Kathleen bell, the coordinator of the St. Albert Amplify Festival. She had come to give us a report on their 2017 festival and to say thank you for the donation which we made in it’s support last year. The festival is an arts festival designed to give young people in northern Alberta between grade seven and the age of twenty-one a chance to both develop and showcase their art, creativity and cultural talents. It takes place over two days in October and this year will be the fifth year for the festival. 
The festival is composed of eight workshops, for which a minimal registration fee is charged, seventeen free drop-in activities and two evening concerts called the Battle of the Bands for which a minimal entry fee is charged. It also includes an art exhibit, a poetry slam, and presentation of various video projects.   The workshop and other activities cover topics encouraging young people to develop their skills as musicians, artist and writers and also gives them a venue to showcase their talents.  
 
 
It is organised and run by volunteers and receives most of it’s eighty-thousand dollar yearly operating budget from the City of St. Albert.  The volunteers take care of organising, fundraising, managing social media, marketing and many other duties.  They also have a committee of youth advisors who ensure that the topics covered are relevant to todays youth culture.  
Last year it gave one hundred and forty-seven young people a chance to show their talents and was attended by over nine hundred people.
Kathleen then showed us a musical video presented by one of last year’s participants who subsequently went on to win several awards from the City of St Albert as a poet and young artist.  She said that this festival gives young people a chance to try something new, develop their talents, learn about themselves and develop their self confidence.  She said it is also an innovative way to help young people deal with challenges in their lives such as bullying, loneliness, depression and anxiety. It gives them a way to express themselves and helps them to become resilient and confident members of society. She closed by thanking us again for our donation to helping these young people share their talents.
Kathleen Bell, St. Albert Amplify Festival Vi Hughes 2018-06-06 06:00:00Z 0 amplify

Letter of apppreciation from ELEPAP

Posted by Dimitri Papanicolas on Jun 03, 2018
  
 
Αγαπητέ κύριε Παπανικόλα καλησπέρα,
 
            Εύχομαι να είστε καλά!
 
Σας ζητώ συγνώμη που καθυστέρησα να σας γράψω, αλλά μας καθυστέρησαν πολύ στην παράδοση των παραγγελιών. Σας στέλνω σήμερα τα εξοφλημένα τιμολόγια, μαζί με φωτογραφίες του γυμναστηρίου. Ελπίζω ως την άλλη Δευτέρα να παραλάβουμε και τα είδη του νηπιαγωγείου, ώστε να σας στείλουμε και άλλες φωτογραφίες.
Θέλω να γνωρίζετε ότι και στις δύο αίθουσες, ως ελάχιστο δείγμα των ευχαριστιών μας,  έχουμε αναρτήσει πινακίδες με την δωρεά του Ομίλου σας.
Και πάλι σας ευχαριστούμε πάρα-πάρα πολύ και σας περιμένουμε να τα χαρείτε μαζί μας.
 
Να είστε πάντα καλά!
 
Με εκτίμηση
 
Βασιλική Μάστακα
 
TRANSLATION:
 
We apologize that it took us so long to get back to you but there was some delay with the delivery. We hope that by this coming week we will receive the kindergarten living room set-up, and photographs will be forwarded.
 
We would like to inform you that for both rooms were they will be installed, as a minimum gesture of our recognition we will place plaques recognizing your Club.
 
We thank you again and look forward to seeing you for you to share with us our gratitude to your Club.
 
Wishing you all, good health.
 
Yours respectfully.
Vassiliki Matakas
 
 
 
Letter of apppreciation from ELEPAP Dimitri Papanicolas 2018-06-03 06:00:00Z 0 elepap
YONA 1st quarter 2018 Rose Marie Basaraba 2018-06-02 06:00:00Z 0

Million $ Hole-In-One Golf Tournament

Posted on Jun 02, 2018
 
 
 
 
As per the attached flyer, the focus is on a great, all-day with a Million Dollar hole-in-one shoot out as the main event – here is a list of the highlights:

·       Eight players will go to the 18th Tee Box after scheduled play and they will have one shot at the Million Dollar Hole-in-One.

·       Edmonton Eskimos Cheer Team will be performing beside the 18th Green during the Shoot Out

·       There will also be another $10,000 Hole-in-One on another Par 3

·       Beat Craig McTavish of Edmonton Oilers on a Par 3 hole by being closer to the pin, and have a chance to win a great prize.

·       Beat Cam Tait on the practise green near the Club House and have a chance to win a great prize

·       Taco Bar lunch at noon with some beverages

·       Cocktail hour after golf & during the Shoot Out with complimentary beverages

·       Each Player receives an Authentic Autographed Puck signed by #99 Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers

·       Gourmet Dinner with complimentary wine service

·       Prizes for the Top 3 Teams, all players are handicapped – and it will be a Shamble Format.  Each Player must hit 4 Tee Shots, maximum by one player is 6.

·       Some of the prizes includes: 

o   Half Hour Helicopter flight for 5 around Edmonton, courtesy of Canadian Helicopters

o   Scotch Tasting for 15, courtesy of Keg N Cork

o   Canadian North Air Flight package

o   Chateau Lacombe Hotel package

o   and more.

Entry Fee is $375.00 and you can sign up and pay on line at:   www.krprotarygolf.com
Million $ Hole-In-One Golf Tournament 2018-06-02 06:00:00Z 0 golf

Roots for Trees planters

Posted by Vince Campbell on Jun 02, 2018
Both are pretty good pictures. They told us they brought 700 trees to plant .  I didn’t count how many showed up but my guess was about 50 or so. Vests look great
 
 
L to R: Linda and Erik Granholm, Vince Campbell
Roots for Trees planters Vince Campbell 2018-06-02 06:00:00Z 0 trees

Tammy Wiebe, Valley Zoo Development Society

Posted by Vi Hughes on May 31, 2018
This last Tuesday we met at the Valley Zoo for a catered lunch and a talk by Tammy Wiebe, the Executive Director of the Valley Zoo Development Society, followed by a tour and introduction to the valley zoo revitalization plans.  Tammy started by saying that zoos have changed a lot over the years. They now focus a lot more on animal conservation and public education. They believe that they are the last stand for a lot of animals that are disappearing in the wild. About sixty five percent of all wild life will be lost by 2020, and most of this loss has been caused by humans.
 
The Edmonton zoo was founded in 1959 as a small children’s zoo, and still remains an intimate zoo due to the location, but they now have more emphasis on animal conservation, and take part in species survival programs.  Tammy said that people only save what they love, they only love what they understand, and they only understand what they know about.  This is why teaching people about animals in the wild, and giving them an opportunity to learn more, is so important. The valley zoo is host to about sixteen thousand school children and receives over half a million visitors in total every year.
 
The Valley Zoo is owned and operated by the City of Edmonton, and the Valley Zoo Development Society is a separate group with charitable status that does fundraising specifically for the zoo. The Valley Zoo deliberately operates at a loss, and is the cheapest City owned facility for a family to visit in Edmonton The zoo has been undergoing a revitalization over the past few years with some phases having been completed, some underway and several more in the development and fundraising stages. The zoo has been divided into areas called zones, and each zone will be funded and developed separately. One of the zones currently under development is the ‘Under Zone’, where visitors will be able to walk underneath the animals and see what life is like for animals that burrow and live underground. Another is the ‘Between Zone’, which will give visitors a view of what animals that live both underwater and on land see every day. It will also include a natural wetland. There will be three different ‘On Zones” for various animals that live on land. In addition, there will also be an ‘Above Zone’ where visitors will be able to walk around in the tree tops, to better view tree dwelling birds and animals.  They are also currently developing an ‘Urban Farm Zone’ to introduce city dwellers to what life is like for animals on the farm, which will include a large heated barn so that the programming can continue year round. The barn will have a green roof and will include access for some of the animals (goats) to the roof. The zoo also has a plan to pave their parking lot, including swales to catch and filter run-off, with solar panels above the parking lanes to supply the zoo with power.
 
The zoo takes part in species survival plans for more than twenty species of animals at our zoo, the Red Panda and the Grevy’s Zebra are two of these. These worldwide survival plans are an essential part of maintaining the genetic diversity of animals on our planet.  The animals that are mated are carefully selected for their genetic diversity. Sixteen Red Panda babies from this zoo that have been placed in other zoos over the years. We can also be a part of these plans and our Rotary club is currently sponsoring the Grevy’s zebras at the zoo.  They are always looking for supporters, both in volunteer time or funds.
Tammy Wiebe, Valley Zoo Development Society Vi Hughes 2018-05-31 06:00:00Z 0

Visit the Zoo on May 29th

Posted by Audrey Martyn on May 25, 2018
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Our regular noon meeting at the German Club will convene at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. MAP  Details are as follows:

 
Visit to the Zoo  - Tuesday May 29, 2018; 12 noon
 
Join us in the Otter Room for a Greek lunch and presentation by the Zoo to be followed by a tour if you wish.

Cost is $25.00 and cash or checks can be given to Audrey by May 8.
 
Please register HERE. THE REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.
 
 
Audrey Martyn
Strathcona Rotary
Programs/Speakers

 

zoo
Visit the Zoo on May 29th Audrey Martyn 2018-05-25 06:00:00Z 0 zoo

Scotch Lovers loved it!

Posted by Hans Granholm on May 25, 2018
 
Thank you to Don Henry, Heather de Kok and Eric Solash for arranging the much anticipated Scotch Tasting on May 16. 
 
Fourteen eager tasters met at Wine and Beyond on Mullen Way.
 
You can open and watch the photo album curtesy of Carin HERE
Scotch Lovers loved it! Hans Granholm 2018-05-25 06:00:00Z 0 scotch,tasting

Planting trees with Roots For Trees

Posted on May 25, 2018
The Rotary Club of Edmonton West is asking us to join them to plant air purifiers (read: trees) and at the same time comply with the RI president Ian Riseley's challenge and the City of Edmonton's goal to Go Green.
 
 
Planting trees with Roots For Trees Hans Granholm 2018-05-25 06:00:00Z 0 roots,trees

Hans Granholm, Classification Refresher
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on May 23, 2018
 
This past Tuesday we had the pleasure of hearing an update from Hans Granholm, a charter member of our club. Hans was born in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1943 and grew up in a suburb of Hellerup. His father died in 1945 when Hans was just eighteen months old and his mother raised both him and his older brother Peter, who was six at the time, on her own, with help from family.
The baby boom that had occurred during the war in Denmark, combined with the effects of the war itself, meant that he country’s resources were strained, and school systems were overburdened. Hans never really liked school much, but wanted to be an engineer. He loved working with his hands and finding out how things worked. He once took apart an alarm clock, gears an all, much to his mother’s dismay, but also managed to get it back together and it still worked.   He chose to become a tradesman and maybe then go on to take engineering. He completed a four year apprenticeship as an auto mechanic in a Volkswagen dealership, and graduated with an award for excellence in 1964. He also received the King’s Silver medal for the highest trade ranking in Denmark that year.
 
Hans Granholm, Classification Refresher  Vi Hughes 2018-05-23 06:00:00Z 0 granholm,hans

Happy Flag recipients

Posted by Vince Campbell on May 18, 2018
One of many happy flag customers in Blackburn
 
 
This is Is Kin Leung and two sons. Lives at 1313 McAllister Way SW. He is a friend of the fellow that purchased Bruce Flesher's house in Blackburn.
Happy Flag recipients Vince Campbell 2018-05-18 06:00:00Z 0 flag

Ken Karpoff, Training for the Olympics
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on May 16, 2018
Last Tuesday we heard from Ken Karpoff, who has been a trainer and coach for the Canadian Olympic Bobsled team for the past twenty years.  Over the years he has been a trainer, coach, counselor and mentor for many elite medal winning athletes. He said that Bobsleigh is a sport where sixteen steps (pushing the sled) are followed by a fifty-five second ride to the bottom, so the mental state, in addition to physical conditioning, is paramount to the athletes performance.  He told several stories of athletes that he has worked with where their state of mind interfered with their ability to perform. He said that elite athletes are asked to perform under the continual pressure of high expectations and need to know how to handle this pressure without cracking. When everyday stressors like family health issues, financial or business set backs, poorly run athletic organizations, pressure to drop out so someone else can replace them, or expected support from others does not materialise, are added to the mix of high expectations, the stress becomes too much. Unfortunately, many of them crack, and the road back to high performance is a long one.
 
They suffer from the same issues, commonly known as PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) that soldiers suffer when placed in the battlefield and their efforts result in failure, or when people are led to believe they will have a better life and the organisation making the promises does not come through. He also referred to this as the “I got screwed” reaction. He said that studies by the American military have found that pressurization or stress can cause a breakdown of the mind in about one third of battlefield soldiers when it is continuous for four months or longer. Ken also said that the higher the expectations, the more serious the reaction to failure becomes, and that the same type of reaction happens to people from all walks of life when placed in similar high expectation situations.
 
Ken has worked with many athletes who have had this type of thing happen to them. He said that, in his experience, the usual sports psychology approaches do not work. He said that the approach that he has found to work the best is observation, experience and reflection on the part of the athletes, their trainers and coaches to determine what works best for them. When working with athletes he looks for patterns and applies the things that he has found stand the test of experience. He has found that keeping a clear head, works best in the long run. He also tries to head off unrealistic expectations by being honest with his athletes about what they can truly expect from other people and organisations.
 
He said that elite athletes can not expect to reach the upper levels of performance if their head is not in the game. Being in perfect physical shape for their chosen sport is only one part of the equation, the mind does the rest.
Ken Karpoff, Training for the Olympics  Vi Hughes 2018-05-16 06:00:00Z 0

Calling all Scotch lovers! *AGAIN*

Posted by Heather de Kok on May 11, 2018
Time is winding down. There are still tickets available, but we need more scotch enthusiasts.
 
Calling all Scotch lovers! On May 16 Don Henry, Heather de Kok and Eric Solash invite you to join them at Wine and Beyond on Mullen’s Way for a fabulous evening of fellowship and Scotch. The event is $55 and we will sample 6 varieties as well as have some light snacks. Only 18 spots are available so make sure to hurry and buy your tickets.
The deadline to Register is May 15. 
 
Look forward to seeing you there
 
Calling all Scotch lovers! *AGAIN* Heather de Kok 2018-05-11 06:00:00Z 0 scotch
Rediscover Jane Austen 2018-05-11 06:00:00Z 0

Dr. Richard Lewanczuk, What We Can Do About Health Care Costs

Posted by Vi Hughes on May 10, 2018
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This past Tuesday we heard from Dr. Richard Lewanczuk, Senior Medical Director of Primary Health Care for Alberta Health Services. He spoke to us about what drives health care costs, and what we can do about it. He said that Alberta has the second most expensive health system in Canada and that we have built more hospitals than anywhere else in Canada. He showed us statistics from around the world that show that the more you spend on tertiary care such as expensive infrastructure and equipment the worse your health care outcomes become. Areas that have put their funding into primary care and community supports have the best medical outcomes.
 
He said that the most costly diseases to the health care system are not things like cancer, strokes or heart disease, they are hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, depression, asthma and dyslipidemia (high cholesterol). They are all quite common chronic ailments. He said that about twenty five percent of the population never sees a doctor in a year and that just five percent of the population uses sixty-five percent of our health care resources. Most of these are due to hospitalization. It takes just two weeks in hospital per year to put someone into this five / sixty-five club.
The biggest users of our health care funds are the frail elderly and older people with multiple chronic illnesses. Frail can be defined as being unable to manage their day to day activities (such as shopping, paying bills, banking or filing their own taxes). A big factor that helps to define frail, is a walking speed of less than 0.8 meters per second, or the speed it takes to cross the street in the time of a walk light. This is, oddly enough, a big factor in being able to get out to run errands, socialize and go shopping. Once people have trouble walking fast enough to cross the street safely, they stop going out, become more isolated and slow down even more. He said that in some parts of the US they have increased the timing on their walk lights and have seen a decrease in their health costs as a result.
 
Dr. Richard Lewanczuk, What We Can Do About Health Care Costs Vi Hughes 2018-05-10 06:00:00Z 0 ahs,health

Zion Yua, House Building Projects in Mexico
 

Posted by Vi Hughes on May 03, 2018
Last Tuesday we heard from Zion Yua, a work colleague of Dimitri’s at Thurber Engineering. Zion is a young geo-environmental engineer with a passion for helping others. He believes in approaching problems with action first. He said that young people in heir twenties are very time challenged as they are busy with their careers and lives. When they decide to make the commitment to help others they like to be able to really make a difference and learn about other people and places at the same time.
 
Zion’s commitment to helping others began in High School in Chilliwack, B.C., when he decided to get a group of friends together to help other people in the local community. In 2011, when the Tohoku earthquake struck Japan, he decided that he needed to go and help there. He spent several weeks helping clean up debris in the aftermath and in the process he met people from all over who had just decided to pick up and come on their own to help in some way.
 
This inspired him once he returned to Canada to get together with a group of friends to find a project that they could all help with. He heard through one of these friends about opportunities to build homes for people in the San Quentin valley of Baja Mexico. Most of the people there are descendants of Ouaxacan migrant workers who came there to work in the vegetable and fruit growing farms of the region.  Their housing conditions are very poor, usually no running water or electricity and their homes are often built using whatever is at hand, such as packing crates, cardboard, sheets, and plastic held together by strapping or rope. They work in the fields and usually make about nine US dollars a day. Unfortunately, other costs such as school uniforms for their children, cost one hundred dollars a year, and the children are not allowed to attend school without them.
 
These house building projects are done by many different groups. He and his friends decided to partner with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) to help to build homes for two families in 2016 and also in 2017. They would need to fundraise to cover the cost of building materials and other supplies, in addition to personally covering their own travel and accommodation expenses. Since neither he nor his friends knew nothing about building homes, they learned framing and roofing by watching you tube videos. In August of 2016 they travelled to Baja and built two homes. They had to learn by doing, how to use carpenter’s tools such as hammers, tape measures and saws. The homes were very basic, twenty by twenty two foot, wood frame homes, built on a concrete slab, with rolled roofing on top.  They built counters and bunk beds and also provided mattresses, tables and new outhouses. The homes still have no running water or electricity, as these are not available in the neighbourhood they are in.  In addition, they provided school uniforms for the children. In 2017 they returned and built two more homes for two more families.
 
He said that he and his friends are now looking for another opportunity to help others and are looking at several different projects they might be able to help with. It was inspiring for our group to hear about this small group of friends who have independently taken it upon themselves to make the commitment of time and money to help others.
Zion Yua, House Building Projects in Mexico  Vi Hughes 2018-05-03 06:00:00Z 0
THANK YOU FROM ELEPAP CHILDREN Dimitri Papanicolas 2018-04-27 06:00:00Z 0 elepap

Ellen Weber, Igniting Change

Posted by Vi Hughes on Apr 25, 2018
This past Tuesday was new members day and as part of our initiative to try to bring younger members into Rotary, Ellen Weber facilitated a special brainstorming session on leading Rotary with the brain in mind. The workshop was designed to help us come up with some suggestions for new Rotary projects that would inspire others and help ignite change.  As Ellen said, we often assume that millennials and boomers do not have anything in common. Rotary has a reputation for tackling serious problems and maybe it is time to talk together about some of the newer problems now facing the world.
 
The group divided into six tables of about eight participants each. Each table had some older Rotarians and some younger guests. Each table was then given some time to come up with suggestions for a problem to approach. Then each table discussed various ways that Rotary could approach their particular problem. Finally, each table was asked to use a quiz devised to help each of us discover our areas of interest and strength, based on the eight intelligences of verbal-linguistic, visual-spatial, logical-mathematical, musical, intrapersonal, bodily-kinaesthetic, interpersonal, and naturalistic.  We were then to decide how each of us could use our individual strengths to support our project.
 
Each table then presented their project to the group as a whole. The suggested projects were wide ranging, from helping young people dealing with mental illness, to improving accessibility of our rotary meetings for younger students or working people, to addressing isolation and loneliness in seniors, to empowering women to be able to make their own decisions by working for abolition of the dower act, to finding ways to improve retirement incomes for the elderly, and finally to encourage interest in science, technology, engineering and math in aboriginal youth. As part of this whole project we all learned that millennials and boomers do have a lot in common, in their desire to make the world a better place.  Through this workshop, we came up with a lot of ideas for projects which can now be used as a basis for further discussion and translation into action.
Ellen Weber, Igniting Change Vi Hughes 2018-04-25 06:00:00Z 0 Brain

International Volunteer Week 

Posted on Apr 20, 2018
Happy International Volunteer Week 2018!
 
We would like to send our most sincere thanks and gratitude to our volunteers who have lent their time, talents, voice and support to Youth Empowerment and Support Services over this last year. 
 
In celebration of the International Volunteer Week, from time to time, we come across interesting opportunities and we would like to pass this one on to you for your consideration.   
 
We have a new association with GoAsAGroup.com, they provide discounted pricing on a wide range of local: Events, Attractions, Services and Dining options.
 
GoAsAGroup collaborates with professional sports teams, entertainment venues and local services. Venues like Edmonton Eskimos, Edmonton Prospects, West Edmonton Mall’s attractions, the Alberta Ballet, Roxy Theatre, Citadel and the Mayfield Dinner Theatre. They also work with local businesses: Golf Courses, Restaurants, Indoor Children's Facilities, Fitness Studios, Escape Rooms and Beauty services to mention a few. GoAsAGroup has no membership cost. You can also invite your friends and family to join and use the service as well. If you have any related questions, please feel free to contact GoAsAGroup directly: info@goasagroup.com.
 
To join GoAsAGroup select the following link: app.goasagroup.com/yess and create an account. ​Their ​system will send you an email to verify your email and activate the account. To complete this step, simply click on the link in that email and then login.
 
We hope you enjoy this service and again Thank You for all that you do!
 
Kind regards,
YESS
International Volunteer Week 2018-04-20 06:00:00Z 0

Gem Munro, Amarok Society

Posted by Vi Hughes on Apr 18, 2018
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This last Tuesday we heard from Gem Munro of the Amarok Society, pictured. The Amorak Society provides educational programs in Bangladesh and Pakistan and is now starting a Canadian project as well.  Gem’s wife Tanis Munro was the recipient of the QE II Diamond Jubilee Award in 2012 in recognition of her significant contributions and achievements.
 
Gem said that there are millions of children around the world in families that are too poor to send them to school.  This is especially true in the slums of large cities in places like Bangladesh and Pakistan.  The normal approach of addressing this problem is to build and staff schools, but it has not been successful in these poverty stricken areas.  Many years ago, Gem and Tanis decided to try a different approach. Their idea was to teach mothers first and then have these same mothers go home and teach five children in their home the same lesson they themselves had just learned. The Amarok group closely monitors the progress of the mothers and also that of their their home based schools. In turn, many of these children then go home, of their own volition, and teach their families the same lesson. At the time they were told that this approach did not have much hope of success, as their plans would be interfered with by the slum landlords, the corrupt local police, the traditional muslim men or the local gangs of extremists. After eleven years of setting up schools of mothers in the slums these naysayers have been proven wrong and their approach is proving to be very successful. They have been able to have a big effect on the lives of many women, children and their associated families. In particular, the children have been given a path in life that gives them hope for a better future.
 
The program starts by teaching the very basics such as how to hold a pencil and moves on from there. They learn to read and write in their own language and then learn English as well, as this is the language of the educated in their country. Each mother then goes home and teaches the lesson to five children from her neighbourhood at a time of day convenient for them.
 
Gem Munro, Amarok Society Vi Hughes 2018-04-18 06:00:00Z 0 amarok

Easter wishes from ELEPAP

Posted by Dimitri Papanicolas on Apr 13, 2018
Happy Easter wishes from the kids of ELEPAP. Greek Orthodox Easter was this past Sunday.
 
Easter wishes from ELEPAP Dimitri Papanicolas 2018-04-13 06:00:00Z 0 elepap

Hockey Pool For Polio Eradication

Posted by Patrick Gibson on Apr 13, 2018
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The regular NHL season is over and so the term of the hockey pool has come to an end!

Well, the 1st ever Rotary Hockey Poll for Polio Eradication has come to a close and it was a race right down to the finish!!

Just as a reminder here's the breakdown of how winnings are being allocated:

(Prize Pool is $525) 

40% of accumulated prize pool is paid to the participant with highest overall team score

20% of accumulated prize pool is paid to the participant with the highest performing group of 12 forwards

20%  of accumulated prize pool is paid to the participant with the highest performing group of 8

defenceman 

10%  of accumulated prize pool is paid to the participant with the highest performing group of 3 goalies

10% of accumulated prize pool is paid to online transaction fees.

 

**Ties in any of the above categories will be split evenly among winners in those categories**

AGLC Raffle Licence 477118     No tax receipts issued for this event.

 

The highest overall score goes to the team of "Mayor" put together by Robert Balay  

 The highest performing group of forwards goes to the team of "Polio Gone" put together by Hans Granholm 

 The highest performing team of defenceman goes to the team of "Mayor" put together by Robert Balay

 The highest performing team of goalies goes to the team of "WOP" put together by Bernie Giacobbo 

 Winners please contact me so we can arrange payment of your winnings. 

 

Patrick Gibson

gibsonpatrick55@gmail.com

Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona.

AGLC Raffle Licence# 477118

    No tax receipts issued for this event.

Hockey Pool For Polio Eradication Patrick Gibson 2018-04-13 06:00:00Z 0 hockey,polio,pool

Alex Campbell, Emergency Medical Services and the Fentanyl Crisis

Posted by Vi Hughes on Apr 11, 2018
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This past Tuesday we heard from Alex Campbell, pictured, a Paramedic and Public Education Officer with Alberta Health Services. He spoke to us about the provision of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Alberta and also gave us some basic information about Fentanyl and its impact in our community.
 
The EMS in our province serves four million Albertans, and their dispatch services handled over half a million calls last year. They also provide a transfer service using fixed wing aircraft for patients from more remote areas and provided critical care and transport for fifty-five hundred patients in this way last year. In addition, the STARS helicopter, which is funded separately by donations, flew another two thousand missions. They have four thousand EMS practitioners and five hundred fifty ambulances in Alberta. Alberta Health Services uses contract providers to deliver services and there are currently about thirty different contractors. These often include local fire services as they are also trained to handle some types of medical emergencies and are often closer to the emergency. In many cases both the EMS and Fire services will co-respond as the firefighters provide a valuable complementary service to the paramedics.
 
Alberta also has the first stroke ambulance in Canada. It has a CT Scanner on board and all the equipment needed for immediate treatment of a stroke victim. It is run from Edmonton, and will often meet incoming ambulances with stroke victims, pull off to the side of the road, transfer the victim to the stroke ambulance, scan and treat them immediately, then transport them to the hospital.  This gives the patient quicker access to treatment and results in much better outcomes, as every minute counts with stroke victims.
 
Alex Campbell, Emergency Medical Services and the Fentanyl Crisis Vi Hughes 2018-04-11 06:00:00Z 0 ahs,ems,fentanyl

Alberta Emerald Award

Posted by Eric Germain on Apr 11, 2018

J Percy Page Interact receives nomination

Good News!
I received a phone call this morning from Greg Caswell at the Emerald Foundation.
The Rotary Interact Club of J. Percy Page High School has been selected the winner of their youth environmental award , the Ron Kruhalk Award, for the province of Alberta.
 
The award will be presented in Calgary at their annual awards program on June 5, 2018. I don’t think we will be able to attend as it is in Calgary. They want to send out a video production crew  to make a video about our spring cleanup and tree planting project.
 
The award is also $1,000 , that they would present during the spring cleanup project.
 
Congratulations!
 
Eric Germain     
Alberta Emerald Award Eric Germain 2018-04-11 06:00:00Z 0 emerald,interact

April 24th Special Meeting

Posted on Apr 06, 2018
 

IGNITE CHANGE

Greetings Rotarian members and younger guests, After a brief introductory session, several of you suggested you'd like to invite people to another  interactive session with the brain in mind. Let's do it! Let's bring together older and younger participants for a special inter-generational brainstorming session on April 24th . Together let's LEAD ROTARY INNOVATION WITH THE BRAIN IN MIND. We'll integrate our ages, survey our intelligences, toss in a dose of the brain's wellbeing chemical and enjoy a growth mindset outcome together! Oh, we'll enjoy lunch too! Expect fun interactions as we design service opportunities for a new era, all while you discover how you are smart. Supported by our club members, energized by you, and facilitated by Ellen Weber. Hope to see you there! 
 
Ellen Weber (PhD) 
Director - MITA International Brain Based Center
Email ewebermita@gmail.com
MITA Brain Leaders and learners  blog: www.Brainleadersandlearners.com 
MITA Brain Based TPT Site  at https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ellen-Weber-Brain-Based-Tasks-For-Upper-Grades
 

We would like to invite you to attend the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona- Special  Lunch Meeting on Tuesday April 24th, 2018.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
We are having a special meeting to plan and lead Rotary innovation with the brain in mind, and to encourage more young people to get involved with our Rotary Club.
 
We plan to have some round table discussions with our current club members, and some dynamic young people, like yourself, to “Connect The Thoughts”. It will be facilitated by our club member, Ellen Weber PhD. We will look at current life challenges in our community and beyond, and we plan to develop Rotary based solutions, and potential projects and initiatives.
 
We will be meeting at our regular club location, the German Canadian Cultural Association, 8310 Roper Road, Edmonton, T6E 6E3. The lunch meeting starts at 12:00 noon and will finish at 1:30 PM.
 
If there are other people you know who would like to attend, please feel free to invite them, just let me know their names.
 
There is no cost to you. All we ask is for you to RSVP to confirm if you can attend.  I hope you can make it.
 
Best regards,
Eric
 
Eric Germain
Managing Partner
IS2 WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS
Suite #103, 9636 51 Avenue
T 780-420-9999 | 1-888-242-6698
April 24th Special Meeting Eric Germain 2018-04-06 06:00:00Z 0

J Percy Page Interact Club 2017/18 Update

Posted by Vi Hughes on Apr 04, 2018
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On Tuesday we were given an update on what the Interact club a J Percy Page High School has been doing this year. The presentation was made by three members of the current executive, all of whom are now in grade twelve, Chhavi Kausha (President), Gurleen Kaur (Vice President) and Mahmoud Asadi (Treasurer). This Interact club has been sponsored by our Rotary club for the past ten years. Their Strathcona Rotary advisor is Eric Germain and their school teacher advisor is Mrs. Huculak.  They told us that they have about fifty members in their club at present. They do quite a bit of public relations within the school promoting their club activities and it’s fundraisers.
 
Their club has been very busy with various fundraising and volunteer events throughout the past year. They did a fall clean up of the school grounds for which they received a five hundred dollar donation from the Emerald Society. At Halloween they sponsored a Scary Movie as their first fundraiser, which also included drinks and snacks and raised five hundred dollars for their club. They also made a volunteer trip in the fall to Ronald McDonald house to cook and serve dinner. At Christmas they sold candy cane Candy Grams which raised about three hundred dollars for their club. They made two more trips to volunteer at Ronald McDonald house in January and March and had a really good turnout for both.
 
For Valentines Day, they sold Roses (which were donated by Heather de Kok of our club) and raised over three hundred dollars for their club. This makes a total of sixteen hundred dollars raised so far for this Interact year. They still have another yard clean up planned for which they expect to earn another five hundred dollars. They also plan to help the school Earth Club plant trees this spring and hope to be able to volunteer at the Mustard Seed some time this spring as well. The groups that they donated their funds raised from the previous year to were Operation Smile, Polio Plus and supporting graduation attendance for a J Percy Page student who cannot afford the expense. The group has yet to decide how the funds raised this year will be used.
 
Our club supports the Interact group by donating funds for groceries for Ronald McDonald House and this year we also supplied the club members with blue shirts that have their club logo on them. They said that their members enjoy and wear the shirts a lot and they definitely give their club more presence within the school.  Our club is also sponsoring two of their members (Mahmoud and Gurleen) to attend RYLE in early May, and one member (Chhavi) to attend the Rotary Adventures in Citizenship program in Ottawa this spring. They said that they have really appreciated being able to be part of the Rotary community and that it has given them a chance have fun, help others, gain new experiences, learn leadership skills, and have the opportunity to be more involved in their community.
J Percy Page Interact Club 2017/18 Update Vi Hughes 2018-04-04 06:00:00Z 0
Arch Art Show &amp; Sale Audrey Martyn 2018-03-31 06:00:00Z 0 arch

Happy Easter

Posted on Mar 30, 2018
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I love Easter. It’s a time for eating all the chocolate you can find with complete impunity! Have a delicious Easter.
 
Happy Easter Hans Granholm 2018-03-30 06:00:00Z 0 Easter

YESS volunteer opportunities

Posted on Mar 26, 2018
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A number of volunteer opportunities exists with YESS. The bingo events are listed below. Check also the one day event, YESS 2018 Gala for Youth at THIS LINK.  
 
Hello,  We are in search of volunteers to help work at a Caesars BINGO  in West Edmonton Mall.   YESS has been selected as one of the charities of choice.  They require at least 2 volunteers at any of the following dates:
 
Sunday April 1st – Evening Shift
Friday May 25th  - Evening Shift
Saturday September 8th – Afternoon Shift
Thursday October 4th – Evening Shift
Sunday November 25th – Evening Shift
 
Please let me know if you or anyone you know would be willing to volunteer a shift in support of YESS at the Caesars BINGO hall in West Edmonton Mall.   Thanks you so much.
 
VIOLET MALBEUF, VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
YESS—Youth Empowerment & Support Services
 
T 780-468-7070 Ext. 234  |  780-466-1374
 
YESS volunteer opportunities Hans Granholm 2018-03-26 06:00:00Z 0 yess

JPP Interactors in action at RMH

Posted by Eric Germain on Mar 23, 2018
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Rotary Interact Club of J. Percy Page High School Provide The RMH Home For Dinner With An Italian Feast & a Danish Twist
 
 
The Rotary Interact Club of J. Percy High School made their third trip of the school year to Ronald McDonald House for the Home For Dinner Program. They served up dinner for 100 people. An Italian feast of meat and vegetarian lasagna’s , dinner buns, veggie platters, potato salad, fruit plates, juice beverages, and a lovely Easter cake.
 
The large contingent of Interactors did a great job of preparing, serving, and cleaning up the dinner. In addition, they were busy, including they had a tour of RMH, cleaned, and artistically decorated paper lunch bags for the RMH Lunch Program, while meeting the resident families and staff.
 
 
The Danish Twist was not the dessert, it was Andreas , our favourite Rotary Exchange student from Denmark. He is currently being hosted by the Downtown Edmonton Rotary Club. He is attending grade 11 at McNally High School, is a Rotary Interact member at Victoria Composite High School, and has been very active in our Rotary District, including being the guest speaker at a lunch meeting of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona. Andreas will be the guest speaker at the Rotary Interact Club lunch meeting on Thursday April 19th.
 
Thanks to our J. Percy Page Teacher Rep, Karen, and newcomer Tuso, the Social Studies teacher who wants to help with the Rotary Interact Club. Also thanks to our great Rotary Drivers, Hans Granholm, Rose Marie Basaraba, Vi Hughes, Dennis Freeman, and Ken Germain.
 
The Ronald McDonald House residents, out of town families who have sick children receiving major medical care in Edmonton were very grateful, and send a special warm thank you to everyone who helped make this first day of spring special.
 
Rotary Best Regards,
Eric Germain
JPP Interactors in action at RMH Eric Germain 2018-03-23 06:00:00Z 0 interact

Ken Sutley, Classification Refresher

Posted by Vi Hughes on Mar 21, 2018
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On Tuesday we heard from long time member, Ken Sutley, who gave us a refresher since his last classification talk, given shortly after he joined our club in 1994. Ken’s classification is Chartered Accountant, Consulting.
 
Ken was born and raised in Edmonton, as the youngest of three children. His family was quite musical and they all played instruments or sang together as a family. Ken also loved to spend time with his father fixing up old cars. He attended Delton Elementary, HA Gray Junior High and Queen Elizabeth High School in Edmonton. He then went on to get a B. Comm. from the U. of A. in Edmonton. Ken loved bowling and belonged to the bowling club at the U. of A. He articled at Deloitte and wrote the very challenging four day exam to become a Chartered Accountant in 1976. During this time Ken also married and had two children. Ken worked as an accountant for a while but then decided that he would like to be able to teach accounting. He worked for a while at the U of A as a sessional instructor and then looked into going back to school to earn a PhD. He had a choice of several different pathways and Universities. He chose the University of Chicago, as they had a highly respected academic reputation and also because his sister lived just outside of Chicago. In retrospect, he said that this may not have been the wisest choice for him and his family.
 
In 1982 he and his wife took their two small children and moved to Chicago. Ken had obtained a five year student stipend (in Canadian dollars) that would support them while there, so they went on student visas. This meant that neither he nor his wife were allowed to earn income in the US. Unfortunately, the value of the Canadian dollar dropped every year and it soon turned into some very tough years financially. In addition to this, Chicago was a very tough, violent place to live.  As he soon found out, the working culture at the University of Chicago, was also not the best, with most professors being very unsupportive, and more often than not, outright nasty to most of their students. His only moments of sanity came when his family visited with his sister, or when he sang with a local choir that she had encouraged him to join.  
 
He received his PhD in 1984 and moved back to Edmonton with his family, just in time for the Klein government cutbacks to nearly everything. He spent five years in a tenure track position at the U of A, but left in 1992 to start his own accounting practice. Ken joined Rotary in 1994 and has held many different positions within our local club and district and still continues to do so. In 2001, Ken and his wife divorced and Ken returned to teaching on contract at the U. of A. His father soon became ill and he spent the next six years caring for his father and then his mother.
 
In 2006, Ken joined Grant MacEwan, to help them build their accounting program. He taught there until his retirement in 2016. He has never looked back since. Ken now enjoys being able to do the things he loves. He has returned to singing and playing bridge. He belongs to the Cosmopolitan Choral Society and has recently earned a bridge Life Master milestone. He also enjoys travelling and spending time with his two children who are now both married with children of their own. We would like thank Ken for this insight into his life, and also for the many contributions of talent and time that he has made to our club over the years.
Ken Sutley, Classification Refresher Vi Hughes 2018-03-21 06:00:00Z 0

Tanis Munro, Amarok Society Update

Posted by Vi Hughes on Mar 21, 2018
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This past Tuesday, Tanis Munro, from the Amarok Society gave us a short update and showed a short video on what they have been doing recently. The Amarok Society’s ‘Teach a Mother’ program is based in the slums of Bangladesh and Pakistan. It gives women a basic education for free, on the condition that they then go home and teach five children of both genders what they have learned each day.

 

This program fills a need for the many families who can not afford to send their children to a traditional school. It also helps to empower women and girls by helping to change gender relations within families and communities. She also said that it gives these children an entirely new path in life, as they will now have access to many educational and occupational opportunities that would otherwise be closed to them.

In closing, Tanis said that she would like to thank our club for our ongoing support for this program.

Tanis Munro, Amarok Society Update Vi Hughes 2018-03-21 06:00:00Z 0 amarok

JPP Interact Drivers Needed, March 20, 2018

Posted by Eric Germain on Mar 20, 2018
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Sign up HERE

 

Rotary Interact Club of J. Percy Page High School (JPP) requires transportation by the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona members to the following special event:

Tuesday, March 20th. Serving dinner at RMH.

Pick up at JPP at 3:30 pm (1530). Deliver to RMH, Return from RMH at 7:00 pm (1900) to JPP.

Rotarians are welcome to attend the events, or just provide rides. Please advise how many passengers you can take.

 

     MAP TO JPP                                MAP TO RMH

If you have any technical issues, contact Hans Granholm 780-466-5566


Eric Germain
Event organizer

 
JPP Interact Drivers Needed, March 20, 2018 Eric Germain 2018-03-20 06:00:00Z 0

Jewish Senior Citizen's Centre - News

Posted by Hans Granholm on Mar 16, 2018

JSCC News

 
A new feature on our website and newsletter (e-Strathconian) will be occasional news items from the Jewish Senior Citizen's Centre.
 
The full bimonthly, Mar-Apr, publication can be seen HERE  
Jewish Senior Citizen's Centre - News Hans Granholm 2018-03-16 06:00:00Z 0

Laura Young, Parkinson Association of Alberta

Posted by Vi Hughes on Mar 14, 2018
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This past Tuesday, we heard from Laura Young, pictured, a Fund Development and Event Co-ordinator for the Parkinson’s Association of Alberta (PAA). Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive, neurodegenerative disease. It is associated with the loss of Dopamine transmitting neurons in the brain and can affect both motor and non-motor functions. Once symptoms appear, greater than eighty percent of these neurons have been lost. Symptoms can include tremor in hands and legs at rest, difficulty moving, stiffness and pain, difficulty talking, loss of sleep, loss of senses of smell and taste, depression, bladder control issues, constipation, hallucinations and paranoia. The average age of onset is fifty-eight years of age. It is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimers. The incidence of this disease is the same worldwide and affects people from all walks of life. There is no known cause or cure. The many treatments currently in use control symptoms or slow the progression of the disease. There are currently about ten thousand people in Alberta living with Parkinson’s disease. The cost to the health systems in Alberta is about one thousand dollars per month per patient.
 
The association provides services in seven districts in Alberta, Edmonton, Calgary, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Lloydminster, Medicine Hat, and Red Deer. The Edmonton office and support services are located in the Buchanan Center. They currently help about one thousand clients in the Edmonton area. They provide many different services and programs designed to provide help for today and hope for tomorrow for both clients and caregivers. They provide a help line, counselling services, sponsor twelve support groups on the Edmonton area, and also provide services in the areas of the arts, education, physical activities and social activities.  They also sponsor a yearly conference, with educational speakers. The conference this year will be held on 26 of May at the Central Edmonton Lions Seniors Center. They also provide funding for several local Parkinson’s research programs based in Alberta. These include Dr. Patrick Flood, researching the role of inflammation in PD, Dr. Janis Miyasaki, Advanced Care Planning and Dr. Nils Daniel Forkert, Medical Imaging Analysis.
 
The association does not have a consistent source of government funding, so it relies on many different public fundraising ventures. They raise about sixty percent of their funding each year from fundraising. These currently include Petals for Parkinson’s, Step’n Stride, Circle of Help and Champions of Hope. Last year the Step’n Stride fundraiser in Edmonton alone had over six hundred participants, who raised over one hundred fifty thousand dollars for the PAA. They are always looking for other sources of funding, and any and all donations are welcome.
Laura Young, Parkinson Association of Alberta Vi Hughes 2018-03-14 06:00:00Z 0 parkinson

Jewish Senior Centre News

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On Thursday March 1, President Vince assisted by Hans Pilz, presented a cheque for $2,500 to support programs at the Jewish Senior Centre.  
 
 
The Jewish Seniors Drop In Centre is committed to engaging its members and keeping them involved in life. Not only do we provide a variety of presentations at the centre, we arrange out trips to locations such as Elk Island Park to hear a lecture at the only dark sky location around Edmonton. We also arranged a trip to Luminaria at the Devonian Gardens, a trip to a murder mystery, an opera evening and many others. To get participants to an event we have to hire a bus and a bus is not cheap.
In fact transportation is the largest expense we have at the club.
 
So, when we were kindly given a donation of $2,500.00 by Edmonton Strathcona Rotary we were so pleased as we knew that Rotarians "got it": keeping seniors connected is important. Not only does it enrich lives but it also helps lessen feelings of loneliness and helplessness.
 
Thank you to our friends at Rotary
 
Hans Pilz, Board Member
Jewish Senior Centre News Hans Pilz 2018-03-09 07:00:00Z 0

Megah Tornwe and Roanne Varden, Working Warriors Program

Posted by Vi Hughes on Mar 08, 2018
On Tuesday we heard a presentation from Megah Tornwe and Roanne Varden on the Working Warriors program. This program is a collaboration between the Edmonton Police Service, Edmonton Public Schools and the Bent Arrow Healing Society in Edmonton. It was conceived a few years ago as a way to help young people, ages twelve to seventeen, transition from correctional services back into society, to become employed or further their education, and become contributing, productive citizens with crime free lifestyles. The program came about because Edmonton Police Services surveys had noted that a large number of offences are often committed by a small number of offenders. They reasoned that if they could especially help young offenders in this category, that they would be able to give these young people a much better life and reduce crime and its associated costs at the same time. For several years now, the police service has identified the top fifty young offenders (Y-50) and have tried various intervention approaches.
 
The Working Warriors program was begun in conjunction with the Bent Arrow Healing Society in 2016 as a pilot project and received one point six million in funding from Service Canada to provide services to fifty-four youth over a period of two years. The youth who are referred to take part in the program come from very diverse backgrounds, with many confounding risk factors, usually starting in early childhood, so the support services provided are very wide ranging. They are a mix of young people who are in custody, on probation, or sometimes neither. Assessments are done and continually updated so that the program is tailored for each participant, to provide the services that they require and also those they have an interest in. These may include housing assistance, addictions counselling, conflict resolution training, life skills training, work ethics training, resume writing, educational courses (provided by Edmonton Public Schools), and specific job-related training and employment opportunities. The program also covers wages at minimum wage for up to three months for employers willing to provide work experience.  They also provide support to keep the young people on track and intervene as needed to give them every chance to succeed.
 
The program is completely voluntary on the part of the participants. Candidates are recommended for the program by a Y-50 constable and undergo a needs assessment, including CASEY Life Skills testing . There is a two- week probationary period to ensure participants are committed to taking part. A three-month period then follows where the participants attend training in the program for two days a week and either attend school or take part in work experience for three days a week. The program is designed to last for up to one year for each participant with follow up for longer in some cases. The measure of success is either full time hired employment or schooling combined with a crime free lifestyle. As of February this year, one year from inception, they have provided services for seventy youth with a success rate of over sixty five percent.  They concluded their presentation with a quote from Churchill, saying ‘The definition of success, is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm’. Their goal is to give these young people the skills and also the will they need to succeed in life.
Megah Tornwe and Roanne Varden, Working Warriors Program Vi Hughes 2018-03-08 07:00:00Z 0

Diana Bacon, Governance Optimizer

Posted by Vi Hughes on Mar 01, 2018
This past Tuesday, we heard from Diana Bacon, who provides advice and training to boards and executive groups of many kinds on proper meeting procedures and tools to help make their meetings more productive.
 
She talked about Steven Covey’s seven habits of effective people and how they can be applied in practise. In particular, she mentioned two habits, ‘begin with the end in mind’, and ‘find your voice and inspire others to find theirs’. She emphasised that it is important not to be afraid to speak up and let other know your concerns. She said that some of the most helpful things to have in place to improve your meetings are a set of current bylaws and a written set of meeting rules (usually including the use of Robert’s Rules of Order) that establish a meeting structure and expectations (orders of the day) to be followed at each meeting. These orders of the day can also be part of the bylaws. She also stated the meeting agendas and reports to be discussed should be sent out in advance. She supplied a sheet of commonly used motions, which included what, why, when and how to word a motion properly.
 
She gave many different examples of problems that can arise during a meeting and had some very good suggestions on how to deal with these. One of these suggestions was to set discussion time limits prior to a motion, in order to allow everyone wishing to speak a chance to do so. She said that the chair of the meeting has a lot of power to keep the meeting under control, but should also act as a mentor for members who may not be fully conversant with proper meeting procedures. In closing, she said we should ask ourselves, how do we intend to improve the meetings that we attend.
Diana Bacon, Governance Optimizer Vi Hughes 2018-03-01 07:00:00Z 0

Maxine Hetherington, Classification Talk, Corrected

Posted by Vi Hughes on Mar 01, 2018

On Tuesday Feb 20, we heard from Maxine Hetherington, whose classification is Family Physician. Maxine grew up in a family of five children in rural Alberta. Her family then moved to Ontario, where they lived in Sudbury and also Ottawa. She initially studied nursing, but decided that it was not for her, as she was more interested in Science, so she went on to take a BSc. in Physiology and then earned a MSc. in Experimental Medicine. During this time she married, became a mother of two children and then a single mother. She subsequently went on to study Medicine and in 1998, she completed her residency in Family Medicine in Alberta.

She then took a rural locum position, where she did clinical, hospital and emergency work. She said that it was a steep learning curve at first. She loved rural medicine and stayed on practising rural medicine in Leduc County for over seventeen years. During this time, she was living in Edmonton and commuting out to Leduc each day. In August of last year, she decided to move her practice closer to home, so she joined a practise based in the city of Edmonton.

She enjoys cycling and has cycled in many places around the world. She also enjoys playing golf, but emphasised that she does not keep score. She was prompted to join rotary in an effort to become more connected to the city, and things that are happening in Edmonton. We would like to welcome her to our rotary club and look forward to getting to know her better.

Maxine Hetherington, Classification Talk, Corrected Vi Hughes 2018-03-01 07:00:00Z 0

Edmonton Community Leagues

Posted on Feb 23, 2018
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On Tuesday Feb 20 we had representatives from Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues speaking to us on the occasion of their 100th anniveersary.
Edmonton Community Leagues Hans Granholm 2018-02-23 07:00:00Z 0

Service above self in South Africa

Posted by Carin Jansen van Vuuren on Feb 16, 2018
At Cape Town International Airport we had a make-up. 
 
Solved SA’s 🇿🇦political situation- Zuma is out. 
 
Now off to Zambia 🇿🇲 to see if we can be of assistance. 🤪
Service above self in South Africa Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2018-02-16 07:00:00Z 0

Maxine Hetherington, Classification Talk

Posted by Vi Hughes on Feb 14, 2018

On Tuesday this week, we heard from Maxine Hetherington, whose classification is Family Physician. Maxine grew up in a family of five children in rural Alberta. Her family then moved to Ontario, where they lived in Sudbury and also Ottawa. She initially studied nursing, but decided that it was not for her, she was more interested in Science, so she went on to study Physiology and eventually gained her PhD in Science. During this time she married, became a mother of two children and then a single mother. She subsequently went on to study Medicine and in 1998, she completed her residency as a Family Physician in Alberta.

She then took a rural locum position, where she did clinical, hospital and emergency work. She said that it was a steep learning curve at first. She loved rural medicine and stayed on practising rural medicine in Leduc County for over seventeen years. During this time, she was living in Edmonton and commuting out to Leduc each day. Recently she decided to move her practice closer to home, so she joined a practise that deals with what she refers to as ‘city diseases’, in Edmonton.

She enjoys cycling, and has cycled in many places around the world. She also enjoys playing golf, but emphasised that she does not keep score. She was prompted to join Rotary in an effort to become more connected to the city, and things that are happening in Edmonton. We would like to welcome her to our Rotary club and look forward to getting to know her better.

