The Westerner for November 2, 2009

Announcements:

• More volunteers to work the front desk are needed.  Please contact Rob Dunseith to arrange for a time slot that suits your schedule.
• November 14th - There will be a pot luck dinner at Chris & Kathleen Gowers house to welcome our three guests from Guatemala.  Call Chris to confirm your food contribution.  The Gowers live at 738 Hendra Crescent in Edmonton.
• November 16th - Our meeting with the District Governor has a different format this year because the members of the Interact Club and the Rotaract Club have been invited to attend as well.  So come at 7:00 pm after dinner at home.  Coffee, Tea and deserts will be served.  Cost is $14.00 per person.  There will be no lunch meeting that day.
• Capital Care Grandview activities are resuming.  Please mark the following in your organizer:
  • November 17th - International Night at 7:00 pm
  • December 8th - Christmas Party
  • January 26th - Talent Night (Please contact Jerome if you have any)
• Looking for a good Christmas Gift?  Jerome Martin & Spotted Cow Press are offering a book for sale where 40% of the purchase price will be donated to Rotary.  Call Jerome for more details.
• 50/50 Draw - Bert Andrews and Al Holmes did not match, so $65.00+ will be up for grabs next week.
• Finemaster Jim Spalding told some humorous (but lengthy) stories about his personalized licence plates, and then charged us $1.00 for listening to them.
• New Member Proposals - This is second and final notice for proposed members Ralph Makokis (Business Development Training) and George Emery (Union-Apprenticeship Training). 

PROGRAM - 395 AIR CADET SQUADRON

Past President Don McDermid introduced Captain John Breen, Deputy Commanding Officer of 395 Air Cadet Squadron.  Captain Breen has been involved with cadets for some 15 years.  He has two sons who are former cadets.  He recently retired after 36 years with NAV Canada.

Captain Breen brings greetings and thanks for our sponsorship from 395 Squadron, plus he provided an update on some of their activities.  Every Tuesday evening, they parade, and Don McDermid and Bill Buckham are regular visitors to those parades.  John invited other Rotarians to attend as well.  Our sponsorship provides stability to the Squadron, and they are thriving as a result.  Although this is one of 42 Squadrons in Alberta, they are currently at their maximum membership of 48 Cadets.  On a typical Tuesday evening, 115 Cadets will be on parade.

Captain Breen proudly announced that 395 Squadron was given an award for being the top squadron in Alberta for 2008/09.  Some of this year's activities include:

• 5 Cadets received their pilots licenses
• 2 Cadets received their glider pilot licenses
• The Cadets will participate in Remembrance Day Parades
• 60 Cadets took glider training at Villeneuve
• The CO of the Squadron is a tow plane pilot & Karate instructor 
• They are planning a trip to Montreal

You can follow the squadron activities at 395squadron.ca  Captain Breen introduced Warrant Officer Second Class Raphael Mlynarski to provide the Cadet's point of view on the Squadron.  Raphael showed a powerpoint presentation to illustrate some of the activities he has participated in, including:

• Gliding at Villeneuve
• Winter camping
• A high-performance glider at Gimli, Manitoba
• The HMCS Winnipeg with a Sea King Helicopter
• The Saturday morning Karate program for Cadets
• A Martin-Mars water bomber

WO Raphael joined cadets when he was 12, so this is his sixth and final year (age 18 is the maximum).  He received his wings at Penhold in August.  His longest glider flight was 2 hours and 13 minutes at Gimli.

John and Raphael were thanked for their excellent presentations and presentation skills by Al Holmes, who commented that the moneys we provide for sponsorship of 395 Air Cadet Squadron are moneys well spent.