Meeting:  chair, Ingrid; music, Jerome; grace, Ben; attendance 32 including Kelsea Gillespie and Kendra Thompson, president and vice president respectively of Concordia University Model United Nations Club; Cedrick LeBlanc, guest

 

Induction of member:  Mike introduced Leslie Cleary as a new member and advised of her vast business history which includes being a school trustee in Edmonton.  Leslie is married to Kevin (retired from G M) and they have a 22 year old son Casey.  President Ingrid performed the induction ceremony

 

Gift Cards:  Rob Dunseith has Safeway, SaveOn and Sobeys cards available; please order from him and support our club's funding of international projects

 

Social Events:  Spencer mentioned that 21 people participated in the Wine & Beyond Night.  December 19 is our night for the Rotary Club's Christmas Party, see Spencer to get your tickets at $50 per person; function is at the U of A Faculty Club.

 

Habitat for Humanity:  on November 1, participants need to be there by 8:15 a m for training or they won't be able to build.  Location is south on 111 Street which becomes James Mowat Trail south of Ellerslie Road, turn right onto 17 Ave S W.  Bring socks for wearing inside steel toed boots.

 

No Meeting November 10 in lieu of Remembrance Day 

Finemaster:  Ed gave happy bucks for the celebration of his 50th anniversary in France; he then raised fine monies from table questions based on the Rotarian article about Polio Vaccine discover Jonas Salk.  Questions raised answers such as Franklin D. Roosevelt (most famous polio victim) and 1957(year vaccine was released for use).

 

50/50:  Jim Spalding and Brad did not match cards; more than $220 carried over.

 

Guest Speakers:  Mike Ryan introduced Kelsea and Kendra who are both studying in the BA Faculty of Concordia University and both are majoring in English.  They advised that the Model U N Club of Concordia University has been raising funds to enable 8 students to travel to Rome in November, 2014 to partake in the international U N Model Proceedings.

 

The premise of the Model United Nations process is to develop the next generation of leaders, citizens, speakers.  It engages politically minded and motivated students to learn the United Nations rules of procedures, to develop worthwhile solutions for world wide events and refine their public speaking skills.  Using negotiation and networking skills they develop an increased understanding of global issues.  They each represent a member state and must learn that state's culture and approach to international and national relationships so they can speak on that state's behalf.  As a result they come to appreciate diverse views and experience thorough research and clear written communication..

 

In the upcoming U N conference, the 8 students will represent Jordan, which is 92% Muslim.  They have to research Muslim law and theology.  They will be representing Jordan in the following venues:  General Assembly, Food and Agriculture Forum and Security Council.  Being relatively new to the Model U N proceedings, they are very lucky to have been selected to participate in the Security Council.  They will also be representing Eritrea, Africa.

 

Jordan has a very liberal monarch and a down to earth queen.  Eritrea has special needs as it has earned independence from Ethiopia which brings to the fore the subjects:  protection of journalists in armed conflicts, women's peace and security; sexual violence in conflict, education/nutrition in primary schools.

 

The group has recently attended small local conferences in Calgary & Red Deer.  Last year, Kendra attended the international conference held in South Korea with 3 others.  They earned honourable mention which was a considerable honour as this was the Concordia University's first international conference.  The 4 represented Denmark.  Next year, fund raising hopefully will enable attendance at the Edmonton conference and the supreme conference in 2016 being in the actual United Nations site in New York.

 

The budget for 8 going to Rome is $16,000.  They levied a fee to each participant and received some financial support from Concordia University and Concordia University Alumni.  They hope to be able to send 16 to New York in 2016.

 

Kelsea and Kendra were thanked by Mike Ryan.