Maxine Hetherington, Classification Talk Vi Hughes 2018-02-14 07:00:00Z 0

Rotary Interact Club- Update

Posted by Eric Germain on Feb 09, 2018
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The Rotary Interact Club at J. Percy Page High School has had good school year, and is looking forward to more good meetings and upcoming events in the New Year.
 
They had good fundraising events at Halloween and Christmas. Their next fundraiser is the Valentine Rose Sale. Roses generously donated by Heather de Kok.
 
They had two visits to Ronald McDonald House for the Meals that Mend Program, providing the groceries and preparing and serving supper for 100 very grateful people. They have one more trip planned in March to RMH.
 
 
The Rotary Interact Club members organized a fall outdoor cleanup of their school grounds and the Millwoods Park. It earned them an Emerald Environmental Award. They plan to have another enviro- project in the spring.
 
Rotary Interact Club- Update Eric Germain 2018-02-09 07:00:00Z 0 interact

Lewis Cardinal, A Promise of Canada: Becoming a Treaty Nation

Posted by Vi Hughes on Feb 07, 2018
This past Tuesday we were given the honour of hearing from a very distinguished speaker, Lewis Cardinal (pictured).  Lewis spoke to us about the dialogue that will be needed to bring about the changes that will be needed for Canada to truly become a treaty nation.  He started by explaining how the name of our country came about. The indigenous peoples who lived here referred to their land as Kanatan, which means ‘a clean, sacred and pure place’. Dropping the ‘n’ from the name, to Kanata, the name in use today, converts the word from a noun into a verb, with the meaning ‘to make a clean, sacred and pure place’. This name is prescient, in that it also describes the process we are still going through in learning to live in harmony with each other. It also gives us a responsibility to keep ourselves in balance, so that we can live in a clean and pure place.
 
Lewis Cardinal, A Promise of Canada: Becoming a Treaty Nation Vi Hughes 2018-02-07 07:00:00Z 0

Meals on Wheels casino

Posted by Vince Campbell on Feb 02, 2018
 

Meals on Wheels Casino

Meals on Wheels and myself would really appreciate any help we can get at our next casino on February 24 and 25. This casino location is at West Edmonton Mall in The Palace Casino which has been renovated this past year. Might be nice to see it.
 
 
Positions left as of today are:
             
One Cashier for Saturday from 10:30 am to 7:00 pm (early shift)
One Countroom for Sunday from 11:00 pm to 3:30 am
 
Please call Vince at 780 239 3199 or email me at vincecampbell@shaw.ca to sign up for this event.
Meals on Wheels casino Vince Campbell 2018-02-02 07:00:00Z 0 casino

Brittany Beatty, Operation Eyesight

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 31, 2018
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On Tuesday this week we heard from Brittany Beatty, from Operation Eyesight. Operation Eyesight was founded in Calgary, some thirty-five years ago. She talked to us about some of the initiatives they have with their partner hospitals in India. She said that losing one’s eyesight is especially harmful for the very young, the very old and the very poor. The provision of eyeglasses, or performance of a simple surgery for cataracts, at a nominal cost of around fifty dollars, can be life altering for these people. It also has an effect on other family members, as many times, girls or women are forced to stay home from work or school to look after someone who has lost their sight. Eyesight problems are more prevalent in poor countries for several reasons. Lack of knowledge about the treatments for eye conditions, combined with harmful cultural practices such as using salt in the eyes as a treatment, can result in almost two and half percent of the population suffering from some type of blindness in some countries. This makes it a major health issue.
 
Over the years Operation Eyesight has established over one hundred vision centers in India. They work in conjunction with government and local hospitals, many of which are non-profit, to educate and screen people and deliver needed eye care. In the past year they screened more than three million people in India.  They do this through training local volunteers, who then go door to door in small villages, to screen and educate the local people, and to offer transport and access to treatment when needed. They also help by providing equipment and training for staff and volunteers. They work on a cost recovery basis and ask people receiving their services to pay a small fee.
 
They are very proud of the fact that in 2017, they received a Sustainable Development Goals Award from the United Nations, in recognition of the fact that they met seven of the seventeen goals that they have established. They have helped to reduce poverty, promote good health and well being, provide quality education, ensure gender equality, provide clean water and sanitation, ensure reduced inequalities and created partnerships to fulfil their goals.  Recently they have not been able to qualify for matching grants from the federal government as their goals do not align with the current government’s new focus on supporting charities that are more focused on women.  They can use our support, now more than ever.
Brittany Beatty, Operation Eyesight Vi Hughes 2018-01-31 07:00:00Z 0 operation eyesight

Debit and credit card at the door

Posted by Hans Granholm on Jan 26, 2018
 
We can now accept credit cards AND debit cards as payment for the day's luncheon. We also accept payment for membership dues and purchase of book of lunch tickets.
 
We accept Visa, Master Card, American Express and Interac debit.
 
Since the transaction charge for debit cards (Interac) is only 10 cents compared with 2.65% per credit card transaction, we strongly encourage you to use your debit card.
 
Please be patient with us as we are learning as we go.
 
Feedback and questions are welcome.
 
Hans Granholm
hgrdane@telusplanet.net
780-918-1079
Debit and credit card at the door Hans Granholm 2018-01-26 07:00:00Z 0 credit card,payment,square

Marijuana in the Workplace

Posted by Ellen Weber on Jan 24, 2018
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Tom Duke LLp at Miltom Management - January 23rd presentation, Marijuana in the Workplace, provided a brief history and suggested strategies to manage medicinal and recreational marijuana use.
 
 
Medical Marijuana, first legalized in 2001 will become legal for recreational use in the summer of 2018. Marijuana’s dozens of strains and many potency levels raise challenges for accurate impairment tests. The result? We can expect far greater potency which can be detected in bloodstreams for days or weeks after ingestion.
 
Current tests indicate ingestion within 4-6 hours, yet do not account for strain & potency, environmental surroundings, frequency of use, or method of consumption. New tests also face challenges based on privacy and on questions about impairment levels, so that employers can ensure workers are not impaired at work. Questions arouse related to employees’ safe setting along with medical marijuana protection. Since employees are not permitted to be impaired at work, will anti-smoking laws apply to marijuana as they apply currently to regular cigarettes?
 
Tom detailed specific cases to show how legal use of marijuana may be treated in a similar manner to rules for alcohol consumption. He suggested that use of medical marijuana to treat medical conditions must be treated in a similar manner to other prescription drugs that can cause impairment. Tom engaged questions from Rotarians related to how employer and employee report use or abuse of medically prescribed marijuana, lawyer interventions, and concerns about recreational marijuana at work. He discussed how one avoids decisions based on stigma around marijuana or on assumptions about the use of marijuana and its impact on employees’ ability to do their jobs. Through shared cases and Tom’s gracious interactions with thoughtful Rotarian comments brought to the discussion, we left with more understanding of the issue as well as further articulated questions to investigate in future.
Marijuana in the Workplace Ellen Weber 2018-01-24 07:00:00Z 0 marijuana

Thank You note from Rotary Club of Pretoria, SA

Posted on Jan 19, 2018
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Dear President Vince,

Greeting from South Africa.

It gives us all a warm feeling when I write and advise you that we received your magnificent donation of R 22955.00. (approx. CN$2,400.00)

The work your club has put into raising these funds is so much appreciated, the money will bring so much joy to the New Hope School staff and pupils.

Thank you so much and best regards to you and your members

David Avery
Treasurer Rotary Club of Pretoria
Thank You note from Rotary Club of Pretoria, SA Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2018-01-19 07:00:00Z 0 new hope

Joe Goebels, Rotary in Peru Update

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 17, 2018
This past Tuesday we heard from Joe Goebels, a rotarian based in Alberta, who has spent many years in Peru, and Abigail Jiminez Acevedo, a math professor from Chincha Baja, Peru. Joe is a retired adult educator who now spends a large part of his time working with the Friends Forever NGO based in Peru and also with Rainbow of Hope for Children, based in Wainright, Alberta. Joe has been going back and forth to Peru for seven years now, helping them with many different projects. He helps to raise funds from Rotary groups in Alberta, and then also helps to organise the various projects in Chincha Baja, Peru.
 
Chinch Baja is comprised of fifty-seven rural communities, most of whose people work as farmers or laborers for farmers.  One project involved helping the people in Chincha Baja recover from a deadly earthquake in 2007, that destroyed many homes and public buildings. Rotarians helped to supply a large container of clothing. We also supplied building materials and expertise to teach the local people how to build wooden structures that would provide shelter and also could be expanded in future. This project also included temporary classrooms.
 
His largest project has been to build a school for adult education in Chincha Baja, that would provide four years of high school education and also provide technical skills training in six different areas. They are proud to announce the first sixteen graduates from their high school finished this year. This school is a new concept for the area because it provides both a high school diploma and a technical certification upon graduation and is soon to become a model for adult education in other parts of Peru.
 
Joe’s most recent project was to provide medical care for a young girl who was crippled, by raising the funds and organising her treatment. Joe let us know that he makes sure the recipients of our generosity, understand that this is money we have worked to acquire and have given freely to help them. Joe says that he feels it is important to stay in touch with the Rotary groups that have supported his projects to let them know what their funds have been used for. In closing, he thanked us for the many contributions we have made towards projects in Chincha Baja and hopes that we will continue to do so in the future.
Joe Goebels, Rotary in Peru Update Vi Hughes 2018-01-17 07:00:00Z 0

Oil Kings and Polio Plus

Posted on Jan 10, 2018
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Attention all Rotarians and guests.
 
It’s my pleasure to be officially launching this season’s End Polio Now campaign with the Edmonton Oil Kings.  

Last year we raised more money to End Polio through Oil Kings tickets than ever before, and Tim Schilds and I have set a goal to beat that number this season.  In fact, Tim wants to hit 1,000 Rotary tickets sold for the 4:00 PM game Sunday, February 25th vs the Swift Current Broncos, which would be a phenomenal accomplishment (and I’d owe him a steak dinner!)

This season we have added a fun social aspect to the event – starting at 3 PM sharp, the North Mezzanine Club will be open exclusively for Rotarians to mix and mingle and get to know one another.  There will also be in-game recognition for the Rotary Clubs in attendance, as well as a cheque presentation celebrating the money raised!

This season, Rotary tickets are $29, with $11 from each ticket sold donated to end the fight against Polio around the world.  Rotarians will be able to purchase tickets by contacting me, purchasing from Tim, or purchasing online via the link below:

https://oss.ticketmaster.com/aps/oilkings/EN/link/promotion/home/a18ac9dcd99485a83628163317e4fd46153b4582
  
Hold CTRL and click the link above and it will take you directly to the correct location.  The promo code is ENDPOLIO

The link above won’t allow purchasers to buy more than 8 tickets at a time, and it works best on desktop or laptop computers (Smartphones and tablets don’t work so well).  If you’re having trouble with the link, or for larger orders please contact me directly via email, or 780-409-2494

Tickets are available starting now, so order soon.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Yours in hockey, 

Jason Adams.
 
Jason Adams | Nonprofit Account Executive, Group Sales
Edmonton Oil Kings Hockey Club
300-10214 104 Avenue NW, Edmonton, AB, T5J 0H6
Oil Kings and Polio Plus Vince Campbell 2018-01-10 07:00:00Z 0 oil kings,polio

Eye Ball Gala

Posted by Audrey Martyn on Jan 10, 2018

Audrey Martyn is extending an invitation to form a table at the inaugural Eye Ball Gala in support of Transformative Ophthalmic Patient Care at the Royal Alexandra Hospital

You can open the full brochure HERE

Tickets are $250

For details contact Audrey at audrey01@telus.net; 780 722-4262

Eye Ball Gala Audrey Martyn 2018-01-10 07:00:00Z 0 eye ball
Happy New Year from ELEPAP in Greece Dimitri Papanicolas 2018-01-10 07:00:00Z 0 elepap

Rotary Foundation Presentation

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 04, 2018

Patrick Gibson presented two members with Rotary Foundation Paul Harris Fellowships, Augie Annicchiarico, for PHF+7, and Audrey Martin, for her first Fellowship.

 

Rotary Foundation Presentation Vi Hughes 2018-01-04 07:00:00Z 0 Audrey,Augie,PHF

Eric Solash, Classification Refresher

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jan 04, 2018
This past Tuesday we were given a very interesting talk by one of our long time members, Eric Solash. He used a series of six stories from his past as illustration. Before the second world war, his father, and co-workers, who were lawyers whose firm helped out the International and Longshore and Warehouse Union in New York City, decided that they wanted to enlist in the Army. His father did not want to be stuck stateside, so he did not tell them he was a lawyer. After the war ended he decided not to go back to practicing law and joined his family in their umbrella sales business, that was doing very well , as a  traveling salesman. He worked all up and down the north-eastern US, from Chicago and New York, to Nashville and Richmond. One of his customers, Levine Department Stores, offered him a better job as a store manager, which he accepted, and was sent to the southwestern US, from Santa Fe, to Austin, to Waco, Odessa and finally on to Albuquerque.  
 
As a result. Eric, a little ‘Yeshiva Bucher’, from New York, grew up all over the southern US, and finished his schooling in Albuquerque in 1961. It was again a time of military draft, and one of his three best friends unluckily had a low draft number, so he was drafted right away into the Army. Two others, who actually wanted to enlist, joined the Marine Corps, shortly afterwards. Eric decided to take his parents advice to continue his education and enrolled in the University of New Mexico with an educational deferment. The only problem was that he majored in partying and minored in drinking, so that soon his only remaining option was the military. He looked at his choices, and decided that since there were no fox holes in the ocean, he would enlist in the Navy. They tested all their recruits in boot camp and then gave them three choices of occupation, Eric’s three were all the same, Electronics Technician. Out of a class of one hundred fifty, at the end of his thirty-eight week RADAR training, seventy-eight graduated. The deviousness of the Navy became apparent when they offered Eric, and the other the top four students in his class, a placement in Adak, Alaska, on almost the last island in the Aleutian chain. They then gave them an option to sign up for another two years of service, and be sent for advanced computer and electronics training in Dam Neck Virginia. Of course, they all took the option. Unfortunately, they soon learned that the training only pertained to nuclear submarines, so guess where they ended up serving? So, he had joined to navy to see the world, and everything he got to see was through a periscope. His underwater tours ranged from sixty-two the seventy-eight days, where he worked in the navigation section. They performed regular trial launches of nuclear missiles, which were so realistic they only knew it was a trial when the ship did not lurch as the missile fired.
 
Eric Solash, Classification Refresher Vi Hughes 2018-01-04 07:00:00Z 0 solash

Dimitri Papanicolas, From the Belgian Congo to Canada

Posted by Vi Hughes on Dec 27, 2017
On Tuesday we were given the pleasure of hearing from Dimitri Papanicolas, the fascinating story of how his Albanian Greek family ended up in the Belgian Congo, and of their many trials and successes there. His father was born to a Greek family in a small village in Albania, just over the border from Greece.  In 1936, at the age of nineteen, with a grade two education, he immigrated to the Belgian Congo as an indentured worker/employee . This meant he had to work to repay his cost of passage, before being freed to work on his own   Within a few years he was joined by his brother and together ventured in running a grocery back in the jungle. The business started to prosper and his father  returned to Greece in 1949 to look for a wife. There he met and married Dimitri’s mother. They returned to the Belgian Congo where as a wedding gift a concrete floor was placed to the dirt floor of their first home.  Dimitri was born in 1951, in the southern province of the Belgian Congo. His father and his uncle prospered in their grocery business and started buying corn, manioc, peanuts, honey, and packaging them for sale. They opened several more groceries in the bush to expand their purchasing power from the locals. In 1956, his family moved to Elisabethville (now Lubumbashi) for Dimitri to start school and to operate the flour mill and packaging facility that the Papanicolas brothers had built. The ex-Belgian Congo went though several coups and civil wars, during the 1960’s and Dimitri remembers well seeing dead bodies and people being hacked up in the streets during these uprisings. In December of 1960 he was evacuated to N’Dola in Zambia, and it was several months before he could return home to the southern Congo.
 
Dimitri Papanicolas, From the Belgian Congo to Canada Vi Hughes 2017-12-27 07:00:00Z 0 dimitri

e-Strathconian  next issue...

Posted by Hans Granholm on Dec 27, 2017

 

The next issue of the e-Strathconian will be published January 5, 2018.
 
Happy New Year, and may 2018 bring you health, happiness and time to enjoy it all.
e-Strathconian  next issue... Hans Granholm 2017-12-27 07:00:00Z 0

Scholarship presentation

Posted by Carin Jansen van Vuuren on Dec 21, 2017
Every year the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona gives out six $1,000 scholarships to students who are all-round achievers; has shown leadership qualities by being involved in the life of the school; and provided service in the community while overcoming significant challenges. 
 
These funds are raised by our club members who place a high value on education. 
This year it was a difficult choice between two exceptional students at JH Picard High School.
With the assistance of Ms. Colleen Dunkley (School Counsel​l​or), we decided to give each student $500. 
 
I was proud to ​make the presentation to Neressa Wimberly and Adrien Ulliac on behalf of our Club on November 28, 2017 at their Awards Ceremony.
 
Scholarship presentation Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2017-12-21 07:00:00Z 0 scholarship

Carol Devereaux, Paul Harris Society Presentation

Posted by Vi Hughes on Dec 20, 2017
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On Tuesday, December 19, Carol Devereaux gave a brief introduction to the Paul Harris Society and the Rotary Foundation. The Paul Harris Award Society membership is presented to Rotarians and others who make a commitment to donate one thousand dollars or more to the Rotary Foundation annually. She presented two of our members, Ken Germain and Campbell Chow (not present in person) with the Paul Harris Society membership, as the newest members from our club of the Paul Harris Society.

Carol Devereaux, Paul Harris Society Presentation Vi Hughes 2017-12-20 07:00:00Z 0 germain,ken,phs

General Assembly

Posted on Dec 19, 2017
The General Assembly, held Tuesday. December 19th, 2017 elected the following Club Officers for the Rotary Year 2018-2019 .
President:                           Vince Campbell
President Elect                   Donna Hutton
Past President                    Dimitri Papanicolas
President Nominee             Jim Peddie
Secretary                             Audrey Martyn
Treasurer                             Graham Gilchrist
 
Committee Directors include Ken Sutley,  Gene Sekora, Patrick Gibson, Loida Lumanlan, Carin Jansen van Vuuren and Nicolle Germain.
 
Ken Sutley will be reviewing Club By-Laws with the District, which may affect the slate of Directors.
 
General Assembly 2017-12-19 07:00:00Z 0

Bridges to Prosperity  UPDATE

Posted by Patrick Gibson on Dec 15, 2017
The photos depict the dedication and opening of a new footbridge in Rwanda, the bridge was built by Bridges to Prosperity, the construction of the $180,000 bridge was supported by many Rotary clubs including a $5,000 US donation from the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona and another matching $5,000 US from District 5370. 
 
Publ. You may recall Bridges of Prosperity  was the Kerr's charity of choice after hosting the Hawaiian Feast last year. The $5,000 was a rounded up number of dollars raised at that wonderful event.
 
 
Bridges to Prosperity UPDATE Patrick Gibson 2017-12-15 07:00:00Z 0 bridges

New Member Induction

Posted by Vi Hughes on Dec 13, 2017
On Tuesday, December 12th, Eric Germain and Past President Dimitri Papanicolas inducted two new members to our club. Maxine Hetherington, Physician, Family Medicine, sponsored by Ken Sutley, and Bill Sinclair, Engineering, Technician, sponsored by Dmitri Papanicolas. We look forward to getting to know them better and would like to extend a hearty welcome to them both.
 
Bill Sinclair                            Maxine Hetherington
New Member Induction Vi Hughes 2017-12-13 07:00:00Z 0 hetherington,sinclair

U of A Business Student Presentation

Posted by Vi Hughes on Dec 13, 2017
This past Tuesday we served as an audience for a practice presentation given by three students from the Faculty of Business at the U. of A. These students will be competing as part of a team in the Not-For-Profit strategy section of the business student competition known as JDC (Jeux du Commerce) West. It began as a way for students of Business Administration to meet and compete against students from other business schools across Canada.
 
Each team is given a case study with about ten pages of information, and will have three hours to prepare a professional presentation which would be presentable to stakeholders that would hopefully be funding the not-for profit proposal.  They are not allowed to make use of any outside resources during the three hours they are given to prepare. Each team has been preparing and giving presentations every week for the past twelve weeks.
 
The team of Kevin, Alycia and Sarah, who gave the presentation to us, have been coached by Conor Pilz.  The team is judged by a panel of coaches and peers in the competition and they were happy to have an opportunity to present in front of an outside audience.  The presentation they gave was handled in the same way as it would be for competition, in that they were given the case study only three hours prior to presentation and had no access to outside resources during that time. They gave us a very professional presentation using powerpoint slides, with each of the three team members making separate parts of the presentation. The case study was for a not-for-profit organisation to provide clean water for a region in Africa. They did an admirable job of breaking down the presentation to cover all of the major areas that would be of concern to prospective stakeholders. Identify the problem and related issues, present an analysis of the core issues, make strategic recommendations, present a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis and present a plan for implementation including costs and resources that would be needed.
 
They presented their proposal for a clean water initiative in a very clear and organised fashion, and included a surprising amount of detail, considering the time restraint on preparation. They were all very adept at public speaking and did an admirable job, both individually and as a group. I am sure that everyone present was impressed by their ability to make such a complex presentation ‘on the fly’. We wish them well and look forward to hearing how they do in the competition to be held in Calgary in January.
U of A Business Student Presentation Vi Hughes 2017-12-13 07:00:00Z 0

Christmas Party captured

Posted by Eric Germain on Dec 08, 2017
 
CLICK HERE to open the photo album and slide show.
 

The stockings were hung by the chimney in care at the Edmonton Golf and Country Club December 5th    , as our Rotary Club celebrated the Christmas Season with our annual dinner and gala. This is always a classy affair, and a lovely venue for our Christmas party with excellent food, drink and service , with it’s nice  Christmas ambience. We had a youth choir singing Christmas carols in the background during our cocktail hour.

 

The Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Rick Harcourt. He did an admirable job keeping the evening running smoothly, and added some party games to see what table got to go the buffet line first, second, etc. He added some good humour to the evening. One of his best jokes was, “What is worse than Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer with a runny nose? Frosty the Snowman having a hot flash!” He did mix things up by having Ron Dobbin say his eloquent , and surprisingly short grace after dinner.

 

Stephan Jansen van Vuuren, our Sargent at Arms, also mixed things up, by recognizing a number of Rotarians in the room for their positive contributions to our club over the years. These included Audrey Martin, Dianna Parker, Eric Solash, Hans Granholm, and Betty Germain. He presented them each with a jumbo chocolate toonie coin.

 

Our Christmas charity of choice was the same as last year, the Shoebox gift program, to provide a box full of toiletries and other items for ladies in women’s shelters in the Edmonton metro region and beyond. The Shoebox lady was at our dinner and spoke about how their program has grown over the last few years, and how excited she was to see all of the Christmas boxes they were receiving from our Rotary Club at the end of the evening. Positively  impacting people’s lives locally and internationally on a daily basis is what Rotarians do best.

 

Ken Sutley rounded up a Christmas choir spontaneously at the end of the evening to lead the room in singing some classic Christmas carols and to get in the festive spirit.

And as the Rotarians and guests headed home it was heard from above, Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night!

 
 
 
Christmas Party captured Eric Germain 2017-12-08 07:00:00Z 0

December Door Duty Roster.

Posted on Dec 08, 2017
This is a reminder to the people who were scheduled to either Door Duty or Setup & Greeter for the December date Dec 26.
 
December 26 we have no noon meeting and obviously we do not require anyone there.
 
December Door Duty Roster. Hans Granholm 2017-12-08 07:00:00Z 0

Christmas Party, 2017

Posted on Dec 01, 2017
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We look forward to see you all on Tuesday evening.
 
 
Please join us for the annual Christmas Party of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona on Tuesday December 5, 2017.

It will be held once again at the Edmonton Golf and Country Club. This is an event not to be missed.
 
We are doing the Shoebox project again this year. We will explain in more details later, but starting Tuesday November 7th, we will have the appropriate box available for you to pick up at our meeting. The cost is $2.25 per box.
 
Open this Link  to see more details about the Shoebox Project.
 
Bring your significant other, family and friends, your singing voices and Christmas Spirit and enjoy a relaxed evening among Rotary friends.
 
Dress: Professional Dress – no denim allowed in the Club    
 
Cocktails are at 6 p.m. and dinner will be served at 7p.m.. Please register as soon as possible.        
Registration deadline¨December 2nd, payable in advance to Rose Marie or Graham or on-line 
 
Need technical assistance? Contact Hans Granholm, 780-466-5566
Wanna see how much fun you can have? watch the photo album and slide show  from last year.
Christmas Party, 2017 Hans Granholm 2017-12-01 07:00:00Z 0 christmas,party

Andreas Larsen, Rotary Exchange Experiences

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 29, 2017
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Rotary Youth Exchange

This past Tuesday we heard from Andreas Lybecker Larsen, a Rotary Exchange student from Copenhagen, Denmark. Andreas is one of four Rotary exchange students in the Edmonton area and one of thirteen in our Rotary District. He is being hosted by the Edmonton Downtown Rotary club. Andreas is sixteen years old and is currently attending grade ten at McNally High School. He is also keeping very busy with many different Rotary related activities. He regularly attends the Edmonton Downtown club meetings and the Victoria School of Fine Arts Interact club meetings.  He arrived in Edmonton in mid August and will be living with four different Rotary host families over the course of his exchange year.
 
He has had the chance to travel, see and do many different things in his past few months in Alberta and told us about some of them. He gave am interesting presentation complemented by many pictures of the places and things he has done so far, and people he has met.  His first truly Canadian experience was the trip here with Air Canada. His flight from Copenhagen to San Francisco, and overnite stay there went smoothly, but getting from there to Edmonton required him to spend many long hours in airports waiting for multiple delayed flights, resulting in having to rebook missed connections three times, and then was capped off with a long delay at Customs in Calgary. He feels that he is now a pro at dealing with Air Canada booking agents.
 
His has spent time with his host family at their lake lot and has also been on trips to Banff and Lake Louise to go skiing and snowboarding, attended an Eskimos Football game, an Oilers Hockey game, several concerts, experienced West Ed Mall Galaxyland, and done lots of walking around Edmonton. He even got to try out playing hockey. His school life has been busy as he is playing school volleyball whenever he can.  He also has made many visits to Tim Hortons, and says he has bought something there forty two times already this year.
 
With the Rotary exchange students group he has been to the District Conference in Ft McMurray, a high light of which was a helicopter ride over the oil sands. The group also went canoeing down the North Saskatchewan river near Edmonton, where he quickly found out it was not possible to paddle upstream.  He and his canoe partner had to climb out into the rocks and water to carry their canoe upstream.   The exchange student group also helped to package food for Rise Against Hunger, helped out with building homes for Habitat for Humanity and worked at the Edmonton Food Bank.
His goal for this exchange was to experience as many new things as possible. He has already surpassed his bucket list, and is looking forward to many more new adventures and opportunities.
Andreas Larsen, Rotary Exchange Experiences Vi Hughes 2017-11-29 07:00:00Z 0 andreas,exchange,youth

J Percy Page Interactors

Posted by Eric Germain on Nov 24, 2017
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That was a great day at Ronald McDonald House on Wednesday November 15!
 
 
We made a lovely lasagna dinner for 100 people. Many of the RMH residents young and old, enjoyed our dinner and good company. Thanks to all of our Interact Club members who came out, and our Rotary Club drivers who provided the rides from Percy Page to RMH. We received many compliments from the guests and staff at RMH for providing their “Home For Dinner” meal this evening. Myself and Carin had a nice conversation with a Mom and her 2 year old son ( who liked Carin very much!) from Drayton Valley, who are taking their 6 week baby girl/sister home tomorrow after a medical procedure to help the baby survive. It makes our problems and challenges in life considerably smaller. The purpose of life is a life of purpose.
J Percy Page Interactors Eric Germain 2017-11-24 07:00:00Z 0 interact

Ellen Weber, Classification Talk and Namungo Presentation

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 22, 2017

Brains are us!

On Tuesday we were treated to a very interesting talk by our newest member Ellen Weber. Ellen‘s classification is Brain Research, and she is a past member of Rotary in Rochester, New York. Ellen grew up in Nova Scotia and was left to fend for herself at the young age of fourteen. She somehow managed to survive multiple family tragedies and went on to complete her schooling and then onwards to completion of University graduate studies, through high achievement and scholarships obtained by sheer determination, hard work and her personal faith. She went on to have a long and fulfilling career in the study of how the human brain learns by using multiple forms of intelligence. She has one daughter, whose family lives in the Edmonton area. She has taught at several different universities, most recently at St. John Fisher University near Rochester, New York.  Ellen has now retired, but still mentors graduate students in the field of innovative leading and learning. She has given countless presentations over the last forty years in many countries around the world on her MITA (Multiple Intelligences) based approach to learning and leadership. She is also the author of several books and also an award winning leadership and management blog, that can be found at brainleadersandlearners.com.
 
Along the way Ellen developed a way of presenting the complicated process of how the brain learns in simple layman’s terms, by using fictional characters with real brain parts which she calls Namungos.  She used these large, brightly colored cardboard cut outs to give a short, very interesting and entertaining presentation, with many examples thrown in for good measure. There are six Namungos. The first one she presented was ‘Bas’, who represents our Basal Ganglia, the part of your brain that is your mental warehouse. It remembers both good and bad and can often get you into a rut by preventing you from looking towards a newer way of doing things. This is the part of your brain that causes you to repeat the same stories over and over, to be dead sure that your opinion is the right one, and to think you know all the answers. The second Namungo was ‘WM’, or Working Memory. This Namungo only takes up a very small part of your brain, but it gets you thinking about new things which can then be moved over into ‘Bas’, your Basal Ganglia, during REM sleep. The third Namungo was ‘Sero’, or Serotonin, which is the neurotransmitter that makes you feel good and keeps you smiling. Keeping ‘Sero’ in action can bring all kinds of good things to you and the people around you. The fourth Namungo was ‘Cort’, or Cortisol, another brain affecting chemical, who brings sadness and a sense of never ending depression. It can also foster a mean, sarcastic approach to life. The fifth Namungo was ‘Plas’, or Plasticity, the quality which allows your brain to grow, repair itself and learn new things. It gives you the ability to come back after a massive stroke, as it did for Norman Doidge, who wrote a book titled The Brain that Changes Itself. ‘Plas’ works best in conjunction with ‘Sero’ and needs to avoid ‘Cort’ as much as possible. The sixth and last Namungo was ‘Myg’, or Amygdala which is the seat of your emotions. Controlling ‘Myg’ is the key to moving forward.  When you use your tamed Myg, everyone around you is heard from and treated fairly. When untamed, you become the bully who is miserable, angry, and filled with stubbornness.
 
In closing. Ellen emphasized that the choices we make every day in how we use these brain Namungos, determines whether we will be happy and successful, or not. She knows from personal experience the changes that the power of the human brain can bring in life.
Ellen Weber, Classification Talk and Namungo Presentation Vi Hughes 2017-11-22 07:00:00Z 0 Brain,ellen,weber

A poem from the trenches

Posted by Ken Germain on Nov 10, 2017
 
Thank you Ken Germain for sharing one of your father's treasures.  
A poem from the trenches Ken Germain 2017-11-10 07:00:00Z 0

Casino May 23-24, 2018

Posted on Nov 09, 2017
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Remember: Edmonton Strathcona casino.

    
Where:  Casino Edmonton - Argyll. 7055 Argyll Rd. NW   MAP
When:  Wednesday May 23 - Thursday May 24, 2018.
Why:  This is the largest fundraiser for our club in terms of revenue generated over a two day period. This revenue is basically divided into two and funds a majority of our community projects, local and international over a two year period. -
 
Sign-up:  VOLUNTEER LINK
 
Download: our Casino Advisor's Volunteer Guide
 
Questions: Contact Patrick Gibson, Event Organizer. 780-982-6741
Casino May 23-24, 2018 2017-11-09 07:00:00Z 0 casino

Andrea Burkhardt, End Poverty Edmonton

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 09, 2017
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This past Tuesday we heard from Andrea Burkhardt, pictured, from End Poverty Edmonton, on the Initiative of the City of Edmonton to end poverty in Edmonton, within a generation. This initiative was established in 2015, and they now have developed a road map to guide them forwards. The road map sets out five main goals with a total of thirty-five actions that have each been assigned to various groups around the city of Edmonton to address. It also sets benchmarks against which the results are to be measured.  
 
We have about one hundred thousand people in Edmonton living in poverty, including about thirty-five thousand children. The cost of health and social services to our Alberta economy for services provided each year to those living in poverty is over seven billion dollars. Lifting people out of poverty has some very real benefits for all of us.
 
In the past many different groups in Edmonton have been rescuing people from problem situations, Rotary being one of those groups, but most of these actions do not comprehensively address the root cause of the problems, which is poverty. The five goals of the road map are 1) Toward True Reconciliation, 2) Justice for All, 3) Move People out of Poverty, 4) Invest in a Poverty Free Future and 5) Change the Conversation: Build a Movement to End Poverty. Andrea explained that we need to remove the stigma around people who live in poverty.
 
There are six game changers, that if we do them well, will help to end poverty. These are to 1) Eliminate racism, by creating ways to recognise, include and celebrate the culture of our aboriginal peoples and other cultural groups. 2) Create livable incomes, the living wage in Edmonton is closing in on seventeen dollars and hour, but twenty percent of the population still works for less than fifteen dollars on hour.  3) Affordable housing, is an essential element in this strategy.  4) Affordable and accessible transit at all hours for homes, schools, services and places of business so that people can move easily from one to the other. 5) Child care that is affordable and high quality, and finally 6) Access to Mental Health and Addictions Services.
 
Half of these thirty-five actions belong to the City of Edmonton to address and the other half are spread among many different groups. She invited Rotary to have a look at the road map action points to see which of these things we can help to address. Ending poverty is not something any one group can do alone, we all need to work together on this problem. These goals are not set in stone, they can and will shift over time.
 
The current budget of the City of Edmonton to address these issues is set at five and a half million dollars a year and they are still in the process of setting benchmarks and ways to measure their progress. Poverty is about inclusion in society, not just money. Poverty and loneliness often go hand in hand. We can make a difference in peoples lives in more than just a monetary way by helping to end poverty.
Andrea Burkhardt, End Poverty Edmonton Vi Hughes 2017-11-09 07:00:00Z 0 poverty

Sad News.

Posted on Nov 07, 2017

Gordon Peterson, Hon. Member.

We are sad to report that one of our Honorary members, Gordon Peterson, died on Saturday, November 4th. 
Gordon had been a resident at St. Joseph's Auxillary Hospital for a number of years.
 
Gordon was introduced into our club and Rotary by Bill Skelly in 1996 with the classification of Law - Corporate.
 
Services to be held on Tuesday, November 14, at 1400-1600 at Glenwood Funeral Home.
Address: 52356 Range Road 232, Sherwood Park, Alberta T8B 1B8  [MAP]
 
Sad News. Hans Granholm 2017-11-07 07:00:00Z 0 gordon,peterson
Rotary Foundation Major Donor Presentation Vi Hughes 2017-11-01 06:00:00Z 0 major donor

Ellen Weber, New Member Induction

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 01, 2017
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District Governor, Frank Reitz, President, Vince Campbell and Sponsor Eric Germain inducted Ellen Weber, as a new member to our club. Ellen is a former member of the Pittsford Rotary Club in New York State. Her Classification is Brain Research. We would all like to extend a hearty welcome to Ellen.
 
Ellen Weber, New Member Induction Vi Hughes 2017-11-01 06:00:00Z 0 ellen,weber

Frank Reitz, District 5370 Governor

Posted by Vi Hughes on Nov 01, 2017
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On Tuesday, we heard from our District 5370 Governor for the coming 2017/18 year, Frank Reitz. Frank and his wife of fifty years, Barb, are long time members of the Ft. McMurray Rotary club.

The evening before, Monday the 30th, the club put on a 'Meet and Greet' evening organized by Diana Parker. The venue was the Bordeaux room at the Moose Factory.

OPEN AND RUN THE SLIDE SHOW 

He began his presentation with a video clip from a presentation given recently by Ian Risely, our International President on the Rotary theme for this year, ‘Rotary- Making a Difference’. He then spoke about how Rotarians continue to make a difference in our communities and the world at large through many various means. He reminded us that the basis for all of this is the local club membership, and how we need to encourage and strengthen our membership at the local level in order to achieve our goals. He spoke of how each club has it’s own culture, which in turn provides a wide array of choices for prospective members. We need to ensure that prospective members are aware of the obligations, such as regular attendance and club participation, as well as the benefits to joining Rotary.

Each club has it’s own community and international charities that it supports, and these help to give each club it’s own character. He commended our club on our excellent work with young people in Edmonton, in particular our support of our high school Interact club and the scholarships that we offer. He encouraged us to continue to support the Rotary Foundation and the Polio Eradication Fund. He said that WHO requires three years of no reported cases before a disease is considered eradicated, so we need to continue to support this fund for at least another three years. He mentioned the upcoming Presidential Peace Building Conference on Environmental Sustainability and Peace to be held next February in Vancouver and encouraged us to attend, if possible.

In closing he thanked us for our contributions to the Rotary Ft. McMurray Fire Relief Fund and spoke of how they have had to broaden the scope of the fund, as the original scope only included capital items (community owned buildings), most of which were not impacted by the fire. They have now broadened the terms of reference so that social services will to be able to provide counselling and other services, which are in high demand, as the impact of the personal home losses continues to affect people now and into the future.

DG Frank presented President Vince with certificates of appreciation from Shelterbox recognizing the club's contributions in 2015-16 and 2016-17.

Frank Reitz, District 5370 Governor Vi Hughes 2017-11-01 06:00:00Z 0 DG,Frank,Reitz

Scholarship Presentation

Posted by Carin Jansen van Vuuren on Oct 27, 2017

Scholarship Presentation

Every year the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona gives out six (6) scholarships to students who are all-round achievers, has shown leadership qualities by being involved in the life of the school and provided service in the community while overcoming significant challenges.

These funds are raised by our club members who place a high value on education.
​ 
In talking to her teachers, ​Emily Meyer is admired for her tenacity and resilience. ​She has been involved in many activities, including being part of the concert ensemble, festival of trees, playing in school pit band, to name a few.

She’s also partook in many volunteering opportunities and had to deal with many personal and family issues. A young lady to be admired for what she has overcome and achieved.
Together with the $1000 scholarship ​she received a token with the Rotary 4-way test on it. 
 
Scholarship Presentation Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2017-10-27 06:00:00Z 0

Eric Germain, Prospective Member Day

Posted by Vi Hughes on Oct 25, 2017
This past Tuesday was our ’bring a prospective new member’ day. Eric Germain, Club Membership Director, gave a short presentation on what Rotary is, and how to become a Rotarian. He explained that Rotary is all about ‘Service Above Self’ and how the purpose of life should be a life of purpose.  
 
He also spoke about the activities that our club supports and the service opportunities that we have as Rotarians. He gave a short history of Rotary, founded in 1905, and Rotary in Edmonton, which started in 1916. Our club was founded forty-three years ago. He spoke about how he grew up in a Rotary family, with his father John, and how that led to him becoming a Rotarian along with his brother Ken, and now his daughter Nicole,.  He explained that Rotary is a social group of people who are committed to making their communities and the world, as a whole, a better place for everyone.
 
There are one point two million Rotarians around the world in thirty-four thousand clubs, of all types. The twenty-two clubs in the greater Edmonton region range in membership from twelve members to over a hundred and twenty members. It is possible to find a club that meets on a day and time that is convenient for just about anyone. He also spoke about some of our local club activities throughout the year and some of the charities, both local and international, that we support, as well as the J Percy Page Interact high school club that we mentor.
 
We also heard from three Rotarians, Loida Lumanlan, Rose Marie Basaraba and Dimitri Papanicolas on what Rotary has meant to them as individuals. Loida spoke of how she enjoys being surrounded by like minded people who want to serve their community. Rotary has allowed her to meet a lot of amazing people that she would otherwise not have met. She also spoke of how much she enjoyed the weekly array of speakers, the apple strudel with whipped cream, and the joke of the week, which she can relate to her husband later, to gain points at home.  Rose Marie spoke of how she had retired from a very busy and engaging work life, but had no plan for what to do next, and had an invitation from a friend who brought her to Rotary. Joining Rotary gave her life purpose, and she has not looked back since, being busier than ever, with all kinds of Rotary activities. She spoke of how Rotary allows you to bring your skills with you when you volunteer. Dimitri talked about how he had joined Rotary at a time in his life when he was totally immersed in his work, and it gave him an opportunity to get to know people from other walks of life and helped to broaden his horizons. He has enjoyed being a part of the many volunteer opportunities it has presented, and is especially thankful that it is also flexible enough to recognise that working people may not always be available to help, but that they very much welcome the opportunity to help when they can. He also enjoys the variety of local speakers, on many diverse and interesting topics. Additionally, he appreciates the opportunity it gives for people to travel to other places and almost always be able to find a group of welcoming, like minded, people to socialize with.
Eric Germain, Prospective Member Day Vi Hughes 2017-10-25 06:00:00Z 0

Free Wheeling!

Posted by Ken Germain on Oct 25, 2017
 

Wheel of Fortune

For the last 20 years or so, our club has offered the chance to win a bottle of wine, a lottery ticket, or a Wheel of Fortune opportunity for a prize. A bit of fun in the middle of the meeting. Members pay $1. for the chance. We have made about $800.00 profit for the general revenue each year.
As this has recently been deemed a game of chance rather than a game of skill, the activity becomes an event that must be licensed by Alberta's Gaming Commission. 
That sounds like a lot of unnecessary work.
 
Tickets at the door are therefore now FREE of charge to everyone. No one pays for the opportunity to win the prizes, so it is not gambling.
 
We would like to continue The Wheel of Fortune and encourage members to help keep it rewarding and exciting by donating in one of three ways:
 
1) Donate prizes.  Fun prizes always show up. Thanks folks!
      Maybe sponsor a whole wedge! Consider the dozen roses spot. Great! Thanks Heather.
 
2) Sponsor the wine prize. Otherwise the club will pay for it. I can store it. No, really.
 
3) Donate cash! (a lot like sponsoring the wine prize but I buy the wine. Thanks Campbell C).
 
 
 
Free Wheeling! Ken Germain 2017-10-25 06:00:00Z 0

Maggi Hegan, Arch Enterprises

Posted by Vi Hughes on Oct 18, 2017
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On Tuesday, Maggi Hegan, pictured, Director of Program Services at Arch Enterprises, gave us an overview of the programs and services that they offer.
Arch Enterprises was founded in 1973 by members of the South Side Rotary club to help disabled adults achieve their goals. In 1986, they invited some members of our club to join the board as well.  It has evolved over the years, and now provides vocational programs that help around one hundred disabled adults each year. They are supported mainly by Alberta Ministry of Community and Social Services, as well as income from their retail Greenhouse, with a much smaller amount from their casino, which takes place once every two years.  They have twenty-two full time staff, and many are long time team members. Their staff has a reputation for excellence and they recently were awarded Level II Accreditation (the highest level) from the Alberta Council of Disability Services.
 
Their clients range in age from eighteen to seventy-eight. They provide each of then with an individualised plan to help them achieve their goals. These plans change over time as their interests and abilities change. They offer many different types of programs, from adapted yoga and other recreational programs, art programs, music therapy, and educational programs, to opportunities to volunteer in the community. Volunteering gives their clients an opportunity to expand their horizons and to make connections in the community. They also offer specific employment training, and help with resume writing, job search and with specific skills needed by the jobs that they are offered. They also go on-site with their clients to help with adjustment to a new job environment.
 
They have a large network of dedicated employers that work with them to provide employment opportunities for their clients.  In addition, they also provide some work through their greenhouse, especially in the spring season. The Greenhouse has a very good reputation and has built up quite a loyal clientele over the years. Their greenhouse manager, John Clement, was a recipient of the Alberta Greenhouse Grower of the Year Award in 2012.
 
As Rotarians we can help by volunteering to support their casino events, patronising their greenhouse and becoming a Friend of Arch. We can also contact them if we have a suitable employment opportunity, and, if we know of any other organisations they should get their message out to.
 
Maggi Hegan, Arch Enterprises Vi Hughes 2017-10-18 06:00:00Z 0 arch

Edmonton Comedy Festival 2017, Wrap!

Posted by Hans Granholm on Oct 16, 2017

Thank You!

Thanks to Patrick Gibson, Ivan Docker, Vince Campbell, Dennis Freeman, Eric de Kok and Heather de Kok, The 7th annual comedy festival in Edmonton was a great success.
 
Sacrifying a quiet evening at home in front of a boring Oiler game with driving a bunch of comedians and listen to their, mostly, funny commentary--Priceless!
 
 
Our President Vince was an enthusiastic newbie.
 
We have received considerable PR exposure with a prominent mention in the Festival program inside the front page.
 
Thanks again Team. We couldn't have done this without your enthusiastic participation.
 
I hope we will be given the opportunity to volunteer next year.
 
Cheers!
Hans G.
 
ecf
Edmonton Comedy Festival 2017, Wrap! Hans Granholm 2017-10-16 06:00:00Z 0 ecf

Meet And Greet!

Posted by Diana Parker on Oct 14, 2017
Dear Fellow Rotarians:
 
 On the evening of Monday,  October 30th, President Vince and our Club will host an informal reception to welcome DG Frank Reitz and his wife, Barbara, who will be in Edmonton for club visits later that week.
 
Please join us from 7 to 9 pm in the Bordeaux Room at the Moose Factory, 4810 Calgary Trail. Your spouse/partner is most welcome.
 
The club will provide appetizers.  There will be a cash bar.  No tickets are required but please RSVP by October 24th.  Reply to e-mail or phone 780-446-2629.
 
Yours in Rotary,
Diana Parker
Meet And Greet! Diana Parker 2017-10-14 06:00:00Z 0 DG,Reitz
Make your Vote Count! Hans Granholm 2017-10-14 06:00:00Z 0

Patrick Gibson, Classification RefresherTalk

Posted on Oct 11, 2017
This past Tuesday we heard a classification refresher talk from long time rotarian Patrick Gibson, (pictured), Patrick first joined Rotary as a charter member of the Canmore, Alberta club, twenty eight years ago.  
Patrick was born and raised in the Oshawa, Ontario area. His great grandfather had come from Ireland to Ontario and owned and operated a large livery stable in Oshawa, which supplied the horses for the local dairy, among other things.  As a young man, Patrick found he had a talent for metal working, but eventually decided to take carpentry to give himself more of a challenge. He met and married his wife Susan in Ontario and they travelled across Canada to the west coast, on their honeymoon. They stopped along the way in Banff, and really enjoyed the Mt Norquay area, as they liked to ski, and this was nothing like the ski hills back in Ontario. He was even offered a job as a carpenter in Banff at the time, but turned it down to return to Ontario.
 
Some years later, in 1976, they returned to Alberta and settled in Canmore, where he started his own construction business. He helped to build the smokestack for the powerplant, just outside of Canmore, and remembers well how scary it was hanging from cables that were anchored to the green (freshly poured two days earlier) concrete wall, and a long ways off the ground, putting the inside structure into place.  His company went on to work on many different buildings in and around Canmore, and also at Sunshine Village. He remembers it as a challenging time that meant working with a lot of different trades, often acting as a referee in order to get the job done properly and on schedule.
 
They stayed in Canmore for seventeen years, until his wife was offered a job in Vancouver, and they decided it was time to move on. Patrick also decided around this time that he would probably enjoy a different type of work, where he could be more independent, and decided that he might enjoy financial services as an occupation. He read a lot of books on the business and then started taking the courses required to become a financial planner. Once they had moved to Vancouver, he was offered a job in Financial Services and has never looked back. A few years later his wife was offered another job, this time in Edmonton, so they moved on again and have been in the Edmonton area ever since.
 
They have two daughters, one on Edmonton and one in Vancouver, both married, and have several grandchildren whom they love to spend time with. His wife retired two years ago, and Patrick is planning to retire at the end of this year.
He has always enjoyed solitary motorcycle touring, and intends to continue on with this, and spend more time taking photos, videos, and writing stories for his blog, Adventures on Two Wheels. He has already toured in quite a few countries and is thinking of adding a few more to the list. Some trips he would like to take are the California coast, Monument Valley in New Mexico and the Baja Peninsula in Mexico. He is also thinking he might branch out into off road motorcycle riding. Along with all of his other interests, and his rotary activities, I think Patrick will be busier than ever in retirement.
 
Patrick Gibson, Classification RefresherTalk 2017-10-11 06:00:00Z 0 Patrick

ELEPAP update, new photos

Posted by Dimitri Papanicolas on Oct 07, 2017
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I received these photographs from ELEPAP showing the use of the computers we donated by young children and adolescent during their training sessions.
 
 
They want us to know that with our donation they have achieved their training goals and the required therapeutic interventions. With the old computers they could not use the software. Look at the attention that young kids are watching the screen.
 
 
Dimitri 
ELEPAP update, new photos Dimitri Papanicolas 2017-10-07 06:00:00Z 0 elepap

Dr. Louis Francescutti, Emergency Medicine Expert

Posted by Vi Hughes on Oct 04, 2017
On Tuesday we heard from Dr. Louis Francescutti, Emergency Medicine Expert and Professor at the University of Alberta School of Public Health give an impassioned talk on the legalisation of marijuana and the problems it will cause for the individuals who use it, their employers, the health care system and the public at large.
 
 
A few weeks ago, he received a request to appear before the National Committee to speak on Bill C46, authorising the legalisation of marijuana in Canada. In his opinion, marijuana is far too dangerous to the health of our young people to be made legal, and if it is made legal, the minimum age for use should be twenty-five. As an emergency room physician he sees the effects every day on people who come in with cyclic vomiting (caused by steady marijuana use), young people having psychotic episodes brought on by the use of marijuana, and the permanent damage it causes to young lives from the changes it causes in brain chemistry.
 
The marijuana of today is one hundred times stronger than the marijuana most older folks smoked when they were young, One puff held in the lungs for a short time can cause disorientation for hours. It also results in addiction in one out of every six users.  The damage it causes to young people is due to the fact that their brains are still developing, up until around the age of twenty-five, and marijuana contains chemicals that can change gene expression in the brain leading to abnormal developmental processes. This can cause a lowering of their intelligence, and sometimes can bring on brain disorders like schizophrenia or other forms of psychosis, which will then be present for life.  The smoke from marijuana also contains some serious carcinogenic substances, just as damaging, or even more so, than tobacco smoke.
 
