The Westerner for May 17, 2010

Posted by Brian F. Thompson 
 
Meeting:   Chair - Ben Doz; Music - Jerome; Grace - Bill Storoschuk

Announcements:

  • Ross Hallett regretfully announces that there will be no salmon bake this year because there will be no fishing trip this year.
  • Former Youth Exchange student Lauren Milner provided an update on her recent activities.  It is hard to believe that it was five years ago that we sent her off to Chile for a year.  She has just completed her second year in the Faculty of Education and plans to be a teacher, perhaps making use of her Spanish.  Her summer job is with Youth For Christ, and she is very much involved in promoting the Youth Unlimited / YFC 22nd Annual Golf Challenge Golf tournament at the Highlands Golf Club on Wednesday, June 9th.  Golf registration is $200.  She is also soliciting donations for their silent auction, prize table or hole sponsorship.  Corporate sponsorships range from $1,000 to $5,000.  If you can assist Lauren, please call her at 780-437-3000 or e-mail her at admin@yfced.com
  • Bob Lamoureux announced that our annual club fun golf outing will again be at Victoria Golf Course on Monday, August 9th.  You don't need to be a good golfer to enjoy this one - it will be best ball format.  A steak BBQ will follow the afternoon in the sun.
  • President-Elect Mike Ryan introduced Alex Paterson as our incoming Youth Services Director.  Alex listed the organizations that will benefit from our budgeted $30,500, including the 395 Air Cadet Squadron, the Centennial Interact Club, RYPEN, RYLA and others.
  • At the District 5370 Conference this past weekend at Drayton Valley, there was a memorial service which honored Rotarians who had passed away during the Rotary year.  A very nice brochure with photos included tributes to PDG Alan MacLean, Arnie Holmes and Michel Dorais.
  • President Ben was very pleased to announce that our Club recieved the most awards at the conference, including:
    • The Gilbert Patterson Award for Community Service Project - thanks to Jerome Martin for his work at Capital Care Grandview
    • A Presidential Citation for our Club achieving the RI President's goals for the year - Congratulations Ben & Board members
    • The Frank Devlin Employment Partnership Award - our Club's employment of Shane
    • A Foundation Polio Challenge Award - for the previous year, congratulations to Al Sanderson & his board.
    • A RYLA award
    • The Hans Granholm Award for best use of ClubRunner e-Bulletin, Club homepage and use of the email system for club communication - thanks to Dave Turner and Brian Thompson
  • 50/50 Draw - Bob Lamoureux and Don Hamilton did not match
  • Happy Bucks from Mike Ryan for our Club's showing at the District Conference, Alex Paterson, Don McDermid, Jim Rowand, and Laurie Wilkie who was also very proud of our Club at her first District Conference.

 

PROGRAM - SOCIAL NETWORKING FOR ROTARIANS - JEROME MARTIN

Jerome started off with some general examples of how we communicate, by chatting, by telling stories, by sharing experiences, and even through our music.  We are always communicating.

But the world is changing, and the ways in which we all communicate socially, in our businesses and in the world of Rotary is also changing, for example:

  • Twitter - There are now 75 million users of Twitter, and the number of Tweets per day has grown enormously during the last couple of years.  A tweet is limited to 140 characters, so you need to think out your words very carefully.  Our incoming District Governor Jackie Hobal has a page on Twitter called Rotary Jackie.  There is a Rotary Twitter page of course.
  • Facebook - Now has 400 million users.  There is a Rotary page and a District page on Facebook.
  • Linkedin - This is similar to Facebook, and is very simple to use.
  • Blogs - This is a contraction for Web Log.  Jackie Hobal also has a Blog.
  • You Tube - This is where you can find videos on anything, including Rotary.
  • Podcasts - These are broadcasts available for download to your computer or smart phone
  • IPhone Apps - There are applications available for download to IPhones for Rotary Clubs and Rotarians.  Rotary Club Radio is one free download available on ITunes.

Lauren commented that her Rotaract Club members all communicate via Facebook.  Ross commented that we seem to be discouraging the use of these communication tools in favour of ClubRunner.  See next article for comments on this matter.

Jerome was thanked by Don McDermid