The Westerner for December 3, 2012
Meeting: chair, Rob Dunseith; music, Jerome; grace, Darrel Ripley
Attendance/Guests: 37 including Margot Ross Graham, Rotary Club of Edmonton Glenora and guest speaker; Travis Watt, guest of Rob Dunseith; Brent Birch, guest of Mike Ryan; Cathryn Heslep, guest of Mike Henry; Patrick Moore, guest of Darrel Ripley; Mark Palynchuk, Rotary Club of Edmonton Northern Lights; Al Hamilton, honourary member Rotary Club of Edmonton West
Welcome back Bert: return from broken leg enforced vacation
Belize: Fred Kraft, Duane Evans, Ed Schultz and Brian reported on a successful trip to visit scholarship students to reinforce that they will be taking ownership of the summer literacy program; then, because of a drowning on the beach, they helped build a lifeguard station (very well built - see photo / will withstand hurricane force winds); donation for Christmas gifts was well received. Our Club and the Rotary Club of Placencia have built a tremendous partnership where members of both clubs work side by side on several projects. Much thanks to Duane & Cathy Evans, Al & Karen Sanderson, Fred Kraft and Chris Gowers for building the personal relationships that are the foundation to this partnership. As you can appreciate, the Placencia Club has very little ability to raise funds, whereas we have a great ability to do so. So the combination of our funds plus a few people together with the very capable members of their Rotary Club to manage and execute the projects in and around their small community makes for a win-win situation.
Rotary Christmas Party: Bob Lamoureux confirmed details - December 14, 6:00 p m for cocktails; Royal Glenora Club; $50 per person; both roast beef and turkey
Rotary International Foundation: Chris has sent a letter to all asking for us to become sustaining Paul Harris Foundation supporters; also to consider including this foundation as a payee in your will.
Gift cards: see Brian, he has them ready for sale
Tommy Banks Concert: Mark Palynchuk advised of the December 6 concert and party at the Aviation Museum; dinner at 6:00 p m; phone 18882226608 for tickets; proceeds to retiring artists fund - housing for retired artists
Fort Edmonton update: John circulated an artist's conception of the appearance of the finished Windsor Block, progress is being made
CleanScene: Mike advised he talked to 4,000 students, last week, in Fort McMurray in drug awareness program funded by Rotary in Fort McMurray - a good week for Mike and the students
50/50: Al Holmes and Darrel Ripley - no match of cards
Finemaster: Bill Buckham raised many funds, $1 if you did not attend District Governor's meeting, if you don't shovel snow as you live in a condo, Bert for the extreme action taken to get sympathy, Al Hamilton because there is no NHL hockey, John because he used the word traction in talking about Fort Edmonton
Guest Speaker: Rob Dunseith introduced Margot Ross Graham who is a human resource professional and certified personal coach with Williams Engineering Canada Inc. She also does a column for CBC morning show. In addition, she is president of Rotary Club of Edmonton Glenora. Her talk was on Exceeding Leadership Expectations - a corporate social responsibility.
All organizations will need more employees in the near future but the available pool is small - competitive environment- need to present a great employee based system including benefits and proven leadership experience. Good leaders lead from inside out. They delineate why we are doing the functions that are requested as part of the job description. People join organizations but leave their boss. Bosses need to give job performance feedback continuously and formally at least every 6 months. Develop your employees all the time. Grow your company to enable the company to grow the people needed. Leaders need to apply consistancy in their approach to employment factors - deal with problems immediately (they go away). Rescue your weakest employee - you can't afford to lose any employees - if they turn around they become your most dedicated assistants. Never forget where you came from.
Margot was thanked by Joe.