Pincher Club
Thanks from the Rotary Club of Pincher Creek for the Lethbridge Rotarians and Partners who attended the Passing of the Gavel.

Sergeant At Arms
SAA Ed Fetting collected many loonies on trumped up charges and coerced happy bucks. Les Talbot was fined for rumours of overindulgence, and the fine was doubled when Les couldn't remember if the rumours were true.

Chiaki Adventures
Our Rotary exchange student told of a cold canoe trip, sleeping in three pairs of socks, five sweaters, gloves and hat. She experimented with drinking "gross" Saskatchewan river water, and going without a shower for seven days, which made everybody "stink".

Waterton-Glacier Peace Park Assembly
Dick (roids) Turner tells us the Assembly will be hosted by the Rotary Club of Kalispell at Glacier Park Lodge in East Glacier, Montana, September 20 - 22, 2002. Dick has forms if you wish to attend.

Last Chance
Call Dallas Hardy if you can help with the last Library van run of the year.

Dragon Boat Festival, June 29/30, July 1
John Hoopfer needs some assistance on Saturday from 11-2 when the Air Cadets are setting up tents. He will also accept volunteers for beer tent duty or general duties.

There's more opportunity to practice service before self, on Sunday evening at the BBQ.

Dianne Randall says we are celebrating twelve local Dragon Boat teams.

Guest Speaker
Judy introduced Edith Olsen, a wee, Scottish lass who arrived in Canada in 1986. Edith is also a flautist and president of the Community Band. She spoke on the subject of "Feedlot Runoff", which interested Chiaki after her recent river water tasting.

Edith tells us Southern Alberta has the greatest concentration of feedlots in Canada, but little information on the effects of runoff on public health. Her study concentrated on the effects of water quality coming off feedlots. She wanted to know what soil nutrients and bacteria were present in runoff, and whether there was a difference in those qualities from feedlots bedded in straw or in wood chips. Initially she suspected the naturally occurring phenols in wood chips would have an anti bacterial effect.

Her study centered on the relatively small 500 head lot at the Lethbridge Research Station east of the city. The study in 1998 and 1999 yielded slightly different results. The shortage of precipitation was offset by the use of a portable rain maker that applied a known "rainfall" to a square meter of feedlot.

Runoff was analysed for dissolved oxygen content, PH levels, nitrogen levels, salt levels, phosphorous and the presence of bacteria. Nitrogen levels of runoff from woodchip based bedding were predictably higher, but surprisingly higher in bacteria than from straw based bedding.

Both bacterial and nutrient levels were far higher than would be acceptable in drinking water for humans or livestock, which means that runoff should not be allowed to enter waterways or fresh water bodies. Catch basins to contain the runoff allow operators to utilize the water for irrigating crops. Nutrients are taken up in the crop, while soil and sunlight neutralizes bacteria.

Edith confined her talk to runoff qualities, but upon prompting, she introduced the subject of spreading and composting effluent to properly manage and use the nutrients. Her study did not look at direct feedlot to groundwater contamination.

Draw Partner
Edith drew Les Talbot as winner of $10. More beer money eh Les? Sig Balfour won the other $5.

Upcoming:

Kendall - Call Izzy