Whoop

Whoop~Up Bulletin

Vol.85, No.46, June 30, 2003

Upcoming (Meeting days in black)

July 7th Canadian Alliance MP Rick Casson
July 14th Doug Thornton, Pincher Creek RC Topic - The Rotary Foundation and his role at the District Level
July 21st Rotary Golf
July 28th Club Assembly
August 4th Civic Holiday - no meeting
August 11th Vocational Talks
August 18th Garth Toombs, District Foundation Chair
August 25th Vocational Talks

Outgoing, going, going President Frank at the pulpit

Greeter Stephen Graham introduced:

Eleanor Hawthorne

Olive Green

Ian Scott (Elisabeth's blessed-event #2)

Christy Scott (Elisabeth's blessed-event #1)

Kelvin Nelson (Elisabeth's lawful wedded hubby)

Brian Treadwell, Sunrise

Shirley Hughes

Debbie Anderson

Maggie Lyons

Susan Carriere

Betty Bourke

Sandy Gibson

Lynn McGuire

Marlys Reynar, Sunrise

Ruth Reynar

Carole Hickman (Lloyd's daughter?)

Bev Atherstone Muendel

Sheryl Pollmuller

Trevor Alexander

Vic Willoughby

Dennis Neufeld

Gert Cairns

Diane Randal (the Dragon Lady)

Jessie Pennygas

Sergeant At Arms John Harmer

Happy bucks from:

Wayne for the lessons of Dragon Boat Race #3 and the fellowship it created; Linda (BabyDoc) for the amazing, fun, focused Rotary Rats Dragon Boat team; and for her son's safe grade 12 grad; David Hughes whose oldest daughter was just married on the weekend; Just returned, Peter was bubbling over happy because everybody else is, too; Jamie for the super Dragon Boat Festival, and a big thanks to our coach Diane; Elisabeth for an AWESOME festival and celebrating an upcoming two months off work; Brian W, for the $5 that Ralph Zentner left behind; Bev for Dragon Boaters coming up two classes in results, for the great volunteer effort of the weekend, and for Lethbridge East sending off 84 treadle sewing machines to India; Marlys for Linda and Georgina attending Sunrise to invite and enthuse them to join our Dragon Boat team; Ellie for her weekend golf tournament (Ric Casson Annual) that raised $8000 for Child Find; Jack Reynar for a "Fantabulous Weekend" and the opportunity to show off his wild shirt; Robin Hood for the Lottery license that finally came, and for the toilers in the beer garden.

Dale Junior's Foot in Mouth Does Good

Junior says he reads every second Whoop~Up Bulletin, so hopefully he will see this story: Darrell Alexander tells of Junior's difficulty in coming up with a title for Darrell's regular guest Cheryl. That should no longer be a problem for Junior, because Darrell and Cheryl are now engaged, a personal sacrifice to shield Junior from committing another self-admitted episode of foot-in-mouth.

After the cheering and applause subsided, Mike McG offered another happy buck for Diane Randall's drive to create our Dragon Boat Festival, and for Ian Randall whose supreme skill steered us straight. Ian has been signed up to steer the 2004 Rotary Rats entry. Myles Bourke is happy to survive his leisurely paddle down the Milk River, only suffering broken ribs in a whitewater canoe mishap. Helen paid to praise our coach Diane, and offer the happy knowledge that she got to be an athlete in a real athletes village. Ed contributed a looney for Frank's year as President, and another that the year is over. Brian Treadwell happy that our colourful Jack Reynar was the guy that brought us the Dragon Boat idea from Stratford, Ontario. He is also happy to be seeing less of Frank (over 50 lbs less), and for his son's league soccer championship. Kendall offered happy tidings that 72-year-old Jim Hon is assembling a Dragon Boat team of cohorts for next year. John Hoopfer paid for missing the Festival. Thousands noticed a Hoopfer look-alike living at the Henderson Lake site though. Dale Merchant picked up his son, back from Japan with many sets of chopsticks. Vic Willoughby visiting from Red Deer, and a self-admitted Kiwanian, is happy that Red Deer is only 26 behind Lethbridge in the latest census. Brent is still grinning about handing out 640 roses to ladies wearing spandex at the Festival. Last, but never least, Hanski paid a happy buck for the last year that she has been doing the job of collecting fines for Rotary.

John was so overwhelmed by the outpouring of happiness, and in-pouring of cash to fill the dwindling coffers, that he fined only one - Frank, for arranging two Sergeants At Arms at the last meeting.