 
Legalisation of marijuana will not alleviate the illegal market, in fact it will probably encourage younger people, ten years old and up, to give it a try, as the government says it is legal, so it must be safe. It will also expose our children to more poisoning episodes in the home, due to the presence of tempting edibles such as candy and brownies. We will see more road accidents due to drugged driving, and will also see a spike in workplace injuries. Employers will have all kinds of issues with delinquency, productivity, and quality of work from impaired workers, much of which may not be immediately apparent. For example, if the electrician wiring your new home is using while working, their errors may not become apparent until much later. Workers seeking to avoid the stigma of testing positive for marijuana use, and still needing the high it gives, may switch to even worse substitutes such as crystal meth. There will be a lot more people who need help dealing with addiction and mental health issues, and we can barely keep up with helping those who need help now.
 
The marijuana industry will most likely follow the same mantra that the tobacco industry uses, to manipulate to the product to make it as addictive as possible, while downplaying the public health issues, claiming everything is fine, while maximising their profit. This will be a big money industry and our government is being blinded by the dollar signs that taxes will bring in. Every tax dollar earned should be earmarked for mental health, but we know this will not happen. Not very many organised groups have stood up to protest the legalisation. He would like to see a lot more people stand up to oppose this legislation, as our young people, those who will be impacted most, are least likely of all to understand the impact it is about to have on their lives.
Dr. Louis Francescutti, Emergency Medicine Expert Vi Hughes 2017-10-04 06:00:00Z 0 Dr. Louis Francescutti
Marketing Workshop Conor Pilz 2017-10-04 06:00:00Z 0 marketing

Presidential Peacebuilding Conference

Posted on Oct 04, 2017
 
As you may know RI President Ian Riseley is holding six peacebuilding conferences around the world. The first of these international conferences is close for your members to attend. On February 9-11, 2018 in Vancouver, BC. The presidential peacebuilding conference will examine sustainable global and local environmental practices, and their contributions to peacebuilding and peacemaking.
 
Participants will discuss the impact of environmental issues on health, fresh air, clean water, vegetation, and food production – and how improved environmental conditions are a fundamental condition of building peace within communities. The conference will bring together community leaders, youth, and representatives from the public, private, and government sectors. Attendees also can participate in a hands-on service project the morning after the conference.
 
There will be a focus on how Rotary clubs can involve their local community in sustainable projects and peacebuilding.
 
Members of any Rotary club are to encouraged to attend this important international Rotary event.  
 
The conference website has a list of keynote speakers, link to book a hotel room, draft program and a link to the registration.  Please visit: www.EnvironmentandPeace.com.
 
Rotarians from the US, Canada and around the world will come together at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver for this conference. Will your club be represented? 
 
Thank you for all you do for Rotary and your community,
 
 
Chris Offer, PDG
for Rotary Peacebuilding Conference Vancouver
Presidential Peacebuilding Conference 2017-10-04 06:00:00Z 0 conference,presidential

Oktoberfest Invitation from the Rotary Club of Sherwood Park

Posted on Oct 04, 2017
The Rotary Club of Sherwood Park is holding its first annual Oktoberfest on Saturday October 7th.  Funds raised will be used to support community and youth services projects.  Specifically, we are looking to once again hold a meal packaging event - but this time sponsored by Rotary and organized by our new community interact club.
 
We would love to have some of your club members join us for an evening of fellowship at Festival Place in Sherwood Park. Tickets purchased in groups of six will be able to reserve tables.  Live music and a traditional German meal is included in your ticket price.  $5 beer available for purchase.  Wine and spirits also available.
 
Oktoberfest Invitation from the Rotary Club of Sherwood Park 2017-10-04 06:00:00Z 0 oktoberfest

Nisku Leduc Special Luncheon

Posted on Oct 04, 2017
 
The Nisku Leduc Rotary Club is extending an invitation to you to visit the club for a special meeting by MP Mike Lake. Mike is the MP of the Leduc Wetaskiwin riding and shares a passion for helping others.
 
The lunch is on Friday, October 13 at Red Tail Landing Golf Course at the Edmonton International Airport. Come for networking at 11 am. The Program starts at 11:30 and the luncheon goes until 1 pm sharp.
 
All Rotary Clubs and their guests are invited to attend this great event!
If you are attending, please RSVP by October 11 to alana@mmpleduc.com
Nisku Leduc Special Luncheon 2017-10-04 06:00:00Z 0 leduc,nisku

Kim Beuhler, South East Edmonton Seniors Association

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 27, 2017
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This past Tuesday, we changed up our meeting location and joined the South East Edmonton Seniors Association (SEESA) for lunch. They meet in what was at one time, a Catholic Elementary School building, that shared the school yard with Holyrood Public School (which is still in use). We ate lunch in their cafeteria along with their usual lunchtime crowd.
 
We heard from Kim Beuhler, their Executive Director, who gave us a brief introduction to SEESA and the programs that they offer. SEESA was founded in the late nineties by a group of neighbourhood people who were concerned that the school, which was set to be sold to Arch Greenhouses, would be attracting too much traffic to their neighbourhood. The Seniors Association, has become a very popular neighbourhood hub, with almost fifteen hundred members, which definitely attracts more traffic all year round than the greenhouse ever would have!  This seniors association has an official outreach area that takes in all neighbourhoods south of the river, north of the Whitemud and east of 99 St, although they also accept members from outside this range.
 
Membership is currently thirty dollars per year with extra fees charged for their various activities. They offer many different types of services and programs for seniors. They are a community hub for Meals on Wheels drivers. They have a Home Supports Services Co-ordinator who vets and then can recommend local businesses that offer many different types of home maintenance and cleaning services. They have a cafeteria that serves a hot breakfast (for seven dollars) and lunch (for ten dollars) five days a week, as well as other smaller items to anyone who wants to drop in. They also have a library, a gymnasium, a woodworking room, a pool room with several pool tables, and several more classrooms which are used for all kinds of clubs and classes. The building is open from morning to evening five days a week, with all kinds of clubs, drop in activities and classes going on at any one time. Their most popular classes are the fitness classes, which range from Cardio Salsa, Fitness for Life, Clogging, Yoga for Men, Line Dancing, Pickle Ball and Nordic Pole Walking, to Soft Pilates, Ballroom Dancing and many more. They have music classes, choirs, clubs for Guitar players, Bridge, Cribbage, Table Tennis, Toastmasters, Knitting, Quilting, Wood Carving, and many more.  They also offer courses on using your iPad, managing investments, estate planning, creating your own cook book, and elder abuse, among many others.
 
One project involves giving medical students a look at what life is like for a healthy senior, as opposed to the patients they see in hospital. They partner with the U. of A. Medical School to give all fourth year medical students one day in the center. They host one or two students each day, give them a tour and then let them join in on which ever activities they would like. They soon learn that they can barely keep up with these seniors and often get their buts quite soundly kicked by someone in their eighties, at the various sports.
 
Another project they currently have is the neighbourhood bench program, which started a few years ago when Kim heard about this type of program and decided to try it herself. She got her brother in law to build her a bench, painted it up brightly and chained it to a tree in her front yard. It was such a hit with her neighbours that she decided to expand the project. The association applied for and received a grant of twenty five hundred dollars to produce twenty three benches that were placed all over the Holyrood neighbourhood, on the boulevard, with a home owner to make sure the bench is looked after and accessible all year round. They then started making the benches for sale to people who were willing to look after them and it has burgeoned into quite a popular project, with seventy eight benches sold so far, for one hundred dollars each. The bench comes unpainted, with a gift certificate to pay for paint, a chain and a padlock. The purchaser must sign an agreement to place it on their street and to look after it.
 
One day in the cafeteria Kim overheard a lady tell someone that if it was not for SEESA, she would have killed herself. She lived nearby and her husband had recently passed away. She felt very alone and isolated. Then one day she came for a meal at SEESA.  As Kim said in closing, you should never under estimate the power of a meal. You never know what changes in someone’s life, providing a cup of coffee, or a meal for someone can achieve.
Kim Beuhler, South East Edmonton Seniors Association Vi Hughes 2017-09-27 06:00:00Z 0 SEESA

This week's Laugh

Posted on Sep 20, 2017

 Did you hear about the cowboy who dressed in brown paper bags?
He was arrested for rustling!


 
This week's Laugh Ken Germain 2017-09-20 06:00:00Z 0

Bruce Flesher; A Life Lived With Meaning

Posted by Ken Germain on Sep 20, 2017
 
 
President Vince Gets A Tip From The King Of Hospitality

 
The history of Bruce Flesher was laid out for us on Tuesday by the author of "This is Us". The book about his family.

Starting with John Flesher in 1801, Bruce's great grandfather had a hardware store in Flesherton, near Owen Sound, Ontario.
His Dad came west and drove one of the 5 cars in Edmonton at the time. Not his own, but remarkable for sure.
With low prices hitting hard and fast, he sold his cattle by the piece, preserved with river ice to make ends meat. (!)
Mother came from Magnolia to meet father. Bruce was born later in Edmonton and lived in Norwood. A gravel road trip to Banff with his family was a highlight of his young life.
Joyce came into the picture at an early age. They have known each other since they were seven years old. High school friends and all that.
Eventually, recognizing their love for each other which has never ended, they married. Bruce liked the Sugar Bowl restaurant and owned it for a short while. Moving on to other restaurants like Mr. Johns and Cockney Kids fish and chips, Bruce had over 30 restaurants and 300 staff.
Successful children have come along as well. All have degrees from University, paid for by themselves. A very proud point for Bruce.
The four steps to success:
1) identify and define what it is you want.
2) act like you have already achieved what you want.
3) don't let things hinder you. only listen if it aids you and will help you.
4) listen, watch,
Be ready  to act when the logical opportunity comes. It will. Guaranteed.

Thanks Bruce. Like you said about your lovely wife Joyce, "pure gold!"
 
Sponsor Bill Skelly Thanked the speaker with a happy tear
 
 
A good sized group was out for the very interesting
life and times of Bruce Flesher
Bruce Flesher; A Life Lived With Meaning Ken Germain 2017-09-20 06:00:00Z 0 Bruce,Flesher

News from J Percy Page Interact Club

Posted by Salma Ibrahim on Sep 15, 2017
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Dear Eric [Germain] and Strathcona Club,
 
One last thank you for  introducing me to Rotary through my high school years. I really enjoyed the club, the fundraisers, and the trips. Even though planning the Fundraiser the past few years were hard, it clearly was worth it with all the money we were able to donate at the end. Sometime during the year I was informed that our club was the largest high school interact club in the district (5370) that ranges from here and up north and into the territories with over 40 students registered.
 
I was hoping that you could send my thanks to the Strathcona group for me. It was an incredible honour to be the president of not only our largest group yet at page, but the entire district!! Im so proud, and I hope I represented the Club well as VP and President and that you are proud of my performance as well. 
 
   
 
Also a big thank you from us grade 12. Being in the Interact club really gave us many memories together. I have attached a photo of (left to right) 
  • Me, Salma Ibrahim (member 2014-15, VP 2015-16, and President 2016-17)
  • Sophie Berube (member 2014-15, Past President 2015-16, 2016-17 and director 2016-17)
  • Ouch Nwoke (member 2014-15, Director 2015-16, Director 2016-17)
I will reply with another email with a picture of the entire group. Our group photo for the yearbook was the largest group. So large that we had to get rid of the backdrop because we could fit in its frame!! It was a great problem to have And I was so proud to be the President of that specific group.I was hoping you could attach the photo to your club website not he JPP page. I just have to find it since one teacher at school has access to it, and since Im in university now, it might take a while. Hopefully by next week. 
 
I will be sending another email with tip and advice on how the club can continue with this streak. good luck to the next generation of Interact and good luck to President Vincent Campbell in the 2017-2018 year. Please know that your sponsorship at our school is making great impacts in our live as it did for my friends and I as we all head to another chapter. Thank you for the memories and we will always live with the motto of Service Above Self I. our everyday lives. I hope your presence at j Percy page continues. Thank you. 
 
Sincerely,
 
Salma Ibrahim
 
News from J Percy Page Interact Club Salma Ibrahim 2017-09-15 06:00:00Z 0 J Percy Page,JPP,interact

Kecia Kerr, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society of Northern Alberta

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 13, 2017
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On Tuesday we heard a very interesting presentation from Kecia Kerr, pictured, the Executive Director of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society of Northern Alberta (CPAWS NAB). CPAWS NAB is a non-profit organization that is science based and collaborates with government, indigenous peoples and local communities to advocate for protection of our parks and wilderness areas. It was established in 1968 and was the first regional chapter of CPAWS. The Northern Alberta branch advocates for the three National Parks in Northern Alberta, Wood Buffalo, Jasper and Elk Island, along with our other wilderness areas. About sixty percent of the land in northern Alberta is public land and twelve percent of this is currently protected in some way. Nationally, ninety percent of land is public and ten percent of this is protected.
 
The International Convention on Biodiversity goal for protected land, to ensure biological diversity and sustainability is to protect seventeen percent of all land by 2020.  CPAWS NAB is currently campaigning to have the Bighorn watershed set aside as protected land. This headwater provides ninety percent of the water in the North Saskatchewan River and none of it is currently protected.  The argument for Parks and protected areas is quite strong. Diverse woodlands of this type help to mitigate extreme weather events by acting as sponges to absorb excess water and also reducing the effects of drought. Connected protected areas help to provide refuges for all kinds of wildlife.
 
She then went on to talk more specifically about Elk Island National Park. Elk Island was first protected in 1899, to provide a refuge for the population of native elk that resided there. In 1906 a fence was built to enclose the park, and it is still the only completely enclosed National Park in Canada. The park reached its current size in 1947. The park is composed of a very unique type of habitat, based on glacial moraine, with lakes, wetlands and mixed forest. It was deemed a Biosphere Reserve in 1916 and is also now a Dark Sky Preserve, where one can view the stars and night sky wonders such as the northern lights. It is home to forty species of animals, two hundred species of birds, one species of reptile and two species of fish.
 
Kecia Kerr, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society of Northern Alberta Vi Hughes 2017-09-13 06:00:00Z 0 cpaws,elk

Meals On Wheels on the roll...

Posted by Vince Campbell on Sep 08, 2017
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Hi Vince,
 
Thanks for arranging today’s volunteer session. We were happy to have the help of so many Rotarians! I hope that everyone enjoyed themselves. I managed to take one picture while on shift (see attached). I’ve already tweeted it out – feel free to use it as you choose.
 
 
Joan Freeman, Karen Peddie and Loida Lumanlan
Thanks again!
 
Caitlin Fleming
Community Engagement & Fund Development Manager
 
Edmonton Meals on Wheels
Meals On Wheels on the roll... Vince Campbell 2017-09-08 06:00:00Z 0 meals,wheels

Paul Harris Awards Presentations, 170905

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 06, 2017
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Hal Quilliam presented three Paul Harris Awards on behalf of the trustees of the Rotary Foundation. Campbell Chow received a Paul Harris plus three award, Wally Romaniuk received a Paul Harris plus two award. Bob Sandercock and his wife Libby received a Major Donor Award for their ongoing support of the Rotary Foundation. The major donor award is presented for donations beyond the Paul Harris plus eight level.

  

Paul Harris Awards Presentations, 170905 Vi Hughes 2017-09-06 06:00:00Z 0

Debbie Cameron-Laninga, Caregivers Alberta

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 06, 2017
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This past Tuesday we heard from Debbie Cameron-Laninga, pictured, Program Team Lead and Executive Director of Caregivers Alberta. Caregivers Alberta is an organisation that provides programs and services for caregivers. It was founded in 2001 in Edmonton, and has grown to encompass the whole province. They provide workshops, drop-in information sessions and advice from a caregiver advisor for caregivers of all kinds throughout the province.
 
Debbie started out by telling us a little about her personal journey as a caregiver and how she came to be involved with this group. She grew up in Alberta, and has family here. She is a licensed pilot, and she and her husband had lived overseas for many years, and were flying aid missions in Papua New Guinea, when they received news that her parents were not well. Within weeks of returning home, both of her parents were given terminal cancer diagnoses. She and her husband decided to take leave from their jobs to stay here and care for them. Neither of them had any experience with the local medical community or supportive care systems, as they had lived overseas for many years.
 
Debbie Cameron-Laninga, Caregivers Alberta Vi Hughes 2017-09-06 06:00:00Z 0 caregivers

Your Rotary Club is going out to lunch!

Posted by Audrey Martyn on Sep 01, 2017
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Program Chair, Audrey Martyn, has arranged an out-of-site visit to South East Edmonton Seniors Association (SEESA) for our September 26 luncheon meeting.

We will have lunch in the cafeteria -- please bring $10 cash -- SEESA Executive Director, Kim Buehler will present an overview SEESA's operation.

DETAILS

Your Rotary Club is going out to lunch! Audrey Martyn 2017-09-01 06:00:00Z 0 SEESA

Patrick Gibson, New Hope School Fundraising Presentation

Posted by Vi Hughes on Aug 31, 2017

New Hope School

Our Rotary group has partnered in a joint venture with the Rotary Club of Pretoria to help raise funds for the New Hope School in Pretoria. Patrick Gibson has put together a presentation that he will be making to the other rotary clubs in our area to encourage them to help us with this venture. Our goal is to put enough funding in place for us to be able to apply for a Rotary International matching grant.
 
Patrick gave us the same presentation he will be making to other local rotary groups. It included a short introduction on the New Hope School, followed by a video that has been prepared by the New Hope School. The New Hope School has been one of the projects of our club for some years now, and most of our members are well aware of the work they do in schooling for handicapped children in the Pretoria area. They provide many services above and beyond the usual schooling activities, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and many others, as needed by their students.
 
They receive only basic funding from the local government, so must fundraise to provide these other services. Some of the specific projects our funds could be used for would be a specialised playground, or programs to provide technical skills such as kitchen skills, nail and hair salon skills and sewing skills.  Patrick has also put together a ‘Go Fund Me’ page on the web, on which people can get more information, view the video and make contributions. We will also be adding a link on our Rotary web page to this site.
 
 
 
Patrick Gibson, New Hope School Fundraising Presentation Vi Hughes 2017-08-31 06:00:00Z 0 new hope,school

Stacey Maurier, Wills and Estates Quiz

Posted by Vi Hughes on Aug 31, 2017

Speaker August 29

 
This Tuesday, Stacey returned to give us a short quiz session regarding the talks she had presented over the past few weeks.
 
The questions covered all aspects of wills, powers of attorney and personal care directives, and also gave us a quick over view of all three topics.  Overall, the members present were able to answer most of her questions quickly and correctly.
 
Stacey noted that there continue to be changes to the law affecting wills and estates and we need to periodically check that the documents we have in place are up to date.  Her closing advice was to take care of your documents and make sure there are no issues.
Stacey Maurier, Wills and Estates Quiz Vi Hughes 2017-08-31 06:00:00Z 0

Paul Harris Awards Presentations

Posted by Vi Hughes on Aug 31, 2017
Our President, Vince Campbell, presented a Paul Harris plus six award to Hal Quilliam and then Hal presented three more awards to other members of our club. Dennis Freeman received a Paul Harris plus three award, Eric Solash received a Paul Harris plus two award and Eugene Sekora received Paul Harris plus one award.
 
 
 
 
Paul Harris Awards Presentations Vi Hughes 2017-08-31 06:00:00Z 0 PHF,Paul Harris
a Very Special Evening with Mr. Harald W. Kuckertz Hans Pilz 2017-08-25 06:00:00Z 0 kuckertz

Stacey Maurier, Executor’s Duties

Posted by Vi Hughes on Aug 23, 2017

Speaker, August 22

On Tuesday, we hosted Stacey Maurier, pictured, of the Estate Connection law firm, to talk to us about how to be an excellent executor. She gave out handbooks that presented sixty five ways to be a good executor, that included timelines, checklists, many different types of handy forms, and samples of common types of correspondence. She then went on to talk about some of the things that we can do to make our executor’s life a little easier. One of the things that we can do now is to pre-arrange our funeral, and let our families know what we would like. It will save our families a lot of stress, time and money once the time comes. If you have added a family member’s name to your bank account or property title, those assets, as present on your date of death, are still considered part of your estate and must be accounted for and distributed as stated in the will.  If you have made loans to family members prior to your death they now become due and must be paid into the estate.  Make sure you have a will, and store the original in a safe place. Let your family know where it is stored. Probating a copy of a will, instead of the original, can be done, but it could be time consuming and costly.
 
The will is the guiding principle for everything an executor does, but does not cover everything. There are also fiduciary rules, Canadian common law and trusteeship rules that must be considered. An executor must be fair and equitable to all concerned, and the will must be followed to the letter. Changes can not be made to what is laid out in the will, without making a court application.
 
The executor should keep detailed records of everything they do and decisions they make in relation to the estate and should keep family members/beneficiaries up to date with monthly written updates. Setting up an email account strictly for this purpose is a good way to keep track of all correspondence. Ask everyone to use this email account for all correspondence regarding the estate.  Keep a small notebook in which you write everything done, in chronological order. Records should be detailed and be accompanied by receipts and any other corroborating paperwork. Another way to keep a record is to photograph everything, receipts, checks etc. The court can require an accounting of every detail at any time. They have a lot of power to set time limits for the sale of assets, set penalties on the executor, or even replace an executor.
 
The executor may make reasonable use of funds. If they are not good at accounting, they can hire a book keeper. If the home needs major cleaning prior to sale, they can hire a cleaning company. If there are family disputes that arise, that they feel they do not have the skills to handle, they can hire an impartial professional to act as executor in their place.  
The executor is responsible for keeping the assets of the deceased safe, and so should change locks on doors, secure vehicles and other property, secure all bank accounts and safe deposit boxes. This will prevent people from stealing items. Taking photos of the house, contents and other property immediately is also a good idea. All of the deceased’s mail should be directed to the executor’s home. Having a valuation done by a professional on the contents of the house should also be done as these values will be needed as part of the probate application. Advertising for creditors is also worthwhile, even though the cost may seem high. It can save nasty surprises later.  If you let people into the house, you should always be present.
 
The executor is responsible for paying the debts of the deceased, but there are laws that govern the payment of debts if they exceed the assets, and also that govern the payment of credit card bills. Any utility bills and income taxes due should be paid promptly, other creditors bills can wait. You must follow the law.  Most estates should be able to be wrapped up within a year of death, with the exception of receipt of the tax clearance certificate from Revenue Canada. Stacy had a lot of small anecdotes that she used that made the talk quite interesting and helped to clarify how issues can arise. An executor’s job is not easy, and dealing with a lot of different people can be stressful, but if we follow her advice, it should be a lot easer.
Stacey Maurier, Executor’s Duties Vi Hughes 2017-08-23 06:00:00Z 0 estate,executor

Meals on Wheels thank you

Posted by Vince Campbell on Aug 18, 2017
The following letter of appreciation was received from Meals on Wheels:
 
         11111 103 AVE NW
     Edmonton, AB T5K 2P1
Phone: 780-429-2020
Fax: 780-424-5561
www.mealsonwheelsedmonton.org
 
 
August 15, 2017
 
Rotary Club of Strathcona
 
To Vince and the Rotary team,
 
Thank you so much for your support of Edmonton Meals on Wheels and our clients. Your financial support has made a difference in the lives of many local frail and homebound seniors. The $1,000.00 we received from the Rotary team on August 4, 2017 will be supporting meal and grocery delivery. Your donation has directly impacted the lives of the elderly, frail, at-risk and disabled Edmontonians who cannot access food nor cook any longer, but wish to maintain their independence.
 
Every day, we are able to see the difference that your support has made in the lives of our clients. One of those clients, Donald, had the following to say, “If it wasn’t for Meals on Wheels, I probably wouldn’t be able to stay in my home at my age.” It’s also the out-of-town family members that benefit from our services. Knowing that their loved ones are taken care of really reduces the amount of worry and stress. Danica’s father was on our hot meal delivery service for many years. She says, “My dad received Meals on Wheels for a number of years and this made all the difference in his ability to stay in his own home. As his family, we are grateful for the care that he received through the volunteers and the meals themselves.”
 
Our sincere thanks for your incredible commitment and contribution towards helping to fund vital programs at Edmonton Meals on Wheels. We are truly grateful that you choose to support our mission and our clients.
 
-The Edmonton Meals on Wheels team
 
Official Charity Name: Edmonton Meals on Wheels
Charitable Business Number: 11889-3940-RR0001
 
 
Meals on Wheels thank you Vince Campbell 2017-08-18 06:00:00Z 0 meals,wheels

Sandra Maloney, Int’l Children’s Festival of the Arts

Posted by Vi Hughes on Aug 16, 2017
On Tuesday, Sandra Maloney, pictured, from the International Children’s Festival of the Arts, spoke to us. This event is held in St. Albert, for six days at the end of May each year. The first three days are specifically aimed at school groups and the last three days are aimed towards the public. This event attracted over fifty thousand people this year. It is held in downtown St. Albert with the Arden Theatre as an anchor facility. It covers five city blocks and uses forty tents as well as several nearby indoor facilities.
 
They bring in many different types of entertainment acts, from singers, puppeteers and jugglers, to face painters, acrobats, magicians and many more. The festival has both free and paid activities, and no busking is allowed. Their goal is to provide an out of school learning and enrichment experience in the arts for children and their families. The festival attracts school groups from all over northern and central Alberta and even brings in a few groups from out of province. They also have a Toddler Town experience for families with small children under four years of age. It includes craft activities, short shows, music lessons and a collection of sensory bins that are quite popular. It consists of several large bins filled with things such as dried beans, sand or shaving cream, which the children can play in.
 
They are a registered charity that is part of a group of nationwide regional festivals. This helps them to partner with other festivals to cover the cost of bringing in well known entertainment groups. The local festival has over five hundred volunteers that help to make it happen, and many come back year after year. The festival has been happening for thirty-six years in the Edmonton region. When it moved from being held in Edmonton to St. Albert, they made an agreement with the City of St. Albert that there would be no cost to the St. Albert taxpayer. The festival is fully supported by fundraising efforts. They receive some funding from the federal government Canadian Heritage fund an also from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. The remainder of their funding comes from local sponsors, businesses and individuals. Their budget for the past year was just over one point five million in kind and cash.
 
They have many different types of projects that donors can support. Their Outreach Program provides funding for one school to send the entire student body to the Festival for a full day of programming, which includes the cost of busing and a full day of performances and activities. The school board makes the decision on which school will be selected. They also have a program that brings the entertainers to children in places like the Stollery Children’s Hospital, the Glenrose and the Elves Child Development center. Their Unity Project involves several tall poles, each with a statement of something some people like to do attached, such as I read books, I pray etc. Each person then wraps some colored yarn around the pole that most applies to them and the yarn is pushed upwards and off the top of the pole to become part of a large overhead meshwork signifying how everyone is different, but we are all still all connected to each other.
 
They measure outcomes each year by conducting surveys of the attendees, to determine how well they are doing at providing programs for children from all types of backgrounds. For some children, the bus ride alone is a major attraction.  For some it is the entertainers, and for still others, making a takeaway item to bring home and discuss is the high lite. Providing an opportunity for exposure to the arts and the ability to introduce children to other cultures through the arts is their goal. As one of our members said in closing, schools feed our minds, but the arts feed our souls.
Sandra Maloney, Int’l Children’s Festival of the Arts Vi Hughes 2017-08-16 06:00:00Z 0 festival,sandra

The All Things 60's a la Kerr - Wrap!

Posted by Hans Granholm on Aug 14, 2017
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What a day!!
Spotless weather -- spectacular settings -- magnificent organizing (Caren, Skip, Heather, Eric)
 
You can be sorry if you missed it :-(
 
 
 
This year the Kerr's graciously opened their door and their hearts again hosting The All Things 60's Party.
 
 
 
Like last year, the Kerr's put on the whole show by providing food, entertainment and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic).
 
Skip is donated three premium bottles, e.g. 27 year old Scotch, Masterpiece Bourbon, Platinum Tequila.
 
All revenue from ticket sales and funds raised will be destined to Kiva Micro Finance, with emphasis on borrowers in Ecuador and Columbia as suggested by the Kerr's.
 
The ticket price is $60/ea
 
REGISTER HERE
 
If you have any questions, contact Heather, the event organizer, hrdekok@gmail.com 780-905-3034
 
Technical assistance, contact Hans G. hgrdane@telusplanet.net 780-918-1079
The All Things 60's a la Kerr - Wrap! Hans Granholm 2017-08-14 06:00:00Z 0 60,kerr

The All Things 60's a la Kerr

Posted by Hans Granholm on Aug 12, 2017
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Come on folks. This is it! Today is 60s time!
 
If you just dropped in from Pluto, fear not -- we'll let you in. Just show up with money or credit card.
 
Where are you going to get a home cooked gourmet pig roast with all the trimmings, alchoholic beverages and non, entertainment, a chance to win fabulous prizes in a gorgeous private home for only $60/ea??
 
This year the Kerr's are graciously opening their door and their hearts again in hosting The All Things 60's Party.
 
The date is Saturday, August 12, 2017 from 5:00 pm (1700) till 10:00 pm (2200).
 
 
Like last year, the Kerr's are putting on the whole show by providing food, entertainment and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic).
 
Skip is donating three premium bottles, e.g. 27 year old Scotch, Masterpiece Bourbon, Platinum Tequila. Heather has provided a sign-up sheet where you can pre order and pay her in advance. Open the file in the left column or
 
 
All revenue from ticket sales and funds raised will be destined to Kiva Micro Finance, with emphasis on borrowers in Ecuador and Columbia as suggested by the Kerr's.
Skip is donating three premium bottles, e.g. 27 year old Scotch, Masterpiece Bourbon, Platinum Tequila. Heather has provided a sign-up sheet where you can pre order and pay her in advance. Open the file in the left column. All revenue from ticket sales and funds raised will be destined to Kiva Micro Finance, with emphasis on borrowers in Ecuador and Columbia as suggested by the Kerr's.
 
The ticket price is $60/ea
 
 
If you have any questions, contact Heather, the event organizer, hrdekok@gmail.com 780-905-3034
 
Technical assistance, contact Hans G. hgrdane@telusplanet.net 780-918-1079
The All Things 60's a la Kerr Hans Granholm 2017-08-12 06:00:00Z 0 60,kerr

Edmonton Comedy Festival 2017

Posted by Hans Granholm on Aug 11, 2017

Drivers Needed!

We need drivers to transport performers from venue to venue during the annual ATB Edmonton Comedy Festival.
 
The festival runs this year from Thursday October 12 to Saturday October 14.
 
If you think you can stand the fun OPEN THIS LINK to download the 'Driver Information' sheet to learn more.
 
Contact Hans Granholm, hgrdane@telusplanet.net 780 918-1079
ecf
Edmonton Comedy Festival 2017 Hans Granholm 2017-08-11 06:00:00Z 0 ecf

Stacey Maurier, Personal Care Directives and Powers of Attorney

Posted by Vi Hughes on Aug 09, 2017
This past Tuesday we heard again from Stacy Maurier, a lawyer and founder of Estate Connection Law Firm. She talked to us this time about Personal Directives and Powers of Attorney.
 
A Personal Care Directive outlines your wishes on matters of health and medical care, where you would like to live, who you would like to associate with and social and educational activities you would like to take part in.  It also sets out how and when it becomes active and who is responsible for ensuring it is followed.
 
There are many issues you will need to think about before you prepare this document. These are some of the options to be considered, but there are many more that are possible. What type of medical intervention is acceptable to you. Do you want to be kept alive even when the chances of a good outcome are non-existent, twenty five percent, fifty percent? Where would you prefer to live once you require full time care- in your own home with a paid caregiver, in the home of one of your children, in an assisted or extended living facility? Do you have any special personal physical care wishes- extra bathing, hair dressing services etc.? Would you like your representative to receive reimbursement for parking charges, transportation costs etc.?
 
You must also remember that you are appointing someone to be your medical advocate. You should personally ask them prior to preparing this document. Will they be able to be present at sometimes odd times of day or night, do they have the emotional stamina to be able to make tough decisions, do they have enough knowledge of your medical history to be able to inform medical staff and make good decisions, will they be able to handle seeing your private parts, if necessary? Do they have the same cultural and religious values that you do? Will they be able to carry out their duties over the long term- some people survive for decades in a disabled state? Whomever you appoint should keep a notebook or calendar with good records of their visits, duties performed and decisions made, and inform other family members on a regular basis about what is happening. A clause requiring a yearly family discussion is also a good idea, as this ensures everyone will get a chance to hear what the caregiver has been doing for the past year. When deciding when your agent can take over for you and who will make that decision, consider whether these people will be available when needed. If you specify a particular doctor, they may be on holiday in Hawaii when you need them. You can also choose to have more than one person make this determination.
 
A Personal Care Directive is specific to the locale ( legal jurisdiction, province) in which you live, it may not be recognised outside of that jurisdiction. If you regularly spend time in another location ( work overseas, spend winters in Arizona), it might be worthwhile having a similar document for that locale as well. It can be a handwritten document, prepared at home, but you should make sure that it covers all of the requirements of the legislation. A lawyer can also prepare one for you. You should review this document every few years to make sure it still meets your wishes and remember, it ceases to be effective if you move to another jurisdiction.
Stacey Maurier, Personal Care Directives and Powers of Attorney Vi Hughes 2017-08-09 06:00:00Z 0 care,directive

Stacy Maurier, Will and Estate Planning

Posted by Vi Hughes on Aug 02, 2017
On Tuesday we heard from Stacy Maurier, pictured, a lawyer and founder of Estate Connection Law Firm. Stacy ha been a wills and estates lawyer in the Edmonton area for many years. She has had a lot of experience both personally and professionally with people whose will and estate planning has been less than the best and had lots of tips to offer to avoid pitfalls. She stressed that being open and honest with your family about what your wishes are, even though it could be awkward or difficult, was uppermost in preventing your family from falling apart due to conflict once you pass away. You should put some thought and consideration into what your family issues are and how best to deal with them, so that you can leave your family with solutions, and not more problems.
 
She mentioned the fact that most people either do not have a will, or have a will that is problematic as all of the family issues have not been dealt with. She also discussed holographic wills and do-it-yourself wills. Holographic wills are legal and do not require a witness, and in fact are best when not witnessed. She has seen many cases where the witness used was not appropriate, or not even legal. Do-it-yourself, fill in the blanks wills are fine for very simple estates, but only when completed properly. She has seen cases where people mentioned everything but the big items like their home or bank accounts!
 
Stacy Maurier, Will and Estate Planning Vi Hughes 2017-08-02 06:00:00Z 0 estate,maurier,planning,stacy

Robin Inskip. Accessibility and Mobility Advocate

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jul 26, 2017
 

Speaker July 25

This Tuesday we heard from Dr. Robin Inskip, pictured, an advocate on accessibility and mobility issues for disadvantaged groups and people in our community.  During this coming year the Federal government is expected to bring in general legislation covering public accessibility for the disabled, however, in Canada, each province is responsible for setting their own much more detailed legislation and standards. Ontario and Manitoba have both had legislation in place for several years and British Columbia and Nova Scotia have more recently passed legislation in this regard. Alberta presently has no such legislation in this regard. 
 
There are many different types of people with mobility issues. Many of those with accessibility issues are not visibly disabled. They may speak a different language, not see or hear well, have a learning or mental disorder or deal with a chronic illness such as arthritis.  Even mothers with baby strollers or small children could also fall into this category. Many of these groups do not have a political voice and will not lobby government on these issues.
 
There have been many piecemeal approaches to accessibility in Edmonton, Some areas of the city have sidewalk ramps and others do not. Very few intersections have audible crossing signals. A lot of sidewalks in older areas do not have sidewalk ridges to let a seeing impaired person know the street curb is coming up. Some intersections are timed so poorly a disabled person can not get across safely in time. Some sidewalks are not wide enough for two people with walkers or wheelchairs to pass each other. Sidewalks can also be partially blocked by benches, trees, or other obstructions. Accessibility to stores, public buildings, transit and other services, even informational computer websites, are often also an issue. Government websites that can not be enlarged enough for those with low vision to be able to read them, are a case in point.
 
Winter in Edmonton brings even more issues. Snow clearing in winter is not done to a consistent standard, sidewalk ramps are often ploughed under by street grading, or sidewalks may not be cleared at all when they are the responsibility of private homeowners.
 
Other Canadian cities such as Winnipeg and Ottawa can serve as benchmarks for Edmonton, as they have standards and guidelines that have been in place for many years. They could also be used to get a rough cost estimate of how much it would take to implement a more comprehensive plan.
 
Other places that have implemented these types of standards have found that they are appreciated by everyone, not just those with mobility issues. It can be compared, in some ways, to parts our Rotarian four way test, is it fair to all concerned, will it build good will, will it be beneficial to all concerned. Addressing these issues benefits everyone in the community.
Robin Inskip. Accessibility and Mobility Advocate Vi Hughes 2017-07-26 06:00:00Z 0 disabled,handicap,inskip

Credit Card payment at the door

Posted by Hans Granholm on Jul 21, 2017
 
 
Beginning Tuesday August 1, we will be able to accept credit cards as payment for the day's luncheon, with or without ticket. We also accept payment for membership dues and purchase of book of lunch tickets.
 
We accept Visa, Master Card, American Express. Sorry, no debit cards at this time.
 
You will be able to select if you want to receive a receipt by text or email.
 
Please be patient with us as we are learning as we go.
 
Feedback and questions are welcome.
 
Hans Granholm
hgrdane@telusplanet.net
780-918-1079
Credit Card payment at the door Hans Granholm 2017-07-21 06:00:00Z 0 credit card,payment,square

Rose Marie Basaraba, Refresher Classification Talk

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jul 19, 2017
 
 

July 18 Speaker

On Tuesday, we had the pleasure of hearing Rose Marie Basaraba, a fourteen year member of Rotary, tell us a little about her life and how she came to be a Rotarian. Rose Marie was born. Raised and educated in Bon Accord, just north of the city. She said that from a young age, she has always been a people person. Her dad was an Austrian immigrant and a carpenter and she has two younger brothers.  She clearly remembers walking along the rail road line to school in the winters, as the snow was always ploughed there. She also remembers all the walking she did with a bag over her shoulder, delivering the Edmonton Journal. She has many friends that she made growing up in a small town and still regularly keeps in touch with many of them. After she finished school, she attended business college in Edmonton, and soon after had a job working for the Provincial Government in the young offender’s office. Her father passed away at about this time and she travelled back and forth to go home to Bon Accord each weekend to help her mother out.
 
She soon met Con, as they both loved to go dancing at the Trocadero in Edmonton. They were married and went on the have three children. Con had his own business that took him away from home a lot, so Rose Marie raised her children alone most of the time. Rose Marie also tried to keep up her secretarial skills by doing some part time work, and when her children had all become teenagers, she decided she needed to get out and meet more people. She returned to work, this time in administration at Norquest College, and she also joined Toastmasters. She made it a point to remember the names of the students that she came in contact with. During this time, she met many people from all over the world and is still good friends with many of them. She was very proud to be asked to speak one year at the Norquest College graduation ceremonies, held at the Jubilee Auditorium.
 
After seventeen and a half years at Norquest College, she decided that it was time to retire. She wanted to spend more time with her family and be able to help out with her handicapped grand daughter. She also started helping Con with his business by keeping the books. It was soon after this, while talking with their company accountant, who suggested that since she had more time on her hands now, she might like to see if she would enjoy being part of Rotary. She attended a few meetings and soon joined and became an active member. She has since served three terms as secretary and one term as President for the Edmonton Strathcona Rotary. She is still very busy with her family, friends and other interests. She serves as a mentor for a smaller Toastmasters club, and has also recently joined the Cosmopolitan choir. She says she did not know how to read music when she joined, but she does now.
 
Rose Marie never continues to be amazed by the things that Rotary is involved with and looks forward to doing more with Rotary, and helping out where ever she can. In her words, ‘people and friendships are what makes life complete’.
Rose Marie Basaraba, Refresher Classification Talk Vi Hughes 2017-07-19 06:00:00Z 0 Rose Marie

Brenda Hawryluk, Goodwill Industries of Alberta

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jul 11, 2017
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This Tuesday, our guest speaker was Brenda Hawryluk, Director of Donor and Business Relations for Goodwill Industries of Alberta. She talked about the mission and vision of Goodwill Industries and how they go about achieving these.
 
Goodwill was founded in 1902, in Boston, by Edgar J Helms, who believed in giving people a hand up, instead of a hand out for people with disabilities. Goodwill has been doing that ever since by providing job counseling, career development and job placements. They also directly provide jobs for people with disabilities, as twenty seven percent of their employees have a disclosed disability. They believe that the best way to help people is to give them an opportunity to enhance their lives through meaningful employment. They make this possible through the funding they derive from the sale of donations of used clothing, sporting equipment, toys, books, household goods and other items. There are one hundred sixty-two Goodwills in seventy-two countries around the world. In Alberta, they recently received a ‘Diversity in Ability Award’ from Diversity Magazine for their support of individuals with disabilities, and they also received the City of ‘Edmonton Mayor’s Award for Paid Employment’ for their creative methods to ensure dignity and inclusion of persons with disabilities. Internationally, they were also recognized as one of the twenty most inspiring companies by Forbes magazine.
 
They have fourteen retail locations and twenty-four donation centers in Alberta alone.  In 2016, the Alberta Goodwill made one point two million transactions, including processing five hundred seventy thousand donations. They took in about twenty million dollars in sales and eighty-nine-point six percent of this went directly back to support their programs and services. They have a policy of recycling as many items as possible, if they can not be sold in their outlets. In 2016 they took in fifteen point seven million kilos in donations, sold seven point eight million kilos and recycled another four million kilos. They have recently opened a one-hundred thousand square foot warehouse in west Edmonton that is home to many of their current initiatives. It includes their warehouse and logistics operations, their recycling program, furniture sales, their Commercial Services division, a regular sales outlet, their first outlet store where customers can purchase items by the pound, and a Community Engagement Center that can host programs that give back to Edmonton and surrounding communities.
 
It is currently hosting the ‘You Can Ride 2’ Program, that provides specially equipped bicycles for children with disabilities. Their warehouse sorts and sends out saleable items to their stores, all small appliances are tested to ensure they work, and if not, they are recycled. Some items are recycled in-house into saleable items, such as towels, which are cut and packaged to be sold as cleaning cloths. They have empowered many Albertans through their Power of Work program and will continue doing so into the future.
Brenda Hawryluk, Goodwill Industries of Alberta Vi Hughes 2017-07-11 06:00:00Z 0 brenda,goodwill,speaker

Vince Campbell, Rotary International Convention Report

Posted by Vi Hughes on Jul 05, 2017
This Tuesday we heard from our 2017-18 President, Vince Campbell, about his experiences at the recent Rotary International Convention, that was held in Atlanta, Georgia.
It was attended by forty-three thousand people, and required two opening ceremony sessions to accommodate all of those wishing to attend.  Bill Gates spoke about Polio Plus and informed everyone that it may take up to another three years to completely eliminate the disease, as isolated outbreaks are still popping up in a few parts of the world. The estimated cost for this is two point four billion dollars, and a large portion of this has already been pledged.
 
There were a large number of excellent speakers and the variety of sessions to attend was in the hundreds. He attended a panel discussion on ending modern slavery, that was very well presented, as well as several other break out sessions. He thanked the club for giving him the opportunity to attend and to learn about and meet so many other rotarians from around the world.
 
Vince’s daughter Sara and her son Quin were also at Tuesday’s meeting and he invited her to talk a little about what she does, as he has had many questions in the past about what she does for YWAM. Sara explained that Youth With A Mission is an international Christian group, founded about fifty years ago, that tries to give young people an opportunity to do mission work on a short term basis, by offering short six to ten month training sessions followed by a term of mission work. Their three goals are Mercy (similar to the types of work we do as Rotarians, in helping local people with whatever needs to be done), Evangelism and Training. Some of the things Sara and the group in Wrexham, Wales, do is to train others, work with refugees, the homeless, and the local food bank.
Vince Campbell, Rotary International Convention Report Vi Hughes 2017-07-05 06:00:00Z 0 president,vince

Rotating Wheel Dinner 2017 a wrap.

Posted by Hans Granholm on Jun 30, 2017
 

We celebrated the annual Rotating Wheel Dinner at the picturesque setting of the The Royal Glenora Club on Tuesday, June 27, 2017

President Dimitri gave a comprehensive report on a successful 2016-17 and our 2017-18 President, Vince Campbell, introduced his team for next year.


 
The handoverPresident Dimitri and Rotarian of the Year, Hal Quilliam

 

Please OPEN THE PHOTO ALBUM  and start the slide show. Sit back and relax, there are 87 slides.

 

Several new Paul Harris Fellowship awards were presented. Most notably, Isabella Basaraba, Rose Marie's granddaughter and Emily Fischbach, granddaughter of our guest and former Rotarian Otto Gloeckler, and Honorary Member Betty Germain.

In addition several PHF plus pins were presented recognizing multiple Paul Harris contributions. Watch the slide show.

A very significant milestone was reached by Bernd Reuscher as he was presented with an engraved crystal in recognition as a major donor to the Rotary Foundation.

Rotating Wheel Dinner 2017 a wrap. Hans Granholm 2017-06-30 06:00:00Z 0 rotating

Kiva crosses a significant milestone!

Posted by Hans Granholm on Jun 23, 2017
 
$1 billion GIF

On June 22, 2017, Kiva crossed $1 billion in loans to students, farmers, women, refugees and so many more entrepreneurs around the world.

 

This milestone wouldn’t have been possible without our passionate community of lenders, volunteers, partners, staff and supporters like you. Your dedication to creating a better world and your willingness to share Kiva’s mission powered this movement from day 1 to make this moment a reality.
 

Here's how team Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona helped make $1 billion in change!

454

Loans supported

$12,075.00

In impact

55

Countries

We’re looking forward to the next billion in loans, and we’re so thankful to have you by our side on this journey.

 

Best wishes,
The Kiva team 

Kiva crosses a significant milestone! Hans Granholm 2017-06-23 06:00:00Z 0 kiva

Mona Nashman-Smith. Muslim-Woman-Teacher

Posted by Ken Germain on Jun 23, 2017
As one of four women and 10 children born into an Islamic family, Mona Nashman-Smith has a passion for ensuring women are given the same opportunities as their male colleagues for advancement in the world of CEOs.

Her father recognize that education was important for girls even if it included a personal cost.
 
Mona worked as superintendent assistant and a superintendent in Oman until 2014.
 
She is now the principal at Edmonton's Islamic Academy with 1350 students of 33 nationalities.
 
Mona was born and raised in Edmonton.
Mona Nashman-Smith. Muslim-Woman-Teacher Ken Germain 2017-06-23 06:00:00Z 0

Ignite Change 2017

Posted on Jun 16, 2017
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Invitation to Participate

August 21-25, 2017

on Treaty Six Territory

at Grant MacEwan University

 

Ignite Change is a global gathering for human rights defenders, protectors, promoters, facilitators… those with a concern about the current human rights climate we live within and are working to build peace and take action globally and locally.

 

Participants will examine how to address four key issues from a human rights lens: human trafficking, arms, drugs and hate. Global citizens need to amplify voices and perspectives on these issues and translate concerns into non-violent direct action.

 

Whether you are curious about human rights and need some direction or inspiration, an active human rights defender, or one with knowledge and experience to share, this gathering will provide an opportunity to network and build a deepened collective impact.

 

We are inviting all Rotary Clubs in the districts to sponsor an international student or delegate to attend this Global Gathering.

 

Outcomes of the conference will include a report of public policy recommendations on the issues at hand and a documentation of stories and ideas.

 

For more information:

www.ignitechange2017.com

780 453 2638 info@jhcentre.org @jhcentre

 

The Global Gathering has been brought to you by the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights with the support of the Tribal Chief Ventures, City of Edmonton, Government of Alberta, and Lions Club of Edmonton Golden Gate.

Ignite Change 2017 2017-06-16 06:00:00Z 0 human rights,ignite

Rotating Wheel Dinner 2017

Posted by Hans Granholm on Jun 16, 2017
 

We are celebrating the annual Rotating Wheel Dinner at the picturesque setting of the The Royal Glenora Club on Tuesday, June 27, 2017

President Dimitri will report on a successful 2016-17 and our 2017-18 President, Vince Campbell, will introduce the team for next year.

Date:  Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Place:  The Royal Glenora Club

             11160 River Valley Road, Edmonton

            

Time:  6:00 – Cocktails  (Cash Bar)

           7:00 – dinner

Dress:  Professional Dress

Cost:  $65/ea

​Deadline for registration: June 23rd, 1800 MDT

Registration: on-line   or by cash or cheque to Rose Marie Basaraba / Donna Hutton

- See more at: https://portal.clubrunner.ca/399/Event/copy-of-rotating-wheel-dinner--2016#sthash.BhY9F6KW.dpuf
Rotating Wheel Dinner 2017 Hans Granholm 2017-06-16 06:00:00Z 0 rotating

Fun Golf Day Was A Fun Golf Day!!

Posted by Ken Germain on Jun 14, 2017
 
Ken Sutley lines up before striking another perfect ball!
Val Solash and Barbara Koenig watch and learn.
 
 
18 golfers and 25 diners had fun on Tuesday. The Bang the Ball for Bangladesh day went well The weather was  dry and cool with scattered mosquitoes.
An unfortunate traffic accident had taken place on the Walterdale bridge closing off access for more diners but other than that all was a success.
 
The 2 person best ball golf competition was won by Con B and Eric G, by one stroke over Val Solash and Ken G. The most "honest" golfers were Loida and her husband Jim.
Back at the clubhouse, Jim Petty sunk nine golf balls in a row to win the (30 payers x $5./each) putting championship from Eric Germain who could only sink eight in a row. Bruce Flesher was close till the end.
Nearest the Pin in one shot holes were won by Eric Germain and Ron Brown (I think. Les C. and Judy Brown did well also). Longest putts were by Val Solash, Jim Peddie and Ken Germain (I think. Con B. and Barbara Koenig were dynamite!) 
 
Thanks Bill and Lorraine Skelly for arranging the Kinsmen Club house and golf deal once again.
 
Golf balls were donated by IS2 (Eric). Thanks Ken Sutley for helping.
Thanks to all who donated prizes especially the auction items.
 
