Outgoing President Frank at the pulpit

Greeter Loralee Burton introduced:

Judi Cassidy

Robert Wilson, Fort McMurray

Robert Wilson Sr., Lethbridge East

Marc Oulette

Dean Davis

Ted Stilson

Paul MacDonald

Brian Treadwell, Sunrise

Dragon Boat Practice and Fellowship

Wednesday, June 11, at 6:00 p.m.  Linda needs a paddle.  All equipment supplied, just bring your enthusiasm and get a bit of exercise.  We really need two medium-weight, right-hand paddlers to offset Wayne on the left side.  We have been short of paddlers and had to borrow some from another club just to get the minimum required to practice.  In answer to those who paddled last year's submarine entry, this year's boats are going to be bigger, taller, longer, heavier, ocean going craft, so we will be able to handle windy conditions without swamping.  Give it a try.  If it really isn't your cuppa tea, you can bow out gracefully, but our guess is you will be hooked.  No, you don't need to RSVP, just show up; PLEASE!

Monday, July 21, Rotary Golf

Mark your calendar. July 21, 2003, Cam Lavoie has lined up the Country Club Course for the Annual Rotary Golf Tournament.  Limited to 12 tee times (the first 48 players).  Open to Rotarians, partners, prospective Rotarians and Guests.  Supper tickets available to all.  Call Cam at 320-7778 or John Keenan at 320-9000 to donate prizes.  More details later.

Back Up from Down Under

Bernie brought back banners from: Kumamoto, Japan; Planetarium Club, Brisbane, Australia; Loveland, Colorado.

He built his annual vacation around the 2003 RI convention, and spent time in Fiji and one week in Brisbane before the event.  The conference from May 29 to June 4 included RYLA and ROTORACT.  SARS is blamed for reducing the expected 20,000 participants to 16,500.  Bernie booked accommodation in December of 2002, and the closest he could get to Brisbane was at the Gold Coast, 90 minutes away.  However, they had great bus service and made good time. 

The conference was held on the Expo 88 site which is huge.  One building could hold two and a half to three of our Enmax buildings.  Two new Rotary Clubs were chartered; one in Timor and one in Kabul, Afghanistan.   The President of the club left Afghanistan and her husband years ago so she could raise and educate her children in London, England.  She recently returned to help rebuild her country after the Taliban was removed from power. 

Olympic swimmer, Susie O'Niel gave an inspirational speech.  Bhichai Rattakul R.I. President presided over the sessions and turned the role over to Jonathan Majiyagbe, next year's president and the first person in that position to come from Africa.  His theme is "Lend A Hand." 

Bernie enjoyed the Paul Harris Reception and the Home Hospitality Evening with his Australian host whose son had recently joined the French Foreign Legion.  That made for interesting discussion with the other Rotarian, a Vietnam veteran from the U.S.  The third Rotarian in the group was a Buddhist monk from Japan who did not speak fluent English, but made himself understood.

Matthew Brake is a Rotary International scholar on a $50,000 scholarship whose mandate is to use his skills and knowledge to bring peace through conflict resolution.

Polio Plus

RI stated a target of $80 million needed to eradicate polio.  Each country's contribution was shown on a big screen.  When the total reached $34 million, the North American contribution was added, bringing the total to $88 million to date.  In 2005, we hope to completely eradicate polio from the last five or six countries.  So far, over 2 billion children have been immunized against this crippling, deadly disease. 

Bernie threw out a challenge to David Cassidy to start a Canadian Motorcycle Fellowship Club.

Darrell Alexander is the recipient of Japanese Tea Towels to take to next year's Conference in Osaka, Japan.  Get drying, there buddy.

Bernie thanks the club for the financial assistance that enabled him to attend the Conference.

Survey

Dean Davis from the U of L brought copies of a survey that question respondents on the effectiveness of advertising for charity.  Each completed form returned next week will earn a dollar paid to Rotary.

Dragon Man

Kendall brought Dragon Boat Festival Posters, which he asked Rotarians to post in their place of business. 

Friendship Exchange

David Hughes spoke of his need for a few more volunteers to chauffeur our guests.  Richard Hebert offered the services of a 15 passenger van. 

Wine Draw

John Hoopfer sold a deck of cards for one dollar each to Rotarians and guests.  Half of each card went into the draw, and at the conclusion of the meeting, Jennifer drew Mark Willoughby as new owner of a bottle of fine wine.  John contributed the entire $57 take to the Dragon Boat Festival fund.  We need about 20 more volunteers to manage the Dragon Boat dock loading and unloading and/or duty in the beer tent, or dry-land duty on the BBQ.

Rotary BBQ

David Cassidy instructs us to wheel and deal with the gorgeous Judi Cassidy for tickets to this event.    Location: Jack's Recreation area.  Dallas Harty is bringing some fine Alberta Beef Steaks as well as tube-steaks and burgers for the kids.   A hypnotist will provide entertainment and there are many games and playground equipment for the kids.

Directions:  Go north of Diamond City on Hwy 25, then turn left (west) on Commerce Road.  It is well signed, and David painted a map on the back of every ticket.  Cost: $10 for adults and $5.00 for kids.

Guest Speaker

Bob Wilson representing the Alberta Teacher Association political action committee speaks on education issues.  He says the education system began 100 years ago in response to the need to teach the three million illiterate peasants who came to homestead and populate the west.  He says education costs are exorbitant and paid for by Albertans, of whom 70% do not have children in school.   He justifies the recent school teachers strike because more than 90 per cent of the teachers voted to strike.  He thinks that market-based reforms do not work, but classroom-based reforms do.  He says that, even after teachers got a 14% pay hike, the problems did not go away.  Are teachers and unions always squawking?  He claims that school funding is 20% below 10 year ago levels and teachers are expected to do more.  Severely handicapped children in the classroom are adding stress and workload. 

Is there a debt in Alberta?  Bob says there is no debt and that the people of Alberta are failing to adequately fund education.  There is a shortage of people to develop curriculum in every school, there are shortages of councilors to deal with students who have physical and emotional problems.  He complains that parents are tired of fund-raising.  He claims that teachers being paid on the basis of merit won't work.  He does not disagree with the need for testing students but doesn't like the way test results are being utilized. 

He says private, for-profit businesses like Sylvan Learning Centres prove that schools should be getting more money.  He claims the lack of funding has opened up the market for Private Schools.  Private, for-profit schools are developing into a two-tier education system which undermines the public system. 

He blames the Alberta government for not consulting the teachers at a recent futures summit.  Instead they took advice from business CEOs and technology schools like DeVry Institute.  He refutes the Minister of Education who states that testing proves private schools are working.  He complains that the Calgary Herald prints articles that promote private schooling.  He quoted Adolph Hitler:  "Give me your children and I'll give you the world."

Frank Gave Bob the Gift of Sight, so a man in India now sees. . .

Rotarians were polite.

Door Prize Draw

Jennifer drew Duncan (Lucky) Lloyd for $10 and Mel Clewes for $5

"We endeavor to tell the truth in all reporting." 

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