The Last Hanski Exchange Student Report

"This time I give my report without a piece of paper that has notes I cannot read. It was only one year ago that I first stood here shaking and trying to give a talk in a language I hardly understood. This has been an awesome year and I give you all a big thanks and that's all I can say or I will start crying a lot. Thank you to everyone that invited me out to do some things, and I really want you to do the same for Isabel. I have been e-mailing with her telling her about you and we will still e-mail when I go back to Finland. If I hear that she did not get invited out for one week, I will e-mail to you. I can tell you that I am a future Rotarian."

Thanks Hanski, you have been a delight to be with and give us many reasons that we want to continue hosting exchange students.

Dragon Boat Report

John Hoopfer says it was 48 weeks and two days ago that he came to ask for a $4800 loan to cover the first year's Dragon Boat Festival shortfall. Thanks to all Rotarians and folks who brought 8 to 10 thousand of their best friends out to Henderson Lake on the weekend. The 2004 event is on June 26-27-28 and will again be sponsored by Alberta Treasury Branches. Congratulations of the Rotary Rats who came in #7 out of 35 teams. Thanks immensely to Murray who struggled with eight committed volunteers for the Saturday BBQ, and ended with so many volunteers that he didn't know what to do with them all. Thanks to Dallas Harty who fed 800 people in just over an hour.

Frank's Last Outgoing Report

Thanks to all who allowed me to be President over the past Rotary year which has seen many successful projects. Just last week, we gave St Mikes $20,000 for their palliative care gardens. We started a year with many plans, and many of them were started or completed. After starting the year in trouble over the $4800 shortfall of the Dragon Boat Festival, we have gone on to commit $200,000 to the Galt Gardens project over three successive Rotary years. We have been publicly honoured by the District for our Seniors Christmas Dinner that fed 600 and brought fellowship to many Rotarians. In that area, we have been getting better and better through our Black Tie Bingo, Bridge Club Nights, Bunco, the Friendship Exchange. Thank you to Eddie Cairns who sponsored me those many years ago. Thanks to my board of directors and others like Linda Storoz for her Black Tie Bingo and her cocktail parties, and Wayne for the club website and communications. Thanks to Elisabeth who carried the computer club to success. We all do it for Rotary and are examples of Service Above Self. To our new members, get involved, don't be bashful, ask questions. Ask your mentors, ask any members and participate in the fireside chats.

Red Tag Days

Frank removed red tags from Beatrice (in absentia), Richard Beck, Loralee Burton, and Stephen Graham.

Perfect Attendance

Frank handed pins out to Darrell, Murray, Bernie, Hop-Along Cassidy, Wayne, Pat Killoran, Jamie and himself (Frank).

Rookie Rotarian of the Year

Frank presented Liz Rossnagel with the award for her great work over the year.

From Liz:

Thank You from Rookie of the Year 2002-03

I would like to thank Frank, the Board of Directors and all involved in selecting the 2002-03 Rookie of the Year.

It is an honour just to be a member of the Downtown Rotary Club. It is an even more humbling experience to be selected Rookie of the Year, as no doubt there are many members who have contributed as much if not more than I.

I look forward to continuing to be active in the Club and "Lend a Hand" where I can.

Thanks

Liz Rossnagel

Rotarian of the Year

Murray Anderson came up to receive a much deserved award. He delivered his shortest speech to date: "I really like Rotary."

Frank thanked all those Rotarians who signed the get better soon card during the Passing of the Gavel at Pincher Creek and sent it to him.

In Review

Bernie reminds us that one short year ago, Frank took over as President amidst concerns over the Dragon Boat funding which turned out to be an excellent investment in fellowship. Frank's tenacity pulled us through and sent us in the direction of a bigger commitment to the Galt Gardens project. Bernie thinks back to Brisbane and the RI President's message of "Sowing the Seeds" and how the seeds of this large project will grow over the terms of three club presidents. This year's theme from President Jonathon Majiyagbe is "Lend A Hand," whether this is lending a hand to another Rotarian, to someone in India, or to another Dragon Boater.

Bernie Introduced his 2003-2004 Board of Directors:

EXECUTIVE:

President: Bernie Carriere (W) 328 3306, ext 215

(H) 380 6358

bernie.carriere@clarica.com

Past President: Frank Vasil (W) 381 8854

vasil@telusplanet.net

President Elect: Darrell Alexander (W) 328 1176

darrella@telusplanet.net

Secretary: Paul Pharo (W) 328 5576

pgpharo@lethlaw.com

Treasurer: Gord Jong (W) 382 3633