The Westerner for December 17, 2012
Meeting: chair, Rob Dunseith; music, Jerome; grace Darryll White
Attendance/Guests: 21 including Major Martin McCarter, Salvation Army - guest speaker; Bill Purdy, Rotary Club of Stony Plain
Thankyou: President Rob thanked Bob Lamoureux for arranging a fantastic Rotary Christmas Party and Jerome plus his associate, Art Fadum who played the double bass, for the continous Christmas music
Casino: April 1 and 2 (Monday and Tuesday); phone or email Bill Buckham as to when you can work and what position you would prefer to handle. In addition, if you have family members or friends who could help (over the age of 17), let Bill know
No Meetings: December 24 and 31. Next meeting January 7, 2013
50/50: Bill Purdy and Chris did not match cards, $67 carried over
Finemaster: Ed fined everyone $1 if they did not attend the Christmas party, then everyone who did attend were fined the same for the enjoyable time; fine $1 for not wearing a Rotary pin.
Guest Speaker: Jerome introduced Major Martin McCarter of the Salvation Army. Martin is from South Africa and his wife is also a Salvation Army officer. They have 98 years service to the Sally Ann between them. Martin's previous duties included ministering to 11 churches over 2 continenents. He presently looks after public relations and Salvation Army facilities. He was a Rotarian in South Africa.
With repsect to Sally Ann properties, there are 2 community based projects on the go now - a new building to service Forest Lawn in east Calgary and a replacement building for the Crossroads area of Edmonton. A large part of the Salvation Army counselling is directed to the home aspect of human trafficing. They have many dedicated people working to help people in trouble get into a safe environment. Currently they are supplying Christmas hampers to the needy. Toys have already been distributed. Hosting of Christmas meals is also in progress.
Why do members of the Salvation Army do it? Many are young when they make the commitment. William Booth saw poor people visiting pawn shops to try to get needed funds for living - he ended up praying to advise God that he would help. Thus started a movement that has gone around the world. The Salvation Army has translated the Bible into 175 langueages. Martin called many of the young people that perservered through adversity to provide help to others as Holy Dare Devils. He gave stories of some of these people to explain his position on their particular approach to the Sally Ann ministry. This included the hardship that a young man went through, losing his legs to chemical poisoning but still holding on the the thought "God is so good to me" when he was on his death bed.
Martin told about a Rotary project in Johannesburg, South Africa, a place of hope hospice. It cared for 60 abandoned or HIV infected babies. One abandoned child was called Given (he was left outside the hospice - thus was Given to it) and is now working on his medical degree so that he can give back.
William Booth's prayer was that "God will have all that belongs to William Booth". The resulting Salvation Army has ben serving Canadians for 137 years. 1.8 million Canadians have been helped so far this year. 650 were at a recent Edmonton dinner.
Martin was thanked by Bert.