Flash - January 14, 2013 Meeting Notes

Posted by Ian Warwick 
 
 

North Hill Inn, January 14, 2013

Picture #1: Darcy Mykytyshyn, President-Elect
Picture #2: Blaine Newton paying his “breaking the silence” fee to Sgt Dunham
Picture #3: Craig Curtis and Mayor Morris making good on their fines (for increasing tax rates over 4%)

Visiting Guests: Al Beauchamp, C. Jeffreys, Annie Kamarainen

Sergeant Dunham: Warned those who wouldn’t fess up would pay up.

Blaine Dushanek: Won one of the bingos at the BTB.  Took his family to Palm Springs.  Hopes to win again and do the same.

Jim McPherson: Is planning another “mac & cheese” event which would be Rotary sponsored.  The guest speaker will be the NYC fire chief (911).  The intent is to raise money for the Red Deer Royals.  Volunteers to help organize the luncheon are requested.  The last one raised $125,000.

Robert Mast: Took his kids to the cross-country ski championships at Drayton Valley.  Red Deer did very well.  His wife is also half century older than when she started counting.

Dan Hachey: Deposited $10 to celebrate his return from 12 days in Nicaragua.  He was visiting his daughter and son-in-law.   It was at an eco friendly setting (no electricity) but he rented an air conditioning pad nearby.

Dave Harrop: Spent 6 weeks in Hawaii.  Updated the club on Silja.  She’s busy, still working in the bar, and writing three exams this week.  One project is based on the night photos she took in Hawaii.  Another is on the size of a shooting star and how you can estimate a meteor size from it.  She plans to go to university, take medicine (only 35% make it) and failing that to take law in Switzerland.

Dan Neilson: Went to Jamaica.  Caught some tuna.  A great meal followed.

Grant Edmonds: Updated the club on Elise Sounderland our 2000 RIYE student.  She lives in Northern Norway, has 2 kids and an MBA.

Blaine Newton: Is in the production “Culture Shock” at the Memorial Centre starting the end of January.  He is a French Canadian bank robber and a Newfie cop.

Jack Donald: Was fined for having his cell on last week.

Don Odell: Traded his Blue Bombers Christmas tree bell.  The Sgt caught him.  Pleaded for a reduced bill because he had hung it on the bank Christmas tree and then given to the wife of Mr. Harrop, and thought the Sgt should be paying him for the advertisement.

Morris Flewwelling and Craig Curtis: Were charged $5 each for escalating the tax rates to over 4% (for 18 more RCMP and support staff).

50/50: Drew Orlyn Kostenuk’s ticket.  Didn’t get the joker.  Doesn’t matter, there’s only $60 in the pot.

Sgt’s Humor: The theme was golf.  It’s always possible to get worse – like that other playground game.  When your equipment gets too old you can replace it.  He should have paid for his two month coming absence.  The applause was his thank you.

Annie K.: Has begun doing workouts at the Collicutt Centre.

Business: Marc St. Pierre updated the club on the 50/50 sales.  Revenue is up 27% in the first 6 months (The tickets sold $322,000, club portion is $42,000, Rebels received $119,000).  Season high $27,000 in tickets sold on December 28.  The Rotaract students will be joining us at 2 per game.

Program: Darcy Mykytyshyn presented the deliberations of 7 members at 7 meetings, discussing the application and approval mechanism for club grants.  The under and over $5,000 committees will be merged.  Rotary values (Red Deerized) will be followed.  The new committee is under Jack Panteluk.  Principles are: 1) target issue resolution, align with RI, focus on disadvantaged youth and adults and develop youth and seniors, (the last 5 years are a good fit), give to registered non-profits only, and lever through partnerships.  2) Be transparent and post RI’s 5 areas of service on the web.  Make allocations 2 times per year.  3) Establish a funding cycle.  4) Search for applications.  Large scale projects might be tackled.  5) Ensure strong governance but don’t be over bearing.  6) Current commitments will be honored and a contingency established.  Opportunities to fund will be sought.  Accountability will require responses from the recipients in writing.  The cheque giving at Christmas check will continue.  The club currently has 7-8 applications under consideration. Jack wants 3 new members for it.  Q&A: a committee shouldn’t turn over too rapidly.  It undermines continuity.  The final approval authority must rest with the board.  Many organizations are taking this approach.

Next Meeting: Darcy Mykytyshyn, Margaret Rose Wilm on classification talks (January 21), new member induction (January 28).