The Westerner for February 25, 2013

Posted by Ben Doz 
on Feb 26, 2013
 

Meeting:  Chair - Rob; Music - Jerome; Grace - Fred

Attendance - 26, no guests

Announcements / Meeting Notes:

  • Lorne Proctor has tickets for the Centennial Interact Club fundraising dinner on Friday, March 8th.  Tickets are $50 and it will be at the Ramada hotel.
  • Bob Lamoureux passed around a sign-up sheet for an Ethnic (Central American) Dinner on Thursday, March 7th.  Call Bob if you missed getting your name(s) on the sheet.
  • Duane Evans reported on his visit to Placencia, Belize last week.  Thanks to the generosity of Chris Gowers, we arranged for a Paul Harris Fellowship to be presented to the Principal of Independence High School for his great work in inspiring students to excel in their work and his management of hardship funds which keep some of the poorer students in school.  The presentation was made at the regular Placencia Rotary Club meeting.  Principal Omar has invited the Presidents of the two Rotary Clubs (Placencia & Edmonton West) to speak at their graduation ceremonies on June 8th.  Duane & Cathy finalized arrangements for this upcoming Summer Tutorial Program which will be held in both Seine Bight and Placencia, and which will utilize the talents of our 8 Scholarship Students to implement much of the program.
  • 50/50 Draw - Al Holmes & Benjamin Doz did not match cards.  Pot was $72 (so much for my early retirement - Ben).
  • Finemaster Lorne Proctor extracted a looney or more from everyone.
  • District Conference October 4th & 5th, 2013 is being hosted by the Rotary Club of Edmonton Glenora.  If you plan to attend, you can save $75 off the $375 regular registration fee if you register by this Thursday, February 28th.  Go to www.conference5370-2013.ca to register.  If you have never been to a District Conference, they have a "Rookie Rate" of $250 - an incredible bargain.
  • After you save that $75, make a contribution to Polio Plus and have it matched with $2 for every $1 you contribute.  This also must happen before the end of February.  Go to www.TRFCanada.org to contribute.  The matching will be done by The Government of Canada and the Gates Foundation.  Be sure to select PolioPlus.
  • Spring Training sessions for Club leaders will be held March 1 & 2 at The Holiday Inn Conference Centre - 4485 Gateway Boulevard in Edmonton.  If you have not registered, go to office@rotary5370.org to do so.  These are very well organized sessions and you will really learn about Rotary.

PROGRAM - MARIANA UPDATE

President Rob introduced Past President Lorne Proctor (97-98) to give us an update on our former Rotary Exchange Student Mariana from Guadalajara, Mexico.  Lorne visited her earlier this year.  Mariana was hosted by our Club during the 2006-07 Rotary year.

While together, Lorne & Mariana created a PowerPoint Presentation which Lorne used today.  It included introductory and closing videos from Mariana plus many photos illustrating her work with UNIDOS.

In the introductory video, she thanked her hosts the Sandersons, the Sollows and the Dunseiths, as well as Lorne for his mentorship and the other members for their support and friendship.  That year in Edmonton has had a profound positive effect on her life.

Since graduating from University, Mariana has been working with UNIDOS, an organization which fosters the acceptance of the handicapped in Mexican society.  Handicapped individuals represent 5% of the population of Mexico, and they are often marginalized.  UNIDOS was founded in Monterrey in 1987, but has now grown to some 460 volunteers which last year provided assistance to some 450 disabled persons.  It does this by helping with outings, workshops and interviews.  Excursions include sleepovers, dances, movies, bowling, swimming, beach trips, zoo trips, dance lessons, karaoke, crafts and cooking events.  Interviews help the inclusion of volunteers, including school age children, and adds to the high level of volunteerism that UNIDOS accomplishes.

Marianna is seeking cooperation of Rotary Clubs, including Edmonton West, and the Puerto Vallarta Club in co-sponsorship of UNIDOS.

Lorne was thanked by Past President John Blimke, who noted the great effect our International Exchange Program has on its recipients, and the kind of person it created in Mariana.