Rotary Club of Calgary is comprised of professional and community leaders who come together through a shared commitment and fellowship to create a better future for the generations that are to follow.
Birthdays for the Week of July 31
Yegana
Alasgarova
July 23
Larry
Martin
July 31
Mark
Starratt
August 2
Lori
Caltagirone
August 3
David
Mears
August 3
Don
Ross
August 4
Randy
Topolnitsky
August 4
Rotary Fellowship at Banff Centre
Check out our photo album from the recent fellowship event in Banff. Mike Colburn supplied a luxury bus that got the group to the Banff Centre by 3 p.m. where we were met by Michael Code, VP of Operations. Michael provided a great tour of the Centre that was followed by an excellent dinner overlooking the Bow Valley. There was a reception before the performance of “The Hamlet Project” and Janice Price, CEO of Banff Centre, dropped by to visit with us.
Attendance for July 31
64 people, including 7 visitors and guests.
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Club member Ghada Alatrash produced a moving article that was recently published in the Globe and Mail, describing the Black Wednesday massacre that took place in her home town of Sweida. You can read the full article entitled My Hometown of Sweida, Syria Is Bleeding.
The members of the head table marched in to the musical accompanyment of Manon Mitchell and Michael Pierson. Following President Tim Heaton's call to order, Michael and Manon led us in the singing of O Canada. This week's invocation was delivered by Jason Bates, who was also this week's greeter.
President Tim thanked our front entrance volunteers: John Seigner and Gord Walker. For this week's sing-song, the Newfie singers led us in an a cappella rendition of Rock Yourself on the Ocean, which features the lyric "diddly-da diddly-dum doo". This song has been recorded by Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers, and also by the Ennis Sisters.
Thanks go out to this week's COG Sponsor: Tim Heaton and Rideau Pharmacy. President Tim encouraged everyone to sponsor a COG or two. He also read a thank-you from recent RYLA participants.
Club Secretary Kurt Kowalchuk welcomed our visitors and guests, and acknowledged the seven club members with birthdays this week. Visiting Rotarians included Janet Balfour and Dave Townsend from the Rotary Club of Calgary Sarcee.
David Leslie introduced our newest member Jody Coenjarts. Welcome to the club Jody!
Former club member Dan Levinson brought greetings and a banner from his current club, the Rotary Club of Tel Aviv Yafo.
President Tim provided a brief summary of the highly successful fellowship event at Banff Centre. He also provided an update on the preparations for UnGala. A number of donors, including Westjet Airlines, have offered silent auction items, although more are required. Please consider contributing items for the UnGala silent auction.
The 13thCalgary Airport Tournament of Diamonds and Shoot-Out will take place on August 29. This golf tournament is a primary fundraiser for Rotary Challenger Park and Renfrew Educational Services.
Finally, John Boyd provided an update on the activities of the Major Donations Committee. Although the operations of this committee have been impacted by the challenges facing our big Stampede week barbecues, the committee has raised $50,000 over the past year from the continuing support of club members. John's report led into the introduction of Deb Hymers of NSTEP, a past recipient of a major donation from our club.
Following his report from the Major Donations committee, John Boyd introduced our speaker, Rotarian Deb Hymers, founder of NSTEP. Recognizing that good nutrition and exercise are necessary for learning, Deb founded Nutrition Students Teachers Exercising with Parents to provide hands-on nutrition instruction and physical activity to students in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario. Her inspiration for founding NSTEP was a 2002 report from the United Nations stating that our children represent the first generation that will not live longer than their parents because of preventable nutrition-related diseases.
NSTEP has developed a number of programs to bring nutrition and physical activity to the broadest audience.
NSTEP EAT WALK LIVE meets the needs of elementary schools by providing professional development to teachers, and follow-up visits. Students learn about nutrition through interactive games that are tailored to each grade level.
NSTEP in junior high schools focuses on the Teen Brain, and encompasses four full-day seminars during the school year.
NSTEP community programs are focused on enabling children to feel comfortable preparing nutritious foods for themselves.
NSTEP has been working with Tsuut'ina Education and Tsuut'ina Health for several years to create Tsuut'ina translations of NSTEP materials, including a Tsuut'ina and English colouring book for Grade 1 that builds on the strengths of the nation's culture, and ties in with Grades 3 and 4 diabetes prevention initiatives. Building on this experience, NSTEP materials are being translated into Tryginia (spoken in the highlands of Eritrea and the Tigray region of Ethiopia), Dinka (spoken in South Sudan), French and Spanish.
Deb acknowledged the club's support of NSTEP, as we contributed to the founding of NSTEP through a major donation. We continue to support NSTEP schools in Forest Lawn and Vista Heights through the Community Hubs initiative.
At the conclusion of her talk, Howie Shikaze thanked Deb Hymers for a most informative presentation.
COG Staff -July 31, 2018
Editor
Craig Henderson
Photography
Ralph Lundburg
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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