Whoop~Up Bulletin
Vol.86, No.1, July 7, 2003
Upcoming (Meeting days in black)
Newly Installed President Bernie at the pulpit
Greeter Mark Sabourin introduced:
Pilar Gateman
Ric Casson, Guest Speaker
Christina Matteotti
Bruce Anderson, Sunrise
Bev Atherstone Muendel
Kevin Ronan
Dorinda Emery
Iain, who is Elisabeth's first blessed event and
Kristie, who is her second. . .
Stephanie Sanderson, Sunrise
David Cassidy Jr., David Senior's first blessed event
Eleanor Hawthorne
Rotary Blood Challenge
Stephanie reminds us that on Friday, Rotarians will be making the second donation in the name of Rotary. Stephanie, who flunked her blood test last time, has been licking rusty cars, taking iron supplements, and generally cramming for this Friday's Blood Test. She gets credit in the challenge for offering her blood, but has to wait the full 56 days before trying again. Stephanie introduced Dorinda Emery from Canadian Blood Services, who came to tell us that only 26 donors have signed the Rotary donation book. We need a landslide of other groups, clubs and individuals taking up the challenge.
Dorinda presented President Bernie with a certificate celebrating his 50th blood donation. Bernie tells us he is "O-negative," which seems peculiar for such a positive fellow. His rare blood type makes him valued as a donor whose blood can be used by newborn children. Tell us more about that Bernie. . .
Dues Due
Bernie thanks all Rotarians who have paid their annual dues, and those who are about to.
Waterton Peace Park
September 5-6-7. Includes golf, dinner, speaker: Senator Dan Hayes, and the highlight, "Hands-Across-The-Border," an especially appropriate event considering our present state.
July 21st Rotary Golf
Cam Lavoie has very few openings available. Supper is a separate occasion, and he needs to know how many are attending. More prizes would be appreciated.
We Don't Have To Sell Tickets!
Kendall Gibson tells us we are now legal. Lottery #203262 entitles us to run the Rotary Club of Lethbridge Summer Lottery which features over $120,000 in prizes. This fund-raiser will support the Galt Gardens Revitalization Project, which we have committed $200,000 to. Call 327-6098 or 1-800-267-2427 to purchase tickets at $25 each or 5 for $100.
Call Kendall if you have ideas for distributing brochures for this event. Thanks to Dick Turner for sending them out with his publication "Lotta Black Bull".
Ambassadorial Scholarship
Lottie introduced Christina Matteotti who is our selected nominee who will proceed to the District level. The program entitles the selected individual to study in a foreign country and promote peace and understanding, one person at a time. Christina is a student, a volunteer, works in Crisis support and at the Sexual Assault Center. She is delighted to represent Lethbridge and our Rotary clubs in this fantastic opportunity.
Sergeant At Arms
Robin Hood came riding through the forest of Rotarians ripe for the picking. He started with guest speaker Rick Casson, who was allowed to pay for keeping confidential Halifax Briar stuff out of the public eye. Bernie was fined for not correcting the Paul Harris Fellow certificate that names Robin O'Hood instead of Robin D. Hood as recipient. Robin blames that certificate for causing him to develop an urge to go out drinking and get rowdy, because it makes him feel like he's Irish. President Elect Darrell paid for his comment that Passing a Gavel sounds like a painful experience. Picking again on the Irish, he fined Pat Killoran and David Cassidy for not attending the ceremony where they would have received their 100% attendance pins. David Sr. paid again for having no imagination in choosing a name for his son David Jr. Stephanie paid for her bloody remarks. Robin alluded to his boring sex life that allows him to answer the blood donor quiz in all honesty. Doug McArthur paid for his association with the Lethbridge University Alumni Assn. LoraLee paid for marching to a different drummer in the Dragon Boat Festival. (Worse than that, she was the drummer in a non-Rotary boat.) Richard Beck, Bill Cade and Dalton Howe were fined for having birthdays, and Wayne H paid for a fictitious birthday.
Happy bucks from Pat K who said it's good to be Irish; Brian Treadwell for the opportunity to hear Stephen Graham and the barbershop quartet. Jack is still basking in the afterglow of the Dragon Boat Festival and the Rotary Rats who overcame adversity and rose to the stars. Further thanks to the volunteers, committees and John Q Hoopfer for all their hard work. Chris for being a part of the Rotary Rats Dragon Boat team, not the submarine team. Lottie cheerfully reports Judi Cassidy received her final checkup and was told not to come back. Bruce for being able to support Bernie in return for the same. Doug McArthur PUN-ished us with the story of the Eskimo who left no tern un-stoned. Thanks to Robin O'Hood for his delightful, short report. There are two kinds of people in this world - the Irish, and those who wish they were.
Board Meeting Tuesday
Tuesday, July 8, at 7 p.m. at Paul Pharos' office.
Guest Speaker
Bill Glover introduced Rick Casson who was first elected Member of Parliament in 1997, re-elected in 2000, and is the International Trade Critic for Agriculture, especially important in view of the BSE crisis and border closure.
Rick congratulates Rotary for it's community service including the recent St. Mikes Palliative gardens and the future Galt Gardens project.
BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy)
Since the U.S./Canada border closed to Canada ruminants, there has been a flash-out in the community into our economy and astronomical losses in the cattle and associated industries. Young farmers are going to lose their operations, truckers are in deep trouble, yet Carolyn Parrish and Francine Ducrois suffer no effects of losing their jobs. In Lethbridge, businesses have lost orders from Americans who decided to discontinue doing business with us.
