Meeting:  chair, Ingrid; music, Jerome; grace, Sherry; attendance, 35 including guests Elizabeth Scott, James Cummings, Bill McGregor, Rob Dingman, Darren Lee

 

 

New Venue:  with news that the Edmonton Petroleum Club will close effective January 1, 2015, Ingrid is looking into replacement sites and will report to the board of directors

 

Casino Volunteers:  if you have not signed up for a shift for the January 7-8, 2015, casino, please call Fred

 

Rotary Club of Edmonton West Contact Teams:  Ingrid thanked the people that have agreed to be the telephone contact for the new teams - the team lists will be distributed soon

 

Habitat for Humanity:  waiver forms for each volunteer for the November 1, 2014, activity are due this week; if you have not turned yours in, please contact Ingrid

 

Rotary Club of Edmonton West Project Vests:  Ingrid displayed a new vest that Rotarians will be able to wear while participating in projects at visible public venues, such as Habitat for Humanity, which proclaim Rotary At Work

 

No Meeting:  Board of Directors have determined that the club will not meet on November 10, to honour Remembrance Day

 

PAWS Program:  Lorne thanked those who contributed Canadian Tire Money - a cheque is being delivered to the Zebra Child Protection Association for $250

 

50/50:  Brian and Ben did not match cards, $220 carried over

 

Al Hamilton & Friends Golf Tournament:  Wayne advised the best year's results ever; $50,293 raised for the good of Rotary

Ingrid thanked the main organizers being Wayne, John, Lorne, and Brian for a job well done and for the many years of organizing

 

Cambodia:  Darryll White announced that; due to the effects of our water lagoon project and the donation of bicycles to students (among many other projects) the number of students attending that school has increased from 83 to about 160;  very good news for a depressed area of Cambodia

Guest Speaker:  Rob Dunseith introduced James Cumming, Chief Executive Officer and Past President of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce.  James is a specialist in strategic planning and administration and his introduction included many business and volunteer activities resulting James being named one of NAIT's Top 50 Alumni.  His next challenge is to run in the next federal election as a Conservative candidate in Edmonton Centre where he has lived his entire life.

 

Edmonton Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1889 as the Board of Trade and has become the largest Chamber of Commerce in Canada.  There are 2700 members who employ about 130,000 with 85% of the members being small business.  The chamber aims to be in the forefront of important business issues and to help create the best business environment for Edmonton.  Its policies are developed by volunteers.

 

James' business history included investing in Cormode & Dickson Construction in 1983 when the business environment was less than perfect due to the downturn from the National Energy Program.  James quickly learned about marketing and cash flow.  He then had to learn leadership and recruitment of good talent when he became president of the firm in 1986.  He commented on the volunteerism of Edmontonians which develops an entrepreneurial spirit. 

 

The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce is a member of networks including the Alberta and Federal Chambers of Commerce.  Edmonton has one of the most successful economies in North America which mirrors the success of local small businesses.  For long term economic growth there has to be leadership and regional cooperation.  Business likes stability so we have to get through the upcoming by elections and get the rules of investment stable.  Today's decisions are created for growth over the next several years.  We need a stable capital region board and the possible merger of local municipalities.  We need to identify our business area for simple Google searches to assist queries from potential customers and investors.  We also need to get our commodities to market.  Since we are land locked, that means pipelines with railroads to pick up the slack.  Pipelines are the fastest, safest method of commodity transport for our type of commodities ( oil, grain).  The voice of business in Edmonton taps into local business for advice.

 

James was thanked by Lorne.