The COG Volume 42 Number 22 (Apr. 15, 2025)

April 15, 2025

Volume 42 - Issue 22

"Together we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change - across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves!"

The Rotary Club of Calgary comprises professional and community leaders brought together in fellowship to make a better future.

Birthdays

Stuart Libin April 20

Ann Haessel April 23

Dan Hays April 24

Murray Young April 26

Laurene Wilson April 26

Barb Young April 28

Anniversaries

Steve Allan 45 years

President Joe’s Inspirational Quote

“The more often a stupidity is repeated, the more it gets the appearance of wisdom”
-Voltaire

Club Meeting April 8, 2025

Madeleine King

President Joe called the meeting to order with about 80 Rotarians and guests in attendance.

William Friedson played Oh Canada which we all sang lustily. One of my guests mentioned how special it was at this time to have the opportunity to sing our national anthem.

Bob Ermter provided us with a very meaningful and heartfelt invocation.

Bill Redmond and Michelle de Cecco were thanked for manning the reception desk today.

Snowbirds were welcomed back – Terry McMahon, Bill & Maggie Redmond, and Helen Graham – as well as Steacy & Brian Pinney.

Youth Director Sean Baylis spoke warmly about the University of Calgary Rotaractors’ Spring Fundraising event last Friday, and thanked Lindsay Marczak for her fabulous assistance making it such a success. Pictures were shown and club donors and attendees were also thanked.

Michael Broadhurst recognized Terry McMahon, Julie Visser, Sean Baylis and Eva Friesen for their birthdays.

Rotarian Barb Young told the story of Ferdinand the Fire Truck-a donation to us from the City of Calgary just before Covid for a partner Rotary Club in Guatemala. Its 5 year sojourn involved storage at at Bill Redmond’s Bucars RV for which we are most grateful. Ferdinand was sent on its current journey to Guatemala via a US Air Force plane. DGE Manon Mitchell presented Service Above and Beyond recognition pins to Bill Redmond as well as to Dave Macdonald and Bob Taylor for driving the ramp and other equipment down to Air Force Base McCord at Tacoma, WA.

Major Donations Chair Franco Savoia introduced Miriam Binky of Brown Bagging for Kids who thanked our Club for their post-Covid transition and research to working WITH families rather than FOR them to achieve more food security, especially with food vouchers giving them the choice of their groceries and the opportunity to do their own shopping.

Convention Champion Madeleine (this author) asked for volunteers for the BBQ, mentioned the extensive program of the Convention now detailed on the website, offered pins for those who have registered, and mentioned that our own member, Dr. Walley Temple, will be speaking at the Convention.

Excellent guest speaker Duane Bratt, political science professor at Mount Royal University and well-known author and commentator, was introduced by Michelle de Cecco. His presentation held the audience fascinated regarding Trump’s worldwide tariffs, their history and their many ramifications. He generously left lots of time for the many questions, and the room was still buzzing when it came to a close.

President Joe ended the meeting with this quote: “The more often a stupidity is repeated, the more it gets the appearance of wisdom”. -Voltaire

Next meeting: April 22: Speaker: Economist Professor Trevor Toombs. Should be another excellent meeting!

The amazing story of our Fire Truck in pictures

Barb Young

After more than five years our donated fire truck, known to us as Ferdinand (after Madeleine King's children story) finally journeyed to his new home in Guatemala!

See the wonderful pictures.....

Rotaractors’ Spring Fling Fundraiser

Madeleine King & Sean Baylis

On Friday April 4 the Rotaractor Club at the University of Calgary, which is sponsored by our club, held its first major fundraising event.

The recipient non-profit was Trellis Society, a vibrant social service agency which, in 2020, grew out of the merger of Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary (which our club helped form) and the Aspen Family & Community Network Society. It was chosen by the Rotaractors because of its fine work with people in need in Calgary, especially in the field of Indigenous reconciliation and youth mental health.

It was a busy and enjoyable evening, finishing with a wonderful talent show highlighting the musical skills (and courage) of the Rotaractors and a few Interactors from Western Canada High School.

About a dozen of our club members were in attendance and some helped as key members of the organization. The majority of the evening’s sponsors were from our club members.At the end of the evening, our Youth Director Sean Bayliss was able to announce that because of a generous donor our club will be matching whatever sum the Rotaractors themselves raised – what a gift!

