The Westerner for August 31, 2009
Meeting: chair, Ben Doz; music, Jerome; grace, Bill Buckham
Attendance/Guests: 38 including Ivan Docker, Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona; Tony Thibaudeau, Rotary Club of Edmonton Gateway; Alex Paterson, guest speaker
Robust Reds for Rotary: Rotary Club of Edmonton Gateway is presenting a night to sample over 100 wines with live and silent auction. Thursday, September 24 @ 7:00 pm @ Delta Edmonton South, $50 per ticket, tickets available @ Signature Group Liquor Stores (includes Aligra @ 1423 West Edmonton Mall & Sherbrooke Wine @ 11819 St Albert Trail)
Evening With Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence: September 21, 5:00 - 7:00, Empire Room, Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, $200 which gives tax receipt for $150, call Brenda Murphy 780-493-6539; fund raiser for Laurie Hawn, MP
New Computer Access for our club: thanks to Ross
Shut In Member Report: Bill Buckham reported Erika is healthy, @ home; Al MacLean is in good spirits, corresponding by email; Al Holmes is seriously ill, attending Cross Cancer Institure for tests but living @ home
Proposed New Member - second publication: Mike Henry, Associate Dean, School of Business @ Grant MacEwan College, proposed by Al Sanderson
No Meeting Next Week: Edmonton Petroleum Club is closed for Labour Day
50/50: $312 no match by Dan Graham and Doug MacDougall; second draw for artistic pen holder donated by Alex Paterson - won by Bert; third draw for 2 tickets donated by Tony Thibaudeau for Robust Reds - won by Ivan Docker and Dave
Finemaster: Wayne did not generate much funding from his first 4 questions - who is new ambassador to USA - Gary Doer; who scored winning points for Edmonton Eskimos in last game - kicker Prefontaine; who are Edmonton Capitals playing in baseball playoffs - Calgary Vipers; what is name of new ruling party in Japan - Democratic Party; but he got everyone with $2 if you were breathing within the last 2 minutes
Guest Speaker: Lynette introduced Alex Paterson who is co-owner, with his wife Louise, of Tu Gallery (Tu in many languages means you). Alex got into this business after retiring from heating and air conditioning business after 28 years (he is also registered for conflict management). Alex wanted to work with wood and took a course @ NAIT. He found that local artisans had no place to display their wares or art products so he started the gallery, concentrating on wood furniture at first.
Displaying "Functional Art", Tu Gallery is dedicated to show & sell work of over 100 local artists (from Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan). He has contact with Keep Edmonton Original which is devoted to helping local small businesses. If you deal with a locally owned business you keep $40 of every $100 in the Edmonton economy; if you buy from national chain stores, only $20 stays here.
Artists are dedicated to their love of their work - they may not earn enough to pay all of their bills every month. Tu is proud to represent local artists - fabulous talent.
Alex was thanked by Ron.
Rotary Leaders Coming to Edmonton
From September 14th to September 20th, many of the top leaders of Rotary International will be in Edmonton attending the 2009 Edmonton Rotary Institute. On Monday the Governors 2010-11 (DGE) arrive for an evening of activities, which will be followed by Governor Elects Training on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Governors 2011-12 (DGN), District Trainers and District Foundation Chairs will arrive on Tuesday and will take part in a variety of training seminars and sessions on Wednesday.
PDGs from Zone 24 arrive Wednesday and all come together with a reception and Zone 24 Recognition Dinner where Districts and Rotarians are honoured for their outstanding achievements.
On Thursday, the Institute officially opens with RI President John Kenny. The day is devoted to the Rotary Foundation with many sessions and speakers. In the evening, RI Past President Cliff Dochterman speaks at the Zone Gala Evening function.
On Friday, RI President John Kenny will be speaking to all the delegates as well as many Rotarians from our District 5370. In the evening Class Reunions will be held at many downtown Edmonton restaurants.
After the Saturday sessions, everyone will head for Fort Edmonton Park for the "Party on the Prairie".
Our Club has considerable involvement with this conference. Past District Governors Alan MacLean and Dan Graham, Jerome Martin, Bill Buckham, Lorne Proctor and Brian Thompson have been working on the Institute Committee which is jointly headed by PDGs Julius Buski and Judy Harcourt.
As of this date, 165 Rotarians and 82 Spouses are registered to attend this event.