  • New, shiny golf bag Don H.  $120.00
  • Proseco bucket/basket (Audrey) $100.00 (gifted to Karen G's health and recovery.) thanks Jim P.
  • and a Last Will and Testament (Harald) $400.00!
These items raised an extra $620.

Our total proceeds for The Amarok Society : $1400.00!
 
A chicken and potatoe salad and green salad meal was enjoyed with lashings of fresh fruit. Wine and Beer seemed to be popular.
Another great day for golf and Rotary fellowship ‎in our club's long tradition of over 40 years of hosting a golf tourney.
Ken G.
 
 
Fun Golf Day Was A Fun Golf Day!! Ken Germain 2017-06-14 06:00:00Z 0 golf

Scholarship Presentation

Posted by Carin Jansen van Vuuren on Jun 12, 2017
I had the pleasure to present our club's $1000 scholarship to Erika Hurl from Vimy Ridge Academy on Thursday June 8th. 
 
 
In talking to her teachers Erika is admired for her tenacity and resilience. She has been involved in many activities, including being the Student Body President, doing morning announcements and volunteering at different community events. 
 
Regards,
 
Carin van Vuuren, Director
Youth Services
Scholarship Presentation Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2017-06-12 06:00:00Z 0 scholarship,,vimy ridge,,youth

A Little Help From Your Friends

Posted by Ken Germain on Jun 08, 2017
 
 
 
 
A regular speaker, Wendy McDonald, pictured, gave a heartfelt and meaningful talk on Tuesday. Wendy spoke with experience as she has helped raise Kyle, her son who was born very premature. Kyle's growth due to her caring, love and commitment has convinced her that Employment for developmentally challenged people is important. Unfortunately 80% remain unemployed. The payback is great when a job works out. To be less dependent and have a purpose goes a long way. Loneliness is the biggest challenge for most of these folks.
 
40 organizations are trying to help through this non profit group. 6000 families need your help.
 
 
A Little Help From Your Friends Ken Germain 2017-06-08 06:00:00Z 0

Jim Peddie Scores A Hat Trick

Posted by Ken Germain on Jun 01, 2017
Good guy, good Rotarian and good husband. Three Goals achieved!
 
Jim Peddie. pictured,  gave his classification talk on Tuesday.
 
Kirkland Lake, Ontario was home for Jim. Son of a second generation gold miner, he tried the hard work of the miner and decided that if his future was not hockey, he was likely moving on. Move on he did. Deciphering Russian morse code in Alert and learning the military ways stuck with Jim but Civil Engineering called and project manager soon followed. Ft. Saskatchewan Business Park was a surveying and engineering challenge faced. 
 
Life Insurance and Financial Advise has kept Jim busy and happy now for a number of years. His honest demeanor and willingness to assist have been helpful in his success.
Jim joined the Spruce Grove Rotary Club in 1993 as a charter member and served a year as President of the club. He's been with us since last year.
 
Jim and his wife Karen met when Jim responded to a "Shared Accommodation" ad in the paper. Serendipity strikes again! They have a daughter and also a son with a wedding coming up in July. 
Hobbies include volunteering, collecting watches  (when he has a minute) and coaching kids sports.
A help-book on retirement adjustment is a work in progress.
 
Thanks for the insights Jim.
Jim Peddie Scores A Hat Trick Ken Germain 2017-06-01 06:00:00Z 0

Police Check UPDATE

Posted by Hans Granholm on May 26, 2017
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Members are reminded about the UPDATED District Volunteer Security Policy, DOWNLOAD HERE.
 
This policy was generated from the requirement of our insurance company providing liability coverage in case of issues arising from members and non-Rotarians working with youth and other vulnerable members of our society.
 
The policy provides that all involved Rotarians and non-Rotarians complete a vulnerable persons police check.  Click on "Read more..." or title 'Police Check' to read more about the relaxed submission procedure which has been greatly simplified.
 
Failure to complete the police check means members and non-members will not be able to work on any Rotary program that involves 'Vulnerable Persons'.
 
Contact Hans Granholm, 780-466-5566 for more information.
 
Police Check UPDATE Hans Granholm 2017-05-26 06:00:00Z 0

Rosenau Transport. An Alberta Success Story

Ken Rosenau, pictured, is the third generation CEO of the trucking company started by his grandfather in 1957. That is not common. Only 12% of family businesses can do it! (Right Dave Rayner?)
 
A half ton truck, a dream and a house full of boys led to success and non stop growth.
 
Today, Rosenau Transportation includes 450 trucks and 650 employees who complete 2300-2700 trips a day. 7.5 million lbs /day. 
 
Their 24 locations throughout western Canada now include loads of storage space. 210,000 sq. ft. near the Edmonton International Airport. The volume of product being moved around is always increasing in this part of the world. With Port Edmonton and the other airport land improvements planning massive growth, Rosenau will be around for a few more generations.
Rosenau Transport. An Alberta Success Story Ken Germain 2017-05-24 06:00:00Z 0

Letter of Appreciation

Posted by Rick Harcourt on May 19, 2017
 
May 17, 2017
 
Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona
C/O Rick Harcourt
 
 
Dear Strathcona Club members,
 
On behalf of the 155 school girls, the 30 residents of the Treatment Centre, the 15 new mothers at the Health Unit and the Days for Girls Chapter in Calgary, I thank you for your $800.00 donation to offset the shortfall for washable menstrual kits for Alexander First Nation in Morinville.
 
Days for Girls, an international volunteer organization with over 960 chapters around the world, is focused on keeping girls in school by providing high quality, washable feminine hygiene kits.  These kits are paired with women’s health and reproduction education to ensure that girls and women have accurate information for making life decisions.  Alexander invited us to distribute kits to their girls because many were dropping out of school.
 
Since menstruation is a delicate subject, we work with local women to ensure that our activities are culturally appropriate.  In the case of Alexander First Nations, we have taken training from their Cultural Advisor to ensure that we respect traditions, wording, ceremonies, and gifts.  Our chapter feels that this distribution opens a door to our First Nations’ sisters and hope that it leads to other opportunities with northern communities.
 
You have helped us with your donation but even more important is the opportunity to work with Strathcona on other projects in the future.  This letter is an open invitation for Strathcona members to join us as we increase our presence in NWT and northern Alberta through kit distributions and micro enterprises.
 
Thanks again,
 
 
Katharine Bondy
Partnerships and Fundraising Coordinator
Calgary Chapter, Days for Girls
 
 Days for Girls Calgary Chapter   ∙    Every Girl. Everywhere. Period.
Calgary Chapter:  calgaryab@daysforgirls.org   Charity # 827847039RR0001 
www.facebook.com/DaysForGirlsCalgaryAB 
Letter of Appreciation Rick Harcourt 2017-05-19 06:00:00Z 0

New Hope School 2017 update

Posted by Carin Jansen van Vuuren on May 19, 2017
We received a gracefull Thank You letter from New Hope School in Pretoria South Africa.
 
 
It is refreshing to receive, very promptly, a heartfelt note of appreciation. Read more... for the full accounting
 
 
New Hope School 2017 update Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2017-05-19 06:00:00Z 0

Bruce Flesher is a Paul Harris Society Member

Posted by Hans Granholm on May 17, 2017
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On Tuesday, May 16th, Carol Devereux, District 5370 Paul Harris Society Chair, graced us with her presence where she presented Bruce Flesher with his PHS membership.
 
 
A Paul Harris Society member is a person who has pledged to contribute US$1,000 in a Rotary Year to Rotary Foundation programs. Bruce is already a major Foundation donor and Joyce is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow.
 
Congratulations Bruce and thank you for your continued support of The Rotary Foundation and its programs that our club benefits in.
Bruce Flesher is a Paul Harris Society Member Hans Granholm 2017-05-17 06:00:00Z 0

Fun Golf and Bar B Q June 13

Posted by Ken Germain on May 11, 2017
 
Here's The 2015 Group.
Perfect Day! A Great Walk With Friends.
This year will be all of that, and more.
 
PRIZES!PRIZES!PRIZES!...(please, please, please!)

"Bang the ball for Bangladesh "
All proceeds will support The Amarok Society.

June 13, 2pm Kinsmen Pitch/Putt.
(note: a quick meeting will still take place at the usual venue, usual time.)

-Golf.  Cost:  $25.
-Chicken pic-nic. 6:pm. Cost:$25.
                 -Both Events $50.00    Please pay Ken Sutley or Ken Germain.

-Fellowship 4:30 - 6.ish,: Drink a beer, wine or juice etc. Cost: Free!
Contributions of Golf Prizes are appreciated.
How about a Silent auction table?
 
Join us Tuesday, June 13 following a quick Rotary meeting. 2:15 tee off times begin.
Best Ball, 2 person teams will compete for fun, glory and prizes. 2 or 3 clubs is all you'll need including a putter.
 
Kinsmen Pitch and Putt is a very short but beautiful course in Edmonton's River Valley.
About 2 1/2 hours completes the round, then it's off to the Kinsmen Clubhouse, beneath the High Level Bridge for fun and Bar B-Q. The roasted chickens were a hit last year and spares us from lighting the Bar B-Q and cooking. Salads desert will be there too!
Some beer and wine and juice is included.
 
Please register on line or tell us that you'll be there for either or both events.
Fun Golf and Bar B Q June 13 Ken Germain 2017-05-11 06:00:00Z 0

Adoption at the Zoo

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Recently, the board approved the adoption of the Grevy’s Zebras habitat at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. We get incredible exposure (2 sign locations) and is one of the animals in the Zoo’s Species Survival Plan.  The Zoo may be getting another male soon, in hopes to continue the successes the Zoo has had in breeding.  Adoption of this exhibit was a great opportunity for the club.
 
 
 

The Grevy’s Zebra, named for Jules Grevy, is found in the semi-arid grasslands of Kenya and Ethiopia, Africa.

The Grevy’s zebra is the largest of all wild equines. Grevy’s Zebras differ from the other two species of zebras in that it has a more mule-like appearance, its ears are larger and rounded, and its stripes are narrower and more close-set. As with all zebra species, the Grevy’s Zebra’s has a black and white striped pattern. The belly and the area around the base of the tail lack stripes, a feature that is unique to the Grevy’s zebra. Foals are born with brown and white stripes. The brown stripes darken as they mature. Like snowflakes, no two zebras have the same stripes.

Male zebras are solitary animals and occupy the largest territory of any herbivore. Grevy’s zebras do not form lasting bonds like other zebras or horses. Herds of Grevy’s Zebras are composed of female zebras and their young.

The Grevy’s zebra is considered to be Endangered as their numbers in the wild are estimated at less than 2,500. The Edmonton Valley Zoo is committed to the conservation and protection of these zebras, and are members of the Species Survival Plan.

To learn more about this magnificent animal, visit Animal Diversity Web or visit the Edmonton Valley Zoo.

Adoption at the Zoo Hans Granholm 2017-05-10 06:00:00Z 0

Wellspring in Edmonton

Posted by Donna Hutton on May 05, 2017
 
Dear Friends,

Wellspring Edmonton is pleased to extend an invitation to the 2nd Annual Allard Lecture on June 1st, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. at The Citadel Theatre.  We are honoured to present internationally renowned doctor and cancer control specialist, Dr. Simon Sutcliffe, who will deliver a lecture - The Science and Art of Healing: New Horizons versus New Eyes.
Wellspring in Edmonton Donna Hutton 2017-05-05 06:00:00Z 0

A blast from the past

Posted by Ken Germain on Apr 28, 2017
 
 
Check this out!
 
Office area at the Red Deer Municipal Airport, c. 1967. Note the sign for Johnston Air Services. Man on the left is Ron McCullough, who was a City Councilor representative on the Muncipal Airport Commission. 
 
Publ. What Ken did not know was that the gentleman  second from the right is John Martin. John was our Charter Vice President, and in a moment of delirium introduced Ron into Rotary and our club in September 1975.
I invite Ron to provide some further commentary.
BTW, it is the sixties alright. Note the neat fedoras and Ron's thick head of hair not needing one -- Oh and the large ashtray on the table.
A blast from the past Ken Germain 2017-04-28 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary visible in Prince George

Posted by Ed Bourassa on Apr 28, 2017
 
These Rotary signs are throughout downtown Prince George. Looks great, hard to miss. Excellent example of good Rotary PR work.
Rotary visible in Prince George Ed Bourassa 2017-04-28 06:00:00Z 0

News from Peace River Rotary

Posted by Bob Sandercock on Apr 28, 2017
Rotary House Construction Site, April 2017
 
 
After about 5 years of fund raising this is a picture of the progress of the Peace River Rotary Club's “Rotary House” project.
It will be similar, but on a smaller scale, to Ronald McDonald houses.
 Bob Sandercock
 
News from Peace River Rotary Bob Sandercock 2017-04-28 06:00:00Z 0
REMINDER!  General voting next Tuesday, April 25th Hans Granholm 2017-04-21 06:00:00Z 0

Apr 21,... And then there's...that!?!

Posted on Apr 21, 2017

I'm an old school, hardcore political activist. For instance, I still won't eat grapes because of the plight of the migrant farm workers. I also won't eat raisins because of the older migrant farm workers. That's how hardcore I am. I also won't eat prunes. That's for a completely different reason.


 
 

The best cure for insomnia is to get a lot of sleep.           W. C. Fields


 
 


 
Apr 21,... And then there's...that!?! Hans Granholm 2017-04-21 06:00:00Z 0

April 14, ...And then there's ... That!?!

Posted on Apr 14, 2017

HAPPY EASTER!


Three fishermen catch a mermaid. If they agree to set her free, she will grant them each a wish.
The first guy says, "OK, I want you to double my I.Q." Immediately, the guy recites Shakespeare flawlessly.
The second guy asks the mermaid to triple his I.Q. Suddenly, he's spouting complicated mathematical solutions.
Impressed, the last guy asks the mermaid to quintuple his I.Q. The mermaid hesitates and asks, "Are you sure that's what you really want?"
"Absolutely!" says the man.
The mermaid smiles. Instantly, the third man turns into a woman.


 

Never give in.. never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force.. never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.         Winston Churchill


 
April 14, ...And then there's ... That!?! Hans Granholm 2017-04-14 06:00:00Z 0

Art Baird Honored

Posted on Apr 13, 2017
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In recognition of longtime service and contributions to the club, The Edmonton Strathcona Rotary Club honored longtime member and Past President, Art Baird with an Honorary Membership at his home, on April 11th.
 
 
 
Past President Harald Kuckertz presented the Honorary certificate and a letter from President Dimitri, who was absent in Greece. Also present was his wife Joyce, Past President Ken Sutley and Hans Granholm. The lovely flowers were arranged and curtesy of Heather de Kok.
 
Art Baird Honored Hans Granholm 2017-04-13 06:00:00Z 0

Apr 7, ...and then there's ... that!?!

Posted on Apr 07, 2017


Two girls speed down the highway at 90 mph.

"Hey," asks the brunette at the wheel. "Do you see any cops following us?"

The blonde turns around. "As a matter of fact, I do."

"Damn!" says the brunette. "Are his flashers on?"

The blonde turns around again. "Yup. Nope. Yup. Nope. Yup."


 
 

When you're at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on            Theodore Roosevelt


 
 
Apr 7, ...and then there's ... that!?! Hans Granholm 2017-04-07 06:00:00Z 0

ELEPAP Update, Apr 5

Posted by Dimitri Papanicolas on Apr 05, 2017
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On April 4, 2017 I visited ELEPAP in Ioannina that we funded the purchase of 8 computers. 
 
I was accompanied by a small delagation of the RC of Ioannina, including its President Dr. Kosta Kotsi. At ELEPAP we were greeted by the President Natassa Benga and the facility director Vassiliki Mastaka.
 
The Computer Room of the RC of Edmonton Starthcona was amazing. The computers were in the room hooked up to special equipment for users. A sign was prominently displayed as you may see it on the photograph. I also presented them with a banner that I asked them to place on the wall.
 
You cannot imagine how grateful ELEPAP is with our donation, and the use they have started doing with the equipment.
 
For those that were on the 2017 Greek tour, we also visited the ELEPAP village for 35 adult people with special needs. The facility is completed and will start to be populated in the next month or so. The European Union inspected the facility and is presently looking at the possibility of providing them more funding for the operation and/or expansion.
 
I also visited a school were the participants of the 2017 Greek tour gave a donation of 500 Euros that was used to provide daily lunch to 20 Roma elementary sudents. Unfortunatelly the kids were gone but the photos of the classrooms show the poverty that exist.
 
On Thursday I will attend the meeting of the RC of Ioannina.
 
Till next time, cheers.
 
Updated April 5
 
The computers (with special keyboards, tools etc...) are purchased and set, and...our club sign is already on the wall  smiley yes....and what a sizecool
 
I have spoken to Natasha and also to the director and will arrange to visit them sometime next week, maybe with representatives from the RC of Ioannina. At that time I will send new photos.
 
On behalf of ELEPAP I would personally like to thank the Board and through it the membership for this generous donation to my heritage hometown. We will alway remember the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona.
ELEPAP Update, Apr 5 Dimitri Papanicolas 2017-04-05 06:00:00Z 0 elepap

Mustard Seed Volunteer Opportunity

Posted by Hans Granholm on Apr 05, 2017
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Please consider helping at the Mustard Seed. See the note below: 

 

Details:
Event Name: Church Meals Group - April 2017

Event Date/Time: Wed, Apr 5, 2017 -- 05:00 PM - 09:00 PM
Add to Calendar: iCal / Google Cal

Event Meeting Location:
The Mustard Seed Street Church
10635 96 St NW, Edmonton AB

View Location Map

CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER

 

Technical assistance, contact Hans Granholm

 

Event Description:
We are delighted that you have chosen The Mustard Seed for your volunteer opportunity and we would like to take this opportunity to thank you sincerely for your kindness and generosity.
  • Volunteers have to be at least 13 years of age to serve meals at the church and must be accompanied by an adult
  • Volunteers must be at least 18 years old to volunteer on their own
  • The Meal group must be no larger than 12 people
  • The Meal group are required to prepare, cook, serve, assist with other related tasks, and clean up after the meal
  • The Meal group should arrive (together) at the church by 5 pm and available until 9 pm Monday to Friday
  •  The Meal group should arrive (together) at the church by 3 pm and available until 7 pm on Saturday
  • The meal group is encouraged to car pool; parking is available at the back, on the street in front and the north side of the building
  • The food coordinator will help the group get settled and give the group members their tasks for the evening
·          
  • Come dressed in fairly casual, comfortable loose fitting clothing that can get dirty
  • NO open toed shoes or sandals will be permitted
  • No bandanas as their meaning can be misinterpreted
  • No clothing with profanity or inappropriate messages and / or graphics
  • We require that all people working in the kitchen wear a hair net which will be provided
  • Please dress modestly (no short skirts, halter tops or midriff bearing clothing) Shirts with sleeves (short or long) must be worn in the kitchen – no tank tops
The group must have a designated leader and all group members must sign in and out on the sign in sheets. Please contact The Food Coordinator when you arrive at the church. We hope this experience will be a blessing to you as well as the community we serve.
Mustard Seed Volunteer Opportunity Hans Granholm 2017-04-05 06:00:00Z 0

Pilgrims Hospice Fund needs Auction items.

Posted by Donna Hutton on Mar 31, 2017
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Donna is collecting silent auction items for the Pilgrims Hospice    Fund raising Gala on April 7.  Anyone who has items they would like to donate, can bring them to the meeting on Tuesday (April 4th) or call me 7804355498 to pick up.  It's a good cause and all donors are recognized.
Thank you in advance.
Donna
Pilgrims Hospice Fund needs Auction items. Donna Hutton 2017-03-31 06:00:00Z 0

Mar 31,...and then there's ...that!?!

Posted on Mar 31, 2017

Q: What is the ideal weight of a lawyer?

A: About three pounds, including the urn.


 

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.         Leo Tolstoy

 



 

 

 

Mar 31,...and then there's ...that!?! Hans Granholm 2017-03-31 06:00:00Z 0

Amarok Society, UPDATE

Posted by Ken Germain on Mar 30, 2017
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Here is a letter from one of the Mothers of Intention who learn and teach children through our sponsorships with the Amarok Society. 
Her story is told by herself. 
April 11, Co- founder Gem Monroe will be our Guest Speaker. 
He is speaking to the Rotary Conference the previous weekend.
 
 
February 2017
Amarok Society
 
Ruma Khatun
Khulna, Bangladesh
 
Dear Ken,
 
  
I hope you are very well. We are also fine. You will be happy to know that now my daughter Sefa Akther Rasni can recite rhyme and try to write herself. Now she is 2 and half years old. Today I like to tell you about our mother school and education for little children that I teach. When I came to our mother school then my consideration how people can write their own name. But now I am thinking to write a name or something it doesn`t means education. Education is much than more singing or writes words. But every day we are learning many new things and realizing more on importance of education in our life. We come in our school for learning and have some responsibilities as a mother to our children. In our culture mothers are responsible to take care of their children.
  
 You will be happy to know that last December we 25 mothers win award from our mother school as our volunteer service to teaching children. I think this is our dignity and also our social respect. You know my learning is very limited. And with this I am trying my best to teach 4 neighbor children and my daughter.
 
Amarok Society, UPDATE Ken Germain 2017-03-30 06:00:00Z 0

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Aril 2017

Posted by Hans Granholm on Mar 30, 2017
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The format for the April event is 2 couples Visit to the house. One couple the host family selects and one couple I will assign. Otherwise the same format.
 
If you have any questions, contact Heather, hrdekok@gmail.com , (780) 905-3034 
 
 

 


"Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?"

April 22, 2017


Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is a social program of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona. It is designed to provide an opportunity for Club members and spouses/companions to meet other Club members in an informal, social, small group setting.


Typically a Member would Host one month and be a Guest for two months. All Members are encouraged to participate - even if for only one month. The visitors should expect anything from spaghetti or pizza to steaks. The most important part of this program is the fellowship and the opportunity to get to know each other better.

Full description and details: HERE

 

 
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Aril 2017 Hans Granholm 2017-03-30 06:00:00Z 0

Mar 24 ...and then there's ... that!?!

Posted on Mar 24, 2017

Q: Why did the golf player take an extra pair of pants when he went out on the golf course?

A: Just in case he got a hole in one.


 
 

 

Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.        George Bernard Shaw

 



 
Mar 24 ...and then there's ... that!?! Hans Granholm 2017-03-24 06:00:00Z 0

Mar 17 ... and then there's...that!?!

Posted on Mar 17, 2017

A blonde canvassed a wealthy neighborhood looking for odd jobs. She went to the front door of the first house and asked the owner if he had anything for her to do.

"Well, you can paint my porch. How much will you charge?"

She replied, "How about $50?"

The man agreed and told her the paint was in the garage. A short time later, the blonde came to the door to collect her money.

"You're finished already?" he asked.

"Yes," the blonde answered, "and I had paint left over, so I gave it two coats." Impressed, the man reached in his pocket for the $50.

"And by the way," the blonde added, "that's not a Porsche; it's a Ferrari."


 
 

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.     Helen Keller

 



 
Mar 17 ... and then there's...that!?! Hans Granholm 2017-03-17 06:00:00Z 0

Vote for the Winner of Small Town Saturday Night 2017

Posted by Bob Sandercock on Mar 13, 2017
As a former member of the Peace River Rotary Club, I would ask everyone to help support that club in this endeavor.
They are raising funds for Rotary House which is similar to Ronald McDonald houses.
The town with the most votes will get a Big Valley Jamboree show in their town with the profit going to their project.
 
Please vote every day.
 
The voting at this stage is a little complicated but if you follow this method you should get there:
 
You do have to register your name and email address
 
1. click on their" Final round of voting begins"
2. on the 25 years window go down to the Voting now open , click on" Small Town Saturday night final round of voting begins”
3. Click on “vote now”
4. select Peace River click on select
5. go down to vote and click on it
 
Hopefully they will  make voting easier soon.
Pass this along to your friends and family to help them out.
 
Bob Sandercock
 
 
Vote for your favourite Alberta small town.
 

 

FINAL VOTING BEGINS TO SELECT BIG VALLEY JAMBOREE 

SMALL TOWN STAURDAY NIGHT 2017 WINNER

Vote for the Winner of Small Town Saturday Night 2017 Bob Sandercock 2017-03-13 06:00:00Z 0

Mar 10, ...and then there's ... that!?!

Posted on Mar 10, 2017

 

A man rushes his limp dog to the veterinarian. The doctor pronounces the dog dead. The agitated man demands a second opinion.

The vet goes into the back room and comes out with a cat. The cat sniffs the body and meows. The vet says, "I'm sorry, but the cat thinks that your dog is dead, too."

The man is still unwilling to accept that his dog is dead.

The vet brings in a black Labrador. The lab sniffs the body and barks. The vet says, "I'm sorry, but the lab thinks your dog is dead, too."

The man finally resigns to the diagnosis and asks how much he owes. The vet answers, "$650."

"$650 to tell me my dog is dead?" exclaims the man.

"Well," the vet replies, "I would only have charged you $50 for my initial diagnosis. The additional $600 is for the cat scan and lab tests."

 



 

He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.             Benjamin Franklin

 


 
Mar 10, ...and then there's ... that!?! 2017-03-10 07:00:00Z 0
YONA Spring Concert 2017-03-10 07:00:00Z 0
Photos from Vietnam and Cambodia Donna Hutton 2017-03-03 07:00:00Z 0
Photos from Hawaii Ivan Docker 2017-02-27 07:00:00Z 0
Photos from South Africa Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2017-02-25 07:00:00Z 0

Feb 24 ...and then there's...that!?!

Posted on Feb 24, 2017
Betty and Tim die in a car accident on the eve of their wedding. In Heaven, they ask St. Peter if they can still be married.

"Well, let me find out if this is possible. Stay here and I will be right back."

Six months pass and Peter returns. "Yes, we can do this for you."

The couple asks, "Well, as we have spent so much time together waiting for your answer, we need to know that if things don't work out, is there a possibility that we can be divorced?"

To which St. Peter answers, "It took me six months to find a priest up here -- how long do you think it will take me to find a lawyer?"

 

 

Life is too short, time is too precious, and the stakes are too high to dwell on what might have been.        Hilary Clinton

 

 
 

 
 
Feb 24 ...and then there's...that!?! Hans Granholm 2017-02-24 07:00:00Z 0

Diana unencumbered

Posted on Feb 24, 2017
Look who's strutting!
 
 
 
Diana show off her newly unencumbered foot
 
 
 
Ron McCullough says: Well done!
Diana unencumbered Hans Granholm 2017-02-24 07:00:00Z 0

Feb 17, ...and the there's...that!?!

Posted on Feb 17, 2017
 
 

 
My dog used to chase people on a bike a lot. It got so bad, finally I had to take his bike away.
 


Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.     Soren Kierkegaard


 
 
Feb 17, ...and the there's...that!?! Hans Granholm 2017-02-17 07:00:00Z 0

Feb 10 ... and then there's ... That!?!

Posted on Feb 10, 2017
What's Irish and comes out in the spring? 

Paddy O'Furniture!
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.     Mahatma Gandhi


 
 
 
Feb 10 ... and then there's ... That!?! Hans Granholm 2017-02-10 07:00:00Z 0

Feb 3, ...and then...there's that!?!

Posted on Feb 03, 2017
 
 
 

Q: What do Eskimos get from sitting on a block of ice?

A. Polaroids.


 

 
 

We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.     Martin Luther King, Jr.

 
 
Feb 3, ...and then...there's that!?! 2017-02-03 07:00:00Z 0

ClubRunner Mobile

Posted by Hans Granholm on Jan 29, 2017
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News from ClubRunner
 
Play the video and learn more.
 
 
Download the 'ClubRunner Mobile' app from your app store.
 
NOTE: one feature, a very convenient one, the club locater in your immediate area, is currently being updated and is not available.
 
ClubRunner Mobile Hans Granholm 2017-01-29 07:00:00Z 0

Ron and Judy 2017 Mexico Blog

Posted by Hans Granholm on Jan 29, 2017
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One of our newer members, Ron Brown and his bride, Judy Harcourt-Brown spends a few months in Mexico every year. They visit Rotary clubs regularly and participate in local club projects and events.
Judy is a director of Project Amigo Canada, and it is no coincidence that one of their favourite projects is 'Project Amigo' in Colima.
Ron just sent me a Blog covering the period January 11 - 19.
Ron and Judy 2017 Mexico Blog Hans Granholm 2017-01-29 07:00:00Z 0

YESS planning for Gala

Posted on Jan 29, 2017
 
YESS is starting to plan for our 2017 Gala for Youth, taking place on April 28, 2017. This is our largest yearly fundraiser and we are asking for your help! Are you or someone you know willing to donate an item to our gala’s silent auction?
 
Donor individuals or companies will receive recognition in our event program and signage at the event, on the auction table, and on our event website.
 
Here some examples of items we are looking for that tend to do well at our auction:
Experiences – tickets to an event, trips – skiing, fishing, etc., golf packages or lessons, helicopter, airplane or hot air balloon ride, photo portrait session, kid’s party , art party or lessons
Romance - dance lessons, flowers for a year, dinners, dream date night
Lifestyle – gym membership or fitness training, haircuts or spa package and related items, pet grooming, massages, housekeeping, shopping spree
Outdoor Items – bbq, decking or backyard reno, outdoor machines like snowblower or lawnmower, tools, birdhouse, gardening set, kid’s playground set
New Items – purses or luggage , set of his and hers sunglasses, kitchen machines, themed gift baskets, camping or outdoor items, musical instrument, luxury bedding set, home gym, golf clubs, telescope, autographed sports memorabilia
Art – artisan pottery, sculpture, painting/print (preferrably framed), woven blanket or shawl
 
If you have an item you are interested in donating or know of a company we should contact, please call or email Michelle Iorio, michelle.iorio@yess.org780-468-7186 ext 223.
YESS planning for Gala Hans Granholm 2017-01-29 07:00:00Z 0

Visit the Zoo on February 14th

Posted by Hans Granholm on Jan 27, 2017
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Our regular noon meeting at the German Club will convene at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. Details are as follows:

Date:  Tuesday, February 14th   (in lieu of our regular meeting at the German Club)

Place:  Otter Room,  EdVenture Lodge, located in the entry plaza of the Edmonton Valley Zoo

Schedule:      11:30 -11:30 am     Setup

                      11:30 – 12:30         Lunch and Club Meeting

                      12:30-12:45            Presentation Presentation by Stephanie Perilli, Director, Fund Development, can be entitled Nature’s Wild Backyard. 
                                                  On the tour we will see the animals and learn the scale of the zoo’s next phase of revitalization.

                      12:45-2:00 pm        Tour of the Zoo

Cost:  $20.00 per person

Invite a guest or two!

Click on the link in "Upcoming Events" to register and pay online.

You may confirm your attendance at the club meeting of Jan. 31st or Feb. 7th, or by email to dianadan@telusplanet.net.   Payment may be made on line or at the door.   Please advise in advance of any dietary restrictions.

Deadline for registration is Friday, February 10th.

Visit the Zoo on February 14th Hans Granholm 2017-01-27 07:00:00Z 0

Ice on Whyte volunteer opportunity

Posted by Hans Granholm on Jan 27, 2017
 
Anyone is welcome to sign up
 
 
Here are some tips for the volunteers:
 
Parking: -- The Strathcona Farmers Market parking lot on the east side of Gateway Blvd. (103 Street) is free for 'Ice on Whyte' patrons and volunteers. Go as far north as you can.
The Hut: -- It is adequately heated and comfortable. One chair is provided.
RCES brochure: -- place the new tri-fold brochure stand on the outside ledge. More brochures inside the large white envelope marked "Strathcona Rotary". Perhaps fold a few more in your spare time.

 
Every year, the Ice on Whyte Festival grabs Canadian winter by the snowballs and carves it into a wicked combo of ice and art. Just imagine, 155,000 pounds of ice is dumped just to prep for this week long party – on purpose! So, get your toque on and come down to the International Ice Carving Competition, ride a gigantic ice slide, or learn to carve ice just like a pro. One of the hottest shows is on the last night, where you’ll see fire melt an ice sculpture right back into H20. You’ll be right in your element. Get it?
 
In honour of Canada turning the big 150 in 2017, some historically iconic Canadian characters will be making a special appearance at the End of Steel Park during the festival. Don't just imagine what life was like for Canada’s ancestors, see for yourself! Listen to stories about Edmonton from fur trading pioneers like Richard Hardisty or hear from Margaret Martin about what life was like for women before they had the right to vote. Experience the stories of ordinary people that shaped our country in a unique and extraordinary way.
 
- See more information about the volunteer opportunities and to sign up, visit: http://portal.clubrunner.ca/399/Event/ice-on-whyte-2016#sthash.rGaMMBX3.dpuf
Ice on Whyte volunteer opportunity Hans Granholm 2017-01-27 07:00:00Z 0

Jan 27, ... and then there's ... that!?!

Posted on Jan 27, 2017

 

 
A gorilla walks into a bar and says, "A scotch on the rocks, please." The gorilla hands the bartender a $10 bill.

The bartender thinks to himself, "This gorilla doesn't know the prices of drinks," and gives him 15 cents change.

The bartender says, "You know, we don't get too many gorillas in here."

The gorilla replies, "Well, at $9.85 a drink, I ain't coming back, either."
 

 
 

 
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.      -- Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780-1832)
 

 
 
Jan 27, ... and then there's ... that!?! Hans Granholm 2017-01-27 07:00:00Z 0

Oil Kings Score with Polio Plus.

Posted by Hans Granholm on Jan 23, 2017
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On Sunday January 22 the Edmonton Oil Kings scored big time at the new Rogers Place with the End Polio Now campaign. Unfortunately, they did not register a score on the scoreboard as they fell 2-0 to the Moose Jaw Warriors.
The photos (by Carin van Vuuren) show the Oil Kings present a cheque in the amount of $5,200+ to our member and District Polio Plus Chair, Patrick Gibson. Well done Patrick. I believe we set another attendance record with close to 600 Rotarians, family and friends in the seats.
 
Oil Kings Score with Polio Plus. Hans Granholm 2017-01-23 07:00:00Z 0

Visit Greece with the Greek anyone?

Posted by Dimitri Papanicolas on Jan 21, 2017
 
INQUIRY FOR INTEREST FOR A TRIP TO GREECE IN SEPTEMBER 2017
 
After the 2016 successful Tour of Greece there has been an interest in a repeat. If you or acquaintances of yours are interested in participating in an 8 to 10 days bus tour of Greece please send an e-mail to Dimitri Papanicolas at dpapanicolas@outlook.com in order to receive more information. The number of participants should not exceed 20, on first come first saved basis. We will also connect with a few Rotary Clubs during the trip and see if we can organize a visit. The tour is open to non-Rotarian too.
 
The tour will take place in the mainland visiting archeological sites, religious sites, overall site seeing (see map) and of course some local food, wine, ouzo and shopping. Island and cruise tours can be organized separately before or after the tour.
 

 
 
Visit Greece with the Greek anyone? Dimitri Papanicolas 2017-01-21 07:00:00Z 0

Jan 20, ...and then there's ... that!?!

Posted on Jan 20, 2017
 
 

One day, Mr. Phillard rushed his pregnant wife over to the hospital. As the doctors were prepping his wife, Mr. Phillard's idiot brother Bill arrived to watch the birth. But when Mr. Phillard saw the blood and everything else, he fainted. When Mr. Phillard woke up he was in a bed with the doctor standing above him.

"Mr. Phillard," the doctor said, "you are in the recovery room. Don't worry, your wife is fine and she had twins, a boy and a girl. Because you were unconscious and your wife was still under anaesthesia, she requested that your brother Bill name the kids."

"What! My brother, the idiot! I can't believe you let him! What did he name them?"

"He named your daughter Denise."

"Hey, not bad! I underestimated my brother. What did he name my son?"

"He named your son Denephew."



The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.      Mahatma Gandhi


 
 
Jan 20, ...and then there's ... that!?! 2017-01-20 07:00:00Z 0

Jan 13, ...and then there's ... that!?!

Posted on Jan 13, 2017
 
Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.     -- Plato
 
 

 

Confucious say, ''Man who runs behind bus is going to get exhausted.''



 

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.           Albert Einstein


 
 
Jan 13, ...and then there's ... that!?! 2017-01-13 07:00:00Z 0

Story of the Day -- the untold version

Posted on Jan 06, 2017
 
Ken took telling the 'Story of the Day' to a new level by juggling three balls while playing the harmonica -- well, sort of. Ken commented himself that it was probably a good idea that he used balls instead of eggs in the shell.
Story of the Day -- the untold version Hans Granholm 2017-01-06 07:00:00Z 0

Jan 6...and then there's...that!?!

Posted on Jan 06, 2017
 
 
 
'nuf said!

 
He that lies down with the dogs riseth with fleas.      -- George Herbert (1593-1633)
 

Don't talk unless you can improve the silence.      -- unknown
 
Jan 6...and then there's...that!?! Hans Granholm 2017-01-06 07:00:00Z 0
The Rotary Foundation - 100 Years! Patrick Gibson 2016-12-24 07:00:00Z 0

Welcome New Member

Posted by Hans Granholm on Dec 16, 2016
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We welcomed a new member to our Rotary family on Tuesday, Dec 13th:
 
 
Sponsor Hans Pilz, Audrey Martyn, President Dimitri, Membership Chair Eric Germain
 
 
Audrey Martyn sponsored by Hans Pilz. Classification: Education-Retired
 
 
 
Please introduce yourself and make Audrey feel welcome.
 
 
Welcome New Member Hans Granholm 2016-12-16 07:00:00Z 0

Thank you note from Principal Porter

Posted by Hans Granholm on Dec 12, 2016
 

Annual Christmas meal for St. Teresa of Calcutta School -- Thank You! 

 

We received a note for Kyle Porter, Principal:

Hello Hans,
  On behalf of our school community, I would like to thank you and your volunteer members for taking the time to serve at our Annual Christmas Dinner.  It was a packed house once again and your members helped to ensure that it flowed smoothly!  I hope they enjoyed the experience as much as we enjoyed having themJ
 

 

 

The annual Christmas meal is prepared by an area Junior High School for the students and families of St. Teresa.  This is one of the rare opportunities they have to get all families in the (economically challenged) area involved and build community around the school.

 

The annual Christmas meal was prepared by an area Junior High School for the students and families of St. Teresa.  This is one of the rare opportunities they have to get all families in the (economically challenged) area involved and build community around the school.

 

 
Thank you note from Principal Porter Hans Granholm 2016-12-12 07:00:00Z 0

Annual Christmas meal for St. Teresa of Calcutta School. 

Posted by Hans Granholm on Dec 09, 2016
 

The annual Christmas meal was prepared by an area Junior High School for the students and families of St. Teresa.  This is one of the rare opportunities they have to get all families in the (economically challenged) area involved and build community around the school.

We received a request for help and nine members and spouses meet the challenge. From all accounts the dinner went well.

Annual Christmas meal for St. Teresa of Calcutta School.  Hans Granholm 2016-12-09 07:00:00Z 0

JPP Interact Club serves dinner at Ronald McDonald House, Dec 2016

Posted by Eric Germain on Dec 09, 2016
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CLICK HERE  to open the photo album and slides show.
 
The Rotary Interact Club at J. Percy Page High School teamed up with Chef Andrew Martin's Culinary Students in order to prepare, deliver, and serve a festive meal at Ronald McDonald House on December 1st. 
 
As a part of their "Meals that Mend" program, 24 students enthusiastically cooperated in prepping food, wiping down surfaces, playing with children, talking to families and then serving a turkey dinner with all the trimmings.
 
By making meaningful connections in their community, these students are role models in their commitment to put others before themselves.
 
A huge thank you goes out to the Strathcona Rotary Club contributors, who paid for the groceries, and volunteer drivers who helped make this holiday feast a success!
 
JPP Interact Club serves dinner at Ronald McDonald House, Dec 2016 Eric Germain 2016-12-09 07:00:00Z 0

Ivan and Sue down under

Posted by Ivan Docker on Dec 05, 2016
 
No matter where we have travelled in Australia and New Zealand, the presence of Rotary in the local communities is evident.  We spent 3 Days in Paihia, and on the beach just across from the resort where we stayed there was a shower for rinsing off the sand emblazed with the Rotary logo, beside a beautiful playground built by Rotarians.  I had a great time at their meeting, and have enjoyed make-ups at 6 other clubs in Australia and New Zealand.  We are now in Auckland, and our 8-week adventure will soon be over. 

Looking forward to seeing everyone at our meeting on Dec. 13.

'bye for now, Sue & Ivan
 
Ivan and Sue down under Ivan Docker 2016-12-05 07:00:00Z 0

Guess Who Is Coming To Dinner, 2017

Posted by Hans Granholm on Nov 30, 2016
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You don't want to miss this great opportunity to mingle and get to know your fellow Rotarians and partners.


Sign up now!


"Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?"

January 28th


Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is a social program of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona. It is designed to provide an opportunity for Club members and spouses/companions to meet other Club members in an informal, social, small group setting.


Typically a Member would Host one month and be a Guest for two months. All Members are encouraged to participate - even if for only one month. The visitors should expect anything from spaghetti or pizza to steaks. The most important part of this program is the fellowship and the opportunity to get to know each other better.

Sign up today: OPEN LINK

Full description and details: HERE

 

Guess Who Is Coming To Dinner, 2017 Hans Granholm 2016-11-30 07:00:00Z 0



Annual Christmas meal for St. Teresa of Calcutta School.

Posted on Nov 25, 2016
 

Annual Christmas meal for St. Teresa of Calcutta School. 

This event is now fully booked. Thank you to all the volunteers.

 

The annual Christmas meal is prepared by an area Junior High School for the students and families of St. Teresa.  This is one of the rare opportunities they have to get all families in the (economically challenged) area involved and build community around the school.

They’re looking for up to 10 members of the Edmonton Strathcona Rotary Club to come out and help to prepare and serve the food on site at the school, as well as to do some light set-up if needed (the Grade 6 classes will mostly take care of this part).

- See more at: http://portal.clubrunner.ca/399/Event/annual-christmas-at-st-teresa-of-calcutta-school#sthash.Nkez1A8c.dpuf
Annual Christmas meal for St. Teresa of Calcutta School. 2016-11-25 07:00:00Z 0

Nov 25...and then there's that...!?!

Posted on Nov 25, 2016

 


 

Q: What do you call a cow with no legs?

A: Ground beef.

 


 
 

Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.        attributed to Theodore Roosevelt

 

 
Nov 25...and then there's that...!?! Hans Granholm 2016-11-25 07:00:00Z 0

Volunteer opportunity from YESS

Posted on Nov 25, 2016
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Volunteers required:

YESS Champions Day Breakfast
December 6, 2016 - Tuesday 6:30 AM to 9:00 AM 
Downtown, Chateau Lacombe

What is Champions Day
Champion's Day is YESS' Annual Awareness Day.  It was started a couple of years ago as a way to kick off our annual campaign with maximum impact and to create awareness in Edmonton and all surrounding communities about YESS and the youth that we serve. Our annual campaign raises significant funds for YESS, so untimately, the more people we can reach with info about YESS, the more kids we'll be able to help.  

We need help with the following positions: 

(2) Greeters
(1) Check In
(1) Donation Table
(1) Media Helper
(1) Photographer Helper
(1) Stage Manager Assistant
(2) Set Up
(4) Tear Down

Let me know if you can support YESS by volunteering for any of these position.  Free breakfast and parking available.    violet.malbeuf@yess.org       Thank you!    

Violet Malbeuf
Volunteer Coordinator
(780) 468-7070 ext. 234
Volunteer opportunity from YESS 2016-11-25 07:00:00Z 0

Former member dies

Posted by Harald Kuckertz on Nov 25, 2016
 
Ernst Tamm, a former member of our club has died. Ernst was introduced in 1993 into the club by Fritz Koenig and served on the board.
 
Our sympathies goes out to the Tamm family.
 
 
Former member dies Harald Kuckertz 2016-11-25 07:00:00Z 0

Donation to YONA

Posted by Hans Granholm on Nov 18, 2016
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Alyssa Paterson, Associate Director of Department of Musical Creativity, YONA, was presented with a cheque in the amount of $1,000 
 
 
Read more about YONA:
 
 
Donation to YONA Hans Granholm 2016-11-18 07:00:00Z 0

Good Samaritan Society

Posted by Vince Campbell on Nov 18, 2016
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At this past Tuesday’s meeting our speaker, Dale Olsen, (pictured) spoke about the Good Samaritan Society
 
The Society started in 1949 with a $7000 dollar donation to the Lutheran Church from a Leduc  farmer , Mr. Gottlieb Wedman.  He saw several of his neighboring elderly friends suffering after their wives passed away.  They needed someone to look after them.  Other donations quickly came in, and in 1955 the first auxiliary hospital was standing.  5000 people attended the grand opening.
 
This was the first of many buildings as now there are about 6000 residents in Good Samaritan care centers  in Alberta and British Columbia with about 4000 workers.  
 
Good Samaritan now offers many programs for those that can look after themselves to those that need full time nursing care.   Dale said that seniors suffer from the most from loneliness.  This is where Rotary can help.   Perhaps we could visit a seniors’ home and talk to someone that Good Sam suggests needs company.  They will even help to train us how to visit.  We could join the other 1700 volunteers they already have. 
 
Dale showed a video of a couple in their 80’s that met at one of their residences and got married. Another video was of a gal who entertains by singing and playing the piano.  She was also in her eighties.  To me it seems the Good Samaritan Society has got it right.
 
Read more about Good Samaritan Society
Good Samaritan Society Vince Campbell 2016-11-18 07:00:00Z 0

Oilers Live -- UPDATE

Posted on Nov 18, 2016
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The exciting auction for 2  Oiler- Coyote game tickets on Sunday November 27 at 1300 (1:00 pm), had a $300.00 bid on Tuesday Nov 8th.
 
Last Tuesday The Auction closed with Eugene Sekora the highest bidder ($300). As Eugene had donated the tickets in the first place, he donated the tickets back to the club and offered the second highest bidder, Eric Solash to purchase the tickets at his bid, $220
 
The ticket face value is $442.00! According to my math, the auction netted $520
Thank You Eugene and Eric for your generous support. Perhaps either or both of you can suggest a worthy cause where we can direct the proceeds?
 
 
Oilers Live -- UPDATE Ken Germain 2016-11-18 07:00:00Z 0

Concert in the Dark - Update

Posted on Nov 11, 2016

A number of members attended the 'Concert in the Dark' at the Royal Alberta Museum on October 26th.

 

Concert in the Dark - Update Conor Pilz 2016-11-11 07:00:00Z 0

Nov 11...and then there's that...!??!

Posted on Nov 11, 2016

Picture courtesy of Eugene Sekora


 

Q: What is the definition of diplomacy?

A: The ability to tell a person to go to hell in such a way that they look forward to the trip.

 


 
 

 

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.           Nelson Mandela

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Nov 11...and then there's that...!??! Hans Granholm 2016-11-11 07:00:00Z 0
Seminar on the United Nations and International Affairs Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2016-11-11 07:00:00Z 0

A Pioneer Veteran

Posted by Vince Campbell on Nov 11, 2016
 
Our speaker for Tuesday was very appropriate considering it is the time of year for remembrance of the men and women in the armed forces. Past president of The Strathcona Legion, Barry Remanda, was born in Nipiwan, SK and raised in Creston, BC.  He joined the military in 1974 and has made it a life time career which gave him a lot of experiences to talk about. He was a member of the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry.
 
Barry was able to train to become a Pioneer which is a small team that goes ahead to make sure the path is clear for the rest of the troops.  Removing land mines, setting up bridges or blowing up bridges was all left to the Pioneers. Basically they were trained to do any job that came along.  He was pleased that the Pioneers were allowed to grow beards as they could be away from the regular troops for several days.  If only he could because he was quite young at the time!  It seemed that  Barry liked to blow things up as he talked a lot doing this while in training at Wainwright.
 
Barry served in Cypress in 1975 and 1976 during the conflict there.  This was Barry’s first talk about his experiences which was much appreciated. There were a lot of questions for him which he was very happy to answer.
 
By the way the, Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry or PPCLI also stands for (please protect Canada’s little idiots) as he told me after the meeting. Thank you Barry
A Pioneer Veteran Vince Campbell 2016-11-11 07:00:00Z 0

Remembrance Day.

Posted by Hans Granholm on Nov 10, 2016
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Why the Poppy?

Today, fields of brilliant poppies still grow in France.
 A writer first made the connection between the poppy and battlefield deaths during the Napoleonic wars of the early 19th century, remarking that fields that were barren before battle exploded with the blood-red flowers after the fighting ended.

 During the tremendous bombardments of the First World War the chalk soils became rich in lime from rubble, allowing 'popaver rhoeas' to thrive. When the war ended the lime was quickly absorbed, and the poppy began to disappear again.

 After John McCrae's poem In Flanders Fields was published in 1915 the poppy became a popular symbol for soldiers who died in battle.

 Three years later an American, Moina Michael, was working in a New York City YMCA canteen when she started wearing a poppy in memory of the millions who died on the battlefield.

 During a 1920 visit to the United States a French woman, Madame Guerin, learned of the custom. On her return to France she decided to use handmade poppies to raise money for the destitute children in war-torn areas of the country. In November, 1921, the first poppies were distributed in Canada.

 Thanks to the millions of Canadians who wear flowers each November, the little red plant has never died. And neither have Canadian's memories for 116,031 of their countrymen who died in battle.
Remembrance Day. Hans Granholm 2016-11-10 07:00:00Z 0 remembrance

Remembrance Day.

Posted by Hans Granholm on Nov 10, 2016
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Why the Poppy?

Today, fields of brilliant poppies still grow in France.
 A writer first made the connection between the poppy and battlefield deaths during the Napoleonic wars of the early 19th century, remarking that fields that were barren before battle exploded with the blood-red flowers after the fighting ended.

 During the tremendous bombardments of the First World War the chalk soils became rich in lime from rubble, allowing 'popaver rhoeas' to thrive. When the war ended the lime was quickly absorbed, and the poppy began to disappear again.

 After John McCrae's poem In Flanders Fields was published in 1915 the poppy became a popular symbol for soldiers who died in battle.

 Three years later an American, Moina Michael, was working in a New York City YMCA canteen when she started wearing a poppy in memory of the millions who died on the battlefield.

 During a 1920 visit to the United States a French woman, Madame Guerin, learned of the custom. On her return to France she decided to use handmade poppies to raise money for the destitute children in war-torn areas of the country. In November, 1921, the first poppies were distributed in Canada.

