Flash - January 21, 2013 Meeting Notes

North Hill Inn, January 21, 2013

President Terry Belisle chairing his last meeting (cover)
Darcy Mykytyshyn giving his personal views on joining the club
Margaretrose Willms giving her classification talk

Visiting Guests: J. Wilson

Visiting Rotarians: Ray Miller

Sergeant Odell: Fined every member of the club a loonie, if they had watched hockey on the weekend.  Almost everyone paid.  He added $20 to recognize an old friend who died of frontal lobe dementia.  It was tragic as he hadn’t been able to speak for the past five years.

Melody McKnight: Went to Edmonton to meet with the EPSO.  They are doing a collaborative concert with the RDSO this year in Red Deer on June 5.  There will be another one next year too.  The Lieutenant Governor has joined the RDSO.  Saturday’s concert was sold out.

Marty Skinner: Is flying to New York City with his two daughters to sing in the back up choir at Carnegie Hall (or to lip sink with them).  Well done Marty.

Janice Wong: Was upset that student loan data was compromised for the period 2000-2006, (excluding Quebec).  It affects 580,000 students.

Pat Romerman: Returned to “my club”.  He is visiting all the Rotary clubs in the region, as the governor’s representative.  He is also working to form a new Rotary club in Didsbury.  He has a new job as the Calgary representative for a large eastern structural construction company, that builds high-rises and healthcare institutions.

Blaine Dushanek: Paid for missing his 50/50 duty on Saturday, because of a funeral.

Lynne Paradis: Is the club’s World Community Service chair.  The committee is meeting on Wednesday in Glenn Moore’s office.  New members are invited.  The RI District leadership seminar is scheduled for Red Deer on Saturday.  The club pays the tuition.

Ray Dunham: Celebrated his “70^th anniversary” by telling a story of how he had “learned to cuss” at age four.  The audience should have paid his $5.  It was a great story about Cheerios.

Robert Mitchell: Was delighted to deposit $10 to celebrate the United Way’s $2.115M fundraising - 10% over budget.

Robert Lampard: Presented the club with a Turkey Rotaract banner, which he found in his son’s cupboard of memorabilia, from his RIYE exchange in 2004/5.

50/50: Drew Blaine Dushanek’s ticket.  He got the four way test right but the draw wrong.

President Terry: Announced an antique car auction will be held in June as a fundraiser for the Olds College.  You can preview the vehicles at Cam Clark’s Ford dealership.

Annie Kamarainen: Visited a feed lot with 2,500 cattle.  She’s missed today because she has an exam on Friday in French.

Program: Margaretrose Willms talked about her 25 years as a teacher, from kindergarten to grade 12.  She was the 9^th of 10 children, has five of her own.  The family has hosted many exchange students to expand their international knowledge and give them contacts in foreign countries.  The ones who come here love simple things like the crunching sounds of snow.  She opened a school in Sylvan Lake, and has worked with the Rotary Belize exchange group to teach literacy.  Found it to be amazing.  Went to China on a learning experience and hosted the Chong Ching group in return.  Finds that young people are the same the world over.  In China the smallest class is 50.  She’s the principal at St. Pats which has 53% ESL.  Highlighted her school mentor program.  Only 20 minutes per week from a mentor, has a significant impact on the student, especially the ones at risk.

Darcy Mykytyshyn was invited into the club by Gloria Beck (while a Kinsmen).  He recounted how his mother demonstrated the work ethic in the family and his father was the laid back “socialist”.  His first job was shoveling the neighbor’s driveways.  Never told his dad that they paid him or he would have to give it back.  Learned to integrate these “divergent” values in life’s classroom.  Three of his principles were: plan your life and adapt to the opportunities that arise - especially in entrepreneurial/volunteer orientated Red Deer.  2) Everyone needs a hand-up at some time - be prepared to help.  3) You never know what tomorrow will bring so “do it - don’t talk about it”.

President: Ken Johnston will return to the chair for the remainder of Terry’s year.   As he said, it is his “second chance”.

Next Meeting: Six new members will be inducted, (January 28), Tanner Wells on his RIYE to Japan (February 4), Valentine’s with spouses (February 11).  The Mac & Cheese for the Royals features Ron Chelio of the NYC FD (June 10).

R. Lampard