Not only is Trellis a very worthy recipient but also it is our privilege to be able to assist these exceptional young leaders in their Rotary journey, making the world a better place through their service.

Her Worship Jyoti Gondek after presenting at our meeting March 25, 2025

Introducing Myself as President Elect

Bill Hamilton as interviewed by Madeleine King

I was first introduced to Rotary in 1996 in Vancouver. I was working for the accounting firm Grant Thornton and was on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber had a really close relationship with the local Rotary club. I got involved and was very impressed by their sense of fellowship and fun, and wanted Rotary to become a part of my life.

While in Vancouver, I met my wife Jen and we decided that family life would be better in Alberta. In 2000, I requested a transfer to Edmonton where one of the partners introduced me to Rotary. In 2002, at the age of 32 I became one of the youngest members of that club and within a few short months they persuaded me to take on the role of Treasurer.

During the following years I was very involved in Rotary – as Treasurer for 6 years, subsequently on the Board and as Chair of Youth Services which I enjoyed enormously. There were lots of service projects, events and other aspects that kept me very engaged.

While in Edmonton, Jen and I were blessed with 2 sons now aged 18 and 20. The 20-year old is a hockey player who has just completed 2 years playing in the US; the younger one is in grade 12 at Western Canada High School. My wife Jen has a career in publishing which she now does as an independent consultant.

Also while in Edmonton, I moved to the firm of Ernst and Young where I was made partner in 2009 (my current role here in Calgary).

In 2015 I moved to Calgary and after a short time was introduced to our Rotary Club by Past President Eric Bennett. I had also met George Brookman since his company, West Canadian Graphic, had become one of my clients – a wide variety of mid-market companies.

I served as the club’s Treasurer from the winter of 2018/2019 until June 2023, and then temporarily again in the first half of 2024 during my year as President Nominee.

Why did I agree to serve as Club President?

I very much look forward to being once again immersed in the full Rotary experience. I want to make a difference. I believe in service. I enjoy working collaboratively. I believe working with my Board members, who are a great group of Rotarians, will be a highlight.

I look forward to building the best possible club experience for members. I’m keen to get to know everyone, and to enjoy great fellowship. We’ll all be involved in growing our membership, offering that opportunity to others. I am grateful to have been asked, and look forward to learning from all our club members.

The Rotary Civic Partnership

Laurene Wilson

This partnership is a collaborative of civic organizations working together in support of the RI Convention and in strengthening our local and international reputation.
The organization was created by our Club and works with the RI Convention Host Organizing Committee to create unforgettable Calgary experiences of Rotary and our city.

Rotary Civic Partnership Purpose:
1.   To strengthen our community through a partnership that supports working on numerous city hosting initiatives for the Rotary International Convention (RI) coming to Calgary in 2025.
2.   To learn from experience, capture and improve on ideas, actions and processes to support and attract future Calgary conventions enhancing Calgary’s international reputation.
3.   To create a partnership that supports Rotary working together with the other civic organizations to strengthen our community by identifying strategic opportunities where working together will provide a better experience and increased capacity then working alone.
4.   To create a deeper understanding of Rotary that may lead to ongoing opportunities to utilize this partnership through access to Rotary networks world-wide and to resources that strengthen our Calgary community locally and on the international stage.

Participant Organizations:
1.   Calgary Stampede
2.   Tourism Calgary
3.   Calgary Arts & Development
4.   Calgary Economic Development
5.   Calgary Sports & Entertainment
6.   Travel Alberta
7.   Calgary Downtown Association
8.   Downtown Strategy Team, City of Calgary
9.   Calgary Municipal Land Corporation
10.  Rotary Club of Calgary, Downtown

Mark Garner, Executive Director of the Calgary Downtown Association, is speaking at our Club meeting May 27.

I ask members to show their support by attending this luncheon and demonstrating what Rotary stands for and who we are.

There will be a “mini auction” held at that meeting. All money raised May 27 will be donated to a charity, which is Alpha House.

Four or five items will be auctioned. If you have a donation for this event please email Lauren Wilson, Club Secretary.

Thank you for being a Rotarian and for your commitment to our Club.

Food Sector Emergency Plan to be released on April 1, 2025

Franco Savoia

In the early days of the pandemic emergency, food providers in Calgary formed a collaborative to share and coordinate a response. RCCD and other Rotary clubs donated to various agencies within the collaborative. At the same time Rotary Clubs and Vibrant Communities Calgary formed a food security committee to develop a more systematic response. The committee work resulted in the launch of Bread in November 2024 to improve access to emergency food seekers in Calgary.

