The Westerner for October 25, 2010
Meeting: chair, Mike Ryan; music, Jerome; grace, Brian
Attendance/Guests: 40 including Perry Hendriks, guest of Doug Sollows; Viviane Forest, guest speaker; Carrie Anton, aid to Viviane; Susan King, guest of Duane; Nadine Fulmer, Rotary Club of Edmonton Northeast and Rotary District 5370 Employment Partnership; Jaye Lee, guest of Jim Spalding (Jaye used to teach disabled skiers)
Thankyou: Sherry thanks the Rotarians who supported the Literacy Project @ Lansdowne School - they read, @ the school in October, to classes of students - excellent support and promotion of literacy is appreciated - special thankyou to Doug MacDougall, Chris, Jerome, Bill Buckham
Hockey Pool Winners: Kathleen Gowers, Bill Storoschuk, Wayne
Sally Ann: sign up sheet will be circulated to work Christmas kettles for Salvation Army
Fellowship Dinners: Bob Lamoureux announced they will start about end of November
Future Rotary Dates: Christmas Function: November 27 @ Highlands Golf Club, Grandview Luncheon - November 8; Club Assembley - November 15
Homes for Holidays: Alex advised Tu Gallery is a sponsor - tickets to visit the 5 decorated homes are available from him or the gallery , $30, proceeds to charity
Lest We Forget Concert: Jim Spalding has tickets, $20, honouring 100 years for Canadian Navy, Winspear Centre, November 7, performed by Cosmopolitan Music Society
50/50: Doug MacDougall and Sherry did not match cards
Finemaster: Dan Graham fined Danny Chau $2 for illegal parking of car; everyone $1 if not wearing Rotary pin; table questions - how many worldwide Rotarians (1.2 million), how many worldwide Rotary clubs (33,000), Rotary is in how many countries (over 200), how many Rotary clubs in Canada (733), recite 4 Way Test (Is it the Truth, Is it Fair to all concerned, Will it build GoodWill and better friendships, Will it be Beneficial to all concerned)
Guest Speaker: Duane introduced Viviane Forest (pronounced Foree) who has only 4% vision but has won medals in both summer and winter Paralympics. Viviane is currently from Edmonton but was born and raised in Montreal. She has been nominated for Global Woman of Vision Award.
Besides only 4% vision, Viviane is an albino but is blessed with very good hearing. She was severly challenged when she started school but eventually was placed in a school for the blind, being taught by blind teachers - learned Braille which has raised symbols for each letter but also has contractions for each word otherwise a message could not be written on one piece of paper. She gained validation when she started to compete in sports - learn the rules, helps with the rest of life. When she moved to Alberta, she learned English and found an organization that supports disabled skiers. She was pushed to compete and did so once she gained more confidence. She circulated some of her medals including downhill skiing, Super G, slalom.
When she was 4 years old, her grandfather was watching the Olympics on TV and she decided she wanted to be there. She started with hockey but with her limited range of vision (only 10 degrees), she suffered a number of head injuries so switced to ringette (broke her leg in 4 places), swimming and goalball (all players are blindfolded then they roll a hard ball which the players block with their bodies - a brutal sport). She learned how to fall which helps in skiing (after winning her gold medal in August, she fell @ the finish line and damaged tendons in her hand - still wearing a cast).
Viviane needs a sponsor or sponsors to be able to pay living expenses. Weather Network was a sponsor but have given up due to recession. She is working to expand the influence of Paralympics. There was no cash prize with her medals.
Viviane was thanked by Dave.