This week's meeting opened with Manon Mitchell playing the violin, after which President Tim Heaton called the meeting to order and introduced his head table. Following the head table introduction, Manon led us in the singing of O Canada.
This week's invocation was delivered by our greeter Franco Savoia, while this week's sergeant-at-arms was David Leslie.
Thanks also go out to our front entrance volunteers John Seigner, Maxine Morrison and Bob Junker.
This week's COG sponsor is Eva Friesen of the Calgary Foundation. Thanks very much for supporting our communications team, Eva!
President Tim's sing-song was Steve Goodman's City of New Orleans. While this song has been covered by many artists, Arlo Guthrie and Willie Nelson have produced two of the best known versions.
Kurt Kowalchuk welcomed visitor James Dahl from the Rotary Club of Cochrane, and he announced our four guests at this week's meeting. He also acknowledged club members celebrating birthdays this week.
President Tim recognized Gord and Jackie Walker for their many contributions over the years to the club's Stampede barbecues. He presented a framed picture to Gord and Jackie of the plaque acknowledging their volunteerism that has been affixed to the club's barbecue equipment.
Announcements:
The Rotary Calgary Concerto Competition took place from March 8th to March 10th. Check out the winners at www.rotaryc3.com.
The club's Lake Louise Ski and Stroll Day will take place on March 23rd. Bus transportation to Lake Louise is only $30 per person. The bus will depart from the Calgary Golf and Country Club at 7:30 am. Thank-you Michael Colborne for arranging the bus!
The Stay-in-School golf tournament's sponsorship brochure has been launched. More details on this event will follow, and we are looking for golfers as well as sponsors.
The club's annual Stampede Presidents Dinner will take place on March 26th, at the Calgary Golf and Country Club.
Club member John Boyd introduced our speaker Frank Kelton, Executive Director of Potential Place. Beginning with a series of statistics underscoring the impact of mental illness, our speaker went on to explain how Potential Place is a Clubhouse International accredited organization that provides opportunities for friendship, employment, housing, education and access to medical and psychiatric services in a single caring and safe environment to people living with mental illness. Potential Place is part of a network of more than 290 Clubhouse International facilities in 32 countries.
The Clubhouse International model encompasses the following elements.
Programs are wellness and recovery based.
Programs are focused on member abilities.
Members and staff are colleagues.
Colleagues guide and support each other.
Meaningful work provides structure and purpose.
Employment is important to sustaining wellness.
Meaningful relationships and community are encouraged.
Simply stated, the Clubhouse International model is based on the philosophy that "work makes wellness". The Potential Place clubhouse model is based on an eight-hour work day that is designed to develop skills. Work assignments are coordinated through a number of units.
The Community Connections unit provides administrative support to the entire clubhouse, including administration, reception, membership services, housing, and matching members to employment.
The Marketing and Communications unit is responsible for communications to members, stakeholders and the general public.
Potential Place owns two apartment buildings in Calgary that provide affordable housing to members with chronic mental health challenges, and is working towards consolidating its operations in a single, larger location.
It also facilitates temporary opportunities through job placements with Calgary employers, and facilitates independent and supported employment of its members.
At the close of his remarks and answers to questions from the floor, Ken Moraes thanked our speaker.
COG Staff - March 5, 2019
Editor
Craig Henderson
Photography
David Richardson
Sponsorships
David Holden
Rotary Club of Calgary - Chartered April 1914 as Club #949
Suite 305, 105-12 Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1A1
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