The Fortarian Rotary Club of Thunder Bay, August 25, 2010 (Fort William) 2009/2010 Board of Directors President: Treasurer: Secretary: Directors: President Elect: Past President: Dave Knutson Boris Cham Joan Krisko Beverly Knutson Solade Nicol Jodi Phillips Blake McCandless Robert Moore Walter Seaberg Fiona Skogstad Jill Zachary Meets: 3rd Monday of each month Cook Engineering, 7 pm Allocations Committee Chair: Peter Stetsko Meets: 2nd Tuesday of each month Weiler, Maloney, Nelson, Board Room, 12 noon Rotary House Lottery Committee Chair: Bob Hookham Meets: 1st Tuesday of each month Weiler, Maloney, Nelson, Board Room, 12 noon Weekly Dinner Meetings Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Travelodge Hotel Airlane 698 W. Arthur St. Thunder Bay, ON A Major Step Up All were greeted upon arrival door by Ted Osesky. Stepping upon the step so she could be seen above the podium, Acting President Fiona Skogstad welcomed everyone to the meeting. She thanked the Sergeants-at-arms, Bette-Ann Elliotson and Solade Nicol, for their work this evening, then called upon Joan Krisko to play the National Anthem and the Rotary Prayer. This was followed by a long pregnant pause then Bert Ventrudo offered the toast to Her Majesty, the Queen. There was one guest, Rotarian Myles Fucile who is considering joining The Fort William Rotary Club. Address Editor P.O. Box 10061 Thunder Bay, ON Canada P7B 6T6 www.fwrotary.ca Fiona Skogstad fiona.skogstad@shaw.ca 1 P a g e
Country of Contrasts Acting President Fiona called upon Jerry William to introduce the guest speaker, Donna White, accompanied by her daughter Kira. Donna has been a volunteer with World Vision for 18 years. Her topic for this evening concerned her trip to Bangladesh and the work being done in the country by World Vision. Bangladesh is located between India and Burma and has a population of 154 million. Personal space is at a premium as there are 7600 people per square kilometer. The country is prone to cyclones and flooding, with at times upwards of 75% of the land flooded for weeks at a time. Infant mortality is 56/1000 births and the life expectancy is 63 years. Bangladesh is a country of extreme contrasts decadence and wealth next door to poverty, opportunities exist for some children to go to school while others must begin work at an early age, there are areas of garbage and stagnation next to flowers and beauty Donna offered admiration to the people for their strength and resilience in the face of the many difficulties. women in establishing businesses (a difficult prospect given the predominating Muslim culture), the programs to prevent the spread of AIDS (which is prevalent in India and Africa but not so much at the moment in Bangladesh), ongoing education concerning the ill effects of alcohol and drug abuse, early marriage, the use of dowries and children s rights and the Safe Motherhood program promoting pre- and postnatal care. Donna spoke about the Community Business Organization Development Corporation for women who have started an independent businesses and how these women banded together to not only purchased a well for clean water but also assist other women begin their own business. One story she related concerned the success of a woman named Gultaz. With no job, no education and an injured husband, she went to World Vision and obtained a business diploma and began an embroidery business. She now employees 26 women and her products are entering the German market. Donna concluded by presenting the child sponsorship program and encouraged Rotary members to consider sponsoring a child. More information about World Vision and the child sponsorship program can be found at the World Vision web site. Irene Sottile thanked Donna for the informative presentation and commented on how much education and communications can help bring hope. The primary focus of her presentation concerned the mission of World Vision to promote the self-reliance and health of women and access to education and health for children. She outlined various projects to assist 2 P age
Professor Strikes Again Acting President Fiona called next upon Brian Phillips, the fine master for the meeting. He asked five questions all concerning where specific Rotary clubs are located. Those who could not answer all five correctly (according to this humble scribe, a near impossible task) needed to pay the fine. One table (which shall remain nameless) paid the fine after only three questions. Needless to say, everyone paid the fine this evening. (Scribe note: the next fine master should fine Brian in arrears for such a dastardly deed.) Jodi Phillips announced that her family discovered that her father had a child before meeting her mother. They found the halfbrother while in Las Vegas. Solade Nicol announced he passed his level 1 qualification and is working on his level 2 qualification to be certified Health and Safety Committee member. Past President Jill Zachary announced she has been asked to be the key note speaker at the Paul Harris Dinner in November. Announcements Gordie Garriock circulated a list to ascertain who will be attending the September 8 th meeting at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. This meeting will include a tour of the angioplasty suite. PDG Ajoy announced he received a request for support from a hospital in India, 50 km from the border with Bangladesh. He plans to visit the hospital it has 34 beds, 2 doctors and 2 nurses. They seek support in purchasing an incubator for new born babies. A donation box was circulated. Ajoy Rotary incubator Irene Sottile, who had the audacity to use Fiona s stool to see over the podium, asked members to pick up the invitations for the volunteers appreciation dinner. John Brodack asked why these were not being mailed. It was explained that it added a personal touch to hand deliver the invites to the respective volunteers. Pink Promises Gloria Bagley led the sing-along. Gloria wrote her own song for this evening, a catchy little tune which has been added to the song book. Her song has a great deal to do with pink ribbons and some fair to which she seemed not to have been invited. Solade Nicol provided a brief update on his role as our club representative on the Rotaract Club. He indicated there is a lack of communications and involvement between the three Thunder Bay clubs. He hopes to address this and get people more involved. 3 P a g e
Brazil or Bust Past President Jill presented additional good news concerning the Brazil Group Study Exchange. A total of six candidates (two from each club) from Thunder Bay are being sponsored for district interviews. There are only two other candidates in the district being considered. To date, only one candidate, Jim McDonald from the Port Arthur Club, has been received for team leader. Fun with Figures Joan Krisko presented the lighter side which concerned ABCs and numerology to prove that you cannot trust someone who gives more than 100%. Joan then made an unscheduled presentation (for which Jodi Phillips posed was a 103% effort by Joan). At the District Conference, one award had been missed. Fiona Skogstad has been awarded 2 nd place as Rotarian Overall. Please Stand and Rotate Acting President Fiona offered the Rotary moment by having everyone stand and rotate 360 degrees. (There was at least one person, identity kept secret, who failed to grasp the humor of the moment.) Double Bingo Solade ran the BINGO. Of particular note, Jodi indicated that in Vegas, you would receive free drinks when playing. (Note, at the meeting, free water was provided by Jenny). Irene and Richard won and split the pot of $77 which will be donated in their names to the Paul Harris Fund. BIG CONGRATS Other business Acting President Fiona forwarded to the Allocations Committee a request for funding from the Dilico Children s Foundation. She also announced the United Way Campaign Breakfast to be held on 17 Sept at the Valhalla Inn. In addition, the Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee has suggested $3/Rotarian for the float in the parade. For more information go to: www.rotaryfloat.org. 4 P a g e
Coming Up. Wed. Sept. 1 st Kira White Exchange trip to Brazil Monday Sept. 6 th Wed. Sept. 8th Friday Sept 17 th Tues. Nov. 23 rd Wed. Nov. 24 th Shelter House TBRHSC A tour of the Angioplasty Suite. Let Gordie know if you are planning to attend, as the hospital needs to know numbers. United Way Breakfast Valhalla Inn Ballroom 7:00 am $22/person in advance Board meets with Governor Roly & his wife Judi at 6 pm Club meets with Governor Roly & wife Judi at 5:15 pm. Sharing his literary talents with us this week was our scribe, Darren Roberts. UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, REMEMBER SERVICE ABOVE SELF 5 P a g e