On Tuesday, Spencer, myself, Jackie and Wayne, and Ken went to a presentation at the Capitol Theatre hosted by the Fort Edmonton Foundation.
Edmonton West News
Rotary Moments
by Spencer Mueller
Spence spoke to the Club today about his “Rotary Moment”. Even after having been a very active Rotarian in Denver, Colorado, USA for approximately 6 years, it wasn’t until he attended the Rotary International Convention in Atlanta in June 2017, as the Edmonton West Club President Elect, that he experienced his true “Rotary Moment”.
That was, being in one place, surrounded by approximately 42,000 like minded Rotarians from all corners of the Globe, all motivated to doing good in the world! That was Spencer’s “Rotary Ahha Moment” that has continued to motivate him to doing good for his Rotary Club, Fellow Rotarians, in his own Community and around the World!
Rotary Stories
We had the pleasure of welcoming a special guest today. Valerie Braiden, the daughter of Bill and Grace Young. Bill Buckham shared some history and Rotary Stories about Bill and Grace.
BILL YOUNG – A NOTABLE WEST ED ROTARIAN
A PLEASURE TO HAVE VAL BRADEN VISITING US TODAY. SHE IS THE DAUGHTER OF GRACE AND BILL YOUNG A NOTABLE ROTARIAN COUPLE FROM OUR CLUB. IT IS GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE, VAL.
ALTHOUGH, DAN AND I ARRIVED LATER IN BILL’S CAREER THERE ARE SOME MEMORABLE MOMENTS AND THOUGHTS THAT STILL RESONATE EVEN TO THIS DAY ABOUT BILL AND GRACE.
THEY BRING A SMILE WHEN I THINK OF HIM.
A QUICK BACKGROUND:
ENGLISH – JOINED THE RAF AS A HALTON APPRENTICE IN THE MID-1930S.. WHEN WAR BROKE OUT – TRAINED AS A PILOT. INSTRUCTED IN PENHOLD NEAR RED DEER.
MET CHARMING LOCAL GIRL, GRACE, SWEPT HER OFF HER FEET TOOK HER BACK TO ENGLAND.
BILL FLEW IN THE BERLIN AIRLIFT IN 1948 AND THEN IN KENYA WHEN IT WAS STILL A COLONY. CLAIM TO FAME – FLEW JOMO KENYETTA
RETIRED AS A SQN LDR
RETURNED TO EDMONTON
JOINED ED WEST NEAR ITS BEGINNINGS
OUTGOING AND DASHING – SALES HIS FORTE. AS WAS RECRUITING FOR ROTARY
TOOK HIM INTO MANY CORPORATIONS. ALWAYS ASKED IF THEY OR SOMEONE THERE WERE ANY YOUNG GUYS IN THE COMPANY WHO COULD JOIN ROTARY.
TRUE STORY – AT INLAND CEMENT HE MADE THE PITCH TO BILL ZEILGLER, PRESIDENT – HE FINGERED ZEN AND THE REST IS HISTORY – ONE OF OUR SUPERB ROTARIANS.
AS DG 77-78 – OUR FIRST FROM THE CLUB. DISTRICT 5360, THE LARGEST BY AREA IN RI, COVERED THE ENTIRE PROVINCE AND IN THE DAYS OF TELEPHONE AND LETTER WRITING, IT WAS AN ENORMOUS TASK TO DRIVE THE PROVINCE . HE ALSO RECRUITED THE YELLOWKNIFE CLUB. WORKED ENORMOUSLY HARD. GRACE WAS THERE IN SUPPORT.
AFTER HIS FAMILY, ROTARY WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN HIS LIFE.
A CLASS ACT –DEAD SET AGAINST WOMEN JOINING ROTARY. HOWEVER, ONCE THEY CAME IN (ANN ORSINI) OUR FIRST, HE HAD THE GUTS TO SAY HE HAD BEEN COMPLETELY WRONG IN HIS OPINION AND WELCOMED THEM WITH OPEN ARMS.
A SENSE OF HUMOUR – STAPLES FOR ROTARY
PRIDE IN EMPIRE – GOD SAVE THE QUEEN – DISAPPOINTED
RETIREMENT – SENIOR’S BUS PASS BECAUSE HE COULD.
GRACE SUPPORTIVE ALL THE WAY – WE MADE HER AN HONOURARY MEMBER AND SHE PARTICIPATED TO THE MAX EVEN IN HER 90’S. THEY SET THE TONE FOR A NUMBER OF US.
BILL’S DEDICATION, LEADERSHIP, HUMOUR AND EXEMPLARY ABIDANCE TO THE 4-WAY TEST WERE HALLMARKS. HE IMPRESSED ME AS HE DID MANY OF US WHO REMEMBER HIM FONDLY AS WHAT WE, AS ROTARIANS, SHOULD STRIVE TO BE.
Sherry Holmes has arranged for some members to participate in Read-in-Week. The volunteers will share a book with a class of students in the school library. The theme for READ IN this year is Bringing Stories to Life. The purpose of READ-IN 2018 is to create a greater awareness of the importance of reading.
Cole spoke today about the exciting plans their club has for this year. They will be focusing on volunteering, social events and networking. Last years successful Fundraising Gala will be repeated and the funds will go to End Polio Now. We look forward to working along side the MacEwan Rotaractors this year.
