Clean Water Saves Lives

Greeter this week:  Bruce Kleeberger

Visitors and guests to the Rotary E-Club of Western Canada, I am happy to welcome you to this week’s meeting. I hope you enjoy the format and the content and regardless, provide us with feedback we need to make this the best e-club experience anywhere!

The “e” in e-club does not stand for “e-asy”. You are still required to be active in the avenues of service and to attend meetings e-ach week.  It does not stand for “e-conomical” either. It is not intended to be a way to avoid the financial commitments e-xpected of members.

It is “e-fficient” however. During my last 5 weeks of travelling on a private holiday in Europe and then attending a medical mission in China, I never missed a meeting or neglected my responsibilities as webmaster.

In China, the local television program featured our mission; They caught me working.

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNDI3MDY0OTA4.html

Far away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.

Louisa May Alcott 

Please stand for the National Anthem

Opening Remarks

For myself and my husband Ramiro, the e-club concept has been a great solution during our travels. With both of us having 100% attendance for over 17 years, in the past we had to make a real effort to be at the right place at the right time to attend a Rotary meeting, which was not always easy, but a lot of fun and opportunities to meet new friends and learn about projects in various communities. During these last two weeks we were on a tight schedule, traveling from the Edmonton area to the island for a wedding and then to Drumheller where we entertained two young Mexican athletes who participated in the Canadian Transplant Games. There would not have been time nor the opportunity to attend a Rotary meeting except for an e-meeting. We nevertheless made an effort to visit some of the Rotary projects in each of the communities, such as the water park and interpretive signs in Drumheller and took note of, or walked the Rotary trails in various communities. Rotary is with us at all times. With the e-club format we are still able to serve no matter what part of the world we are in or what time of the day it is.

Tell your friends about Rotary and if they are not able to join, tell them about the E-club of Western Canada; Where Rotary is alive and serving.

Enjoy this week’s e-meeting and come back again.

Elly Contreras

"I enjoyed the flexibility of the e-meeting and learned, that even an e club can (and will) be involved in all 5 Avenues of Service. Dan suggested that we consider a feature on New Generations".

Dan Doherty -  Calgary West

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"I will share the benefits and ease of participating in e-meetings. I like to suggest youth programs such as RYLA and Youth Exchange".

Marilyn Mucha (D5370 Membership Chair) - Edmonton 

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"That was awesome. I enjoyed the ease of which I could attend a make up meeting – FABULOUS!!!

We would be able to take this meeting to some of our house bound and not computer savvy members on a lap top".

Anne M.Dale – Calgary Chinook

We kindly ask, that all visitors joining us for a make up, will consider making a contribution in lieu of the cost of a meal. You contribution will help us with any future project our club will participate in.

Your donation may be made on line via the DONATE NOW , or by sending a check to the Rotary E-club of Western Canada Box 1959, Rocky Mountain House, Alberta T4T 1B5

Five Avenues of Service

The term "Five Avenues of Service" is frequently used in Rotary literature and information. The" Avenues" refer to the five elements of the Object of Rotary: Club Service, Vocational Service, Community Service,International Service and New Generations

Although the Avenues of Service are not found in any formal part of the constitutional documents of Rotary, the concept has been accepted as a means to describe the primary areas of Rotary activity. "Club Service" involves all of the activities necessary for Rotarians to perform to make their club function

successfully. "Vocational Service" is a description of the opportunity each Rotarian has to represent the dignity and utility of one's vocation to the other members of the club.

"Community Service" pertains to those activities that Rotarians undertake to improve the quality of life in their community. It frequently involves assistance to youth, the aged, handicapped and others who look to Rotary as a source of hope for a better life.

The Fourth Avenue, "International Service," describes the many programs and activities that Rotarians undertake to advance international understanding, goodwill and peace. International Service projects are designed to meet humanitarian needs of people in many lands.

The Fifth Avenue of service, New Generations, was introduced by Rotary International Council on Legislation 2010. “The Avenue of New Generations recognizes the positive change implemented by youth and young adults involved in leadership development activities, community and international service projects, and exchange programs that enrich and foster world peace and cultural understanding” reports the Rotary International website (rotary.org)

When a Rotarian understands and travels down the "Five Avenues of Service," the Object of Rotary takes on even greater meaning.

Clean Water Saves Lives
For millions of people throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America, getting clean water is a daily struggle.  In fact, more than 80% of all sickness in the world is attributed to unsafe water.  Nearly 1 billion people are without access to improved water sources and every 8 seconds, a child dies because of this crisis.  But we can change that.  Rotary Clubs can join the effort in providing clean water and sanitation to literally save lives!

 Having immediate access to purified water prevents waterborne illnesses.  Water-related disease is the single largest killer of infants in developing countries—diarrhea alone causes 1.8 million child deaths each year—and access to safe water is the most important factor in the survival of children under the age of five.

 Watch the video and visit the Rotary Water Projects Site  for more information:

If you have an interesting topic, or project to share please contact our Program Chair

This officially ends this week’s meeting

 Thank you for joining us, we appreciate your feedback and hope you will return.

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