RCCD joined YYC Food Collaborative in 2022 and serves on its Stewardship Group. The Collaborative has two foci: immediate needs and root cause of food insecurity. Learning from the Covid experience, the collaborative has been working on a food sector emergency plan. Meals on Wheels and the Calgary Food Bank have provided staff leadership to drafting the plan. This plan under the umbrella of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency(CEMA) will coordinate response during major crises such as a flood or pandemic. The plan will be released on April 1, 2025 at the Calgary Food Bank.

RCCD’s participation and support aligns with food security- one of the club’s funding areas of focus. Increasing and improving food security is a multi-faceted and complex issues. Only through collaboration and engagement of the many community stakeholders, including Rotary can progress be made.

Human Milk Bank Project in Aurangabad, India

Madeleine King

We recently received an update about the usage of the Human Milk Bank facility in the state hospital in Aurangabad, India which our club generously supported – and it spurred me to writing about this successful project.

About 10 years ago, I went on a Rotary Friendship Exchange to India with some dozen other Rotarians from our District. It was a wonderful experience, giving us the chance to stay in the homes of Indian Rotarians, attend their meetings, visit their service projects and be shown their tourist attractions. Some years later one of them reached out to request financial support for this proposed project. For the first time their club applied for a Global Grant, and they asked our club to become the designated international partner – which we did. There is a similar Milk Bank operating in Calgary.

In 2019 Bob and I had the chance to visit the site to confirm exactly what they were planning to do.

Of course the next thing to happen was COVID! So the project got delayed. Then the local government decided to build a new wing of the hospital and put the Human Milk Bank there when it was built – so that delayed it still further.

I’m delighted to say the project was finally finished in May last year, and the Global Grant successfully finalized.

Since then, the Rotarian champion of the project (Hemant Langde, a local travel agent on the extreme left in the picture) has sent us updates about its usage on a regular basis whilst expressing the very heartfelt gratitude of their club for our support. Each month almost 40 litres of human milk is donated. This is distributed for 125 babies whose mothers cannot supply enough life- saving human milk for their very small or sick baby; none is discarded.

This project makes a big difference in the lives of these vulnerable babies and their mothers – and it was, or maybe still is, the first in this highly populated area of India.

When is the COG published?

You can find past issues on our website under Members > COG Bulletins

If you'd like to have us publish an article or have an idea about what we should be publishing, please forward your ideas to Madeleine by the FRIDAY before the Tuesday publication date.

You are also welcome to contact either Madeleine, Doug or Diane to discuss any idea you may have.

Here are the remaining publication dates for the first half on 2025:

Apr 29

May 6, 20

June 3, 17

If you enjoy reading the COG, let us know because your comments are the only way we know we are hitting the mark and it is our reward!

Proudly Presenting Our Corporate Members

Frank n' Stein (3rd TUESDAY)
CHECK YOUR EMAIL
Apr. 15, 2025 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Luncheon - Guest Speaker Trevor Tombe

Apr. 22, 2025 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (UTC-06:00)

Stuff-a-Truck at Melcor YMCA
8100 John Laurie Blvd NW
Apr. 26, 2025 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (UTC-06:00)

Big Book Sale Set Up
720 3 St NW
Apr. 27, 2025 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (UTC-06:00)

Frank n' Stein (1st TUESDAY)
CHECK YOUR EMAIL
May 06, 2025 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Luncheon - Celebrating Calgary Stampede Presidents

May 13, 2025 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (UTC-06:00)

Frank n' Stein (3rd TUESDAY)
CHECK YOUR EMAIL
May 20, 2025 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Luncheon - Guest Speaker Mark Garner

May 27, 2025 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (UTC-06:00)

Frank n' Stein (1st TUESDAY)
CHECK YOUR EMAIL
Jun. 03, 2025 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

View entire list

COG Staff - July 1, 2024

Editors	Diane Macdonald & Manon Mitchell
Publisher	Doug McMillan
Contributors	Club Members ... yes that's you!

Rotary Club of Calgary - Chartered April 1914 as Club #949

Tel: (403) 398-9969 - Fax: (403) 264-2392
www.rotaryclubofcalgary.org - admin@rotaryclubofcalgary.ca
President: Joe Fras
District 5360 Governor: Christina Hassan Rotary International President: Stephanie Urchick