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Meeting Highlights
The Weekly Westerner Edition 55.39
Box 4572, Station C, Calgary, Alberta T2T 5N3
Grey Eagle Hotel, 3777 Grey Eagle Drive (Corner of 37 St SW and Glenmore Drive)
Mondays 12.00 pm - 1.00 pm
 
President: Marlene Doherty President-Elect: Linda Anderson 
President Elect Nominee: Rob Rakochey Past President: Bill Fitzsimmons
Secretary: Gail Williams Treasurer: Don Edie
Directors: Judy Cochran, Gord Cox, Terry Felton, Barb Hames,
Les Morgan, Drew Turnbull
 
Together We Are People of Action - Building Community
June 6, 2022  Edition: 55.39 Reporter: Les Morgan Editor: Marlene Doherty
 

RCCW Hybrid Meeting

At the Grey Eagle Hotel, Debbie and Bryden  greeted  us warmly, while Chris Davis welcomed the attendees in Zoom land.
 
President Marlene called the meeting to order at noon and asked Bob Pearson to lead us in O Canada.
 
President Marlene referenced a weekend workshop on land acknowledgement, attended by several of our members and then, in the spirit of respect and truth, we honoured and acknowledged that the lands on which we live, work and play, are the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Metis nation of Region 3 and all those who make their home in the treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.
 

Guest Speaker: Dr. Zul Premji

A World Authority on Malaria and Dengue Fever from Tanzania
Chris welcomed our guest in Zoom land, Brenda McKinley from Calgary at Stampede Park and Saadat introduced our guest speaker, Dr. Zul Premji, a world authority on Malaria and Dengue Fever from Tanzania. Born in Tanzania, he  attended a series of public schools and, with the support of a university sponsorship, he graduated from the Muhimbili faculty of  medicine in Dar es Salaam, studying medicine and parasitology, and building a reputation as a malaria guru. Following his career pioneering new methodologies and treatments for combating malaria, he is now retired and living in Calgary.
 
Dr. Premji’s topic was Challenges of Malaria Control, in Sub-Saharan Africa.
 
Focussing particularly on Tanzania, Dr. Premji described the major decline in malaria cases as a result of significant developments over the past 20 years in combating the spread of the disease.
 
Measures to foil the mosquito (female) from transmitting the disease to a human include:
            Insecticidal treated bed nets
            Insecticidal treatment of living quarters
            Larvicide treatment (e.g. of standing water where mosquitoes breed)
            Environmental management
 
Measures to protect the human host include:
            Repellent creams
            Chemoprophylaxis
            Chemotherapy
            Vaccines (many with an efficacy of only 30%)
 
 These measures have collectively produced a dramatic and sustained decline in the number of malaria cases. Since 1990, newer and newer strategic plans have been introduced, moving from a one size fits all approach to a targeted approach which recognizes the different treatments required in different environments and for different populations. Over this time frame, 80 million bed nets have been distributed, 7 million households have been sprayed, 120 million diagnostic kits have been distributed and 190 million drug doses have been delivered.
 
Challenges the medical teams encounter include:
            Diagnostics – do the presenting symptoms really mean a malaria infection?
            Accessing the patient population
            Dissatisfaction with some failing drugs
            Climate change, flood, drought, civil unrest
 
Dr. Premji concluded by indicating several areas in which Rotarians can be of assistance in the fight against malaria.
 
Answers to questions from the floor were:
  • Yes, if you are travelling to East Africa, get and take the daily anti-malarial pill. They work.
  • The insecticide now used to treat the bed nets has no side effects on humans
  • Malaria is not zoonotic.
Bob Pearson expressed our appreciation to Dr. Premji for his educational presentation and advised him that a donation to Shelter Box would be made in his name.
 
Dr. Raju Hajela, a member of our club since December, and fresh from a 3:00am arrival from Iceland was invited to share his story.
 
As a child growing up in India, Raju did not know what he wanted to be in his adulthood. He would see where life took him and he took on a philosophy of Be open to life. He also adopted the belief that nothing that happens to us is ever bad, but simply presents opportunities.
 
His early years in India were at the time of, or aftermath of, the Korean War, the beginning of the Vietnam War, China on the warpath, and opium wars. He attended an English Catholic School.
 
In 1971 his dad moved them to N. Dakota to take a position at the university there. In 1973 his dad moved to Canada, Raju moved back to India to live with extended family and friends. He was 14. Dad “kidnapped” him, taking him to Canada, where because of timing and documentation, Raju found himself temporarily as an illegal alien. He did, however, prefer Canada to N. Dakota.
 
