The Buzz - May 4, 2015

 

President David opened the meeting at 1145AM

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Guests – Jessica Puddicombe

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Health of the Club – Massie reported that our club members are in good health.

 

Massie Report – it has been a very busy week. He has joined the tennis club, which is fun and he’s never played tennis before. He went to Edmonton with some Calgary exchange students – it was fun but also sad as this may be the last this group of students gets together before returning to their home country. He enjoyed participating in the Rotary Celebration Gala by saying grace and helping with the live auction with an exchange student from Austria. He also learned a new English word… Dashing to describe how he looked wearing a white tuxedo. On Sunday morning he attended the Firefighter Breakfast. He is also excited that he will be in Camrose until after Big Valley Jamboree so he will be able to attend.

 

Rotary Gala – president David summed up the Rotary Gala Celebration as ‘Rotary Magic’ as everything seemed to come together when it needed to as planned. “People in the community trust us to do good projects with the funds we raised.”  Grant said at this point there are ‘no worries’ about the financial standing of the event. David noted that prior to the event, our MC Darcy found himself in a situation of “Service Above Self”, as during his return to Camrose from Red Deer that afternoon, he came upon a motor vehicle accident and, as he is a trained medical responder he stopped to help on the scene!  Chairperson Dan thanked everyone for their contribution to the Gala – no matter how big or small a part you played, each is pivotal to the success of the event. He said that there were many changes in this year’s event compared to past years – venue, program, meal etc – and the committee will meet soon to discuss the effectiveness of those changes, as well as gauge the success of the event. In general, this year’s event was a great success, and thanks to everyone!

 

Happy Bucks –

Donna  - Gala Celebration

Ken R. – strike off Easter Island and Nazca Lines off the bucket list.

Jim R. – golf season is back!

Dawn -  Ft. Mac tradeshow and Gala weekend

Jill – 10 Teens in a Tarp braved the cold and raised $3000 ($1000 each to Habitat for Humjanity, Open Door and the Women’s Shelter)

Ray H. –winning the 50/50 at the Gala!

Morris  - day 1 of retirement.

Lou – thankful for everyone who helped out where needed at the Gala.

Randall – enjoyed going to Canmore for a beer/basketball tournament, thankful for the $1000 donation from the Teens in a Tarp fundraiser, and helping his 14 year old daughter learn to drive in the CRE parking lot, Morris H. with an Open Door fundraiser to celebrate his last day of work.

LeRoy – time celebrating a 40^th anniversary of a friend in Kindersley

Kim – lambing season and retiring on June 1 after 29 years with CIBC

Darcy –thanks for the honour of MC’ing the Rotary Gala

Shirley – thankful that their friend John Oldring is safe after surviving the earthquake in Nepal as he was going up Mt. Everest.

David S – playing the Bagpipes at a senior’s lodgein Flagstaff county

 

Guest Speaker – classification presentation – Tyler Weber

 

                -grew up on a farm in the Round Hill area

                -father was a funeral director in Tofield

                -grew up milking the cows before going to school

                -went to a boarding school in Oregon, and came back home in 2001 and got a job repairing appliances (yes, Maytag men are the loneliest repair guys – the old one were built to last!)

                -took civil engineering at NAIT and after two years got a job in quality control for a soil compaction crew – after a while questioned “why am I here.”

                -in 2002 the family bought the funeral home in Camrose, and he then found himself studying embalming and funeral directing…and in 2005 he began doing what he wanted to do!

                -in 2004 met his wife, Andrea, and realized they grew up just six miles away from each other- on different sides of the school boundaries… and in 2010 they were married.

                -they have no kids, but have a dog.

                -joined Rotary in 2014, and his hobbies include enjoying the outdoors, fresh air and motorcycles

                -A day in the life of a funeral director range from days where nothing happens to others where the phone is ringing off the hook.  He enjoys the spontaneity of the industry where you’re doing for someone what they cannot do for themselves.

                -Tyler’s professional advice-talk with your spouse about their final wishes – many families have no clue about their final wishes… do not avoid the talk. Planning goes beyond the basic question of burial versus cremation.  It also includes wills and estate planning.

                -there is a growing trend to cremation and away from burial, and it is often a financial decision… in high cost areas like Vancouver a plot could cost $10,000 while in rural areas a plot could be $100.

                -some people do not want a graveside or funeral service, but such a decision may seem ‘easeir’ but it denies those left behind the time to grieve.

                -funeral  planning helps the families get through a very difficult time… it is not a funeral director’s job to push, but  to do what the family asks as part of the planning.

                -it is challenging to not be emotionally connected to the funeral process, but it is an honor and duty…and that part is very rewarding.

                President David thanked Tyler for his presentation – it is always a positive part of Rotary to learn more about our fellow members.

 

                50/50 draw – Donna drew the King of Spades – still looking for the elusive 3 of Clubs.