 Thanks to the millions of Canadians who wear flowers each November, the little red plant has never died. And neither have Canadian's memories for 116,031 of their countrymen who died in battle.
Remembrance Day. Hans Granholm 2016-11-10 07:00:00Z 0

YONA Quarter Notes - October 2016

Posted by Rose Marie Basaraba on Nov 04, 2016
Here is the newest edition of Quarter Notes, our quarterly YONA newsletter.  Inside you’ll see pictures from our most recent instrument graduation ceremony, always an exciting affair!  You’ll also read about the updates we’ve made to the program for our fourth year, thanks to the recommendations arrived at in the pilot program evaluation project we undertook last year. 
 
Thank you for your support of the program; each of you has contributed in one way or another to help us get to where we are today, and your help is greatly appreciated.
 
Two upcoming events not to be missed:
 
November 14, an evening tour of the program's facilities at St. Alphonsus School. OPEN INVITATION
November 24, a fundraising evening at the Winspear Centre. OPEN INVITATION
 
All the best,
Alyssa
 
Alyssa Paterson
Associate Director, Department of Musical Creativity
Youth Orchestra of Northern Alberta (YONA-Sistema) Manager
 
Edmonton Symphony Orchestra  |  Francis Winspear Centre for Music
Office: 780-401-2531
YONA Quarter Notes - October 2016 Rose Marie Basaraba 2016-11-04 06:00:00Z 0

Volunteer opportunity from YESS

Posted on Nov 04, 2016
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                                   Volunteers Needed

Please contact violet.malbeuf@yess.org if you or anyone you know is interested in volunteering for any of the following events.  Thanks!

November 14, 2016 – 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM - Art Show Opening Reception – need 2-3 volunteer greeters at our Armoury Resource Center

November 16, 2016 – 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM - Christmas Tea – Donor Appreciation Event – need 2 volunteer greeters at our Armoury Resource Center
 
November 22, 2016 – 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM – Durstling Luncheon, Philanthropic Event – need 2 volunteers at our Armoury Resource centre. 
 
Free food and parking available.  Thanks
 
Violet Malbeuf
Volunteer Coordinator
(780) 468-7070 ext. 234


 
Volunteer opportunity from YESS 2016-11-04 06:00:00Z 0

Nov 4 ...and then there's that...!?!

Posted on Nov 04, 2016

Picture courtesy of Eugene Sekora


 

Q: What has more lives than a cat?

A: A frog -- it croaks every night.

 


 
 

 

Friendship increases by visiting friends but visiting seldom.      Ben Franklin (1706-1790)


 
 
 
 
 
Nov 4 ...and then there's that...!?! Hans Granholm 2016-11-04 06:00:00Z 0

Update from Heart4Children Canada

Posted on Nov 04, 2016
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Thursday October 27, 2016
 
Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona
8310 Roper Rd
Edmonton, AB
T6E 6E3
 
As we head Into our 18th year of service in Ukraine, we would like to say thank you for your continued support over the years.
 
Thank you for your support last year as we raised funds for a newer vehicle so that we could continue to bring humanitarian aid and food to isolated villages north of Kiev.
 
Ukraine continues to struggle with the conflict in Eastern Ukraine as Russia continues to support the rebels who are fighting the Ukrainian army. The Russian army has also congregated along the Crimean/Ukrainian Border. Our concerns are with the many families who are being displaced due to this conflict in Ukraine.
 
We would like to take this time to say thank you for the help Rotary provided with Mercy House Children's Camp in Crimea. Since the spring of 2014 after Russia occupied Crimea we have had no access to our property. This past summer we were able to register our land and house under the Russian Government. As we are not able to sell the property, we are now in the process of looking to trade our property with someone in Kiev or west of Kiev.
 
We will then start to plan to purchase property west of Kiev to hold Summer camp for children.
 
As winter approaches, more help will be needed to supply aid, food, medical supplies and warm clothing for families in need.
 
Thank you again for your support and consideration of these needs.
Regards,
 
Gordon and Laila Craddock
Heart4Children Canada
Update from Heart4Children Canada 2016-11-04 06:00:00Z 0

Note of appreciation

Posted on Nov 04, 2016
 
Recently we received a thank you note from a grateful wheelchair recipient:
 
Note of appreciation 2016-11-04 06:00:00Z 0

Earth Group update 2016

Posted on Oct 28, 2016
Matt Moreau from the Earth Group spoke to our Club in July 2015, and in October of last year he provided information on holiday gift boxesl. Each box sold will feed and educate a child for a year and sell for $80 each.
 
Earlier this month, they were interviewed on Global Television following a successful agreement with IKEA. Watch the video clip: https://youtu.be/4Ro1npogXa8
 
 
Further information and a picture of the boxes can be found at earthgroup.org.
 
Earth Group update 2016 2016-10-28 06:00:00Z 0

Oct 28...and then there's that...!?!

Posted on Oct 28, 2016


 

Bill Gates is hanging out with the chairman of General Motors.

"If automotive technology had kept pace with computer technology over the past few decades," boasts Gates, "you would now be driving a V-32 instead of a V-8, and it would have a top speed of 10,000 miles per hour. Or, you could have an economy car that weighs 30 pounds and gets a thousand miles to a gallon of gas. In either case, the sticker price of a new car would be less than $50." 

"Sure," says the GM chairman. "But would you really want to drive a car that crashes four times a day?"

 


 
 

Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.      Oprah Winfrey

 


 
 
 
 
Oct 28...and then there's that...!?! Hans Granholm 2016-10-28 06:00:00Z 0

Oct 14, ,,,and then there's that...!?!

Posted on Oct 14, 2016


 

Q: What did the DNA say to the other DNA?

A: Do these genes make my butt look fat.

 


 
 

Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way.     Al Franken

 


 
 
Oct 14, ,,,and then there's that...!?! Hans Granholm 2016-10-14 06:00:00Z 0

Club Assembly and Reports

Posted by Vi Hughes on Oct 13, 2016
 
On Tuesday, Oct 11, our executive reported on results of the recent Membership Survey and also on their plans for the upcoming year. President Dimitri Papanicolas presented the results from the membership survey. It showed that nearly all members are happy with the current meeting times, format and cost. We will try to work in a few meeting at other venues in the spring or summer months to change things up a little. Our membership also preferred electronic communications over paper. We also approved of the current membership initiatives and the projects that we support financially and are willing to put in sweat equity and time to support our current projects. We are not interested in taking on more projects that require sweat equity. We are interested in partnering with another rotary group to support common projects.
 
Hans Granholm encouraged all of us to use the ClubRunner website more, especially the more computer challenged among us, as it is a great resource for Rotary information in many ways. He said that he will gladly help anyone interested that needs some guidance on how to sign in and use the web site.
 
Graham Gilchrist spoke to us about how Rotary International is encouraging clubs to come up with clear guidelines on which types of projects they are going to fund, which groups of people to fund, issues to address, and clear long term goals for outcomes, so that they ensure continuity. This would also help our present and future executives with strategic planning when deciding how to apportion our efforts.
 
Donna Hutton gave us a financial report which showed that we made just over seventy-five thousand dollars from the casino this spring, which must be used up within the next two years. The budget for this year has been set and was done conservatively as we did not have the final number of casino funds at the time it was set. It follows previous year’s budgets pretty closely in terms of funding allocations.
 
Dimitri Papanicolas added an update on the now defunct wheelchair procurement and assembly project and a breakdown of the remaining funds and we discussed ways to deal with remaining funds received from other groups. We did send a letter to all donors stating that the project is no longer going forward and asked them to reply if they would like their funds returned. Only one group responded and their funds have been returned. Some others said that they were happy leaving the funds with us to be used in some other type of project.
 
Rick Harcourt gave an update on the Community Services and Allocation Committee projects which we have funded and there are no major changes planned for these.  
 
Eric Germain reported on our Membership Recruitment efforts, which seems to be working successfully. We have gained twelve new members since January last year.
 
Carin Van Vuuren reported on the Youth Services Committee. She told us that we have funded six scholarships and three district awards for youth leadership.
 
Patrick Gibson gave a report on the International Services committee. We plan to continue to support the same groups we have in the recent past, such as AMARAK, Hearts 4 Children, Shelter Box, KIVA microfinance and the New Hope School in South Africa.  We are also looking for ideas for new international projects.
 
Hans Granholm reported on our public relations efforts and said that he has submitted several reports on our club and district activities to Rotary International.
 
Hal Quilliam reported on behalf of Campbell Chow for the Rotary Foundation committee. He encouraged everyone to make their contribution to the foundation this fall if possible. He also said that both he and Campbell would be happy to help anyone who would like guidance on making a contribution to the Rotary Foundation.
 
Ken Germain reported on behalf of Vince Campbell on the Wheelchair Program. His report repeated the statements made previously by Dimitri, that the procurement and assembly project is now defunct.  
 
Dennis Freeman reported on the Canadian Flag project, which has been a good fundraiser for our club in the past. We do need someone to come forward to help him with marketing and sales for this project. We could also use some new ideas on other ways to market this project.
 
There were some good discussions on many of the issues that were brought up. Although the meeting was a little longer than normal, it was a good way for club members who are not involved with the work of a particular committee, aware of the issues at hand, as well as how and where their funds are being used.
Club Assembly and Reports Vi Hughes 2016-10-13 06:00:00Z 0

Notes from your web administrator

Posted by Hans Granholm on Oct 13, 2016
 
There have been a number of improvements and new features introduced recently:
 
  • ClubRunner has launched a mobile app featuring Story List overview;  quick member contact info, clubs meeting in your immediate area (GPS driven); and more. Download for iPhone and Android from app stores or google 'Clubrunner mobile'. Your login is identical to your club login.
  • At the recent Zone Institute in Winnipeg, we were introduced to doinggood.io, a Digital Marketing company located in California. The presenter, Rotarian Mitty Chang pledged a landing page would be available to any Rotary club or district, free of charge. This template landing page, also sometimes referred to as a splash page, can be accessed from Candeavor's Project Doing Good site.
  • I have already initiated this attractive and informative page as our opening page. This week, I sent out a teaser to members under the subject heading: Brand new look. I deliberately did not provide a direct link to our new splash page hoping that users would find it themselves by opening www.EdmontonStrathcona.Rotary5370.org . This is our official web address and it, and only it, should be used anytime to promote and advertise our internet presence. This is also the address you should bookmark or save as a favourite in your browser.
    Hovering the cursor over the 'CLUB HOME PAGE' in the menu bar, and clicking, will open the club's traditional home page.
  • Some of the wording in the notice going out to all Setup & Greeter and Door Duty teams every Saturday has changed. I am aware that it is not realistic that every recipient reads the whole script as they receive it, so henceforth, changes to the script will be highlighted in teal. 
Your communication and website team is constantly responding to new innovative features that will make your web experience more enjoyable. Please reward us by using them.
 
 
Notes from your web administrator Hans Granholm 2016-10-13 06:00:00Z 0

Concert in the Dark

Posted by Conor Pilz on Oct 07, 2016

Bring your family and friends to this year's CNIB Night Steps, a 5 km fundraising walk under the stars. Funds raised will help CNIB provide life-changing support to community members who are blind or partially sighted. Find an event near you and register today at cnibnightsteps.ca

Concert in the Dark Conor Pilz 2016-10-07 06:00:00Z 0
J Percy Page Interact update. Eric Germain 2016-10-07 06:00:00Z 0

Oct 7... and then there's that... !?!

Posted on Oct 07, 2016


 

A Texan, a Russian and a New Yorker go to a restaurant in London.

The waiter tells them, "Excuse me -- if you were going to order the steak, I'm afraid there's a shortage due to the mad cow disease."

The Texan says, "What's a shortage?"

The Russian says, "What's a steak?"

The New Yorker says, "What's 'excuse me'?"

 


 
 
 

 

You can fool people some of the time, but you can't fool them all of the time.      Aesop (c.620-560 BC)

 


 
Oct 7... and then there's that... !?! Hans Granholm 2016-10-07 06:00:00Z 0

Independant Power Producers Society of Alberta

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 28, 2016

This week, our speaker was Evan Bahry, the Executive Director of the Independent Power Producers Society of Alberta (IPPSA). The IPPSA represents all of Alberta’s major power producers along with their supporting industries. It was founded in 1993 as a trade association of power producers and currently has about eighty members.

Alberta has a unique in Canada business environment for power producers in that our power producing industry has been deregulated. When a system is regulated, the government approves all capitol expenses and the consumer covers all of the cost, whether the project comes in on budget or not. When the industry is deregulated, they approve the capitol cost of projects and also take any risk if the project does not come in on budget. Losses can not be passed along to the consumer. A deregulated industry is better in many ways in that the competition between producers creates a lower overall cost, the market is based on actual demand, it is expedient for industry to incorporate new technology, and project timelines are shortened substantially. All of this creates more consumer choice, and means that the industry is able to efficiently keep up with demand.

The power industry in Alberta consists mainly of four components. The government regulated Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO), who decides how much power is needed, when and where, which producers to purchase the power from, and then purchases and sets the hourly pricing. The regulated power transmission system (power lines). The unregulated power retailers, who add another layer of complexity on top of this.

The power transmission grid in Alberta is behind the times, as we do not currently have a five hundred kilovolt backbone, as most of the other provinces do. The planning for this grid is done by government and built by private contractors, who bid on the projects. The full cost is borne by the consumer. For the average household the transmission line cost is the highest portion of their power bill.

The independent power producers come in many different types, depending on the type of plants that they operate. The major sources of power are gas, coal, wind and hydro. Some older types of plants, such as coal and gas powered steam generated, must run continuously in order to be efficient. These, along with wind and solar power are what is known as price ‘takers’ in the industry as they must take what ever price they can get for their product. Other producers, mainly hydro and gas, who can turn their systems on and off efficiently, and are known as price ‘setters’ and can sell their power at times, in amounts and at prices set by them.

The regulated AESO is tasked with meeting power demand. In order to do this, they determine how much power is needed per hour, and then look at the amounts and prices of power for sale, ranking them by cost and then by amount. The highest bidder at the demand cut off determines the price for power for that hour. This way the consumer pays the lowest possible price for their power.

The environmental aspect of power generation is becoming more of an issue now. Coal generates about one tonne of carbon dioxide per hour, gas generates about 0.4 tonnes per hour. Wind and solar have no carbon dioxide footprint, but are currently far more expensive at ninety-five dollars per mega Watt hour for wind and over one hundred and ten dollars per mega Watt hour for solar.

Overall, the power industry in Alberta is very complex, and Evan gave us a very comprehensive outline of how it works.

Independant Power Producers Society of Alberta Vi Hughes 2016-09-28 06:00:00Z 0

Sep 23 ... and then there's that...!?!

Posted on Sep 23, 2016


A grasshopper walks into a bar, and the bartender says, "Hey, we have a drink named after you!"

The grasshopper looks surprised and asks, "You have a drink named Steve?"

 


 
 
 

Take a chance! All life is a chance. The man who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare.     Dale Carnegie

 


Sep 23 ... and then there's that...!?! Hans Granholm 2016-09-23 06:00:00Z 0

Ken Germain, Classification Refresher

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 21, 2016
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Tuesday’s speaker was Ken Germain, giving us a refresher and update on his classification talk. It was nice for the newer members to hear about the experiences of one of our long time members.
 
Ken joined our club in 1999 and is a past president (2009-2010) and a Paul Harris Fellow. He was also a recipient of the Rotarian of the Year Award in 2013. Ken grew up in Alberta, first in Calgary, then in Red Deer. His father worked in construction and was a long time Rotarian, so Ken learned about Rotary from a young age. He attended Red Deer College. As a young man he worked part time in several different retail jobs, MacLeod’s Hardware and Kelly’s Stereo Mart were two of his earliest jobs. He appreciated the fact that the Stereo Mart gave him an abiding love for music from the 70’s that has stayed with him throughout his life. He says that marrying his wife who is from a farm family, gave him a true appreciation of how hard people work on a farm.
 
He first went into sales of industrial cleaning supplies with Fuller Brush, and then moved on to selling to distributors with Johnson Wax.  He then tried setting up his own company with a Maid Service, but found that staffing was too much of an issue, so he moved on to selling for the printing industry at Moore Business Forms. They produced all kinds of safety labels and signs. Along the way he was learning all kinds of things that would help him in his future endeavors. He then tried another business selling cappuccino machines to restaurants, but found that it was just not the right timing for Edmonton. As he looks back now, it would have worked very well a few years afterwards. He also spent a short time with the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, to get to know more about the business community in Edmonton. In 1998, he started working for Phillips Environmental, selling their services to commercial companies. One project he worked on was to recycle and/or reuse as much as possible of the huge oil filters that are removed from CN diesel locomotives, in order to keep as much as possible out of the landfill. This type of work gave him the idea to start his own Environmental Disposal company, which helps customers decommission buildings, or dispose of unwanted materials, including dangerous goods. They try to handle all types of waste in a way that is cost effective for both the customer and the environment.
 
Ken’s talk gave us an example of how resourcefulness and persistence can result in success, and is another example of the many ways Rotarians can help to make the world a better place.
Ken Germain, Classification Refresher Vi Hughes 2016-09-21 06:00:00Z 0
2016 Greece Blog Hans Granholm 2016-09-19 06:00:00Z 0

Canadians for Sustainable Medicare

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 15, 2016
On Tuesday we heard from Dr. Ed Papp, a family physician and past member of the Alberta Medical Association’s Board of Directors, and Ron Kustra (pictured) , a retired AMA Public Affairs Assistant Executive Director and now a spokesperson for Canadians for Sustainable Medicare.
 
They spoke about the multiple incidences of delayed, slow, or unavailable medical services in the Alberta medical care system.  They emphasized how the current system is not working for many people and how we need o look at changes being made in other locales around the world, in order to get ideas on how to build a more functional system here in Alberta.
 
The cost of a public system is continually rising and we also need to look at other ways of doing things to help to better control the overall cost to the public.  The lack of control over how medicine is practiced by the medical profession in Alberta, with nearly every small aspect of what they are allowed to do being controlled by cost, right down to how many phone calls a day they can make to patients, is also not the best way to deliver medical care.
 
They argued that we need a system that is governed more by the medical profession, to allow them to deliver the best twenty first century care possible at a reasonable price, without so much government control of how it is delivered.
Canadians for Sustainable Medicare Vi Hughes 2016-09-15 06:00:00Z 0

Sep 16, And then there's that...!?!

Posted on Sep 09, 2016


Three Englishmen drink in a bar and spot an Irishman in the corner.

The first Englishman starts to taunt the Irishman, "Did you know that St. Patrick was a sissy?"

"Oh, no, I didn't know that. Thank you."

The second Englishman yells, "Did you know that St. Patrick was a transvestite?"

"Oh, no, I didn't know that. Thank you."

The third Englishman yells, "Did you know that St. Patrick was an Englishman?"

"Oh, no. But that's what your friends have been trying to tell me."

 


 
 
 

The best thing about telling the truth is...you don't have to remember what you said!      unknown, thanks to Georgie Bee

 


Sep 16, And then there's that...!?! Hans Granholm 2016-09-09 06:00:00Z 0

Upcoming fundraiser event Beers and Bands

Posted by Vince Campbell on Sep 09, 2016
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Below is a reminder poster about the upcoming Meals on Wheels fundraising event at Yellowhead Brewery.
 
 
All proceeds will go towards supporting our low-income and homebound clients throughout the city. Tickets can be purchased here:  http://ow.ly/BThf303i3xV  or by calling Meals on Wheels at 780-4292020.
 
Feel free to circulate our poster and invite your family, friends and network to our event.   Tickets for the WestJet raffle are available for pre-sale now!  They are $50 each with only 150 tickets printed.   The winner does not have to be in attendance to claim their prize!  People can purchase their ticket prior to the event by phoning Meals on Wheels at 780-429-2020!  Great odds at winning!
 
Have a great day and hope to see you at Beers and Bands!  Liz
Upcoming fundraiser event Beers and Bands Vince Campbell 2016-09-09 06:00:00Z 0

Sep 9, and then there's that!?!

Posted on Sep 09, 2016


 

A man asks a farmer near a field, “Sorry sir, would you mind if I crossed your field instead of going around it? You see, I have to catch the 4:23 train.”

The farmer says, “Sure, go right ahead. And if my bull sees you, you’ll even catch the 4:11 one.” 

 


 
 

 

Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.    Benjamin Franklin

 


Sep 9, and then there's that!?! Hans Granholm 2016-09-09 06:00:00Z 0

Moose Management in Alberta

Posted by Vi Hughes on Sep 07, 2016
Tuesday’s speaker was Dr. Mark Boyce, the ACF Chair in Fisheries and Wildlife from the Dept. of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta. He spoke to us about how his group handles moose management in Alberta. The moose population in Alberta is primarily affected by several different things, natural birth rates, overall health, predation by wolves and harvesting by licensed hunters and first nations peoples.  
 
Moose Management in Alberta Vi Hughes 2016-09-07 06:00:00Z 0

Sep 2. and then there's that...!?

Posted on Sep 02, 2016


 

A blonde was taking helicopter lessons. The instructor said, "I'll radio you every 1,000 feet to see how you're doing."
At 1,000 feet, the instructor radioed her and said she was doing great. At 2,000 feet, he said she was still doing well.

Right before she got to 3,000 feet, the propeller stopped, and she twirled to the ground. The instructor ran to where she crashed and pulled her out of the helicopter. He asked her, "What went wrong?"

The blonde said, "At 2,500 feet, I started to get cold, so I turned the big fan off."

 


 
 

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.     Albert Einstein


Sep 2. and then there's that...!? Hans Granholm 2016-09-02 06:00:00Z 0

Art Baird Resigns

Posted by Hans Granholm on Sep 02, 2016
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The Board has received and accepted with regret the resignation of Art Baird as a member of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona.
 
Art has served the club with distinction in many areas, most notably as president in 1993-94.
 
Art's chemo program is making it difficult for him to attend with some regularity.
 
We wish him and Joyce the very best and they are welcome any time.
 
Art Baird Resigns Hans Granholm 2016-09-02 06:00:00Z 0

Please Help Build a Library in Bangladesh!

Posted by Ken Germain on Sep 01, 2016
 

 
There is an opportunity through Amarok Society to help their schools and fill a few shelves with books.
The students would love to use their new reading skill to learn more about the world outside of their slums and find the enjoyment between the covers of a book.
 
Bring young-people books, especially with lots of pictures and no hidden agendas.
We plan to send 100 books or more by the beginning of October.
Just bring them to Rotary, or better yet bring them to our "Amarok Information Night" at 1806 Kramer Place on Friday,September 23 at 7:00 pm.
 
 
Please Help Build a Library in Bangladesh! Ken Germain 2016-09-01 06:00:00Z 0

Amarok Information Night

Posted by Ken Germain on Sep 01, 2016

 
Sandy and I will be hosting a 1-hour event at our home. While this event is not intended to solicit any donations, we think it's a good first step to spreading the word. 
 
We'd be pleased to see you on Friday, September 23. 7pm till 8pm for an informative evening. Fun and Games may be enjoyed after.
 
  • Amarok Society is a Canadian charity providing education to thousands of extremely poor children in the slums of megacities.; especially Bangladesh.
  •  
  • Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona and our family have supported Amarok for 8 years. We have seen fabulous growth in the teaching model to teach mothers how to teach others.
  •  
  • Education includes nutrition and health knowledge.
  •  
  • Thousands of children and their families lives are transformed for about $80/child/year.
  •  
  • Executive director and co-founder, Tanyss Munro will be giving first hand accounts of their successes.
 
Don't worry, you won't be asked for a donation.
 
Please let us know to expect you. Tanyss is a powerful speaker. You will be impressed by what Amarok does.
 
Regards; Ken Germain
Amarok Information Night Ken Germain 2016-09-01 06:00:00Z 0

Commercial Development at the Edmonton International Airport

Posted by Vi Hughes on Aug 31, 2016

This week’s speaker was Myron Keehn (pictured), Vice President, Commercial Development at the Edmonton International Airport. His areas of responsibility include concessions, advertising, parking, ground transportation and real estate development. He was invited to speak to us about the real estate development taking place at the International Airport.

In Alberta, airports are considered to be community assets, and Alberta legislation exists that mandates that the Edmonton International Airport provide for input from Edmonton and all the surrounding counties in order to promote economic development throughout the region. In Edmonton we are blessed in that the local airport has a very large amount of land which can be used to help do this, through real estate development. Our airport currently serves eight million passengers per year and provides about 1.5% of the area’s GDP, at 2.2 billion dollars per year. It also provides employment for twelve thousand employees.

Developing the airport business and lands to help drive the local economy is a very complicated task, and a lot of thought and planning must go into every step taken. The plan for the lands includes air safety (first and foremost), a future third runway, a right of way for rapid transit from Edmonton, storm water management, and adequate ground transport access. The goal is to use private equity to develop value. Currently the airport lands are home to Castrol Raceway, a gun club, a golf course, and a very large Rosenau Transport cargo distribution center. It is also home to the Alberta Aerospace Technology and Training Center which has simulators and other facilities for training and certifying pilots to fly large commercial aircraft (737s) and helicopters, and is currently the premier training location in Canada.

Development plans to increase passenger traffic include creating a shopping destination that will attract more travellers to the Edmonton area by providing an American style pure Outlet Mall shopping experience that does not compete with West Edmonton Mall, South Edmonton Common or Costco, which are already big draws for travellers to Edmonton. Many already go home with extra luggage filled with purchases made in Edmonton. The planned mall will provide a come, stay, shop, eat and play experience. The Outlet Mall will include a large landscaped area with an outdoor lake and canal which will be turned into a skating area in the winter, similar to the Rideau Canal and there will be several hotels facing the lake and canal. Development along the highway strip is also in the plans, but will take place at a slower pace, as there is just too much going on now to co-ordinate it all properly.

Plans for local economic development also include increasing cargo traffic by creating a Port Alberta, where cargo can be brought in, offloaded and value added in the Edmonton area, and then transported on elsewhere for sale with no duty charged in Edmonton. They are also actively working with stakeholders on creating facilities that will attract long haul cargo planes from overseas, to stop for crew changes and refueling on their way to more southerly destinations. Currently, on a smaller scale, KLM, Iceland Air and Air China fly freight into and out of Edmonton regularly.

The talk was very informative and well presented, and he ably answered the many questions that were posed after his talk.

Commercial Development at the Edmonton International Airport Vi Hughes 2016-08-31 06:00:00Z 0

Robert Morley Resignation

Posted by Hans Granholm on Aug 26, 2016
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The Board has received and accepted with regret the resignation of Rob Morley as a member of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona.
 
Rob has served the club with distinction in many areas, most notably in Youth Services as inbound counselor in the Student Exchange program.
 
Rob took on some more responsibilities with his employer and indicated over a year ago that he may be pressed to give the required time to Rotary.
 
We wish him and Marge the very best and should Rob's circumstances change any time in the future, he will be welcomed back.
 
Robert Morley Resignation Hans Granholm 2016-08-26 06:00:00Z 0

Nicole and Shane at the Olympics

Posted by Eric Germain on Aug 26, 2016
Selfie of Nicole and Shane in Rio Olympics at, what else -- one of the Canadian rugby games...
 
 
Shane Theberge and Nicole Germain
Nicole and Shane at the Olympics Eric Germain 2016-08-26 06:00:00Z 0

Aug 26, Then there's that...!?

Posted on Aug 26, 2016

 


 

I saw a poster today, somebody was asking “Have you seen my cat?” So I called the number and said that I didn’t. I like to help where I can.
 


 
 

 

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.     Winston Churchill


Aug 26, Then there's that...!? Hans Granholm 2016-08-26 06:00:00Z 0

Augie Annicchiarico Classification Update

Posted by Vi Hughes on Aug 24, 2016
This past Tuesday we were treated to an updated classification talk by one of our long time members, Augie Annicchiarico.
Augie first joined Rotary in 1990 and has the classification of Chartered Accounting. He has served on our club executive several times over the years.
 
Augie was born in Campagna, Italy, the second of five children, and came to Canada at the age of nine. They settled in Edmonton. He spoke of how he was able to catch up quickly with his English speaking, same age school mates in Canada, by becoming part of an accelerated grade program in Elementary School in Edmonton. He said that their home was multi-lingual as his parents spoke Italian to the children, and the children spoke English to their parents. In the process, many words were invented, as the two vocabularies did not mesh completely. He attended St Alphonsus Elementary Junior High and St Joseph High School. He then went on to attend the U of A where he studied Commerce, specialising in Accounting.
 
While there he decided to take a course in Italian as he did not speak, read or write Italian very well. As part of this, he joined the Italian club, where he met his future wife Jaqueline. Once he graduated he joined a large accounting firm specialising in banking, and he obtained his Chartered Accountant certification soon afterwards. He worked for them for about ten years, and then in 1977, decided to take on a partner and go into business on his own. This choice has worked out well for him, and his firm now has over thirty employees.
 
Along the way he has served on the executive and helped to raise money for many different charitable causes. The first on being the earthquake in Italy in 1982, for which they raised over four hundred thousand dollars, which they donated to the Red Cross. It was such a large number of donations that the Red Cross needed help with generating receipts, so Augie took a team from his firm over to help out. As a result of this he ended up being asked to sit in their Board, which he did for several years. He also helped to raise large amount of funds for his church to build a new recreation center. He has also coached minor Soccer and also the soccer team at Concordia High School, and the boys team from this very small school of 150 kids (boys and girls), managed to win a silver medal in the final competition.
 
When he joined our Rotary group, he served as treasurer and helped to set up a proper financial reporting system for our club. He also loves to golf and has spent many years on the executive of his golf club and also with Alberta Golf. He continues to generously volunteer his time and expertise to various charitable causes.
 
As Dave Rayner so ably put it in his thank-you to Augie, these types of talks, from long time members, serve to illustrate things about us as people and Rotarians, that never come out any other way. When we put service above self, we truly embody the spirit of Rotarians.
 
Augie Annicchiarico Classification Update Vi Hughes 2016-08-24 06:00:00Z 0

Aug 19, Then there's that...!?

Posted on Aug 19, 2016

 


 

What's Irish and comes out in the spring? 
Paddy O'Furniture!

 


 
 

The early bird gets the worm, the second mouse gets the cheese.      unknown

Aug 19, Then there's that...!? Hans Granholm 2016-08-19 06:00:00Z 0

Introduction of Ron Brown

Posted by Vi Hughes on Aug 17, 2016

Ron Brown (middle)

 

On Tuesday we introduced Ron Brown, a former member of the Edmonton (downtown) Rotary Club into our club.

Ron is the President of Shipper’s Supply, an Edmonton based company with ten locations across Canada, and one hundred sixty employees. He has been awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the Alberta Centennial Medal. He loves to fly, and holds a commercial pilot’s license. He also loves to ride his Goldwing trike whenever possible. He is married to Judy Harcourt Brown, who is also a Rotarian and a Past District Governor.

Welcome Ron!

Introduction of Ron Brown Vi Hughes 2016-08-17 06:00:00Z 0
YESS Volunteer Opportunity Hans Granholm 2016-08-10 06:00:00Z 0

Hawaiian Feast a la Kerr

Posted by Stephan Jansen van Vuuren on Jul 22, 2016
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We only have few tickets left, so hurry and get yours so you are not disappointed.
 
Caren and Skip Kerr hosted a great many members and guests in their home at Oktober Fest last year. View photo album from last year's fest.
 
This year they are graciously opening their door and their hearts again in hosting a Hawaiian Feast with all the trimmings provided.
The date is Saturday, August 13, 2016 from 4:00 pm (1600) till 9:00 pm (2100).
 
 
Like last year, the Kerr's are putting on the whole show by providing food, entertainment and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), Cocktails are $5 extra.
There will be prizes for best theme dressed couple or person.
 
All revenue from ticket sales will be destined to a Bridges to Prosperity project as suggested by the Kerr's.
 
The ticket price is $50/ea
 
 
If you have any questions, contact Stephan, the event organizer, drstephanvv@gmail.com 780-977-9327
 
Technical assistance, contact Hans G. hgrdane@telusplanet.net 780-466-5566
Hawaiian Feast a la Kerr Stephan Jansen van Vuuren 2016-07-22 06:00:00Z 0

Volunteer Opportunity, Taste of Edmonton

Posted on Jul 15, 2016
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Its that time of year again!  Because we require nearly 300 shifts to be filled, we are asking any interested volunteers to sign up if you can for 2 or more shifts.  We would be truly GRATEFUL!  Let me know what you are able to volunteer.

Contact Violet Malbeuf to register your volunteer shift:    violet.malbeuf@yess.org  or 780-468-7070.  

Our club liaison is Loida Lumanlanloida@loidahomes.ca (780) 953-1062

- See more at: http://portal.clubrunner.ca/399/Event/yess--taste-of-edmonton#sthash.PN611BFb.dpuf

Volunteer Opportunity, Taste of Edmonton Hans Granholm 2016-07-15 06:00:00Z 0

Don Henry Scores!

Posted on Jul 15, 2016
For those that don't know, Don is handing the keys to the vehicle that we helped to purchase with our $10,000 donation to YESS.
 
Don Henry Scores! Hans Granholm 2016-07-15 06:00:00Z 0

Porkapalooza serves up Fire relief for Ft. McMurray

Posted by Hans Granholm on Jun 22, 2016
DGN Frank Reitz (RC Ft. McMurray) and Loida Lumanlan Barb Reitz and Loida Lumanlan
 
 
 
Thank You note from PDG Julius Buski:
 
Dear Rotary Colleagues,
Thank you very, very much for taking time out from your schedules to volunteer at Porkapalooza  It was a great pleasure to renew acquaintances and make new Rotary Friends.
Through your efforts we were able to raise a total of approximately $14,000 for our  Fort McMurray Fire Relief Fund.
Service Above Self in its purest form is what you have  exhibited.  Thanks again.
Cheers- Julius
 
P.S. 
Good day everyone,
I was a little tired when I got home yesterday evening and consequently missed counting one of our money envelopes.
The final count, now confirmed by our bank, is just over $16.000!
Thank you again to everyone for your assistance.
Cheers - Julius
 
 
 
Dr. Julius Buski
President, Rotary District 5370 Charitable Foundation
Past District Governor (1999-2000), Rotary International District 5370
Proud member of Rotary Club of St. Albert – Saint City
Senator, University of Alberta
152 – 54418 Rge Rd 251
Sturgeon County AB  T8T 0C7
Ph.   780-973-6820    Cell  780-964-6820
E-mail:   buski@shaw.ca 
Porkapalooza serves up Fire relief for Ft. McMurray Hans Granholm 2016-06-22 06:00:00Z 0

CNIB Children's Program, 3D Printer UPDATE!

Posted on Jun 18, 2016
A few weeks ago we received a demonstration and a big thank you from Laura Larsan (pictured), of the CNIB Children's Program Development, for our donation towards the purchase of a 3D printer.
 
 
You can read local media coverage at:
 
Edmonton Journal:
 
Metro News:
 
 
She explained some of the many ways this printer can be used in their classroom environment to help vision impaired children to understand the world around them. It allows them to print objects that they can touch and feel, so that they have a better understanding of shapes and relative sizes of the things around them, when they are spoken about.
 
It can also be used by the Mobility  program to print 3D maps of the an area to help them understand what their neighbourhood looks like. They do not use it to print objects for which good models are readily available.
 
It can be used to explain concepts in science, math and art. They also hope to be able to use it to print custom fitted glasses for children who have difficulty with normal glasses, and are also looking forward to being able to use it for other things that they have not even thought of yet.
 
You can also particiate in future fundraising walks organized by CNIB. See more at:
 
 
CNIB Children's Program, 3D Printer UPDATE! Vira Hughes 2016-06-18 06:00:00Z 0
Kiva's history and looking forward. Patrick Gibson 2016-06-13 06:00:00Z 0
Volunteer Trial link 2016-06-02 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary Interact Club Helps Syrian Refugees

Posted by Eric Germain on May 27, 2016
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Rotary Interact Club Helps Syrian Refugees
 
The Rotary Interact Club of J. Percy Page High School recently presented a cheque for $200 to the Edmonton Islamic Family Social Services to assist with their work helping Syrian families settle into the Edmonton community. Ghada Ageel, Refugee Support Manager for the Islamic Social Services Association and her colleague attended the Rotary Interact Club meeting to accept the cheque from Rotary Interact Club President Sophie Berube and her fellow Rotary Interactors.
 
Ms. Ageel was very complimentary and grateful for the funds and the community initiative to assist the local Syrian refugees. She commented on what a great initiative this was for young people to recognize the global concern for displaced Syrian families, and to take positive action to address it. Ms. Ageel stated, “Your financial support is very much appreciated and helps us continue our work to assist Syrian families settling in our community”.
 
The $200 in funds was raised by the Rotary Interact Club selling 100 roses for Valentine’s Day. The roses were generously donated by Heather de Kok’s Grower Direct Flower Store.
 

 
Rotary Interact Club Helps Syrian Refugees Eric Germain 2016-05-27 06:00:00Z 0

May 27, Then there's that...!?

Posted on May 20, 2016


 

There were three men at a bar. One man got drunk and started a fight with the other two men. The police came and took the drunk guy to jail. The next day the man went before the judge. The judge asked the man, “Where do you work?” 
The man said, “Here and there.” 
The judge asked the man, “What do you do for a living?” 
The man said, “This and that.” 
The judge then said, “Take him away.” 
The man said, “Wait, judge when will I get out?” 
The judge said to the man, “Sooner or later.”

 

 
 

Many of life's failures are experienced by people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.     Thomas Edison


 
May 27, Then there's that...!? Hans Granholm 2016-05-20 06:00:00Z 0

Fort McMurray Fire Relief

Posted by Hans Granholm on May 11, 2016
We have all watched and heard the horrific flash fire emergency unfolding in Fort McMurray, and many of you may be wondering how you may help. So here is a run down on ways to do just that.
 
Please note the text and links have been updated.
 
A member of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona, who wishes to remain anonymous, has pledged to match any of our members' donations dollar for dollar up to $1,000. As of the time of this writing we have no deadline for the matching grants, but we suggest you submit your pledge on or before Friday May 13th. After you have finished the pledge form, please advise Rick Harcourt , cell or text: 780-965-4453 of the amount pledged in order to coordinate our anonymous member's pledge.
 

In the short term most of their needs are being taken care of by The Red Cross and similar emergency response organizations.  They are aware of the offers of help from throughout the district and have shared that with all of their club members.  They will be sure to direct anyone in need of help either to a local Rotary club or the District office where we will make sure their needs are taken care of.
 
What we have heard is that the biggest need will be in the medium to long term once they are back in their homes and can assess what is needed.  That's where Rotary comes in!  What we do best is stay in for the long term and help through projects and donations once the needs are determined.  I promised all Rotarians from Fort McMurray that Rotary International will be there to help them as long as it takes to get them going again.  That is where we need your support.  If you are planning to make a cash donation please do so through the Rotary District 5370 Charitable Foundation “Fort McMurray Fire Relief Fund”.  Donations are eligible for a Canadian tax-deductible receipt and will be disbursed in accordance with the wishes of an advisory committee made up of Fort McMurray residents (including Rotarians). You can make your donation by mailing a cheque to:
 
The Rotary District 5370 Charitable Foundation has established the “Fort McMurray Fire Relief Fund” to assist in the rebuilding of that city following this tragic fire.  The Charitable Foundation is now ready to accept donations, for which tax receipts will be issued.  The Foundation will rely on an independent committee of Fort McMurray stakeholders (including the Rotary clubs and the municipality) for advice on disbursal of the funds. 
 
Donations may be from individuals or corporations.  Rotary clubs may wish to facilitate this process by collecting donations, and then forwarding either the individual cheques or a cheque drawn on the club’s account for the total amount, along with a list of the donors and their addresses and postal codes.
 
Please make cheques payable to:  "Rotary District 5370 Charitable Foundation" and forward to:
 
Rotary District 5370 Charitable Foundation
c/o Rotary District 5370 Office
16030 – 104 Ave.. NW
Edmonton AB    T5P 0S3
 
Please annotate cheques “Fort McMurray Fire Relief Fund”
 
If you wish to make a donation using a charge card, you may do so using ATB Cares.  ATB matches donations with an additional 15%.  Here’s the link:
 
 
All donations made through ATB cares flow through to the Rotary District 5370 Charitable Foundation's Fort McMurray Fire Relief Fund. Many thanks! 
 
Julius Buski, President, Rotary District 5370 Charitable Foundation
 

 
P.S. Do not forget to check Facebook posting and tweets: 
Fort McMurray Fire Relief Hans Granholm 2016-05-11 06:00:00Z 0

Paul Harris Fellow plus pins presented

Posted by Hans Granholm on May 10, 2016
President Harald presented multiple Paul Harris Fellowship pins to Patrick Gibson and Campbell Chow, PHF+8 and PHF+1 respectively.
 
 
Thank you fellows for your contributions and commitment to our foundation.
Paul Harris Fellow plus pins presented Hans Granholm 2016-05-10 06:00:00Z 0

The Edmonton Emergency Relief Society

Posted by Rick Harcourt on May 06, 2016
 
The Edmonton Emergency Relief Society has put out an urgent call for NEW donation items:
 
Blankets
Toothbrushes
Socks
Underwear
Towels
(Please no used items)
 
I’m sure their earlier call for NEW diapers and other toiletries (shampoo, soap, etc) would still be valid.
 
They can be delivered to their downtown warehouse at 10255 104 Street.  If any club members wish to purchase items and bring them to the club on Tuesday, I’ll deliver them to ERSS after the meeting.
 
Yours in Rotary,
Rick
P.S. I have always wanted to see how many new personal items my van could fit.  I bet it’s a lot.  It’s a pretty big van.  Just saying.
 
Rick Harcourt
Harcourt Human Capital Solutions
780-425-5555 ext. 301
 
Connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/rickharcourt
The Edmonton Emergency Relief Society Rick Harcourt 2016-05-06 06:00:00Z 0

May 6, Then there's that...!?

Posted on May 06, 2016


SIGNS OF THE 21ST CENTURY

-- You haven't played solitaire with a real deck of cards in years.
-- You have a list of 20 phone numbers to reach five people.
-- You chat several times a day with a Nigerian prince over e-mail, but you couldn't name your neighbor.
-- When paying a cashier, you only know how to respond to "credit or debit" -- what the hell is "cash"?
-- You think "music in the air" refers to free downloads.
-- You lose touch with any family member who doesn't have an email address.
-- Second-day delivery takes way too long.
-- You need PowerPoint to explain what you do for a living.
-- A "half day" means leaving at 5 p.m.
-- You find jokes on computers, not in books or word of mouth.



If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything.     Mark Twain


 
May 6, Then there's that...!? 2016-05-06 06:00:00Z 0

Romance in Rotary?

Posted by Hans Granholm on May 04, 2016
Who says there is no romance in Rotary?
 
 
Diana Parker Ken Sutley
 
On Tuesday, Ken Sutley announced to a delighted capacity crowd, that he and Diana Parker have been dating for the last three months. Wow! they sure know how to keep a secret.
 
Both Diana and Ken are long time Edmonton Strathcona Rotarians and both are past presidents of the club. We couldn't be happier for them.
 
Congratulations Diana and Ken.
Romance in Rotary? Hans Granholm 2016-05-04 06:00:00Z 0

Apr 29, Then there's that...?!

Posted on Apr 29, 2016

Q: Why didn't the skeleton go to the dance?

A: He had no body to go with.

and...

Q: What kind of dog hears voices?

A: A Shih-Tzu-Phrenic.


Chiropractic school lesson?

 
 
America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.     -- Harry S Truman
 



Apr 29, Then there's that...?! 2016-04-29 06:00:00Z 0

DISTRICT 5370’S FIRST YOUTH SUMMIT

Posted by Carin Jansen van Vuuren on Apr 27, 2016
The following is a summary of Carin's detailed report from attending the District 5370 Youth Summit in Edmonton on April 23rd.
Please open THIS LINK to read the full report.
 
I had the pleasure to attend Rotary District 5370 1st Youth Summit last Saturday, April 23rd. Pradeep’s wife Rani joined me.
 
The event organizer was Tamara Larson, President of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Whyte Avenue and it was chaired by DG Tim Schilds.
 
 
Rotary International President Ravi Ravindran and Carin Jansen van Vuuren
 
There were over 200 attendees and we had the opportunity to hear RI President Ravi (Ravindran), International Director Julia Phelps, Director Elect Dean Rohrs speak.
 
Their main theme was to encourage participation – to work as a group, to discourage focussing on self & to illustrate the role that Rotary can play in their life.
 
 
RI President Ravi started his presentation by taking a selfie of himself with the group to the amusement of the crowd.
 
DISTRICT 5370’S FIRST YOUTH SUMMIT Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2016-04-27 06:00:00Z 0

Wheelchair Program in Motion.

Posted by Vince Campbell on Apr 27, 2016
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This is a picture of staff and other visitors at the Sunchild Band Health Center. My wife Ann and I were given a tour of the center and got to meet a few of the staff.  My contact there is Evelyn, far right, who also met us at the Alexander Band. They are very happy and thankful that we were able to donate these chairs.
 
 
 
Here is a picture of Jackie who is the head nurse at the Alexis Band Health Center. I delivered 2 chairs there this morning.  I was impressed by the setting as the health center overlooks a lake. Jackie and others there were very happy to get the chairs.
Wheelchair Program in Motion. Vince Campbell 2016-04-27 06:00:00Z 0
YESS plaque of appreciation 2016-04-22 06:00:00Z 0
Prospective New Rotary Club Members Spring Lunch Eric Germain 2016-04-20 06:00:00Z 0

Please Read...

Posted by Hans Granholm on Apr 15, 2016
Please read the UPDATED story about Rotary International President Ravi's' visit to Edmonton and in particular the April 22 paragraph about the invitation to attend the Million Dollar Dinner
Please Read... Hans Granholm 2016-04-15 06:00:00Z 0

Apr 15, Then there's that...?!

Posted on Apr 15, 2016

How many Frat boys does it take to change a lightbulb?

11 - One to hold the lightbulb, and 10 to drink until the room spins.




All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.     -- Walt Disney
 


Apr 15, Then there's that...?! 2016-04-15 06:00:00Z 0

Casino Apr 14-15

Posted on Apr 08, 2016
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Remember: Edmonton Strathcona casino.
 
Where:  Casino Edmonton - Argyll. 7055 Argyll Rd. NW MAP
When:  Thursday April 14th and Friday April 15th.
Why:  This is the largest fundraiser for our club in terms of revenue generated over a two day period. This revenue is basically divided into two and funds a majority of our community projects, local and international over a two year period. -
 
 
Download: our Casino Advisor's Volunteer Guide
 
Questions: Contact Patrick Gibson, Event Organizer. 780-982-6741
Casino Apr 14-15 2016-04-08 06:00:00Z 0

RI President in Edmonton UPDATE

Posted on Apr 07, 2016
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Rotary International President Ravi Ravindran is coming to District 5370 from April 21, 2016 to April 24, 2016.  He will be staying in the Edmonton area and there are a number of events you can participate in.  There are two big ways you can really help us in our efforts.  1. Tell all of your friends and fellow employees about President Ravi’s visit.  2. Please join us whenever you can.  Here is what’s going on:
 
April 21, 2016
 
President Ravi and Vanathy will visit Fort Edmonton Park to listen to a performance by YONA Sistema and learn more about the park and Rotary’s involvement.  Start time is 2:45 and we have a limited number of seats available for members and guests to join us.  There is no charge to attend, registration is first come first served and will be limited to 225.  More information and registration is available on our Rotary District 5370 website: http://www.crsadmin.com/Gen/EventPlanner/EventServices.aspx?aid=50012
 
April 22, 2016
 
Please join us as we celebrate our Rotary Foundation on April 22, 2016 at the Fantasyland Hotel in Edmonton.  We will be honouring our current and past successes in supporting The Rotary Foundation in our district and as a result promoting world peace and understanding.  The more Rotarians understand about The Rotary Foundation the more contributions result. One of the best Rotarians to learn from is our President. This is a great opportunity to meet “Ravi” and to hear an outstanding speaker. We ask you to become a Major Donor, or a member of the Bequest Society or the Paul Harris Society. You will feel great when you do so.
You can get more information about the dinner here: http://portal.clubrunner.ca/50012/Event/milliondollardinner-event-information
 
If you are already a Major Donor, Paul Harris Society Member or Bequest Member, you already qualify. Questions about your eligibility to attend, Contact Hans Granholm hgrdane@telusplanet.net 780-466-5566
(wording on the district registration page may be confusing)
 
April 23, 2016
 
Walk to End Polio:
 
Come and Walk with President Ravi and Vanathy to help End Polio Now!  This is a tradition of the Rotary Club of Edmonton and they are asking all District Rotarians to join them in raising awareness and funds.  Pledge sheets are available on the registration site.  Please register and come wearing red to make sure we stand out from the crowd.  Can you imagine the awareness we would create if 500 of us were to walk along the streets of Edmonton on Saturday at noon?  The press has been invited, President Ravi and Vanathy will be there, Rotary International Director Julia Phelps will be there, Rotary International Director-Elect Dean Rohrs will be there, District Governor Tim and Sally will be there, all we need is you!  Please join us and help make this an event to remember.
 
Timmy’s Double Double Challenge still works for any pledges made for this event.  That means that for every cup of coffee you donate Bill and Melinda Gates will donate 2 and the Canadian Government will donate 2.  That’s 5 cups of coffee for donating a single cup!  Can’t beat that.
 
Tim Schilds
 
D5370 District Governor 2015-2016
RI President in Edmonton UPDATE 2016-04-07 06:00:00Z 0

Update from Nepal

Posted by Eric Germain on Apr 07, 2016
Be sure to read the newsletter page 2, last paragraph from Nepal click on 'Read More...'
 
The following is an email received (unedited) by Eric Germain from Nepal:
 
Hy  sir  Namaste!
  How  are  you ?
we  are  also  fine  and  hope  you  are  also  fine  there . 
we  are  very  very  sorry  because we  can;t  send  email  on  time.  we  are  hilly  area  of  Nepal.  we  are  very  very happy  to  the  support  at  our  school  from  you  and  Rotary club.  for  the  stage / (Program  hall). 
  Just  yesterday  sat our  school  management  committee  meeting  and  decided  to  further  construction  work  immediately. 
  this email  with  sent  photograph  make  the  place  of  stage. i will send other   photos of  constructions works when  start. Now  what  should  process  to  complete this ? 
   Ok  bye  see  you  again  next  email.  
   we  are  waiting  for  your  email. thank  you  very  much. 
Bankot  primary  school
Dangsing  5  Kaski 
   Nepal. 
 
