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Posted by David Gibbens
on Nov 19, 2013
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Meeting: Chair - Darrel Ripley; Grace - Bob Kimmerly
Attendance / Guests: 18, including Bart Paterson from the St. City Club and Mary Drader from Drayton Valley
Announcements:
- It was announced via Al Holmes that Charter President Ben Lang had just passed away. The location and date of the funeral was not yet known.
- A moment of silence was held in Ben's honour.
- Doug MacDougall has been released from the U of A Hospital, and is now resting at home.
- The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Rotary Club of Edmonton West Society will be held on Monday, December 9th.
- Finemaster Bill Buckham fined most in the room for being happy that the Saskatchewan Roughriders won the Western Final and will also play in the Grey Cup in Regina, failure to shovel snow, and other miscellaneous fines.
- Bill also reminded everyone that when they see a person in uniform to thank them for serving - you don't have to wait until Remembrance Day.
- 50/50 Draw - Darrel Ripley and Rob Dunseith did not match, so there will be and increase in the pot for the next meeting.
- Happy Bucks - A baby-faced Mike Ryan donated a Happy Buck and explained the absence of his moustache.
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PROGRAM - ROTARY FOUNDATION
Rob Dunseith welcomed and introduced Mary Drader, Chair, Annual Program Fund, Committee from Drayton Valley
Due to the fact that November is Rotary Foundation Month, Mary thought it was very timely to provide an update and information on the Rotary Foundation.
Explanations were given on the three (3) main ways to give through the Rotary Foundation. These include:
- Annual Program Fund
- Permanent Fund
- Polio Plus Fund
Contributions from Rotary districts, clubs, Rotarians, and others go into the Annual Programs Fund to support The Rotary Foundation's humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs. These contributions are invested for a three-year period before being released back to districts to be spent on Rotary Foundation programs. For example, contributions raised in 2013-14 will fund programs in 2016-17.
Through SHARE, 50 percent of gifts are returned to districts directly through their District Desinated Funds (DDF) and 50 percent to the World Fund to provide grants for humanitarian programs and a Group Study Exchange for every district. Earnings from Annual Programs Fund investments pay for fund development and general administrative expenses. These earnings are reflected in The Rotary Foundation's financial statements under Annual Programs Fund--Earned Income from Investments.
With Respect to the Polio Plus fund, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will once again match Rotary Funds on a 2 to 1 basis and have challenged us to raise 35 million dollars to finally eradicate polio from the world as we are this close.
Mary then gave a snapshot of Edmonton West giving:
- Edmonton West has donated $184,516 all time.
- Edmonton West has donated $40,661 to the Polio Plus Fund.
- Edmonton West is at or above district average in all giving accounts.
- We have 8 benefactors, 27 Paul Harris Fellows and 1 Paul Harris Society member
Questions were put forward on what type of funds can be used for these kinds of donations and issues around the eradication of polio in particular to the recent outbreak in Syria.
Dan Graham thanked Mary for her timely and informative presentation and especially thanked her for coming all the way from Drayton Valley after the snowstorm that we received on the weekend.
We are all reminded that November is Foundation Month, so if you haven't yet donated to the Rotary Foundation, now is a very good time to do it. This is OUR Charity!
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