The Westerner for May 4, 2009

Posted by Brian F. Thompson 
 

Meeting:   Chair, Chris Gowers; Music, Jerome & Jim; Grace, Bob Kimmerly

Attendance / Guests:   36 including Jackie & Wayne Hobal - Athabasca, Silvia Begin, and Doug Burchill

Announcements:

  • Julie Mulligan, President of Drayton Valley Rotary Club, and Leader of the GSE Team is back home safe and sound after being kidnapped in Nigeria.
  • Final reminder for the District Conference at Jasper, May 14th to 17th.  Our Club has at least 6 registered attendees.
  • We have recently received notes from Rotary Exchange Students Marianna de Leon and Boom Ameran.  Both are now University students and are doing well.
  • Lynette Esak did a great job of introducing our nominee - Gloria Meldrum at last week's Integrity Awards Dinner.
  • Doug & Brian passed up an opportunity to share $63 on the 50/50 draw.
  • Finemaster Dr. Bob Kimmerly exempted those who liked Chris Gowers tie (not many!).  But he nailed those who admit to having answered cell phones in public, those who didn't get any exercise this past week, and those who were not wearing their pin or badge.
  • Snowbirds Jennifer Lawley & Jim Rowand contributed happy bucks just for being back home.  Bill Arnold says he is still holding his own on his golf game (not worth a happy buck!)
  • John Blimke showed off the new poster for our 2009 Al Hamilton & Friends Charity Golf Tournament.  You can download this poster from our Club Website to send to your friends and associates by clicking on it under the Downloads section of the HOME page (scroll down the right hand side to Downloads).  You will also be able to view the poster by clicking on EVENTS and then moving over to July to click on that event.

PROGRAM - BELIZE LITERACY PROJECT

Past President Jerome Martin introduced Jackie Hobal, former member of Edmonton West, Past President of Athabasca Club, and current District Governor Nominee who will become District Governor Elect on July 1.

Jackie thanked Jerome, and gave him credit for teaching her much of what she knows about Rotary.

This project is one of the first District projects in the Rotary world.  It has the continuous support of six consecutive District 5370 past, present and future District Governors from Ed Willson through to Harry Buddle.  It also has support and involvement from Rotary Clubs, Rotarians and Teachers throughout the District.  PDG Elly Contreras has developed a new logo for the project, and PDG Julius Buski is the Chair of the project committee.

Jackie showed a PowerPoint presentation on the project, plus she provided a handout information sheet, so there is no need to repeat those details here.

Our Club is also involved in Belize with a sub-project to assist a High School in Placentia.  This project is now in it's fourth year, and it is short of funding.  Our own Past President Ralph Playdon is on the Belize Literacy Project technology team assisting with computer hardware purchases, equipment selection, constructing a network, etc.  Our Club has also stepped up to provide $10,000 in funding to buy equipment which is urgently needed for this coming September school year startup.  This funding became very important when the Wild Rose Foundation funding suddenly disappeared.

There is an opportunity for Rotarians to contribute to this project by volunteering to help load a container with some 300 computers and other stuff for shipment to Belize.  This will happen at the HAWS Warehouse (the house that Zen built!) starting on Saturday, May 23rd.  Contact Ralph or Chris for more information or to volunteer.

Jackie was thanked by Ralph.