 
 
Hello Bankot,
Thank you for your update message and photos. The children photo is great, and the construction photo shows good progress on your program hall and stage project. The view of the Himalayas is impressive. Please keep myself on behalf of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona , and the Rotary Club of Pokhara posted on future progress. 
Namaste,
Eric
 
Update from Nepal Eric Germain 2016-04-07 06:00:00Z 0
Tuesday April 12 Meeting 2016-04-07 06:00:00Z 0

Visit of the Ambassador

Posted by Bernd Reuscher on Apr 07, 2016
On Tuesday April 5, 2016 Mr. Werner Wnendt, the Ambassador of Germany to Canada, visited our Rotary Club and gave a short but very informative presentation about current global events.
 
The membership had the opportunity to raise several issues of concern like the present refugee crisis in Europe and in particular the integration of refugees into the German society.
 
The Ambassador pointed out that although Germany was overwhelmed with the recent influx of refugees, it tries to accommodate them in an orderly, but speedy effort and avoids mistakes of neighboring countries by not concentrating them in areas of big cities.
 
Other points of interest discussed were the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), its ratification and possible opposition to the treaty. The Ambassador pointed out that once applied, it will offer businesses more and better opportunities in Canada as well as in Europe and will benefit consumer on both sides.
Visit of the Ambassador Bernd Reuscher 2016-04-07 06:00:00Z 0

Apr 8, Then there's that...?!

Posted on Apr 01, 2016

Q: Who has the right of way when four cars approach a four-way stop at the same time?
A: The pick-up truck with the gun rack and the bumper sticker saying, "Guns don't kill people. I do."



You educate a man; you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation.     -- Brigham Young


 
Apr 8, Then there's that...?! 2016-04-01 06:00:00Z 0

Apr 1, Then there's that...?!

Posted on Apr 01, 2016

ABBOTT & COSTELLO'S CYBER-ROUTINE

 

Costello:  Hey, Abbott!
Abbot:  Yes, Lou?

Costello:  I just got my first computer.
Abbot:  That's great Lou. What did you get?

Costello:  A Pentium II-266, with 40 Megs of RAM, a 2.1 Gig hard drive, and a 24X CD-ROM.
Abbot:  That's terrific, Lou.

Costello:  But I don't know what any of it means!!
Abbot:  You will in time.

Costello:  That's exactly why I am here to see you.
Abbot:  Oh?

Costello:  I heard that you are a real computer expert.
Abbot:  Well, I don't know-

Costello:  Yes-sir-ee. You know your stuff. And you're going to train me.
Abbot:  Really?

Costello:  Uh huh. And I am here for my first lesson.
Abbot:  O.K. Lou. What do want to know?

Costello:  I am having no problem turning it on, but I heard that you should be very careful how you turn it off.
Abbot:  That's true.

Costello:  So, here I am working on my new computer and I want to turn it off. What do I do?
Abbot:  Well, first you press the Start button, and then-

Costello:  No, I told you, I want to turn it off.
Abbot:  I know, you press the Start button-

Costello:  Wait a second. I want to turn it off. Off. I know how to start it. So tell me what to do.
Abbot:  I did.

Costello:  When?
Abbot:  When I told you to press the Start button.

Costello:  Why should I press the Start button?
Abbot:  To shut off the computer.

Costello:  I press Start to stop.
Abbot:  Well Start doesn't actually stop the computer.

Costello:  I knew it! So what do I press.
Abbot:  Start

Costello:  Start what?
Abbot:  Start button.

Costello:  Start button to do what?
Abbot:  Shut down.

Costello:  You don't have to get rude!
Abbot:  No, no, no! That's not what I meant.

Costello:  Then say what you mean.
Abbot:  To shut down the computer, press-

Costello:  Don't say, "Start!"
Abbot:  Then what do you want me to say?

Costello:  Look, if I want to turn off the computer, I am willing to press the Stop button, the End button and Cease and Desist button, but no one in their right mind presses the Start to Stop.
Abbot:  But that's what you do.

Costello:  And you probably Go at Stop signs, and Stop at green lights.
Abbot:  Don't be ridiculous.

Costello:  I am being ridiculous? Well. I think it's about time we started this conversation.
Abbot:  What are you talking about?

Costello:  I am starting this conversation right now. Good-bye.


Dr. Stephan and...?
Apr 1, Then there's that...?! 2016-04-01 06:00:00Z 0

Mar 25 and then there's that...?

Posted on Mar 25, 2016
Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what happened.     -- Jennifer Yane
 

 
Anyone for a South African tour??
 

Joe asked God, "How much is a penny worth in heaven?"

God replied, "$1 million."

Joe asked, "How long is a minute in heaven?"

God said, "One million years."

Joe asked for a penny.

God said, "Sure, in a minute."

 


​​​​​​​

 
Mar 25 and then there's that...? 2016-03-25 06:00:00Z 0

Twitter is covered!

Posted by Hans Granholm on Mar 19, 2016
   
 
 
Graham Gilchrist           Rick Harcourt
 
It is with great pleasure I can announce that Graham has agreed to join the social media committee. Graham will be responsible for our club's Twitter presence, but will also work with Rick Harcourt on the Facebook media.
 
If you need assistance with accessing either media. contact them directly:
 
 
 
Twitter is covered! Hans Granholm 2016-03-19 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary Interact Club of J. Percy Page High School

Posted by Eric Germain on Mar 18, 2016
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Rotary Interact Club of J. Percy Page High School
 
The Rotary Interact Club is having a great year.
Under the competent leadership of President Sophie Berube and her executive team and membership, they have provided dinner four times this school year (courtesy of our Rotary Club picking up the tab for the groceries), prepared, served, cleaned up after dinner.  
The RMH experience for everyone is very special, especially for our Interact Club members who met and played with the kids and families. See Photo Album
We plan to go to Hope Mission and prepare, serve, and cleanup for dinner on April 23. A special thank you to our Rotary drivers who provide the transport. We are always looking for driver recruits, so please advise if you would like to help. egermain@is2.ca
The Interact Club ran several successful fundraisers, including the Halloween Scary Movie, Christmas Candy Cane event, Valentine Flower-grams (courtesy of 100 roses provided by Heather de Kok’s Flower Shop). The Rotary Interact Club plans to keep busy to end of the school year.
Rotary Interact Club of J. Percy Page High School Eric Germain 2016-03-18 06:00:00Z 0
New Hope School, Pretoria South Africa Stephan Jansen van Vuuren 2016-03-18 06:00:00Z 0

Mar 18, and then there's...?

Posted on Mar 18, 2016
 
 
Kiss of Death?
 

 
Great minds have purposes, others have wishes.      -- Washington Irving (1783-1859)

Q: Which part of the military do babies join?

A: The infantry.


 
Mar 18, and then there's...? 2016-03-18 06:00:00Z 0

Mar 4, and then there's...?!

Posted on Mar 04, 2016
Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!'     -- Robin Williams
 

Image result for spectacular pictures of nature
 

 

Did you hear about the two antennas that got married?

The ceremony was long and boring, but the reception was great!


Close encounters??
 
Mar 4, and then there's...?! 2016-03-04 07:00:00Z 0

Classification Talks from Loida and Gene

Posted by Vira Hughes on Feb 29, 2016
It was a pleasure to hear stories from the lives of two of our newest members.
 
Loida Lumanlan gave us a very inspiring talk about her childhood growing up in a large family in the Phillipines. She talked about how her parents instilled in her the life skills and values that enabled her to overcome obstacles in her life and become the happy, successful person she is today.
 
Eugene Sekora spoke about growing up in Edmonton, catching frogs in the sloughs which were common in the area, and making family trips to Calgary each summer to watch the horse racing events. He also entertained us with some of his many adventures flying and living in remote parts of northern Canada as a young man.  
 
A hearty welcome to our club, to both Loida and Gene. 
Classification Talks from Loida and Gene Vira Hughes 2016-02-29 07:00:00Z 0

New Editor

Posted by Hans Granholm on Feb 24, 2016
 
Vira (Vi) Hughes
 
I am delighted to announce that Vi Hughes has come forward and offered to assume the Newsletter Editor role.
Vi was inducted only last December and is already engaged in club volunteer actrivities. Thank You Vi.
 
Everyone is encouraged to submit news and stories to Vi before Thursday noon. We publish on Friday -- mostly ;-)
 
This also gives me another opportunity to thank Ken Germain for his many years of keeping us informed and sometimes in stiches. Thanks Ken!

New Editor Hans Granholm 2016-02-24 07:00:00Z 0

Thank You from KIVA

Posted by Vira Hughes on Feb 23, 2016
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We received a letter of heartfelt thanks from Kiva for helping them to reach some special milestones for 2015.
 
With our club donation of $3,200 we supported 128 loans in 28 countries in 2015.
 
Overall Kiva provided loans for more that 320,000 people in 2015. Their lending community surpassed 1.3 million lenders in 192 countries. They also celebrated their 10 year anniversary and welcomed a new CEO, Martin Tschopp.
 
Visit the Edmonton Strathcona Rotary Club Kiva sitehttp://tinyurl.com/RCESkiva
Thank You from KIVA Vira Hughes 2016-02-23 07:00:00Z 0

Mustard Seed Community Engagement

Posted by Vira Hughes on Feb 23, 2016
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Jeremiah Basuric, Mustard Seed Community Engagement Co-ordinator, pictured, gave a very inspiring talk on Tuesday, about the many programs that they provide for the community.
 
He spoke about how they try to meet the needs of people as well as help them develop their individual gifts. They are located in central Edmonton, as about 90% of the homeless in Edmonton live in that area. They try to inspire a feeling of belonging and sense of worth through their many programs.
 
Approximately 95% of their funding comes from private donors and sponsors such as ourselves. As Ken Sutley suggested, and Hank Williams Sr so eloquently put it, he gave us a 'picture from life's other side'.
Mustard Seed Community Engagement Vira Hughes 2016-02-23 07:00:00Z 0

Thankyou from Heart4Children Canada

Posted by Vira Hughes on Feb 22, 2016
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We received a letter of thanks for our support from Sasha Omelchenko, based in Kiev, Ukraine. For the past ten years their mission had conducted children's camps at Mercy House in Crimea for children from the Chernobyl area.
 
Unfortunately, due to the seizure of Crimea, this is no longer possible, however they have been able to provide for families living in wartorn areas of eastern Ukraine. Families have received clothing, food, some financial help, and the children have received toys, coats, blankets and beautiful Canadian back packs filled with school supplies.
 
They ask that we remember the Ukraine in our prayers.
Thankyou from Heart4Children Canada Vira Hughes 2016-02-22 07:00:00Z 0

Classification Talks by Vi and Don

Posted by Hans Granholm on Feb 22, 2016
Two new members, Vi Hughes and Don Wedman, pictured, shared their classification/life stories on February 16th.
It has been said before, but it bears repeating, that our own members are the best when it comes to talk about their professional and vocational history.
 
A hearty and sincere welcome to the club both of you.
Classification Talks by Vi and Don Hans Granholm 2016-02-22 07:00:00Z 0

Rotex looking for lodging.

Posted by Hans Granholm on Feb 18, 2016
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Dear Rotarians of Rotary Edmonton Strathcona,
 
my name is Lukas and some of you may have met me in 2008/2009 when I was a Rotary Exchange Student in Fort St. John.
 
Since then I have studied Pharmacy back in Germany and as part of my mandatory practical year at the end of my studies I will be working at the Drug Development and Innovation Centre at the University of Alberta for six months, starting May 1st.
Rotex looking for lodging. Hans Granholm 2016-02-18 07:00:00Z 0

Welcome New Members

Posted by Hans Granholm on Feb 16, 2016
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On behalf of your membership committee headed by Director, Eric Germain, Hans Granholm welcomed two new members to our Rotary family on Tuesday, Feb 16th:
 
 
Des Fernado sponsored by Hans Pilz. Classification: Computer Security
 
Loida Lumanlan Sponsored by Hans Granholm. Classification: Real Estate-Residential
 
 
Please introduce yourself and make Des and Loida feel welcome.
 
Welcome New Members Hans Granholm 2016-02-16 07:00:00Z 0

Happy Valentines Day!

Posted on Feb 12, 2016
Bring some sweets to your sweetie and/or flowers* to your rose.
 
 
* Read: Heather de Kok, Aifd
 
Happy Valentines Day! 2016-02-12 07:00:00Z 0

Roses for Interact Club at J Percy Page

Posted by Hans Granholm on Feb 12, 2016
Heather de Kok, Master Florist and Past President of the club, very generously, donated 100 beautiful long stem red roses to the Interactors at J Percy Page High School prior to Valentines day Feb 14th. 
This has been an annual occurrence enabling the Interact Club to raise funds for specific projects.
Here is a thank you note from the teacher liaison, Karen Huculak:
 
  •  
    "We really appreciate the donation of 100 roses!
     
    After 3 lunch hours, we sold them all and raised $200.00 to go towards a worthy cause....possibly to support the Syrian refugees through Islamic Family and Social Services Association (IFSSA)."
Thank you Heather and get better soon.
Roses for Interact Club at J Percy Page Hans Granholm 2016-02-12 07:00:00Z 0

Meals for Meals on Wheels

Posted on Feb 11, 2016
Thank you to all the volunteers, especially spouse/partners and new and near new members. Well done!
 
 
Thanks so much to you and your crew for helping out this morning. We were happy to have your help! I managed to take a couple of pictures, which I’ve attached.
 
Caitlin Fleming
Community Engagement & Fund Development Manager
 
Edmonton Meals on Wheels
Meals for Meals on Wheels Vince Campbell 2016-02-11 07:00:00Z 0

NorQuest College on the move.

Posted by Hans Granholm on Feb 10, 2016
Jonathan Robb, Director of Strategic Integration & Stakeholder Relations with NorQuest College, our speaker on February 9th, pictured, spoke to us about NorQuest College and its role to the implementation of International Strategy and Aboriginal Leaner Strategy in particular.
NorQuest College on the move. Hans Granholm 2016-02-10 07:00:00Z 0

Fritz Koenig honoured

Posted by Hans Granholm on Feb 10, 2016
 
Fritz Koenig being presented with his Paul Harris Fellow +6 pin by Foundation Director and President Elect Dimitri Papanicols
 
Thank you Fritz for your generosity and your support of The Rotary Foundation
Fritz Koenig honoured Hans Granholm 2016-02-10 07:00:00Z 0

Visit Greece with the Greek anyone?

Posted by Dimitri Papanicolas on Feb 04, 2016
INQUIRY FOR INTEREST FOR A TRIP TO GREECE IN SEPTEMBER 2016
 
If you are interested in participating in a 7 to 8 days bus tour of Greece please send an e-mail to Dimitri Papanicolas at dpapanicolas@outlook.com in order to receive more information. The number of participants should not exceed 20, on first come first saved basis. We will also connect with a few Rotary Clubs during the trip.
 
The tour will take place in the mainland visiting archeological sites, religious sites, overall site seeing (see map) and of course some beach time and shopping. No island tours, but cruise tours can be organized separately.
 
Visit Greece with the Greek anyone? Dimitri Papanicolas 2016-02-04 07:00:00Z 0

LRT on track?

Posted by Hans Granholm on Jan 25, 2016
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Brad Smid, P.Eng., our speaker on January 26th, pictured above, is the City of Edmonton's Project Director for Edmonton's Valley Line Stage 1; a 13 km urban-style, low-floor LRT system which will run from downtown to southeast Edmonton. The Valley Line is the City's largest infrastructure project to date, and its first project to be delivered as a Public-Private-Partnership (P3).

Brad has been involved in the implementation of Edmonton's recent LRT expansion projects, including the South LRT (Capital Line), North LRT (Metro Line), and Southeast LRT (Valley Line). 
 
Construction is scheduled to start here in 2016 and we were given an inauguration date of December 15th 2020. Put a mark in your calendar!
 
LRT on track? Hans Granholm 2016-01-25 07:00:00Z 0

Oil Kings contribute to Polio Plus

Posted by Hans Granholm on Jan 18, 2016
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On Sunday Jan 17th the Edmonton Oil Kings battled with the Kamloops Blazers in an unfortunate loss 2-1.
There was however a big winner as 'End Polio Now' district chair, Patrick Gibson and his team put 561 buns in the seats at Rexall resulting in the Oil Kings presenting a cheque in the amount of $5,610 to District Governor Tim Schilds and Patrick in the second intermission.
 
 
Patrick and Oil Kings, Scott Ritchie  
 
Thanks to the Rotary clubs in District 5370 who participated. This contribution has the potential to become $28,050 after matching grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Government of Canada.
 
Well done everybody!
 
Oil Kings contribute to Polio Plus Hans Granholm 2016-01-18 07:00:00Z 0

Raising funds for the Wheelchair Program.

Posted by Ed Bourassa on Jan 12, 2016
Earlier in the year Ed Bourassa spearheaded an initiative to raise addition funds for our Wheel Chair Project
 
An attractive ball cap was commissioned featuring the new Rotary Logo This cap is available in both male and female versions for $20.
 
 
The caps will be on display at our meetings.
Raising funds for the Wheelchair Program. Ed Bourassa 2016-01-12 07:00:00Z 0

The Rotaract Club of the University of Alberta

Posted on Jan 08, 2016
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Pooja Dutta, alumni of the J Percy Page Interact Club and fresh member of the Rotaract Club of University of Alberta, sends us an invitation to participate in one of their annual fundraisers, 'A Night for Nicaragua'.
 
Event is taking place Friday January 29th at 1800 hrs.
 
Read more about the event on their Facebook page.
 
Purchase tickets from THIS LINK
The Rotaract Club of the University of Alberta 2016-01-08 07:00:00Z 0

Meals on Wheels need kitchen grunts

Posted by Donna Hutton on Jan 08, 2016
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All positions are now filled -- Thank you!

 

We have, again, an opportunity to participate in a hands-on project preparing food for the Meals on Wheels organization.

Meals on Wheels prepare for 200-400 meals each weekday by chopping, peeling, dishing and packaging food, washing, baking and more.

 

DATE:  Wednesday, February 10, 2016; 0830-1130 hrs

LOCATION: Edmonton Meals on Wheels Production Centre, 11111 103 Avenue NW

Questions about the program, contact Donna:  780-965-9164; donnahut@telus.net

Need technical assistance, contact Hans:  780-466-5566; hgrdane@telusplanet.net

Meals on Wheels need kitchen grunts Donna Hutton 2016-01-08 07:00:00Z 0

Edmonton Community Foundation explained.

Posted on Jan 08, 2016
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Director of Donor Services, Kathy Hawkesworth, spoke to us about the Edmonton Community Foundation.
 
 
         Kathy Hawkesworth, Director of Community Services
 
ECF is a charitable organization that helps donors achieve their philanthropic dreams through the power of endowment funds. Each year approximately 4 per cent of these investments are granted to organizations and causes that are important to our donors. To date ECF oversees more than $455 million in assets and has granted more than $150 million to the community since 1989.
 
Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF) exists to help the people of Edmonton and area by encouraging philanthropy and funding charitable activities. Through contributions from donors, the Foundation assembles and administers permanent pools of capital so the returns can be perpetually reinvested in our community. The Foundation complements and supports other charitable agencies.
Edmonton Community Foundation explained. 2016-01-08 07:00:00Z 0

Bill Skelly Honored

Posted on Jan 08, 2016
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The Edmonton Strathcona Rotary Club honored longtime member, Bill Skelly with an Honorary Membership on January 5, 2016, recognizing his extensive contributions to our club and other service organizations such as the Kinsmen.
 
 
President Harald affixing the Honorary pin on Bill's lapel. Lorraine watching carefully.
 
Bill joined our club on December 30, 1986 under the classification 'Insurance - General'. Bill was sponsored by charter member Larry Priestnall.
 
 
 
Bill Skelly Honored 2016-01-08 07:00:00Z 0

GREAT NEWS FROM SWEDEN!!!

Posted by Dennis Freeman on Jan 02, 2016
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GREAT NEWS FROM SWEDEN!!!
Jenny & Muris welcomed baby Alma on December 9th (Jenny’s birthday). Jenny Nässén was our clubs inbound exchange student in 2001-02.
Isn’t she the cutest? The grandparents are VERY excited because it’s their second grandchild this year!
 
 
Alma
 
Thank you Dennis and Joan Freeman for sharing this wonderful news. Dennis and Joan hosted Jenny for part of her year in Edmonton.
 
Read a little about Jenny on her Exchange Student page.
 
GREAT NEWS FROM SWEDEN!!! Dennis Freeman 2016-01-02 07:00:00Z 0

December 29th meeting cancelled

Posted on Dec 26, 2015
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The German Canadian Cultural Association is closed on December 29th and our board decided to cancel the regular meeting on the day.
 
Our hardworking bulletin editor is taking time off to celebrate the season with family. Please look for opportunities to get involved in the newsletter further down the page.
 
Happy New Year to everyone.
 
 
December 29th meeting cancelled 2015-12-26 07:00:00Z 0

Welcome New Member

Posted by Hans Granholm on Dec 23, 2015
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Your membership committee headed by Director, Eric Germain, welcomed a new member to our Rotary family on Tuesday, Dec 22nd:
 
 
Gene Sekora sponsored by Hans Granholm, Classification: Chartered Accounting - General
 
Please introduce yourself and make Gene feel welcome.
 
Welcome New Member Hans Granholm 2015-12-23 07:00:00Z 0

Thank You from Zebra Child Protection

Posted on Dec 19, 2015
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We received a Thank You card from Bob Hassel, CEO of Zebra Child Protection Centre for our donation of PJ's to their young clients.
 
Bob and his staff were very appreciative and helpful unloading the bags and boxes.
 
Well done Edmonton Strathcona!
Thank You from Zebra Child Protection 2015-12-19 07:00:00Z 0

Pradeep seeks deep space

Posted by Hans Granholm on Dec 19, 2015
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Pradeep Dass gave a fascinating account of his classification, Aerospace Engineering. From some of his early inventions, which he forgot to patent, to his current brain child, a rocket engine capable of propelling (that doesn't sound right in terms of rocket engines -- does it?) a vehicle at Mach 5.
Some of our members may be able to experience flight times to Frankfurt am Main in less than an hour some time in the future. Of course you still have to check in 2 - 3 hours before departure.
Those of us born prior to the sixties will not have to worry :-)
 
Thank you Pradeep for an interesting and informative talk.
Pradeep seeks deep space Hans Granholm 2015-12-19 07:00:00Z 0

JPP Interact Drivers Needed, Dec 16, 2015

Posted by Eric Germain on Dec 12, 2015
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We are encouraged by a large number of Interactors signing up to go to Ronald McDonald House to prepare a meal for the residents.

Thus, we need more drivers to volunteer to drive the students from J Percy Page to Ronald McDonald House and back. Please respond at your earliest convenience so Eric G. can schedule the event.

 

Sign up HERE

 

Rotary Interact Club of J. Percy Page High School (JPP) requires transportation by the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona members to the following special event:

Wednesday, December 16th. Serving dinner at RMH.

Pick up at JPP at 3:30 pm (1530). Deliver to RMH, Return from RMH at 7:00 pm (1900) to JPP.

Rotarians are welcome to attend the events, or just provide rides. Please advise how many passengers you can take.

Here is how you can indicate your participation:

  1. Click on the brown [Members] button.
  2. Click [Register Me]
  3. IMPORTANT: in the 'Comments' box, indicate how many passengers you have seatbelts for in your vehicle.
  4. Also, in the 'Comments' box, please indicate if you are able to drive all the runs for this particular event.
  5. Click [Confirm]
  6. ...and you're done! you should receive email confirmations within minutes.

     MAP TO JPP                                MAP TO RMH

If you have any technical issues, contact Hans Granholm 780-466-5566


Eric Germain
Event organizer

- See more at: http://portal.clubrunner.ca/399/Event/7cc433e2-7068-440f-94ce-1e43d1018643#sthash.HDH2ftqJ.dpuf
JPP Interact Drivers Needed, Dec 16, 2015 Eric Germain 2015-12-12 07:00:00Z 0

Augie and Art

Posted on Dec 05, 2015
                    Art Baird                            Augie Annicchiarico
 
It was great to see Art and Augie at our meeting on Tuesday. Art is having a break from the chemo and Augie has been battling a double vision problem for three months following eye surgery.
Augie and Art 2015-12-05 07:00:00Z 0

Volunteer Opportunity at YESS

Posted by Donna Hutton on Nov 21, 2015
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Volunteer Opportunities

YESS Chef Showdown – Champions Breakfast

Date:  Tuesday December 1, 2015

Place:  Sutton Place Hotel, 10235 101 Street, Edmonton, Alberta

Volunteer Shift:  6:15 AM to approximately 9:30 AM

 
Volunteer Area
# of Volunteers         Needed
 
Duties
Coat Check
           1-2
 
Help patrons with checking their coats. Provide them with a coat check ticket, hang their coat up and then help find their coat upon exiting the event.
 
Registration
          2-3
 
Assist patrons with checking in - crossing off their names on the list, helping them find their table(s) and confirming any allergies or dietary restrictions.
May have champion buttons or pins to pass out, along with name tags.
 
Ticket Sellers
          2
 
Sell 50/50 tickets. Will need to be able to handle a float.
 
Greeters
          2-4
 
One team to greet guests at main entrance of hotel, one team to greet guests at entrance of banquet hallway.
 Teams to act as way finding and a pleasant way to welcome everyone to the event.
 
Floaters
         2-3
 
Assist the cooking competition areas to make sure they have everything they need throughout the competition (ballots for auction bids, pens, cutlery and or extra cooking supplies).
 

Other Information:  We will not be supply parking passes or reimbursing parking fees, however, in lieu of parking all volunteers will have a free breakfast in our meeting room. 

Please email me directly to sign up for this volunteer opportunity. Violet.malbeuf@yess.org

 
THANK YOU!
Volunteer Opportunity at YESS Donna Hutton 2015-11-21 07:00:00Z 0

Appeal from our Community Partners

Posted by Donna Hutton on Nov 21, 2015
We have several requests for help from some of our Community Partners:
 
Win House is in need of the following new or gently used items:
 
Knapsacks
Pillows and Pillow cases
Pots and Pans
Frying Pans
Cutlery
Can Openers
Knives
Coffee Makers and Kettles
Shower Curtains
Queen Size Sheets and Crib Sheets
Dinnerware Sets
 
If our members can bring these items to our meetings over the next four weeks, I will take them to WIN house. 
 
Thanks, Donna
 
 
The following items are urgently needed for the Mustard Seed.    
  • Blankets
  • Sleeping Bags
  • Winter Coats
  • Gloves
  • Long underwear
  • Backpacks
  • Wool / thermal socks
  • Travel mugs
  • Hygiene items
  • Hand and toe warmers
  • Tarps
  • Toques and scarves
  • Neck warmers
 
If our members could donate any of the following items over the next four weeks, I will take them to Mustard Seed on our behalf.  Just ask them to  bring them to the meeting.  

Thanks, Donna


 
Appeal from our Community Partners Donna Hutton 2015-11-21 07:00:00Z 0

Animals To The Rescue

Posted by Ken Germain on Nov 20, 2015
Two workers from Dream Catcher Farm Explain Program
 
The right animal can help people deal with their own situations by being noncommittal, while promoting compassion.
 
Dream catcher Farm uses animal assisted therapy as animals increase pro-logic brain activity as well as pro-hormone resilience and societal acceptance.
 
Visiting the farm or seeing the animals through their mobile farm at institutions, the clients generally report lower anxiety, higher empathy and decreased depression levels.
 
A human need for natural surroundings is known as the Biophilia Hypothesis. Dream Catcher Farm helps find that special, natural place.
Animals To The Rescue Ken Germain 2015-11-20 07:00:00Z 0

Gracious Greetings From Greece

Posted by Dimitri Papanicolas on Nov 19, 2015
(Following) are 2 photos of banner presentations, both at the same RC meeting.
 
- One is with my home town in Ioannina, and the second I presented a banner to the president of the RC of Gjirokaster, Albania who were visiting the RC of Ioannina, the same day that I was visiting it.
 
Thanks to Hans, I had 2 flags!
 
 
We look forward to having you back, Dimitri!
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Gracious Greetings From Greece Dimitri Papanicolas 2015-11-19 07:00:00Z 0

Polio Plus Giving Make Easy

Posted by Ken Germain on Nov 13, 2015
How Close Are We?....................This Close!
 
Hans Granholm had his turn last week to explain how Rotary's plan along with the World Health Organization and the Gates Foundation, from 1988 continues.
 
The Government of Canada is matching your donation $2 for 1 and so is the Gates Foundation. That make every dollar worth $5.! 
 
Let's rid the Earth of this disease.
Polio Plus Giving Make Easy Ken Germain 2015-11-13 07:00:00Z 0

Christmas Dinner Brings Popular Pajama Appeal For Zebra Centre

Posted by Rose Marie Basaraba on Nov 13, 2015
NOTE: The chief purchaser and CEO of the Granholm household advises that Sears in Bonnie Doon has the best deal in town on P.J.'s -- $4.99 a pair. Go get 'em!
 
 

 

 

The Zebra Child Protection Centre is once again the specific choice of donations this Christmas season.  The Centre says sizes from toddler to mid teen are welcome, both girls and boys. For those in the know, I am advised that the ‘onesies’ are popular amongst girls; otherwise tank tops/bottoms for girls and t-shirts/bottoms for boys.

To ensure total Club participation if you are not attending the dinner, Rose Marie will accept donations from members prior to Christmas at which time they will be delivered to the Centre. 

 

Thank you
For Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona
Rose Marie Basaraba

 

Christmas Dinner Brings Popular Pajama Appeal For Zebra Centre Rose Marie Basaraba 2015-11-13 07:00:00Z 0

District Governor Schilds Goes Back - To The FUTURE!!!! (of our world)

Posted by Eric Germain on Nov 09, 2015

    Rotary District Governor Goes Back To School  

Rotary District Governor Tim Schilds and First Lady Sally visited the Rotary Interact Club of JPercy Page High School on November 5, 2015.

Tim and Sally were warmly welcomed and got an insight into the busy agenda and plans of the Interact Club for the 2015-2016 school year.

They had a tour of the school and were impressed with the Rotary Interact wall mural, the Rotary Bulletin Board, and the Rotary Interact Club banner. They were  also impressed that six of our Rotary Interact Club members were attending the November 7th RYLA –Interact conference in Edmonton.

 

Tim gave an insightful and inspiring talk to the club. He highlighted that ironically November 5th,   the day he was  visiting, was International Interact Day. Interact started in 1962 in the USA. The Interact name comes from “International Action”. There are over 33,000 Interact Clubs for students 12 to 18 years old, in over 200 countries in the world. There are 50 Interact Clubs in our District 5370.

 

Tim started the first Interact Club in the district in Dawson Creek B.C. in 2003, which to date has raised over $250,000 used mainly to help educate girls in Africa. Tim highlighted the current Rotary motto “Be A Gift To The World” and gave out pins with this motto to all in attendance.

He suggested that we plan to have a District 5370 Interact Conference to share best ideas and practices April 22 or 23, 2016 to coincide with the visit by the current Rotary International President Ravi. This is a great idea and we look forward to receiving more information on this event.

 

Thanks Tim and Sally for coming out to visit the Rotary Interact Club of JPercy Page High School !

District Governor Schilds Goes Back - To The FUTURE!!!! (of our world) Eric Germain 2015-11-09 07:00:00Z 0

DG Meets Prospects

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Rotary District Governor Meets Rotary Prospective Members
 
The Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona had a great lunch meeting on November 3, 2015. The current Rotary District Governor Tim Schilds and his wife  Sally made the annual visit to our club for a meeting with the club board, followed by his engaging keynote talk to the club “Be A Gift To The World” highlighting the current Rotary motto for the 2015-2016 Rotary year. We were the 44th club visited by Tim and Sally in our 60 club district 5370.
 
Their visit coincided with our fall Prospective Rotary Club Members Lunch Meeting. We had over 15 prospective members enjoy our friendly club’s lunch meeting and presentation on “What Is Rotary”.  Response was very positive after the meeting, with a number of prospective members planning to submit applications to join our Rotary Club.
 
A special thanks to all of the prospective members who came out, and our Rotary Club members who invited guests to attend. Feel free to bring out any other prospective member guests to any of our future Rotary lunch meetings.
 
Kindest regards,
Eric Germain
Membership Chair
 
 
(See the script for "What Is Rotary" in the following story.)
 
DG Meets Prospects Eric Germain 2015-11-06 07:00:00Z 0

DG Visit Well Attended

Posted by Ken Germain on Nov 05, 2015
 
A large attendance included 15 guests.
 
Some guests were hearing about Rotary for the first time.
 
DG Tim Schilds reflects on the fortunes of District 5370.
 
Sally Schilds graciously accepts a Heather de Kok arrangement.
 
A favorite project of Tim's , besides our own Wheelchair Project, "Stop Hunger Now". Sample packs were passed around.
 
150,000 packs of rice, lentils and especially important, vitamin packs were assembled for shipping overseas, at the recent District Conference.
DG Visit Well Attended Ken Germain 2015-11-05 07:00:00Z 0

Awards At Austin O'Brian

Posted by Carin Jansen van Vuuren on Nov 01, 2015
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I had the pleasure to attend the 2015 Award Ceremony at the Austin O’Brien High School on Wednesday October 7, 2015 and present one of the six $1000 Scholarship Awards the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona gives out for deserving students.
 
The school determine to which student the award should go and this year decided to give it to the student who overcame a personal obstacle throughout their high school education while continuing to be very successful. 
 
Jenna Butcher was the recipient. I was extremely proud to present this award on behalf of our club. The well-organized event was a pleasure to attend and I was extremely impressed with the welcoming spirit by students and teachers alike.
Awards At Austin O'Brian Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2015-11-01 06:00:00Z 0

"We are this close!"

Posted on Oct 31, 2015
Patrick Gibson, District 5370 Polio Plus Chair, presented a compelling account of the 'End Polio Now' campaign and featured a clip of the live streaming event on October 23rd in New York City.
 
Watch the full livestream video. Sit back and enjoy (1hr 20min) or click this link: 
http://livestream.com/rotaryinternational/worldpolioday
 
 
 
 
 

After a historic year during which transmission of the wild poliovirus vanished from Nigeria and the continent of Africa, the crippling disease is closer than ever to being eradicated worldwide, said top health experts at Rotary’s third annual World Polio Day event on 23 October in New York City.

More than 150 people attended the special co-sponsored by UNICEF, and thousands more around the world watched online. , Time magazine’s editor at large, moderated the event.

Anthony Lake, executive director of UNICEF, lauded the ’s efforts. After nearly 30 years, the GPEI, which includes Rotary, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is on the cusp of ending polio. It would be only the second human disease ever to be eradicated. 

Lake urged the partners not to lose their momentum: “At a time when the world is torn by conflicts, when the bonds among people seem weaker and more frayed than ever before, ending polio will be not only one of humanity’s greatest achievements, but a singular and striking example of what can be achieved when diverse partners are driven by a common goal -- when  we act as one,” he said.

The event highlighted recent milestones in polio eradication: In July, Nigeria marked one year without a case, and in August, the entire African continent celebrated one year without an outbreak. That leaves just two countries where the virus is regularly spreading: Afghanistan and Pakistan.

In a question-and-answer session with Kluger, Dr. John Vertefeuille, polio incident manager for the CDC, discussed the reasons for Nigeria’s success, including strong political commitment at all levels and the support and engagement of religious and community leaders.

“The foundation to Nigeria’s success has been the incredible dedication of tens of thousands of health workers who have worked, often in difficult circumstances, to ensure that all children are reached with the polio vaccine,” said Vertefeuille.

Innovative changes, including strategies for reaching children who were often missed in the past, better mechanisms for ensuring the accountability of health workers, and the engagement of doctors, journalists, and polio survivors, also aided Nigeria in reaching its goal.

Polio eradication is progressing in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In Afghanistan, cases dropped from 28 in 2014 to 13 so far this year. In Pakistan, transmission of the disease dropped dramatically, from 306 cases to 38.

Kluger and Vertefeuille agreed that eradicating polio is a wise financial investment. Vertefeuille said financial savings of $50 billion are projected over the next 20 years.

Failure to eradicate polio, he noted, could result in a global resurgence of the disease, with 200,000 new cases every single year within 10 years.

"We are this close!" 2015-10-31 06:00:00Z 0
South East Edmonton Seniors Association Fund Raiser Ken Germain 2015-10-24 06:00:00Z 0

Slow Down and Get Moving!

Posted by Ken Germain on Oct 22, 2015
 
President Harald presents David Greer with a 4 Way test medallion.
 
It was time for us to get reflective and David encouraged us to take better control of our attitudes, time and activities.
 
Interested in the book? Contact David: coachdjgreer.com
Slow Down and Get Moving! Ken Germain 2015-10-22 06:00:00Z 0

Andrew Grose thanks RCES member volunteers.

Posted by Hans Granholm on Oct 17, 2015
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As the bell was struck to adjourn the meeting last Tuesday, we had a surprise visit from Andrew Grose, comedy performer and co-host of the weekday afternoon show on CHED and the producer of the annual ATB Edmonton Comedy Festival.
 
 
Andrew is the good looking dude on the left. Don't know the imposter on the right :-)
The festival has been running for the last five years and from all accounts, it is a huge success and getting better year by year.
I believe Peter Denooy was engaged from the get go organizing the transportation detail, specifically transporting performers to and from the airport and between venues.
This year Peter couldn't interrupt his sun tanning sessions on the beach in the Dominican Republic, so Hans G. stepped in and, with Peter's help via the internet, organized the transportation schedule.
 
Andrew wanted to thank the volunteers in person and he did so with grace and some emotion.
 
Past and present volunteers from the membership include:
Peter Denooy, Ivan Docker, Bruce Flesher, Patrick Gibson, Dennis Freeman and Hans Granholm. Thank you all. See you next year (Oct 5-9, 2016).
 
Andrew Grose thanks RCES member volunteers. Hans Granholm 2015-10-17 06:00:00Z 0

JPP Interact Drivers Needed, Oct 22, 2015

Posted by Eric Germain on Oct 17, 2015
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We are encouraged by a large number of Interactors signing up to go to Ronald McDonald House to prepare a meal for the residents.

Thus, we need more drivers to volunteer to drive the students from J Percy Page to Ronald McDonald House and back. Please respond at your earliest convenience so Eric G. can schedule the event.

 

Rotary Interact Club of J. Percy Page High School (JPP) requires transportation by the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona members to the following special event:

Thursday, October 22nd. Serving dinner at RMH.

Pick up at JPP at 3:30 pm (1530). Deliver to RMH, Return from RMH at 7:00 pm (1900) to JPP.

Rotarians are welcome to attend the events, or just provide rides. Please advise how many passengers you can take.

Here is how you can indicate your participation:

  1. Click on the brown [Members] button.
  2. Click [Register Me]
  3. IMPORTANT: in the 'Comments' box, indicate how many passengers you have seatbelts for in your vehicle.
  4. Also, in the 'Comments' box, please indicate if you are able to drive all the runs for this particular event.
  5. Click [Confirm]
  6. ...and you're done! you should receive email confirmations within minutes.

     MAP TO JPP                                MAP TO RMH

If you have any technical issues, contact Hans Granholm 780-466-5566


Eric Germain
Event organizer

- See more at: http://portal.clubrunner.ca/399/Event/7cc433e2-7068-440f-94ce-1e43d1018643#sthash.HDH2ftqJ.dpuf
JPP Interact Drivers Needed, Oct 22, 2015 Eric Germain 2015-10-17 06:00:00Z 0

The Earth Group Update

When Matt Moreau from the Earth Group spoke to our Club in July, he mentioned that they would be making up holiday gift boxes to be available in the Fall. Each box sold will feed and educate a child for a year and sell for $80 each.
 
For those of you who were interested, I would be willing to gather the orders and ensure delivery.
 
 
As several members were interested in supporting this campaign, and on Matt's behalf, I now make this appeal to those of you who are interested.
Further information and a picture of the boxes can be found at earthgroup.org.
 
Brenda McCullough
780-929-6065
 
 
The Earth Group Update 2015-10-16 06:00:00Z 0

Dawson Creek Conference Report

Posted by Ken Germain on Oct 15, 2015
 
Vince Campbell attended his first District Conference in Dawson Creek October 2-4.
 
 
Dimitri, Vince, Harald and Rose Marie gave an interesting recap of the 100,000 meals plus, Chris Hatfield, plus more; week end. 
Next Conference: April 2017, Westlock.
 
 
Dawson Creek Conference Report Ken Germain 2015-10-15 06:00:00Z 0

Returning Student Impressed With Denmark

Posted by Ken Germain on Oct 15, 2015
 
Laura Kiriak (in the red Rotex jacket) and her visiting friend from Denmark, Nona Nielson (incorrect spelling very likely) were the fun, youthful element needed to raise the the level from good to great at Tuesdays meeting.
 
We learned to listen to Dansk. It was like a trip to IKEA with an interpreter. Thanks Hans Granholm for the quick chatter with the young ladies.
 
Laura gave a good talk with many well documented photos and explanations.
 
Laura explains what it was like for her as a 16 year old student in another country for nearly a year.
 
Three host homes on vastly different settings and islands added to the "weirdness" of Denmark.
 
Other "weird" things had me picturing all Danes to be as follows:
 
-Emotionally guarded, smoking Beatniks, dressed in black, biking to English class (computer in the basket), then biking home to eat some potatoes and gravy.
-Impressive medical and education systems in Copenhagen and the rest of Denmark gave Laura a sense of what is required here to improve, here in Alberta.
 
 Experience summed up: 
"A tough life lesson, if learned from is often followed by an enjoyable life lesson."
Returning Student Impressed With Denmark Ken Germain 2015-10-15 06:00:00Z 0

Pooja thank you

Posted by Eric Germain on Oct 12, 2015
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Thank you very much to you and the Edmonton Strathcona club for having given me the opportunity to attend district conference this year. I had an incredible time surrounded by such amazing people! I made friends both with the youth and the Rotarians, and learned so much about the global and local impacts of Rotary.
 
I am so thankful and can't express my appreciation enough. Please see the attached photos, two from the dinner featuring Chris Hadfield as the keynote speaker, and a collage from the meal packaging volunteer event!
 
Regards,
 
Pooja
 
Pooja thank you Eric Germain 2015-10-12 06:00:00Z 0

Empowerment Support

Posted by Ken Germain on Oct 09, 2015
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Karen Good from YESS gave a good presentation on Tuesday. She gave us a good idea of what some of the challenges they face helping the youth in our city. 445 teens and young adults were eachhelped last year. Many are homeless or between houses. 2/3 boys has been an ongoing stat since starting up in 1982 when 16 was the top age allowed. Now rather than instant welfare, the youths are now 15-21 years old in the resident program and up to 24 for day programs.
 
A common thread includes fetal alcohol syndrome and extreme poverty. The bus ticket program has helped in many ways including having a bus ticket rather than being ticketed and going to court and having a record for spending money on food rather than the bus ticket.
 
A 7 million dollar budget is covered 30% by governments and the fund raising is getting tougher in these tough times, which produce more family instability and fall out including the children.
 
Helping by providing mental health, nutrition and positive reinforcement, as well as water and things like bus tickets and job opportunities has been their way of turning these young people into valuable members of society.
 
A tough road, but YESS is making it smoother thanks to dedicated, thoughtful staff.
 
 
Empowerment Support Ken Germain 2015-10-09 06:00:00Z 0

Oktober Fest 2015

Posted by Carin Jansen van Vuuren on Sep 27, 2015
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Carin van Vuuren submitted the following cover for the photos she submitted.
 
View the 2015 Oktoberfest photo album and start the slide show.
 
Here is some "evidence" of the great time had by all last night, September 26th, at the Oktoberfest held at the home of Skip & Caren Kerr.
 
Over 60 people attended the event and ALL the proceeds were donated to the Edmonton Library to purchase Early Literacy Kits. A cheque in the amount of $2500 was presented to Emmy Stuebing, Associate Director of Fund Development of the Edmonton Library.
 
Skip and Caren treated us to a pig on the spit, German sausage, beans, beer, wine, desert and we have to admit the event ran with a "German precision". The best dressed couple was definitely Hugo & Lucie Lehmann.
Oktober Fest 2015 Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2015-09-27 06:00:00Z 0

Wheelchair Project Revisited

Posted by Ken Germain on Sep 19, 2015
 
We will be meeting after the September 29 meeting to update and revisit the Wheelchair Program our club has pushed forward for the past 8 years.
 
Peter DeNooy and Linda Whitehead from Wheelchair Canada will be here. 
 
Help us to dedicate our time, talent and treasure towards the best, sustainable manner.
 
We could use committee members from our club and others in the district.
 
Can you help? 
 
Wheelchair Project Revisited Ken Germain 2015-09-19 06:00:00Z 0

Thank You from YESS.

Posted on Sep 12, 2015
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We received a thank you note and pictures from Deb Cautley, Executive Director at YESS, our primary partner in community service.
 
 
Click HERE to open the photo album depicting the new furniture purchased with proceeds from our donation to YESS.
Thank You from YESS. 2015-09-12 06:00:00Z 0

Oilers 50/50 for YESS!

Posted by Donna Hutton on Aug 29, 2015
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NOTE:  If you are interested in participating in the 50/50 event at the Oilers home game on September 21 at Rexall Place, and after you have read the Volunteer Positions and Volunteer Requirements below, please contact Hans Granholm, 780-466-5566 to indicate your preferences.
 
YESS has been selected to participate in the 2015 Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation (EOCF) 50/50 program! We are very excited about this, but it's coming up fast and we need a LOT of volunteers!
YESS will receive a donation in exchange for providing volunteers to sell the 50/50 tickets. We will receive a base pay of $6,000 PLUS a commission of 20% over $100,000 total sales! The more we sell, the more YESS will receive!
Date: Monday, September 21 (pre-season game vs. Calgary Flames)
Location: Rexall Place
Parking: Free, limited parking is available in the Mount Lawn Lot (120 avenue and 75 street). Paid parking is available in Northlands Park south of 118 avenue (next to Expo centre) for $16.00/vehicle.
Volunteer shift: 4:30pm - around 9:30pm (50/50 ticket sales end halfway through the second intermission, so end times will vary)
*Please note: all volunteers MUST arrive at 4:30pm - no exceptions, no late-comers.
Oilers 50/50 for YESS! Donna Hutton 2015-08-29 06:00:00Z 0

Remember Lucas?

Posted by Hans Granholm on Aug 22, 2015
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It is with great joy that I am sending this e-mail. In August 11th there has been 10 years completed since I came back to Brazil after my great year in Edmonton as an exchange student and I would like to share a little bit of what happened to me after all that time. I would appreciate if you could help me deliver that message.
 
Also, if not asking too much, I would like to change the e-mail address that receives the e-Stratchconian to this one: lucas@tecverde.com.br.
 
The message is below my signature. Thank you very much for your attention and help. I got my Oilers shirt hang on my wall, can't thank enough for that too!
 
My very best regards,
Lucas 
 
Click Read More...
 
Remember Lucas? Hans Granholm 2015-08-22 06:00:00Z 0

An Engaging Geology and Chem Class!

Posted by Ken Germain on Aug 11, 2015
 
"There's GOLD in them there hills!"...
Yes; and there's poisonous forever, MERCURY.. in that there GOLD!
 
Ted Reimchem gave us a lesson on how mercury has been used during the extraction process of gold and silver for the last 5000 years.
 
He has developed a process which separates mercury from the amalgam/clay/gravel silt. Also the precious metals which the freshly introduced mercury has encapsulated.
Re-use would seem profitable as well as an environmentally more sound.
 
Some stats:
45,000 tonnes of mercury were used in California, alone between 1820-1930. 60% of amalgam is gold.
Very little has been recovered in Brazil or Canada.
Coal for energy accounts for 50% of all present day pollution.
Alberta's 8 coal fired energy plants produce 1180 kgs of mercury annually.
 
 
Ted, happily working, swapping engineering stories with Art Baird.
 
 
An Engaging Geology and Chem Class! Ken Germain 2015-08-11 06:00:00Z 0

A Familiar Visiting Rotarian Passes

Henk Hendricks, long time regular visitor to our club passed away this week.
 
Henk was one of several South Edmonton Rotarians, in 1974 responsible for the chartering of Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona.
 
A real gentleman who will be missed by all who knew him.
A Familiar Visiting Rotarian Passes 2015-08-08 06:00:00Z 0

Veggie Farm in the City

Posted by Ken Germain on Aug 08, 2015
 
Jennifer Rees of Green and Gold Community Garden
 
Since 2009, 2 acres of U of A farmland in South Central Edmonton have been lovingly cared for to bring the best and freshest produce to market. The Community Garden relies on volunteers to grow and sell about $28,000./year of the veggies with all profits being used to help the women victims of the Rwanda genocide of 1995. 
 
Tubahumarize means "Let us console and give them hope" in the language and this group through the U of A land is doing that one growing season at a time.
 
You can buy the produce right out of the ground on Tuesday evenings and Saturdays near the barn at 60 Ave and 115 Street. You can volunteer to pick weeds or bugs too.
 
A number of people asked for contact info for the Green and Gold Garden:
 
To volunteer: email ggarden@ualberta.ca
To come and buy veggies: go to website at www.greengoldgarden.com
 
The garden hours for selling are 1900-2030 Tuesday Evenings and 1100-1300 on Saturdays.
Volunteer hours usually start 1 hour before that time
 
Thanks so much for the opportunity to speak.
 
Jennifer Rees
Engagement & Patient Experience
Quality & Healthcare Improvement
tel:  780 735-0332
Veggie Farm in the City Ken Germain 2015-08-08 06:00:00Z 0

Taste of Edmonton - Thank You!

Posted by Donna Hutton on Aug 05, 2015
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Many thanks to the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona Volunteers who worked one or more shifts at the recent Taste of Edmonton for Youth Empowerment Support Service, YESS:
Donna Hutton, Carin Jansen van Vuuren, Stephan Jansen van Vuuren, Rose Marie Basaraba, Diana Parker, Hans Pilz, Hans Granholm.
 
Carin and Donna working the crowd.
 
 
We received this thank you note from YESS, volunteer coordinator, Cheryl Edwards:

THANK YOU SO MUCH! 

I am so grateful for all of your help at the 2015 Taste of Edmonton festival! I sincerely hope you had a fun time, and maybe even made some new friends! 

