Al McMillan Eulogizes Paul Harris Fellow Bill Ptacek
Rollie Cyr on a New Fundraising Initiative
Introducing New Member Shondell Sabad
Sergeant at Arms Bruce Yorga opened this week's meeting by introducing the head table, and President Rick Erven welcomed all in attendance with his opening remarks. Michael Pierson led the singing of O Canada, and this week's greeter Charles Pratt delivered the invocation.
President Rick thanked this week's meeting volunteers Craig Tervit, Bill Hamilton and Bob Junker.
Club secretary Jennifer Lavier-Jankovic welcomed our guests and acknowledged the three club members celebrating birthdays this week.
Did you know that October 24th was World Polio Day? This week global health officials announced the eradication of the second strain of poliovirus. With the elimination of the first strain in 2015, there is now only one wild strain of polio left in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Polio transmission occurs through the oral-fecal route and most commonly afflicts children under age five.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt contracted a paralytic illness in 1921 while vacationing at his home in New Brunswick. He established the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis in 1938 that went on to develop polio vaccines. Dr. Jonas Salk developed the first polio vaccine in 1955, and the number of polio cases in the United States decreased by ninety percent within two years of the beginning of routine polio vaccination. Dr. Salk became an honorary Paul Harris Fellow.
Polio was declared eradicated in the United States in 1979 and Rotary decided to build on this success in 1988 by committing to eradicate polio globally. Working with the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization and UNICEF, the eradication effort has resulted in a 99.9 percent reduction in the incidence of polio.
Al McMillan announced the award of a posthumous Paul Harris Fellowship to Bill Ptacek. In announcing the award, Al delivered a moving eulogy that may be viewed at the following link.
Rollie Cyr announced a new fundraising initiative that is an extension of a program used within the Calgary Flames organization. We can participate in a viral email marketing campaign where we can sell tickets to the 2019 Grey Cup at a low price and realize a commission on all tickets sold through the club.
Catherine Brownlee and Lisa Corrigan introduced new member Shondell Sabad. Welcome to the club, Shondell!
The Legacy Wills Workshop initially scheduled for October 22nd will be rebooked for early in the new year.
At the second regular meeting of the Club during October of each year the presiding officer of the Club shall inform the Club that the period for nominations for the election of Directors for the next ensuing Rotary year is open, the number of Directors to be elected, and that
The nominating committee for Directors will be meeting for the purpose of nominating a slate of candidates for Director up to double the number of vacancies anticipated on the Board, and requesting any eligible members of the Club who would like to be considered for nomination to advise any member of the nominating committee for Directors of their interest.
The nominating committee for Directors will advise the Club of their nominees for election to the Board at the last regular meeting of the Club during October of that year.
Nominations for the election of Directors from members of the Club may be made to the Secretary of the Club at any time prior to the close of nominations. Nominations shall close at 12:00 noon on the day of the second regular meeting of the Club in November of that year.
Craig Henderson introduced Dr. Ed McCauley, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calgary. Dr. McCauley began his term in January as the culmination of a thirty-year career at the university, having served previously as a Canada Research Chair in Population Ecology and the university's Vice-President (Research). Dr. McCauley is deeply committed to supporting excellence in research and innovation.
Dr. McCauley's remarks touched on the highlights of the university's Creating Impact Community Report 2019 that is available as a download from the university's website.
The University of Calgary is one of Canada’s premier research institutes that contributes to the body of knowledge and engages students in learning and innovation. The university promotes understanding and social justice, improves quality of life, and helps to secure a prosperous and sustainable future. As such, the university draws disruptors, instigators and those who inspire hope and dispel uncertainty by seeking answers to humanity’s most significant challenges.
Dr. McCauley noted that every economic jurisdiction with a high quality of life has a strong partnership between the community and a great research university.
He described the university's rapid growth since the 1960s and told us that the university now has five campuses, including locations in downtown Calgary, Spy Hill and the W.A. Ranches. The ranch has a 19,000-acre cattle ranching operation that is transforming veterinary education to meet the needs of Alberta’s veterinary community and Canada’s livestock industry. Additionally, the university has assumed the University Research Park from the Government of Alberta.
The research park comprises 76 acres and three buildings, to create a world-class research and innovation ecosystem. In 2018-19, the university opened the Life Sciences Innovation Hub, a business accelerator supporting Calgary's growing life sciences sector.
Dr. McCauley described how the University of Calgary is becoming a destination of choice as a research powerhouse, especially in energy and agricultural research. At the conclusion of his presentation, Maxine Morrison thanked our speaker.
COG Staff - October 22nd, 2019
Editor
Craig Henderson
Photography
David Richardson
Rotary Club of Calgary - Chartered April 1914 as Club #949
Suite 305, 105-12 Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1A1
