The Westerner for November 7, 2011

Support for Jodi Rudolph:  Mike Ryan announced that he researched how support for Erika"s invalid daughter could be accomplished by a donation to Caritas Foundation with the proceeds directed to support Jodi's pallitive care ward 6Y, Edmonton General Hospital.  Just make the donation in honour of Jodi Rudolph.

Military Families Appreciation Night:   Bart West of Edmonton Salutes and Deb Proc, corporate relations manager of Citadel Theatre, announced the 4th annual project to send the families of absent military personnel to a the production of "A Christmas Carol".  Bart is a former honourary colonel of the Tactical Helicopter Squadron from Namao.  When military personnel are deployed, the families are left alone.  It is especially hard for them at Christmas.  Thus Edmonton Salutes and the Citadel Theatre try to give the families some joy and fellowship at a reception followed by the play .  Donations are requested to offset the cost.  Rotary Club of Edmonton Gateway has already contributed $1,000.

Rotary Fellowship Dinners:  Bob Lamoureux circulated a form to determine the interest of which couples may participate.

Ethnic Dinners:   Bob Lamoureux said none would be scheduled until after the new year.

Finemaster:  Joe fined everyone in honour of Rotary International Foundation Month - questions, mostly not answered correctly, on the the history of the foundation raised the maximum $2 from everyone.

Guest Speaker:  Dave  introduced New Generations Member Ben Turner for his classification talk and presentation on the Solar Light Philippines Project that was partially funded by Rotary Club of Edmonton West. 

Ben has retired from army cadets, artillery squad in Thorsby,  with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer.  He has also retired from the Calmar Secondary School Interact Club where he was charter vice president followed by 2 years as the international committee chair. (Ben did not mention, in his modest way, the many awards he has received from cadets and the many projects he spearheaded through Interact.  Awards included Gold Duke of Edinburgh presented by Price Edward a couple of years ago.  Projects included bringing retired general Romeo Dallaire to Leduc to give a motivational talk to over 2,000 high school students).

Ben mentioned that people everywhere have something in common - Humanity.  He then advised that the Rotary Club of Edmonton West has greatly influenced him, through our various financial donations to his Interact/Rotary projects, to his exposure to humanity around the world.  Just 19 years of age, he has travelled to several of the poorest areas of the world on our behalf.  The club's donation to enable him to attend the Global Youth Leadership Conference in Washington, D C, gave him introductions to many people from 70 countries around the world.  He has kept close email contact with at least 4 of these.  2 of them introduced him to the Philippines Solar Light Project.  His talk centered on this project.

 Our club donated $500 towards purchase of 2,000 solar lamps from One Million Lights (a not for profit that builds and supplies solar powered lanterns to replace kerosene lanterns in poor areas of the world) plus a further $500 towards travel costs.  The poverty in the northeast islands of Philippines is greater than that of Belize (Ben has been to Belize and experienced that cultural shock).  Kerosene is a very expensive fuel and a very dirty, health hazardous product.  In poor areas such as Philippines, the cost of purchasing kerosene takes between 1/3 and 1/2 of a family's monthly income (income for some families is as low as $42 per month)   Kerosene is also a health hazard causing damage to lungs, when the foul exhaust is breathed in by the family including young children.  It is also a fire hazard.  Splills can burn the children severely and can even cause fires to destroy the poor homes of the poorest people.  By presenting solar powered lanterns to thes poor people, their health is greatly improved and their retained monthly income is also improved emensely.

However, social issues that people don't readily talk about become a factor.  The local Philippines Rotary Club that assisted in processing the solar lamp project also had an important project of their own - this area of the Philippines is so poor that it does not attract people from the rest of the Philippines or the rest of the world.  Thus, the people do not get exposed to what we would call the norm of most lives, basic hygiene.  The local Rotary Club was donating toothbrushes, hand soap, tooth paste, and panties (for the teen aged girls).  The Rotarians had to instruct the inhabitants on what toothbrushes and hand soap were used for and why they were desired {of course, the only water supply is contaminated}.  The panties were needed to enable young girls to maybe fend off unwanted sexual advances from men (including fathers and brothers) who don't understand that incest and rape are undesirable activites.   Alcoholism is a great problem, as well, and education is needed so that the savings in monthly income through the solar lamp donations does not get lost through excessive purchases of alcohol.

 Most women, starting in their teens, have up to 12 children.. With a motality rate of 80%, they are lucky if 4 of them survive.  Education is provided free by the government but the associated costs, [purchase of pencils, paper, books, etc.] mean that few children can gain an education.  Those that become educated are boys, not girls.  Thus there is a lack of female education which leads to a lack of female awareness and power.  The donation of 2,000 solar lamps means $200,000 retained in the local economy in a 6 year period but a lot of monitoring needs to be done to ensure it benefits the children , especially the girls.  It needs to be directed into funds enabling education for all.

Upon return from the Philippines, Ben gave many talks on the subject.  This came to the attention of the Philippines Consul who arranged to meet with Ben.  As a result, the Consul was able to obtain and give assurances that the Philippine Government supported these projects and would not interfere in the future. 

Rotary District 5370 is working on planning a trip to the northeast islands of Philippines to evaluate what these future projects should address.  It is possible that this trip could occur just before or just after the Rotary International Convention in Bangkok, Thailand, and it is hoped that many Rotarians that go to Bangkok would also go to the Philippines.

 Ben is currently enrolled at NAIT in their business administration course, centered on management, with a focus on international business.

Ben was thanked by Rob Dunseith, incoming president fo Rotary Club of Edmonton West.  Rob indicated that he would be willing to participate in the Philippines evaluation visit along with his visit to the Rotary International Convention.

<editor's note:  someone, probably Rotarian Stephen Lindop who just retired as principal of Calmar Secondary School, told the editor recently that he had visited Ottawa and saw General Romeo Dallaire walking down the sidewalk.  The first question from Dallaire was how is Ben Turner doing.  Ben makes positive impressions with all people.>