It was a busy 10 days, but it all paid off in the end. Altogether, we put in a total of 885 hours in the Beverage Oasis, raising just over $9 000 and sold hundreds of bottles of pop, water and smoothies! On top of that, we spent almost 100 hours in the Charity Booth, where volunteers raised awareness about YESS, collected some donations and spent 4 days talking to countless festival-goers about how we are empowering youth facing difficult realities. 

If you have any comments or feedback on either the Charity Booth or Beverage Oasis, please don't hesitate to get in touch and let me know what worked, what didn't, and what we can do better for next year! 

Looking for more ways to get involved this summer? 
We are now recruiting for our 15th Annual Charity Golf Classic, the Edmonton Marathon and the Edmonton Airshow! Details will be emailed out very shortly, but schedules are open on VicNet if you'd like to sign up now! 

Was this your first time volunteering with YESS?
Send me an email if you'd like to be added to our general Events Support Team! That email will add you to our emailing list and you will receive updates about what events we have coming up that we need volunteer support for. (If you don't email me to opt-in to the Events Team, you will be removed from our emailing list and will no longer receive email updates from YESS). 

Again, I thank you for your support and all the hard work you put in these past couple of weeks. 


Have a lovely day, 

Cheryl Edwards
Volunteer Coordinator
(780) 468-7070 ext. 234

 
 
Taste of Edmonton - Thank You! Donna Hutton 2015-08-05 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary Global Essay Competition

Posted on Jul 31, 2015
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Dear Rotarian,
 
I am President of Rotary Club of Pune Katraj, RI District 3131, India. I am proud to be a Rotarian and pleased to have had the opportunity to lead my club. I welcome you all to the new Rotary Year and wish you all the very best for the coming year. As Rotarians, together we will make this world a better place to live.
 
I am writing to you all to appraise you on a unique event that we are organizing again this year. After the huge success that we had in the year 2013-14, we are again back with ROGEC-2015, a global essay competition with a view to crusaders of Peace in a constructive dialogue and allow them a platform to express themselves on global issues concerning Peace.
 
This competition is open to all the citizens of the world. The winners will be invited to India for 5 days and will get involved in various informative and cultural activities.
The essays can be submitted online at http://www.rogec.org/registration.html. The last date for essay submission is 10-Nov-2015
Detailed information is available on www.rogec.org and please Like our Facebook page on www.facebook.com/Rotary.Rogec.
I request you to circulate this mail among your members, friends and acquaintances, share this information through your Club bulletins and encourage participation in this event.
Looking forward to a great year ahead.
 
Regards,
Rtn. Suvarna Kutwal
President, Rotary Club of Pune Katraj RID 3131, INDIA
www.rogec.org
www.facebook.com/Rotary.Rogec
Rotary Global Essay Competition 2015-07-31 06:00:00Z 0

A Good Story From The Edmonton Public Library

Posted on Jul 31, 2015
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Emmy Stuebing and Alison Faid of the EPL gave an update on the second most popular attraction in Edmonton.
 
Library of the year 2014! First time this designation has been awarded outside of the US.
14 million visitors. 10 million items. $279 Million Value.
500 computers. Plus a "Maker Space" where they teach technologies. 
 
"Welcome Baby" is a new idea to introduce new members to the library from birth. It comes with a library card at the time of immunization. 12,000 kits per year, so far.
 
They also promote "Literacy Vans" to the outer areas with no library. They call it "A Food Truck For The Brain"
 
 
A Good Story From The Edmonton Public Library Ken Germain 2015-07-31 06:00:00Z 0

President Ravi appeal.

Posted on Jul 25, 2015
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Please read the important announcement from President Ravi and TRF Board Chair Ray Klinginsmith below.
 
We are this close!
 
You will notice, towards the end of the announcement, that your donation to PolioPlus will be tripled, courtesy of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
This is the perfect time to maximize your TRF donation. Click on the link: Your Donation to PolioPlus , here or in the announcement.
 
Do it Today!
President Ravi appeal. 2015-07-25 06:00:00Z 0

From Taste of Edmonton

Posted by Carin Jansen van Vuuren on Jul 18, 2015
Having fun voluntering at YESS beverage tent at Taste of Edmonton. Various members of the club are volunteering during this event.
 
From Taste of Edmonton Carin Jansen van Vuuren 2015-07-18 06:00:00Z 0

Carin Livens It Up!

Posted by Ken Germain on Jul 03, 2015
We heard Carin Jansen van Vuuren's classification talk last Tuesday. 
Well worth the wait, Carin was focused, fun and fabulous as usual.
 
Visiting Canada many years ago turned into a lifelong adventure which
we are grateful for.
 
As one of his final Presidential duties, Pres. Steph gives Carin a token
of his obvious love and respect to his lovely wife, Carin.
 
The four way test token.
Carin Livens It Up! Ken Germain 2015-07-03 06:00:00Z 0

One more Turn Over Dinner Pics

Posted by Ken Germain on Jul 03, 2015
 
Pres. Harald introduces the new Board of our club
 
Remember to browse through the pics from the evening in "Albums". CLICK HERE
 
One more Turn Over Dinner Pics Ken Germain 2015-07-03 06:00:00Z 0

Morley MacCalder Shares His Cake!

Posted by Ken Germain on Jul 03, 2015
Best Birthday wishes went out to Morley during the meeting on Tuesday.
Perhaps another Classification talk? A true gentleman, Morley was able 
to give us a rundown on people and events from 1930.
 
 
Pres Stephan, Terry Sveinson and Morley discuss the joys
of growing older and wiser.
Morley MacCalder Shares His Cake! Ken Germain 2015-07-03 06:00:00Z 0

Taste of Edmonton

Posted on Jun 27, 2015
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Taste of Edmonton has been bringing delicious food and lip-smacking beverages to the heart of downtown for 31 years! It is a place to sample dishes from local restaurants and food trucks, enjoy the free entertainment as you walk around Churchill Square, grab a drink with friends in the beer gardens and visit our exclusive venues.

YESS volunteers will be onsite this year at the Beverage Oasis! We will be serving Jones Soda and Oasis Smoothies to thirsty festival guests for the full ten days of the festival (July 16 - July 25).
Taste of Edmonton 2015-06-27 06:00:00Z 0

Another YESS Volunteer Opportunity

Posted on Jun 27, 2015
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Adara Hair and Body Studio’s 6th Annual Cut-A-Thon for Y.E.S.S.!

We really need some volunteer support this Sunday at the Adara Cut-a-Thon! 

Come celebrate with Adara Hair and Body Studio and the community of Ritchie and the French Quarter! Get beautiful, enjoy delicious food and the fresh music of our onsite DJ, win a huge raffle, and help raise tons of money for YESS

100% OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THE ENTIRE DAY GO TO YESS!
 
This is REALLY short notice, but sign up if your can.
Another YESS Volunteer Opportunity 2015-06-27 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary Wheels Out Another Winning Evening

Posted by Ken Germain on Jun 24, 2015
 
President Harald recognizes the accomplishments of Past President Stephanus and First Lady Carin
 
 
Some fun before the meal
 
 
The Kuckertz and Jansen van Vuuren families enjoy the special evening.
 
 
DG Linda Robertson presents Bruce Flesher with a Paul Harris Crystal for his and Joyce's outstanding contribution to Rotary
 
 
Birthday boy Con wins a fortune (a Con's Energy Touque) at the Rotary Wheel Of Fortune
________________________________________________________________
   It was a lovely Summer evening at The Derrick Club with 80 guests and Rotarians celebrating the accomplishments during the 2014-2015 Rotary Year. The 41 year for the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona.
 
The Presidential Citation Award was received by (now Past) President Steph as our club met and exceeded every challenge thrown our way by the International President at the beginning of "Light Up The World With Rotary" year.
 
Rotarian of the Year was named. Patrick Gibson, well deserved for his extra dedication to International projects, especially introducing us to KIVA and their online micro financing system.
 
What a fun night. Lots of noise and laughs. What a great club!
 
Check out about 50 pictures on the photo album widget, home page, or CLICK HERE. Thanks Carin, and Rick Harcourt for taking some quality photos. More to come too!
 
Rotary Wheels Out Another Winning Evening Ken Germain 2015-06-24 06:00:00Z 0

Flags for Funeral Procession

Posted on Jun 20, 2015
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The Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona distributed about 150 flags on poles to spectators honouring the fallen Const. Daniel Woodall in the funeral procession on Wednesday June 17, 2015.
President Stephan and Carin collected over 200 flags in their large trailer from our members and was parked close to Canada Place arranged by District Office Administrator, Rene Cavanagh.
 
Spectators were very appreciative of being offered to hold a flag at the curb side and all the flags were returned to the trailer.
Thanks to our members and other Rotarians from Metro Edmonton clubs for participating on a short notice.
 
Open and view the picture album and run the slide show HERE
Flags for Funeral Procession 2015-06-20 06:00:00Z 0

Golf Day A Real Slice!

Posted by Ken Germain on Jun 18, 2015
Rotary Strathcona Fun Golf a Great Success for the Nepal Shelterbox Program
The Rotary Fun Golf and Barbecue held June 16, 2015 was a great time for all the duffers and social crowd that made it out for a terrific day. The annual event didn't disappoint. Mother Nature provided a lovely day on the pitch and putt golf course until the last group got caught in a bit of rain. But that didn't dampen their enthusiasm as President Stephan and First Lady Carin led the group to the final hole and the lovely Kinsmen River Valley Place area. We had a nice round of golf, barbecue and social highlighted by Doug Mulholland's hole in one, the hotly contested putting contest (Eric and Nicolle Germain having a shoot out with Nicolle letting her Dad win for Fathers Day) , the classic golf bag auction with Bruce Flesher winning, the great team of Doug Mulholland and Joan Freeman being clipped by one stroke in the two person best ball golf tourney by rookie Rick Harcourt and Eric Germain's round of 55. The event was well supported and raised enough money to provide a Rotary Shelterbox for the families in need in the Nepal earthquake area. Many thanks to everyone who came out and made this a great day.
 
Open and run the Picture slide show HERE
Golf Day A Real Slice! Ken Germain 2015-06-18 06:00:00Z 0

Amarock for Nobel Recognition?

Posted by Ken Germain on Jun 15, 2015
 
My name is Nathan – I’m a supporter of Amarok Society’s incredible work, so I’ve asked Gabriel for his help in reaching out to some of Amarok’s other supporters and advocates. He suggested you might be a good person to contact.
 
I believe the achievements of AS deserve wide recognition for their innovative work in empowering some of the poorest neighbourhoods in the world to overcome serious threats to world peace. Could you please sign my petition to the Nobel Committee and forward it to your friends and contacts?
 
Amarock for Nobel Recognition? Ken Germain 2015-06-15 06:00:00Z 0

Your help and quick response is requested.

Posted by Hans Granholm on Jun 12, 2015
President Stephan was contacted by the District Office Administrator, Rene Cavanagh in regards to an appeal to provide a number of Canadian flags, but more importantly, people to actually hold the flags lining up the funeral procession of fallen EPS officer, Const, Daniel Woodall.
 
According to the Edmonton Journal the procession starts at the Alberta Legislature Wednesday, June 17th at 0930 (9:30 a.m.) and make its way to the Shaw Conference Centre, where the regimental funeral and celebration of Woodall’s life will be held from 1130 (11:30 a.m.) to 1230 (12:30 p.m.).
 
Stephan will coordinate the flags with Dennis Freeman and Rene and they will be located at the District Office, 16030 104 Avenue.
 
There are obviously many details to be ironed out and additional notices will go out as the initiative gets organized.
 
What we need from you right now is the commitment of you and any family and close friends who can take the time and be part of this honour guard.
This is very short notice, but circumstances do not always suit our time schedule, and you will always remember your participation in this initiative.
 
Indicate your participation by Reply to this email.
 
Contacts:
 
President Stephan: c: 780-977-9327; e: drstephanvv@gmail.com
 
Rene Cavanagh: b: 780-482-5370; e: office@rotary5370.org
 
Hans Granholm: p: 780-466-5566; e: hgrdane@telusplanet.net
 
 
 
 
Your help and quick response is requested. Hans Granholm 2015-06-12 06:00:00Z 0

A Sparrow's Song Brings Sweetness

Posted by Ken Germain on Jun 11, 2015
 
Sparrow performs one of several compositions for us. She is usually found bringing healing music to hospital patients.
 
 
 
To request an artist visit call: 780-407-8575. Friends of U of A Hospitals part of Alberta Foundation of the Arts
A Sparrow's Song Brings Sweetness Ken Germain 2015-06-11 06:00:00Z 0

Special Upcoming Events

Posted by Hans Granholm on Jun 06, 2015
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We have a number of special event in the next two to four weeks. Hence this special notice so you can take the necessary steps to indicate yours and your guests participation.
 
 
 
June 16:
Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona’s Annual Fun Golf & Barbecue:
 
The Fun Golf event is one of the Rotary Club social events of the year. No golf experience required. We will play 2 person best ball. We will have an experienced golfer paired up with a less experienced golfer. We will have our regular lunch at the German Canadian Club and convening to the Kinsmen Club - See more at: http://portal.clubrunner.ca/399/Event/fac9cf47-e9da-476b-a893-667250e68592
 
 
June 23:
Annual Rotating Wheel Dinner
 
We are celebrating the annual Rotating Wheel Dinner at the picturesque setting overlooking the luscious golf greens of the Derrick Golf & Winter Club, 3500 119 Str NW, Edmonton on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 - See more at: http://portal.clubrunner.ca/399/Event/7cf5d1e7-c89c-481f-91ea-80e1cc5e2ba4
 
All the links above will open the particular event where you can  register yourself and your guest(s). Please do so at your earliest convenience so we can advise the facility with accurate attendance numbers.
 
Special Upcoming Events Hans Granholm 2015-06-06 06:00:00Z 0

Health Of The System; Strained

Posted by Ken Germain on Jun 05, 2015
Dr. Carl Amrhein, provost and vice-president of the University of Alberta, was named as the new official administrator for Alberta Health Services until June 30, 2015.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amrhein, who will be responsible for providing governance oversight of AHS, will work with Alberta Health and will report to the Health Minister. 
 
An aging population of 4 million people cover an area the size of France.
 
Very interesting talk, trying to explain "the system". Thanks Ron and Brenda for bringing a taste of the confusion and at the same time, hope for the health care to help all Albertans.
 
 
The speaker is graciously thanks by Diana Parker.
 
Health Of The System; Strained Ken Germain 2015-06-05 06:00:00Z 0
We're alive on Facebook Hans Granholm 2015-05-30 06:00:00Z 0

June 2, 2015 Lunch Meeting.

Posted on May 30, 2015
Please be reminded of the important address of Dr. Carl Amrhein to our club on June 2, 2015
 
Pertinent details were not available at press time, but you can open the UPCOMING SPEAKER LIST for some information.
 
Sign your self and your guests in HERE
 
June 2, 2015 Lunch Meeting. 2015-05-30 06:00:00Z 0

Amarock Society Teaches Comunity Teachers

Posted by Ken Germain on May 29, 2015
 
 
Gem Monroe, CEO Amarock Society
 
"The one thing that frightens terrorist organizations the most is an educated population." ..especially girls.
Describing the life cycle of the girls of Bangladesh with experience to back him up, Gem told a sad story of no expectations and little hope in the poorest city in the world.
 
Education helps the situation with great results. The mothers of the neighborhood lucky enough to have an Amarock School attend 40 at a time and each teaches her own children and others what she now knows. 400 students that way.
 
A few Rotary clubs each sponsor a school.
 
$8,500./year approx.
Can WE do it!?
 
Check out the website for more information.
 
Amarock Society Teaches Comunity Teachers Ken Germain 2015-05-29 06:00:00Z 0

Habitat Day Was Fun Work!

Posted on May 23, 2015
Open the PHOTO ALBUM here and start the slide show. Photos by Carin Jansen van Vuuren
 
 
Pat and Dennis Nailing Away
 
 
Ron keeps Busy moving drywall around.
 
A full crew of 20 showed up to help with the construction of 68 condo units for Habitat For Humanity last Tuesday.
A warm day with lots of action proved healthy for most.
 
A super organization that allows 500 hours of sweat equity to cover the down payment and a maximum of 25% of income towards the mortgage, changes family life positively, immediately.
Rent is normally 50% of a family income. 
Habitat Day Was Fun Work! 2015-05-23 06:00:00Z 0

New Hope School in South Africa

Posted by Stephan Jansen van Vuuren on May 11, 2015
 
Recently, President Stephan presented a cheque in the amount of R50,000 , or about $5,000 to the New Hope School in the Pretoria area of South Africa.
The school aims to support children with special learning disabilities and the project was adopted by our club as part of our International projects.
 
Read recent article in the Pretoria News:  OPEN DOCUMENT
 
Press release to the Pretoria Newspapers:
 
"New Hope School was privileged to host Dr Stephan Jansen van Vuuren, President of the Rotarian Club Edmonton [Strathcona] in Canada, and members of the Rotary Club of Pretoria at the school on 25 March 2015.  The aim of the visit was to hand over a cheque of R50 000.00 from the Canadian Rotarians to the school that will be used to address the critical needs of needy learners. Guest also visited the newly upgraded junior playground. The upgrading was paid for by donations received from friends, family and Rotarians that attended the funeral of Jan van Zyl, old mayor of Pretoria and enthusiastic Rotarian last year
 
New Hope School is a non-profit organisation and one of the largest schools for special needs education in the country. For more than forty one years, since New Hope School opened its doors, we have been providing the highest quality teaching for learners with cerebral palsy, permanent physical disabilities, metabolic disorders or syndromes, traumatic brain injuries and specific learning difficulties. Learners of any religious persuasion, any socio-economic background and any race are welcome at the school. Key components to our success include in-depth knowledge and understanding of all our students, adaptability in order to meet changing needs and a truly committed staff.  We understand that success criteria will vary between learners and it is our duty to ensure that all learners will be met and supported at their own level to enable them to reach their potential.
 
 The logistical and operational requirements of a school such as New Hope are significant.  As the support received from the Gauteng Department of Education is not sufficient to address the needs of the school, our governing body has to employ additional teachers, therapists, assistants and facilitators to ensure quality education to every learner from Pre-Primary to Grade Twelve and in the Skills Phases of New Hope School. As the state only pays for a portion of the staff employed at the school, the rest of the funding needs to be generated from fundraising events organised by both teachers and parents, school fees and donors exclusively." 
 
 
FLTR Dr Stephan Jansen van Vuuren, President of Rotary Club Edmonton Strathcona, Mr Ray Harley, Mr Ys Visser and Mr Claude Matromatteo of the Rotary Club Pretoria and Mr Dawie Harmse principal New Hope School.
 
Below is a copy of the news article:
 
New Hope School in South Africa Stephan Jansen van Vuuren 2015-05-11 06:00:00Z 0

They're Safe!

Posted on Apr 24, 2015
 
We are relived to report that both Eric and Karen Germain landed in Vancouver today and was not affected by the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Nepal and a large portion of South Asia.
 
watch some of the news from THIS LINK
 
We look forward to hear stories from their adventure.
They're Safe! 2015-04-25 00:00:00Z 0

The Mustard Seed

Posted by Hans Granholm on Apr 20, 2015
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Thanks to Nicolle Germain's leadership we had 11 hard working volunteers preparing and serving a nice meal of sweet and sour chicken, salad and caramel pudding to round up.
the volunteers were:
Nicolle Germain, Susan and Patrick Gibson, Marie and Campbell Chow, Vincent Campbell, Rose Marie Basaraba, Dimitri Papanicolas, our exchange student Monica Blanco and Linda and Hans Granholm.
It is really nice to see our newer members getting involved. Cheers!
 
The Mustard Seed Hans Granholm 2015-04-21 00:00:00Z 0

Weekly Tips...

Posted by Hans Granholm on Apr 13, 2015
Tip #9: 2015/04/14
 
How to look up club documents, board minutes, financial statements, club by-laws and constitution…
  • On the home page www.EdmontonStrathcona.Rotary5370.org , log in from the Member Login link upper right corner.
  • Proceed to Member Area.
  • In My ClubRunner box click on View Club Documents.
  • To expand the private (protected) documents, click on ► by the ‘Private Documents’ folder.
  • Now you can expand the appropriate folder to open the required document.
 

Coming Up …
 
How do you find out where other clubs meet in the city, the district and around the world?…

 
Forgot about some of the earlier tips? Open the Club Information site page HERE  and open the file 'Weekly Tips -- Archive' in the bottom left column.
 
Weekly Tips... Hans Granholm 2015-04-14 00:00:00Z 0

Kiva Micro-Finance

Posted by Patrick Gibson on Apr 03, 2015
DON'T FORGET -- April 29th.
 
 The Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona is re-scheduling their weekly noon meeting on April 28, 2015, to hosting an information and discussion evening on Wednesday April 29 at the Yellowhead [micro] Brewing Co., in conjunction with April being the world wide "Micro Finance" month. The focus is on Kiva, the pricinpal online micro lending institution. - See more at: http://portal.clubrunner.ca/399/Event/da58fdfa-6731-4fa1-ac0e-4723567516df

 
    Update
Our Rotary club's Kiva team continues to move our loan portfolio ahead.  To date we have made 162 loans and to date we have 32 loans that have been successfully paid back.
                                             Update
The average lender on Kiva has an outstanding loan portfolio of just $38.30 while we have an outstanding loan portfolio of $1942.33 the average lender on Kiva has a delinquency rate of 5.77% while we have a delinquency rate of just 2.05% and the average lender on Kiva experiences a default rate of 1.11% while we have a default rate of 0.00%.
                               Update
Our Kiva lending team now consists of 21 individual Kiva lenders and one other Rotary club as well as the J. Percy Page Interactors, as well some team members are members of our Rotary club, some are members of other Rotary clubs and some are not Rotarians at all, this small group of committed lenders has now cumulatively made 448 loans totaling $12,400.  
 
The ongoing good work by everyone involved in this positive, immediate solution helps us connect one on one with real people around the world.
 
Keep up the great work!
 
Open RCES Kiva site page: http://tinyurl.com/RCESkiva
 
Kiva Micro-Finance Patrick Gibson 2015-04-04 00:00:00Z 0

JPP Interact, NEWS

Posted by Hans Granholm on Mar 20, 2015
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Welcome JPP Interact in our Communication Loop.
 
With the assistance of our Interact coordinator, Eric Germain, we have added the members and school counselors in our 'Other Users List'. This enables us to include the Interactors in our communication loop, e.g. e-Strathconian, email notices, etc.
 
We are also in the process of building a site page off our ClubRunner website.
 
This is the dedicated URL or link to their site page: http://tinyurl.com/JPPinteract
 
It is still in the construction stages, but when completed, it will enable dedicated Interact member(s) to post and maintain the page, including creating their own photo album(s) with slide shows, posting documents for general distribution to their members.
 
JPP Interact, NEWS Hans Granholm 2015-03-21 00:00:00Z 0

J Percy Page Interact in the news.

Posted by Eric Germain on Mar 13, 2015
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A nice front page article from J.Percy Page's news for our Rotary Interact Club.
A bit of editorial liberty where yours truly should be listed as a Past President and not the Current President.
 
Our rose sales made the front page!
 
The efforts at the Ronald McDonald house and our club in general is featured.
J Percy Page Interact in the news. Eric Germain 2015-03-14 00:00:00Z 0

Monica is on the move.

Posted by Hans Granholm on Mar 13, 2015
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Our exchange student Monica Blanco, shared with the Edmonton South Rotary Club, is now living at Margaret and Rob Morley's house, 15115 43 Ave NW.
Please think about including her in some of your regular family activities.
Monica's cell number is: 587-987-6670; email:  isabelita_br98@hotmail.com
 
Monica is on the move. Hans Granholm 2015-03-14 00:00:00Z 0

Size Doesn't Matter

Posted by Patrick Gibson on Mar 12, 2015
Some interesting Kiva facts
 
Congratulations are in order!!
The Heartland Oklahoma Team (H.O.T.) is a local-area Kiva team of 340 members, with total lending near $900,000. Today H.O.T. reached an impressive and fairly rare Kiva benchmark of 100 loans per member! 

There are some big lending teams on Kiva but the size of the teams and their impact can be deceiving, browsing through Kiva's stats the other day I was impressed to see some of the milestones some lending teams have achieved, teams like Paying It Forward with 60.1 loans per member, Wind Power Now with 30.1 per member, Team Australia with 30.4 per member and even Team Canada with 7500 members registering 22.1 loans per member. 

The team that is disappointing is HP, with vastly more members than any other team (121,000!), but still only 1.6 loans per member. Almost all of the loans were given by the company, and it seems very few employees have carried on the idea, what a missed opportunity.

So I am thrilled with our little 21 member team that currently has made 21 loans per member, tiny but mighty, keep up the great work.
 
Open RCES Kiva site page: http://tinyurl.com/RCESkiva
 
Patrick Gibson
Size Doesn't Matter Patrick Gibson 2015-03-13 00:00:00Z 0

Welcome News!

Posted by Hans Granholm on Mar 06, 2015
It was such a pleasure to welcome Terry Sveinson back to the club after a long health related issue. He is still not 100%, but we're glad to have him back at any rate.
And further on the good news front, Orville Sleen had his date with the surgeon moved up, and the Sleen spleen was removed on Thursday and he was home swilling single malts on Friday, well not really, but close enough :-)
 
         Orville Sleen         Terry Sveinson
Welcome News! Hans Granholm 2015-03-07 00:00:00Z 0

New Members Captivate the Crowd

Posted on Mar 06, 2015
Last week, two new members, Vincent Campbell and Campbell Chow entertained the crowd with fascinating life stories, from informative information on a premium 'ratter' to impressive slides of spectacular custom built modern homes.
 
Campbell Chow Vincent Campbell

Thank you for telling us about yourselves, and welcome to the club.
New Members Captivate the Crowd 2015-03-07 00:00:00Z 0

BOLIVIA!...UNBELIEVABLE!

Posted by Ken Germain on Feb 13, 2015
Flag of Bolivia
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the first time in (I think) 4 years our Rotary Club heard the classification talk from our own 
Rotary exchange student Monica Blanco.
Rob and Margaret Morley are lucky to be involved in this lovely, young lady's life, right now.
I was so interested in learning about Bolivia, I didn't take many notes. 
 
A mineral rich country of 9 million people.
Bordering Argentina and Paraguay to the South, Bolivia has Peru and the top of Chile to the West.
Brazil shares the border for half the country, all North and East.
Rich and diverse; and an interesting part of the world.
 
Monica's Family and Friends miss her as much as she misses them, I'm sure; but what an
experience of a life time!
 
Thanks for sharing your thoughts so openly on a lot of topics in only 25 minutes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
BOLIVIA!...UNBELIEVABLE! Ken Germain 2015-02-14 00:00:00Z 0

Drivers Needed

Posted by Eric Germain on Jan 30, 2015
 
The students of the Interact Club at J Percy Page (JPP) High School are serving dinner at Ronald McDonald House (RMH) on February 5th, and we need drivers to take the students from JPP to RMH and back.
 
Open the February 5 event list HERE to get all the details and to sign up.
 
 
P.S. Do not forget to use the 'Comments' field as you register to indicate the number of passengers you have seatbelts for and whether you are able to drive both ways. 
 
Drivers Needed Eric Germain 2015-01-31 00:00:00Z 0

Blue Ribbon Day

Posted by Eric Germain on Jan 23, 2015
 

In with the New Year & the New Rotary Members!

 

 
The Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona had a blue ribbon day on Tuesday January 20th , 2015 when they inducted 4 new members in their Rotary Club. District Governor Linda Robertson was in attendance and participated by reading the Rotary New Member Induction Charge. Rotary Club President  Stephan Van Vuuren concluded the formal portion of the induction ceremony by asking his fellow Rotarians to give the new members their help and friendship to ensure their Rotary membership is useful and happy. The new members and their respective classifications and sponsors are :
  1. Campbell Chow- Materials Engineering; Dimitri Papanicolas
  2. Don Stefanyk- Materials Engineering; Dimitri Papanicolas
  3. Vince Campbell- Construction Management; Dennis Freeman
  4. Rick Harcourt- Recruiting Management; Hans Granholm
Director of Membership, Eric Germain generously donated to the Happy Bucks portion of the program to celebrate and recognize this great event, and encouraged Rotary Club members to continue to recruit new prospective members from their circles of friends, family and professional colleagues
 
Blue Ribbon Day Eric Germain 2015-01-24 00:00:00Z 0
Gates Foundation at it again! Patrick Gibson 2015-01-23 00:00:00Z 0

THE BEST WAY TO START THE NEW YEAR

Posted by Donna Hutton on Jan 16, 2015
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THE BEST WAY TO START THE NEW YEAR - SERVICE ABOVE SELF
 
As part of its strategic planning process, the Edmonton Strathcona Rotary Club this year established a goal to dedicate 40% of its Community Service funds to one agency thereby focusing volunteer activity and fundraising efforts. 
 
 
Through a membership voting process, the Youth Empowerment and Support Services organization was identified as the most deserving of our collective efforts.  During a luncheon meeting held on Tuesday, January 13, 2015, at the Armoury Resource Center of YESS, $10,000 was presented to Deb Cautley, the Executive Director who indicated that the funds would be used to purchase furnishings for ARC. 
 
 
During this meeting, members of the Club were provided with a tour and explanation of the services provided to homeless youth in the community as well as a current report of the ongoing need addressed by YESS. In an effort to continue the collective membership focus, volunteer activities will be identified for Club member participation.
 The Edmonton Strathcona Rotary Club is committed to building an ongoing relationship with YESS so that our fundraising and community service efforts enhance the much needed efforts of YESS and aligns our Club's Community Service work with a deserving community organization.
 
Open the YESS Volunteer Opportunities document to see where you can participate. HERE
 
THE BEST WAY TO START THE NEW YEAR Donna Hutton 2015-01-17 00:00:00Z 0

Food for thought - Are we doing this all wrong?

Posted by Patrick Gibson on Jan 13, 2015

 

Dan Pallotta says the way we think about charity is dead wrong, that we need to let our charities flourish the same as we do new start up companies.  Making charities focus on keeping their overhead low rather than on solving the needs in the community, the same needs that they were formed to address is counterproductive.  Why should the successful head of a charity not be paid the same as the successful head of a new start up company, especially if the charity that person is guiding is making a direct positive impact?

Food for thought - Are we doing this all wrong? Patrick Gibson 2015-01-14 00:00:00Z 0
Tuesday, Jan 13 meeting at YESS 2015-01-11 00:00:00Z 0
Edmonton Ski Club Presentation Hans Granholm 2015-01-10 00:00:00Z 0

Cornered Jan 10

Posted by Ken Germain on Jan 09, 2015
Unless you've recently had an appendectomy, we want to keep you in stitches!
 
 
The surface of Mars.
 
 
Tough Times 1930
Copper Wire
 
 
After having dug to a depth of 10 feet last year, French scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 200 years and came to the conclusion that their ancestors already had a telephone network more than 150 years ago.

Not to be outdone by the French, in the weeks that followed, American archaeologists dug to a depth of 20 feet before finding traces of copper wire. Shortly afterwards, they published an article in the New York Times saying : "American archaeologists, having found traces of 250-year-old copper wire, have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network 50 years earlier than the French."

A few weeks later, 
The British Archaeological Society of Northern England’ reported the following: "After digging down to a depth of 33 feet in the Skipton area of North Yorkshire in 2011, Charlie Hardcastle, a self-taught local amateur archaeologist, reported that he had found absolutely bugger all. Charlie has therefore concluded that 250 years ago, Britain had already gone wireless."
 
Cornered Jan 10 Ken Germain 2015-01-10 00:00:00Z 0

Treats at Allen Gray

Posted by Hans Granholm on Jan 03, 2015
 
The German Canadian Cultural Association (GCCA) was closed the last two Tuesdays in December, Dec 23 & 30.
 
In the spirit of the holidays, a glass of wine or a beer was included in the usual $21 meal cost at the door.
 
Thanks to President-Elect Harald Kuckertz and the German Consulate for donating the wine, German of course :-).
Treats at Allen Gray Hans Granholm 2015-01-04 00:00:00Z 0

Heather is on the mend

Posted on Jan 01, 2015
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Shortly before Christmas Heather de Kok underwent emergency appendectomy. Following a successful recovery, she was told to take it easy (easier said that done for this busy/acive lady), and not do any heavy lifting (probably told not to operate any heavy machinery as well :-)).
Ask her what she did between Christmas and New Year!
 
Listen to the docs Heather! All the best to you and your family and if you need any assistance, let us know.
Heather is on the mend 2015-01-02 00:00:00Z 0

Mike Onieu is back.

Posted on Dec 02, 2014
We were delighted to welcome Mike Onieu back at Tuesday's meeting from his tour of duty to The Congo, and we look forward to hear more details about his experience.
 
Welcome back Mike!
Mike Onieu is back. Hans Granholm 2014-12-03 00:00:00Z 0

District Governor Visit, Nov 25, 2014

Posted by Hans Granholm on Nov 16, 2014
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Our  regular meeting on November 25th a meeting where our District Governor Linda Robertson will pay her official annual visit.
Linda will bring us up to date with news from Rotary International and from District 5370. She will expand on RI President Gary Huang's vision for this year.
 
This is a great opportunity to learn more about current issues and programs in Rotary. A MUST engagement for all Rotarians. You are encouraged to invite your spouse/partner,
 
If you are planning to invite one or more guests, please sign them up from this LINK so we can advise the German Club accordingly.
 
District Governor Visit, Nov 25, 2014 Hans Granholm 2014-11-17 00:00:00Z 0

Salvation Army

Posted on Nov 14, 2014
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Salvation Army is reaching out again this year asking for help with manning the kettle at Save-On-Foods on Calgary Trail S & 34 Avenue. PLEASE NOTE THE NEW LOCATION.
 
We are asking for volunteers to man the kettle in two shifts on Saturday, November 22.
 
11:00 am - 2:00 pm (1100 - 1400), 2 persons
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm (1700 - 2000), 2 persons
 
Deadline for responding: Monday evening, November 17th. (Sorry for the late notice :-| )
Please use the brown [Salvation Army Kettle Drive] button on the event page to select you choice.
 
You can contact Rose Marie, Event Chair, 780 435-5224,, any time with questions.
 
     LINK TO EVENT 
 
Salvation Army 2014-11-15 00:00:00Z 0

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? SUCCESS!

Posted on Nov 14, 2014
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A BIG Thank You! to Heather de Kok for arranging the successful 2014 version of "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?".
 
We want more members to participate though. Look forward to this program to continue next year.
 
OPEN THIS LINK  to read more about the program and view the photo album.
 
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? SUCCESS! 2014-11-15 00:00:00Z 0

2014 Christmas Party

Posted on Oct 31, 2014
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Please join us for the annual Christmas Party of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona on December 9, 2014.

It will be held once again at the Edmonton Golf and Country Club. This is an event not to be missed.

REGISTER HERE

We will be continuing with our gift exchange. Please bring one wrapped, tasteful or fun recyclable, gift per person. Nothing fancy just something that you have around the house that someone else may either like or get a laugh out of.

Dennis Meneely. who entertained us musically at the 40th, will do so again with oldies but goodies sprinkled with the odd Holiday favorite.

The Zebra Child Protection Centre are once again the specific choice of donations this Christmas season.  The Centre has specified they are especially short of pyjamas for the 12 – 18 age range, both girls and boys. For those in the know, I am advised that the ‘onesies’ are popular amongst girls; otherwise tank tops/bottoms for girls and t-shirts/bottoms for boys. To ensure total Club participation if you are not attending the dinner, Rose Marie will accept donations from members prior to Christmas at which time they will be delivered to the Centre. - See more at: http://portal.clubrunner.ca/399/Event/958eeb5c-fd75-4e7f-8d92-afa89c15dac1

Dress: Professional Dress – no denim allowed in the Club    

Cocktails are at 6 pm and dinner will be served at 7pm. Please register as soon as possible. Deadline for tickets:        

Registration deadline¨December 5th        payable in advance to Rose Marie or Diana or on-line

Need technical assistance? Contact Hans Granholm, 780-466-5566

Open the photo album page to view photos from previous years

 

2014 Christmas Party 2014-11-01 00:00:00Z 0

An Update from our man in the Congo

Posted by Mike Onieu on Oct 17, 2014

Major Mike Onieu and friend

 

Update for Rotary

Dear Friends,

Greetings from eastern Congo.

When steady electricity, internet connections and free time permit, I am able to stay abreast of Rotary news from the town of Goma here in Eastern Congo. I will be sorry to miss David Holdsworth on heritage buildings and the upcoming talk on human trafficking, the former because I have an interest in heritage buildings, and the latter because human trafficking is an ongoing problem in most of the places the Canadian Army sends me.

 
An Update from our man in the Congo Mike Onieu 2014-10-18 00:00:00Z 0
Where do I find old stories? Hans Granholm 2014-10-12 00:00:00Z 0

October 11 Corner Bits

Posted by Ken Germain
Russian Meteorite
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We some times fail to appreciate the good news, perhaps because it is often buried beneath reports of crime, corruption and incompetence.
Here, for instance, are just a few positive headlines you may have missed over the last few months:
  • According to the World Health Organization, since 1990 average life expectancy has gone up six years in the developed world and nine years in the developing world.
  • The National Center for Health Statistics announced this week that teen births are at the lowest ever reported in the U.S. (And pessimists should note this is not due to an increase in abortions.) The abortion rate just hit the lowest point since 1973, the year when the Supreme Court legalized the procedure in all 50 states.
  • Around the world, the overall state of humanity is rapidly improving. Infant mortality is down. Poverty is declining. Rich countries are polluting less. The risk of dying from violent crime has never been lower. 
 
 
October 11 Corner Bits Ken Germain 2014-10-11 00:00:00Z 0

Succession Planning Should Include Mentoring

Posted by Ken Germain on Oct 10, 2014
Speaker of the day, Stefan Voswinkel, gave an enlightening insight regarding mentoring in the family business to assist with passing on a business generation to generation. Some of the points he made were as follows:
  • -As a Yukoner, Stefan would like to see more business  and less government job reliance. 6500 govt. employees in Yukon's workforce..
  • Mediation is science, and art.
  • -It is a volunteer relationship between the mentor and mentee to learn  behavioral process,through discussion, preferably face to face.
  • -Harvesting happiness is the hopeful outcome; in family, self, business and salary.
  • -Of 100 businesses, 30 will make a go of it to the 2nd generation. That passing the torch to the next generation is successful in 10% of those; and 3% make it to the 4th generation.
 
Succession Planning Should Include Mentoring Ken Germain 2014-10-11 00:00:00Z 0

Rotary and Fort Edmonton Park

Posted by Hans Granholm on Oct 03, 2014
 
Last Tuesday we were treated to an informative and enlightening experience at the Selkirk Hotel in the Fort Edmonton Park.
Thanks to Eric Germain, we convened our regular Tuesday meeting at the Selkirk and were hosted by two extraordinary Rotarians, Jeff Polovick and Jim Greenough, both past presidents and the Driving Force behind the proposed Hotel Selkirk expansion and establishment of a Rotary venue.
 
It is proposed the Park be updated to the tune of $150 million over the next five years. The idea of Jeff Polovick is to rejuvenate Rotary's presence and involvement in the park and incorporate a 'Rotary House' as part of the Selkirk expansion. The estimated cost of the Rotary component is about $15 million.
The Rotary House would include a historical gallery of Rotary's initiative and involvement in establishing the park (read Linda Granholm's story below).
This historic project should appeal to all Rotary clubs in the district, but in particular, of course, the Metro Edmonton clubs, of which there are over twenty.
This club has participated in the annual Fort Edmonton spring clean-up for a couple of years and we look forward to additional volunteer opportunities in the future.
 
Rotary and Fort Edmonton Park Hans Granholm 2014-10-04 00:00:00Z 0

Corner Point

Posted on Oct 03, 2014
 
Water in the carburetor

WIFE: "There is trouble with the car. It has water in the carburetor."

HUSBAND: "Water in the carburetor? That's ridiculous "

WIFE: "I tell you the car has water in the carburetor."

HUSBAND: "You don't even know what a carburetor is. I'll check it out. 
Where's the car?

WIFE: "In the pool"
 
 
Corner Point 2014-10-04 00:00:00Z 0

September 30th Meeting To Be Held At Fort Edmonton

Posted by Eric Germain on Sep 26, 2014
A special meeting at the Selkirk Hotel, followed by a Rotary themed film at the new/old Theater.
A good meeting to bring a friend.
 
Please be sure to register your choice of [Attend or Decline] at the link below so we can advise the caterer accordingly.
 
REGISTER HERE                                       MAP TO HOTEL
September 30th Meeting To Be Held At Fort Edmonton Eric Germain 2014-09-27 00:00:00Z 0

Follow The Moving Flower

Posted on Sep 26, 2014
 
If you have been a lucky winner of a dozen roses in the Rotary Wheel of Fortune, please note a very recent change of address.
 
Grower Direct is now located across the road from Wagner Senior High School at
6305 Wagner Road.

Thanks as always go out to Heather de Kok for always helping by sharing her buds with us, 
as well as other Rotary projects like the Valentine's Day Rose Sale at J. Percy Page Interact Club.
 
 
 
 
Follow The Moving Flower 2014-09-27 00:00:00Z 0

Rare- Mediation -Well Done

Posted by Ken Germain on Sep 26, 2014
 
 
 
 Pete Desrochers, Exec. Director of the Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Society
 A fun talk that began with the speaker answering an incoming phone call!
It was an important call from Vlad Putin wanting info on Property Rights and
Right Of Way in Ukraine.
Pete has been involved in 1300 mediations in Canada and the U.S. and spent 15 years with Telus.
Here is an outline of what to expect from mediation; while avoiding litigation.
 
Some other facts:
New York State uses mediation in 97% of divorce cases.
Motorola and NCR have seen 80-90% reduction in litigation 
by concentrating on mediation.
 
Rare- Mediation -Well Done Ken Germain 2014-09-27 00:00:00Z 0

September 30th - Meeting Held At Fort Edmonton

Posted by Eric Germain on Sep 19, 2014
A special meeting at the Selkirk Hotel, followed by a Rotary themed film at the new/old Theatre.
A good meeting to bring a friend.
 
Please indicate your intention to attend or decline at the link below so we can advise the caterer.
 
REGISTER HERE                                       MAP TO HOTEL
 
September 30th - Meeting Held At Fort Edmonton Eric Germain 2014-09-20 00:00:00Z 0

Corner Interests September 20

Posted on Sep 19, 2014
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Prince Charles Visits a Scottish Hospital
 
Prince Charles is visiting an Edinburgh hospital. He enters a ward full of patients with no obvious sign of injury or illness and greets the first one.
 
The patient replies: "Fair fa your honest sonsie face, Great chieftain o the puddin race,
Aboon them a ye take yer place, Painch, tripe or thairm, As langs my airm."
 
HRH is confused, so he just smiles and moves on to the next patient.
 
The patient responds: "Some hae meat an canna eat, And some wad eat that want it, But we hae meat an we can eat, So let the Lord be thankit."
 
Even more confused, the Prince moves on to the next patient, who Immediately begins to chant: "Wee sleekit, cowerin, timrous beasty, O the panic in thy breasty, Thou needna start awa sae hastie, Wi bickering brattle."
 
Now seriously troubled, Charles turns to the accompanying doctor and asks, "Is this
a psychiatric ward?"
 
"No," replies the doctor, "This is the serious Burns unit."
 
 
 
 
 
Corner Interests September 20 2014-09-20 00:00:00Z 0
ClubRunner News and Update Information Hans Granholm 2014-09-20 00:00:00Z 0

Pooja Visits

Posted on Sep 19, 2014
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Pooja, the current President of the J. Percy Page Interact Club, gave an update on the high School club's fifth year.
 
A generous, outgoing attitude has maintained positive action for all 5 years and this year will also be helpful to the community.
 
Fund raising for their own projects and linking up on our club's projects have kept this club very viable.
They wish to continue helping with the "Home For Dinner" program at Ronald McDonald House, and will help again at the Mustard Seed Church with us.
 
Pooja also reported back to us on the successful 2 day seminar held in Edmonton in June. The SUNIA, United Nations International Affairs Seminar had students from around the world learning, playing and discussing the role of the United Nations.
 
What a nice girl!
 
 
Pooja Visits 2014-09-20 00:00:00Z 0

Our Exchange Student is here!

Posted on Sep 17, 2014
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We are delighted to partner with RC Edmonton South hosting a student from Bolivia in 2014-15.
Monica Blanco Rivero arrived a few weeks ago and has already visited our club.
 
Monica is 16 years of age and she has two younger sisters, 6 and 8 years old.
She will be attending Victoria Comp and she is enrolled in several art courses in Drama, Guitar and Chorale. She loves sports and has already been to an Eskimo game and to an FC Edmonton game where both teams won -- Go Monica!
 
 
                   
                      Monica (center) arriving in Edmonton
 
She is really looking forward to snowboarding ?! Yeah, that's right! You'd have to be from South America to be looking forward to winter wink
You are all encouraged to include Monica in your lives. there is so much we can learn from her and of course she's here to learn our way of life and our culture.
This winter, if you are going away for some winter activity, why not invite Monica along? Invite her home to a family dinner?
 
Rob Morley is our club's Youth Exchange coordinator and our liaison with the Edmonton South club. Please contact Rob. rob.morley@telus.net
 
 
Our Exchange Student is here! Hans Granholm 2014-09-18 00:00:00Z 0
Kiva and Micro Finance Patrick Gibson 2014-09-18 00:00:00Z 0

Board Covers For Speaker

Posted on Sep 12, 2014
 
A Previous meeting enjoying the update from the board
Our speaker surprised us last Tuesday by not showing up! Pres Elect Harald did a fine job with Brenda McCullough's help to have several Board Members bring us up to speed on what is happening 2 1/2 months in to the Rotary Year.
Highlights include:- Community Service would like to concentrate up to 40% of their budget to a single local organization. Bring forward your ideas.
- International Committee wants to do similar deeds with a greater amount going to one organization.
-Membership has prepared for you to bring a prospective new member for a free lunch their first meeting, Any Time! We would like to see 10-12 new members join us this year. A special Fall and Spring Membership meeting will make it even more enticing. Who do you know that would benefit from being a Rotarian?
 
All positives going forward .
Great Club!
 
Board Covers For Speaker 2014-09-13 00:00:00Z 0
Overina Corner 2014-09-13 00:00:00Z 0

Project Amigo

Posted by Hans Granholm on Sep 08, 2014
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Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  Slowly, we are making a difference in the lives of the children in the Colima area.  Over the years, there have been many changes at Project Amigo but the need remains constant.  Please help us by encouraging your acquaintances and family to get involved.
Project Amigo Hans Granholm 2014-09-09 00:00:00Z 0
RC Edmonton Southeast makes donation to Rotary Wheelchair Program 2014-09-02 00:00:00Z 0

Conference Speaker Announced

Craig Kielburger
 
Craig Kielburger CM, MSM, OMC is a Canadian activist for the rights of children. He is the co-founder, with his brother Marc Kielburger, of the Free the Children charity and of the Me to We social enterprise. 
Free The Children’s mission is to create a world where all young people are free to achieve their fullest potential as agents of change.
And we couldn’t have a better blueprint for success: the organization was founded by Craig Kielburger in 1995 when he gathered 11 school friends to begin fighting child labour. He was 12. 
 
 
Easy and flexible to registration available at http://www.conference5370-2014.ca/
 
 
 
 
Rotary District 5370 Presents Craig Kielburger   
October 2-4, 2014
Flexible Registration at 
www.conference5370-2014.ca 

One of the most inspirational leaders
will be here, at our conference!
 
Conference Speaker Announced 2014-08-31 00:00:00Z 0

Conference Speaker Announced

Posted on Aug 30, 2014

Craig Kielburger

Craig Kielburger CM, MSM, OMC is a Canadian activist for the rights of children. He is the co-founder, with his brother Marc Kielburger, of the Free the Children charity and of the Me to We social enterprise. 
Free The Children’s mission is to create a world where all young people are free to achieve their fullest potential as agents of change.
And we couldn’t have a better blueprint for success: the organization was founded by Craig Kielburger in 1995 when he gathered 11 school friends to begin fighting child labour. He was 12. 
Easy and flexible to registration available at http://www.conference5370-2014.ca/
 
 
 
Rotary District 5370 Presents Craig Kielburger   
October 2-4, 2014
Flexible Registration at 
www.conference5370-2014.ca 

One of the most inspirational leaders
will be here, at our conference!
Conference Speaker Announced 2014-08-31 00:00:00Z 0

Overina Corner

 

The Dreaded Phone Call from the Boss.

 



My boss phoned me today. He said, "Is everything OK at the office?" 

I said, "It’s all under control. It's been a very busy day. I haven't

 

stopped to take a break all day." 

"Can you do me a favour?" he asked. 

I said "Of course, what is it?" 

"Pick up the pace a little -

 

I'm in the group behind you." 



 

 
 
 
 
Overina Corner 2014-08-31 00:00:00Z 0

P3 Strategic Partnerships



Neil McQuay from the Alberta Government spoke of the successes
we've seen coming from the Private-Public Partnerships over the
past several years.
Bidding companies for a new school or road do so with the intention
of managing the project for 30 years. 
40 schools and the ring roads of Edmonton and Calgary have been built
and are of higher quality than "lowest bidder" projects of the past.
P3 Strategic Partnerships 2014-08-31 00:00:00Z 0

Update on Tymm Zehr

Posted by Hans Granholm on Aug 29, 2014
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Tymm and Carlo is spending quality time in Ontario this summer and will tour Europe for a year after that. Consequently she has resigned from the club with the intention of re-joining Rotary on her return to Canada.
We wish them both well in their endeavors and hope to hear from them on their return.
Update on Tymm Zehr Hans Granholm 2014-08-30 00:00:00Z 0

Local Wheelchair Delivery

Posted by Ken Germain
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Tuesday August 19th ,2014 was an important day for our club. The main purpose of the celebration was to deliver wheelchair to the following attending organizations:
 
Easter Seals  
ALS Society  
Red Cross  
Rehoboth Christian Ministries  
Arthritis Society  
Alexander Band First Nation  
Alexis Band First Nation  
O'chiese Band First Nation  
Sunshine First Nation  
Robinhood Association  
Balikbyan Project Philippine
 
 
Also attending was Linda Robertson the DG and Tim and Sally Shilds DGE. and Laurie Hawn, M.P.
All attendees enjoyed lunch.
 
