The Westerner for February 7, 2011
Meeting: chair, Ben Doz; music, Jerome; grace, Bob Kimmerly
Guests: Sandon's guest Gerry Stemke; guest speaker Aurelio Fernandez
Gift Cards : please continue to assist our club in a major fund raiser, the purchase of gift cards for major food providers - see Kasey to purchase - our club makes up to 8% when you buy the gift cards - use them to purchase your own food, prescriptions = you do not have to use up the entire amount of the card's value in any one transaction as the cards will pay any small purchase and carry the balance until the next usage
Hockey Fund Raiser : purchase tickets from Bob Lamoureux for Oil Kings game 7:00 p m February 26; $25 per seat with $10 of that going to PolioPlus
Greek Dinner : February 27 @ Koutouki Taverna; 17:00 for cocktails, 18:00 for dinner, sign up through Bob Lamoureux
Belise - Rotary District 5370 Program: Jerome reported a recent visit by 3 Rotarians who found good progress with many schools and new possibilities, especially with wireless learning through routers and portable etelligent devices
50/50; Bill Storoschuk and Charlie did not match cards
Finemaster: after a lengthly sermon on various issues, Rudy fined those over age 65 a dollar for being thankful for living so long and those under age 65 a prepayment of a dollar towards hope of making it to age 65
Happy Bucks: Jerome for the opportunity to live in Edmonton - he missed the place while he was in Belise; John because our recent golf tournament achieved record earnings $37,499.90 - congratulations to all # either players or volunteers
Guest Speaker: Aurelio Fernandez, former member of our club and Consul General for Portugal to Alberta, spoke on a 60 year old foundation that he was introduced to in Brazil
Aurelio teaches at the University of Alberta, Faculty of Business. This faculty tasked Aurelio to gain more exposure to Brazil. While there, he was introduced to the people that run the Sao Paulo Rotarians Foundation; a foundation started by 20 Rotarians. They determined to fund the foundation to build a more human society, provide excellence through education, help low income families to access education facilities for pre school to high school. There was a 10 minute film with English subtitles.
The foundation performs social work for students to promote self esteem. Deaf students are involved and are trained in the use of sign language. The foundation shares its experience with educators around the world and exchange people and ideas. These 20 Rotarians prove Service Above Self through Education. There is no funding from government. Universities such as Harvard and Yale are aligning with this foundation because of its uniqueness. Brazil is a class based society and the foundation tries to ignore the class distinction.
Aurelio was thanked by Bert.