The Westerner for November 9, 2009

Announcements:

• Front Desk Volunteers - Please call Rob Dunseith to volunteer your turn at the front desk to help sell 50/50 and/or lunch tickets and to meet and greet our guests.
• Capital Care Grandview - Due to the H1N1 situation, Capital Care Grandview has reluctantly cancelled our upcoming events at Grandview Hospital.
• District Governor Nominee Designate - Kevin Hilger has been nominated as a future District Governor for our Rotary District 5370.
• Pot Luck Dinner - This coming Saturday, November 14th, to meet the young people from Huehuetenango, Guatemala.  These young people have acted as helpers / translators for the eye clinics, and we want to extend a warm friendly welcome to them.  Come anytime from 6:00 pm and bring a potluck item for supper (salad, main course or desert).  Soft drinks, coffee, etc. will be provided, but BYOB.  Please call Kathleen or Chris and let them know if you are coming.  Directions to Kathleen and Chris Gowers home:
  • Address:  738 Hendra Crescent (Riverbend)
  • Telephone:  780-437-3783
  • From Whitemud, take Terwilligar Drive south
  • Take Rabbit Hill Road (second right)
  • Continue to 4-way stop (Riverbend Road)
  • Turn left
  • First right turn onto Henderson Street
  • Continue until corner of park.
  • Turn left on to Hendra Crescent
  • Take first keyhole on the right to #738 
• District Governor's Visit - Next Monday, November 16th - 7:00 pm for desert & refreshments only.  No noon meeting.  Come out and meet DG Terry Drader and the members of the Interact and Rotaract Clubs.
• Club Christmas Party - Monday, November 23 at the Faculty Club.  Cocktails (cash bar) 6:00 pm.  Dinner 7:00 pm.  Choice of Prime Rib with Yorkshire Pudding or Baked Acorn Squash with Mushroom Risotto.  Garlic mashed potatoes, 2 fresh vegetables, frozen chocolate mousse with chocolate strawberry & whipped cream.  Coffee or tea.  $20.00 pp.  Please call Bob Lamoureux if you did not sign the sign-up sheet.  Cut-off date is November 19th.  No-shows will be charged.
• Paul Harris Fellowship Award - Awarded to Bernie Galbraith for his volunteer service provided on the Belize education project.  Bernie is a career Science Teacher who has in later years created science courses and educational text books on the teaching of science.  He created the science curriculum for the new Belize program.  PDG Ross Tyson and DGE Jackie Hobal spoke highly of Bernie's contributions to the project.  Bernie responded with praise for Rotary's efforts to upgrade the Belize Educational system.
• New Club Members - President Ben inducted Ralph Makokis and George Emery into membership.
• 50/50 Draw - Wayne Ellis and Steve McEachern did not match cards.
• Finemaster - Lynette Esak pretty much stumped us with questions about FarmFair and Alberta symbols. 

PROGRAM:   DAVID HANCOCK, MINISTER OF EDUCATION FOR ALBERTA

Rob Dunseith introduced Minister Hancock, mentioning his upbringing in remote northern communities, and his Law degree from the University of Alberta.

Dave started out by thanking the members of the Rotary Club for our efforts to better the local community and the world.  He spoke of the "Alberta Advantage" being it's people, not it's resources.  Rotarians export this advantage with our international relationships.  Dave also mentioned our House of Frienship addition at Grandview, for which he was instrumental in obtaining funding from the Alberta Government.

David Hancock recently met with PDG's Ross Tyson and Julius Buski in regard to funding for the Belize project.  Much of the matching funds came from the Wild Rose Foundation, which has now been suspended.  Dave recognizes that this is a very important project, not only for Belize, but it is beneficial for many Albertans as well.  He also noted that it is a good example of people not relying on government to do everything.

Minister Hancock believes that we have a very good education system here in Alberta.  He attends meetings with Education Ministers from all over the world, and many of them study what we do and try to emulate it in their jurisdictions.  Apparently, we are rated in the top 4 or 5 in the world, so we have much to be proud of.

But having a good system today does not mean we will have a good system tomorrow.  And even if it is rated highly there are aspects that are still not good enough - for example, participation by aboriginals and a too high drop-out rate by certain groups.  Minister Hancock says the status quo is not acceptable, and he is actively seeking input from parents and other citizens on how to change the system to make it better.

Learning happens everywhere, not just in the schoolroom.  Successful students always have a mentor or role model who inspired them to achieve something.  Mentorship will have a role in an improved system.

Technology is changing what we do and how we do it.  Studies have shown that use of the internet slows down while students are at school.  Is that a good thing or a bad thing?  What technologies do our students need in order to be able to learn?

Our current schools are based on old models and paradigms.  Alberta will be making some changes to the School Act so that important upgrades can occur.  Minister Hancock sees a crucial role for Rotary with it's Interact Clubs and Rotaract Clubs and the mentoring role that Rotarians can play.

Jerome Martin suggested to Dave that Minister of Learning would be a better name than Minister of Education, because of the connotations of the names.  Minister Hancock reminded Jerome that a few years ago, he actually did change the name, but when the ministries recently got split up, the name somehow reverted to the old one.  Dave also noted that his favourite motto now, is "Every Child Every Day, No Exceptions".

Chris Gowers thanked Dave Hancock for his presentation