Monday saw the local deliveries of several chairs as seen in the attached photos. All were pleased to be helped as we were pleased to be helping.
Thanks Raymond Merhej for the hard work that went into this week. Raymond, Peter DeNooy and Dmitri Papanocolas were surprised and Very Pleased to receive a $10,000.00 cheque from our club towards the WPAC wheelchair facility project in Dominican Republic, slated to begin operation by July 2015.
 
Local Wheelchair Delivery Ken Germain 2014-08-20 00:00:00Z 0

Waste To Energy Facility Nearly Operational

Posted on Aug 14, 2014
Our speaker last Tuesday was Christian Felske from the City of Edmonton Waste Treatment Facility.
Doctor of Garbology.   His Task: Divert landfill material and find value in our household trash. 

 
Waste To Energy Facility Nearly Operational 2014-08-15 00:00:00Z 0

Edmonton Chamber of Commerce; 125 Years Old!

Posted on Aug 06, 2014

James Cumming, Executive Director of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce gave us a background of the Chamber and underlined the importance of business having a voice in the decisions made in the area.
A lifetime Edmontonian, James proved to be patriotic an enthused in regards to our past achievements and our forward outlook. Canada's oldest and largest chamber, we take things personally here. Growth in transportation and energy will continue to be our challenges and we are at the right place and time to take full advantage of our opportunities.
A rosy future seems to be eminent.
Edmonton Chamber of Commerce; 125 Years Old! 2014-08-07 00:00:00Z 0

Giving Back Presentation

Posted by Donna Hutton on Aug 05, 2014
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From Donna Hutton:
This was a PowerPoint presentation that was given at a national conference for an organization that I am involved with at the Board level. It has some interesting information that we thought might be of interest to our members.
 
Please click on this LINK    Tip: After the PowerPoint opens, press the F5 key to start the presentation. Advance screens by using the [Enter/Return] key or the [Up] and [Down] arrows. Press [Esc] to exit the presentation.
 
Giving Back Presentation Donna Hutton 2014-08-06 00:00:00Z 0

The Bell and Gavel

Posted by Don Henry on Aug 03, 2014
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I have had various conversations with our members about the ringing of the bell at the beginning and end of the meetings. It seems that very few know the reason, so with a little digging here is the best answer I could find Rotary historians have written that the 3rd Rotary Club was the Oakland Club, which started in 1909.
The Bell and Gavel Don Henry 2014-08-04 00:00:00Z 0

A Pictoral Tour of India

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We were shown the beauty and diversity of India during a great talk and slide show. The colours, sounds and smells could all be felt through the work of this fabulous photographer. Taj Mahal at different times of day was remarkable. The cremation and river disposal system seem a bit awful, with clothing and people being washed in the water upstream. The beauty of the southern regions looked sumptuous and inviting. The Taj is open to the public in the evenings only for 5 days nearest the full moon.
A Pictoral Tour of India 2014-08-04 00:00:00Z 0

How Does It Feel?

Posted by Nicolle Germain
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Take a Bold Step: Participate in a Poverty Simulation

 
Did you know that there are 120,000 people living in poverty in the Edmonton area, including 37,000 children?

How would you deal with a life in poverty? You are invited to participate in a community Poverty Simulation, which is coordinated by the United Way of the Alberta Capital Region. This is a powerful opportunity to experience what it may be like to live in poverty and the challenging decisions people are faced with every day. Considering so many of our Rotary Club projects and initiatives align with lifting people out of poverty, this is a great opportunity for us to get an idea of what it may be like to walk in their shoes.

How Does It Feel? Nicolle Germain 2014-08-04 00:00:00Z 0

Fortunes Won

A successful auction was held at last week's meeting. A bottle of fine rum, donated by Carin's Dad, Jan Zyl for use of a wheelchair while in Edmonton visiting was combined with the beautiful portrait of a soldier on Royal Strathcona Horse, as donated by Michael Oniou. Eric Solash, (former Navy)  had his wishes come true as the successful bidder, at $200.00!
Fortunes Won 2014-08-04 00:00:00Z 0

Mexican Orphanage Feels the Rotary Love


Mazatlan, Mexico has seen a helping hand come their way from Rotarians. Judy Harcourt was enthusiastic about the work they've been doing to improve the lives of orphans in the area. Traditionally inspired music and dance have obviously given these youngsters a stability and confidence to go forward in a situation that could have seen them slip backwards, quickly. A group of kids from the centre were touring through Alberta the last week of July.

Mexican Orphanage Feels the Rotary Love 2014-08-04 00:00:00Z 0

Perspective

 
First Flight                                                                                                               Moonrise Over Los Angeles
Perspective 2014-07-11 00:00:00Z 0

Flower Delivery For Mother's Day Benefits Club

Posted by Heather de Kok on Jul 09, 2014

Thanks to the members who delivered flowers on Mother's Day, our clul was presented with a cheque for over $1000.!

Thanks volunteers and Grower Direct!

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Flower Delivery For Mother's Day Benefits Club Heather de Kok 2014-07-10 00:00:00Z 0

Host a Student?

Posted on Jun 13, 2014
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Al Pierog, from Edmonton South club gave a quick update on the inbound student coming to Edmonton in August. A girl from Bolivia will be here and we still need host families for 4 of the 10 months. Always an enriching experience for the exchange student AND the host families AND the clubs that participate. Even a weekend (give the host family a break) would be great for the student.

Please give it some thought. Let President Stephanus know.

Host a Student? Ed Ator 2014-06-14 00:00:00Z 0

June 24th, A Big Day

Posted by Ed Ator on Jun 05, 2014

T1011EN_4c

Not only is June 24th our annual Turnover Meeting to recognize the past board of directors and welcome the new board for 2014-2015, but also:

We have planned a special evening to celebrate 40 years since our club charter in 1974!

Please register if you plan to attend.

The Derrick Golf and Country Club, 6pm. June 24th   See Diana Parker for further information.

June 24th, A Big Day Ed Ator 2014-06-06 00:00:00Z 0

Rotary International President Ron Burton and wife Jetta Burton

Posted by Hans Granholm on Apr 12, 2014
Rotary International President
Ron Burton and wife Jetta Burton

Red Deer AB   —   2 May 2014
 
Theme: A Celebration of Rotary
Keynote address from President Burton

Reception: 5:30  Dinner 7:00
Cost: $50.00
  SHERATON HOTEL
3310 – 50th Avenue
Red Deer, Alberta
All Rotarians, spouses, Rotary youth and family of Rotary are welcome.
Dress is business attire.
Rotary International President Ron Burton and wife Jetta Burton Hans Granholm 2014-04-13 00:00:00Z 0

There ARE Heroes Amongst Us

Posted by Ken Germain on Mar 16, 2014

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The Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation magazine caught my eye while crossing the library the other day. "I know that smile!", I thought. Sure enough, on December 12, 2012 Ron Dobbin and other Rotarians and Interact members had the pleasure to meet this special little girl whose heart was an artificial one, in her back-pack!

 We were at Ronald McDonald house for the J. Percy Page Interact Club project of making a home cooked meal for folks who have to stay in Edmonton, close to the hospitals, especially the Stollery Children's Hospital. 90 meals were prepared and served and cleaned up before we had a chance to visit with the residents and hear these truly heroic stories that we must go through. Muskaan Grewal helps us see the strength and hope in ourselves.

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Ron Dobbin and Muskaan Grewal of Surry B.C. tease each other at Ronald McDonald House, December 2012

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Youngest ever to receive the device, Muskaan and Dr. Holger Bucholz

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 You can't forget that smile. I know I didn't.

 

There ARE Heroes Amongst Us Ken Germain 2014-03-17 00:00:00Z 0

Mirrors Make Us Look Bigger!

Posted by Ed Ator on Mar 16, 2014

A small crowd was ther on Tuesday for "20 Questions!" Thanks Art; that was a lot of fun!

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Mirrors Make Us Look Bigger! Ed Ator 2014-03-17 00:00:00Z 0

Waist Management

Posted by Ed Ator on Feb 28, 2014

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Dr. Arya Sharma attended the meeting with his lovely wife, Christine, President of Rotary Club of Edmonton South-East.

Dr. Sharma's line of work is obesity and he gave a talk full of humour and insight.

To go from 220 to 100? No problem; go metric!

A person's set point is their highest weight and any attempts to lower it is like pulling an elastic strap, as demonstated below by Ken Sutley. You have to keep pulling, or the set point wants to return. 19 out of 20 diets fail.

It's much more practical to NOT gain the extra 40 pounds than it is to lose it and keep it off.

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 Dr. Sharma receives the Speaker Gift from President Rose Marie; a $25.00 donation in his name to our present Wheelchair Project.

Waist Management Ed Ator 2014-03-01 00:00:00Z 0

Mustard Seed Event Planned

Posted by Ed Ator on Feb 28, 2014

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Please consider helping at the Mustard Seed. See the note below: 

 

Details:
Where:
The Mustard Seed is located at 10635 96 Street (corner of 96 Street and 106A avenue). Parking is free and can be found around the building and on the main street. Please do not park on any side streets. Please enter through the front doors on the North side of the building; there is a doorbell to the right of the main door.
When:
Tuesday, April 1, 2014, 1700-2100 (5:00 pm - 9:00 pm.). It’s great to be a little early, but if arriving more than 15 minutes prior, please be advised you may not have access to the kitchen. In the meantime, you are welcome join our community for a cup of coffee or tea during afternoon drop-in Monday- Friday (excluding Wednesdays)
3:30- 6:00 pm.
Who:
Children under the age of 12 will not be allowed to participate in the evening for safety reasons. Youth aged 12 and over are able to volunteer; however, please have at least one adult for every three youth participating in the meal program.
Other Info:
Volunteers experiencing the following symptoms are asked not to volunteer: diarrhea, jaundice, nausea, stomach cramps, and fever. (Some exceptions apply).

When preparing and serving food, all volunteers must wear: a hat or hairnet as hair control, a clean apron, and gloves. Hair nets, gloves, and aprons provided. Long hair must be tied back. Wearing jewelery is discouraged — if wearing dangling earrings, hair nets must cover earrings.

Questions about the event, contact the Event Chair, Stephan van Vuuren.

Technical assistance, contact Hans Granholm

 

Mustard Seed Event Planned Ed Ator 2014-03-01 00:00:00Z 0

40th Anniversary Coming! You'll FLIP!

Posted by Diana Parker on Feb 28, 2014

 wheel_transp

 Search the attic, boxes in the basement, etc for photos and other memorabilia

that could be used in the 40th Anniversary Celebration of our club to be held on

Tuesday, June 24th, coinciding with the Rotating Wheel Dinner.  

 

We promise to return any and everything that you are allowed to

take back into your house!

 

Please bring your treasured mementos  to:

 Diana Parker, Morley MacCalder or Linda Granholm.

 

Circle the Date -  the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona

turns 40 this year and we'll celebrate on June 24th at the Derrick Cub.

  Start digging for those precious photos.

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40th Anniversary Coming! You'll FLIP! Diana Parker 2014-03-01 00:00:00Z 0

Support Rotary and Watch Football!

Posted by Ed Ator on Aug 28, 2013

 

 

 wheel_transp

Team  UP to TACKLE POLIO with the Edmonton Eskimos and District 5370

 

Saturday, September 14 – 4:30 p.m. at Commonwealth Stadium

 

Tickets are $26 with $10 going towards your club’s Polio contribution

 

Attend the pre-game Tailgate Party

 

Two sections will be reserved for Rotarians/friends/family.  Wear RED to support POLIO

 

Watch DG Betty Screpnek raise the 13th man flag

 

Clubs have a chance to unfurl the Canadian flag on the field and to win prizes.

 

Check out the District 5370 homepage for more details and how to order theses special tickets.

 

Members are encouraged to attend and bring family and friends.

 
Support Rotary and Watch Football! Ed Ator 2013-08-29 00:00:00Z 0

Wheelchairs- The Next Level

Posted by Donna Hutton on Aug 27, 2013

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Raymond Merhej, Peter DeNooy, Shirley and Al Bergsma

The program of August 20 was filled with fun, surprises and a lot of hope for the wheelchair commitment of our club.

Having helped to provide over 2000 wheelchairs over the past few years, we have learned a few things.

The outcome of wanting to improve our programs has developed into something quite exciting.

Rather than assembling and distributing chairs in a particular area and leaving, the planners have unveiled a system where a wheelchair shop is set up near the area that much work can be done before and after a wheelchair is given away.

The shop will receive a container of un-assembled chairs. 600 chairs rather than 200. The chairs will be more rugged to meet the local requirements. Fitting and call back adjustments will be possible as will ongoing requirements. Small orders by any charity can be custom fit to fit a budget, no huge commitments and annual projects if desired.

A great presentation is being fine tuned to 19 minutes and our club members can get involved in bringing this need to reality.

A Rotary Sustainability Grant to ensure the project goes forward year after year has been put into place with thanks to Al Bergsma of the Rocky Mountain House Club.

A lot more work is required obviously. Get involved. Talk to Raymond.

Wheelchairs- The Next Level Donna Hutton 2013-08-28 00:00:00Z 0

Flag Building Event

Posted by Ken Germain on Feb 01, 2013

February 16, 10 am Peter DeNooy's office (address to follow) we must construct a couple of hundred flags and bases. We are helping Rotary Clubs in Victoria and Camrose get their own flag program as well as increasing our own stocks from 650 to 750.

Let Orville know if you can help.

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Flag Building Event Ken Germain 2013-02-02 00:00:00Z 0

Chief of Police Gives An Arresting Presentation

Posted by Ken Germain on Jan 25, 2013

Edmonton's Chief of Police Rod Knecht gave an informative but casual summation of recent improvements with the force in Edmonton. Still excited from his "Wheel Of Fortune" winnings of an Extra Large shirt (following his Ace of clubs being beaten by Hugo's Joker for the bottle of wine), Chief Knecht gave us a glimpse into his job. 40 years in the force, mostly leading the RCMP, has kept him realistic and driven. We are fortunate to have a forward thinking man in this powerful and important position.

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Chief of Police Gives An Arresting Presentation Ken Germain 2013-01-26 00:00:00Z 0

Mustard Seed Help Appreciated

Posted by Stephanus Jansen van Vuuren on Jan 25, 2013

Thank you to the volunteers for this event. Here are some pictures of our recent event at the Mustard Seed. As you can see, they were enjoying themselves!
As you can see we worked hard and enjoyed every minute of it.

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Mustard Seed Help Appreciated Stephanus Jansen van Vuuren 2013-01-26 00:00:00Z 0

Ponderisms

Posted by Ken Germain on Jan 18, 2013

PONDERISMS

I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes.

Gardening Rule: When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.

The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.

Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.

There are two kinds of pedestrians: the quick and the dead.

And now: An Alberta Hot Tub!:


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Ponderisms Ken Germain 2013-01-19 00:00:00Z 0

Membership Commitee Report

Posted by Ted Griffiths on Jan 18, 2013

MEMBERSHIP REPORT – JANUARY 18TH, 2013

The membership committee consists of Eric Germain, Amber Wilson, Raymond Merhej and Ted Griffiths.  Various goals were set in September that included trying to bring in more female, ethnic and younger members.  Two other members withdrew from Rotary because of work commitments. 

 

We have held one Induction last fall and will be holding another one sometime in February.  Eric Germaine’s daughter, Nicolle wishes to join our club. 

 

Last fall we held a Social Media Day organized by Amber Wilson to encourage electronic communication amongst members and Rotary at large.

 

In January a Fireside was held to help inform new members of the ways of Rotary.    Hopefully the interchange of ideas was helpful to both the “wise guys and the newbie’s”.

 

On April 2, 2013 a Membership Day will be held at our regular Tuesday lunch meeting.  All Rotarians are encouraged to invited guests that might have a potential of being a committed serving Rotarian.  Let Ted know if you are bringing a guest so we can provide the proper number of meals.   The club will pay for the guests’ meal.

 

During the year the membership committee has been creating templates for an archive project.  Raymond’s expertise came in hand with this project.  This archive section will be used to store biographies of Rotarians and various reports and visuals of our club.  Hopefully it will be of great interest and use to new and older members.

 

 

Next Week!:    The Membership Action Planwheel_transp

Membership Commitee Report Ted Griffiths 2013-01-19 00:00:00Z 0

Help The Interactor Club Help Ronald McDonald House

Posted by Eric Germain on Jan 18, 2013

We are scheduled to provide transportation for the Rotary Interact Club members to Ronald McDonald House (RMH-7726-107 Street, Edmonton) on Friday February 15th  from Percy Page High School (2707 Millwood Road). There are no RMH events scheduled for January.



We will pick up the Interact Club members at 3:30 PM at their school and take them to RMH. We will pick them up at RMH at 7:00 PM and deliver them back to Percy Page High School.



You are very welcome to stay with the Interact Club at Ronald McDonald House for the “Home for Dinner” preparation, serving and clean up, or just return for the pickup to take them back to their school. The exact menu for dinner will be determined at the next Rotary Interact meeting scheduled for Thursday February 7th, and we can pick up the required groceries on the day of the event.



We have approximately 30 Interact Club members this year, and anticipating that we will have 20 to 25 students going on the February 15th trip.



Please confirm if you are able to drive on February 15th for the pickup and/or drop off  at the school on the day, and how many passengers you can take in your vehicle.



I have confirmed with the Edmonton Public School Board that any Rotary drivers that have received the school and police security check and clearance for the 2011-2012 school year do not require any additional clearance for the 2012-2013 school year.



We have confirmed other dates for this group to travel and provide Home for Dinner programs at RMH. These are March 15 and April 18 2013.



We are looking for more drivers from our Rotary Club to meet this increase in Interact Club membership and to provide coverage if any of our current approved drivers are not available. Jarrod can you please make this announcement at our next meeting, and Ken can you please put this request in our Rotary Club Newsletter.



I am going to be out of town on February 15th , and Ken Germain has volunteered to take the lead as the representative from the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona on this project.



We will have some members of the Percy Page Rotary Interact Club join us at our regular club luncheon on Tuesday January 29th, as they are off school that week. They plan to make a short presentation to our Rotary Club on their activities and projects for this school year. We will advise this Rotary Club Drivers Group how many students will require a ride on that day, and we will determine how many vehicles we will require. We will pick the Rotary Interact members up at their school at 11:30 AM and will drop them off at 1:45 PM.



Thanks very much to everyone for their support and help.



Yours in Rotary,

Eric


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Help The Interactor Club Help Ronald McDonald House Eric Germain 2013-01-19 00:00:00Z 0

Mustard Seed Dinner Opportunity

Posted by Stephanus Jansen van Vuuren on Jan 12, 2013
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Thank you to the volunteers for this event. Everything has now been confirmed to prepare and serve a meal at The Mustard Seed Church.

We should be there no later than 17H00 on Tuesday 22 January. 

Address 10635-96 Street
Mustard Seed Dinner Opportunity Stephanus Jansen van Vuuren 2013-01-13 00:00:00Z 0

Rotary Interact Club visits our Club on March 27, 2012

Posted by Eric Germain on Mar 31, 2012
Thanks to all the Rotary Interact Club members who made it out to the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona lunch meeting on Tuesday March 27, 2012.

The presentation of your special card for Heather de Kok for her providing 125 roses for the Percy Page High School  Valentine's Day Rose Sale was a nice touch, and she was very happy to get the thank you.
Rotary Interact Club visits our Club on March 27, 2012 Eric Germain 2012-04-01 00:00:00Z 0
Rotary Interact Club of Percy Page HS at Ronald McDonald House Eric Germain 2012-03-26 00:00:00Z 0

AJM Early Act Club - Dinner for Ronald McDonald House

Posted by Eric Germain on Feb 28, 2012
The following is a letter to Eric Germain and our club from Kyle Goertzen at the Ronald McDonald House

Hi Eric,

Firstly I wanted to say thanks so much for all of your continued support – I know you’ve been coordinating with Alan for the last few in-house events that you’ve been helping to coordinate for the families with the school Rotary Clubs. It was great to meet the students yesterday and I enjoyed being able to provide them with tours.

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AJM Early Act Club - Dinner for Ronald McDonald House Eric Germain 2012-02-29 00:00:00Z 0

Condolences:

Posted by Rose Marie Basaraba on Feb 04, 2012

Our thoughts and condolences are offered to Len Gierach and Heather Zivkovic in the loss of dear friends, the hokri-Khorasani family, in a motor vehicle accident in central B.C. this past week.

Condolences: Rose Marie Basaraba 2012-02-05 00:00:00Z 0

What Rotary is all about……

Posted by Rose Marie Basaraba on Jan 30, 2012
On January 31st, members had the pleasure of sharing lunch with the Klassen family from Parkland County and to be present as President Erik de Kok and Stephanus Jansen Van Vuuren presented a cheque for $3000 from the Club. The donation is to assist with travel expenses for Zachary who has an undiagnosed disease which requires him to travel to the U.S. for treatment two or three times a year. Zachary’s hearty “thank you for helping me” reinforced what we as Rotarians are all about!
What Rotary is all about…… Rose Marie Basaraba 2012-01-31 00:00:00Z 0

AJM Early Act Club

Posted by Heather de Kok on Jan 15, 2012

We have 24 children in the AJM early Act Club.  We meet every 2 weeks where their president runs the meeting to make plans. These kids have to do one international Project, one vocational project and one community project.

AJM Early Act Club Heather de Kok 2012-01-16 00:00:00Z 0

‘NSTEP (Nutrition Students Teachers Exercising with Parents)

Posted by Rose Marie Basaraba on Jan 09, 2012

The ‘NSTEP’ Program is a not-for-profit registered charity that provides hands-on nutrition and physical activity programs directly in the classrooms in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario. Their goal is to prevent childhood obesity. Their message is simple:

  • EAT more of the Four Food Groups
  • WALK more than before

  • LIVE and be smarter

  •  

     

‘NSTEP (Nutrition Students Teachers Exercising with Parents) Rose Marie Basaraba 2012-01-10 00:00:00Z 0
Rotary Interact Club visit to Ronald McDonald House December 21, 2011 Eric Germain 2011-12-21 00:00:00Z 0

Update Wheelchairs Indonesia 2012

Posted by Peter DeNooy on Dec 19, 2011

The Wheelchair Project Indonesia 2012 is on schedule, on the financially correct course and distribution will start in May 2012.

Thanks to the contributions of several individuals and 10 Rotary Clubs in District 5370, we have now over $ 25,000 committed. 

Last week the Rotary Foundation Team of District 5370 recommended that the District match these funds dollar for dollar.

Update Wheelchairs Indonesia 2012 Peter DeNooy 2011-12-20 00:00:00Z 0

2011 Christmas Party

Posted by Rose Marie Basaraba on Dec 17, 2011

T’was 19 days before Christmas a dinner planned by committee

The Edmonton Club dripped in Yuletide décor so pretty

Dressed in holiday style

Which brought out a smile

It was Rotary Christmas time again in the City

After feasting on turkey, dressing and delights

Gift exchange time arrived to test our might

Our MC Heather

Kept us all a dither

On whether to keep our gifts or fight.

A toaster, fresh flowers and booze caused much noise

Amongst bidders who seemed to lose poise

Tho in the end

Most did bend

To trading their toys thus no friendships destroyed.

Most shopping now complete with no qualms,

To charity, we’ve given our alms.

No task left undone,

Christmas time has begun

Silent night, holy night, all is calm.

Now if we wait, we’d be remiss

In wishing good tidings for this

Holiday of lights

And a magical night

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!  

 

2011 Christmas Party Rose Marie Basaraba 2011-12-18 00:00:00Z 0

The Rotary Prescription

Posted by Hans Granholm on Oct 31, 2011

This dose administered by Hans Granholm at
Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona,
November 1, 2011

 

P.S. You can read my CV from the [Biography] tab in my profile. Open  View Club Directory in the [My ClubRunner] box on the ADMIN page and click on my name.

The Rotary Prescription Hans Granholm 2011-11-01 00:00:00Z 0

The Beauty of Giving

Posted by Rose Marie Basaraba on Oct 18, 2011

The presentation by Lori Bosko, Community Services Coordinator for Canadian Blood Services, was both thorough and insightful.

Did you know…?

There is no subsititute for human blood

 Blood has a short life (used within five days)

 There is an aging donor base

 85,000 new donors are needed every year to meet the demand

 In a one-hour donation (whole blood, platelets, plasma) 3 lives are saved

The Beauty of Giving Rose Marie Basaraba 2011-10-19 00:00:00Z 0
Rotarians gearing up for World Polio Day Robert Morley 2011-10-16 00:00:00Z 0

Classification Update - Diana Parker

Posted by Dennis Freeman on Oct 03, 2011

I think most of you know that Diana’s home town is Sherbrooke, in the Eastern Townships of Quebec.  She was the first born in a family of 9 and in her late Mother’s words, “was pretty bossy” from a very young age.

She attended both English and French schools and did her post secondary business training in a bilingual program.  Diana loved learning and loved competition, participating in public speaking contests, track and field, the Student Council, etc.    (She was competitive and still bossy)

Her first “real” job was in the offices of BP, her 2nd was in an insurance agency and then pure luck led to a Saturday interview for a position at the local radio station CKTS.

The next Monday morning, Diana was in the business which would be an important part of her life for the next 41 years.  Both in Sherbrooke and here in Edmonton, there were mentors to whom she will always be grateful,  who provided the training, encouragement and opportunities to be involved in all aspects of broadcasting. 

Along the way, there was a family to raise.  And a major relocation, from Sherbrooke to Edmonton in 1982, a move the family has never regretted.  Edmonton is home but there are still strong ties to Quebec where one daughter, a brother and sister and cousins still live.

Diana has 4 children, 2 stepchildren, and 4 grand children, living in Calgary, Kamloops, Sherbrooke, and thankfully,  Edmonton and Sherwood Park.   Grandson Zavier plays AA hockey in Sherwood Park and attending his games is a priority.  Natacha, the oldest granddaughter is in the oil and gas industry and is studying mechanical engineering.  The two girls in Quebec are both planning careers in music.  The kids are OK.

Their Mother/Grandmother is not.   She’s trying to adjust to being without Daniel, her husband who passed away in April, and finding out that this is by far the most difficult period of her life.

When the children were young, their favorite vacation places were along the coast of Maine and New Hampshire, Old Orchard Beach, Hampton Beach, etc. and they still laugh about the songs they used to sing on the way to the beach.   Diana and Daniel loved to plan driving trips across Canada and the United States, and also travelled extensively in Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, etc.

Diana retired as the GM of World FM and Sonic at the end of 2006.  Her fondest memories are of the teamwork involved in preparing applications for new stations and defending those applications before the CRTC.  Many of those colleagues are still close friends and radio is still a favorite medium….CBC at home, Sonic when she’s alone in the car.

A good day includes time to work out (not a health nut by any means, but exercise has been a lifetime habit) and to read – history, historical fiction, and anything recommended by her sisters and reader friends (in this club).

She is currently doing some part time work for CrossMark, a company that provides retail audits and market studies to major manufacturers and retailers.   Her daughter, Pat, is her supervisor.  Another bossy member of the family.

Rotary has been an important part of Diana’s life since 1994 when she was invited to join this club.  She served 3 years as Chair of the Annual Fund of the Rotary Foundation and is now in her 3rd and final year as Assistant Governor.  It’s been a learning experience, and, more importantly the source of many new friendships. 

Future plans……uncertain, but a family trip to Ireland is in the works for this time next year. 

Classification Update - Diana Parker Dennis Freeman 2011-10-04 00:00:00Z 0

Classification Update - Dennis Freeman

Posted by Diana Parker on Oct 03, 2011

Here are some tidbits you probably won’t find in his obituary. ALL of them true but, hopefully, not too boring!

-he sleeps on the same side of the bed every night & can’t sleep in anymore. He is most cheerful in the mornings!

-Dennis rises early and makes coffee for Joan. He thinks she is happy about this arrangement.

-he makes decent wine from good kits but knows it’s not quite as good as Johnny Germains.

-Dennis used to work and earn money from newspaper delivery, radio & television, lifeguarding, repairing shoes, repairing fishing reels, railroading, retailing, commercial real estate, tobacco sales, home inspections, bookkeeping, and 20 years as a professional property manager. Now he’s on the dole!

-he loved listening to the radio while growing up and “Boston Blackie” plus “The Lone Ranger” always piqued his interest.

-he is the oldest of nine children. His dad worked for CP Rail in Medicine Hat & they lived close to the tracks. This “Latvian Lover” also taught Dennis to hunt & fish. Joan and Dennis live a little farther from the tracks. They have three children and eight grandchildren.

-Dennis is an active camper, golfer, hiker, bird watcher, road biker, handyman & reader despite having the usual aches & pains every 70 year experiences including missing a few parts.

-he dislikes bullies, speeders, shifty politicians and bad financial advisors. He voted for Trudeau – once.

- Dennis plays poker and bridge.  Any other game the grandkids want to play is okay with him. He did sing in a church choir and also a more contemporary music group but now only sings in the shower.

-he likes belonging to Boards that serve lunch. His 35 years on a non-profit housing society board and his position, allows for a change of venue if the lunch menu deteriorates.

-Dennis was a Jaycee in the 1960’s. Remember “Mukluk Mardi Gras”? The 100,000 people who lined the river valley for the dog race was a sight to see!

-he loves Rotary and Rotarians! Well, most days!

-Joan & Dennis travel a little bit and enjoy life! This year has been exceptional! 5 weeks in Mexico and 6 weeks in Europe.

-his mother is 95. She can’t see too well but her mind is still pretty sharp. His should be so good! After visiting her recently, her favorite comment to the care giver is still:   Now, which one was he?

-being part of a large family & the oldest, he gained independence at the age of 4. His mother was very busy and couldn’t run fast enough to catch or find him.

-Dennis got tired of wearing underwear from Eaton’s catalogue by the age of 10. Wanting financial independence, he got a newspaper route (The Albertan). When he left town 9 years later, three men’s wear stores had most of his money. A “ducktail” had graced his head and the “zoot zooter pants” were long gone.

-he was also an “air cadet” and was an “army reservist”. The tank he drove was probably not the one Johnny Germain had driven.

-REGRETS - NONE!   Well, maybe not becoming a Rotarian much sooner in life.

Classification Update - Dennis Freeman Diana Parker 2011-10-04 00:00:00Z 0

Project Amigo - Potable Water installations

Posted by Peter DeNooy on Sep 28, 2011

I wanted to thank you (Peter DeNooy and Jim Greenough), and your clubs both, for the financial support that enabled a total of 8 water installations at rural primary schools in Colima, Mexico.  The project was completed successfully in April/May and the students, staff, and many others in the communities will now enjoy the health and educational benefits that come from access to clean water.

Project Amigo - Potable Water installations Peter DeNooy 2011-09-29 00:00:00Z 0

Wheelchairs for Indonesia

Posted by Peter DeNooy on Sep 13, 2011

What is the greatest satisfaction of being a Rotarian? There are many ways to achieve that and it is different for each Rotarian, but for me it is the look of honest gratefulness in the eyes of people who do not speak my language (and I don’t speak theirs) after receiving a wheelchair that will change their lives  (and that of their loved ones) forever. It is hard to put this feeling in words, and the only way you will be able to appreciate my attempts to communicate this to you is by going on a wheelchair delivery trip and experiencing the wonders of service above self.

Image 

Wheelchairs for Indonesia Peter DeNooy 2011-09-14 00:00:00Z 0

Member Classification Update

Posted by Andrew Oswald on Sep 03, 2011

In order to get to know our fellow club members better, the first Tuesday of each month club members will do a 5 minute Member Classification Update.  Individuals completing their Member Classification Update have the option of presenting their own information or that of their presentation partner. It is up to the pair to decide what they are more comfortable doing.  If you are unable to present on the date that you are scheduled it is your responsibility to arrange a switch with another presenter, notify your presentation partner, and update the schedule.

Member Classification Update Andrew Oswald 2011-09-04 00:00:00Z 0

Member Classification Update - Andrew Oswald

Posted by Rose Marie Basaraba on Aug 29, 2011

Andrew is currently a consultant with Investors Group Financial Services.

He started with Investors Group in March 2008, and promptly had the pleasure of experiencing one of the worst market downturns since the great depression. Despite the obvious challenges that it presented, he survived the first few years in the industry and was awarded with the Investors Group Edmonton Metro Office, Rookie of the Year award for the 2008/2009 year. For the 2009/2010 year he was awarded the Investors Group Edmonton Metro Office, Top New Business for Consultants in years 1-4 award, as well as the Investors Group Pillar award, a National Award which recognizes approximately the top 10% of the company. Despite the challenges, he has greatly enjoyed his time with Investors Group and looks forward to many more years in the financial industry.

Member Classification Update - Andrew Oswald Rose Marie Basaraba 2011-08-30 00:00:00Z 0

Member Classification Update- Rose Marie Basaraba

Posted by Andrew Oswald on Aug 29, 2011

Retired early 9 years ago from an administrative role at Norquest College.

Sponsored by Terry Sveinson in February 2004, she has enjoyed being an active member of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona. She particularly enjoys the opportunity to ‘give back to the community both locally and internationally.

Member Classification Update- Rose Marie Basaraba Andrew Oswald 2011-08-30 00:00:00Z 0

Wheelchairs for Indonesia Meeting in New Orleans

Posted by Peter DeNooy on Jun 03, 2011
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On Sunday evening, May 21, 2011, 24 Rotarians and spouses met in New Orleans for drinks in the Clock Bar of the Chateau Bourbon, followed by a delicious dinner at Cafe Bourbon. There were people from Indonesia, Texas, British Columbia and Alberta, and we all had a wonderful and productive time, getting to know each other, while drinking, eating and planning the funding for and distribution of wheelchairs in Indonesia.

At this time we are still in the planning stage, but it appears that combining a distribution in Indonesia with the RI Convention in Bangkok in May 2012 is going to be the most logical approach for this project.

The Rotary Club of Yogyakarta Tamansari, located in Yogyakarta, Java, will be hosting and coordinating with other clubs in District 3400. As District 3400 is one of the Future Vision District, I am looking at working with a club in our neighbouring District 5360, so that we will be able to utilize DDF and TRF money to assist in the financing of this project.

After the District Conference in Athabasca I hope to have all the details worked out so that we can go ahead and start raising funds to get at least one, and maybe even 2 containers to Indonesia. More and more clubs in  our and the other Districts are getting interested in joining our wheelchair program, which will enable us to raise more money and hand out more wheelchairs to those that cannot afford them.

Wheelchairs for Indonesia Meeting in New Orleans Peter DeNooy 2011-06-04 00:00:00Z 0

Golf and BBQ on June 7

Posted by Jarrod Clayton on May 20, 2011
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Mark your calendar for Tuesday, June 7 and join us for one of the most anticipated events of our Rotary year: our annual pitch and putt and barbeque at the Kinsmen Field House. It is a great opportunity for fellowship and fun in a non formal setting. There will be prizes and a good time had by all. The first tee off time is 2pm and BBQ will follow at about 5pm. The event cost is $30 for golf and dinner. Or $20 for golf only. Or $20 for dinner only.

                                                     Call Jarrod right now if you have not yet signed up

 

Golf and BBQ on June 7 Jarrod Clayton 2011-05-21 00:00:00Z 0

Wheelchair Program Update

Posted by Peter DeNooy on May 07, 2011
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Last week I sent an e-mail to all Presidents Elect in our District and to several others involved with our program. DG Purwa from Indonesia has forwarded this message to all the clubs in his district and at this time 15 people have committed to coming to the informal get-together in New Orleans.

Next week I will update you on the status of the other wheelchair project: local distribution. 

Wheelchair Program Update Peter DeNooy 2011-05-08 00:00:00Z 0

Interact Club of J. Percy Page starts their new existence at full speed ahead!

Posted by Peter DeNooy on Apr 01, 2011
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Eric Germain sent the following letter he sent to the members of the Interact Club of Percy Page. Please play the slide show to view the many pictures of our latest Ineract Club.

G'Day Rotary Interact Members,

That was a couple of busy Rotary Interact days to start your spring break this week. I've attached a few photos for you.

What a great day on Monday March 28th at Ronald McDonald House. We had a great turnout of Rotary Interact Club members. Special thanks to fellow Edmonton Strathcona Rotarians Eric de Kok, Ron Dobbin and Hans Granholm for providing transportation and kitchen cooking expertise.

Interact Club of J. Percy Page starts their new existence at full speed ahead! Peter DeNooy 2011-04-02 00:00:00Z 0

Project Amigo

Posted by Peter DeNooy on Mar 26, 2011

There are still tickets available for the Mexican Fiesta on Saturday, June 25, 2011, to raise funds for Project Amigo.

Click here for the Fundraiser Details.

Project Amigo Peter DeNooy 2011-03-27 00:00:00Z 0

Interact Club visits Ronald McDonald House

Posted by Eric Germain on Feb 04, 2011
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On Monday January 31, 2011 eleven members of the J. Percy Page School Rotary Interact Club visited the Edmonton Ronald McDonald House.

They helped with some childrens' craft activities, making Chinese paper dragons, for the Chinese New Year, and provided some cleaning services and organized several boxes of donated books.

They then started preparation of their Home for Dinner "Italian Feast" for the 60 to 70 residents of Ronald McDonald House. The residents are out of town children and their family members, who stay at Ronald McDonald House as their "home away from home" during their medical treatment time at Edmonton hospitals.

The menu included Italian buns, Caesar salad, lasagna and choice of black forest and carrot cakes for dessert. The staff and residents of Ronald McDonald House were very grateful and thankful for the Rotary Interact Club's services and for the dinner. The Rotary Interact Club members then had the opportunity to try out the terrific games room at Ronald McDonald House to wind down the day. 

For a slideshow of this exciting visit click here.

Interact Club visits Ronald McDonald House Eric Germain 2011-02-05 00:00:00Z 0

Interact Club Chartered

Posted by Peter DeNooy on Jan 15, 2011
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President Heather recieved this letter from Rotary Intenational.

A very big thank you goes  to all the work done by Eric Germain and his team to start the Interact Club of J. Percy Page School

And the work will continue. Keeping these future Rotarians motivated and fired up is something we all will have to participate in in the months and years to come. 

Well Done, Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona

Interact Club Chartered Peter DeNooy 2011-01-16 00:00:00Z 0
A CHAMPION FOR AUTISM SERVICES- Speaker Review for Jan 4, 2011 Len Gierach 2011-01-14 00:00:00Z 0

Stroke Recognition

Posted by Hans Granholm on Oct 23, 2010
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Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.
Stroke Recognition Hans Granholm 2010-10-24 00:00:00Z 0
Who Makxs a Rotary Club a Succxss? Hans Granholm 2010-10-24 00:00:00Z 0

Welcome New Member

Posted by Hans Granholm on Oct 08, 2010
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Say WELCOME to Donna Hutton introduced and sponsored by Peter DeNooy into the club on Oct 5 2010 under the classification: 
Hospital Consulting.

Donna is married to Dennis.

Donna was introduced and welcomed into our family of Rotary by President Heather de Kok.

Please introduce yourself to Donna at our next meeting.

 

Welcome Donna and Dennis!

Welcome New Member Hans Granholm 2010-10-09 00:00:00Z 0

Welcome New Member

Posted by Hans Granholm on Aug 17, 2010
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Say WELCOME to Robert Morley introduced into the club by Ken Haverland on Aug 17 2010 under the classification: 
Safety Advisor.

Robert is married to Margaret.

Robert was introduced and welcomed into our family of Rotary by President Heather de Kok.

Please introduce yourself to Robert at our next meeting.

Welcome New Member Hans Granholm 2010-08-18 00:00:00Z 0

Tech Talk

Posted by Hans Granholm on Jun 06, 2003
Our own techno nerd, Eric Solash will, from time to time post important and helpful technical information. You may also use the Forum to ask questions.
Tech Talk Hans Granholm 2003-06-07 00:00:00Z 0
4-Way Test Hans Granholm 0
Get Acrobat Reader Hans Granholm 0

Rotary Day at Fort Edmonton Park

Posted by Patrick Gibson

Did you know that Fort Edmonton Park was the vision of a Rotary Club of Edmonton member?  The story is quite amazing.

 

Rotary Day at Fort Edmonton Park Patrick Gibson 0

Autism Society - Club Decision

Posted by Eric Solash
 
By visible vote (including Proxies) the results were as follows:
 
A vote of 45/2 favored the Board’s decision to not donate an additional $25,000 from the Club to the Autism Society.
               
  
Autism Society - Club Decision Eric Solash 0

District 5370 Earlyact Club

Posted by Rose Marie Basaraba

The 2nd (and only active) Earlyact Club in District 5370 (sponsored by The Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona) was chartered at Archbishop Joseph McNeill Elementary School on Monday, November 21st, 2011.

District 5370 Earlyact Club Rose Marie Basaraba 0

“IF YOU CAN’T BREATHE, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS”

Posted by Rose Marie Basaraba

This message was delivered to Club members by Cheryl Feldstein of Lung Association – Alberta, NWT in her presentation to the Club on October 25th. Cheryl suffers from Asthma which is a chronic lung condition characterized by difficulty in breathing. The airways react by narrowing or obstructing when they become irritated. This makes it difficult for the air to move in and out. By inviting members to breathe through three differently-sized straws she demonstrated very effectively how one reacts to the different stages of an asthma attack. (Look for these straws in the Lung Association campaign envelope when it arrives in your mail).

“IF YOU CAN’T BREATHE, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS” Rose Marie Basaraba 0

2011 Fun Golf & BBQ

Posted by Ken Germain
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Low Score: Eric Germain: 64

Darn Low Score: Judy Ashton: 71

High Score: Dianna Parker: 64 x 2.3

Lost Balls: Ken Sutley: 2

Found Balls: Con Basaraba: 2 (coincidence?)

Hiding Other Golfers’ Ball: Peter DeNooy: 1 (at least)

Burgers Flipped: Stephanus Jansen van Vuuren: 48

Burgers Eaten: Bob Sandercock: 3

Putting Contest Winner: Ron Dobbin, second place: Donna Hutton

Longest Putts: Morley McCaulder, Ken Sutley

Closest to the Pin: Jarrod Clayton, Eric Germain

Best Golfer under 18: Tie: Steven, Chelsea and Ryan Clayton: 88

Nicest Hat: Ivan Docker

Best Putt with a Plunger: Eric DeKok

High Temperature: 18C, slight cloud

Pictures of this awesome event can be viewed here

2011 Fun Golf & BBQ Ken Germain 0

Rotating Wheel Dinner

Posted by Rose Marie Basaraba
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Circle your calendars for Tuesday, June 28th, 2011 for the Rotating Wheel Dinner.

The Royal Mayfair Golf Club , a beautiful setting with lush green golf fairways and the occasional wild life strolling by, will once again be the setting for this annual dinner.

Registrations are available on-line on the club website at a cost of $60/ea. (not free as indicated) or by calling Rose Marie at 780 -435-5224. The deadline for registrations is Friday, June 24th.

Join fellow members, spouses and guests as we welcome our incoming President, Eric de Kok and  Board members for the 2011-2012 Rotary year.

Rotating Wheel Dinner Rose Marie Basaraba 0

Percy Page High School Fair

Posted by Peter DeNooy

A few weeks ago our club attended a fair at the Parcy Page High School. Using their personal charm and some convincing words as well as the Wheel of Fortune, loaded with chips and licorice, they had a bout 80 students signing up for possibly forming an Interact Club. A job well done. It is important, very important, that we work harder to get the New Generation involved in Rotary! Check out the pictures here

Percy Page High School Fair Peter DeNooy 0

Fun Golf & Barbecue

Posted by Eric Germain
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The Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona held it's annual Fun Golf & Barbecue on June 15th, 2010 at the Kinsmen Pitch & Putt golf course nestled in the woods under the High Level bridge in the Edmonton river valley. Mother Nature was on her best behavior with a lovely sunny afternoon and evening after threatening to rain earlier in the day.

We had a good crowd of golfers who ventured onto the short but challenging course. The Fun Golf has a reputation of being

Fun Golf & Barbecue Eric Germain 0

Rotating Wheel Dinner

Posted by Rose Marie Basaraba

The annual Rotating Wheel Dinner will once again be held at the picturesque setting overlooking the luscious golf greens of the Royal Mayfair Golf Club, 9450 Groat Road, Edmonton on Tuesday, July 6, 2010.  Cocktails (cash bar) are at 6:00 p.m. with the dinner meeting starting promptly at 7:00 p.m. Business dress is a requirement.

 

All members are encouraged to consider this a 'must attend' event. This is an opportunity to enjoy a summer social event, share in member recognition and witness the transfer of Club Directorship from Ken Germain to 2010 – 2011 President Heather de Kok and her executive team.

 

On-line registration ($50 per person) closes July 2nd. Payment can be made directly to Rose Marie Basaraba prior to the dinner.  Invite your spouse and guests (related or former Rotarians/spouses) as this is always a very relaxing and fun-filled evening!

Rotating Wheel Dinner Rose Marie Basaraba 0

More Adventures in Rotary Flagland

Posted by Hal Quilliam
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In a previous article I mentioned how I had met many of my neighbours that I had never met before through the Rotary Canada Flag Program, even though I have lived in this community for twenty years.  Here is a description of an unusual event that occurred in my quest to place Canada Flags in my community.

 

        I have about 70 flags on display in my community now, and several are either on the ETS bus route or visible in the crescents adjoining the bus route.

More Adventures in Rotary Flagland Hal Quilliam 0

Adventures with the Rotary Canada Flag Program

Posted by Hal Quilliam
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Many of us are actively involved in the Rotary Canada Flag Program, and are getting ready  for the first Flag Plantings for the May 24, 2010 long weekend.  Now is the time to   do some sales for new subscribers, and to re-subscribe our existing customers from   2009 for 2010. Those of us who have been active in the program recognize that there   is a high re-subscription rate from previous years and the re-subscription process is easy,   because our subscribers really like to be part of the program.

 

Last week I had an unusual but delightful conversation with a neighbour about the Rotary Canada Flag Program...

 

Editor's note: You can download the 2010 Application From from this website: Form

Adventures with the Rotary Canada Flag Program Hal Quilliam 0

Paul Harris Fellowships Update

Posted by Peter DeNooy
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Assisted by District Governor Terry Drader, Hal Quilliam, 2008 - 2009 Foundation Chair, presented on July 14, 2009, pins for Multiple Paul Harris Fellowships to the following members:

         

         David Rayner               PHF +2
         Bob Sandercock           PHF +3
         Bruce Kemp                 PHF +3
         Ivan Docker                 PHF +4
         Bruce Flesher               PHF +4
         Bernd Reuscher            PHF +6
         Ron McCullough            PHF +6

And on July 21, 2009, Hans Granholm received his PHF +6

Thank you all for your continued support of The Rotary Foundation.

Paul Harris Fellowships Update Peter DeNooy 0

Feb 23 - Rotary Day

Posted by Hans Granholm
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February 23rd is Rotary Day in District 5370, but it doesn't matter when your club holds it, how you you do it, and where. We just hope you do it!
Feb 23 - Rotary Day Hans Granholm 0

2007 - 2008 Annual Report

Posted by Peter DeNooy

The 2007-2008 Annual Report, which includes Committee Reports and Financial Statements can be viewed by members of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona on the Club Documents page and is accessible from the Admin page.

2007 - 2008 Annual Report Peter DeNooy 0

Speaker Review - August 26 - Dr. Jan Jansen

Posted by Len Gierach
An international speaker Jan Jansen, known to be responsible for Peter DeNooy's path to Rotary shared with us his adventures as a "retired" dentist. Practising since 1964, he was president elect in his club in 1980. Soon after, he began several trips to the Philippines, where he served in dental clinics that served the Vietnamese refugee population. Later he became involved in a new project for doctors and dentists serving in remote East Kenya. He is visiting Canada on the occasion of Peter Denooy's son's wedding this weekend ( August 30 ) in Calgary.
Speaker Review - August 26 - Dr. Jan Jansen Len Gierach 0

Welcome New Member

Posted by Hans Granholm
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Say WELCOME to Sanjay Khera sponsored by Bill Skelly into the club on Mar 9 2010 under the classification: 
Professional Engineering.

Sanjay was introduced and welcomed into our family of Rotary by President Ken Germain.

Please introduce yourself to Sanjay at our next meeting.

Welcome New Member Hans Granholm 0

Health Issue

Posted by Jim Ashton
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     While I have been writing articles about the various speakers we have had out to our meetings, this short article is about myself, and my health.

     My colon cancer (2004) has returned to my system, metasticizing in my lung, among other parts of my system.  After conferring with my oncologist, their decision is not to do surgery.  So today, June 6th, I started my first session of chemo.

     While the prognosis is a harsh one, I'll take my treatments, and go each day at a time.  At some point, I will have to ask for someone to take over my responsibilities for organizing the set up for the meetings, and the related duties (Door Duty & Set-Up and Greeter) .  Hans Pilz is looking after the booking of speakers, so that end is covered.

     I pondered how to impart the news, and, being too emotional to stand before the club with this data, decided this venue was the best route to go.

     See you at the June 10th meeting, where we will go to the Pitch and Putt after, and I hope to kick everybody's butt. 

                                             Your friend in Rotary.........Jim      

Health Issue Jim Ashton 0

Blood - It's in you to give...

Posted by Hans Granholm
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On Wednesday April 30th the Canadian Blood Service honoured blood donors in our community who had reached a significant level of combined blood donations.
Blood - It's in you to give... Hans Granholm 0
Edmonton Eskimos Rose Marie Basaraba 0
Everything You Wanted to Know About Pensions But Were Afraid to Ask (Whew!) Jim Ashton 0

Paul Harris Fellowships & MPHF's

Posted by Hans Granholm
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Fourteen Paul Harris Fellowships were presented at the "Rotating Wheel" Dinner on June 25. This is a result of our TRF Chair, Hal Quilliam's effort to motivate members to participate in "Each Rotarian Each Year", a call from Rotary International to Rotarians worldwide to remember to include The Rotary Foundation on you list of charities to support.

Well done Hal and members of Edmonton Strathcona.
Paul Harris Fellowships & MPHF's Hans Granholm 0

Web Site Advertising

Posted by Hans Granholm
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>>> PLEASE LOOK AT THIS ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY <<<

With the number of members in this club either owning or operating a business, we are getting a very poor interest in this nice little generator of funds for the club.
Are the rates too steep? I don't think so, but if you do, please let us know.
If you have any bright ideas on how to promote this little initiative, please speak up.

Web Site Advertising Hans Granholm 0
Is it in you? Hans Granholm 0
Privacy Policy Hans Granholm 0
Welcome to the Edmonton Strathcona Website Hans Granholm 0
How secure is all this data? Hans Granholm 0
Don't forget the eBulletin! Hans Granholm 0
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