The Westerner for August 13, 2012
Meeting: chair, Rob Dunseith; music, Jerome; grace, Mike McLaughlin
Guests: Ivan Docker, Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona; Vern Kroeker, guest of Darrel Ripley; Corine Blansjaer, guest of Mike Ryan;
Changes to front desk: green dinner cards are no longer used; if you buy the white cards they are turned in to the front desk personnel with your name on it; attendance is recorded on a reconciliation sheet by front desk personnel; lunch cost is $20 including 1 only 50/50 ticket; additional 50/50 tickets can be purchased; guests are recorded by name and sponsor at the front desk and the list is supplied to the president who introduces all the guests. Attendance is recorded from the reconciliation list.
Speaker Program: Chris wants members to advise him of potential guest speakers
Gift Cards: please support this fund raiser (much easier than selling Grey Cup Raffle tickets) by purchasing either Safeway or Save On or Sobeys gift cards from Brian
Dues: It is now one month since we sent out the invoices for your annual dues. We have paid your share of your dues to both Rotary International and to the District, so we need your cheques to get back to the positive side of the ledger. Please bring them to the August 20th meeting.
Grandview Extended Care Centre Concert: Jerome confirmed September 6 @ 6:30 p m; everyone to attend with guests to hear award winning performer Maria Dunne
50/50: Catharine and Chris split $86, congratulations and thanks to Chris who is donating his winnings to the Club and to Catharine who is donating hers to the Rotary Foundation.
Speaking of the Foundation, you are reminded that Rotarians are asked to make the Foundation one of their favourite charities. One way to do that is to participate in the Every Rotarian Every Year campaign. To make your annual donation, in any amount you like, just Google The Rotary Foundation Canada, click on English, click on Online if you wish to donate online or click on Cheque if you wish to donate by sending a cheque to The Rotary Foundation (Canada), c/o 911600 PO Box 4090 STN A, Toronto, ON M5W 0E9.
Happy Bucks: some of them - John and others for great performance by Canada's olympic team; Zen for the changes that Catharine is trying to put through to make the front desk duties easier and in trying to train a Ukranian; Joe for the hole in one win he got at the Al Hamilton Tournament; Chris because his daughter Julie is with child
Induction New Member: Duane Treacy, welcome; sponsor is Bob Kimmerly, Darrel Ripley introduced Duane, classification "Engineering: civil - mine planning"; mother is 92 years old this weekend; born in Edmonton; attended Strathcona High School; initially in Geology but 1985 graduation with NEP happening - no jobs; then to engineering; working in the oil sands since 1993; current shift is 7 days on, 7 off; owns condos in both Fort McMurray and Edmonton, gradual shift back to Edmonton for eventual retirement here - thus his interest in joining Rotary in Edmonton.
Classification Talk second time: Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Dan Graham also past Rotary District Governor introduced Brigadier General (retired) Bill Buckham. Bill grew up on the west coast, started in air cadets in 1953, earned a power flight scholarship in 1956; got his pilot wings as a reserve air force officer in 1960, became regular force in 1963; major posting was as commanding officer of 412 Squadron in Ottawa who flew V I P government and royalty persons on Canadian visits; retired in 1993 in Winnipeg, moved to St. Albert and became heavily involved in volunteerism.
Bill and Keatha have 2 sons; Chris who is a Major in the RCAF, currently stationed in Stuttgard, Germany and Jim who resides in Edmonton. Bill was first introduced to our club when he was commanding officer at the Namao air base, he became an honourary member of our club and served our club as president once he retired and returned to the Edmonton area. Now celebrating 35 years in the air force and 19 years of active retirement, Bill talked about how the military develops people for management since there is no outsourcing to hire middle management personnel. Bill had a checkered university career as the military wanted him in engineering but eventually allowed him to study economics and political science. In the RCAF, early on he flew DC3's and Beachcraft Expeditors. He was a flight instructor for 7 years, mainly in Manitiba. In 1970, he started flying VIP's in aircraft like the Falconer Business Jet. This lasted for 4 years. Then he spent 1 year in staff college (like a masters program), then was posted to 436 Squadron for United Nations support and search and rescue operations.
In 1980, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel; in 1983 back to 412 Sqadron as Commanding Officer flying Convairs and Challengers for VIP passengers like royal family. In 1986, promoted to Colonel and posted as commanding officer in Edmonton (Namao). Then to Trenton as commanding officer of all search and rescue squadrons across Canada. He ended his career in Winnipeg as Chief of Staff & Training for western Canada and got his promotion to Brigadier.
The Brigadier was able to continue his flying career through his higher level promotions so he achieved around 8,000 hours of flying time. In his first tour in Winnipeg, guess who was his commanding officer? None other than our own Al Holmes (Colonel retired). Bill thought he was a good boss. Bill's career created stress for his family as command of tactical air lift and search and rescue operations was a 24/7 commitment. The family survived, maionly due to the strength and resourcefulness of Keatha. In flying the royal family as passngeers, the RCAF needs to confirm safety, security and comfort. Bill told a story of relaying a message from the Queen (on open radio) to President Regan and then receiving a message from the President for the Queen while he was off duty (he took the message anyway).
Bill considers retirement as transition to another way of life - do things that you were not able to do while employed. Bill was thanked by Al Holmes.