With residency and citizenship resolved, Raju began his studies of mathematics and physics. Hearing however, that med school was really tough, he simply had to switch to medicine. Perhaps for a further  challenge, he joined the military, staying with them for 16 years in a medical capacity. Ottawa followed, and a flirtation with politics. True to his life philosophy, he didn’t so much choose his varied paths as much as simply accepted what came along. Married, then single again in his fifties and enjoying his 2 granddaughters, he has now been married to Sue (soon to also join RCCW) for 5 years.
 
He has been working on the ground floor of addiction work, described as a brain disease and the most common illness in the world.
 
Not mentioned by Raju, he is the head of a large clinic in Calgary specializing in the field of addiction research, treatment and recovery. He is also a member of a Rotary Action Group addressing the same global problem.
 
Barbie was invited to a hot seat where she announced, for our congratulatory response, June birthdays, familial anniversaries and Rotary anniversaries. Remember also, the party this Friday. Rule 1 is celebrate President Marlene’s year, and have fun.
 
If you wish to “toast” a member, committee or event that occurred this year, please be prepared to share or if you are unable to attend, please send your “toast” to Barbie.
 
Terry Felton let us know that Kevin Costner has increased our Parade Breakfast ticket sales by 400. Thank you, Kevin. 722 are now sold so we’re a little over halfway. It’s our big annual fundraiser. Many  volunteers are required. Check our website for the volunteer needs and sign up (along with your family and friends).
Around the end of July, we will have our first fresh fruit sale. Peaches, cherries and nectarines will be available.
 
ServiceBill Quinney is seeking 3 more volunteers for Tuesday June 14/22 from 7- 8:30 pm.
It’s a sit-down opportunity to stuff, I Can for Kids gift card envelopes and share fellowship. Please contact Bill or sign up on the website on the events calendar.
 
Ukraine: The Ukrainian Humanitarian Aid Committee reached out to I Can for Kids to respond to the urgent need for grocery gift cards. Their goal is to raise $250,000 to distribute over 5,000 ($50 value) cards to the most vulnerable families soon after their arrival. If you wish to contribute, please Bill Q or I Can for Kids.
 
The Rotary Club of Calgary North has collaborated with a number of organizations to create the Calgary Communities Support Program for Ukrainian Evacuees. Areas you can participate in include: Offer temporary home stay, Volunteer community liaison; offer supportive assistance &/or Financial assistance. For additional information contact Gerry at 403 818 0735
 
District Awards:  we received our certificates of recognition for: Shelter Box Bronze Hero Award, Rotary Learning Centre, Brainy Brunch Award & Glen Peacock Award for Outstanding Rotary Club Medium. Well done !
 
Jennifer Jones :IMAGINE ROTARY CANADA TOUR
Jennifer will be in Calgary on July 7 & 8/22 and you are invited to participate in the following four events:
  1. Blessing of the Great Canadian Trail – Thursday July 7/22. 3:30 -7:3- pm
  2. The Stampede Parade – Friday July 8/22. 6am – 1pm
  3. Umoja Community Mosaic Event- Friday July 8/22. 1-4pm
  4. The Brown Bear Woman Centre- Friday July 8/22. 4-8pm.
The cost of the events range from $20 - $100, numbers are limited and registration is required. Further information is available on the District website.
 
Building Community Pin- presented to Gail Williams for the work she does as our Club Foundations Administrator. Last week alone, Gail prepared and submitted 54 RI forms to transfer PH points to individuals. Gail is also 1 of 2 members from our club who represent our club on the Calgary Rotary Club Foundation Board.
 
Upcoming June meetings:
June 13/22 – Hybrid meeting (lunch)
June 20/22- Turnover meeting (lunch) The Grey Eagle is unable to accommodate us so we will meet at the Calgry Golf & Country Club. Please register as usual – the deadline will be Friday June 18/22 noon.
June 27/22 – Canada Day Hybrid meeting (lunch) Guest speaker, Steve Kuiack and induction of 3 new members.
 
Editor’s note – Thank you to Debbie, Bryden, Chris, Orlin & Les for meeting duties.
 
Meeting was adjourned at 1pm.
 
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In March, shortly after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, refugees began arriving at a home in Wojciechów, a town about 20 miles from the city of Lublin in eastern Poland.

 

Rotary, Ukraine Friends to collaborate on addressing needs in

 
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