Of the 950,000 cattle on feed in Canada, only 40% can be consumed domestically, and the other 60% must leave the country. Consumer confidence in the product remains high, but there is no home for these market animals. It is imperative that we have an open border. Local cattlemen Rick Paskal and Cor VanRaay accompanied Rick to Ottawa for a committee meeting to discuss the dire straights of the industry. One thought was that 250# of prime cuts from each animal be taken, and the rest of the animal be composted in an effort to deal with the massive over-supply without our global market. These are growing, living, animals, not trees, so we cannot take years to solve the problem as the softwood issues have taken.
$460 million is a lot of money to throw at the problem to try and save the industry. The problem is, the packers are reducing their bids by the amount of money we threw at the cattle industry. These packers are largely American-owned. Re-opening the border is the only thing that will have a positive effect.
Japanese Hold The Ace
Right now, the Japanese hold the ace in their requirements that all beef sold from the U.S. to Japan be free of Canadian beef content. That demand on content has been extended to September 1, which is both good and bad news - good, in that beef sales to Japan have not yet been blocked from the U.S., but bad that the threat to commence in September still hangs over our heads. Rick thanks all towns, industries and communities for their support in dealing with the border closures, and asks us to keep it up.
The agriculture committee has made all recommendations and filed reports in both official languages so the Japanese can read it in French. There has been no indication from the U.S. or Japan as to what else we need to do to get the border open. This week, Rick, Monty Solberg and Stephen Harper are traveling to Montana to meet with Senator Burns, and then on to Washington to meet with the Chair of the Ag committee, the Secretary of Commerce and other high level government people. Rick says we need to sit shoulder to shoulder at the table to discuss this issue; however, it would have been easier to talk if we had supported the U.S. in their time of need. How much of our present border problems arise from the anti-American rhetoric coming from Ottawa? About 90%, he says.
Same Sex Marriage
Rick's office is being flooded with e-mail from voters opposed to same sex marriage. The courts have deemed as discriminatory the Provincial definitions of marriage being the union of a man and a woman. The Feds have not challenged that court decision. Will the Supreme Court now deem churches who do not condone same sex marriage as discriminatory? What about Provinces that define marriage as the union of a man and a woman? Input from the public on this issue has been thwarted by the Feds, and people no longer feel able to be a part of solving the issue.
200,000 Criminals
As of July 1, those who refused to register firearms were deemed to be criminals; however, another grace period has given an extension to the deadline. What does this mean when Provinces have declared they will not enforce the law? Should we feel safe now that gangsters have registered their guns? What has the $1 billion cost of this flawed program accomplished when 90% of database queries have errors? The feds refuse to make changes to the law. Only a regime change will see gun registry changes. This retroactive registry is costing a billion dollars. That is a billion dollars to fight Canadian duck hunters that should have been used to oppose Saddam Hussein.
What Are They Toking?
The plans to decriminalize marijuana is rife with questions. While there might be some redeeming qualities, Rick will not be voting in favour of decriminalization. How can an illegal product be raised and distributed? The Feds spend big money trying to grow marijuana in an old mine at Flin Flon, but could not produce a product of consistent potency. How can possession of 40 joints be considered private use? We have drunk-driving legislation, will we develop drugged-driving legislation? Why are we spending time on this half- thought-out legislation when we have matters of national importance that are not being dealt with?
Public Funding of Campaigns
The Liberals introduced legislation that will change the way companies and individuals can support political parties. Are tax payers willing to fund election campaigns with tax dollars? Yes, the system needs changes, but not like this.
National Missile Defense System
Rick attended meetings in the U.S. to discuss this plan, which is not a star wars concept. This is a ground-based intercept system in which incoming missiles would be intercepted at such high altitudes that fallout would be incinerated on re-entry. Our common 3000 mile long border requires us to work with our American neighbours.
Next Election Coming
All signs point to a spring 2004 election that will occur before the boundary changes that will eventually add a seat to Calgary and to Edmonton.
Alliance PC Relations
We have a solid core of similarity, but many dissimilar values. We question why Peter McKay would allow David Orchard to dictate so much of the future of the PC party. There is a small amount of wiggle room in the deal he cut to gain the votes needed to become leader of the party.
Child Safety
Ellie thanked Rick for his private member's bill that allows law enforcement agencies to seize all equipment used to produce child pornography, and for his great efforts to increase the safety of children in Canada.
Rick says there is much more work to be done. Why, he asks, in a charge of drug possession, can the police bring only a sample of the illegal substance to court, but in a charge of pornography, they must catalogue each and every photo. In some instances photos are taken of children under 4 months who are being abused. He thanks Ellie for putting her life and soul into Child Find to bring safety to our children.
Gift of Sight
Bernie thanked Rick for his presentation, wished him good luck in Washington, and gave him a Gift of Sight. Will Rick be able to pass on the gift to people in Ottawa?
Draw
Rick drew Dale Merchant for $10, and Glen Varzari for $5.00
Photos from last week:
On June 30, 2003, Incoming President Bernie Carriere presented outgoing President Frank Vasil with a plaque in recognition of his year long contribution to Rotary.
Rotarian Elizabeth Rossnagel is awarded Rookie member of the year.
A speechless Murray Anderson receives Rotarian of the year honours.
Perfect attendance for Frank, Darrell, Bernie, Jamie, Wayne and Murray
Hanski bids us good bye and a tearful thanks for an awesome year.
"We endeavor to tell the truth in all reporting."