Rotary Foundation

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DG MIKE – FEBRUARY IS WORLD UNDERSTANDING MONTH

Last month I mentioned the Object of Rotary is "to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise". We use the 4^th point of the Object, "the advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace", to bring about world understanding.

Rotary is international - the boundaries of districts and zones deliberately disregard national and provincial boundaries. The eastern boundary of our district extends across the boundary with Saskatchewan to include 3 clubs from that province. We are the poorer for not being an international district by having clubs from the northern part of Montana within our district. This is mitigated to some extent by the Waterton – Glacier International Peace Park being within our district. Every year since it was founded by Rotary in 1932, we have held an International Assembly, at which we vow never to take up arms against one another to resolve our differences. Thank goodness for that, especially given the present cross border issues of today.

5360 is one of 23 districts in Zone 22. The zone includes the islands of France, all of Canada, parts of the northern tier states of the USA, Alaska and Asian Russia. A few yeas ago these nations were pointing nuclear arms.

Beyond Zone 22 clubs in our district are providing humanitarian and educational assistance to people in Central and South America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Please think about all the facets of world understanding. Discuss its importance at your club as a way to share and advance the 4^th point of the Object of the Rotary we love.

Governor Mike continued to stay close to home during January. He did a second visit to the Okotoks club, at which there was very close to a 100% attendance for a club assembly. There were six major committee meetings, one being at the Lethbridge Lodge, the site of our upcoming district conference. Poor road conditions lead to the cancelling of a second visit to the clubs at Sylvan Lake and Ponoka

The Rotaract Club of Calgary Metro was chartered on April 28, 2001. We are a community-based public service club geared towards students, businesspeople and professionals between the ages of 18 and 30. We are part of the Rotary family and hold to the same ideals and beliefs of Service above Self.

Our Club meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of every month at the Home Food Inn Restaurant at 5222 Macleod Trail South. We have an optional buffet dinner that starts at 7 pm. For $11 including GST and tip, the members of the club are able to enjoy a fantastic Chinese food buffet. The meeting proper begins at 7:30 pm.

We enjoy giving back to the community, as well as the opportunity to make friends with like-minded individuals. Over the past few years, we’ve accomplished a number of projects that have helped the Alberta Children’s Hospital, the Colonel Belcher Association, helped to promote English literacy in India as well as donated money and supplies to some students in the former Yugoslavia area.

In addition to our own projects, being able to work jointly with the Rotary Clubs in our area has given us guidance and inspiration. Since inception of our clubs, we have made it a point to help out with fund-raising and community service events if ever any Rotary Clubs need some extra manpower to accomplish their projects.

All members of other Rotaract Club and Rotary Clubs are welcome to attend our bi-monthly meetings. Please see our website at www.rtcmetro.com for additional information about our club

– submitted by Eric Sit, President

DG Mike and AG Richard on official visit with the members of Calgary Metro

We are ready to have you come to our district conference at the Lethbridge Lodge, April 23 – 25^th. Registration and what the conference is all about is posted on the website. DON’T FORGET THE KIDS – bring them to the most extensive children’s program ever offered. For $15 per child it’s incredible value, filled with meaningful fun. On Saturday night parents can enjoy the black tie banquet, knowing the youngsters are safe in the care of responsible Interactors and Rotaractors. It’s the best the Family of Rotary can provide, ask anyone who went to family day at Kananaskis.

Two members, Arup Goswami and Donald McCleary of the Rotary Club of Calgary East recently travelled to the Indian city of Guwahati to investigate the city’s Rainwater Flooding problem and offer their expertise to a number of local officials from the Central Ground Water Board and other civic bodies at a workshop co-sponsored by the Rotary Club of Guwahati West and the Rotary Club of Calgary East.

As both a former resident of the city and a Project Engineer with the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority, Mr. Goswami has experienced first hand the devastation produced by heavy rainfall. He had previously prepared a preliminary report on this problem and later migrated to Canada to work in the municipal and civil engineering sector.

He, along with Mr. McCleary, shared the knowledge gleaned in Canada with those present and strongly recommended that the present practice of constructing drains be abandoned for the less expensive, more efficient process of constructing pipelines to carry the runoff to a series of existing beels or wet ponds which could be developed for recreational purposes and eliminate the ongoing problem of open and sediment clogged drains.

They suggested that what is required is a master drainage plan inclusive of erosion and sediment control to ensure environmental protection, and the establishment of fixed road elevations and building grades to avoid the problem of water logging. Further they call for the citizens of this town to take responsibility for their own property and ensure that proper sediment control procedures are followed, especially during the heavy monsoon season. Appropriate silt raps could be constructed from locally available materials, taking into account local soil characteristics and conditions.

A copy of their recommendations is being submitted to the state government for follow up, and it is hoped that a North American approach to this problem will largely eliminate the hazardous rainwater floods that endanger both the ecosystem and the citizens of this beleaguered city.

-Submitted by Keng-Wei Chiew, President RC of Calgary East

GSE TO UKRAINE ON TRACK

Preparations for the upcoming Group Study Exchange to Ukraine scheduled for early May are progressing well under the guidance of Rotarian Dave Marchant. The team was selected recently after the selection group considered approximately twenty applications and interviewed a large portion of those interested.  Selected were Trevor Lennox, a 30 year old Rangeland and Forage Agrologist from Swift Current, Craig Senyk, a 30 year old Investment Manager from Calgary, Christine Bennett 36, a Community Social Worker from Calgary and Erica Bach 25 , a Calgary Lawyer. Alternate team members were chosen as well in the event that any of the team members are unable to complete the trip.

All of the team members have had the opportunity to attend Rotary meetings in their own areas. Team leader Rotarian Joe Hrankowski of the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat has already held one team meeting during which the team was indoctrinated by Dave Marchant and presented with information from previous Team Leaders. Preparations for the Exchange continue with  more meetings and planning sessions in store.

The team is energetic, interested and ready to represent Rotary and Canada on this first Group Study Exchange to Ukraine. A further report will follow upon the teams return from Ukraine in early June.

Submitted by Joe Hrankowski

GOVERNOR - NOMINEE DESIGNATE

PDG Sandy MacKay, Chair of the District Nominating Committee, announces that the committee has chosen Raju Paul of the Rotary Club of Calgary Heritage Park, as candidate for District Governor in the 2006 – 2007 year.

Any club may propose a challenging candidate, as set out by the District Leadership Plan. The deadline for submitting a challenging name to the Governor is March 15, 2004.