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Meeting Highlights
The Weekly Westerner Edition 55.4
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 
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
July 26, 2021  Edition: 55.4 Reporter: Debbie McMillian  Editor: David Williams
 
RCCW Zoom Meeting
President Marlene Doherty called the Zoom meeting to order at 12:04 p.m., welcoming 40 plus participants, and acknowledging the treaty lands where we live, work and play.  Marlene asked all members to stand for a video presentation of our national anthem.
 
Debbie McMillan welcomed Linda Johnson, today’s guest.
 
President Marlene invited David Watson to share a Foundation presentation.  David began by recognizing that all of us make many choices throughout the year as to what charitable and worthy causes we support.  He shared that, while making these choices, we don’t always give to causes that maximize the dollars to the recipients. He reminded members that Rotary has two foundations that can make these decisions for us.  Rotary International and the Calgary Rotary Clubs' Foundation both circulate funds back into local and international projects, where our contributions will be maximized by Rotarians on the ground serving these causes. CRF managed funds return a percentage each year to our club to fund our projects based on club members past donations to the Foundation.
 
David suggested that if RIF or CRF become one of your choices, consider donating to either Foundation by not only cash donations, but by marketable securities with a low-cost base, that could eliminate capital gains;  or a bequest in your will;  or a memorial tribute;  or the beneficiary of life-insurance proceeds.
 
David reminded members that leaving a legacy to Rotary as a donation, is a “gift that will last forever, and one that will keep on giving.”
 
Marlene thanked David, reminding members that November is Foundation Month, and we look forward to hearing from that committee, chaired by Garfield Ganong.
 
President Marlene introduced our new Interactive Co-ordinator for Club Service, Bill Quinney. 
 
Bill noted that our survey showed the members' desire for focus on club service, with more and varied opportunities to serve.   Bill shared the committee’s plan to share opportunities for service on our website, with sign-up and alerts via email.  The committee will track dollars and hours as a measure to evaluate both fundraising and service projects.  The committee will also be tracking “impact.”
 
Bill referenced an example:   Bill Lawless has co-ordinated 11 Calgary Rotary clubs' participation in service for Community Kitchens.  January through July realized 770 hours of service to Community Kitchen from these clubs.  These volunteer hours enable Community Kitchen to sell food at cost to those in need.  290 of the hours were volunteers from Calgary West, with 33 members participating. Bill’s committee intends to report the service hours our members have contributed, hopefully on a quarterly basis.  Bill acknowledged our members' support of the Doorway’s casino last weekend and Sunalta’s Community casino this week.  Seventeen members supported Clarence Buckley doing highway clean-up this weekend.  Bill thanked Mel Warman and Bill Lawless his committee members, and noted there is still room for more.
 
Bill noted one of Rotary International’s Shekhar Mehta’s presidential initiatives:  “Rotary Day of Service.”  As a club, Bill wants us to consider President Mehta’s challenge of “organizing a meaningful day of hands-on service activities where Rotary members and the community come together to improve their community.”  We are then invited to share our completed projects on Rotary Showcase.  Bill gave examples of projects we could consider, doing a few hours of service followed by a club social.  He welcomes ideas/suggestions or support on the committee.
 
President Marlene thanked Bill and encouraged members to help Bill champion this Rotary Day of Service challenge, and share suggestions.
 
Marlene noted that sharing our vocations is one avenue of Rotary service.  Our survey results show classification talks and Rotary Moments are desired, she announced that they had “re-imagined” classification talks and Rotary Moments into “My Story”, and today we have two new members sharing their stories.

My Story: Natalija Reljic

Marlene welcomed Natalija Reljic, who shared her story.  Natalija grew up in the former Yugoslavia, now Croatia, having a happy childhood.   Fascinated with human behaviour, she was studying psychology at university when in 1991 civil war broke out.  In 1995, the Croatian army expelled 400 Serbs out of Croatia overnight.  Being a refugee, she wasn’t sure what was worse - Losing home, family, country or being betrayed by others?  Natalija shared her personal transformation of becoming a “Citizen of the World,”   and choosing the “Biggest and the Best” country, Canada, to make her home.  Natalija immigrated to Canada, completed her studies in psychology and social work, (in her second-language) and worked in social services for 20 years in Calgary mostly at the Distress Center as a crisis counsellor.  Natalija, through her life experience, noted that the world is sadly lacking kindness.  It is her goal to increase kindness in the world, and she feels that, with God’s blessings. She has been able to do so through her work and life.  In 2019, she joined Calgary West Rotary Club and she feels at home with our club.  She thanked the club for letting her share her story.
 
Marlene thanked Natalija, and welcomed Don Edie.
 

 My Story: Don Edie

Don told us some details of childhood, born in Edmonton but growing up in Calgary.  Don attended U of C, where he received a B.A. and graduated with his LLB from U of A, Edmonton, in 1976.  He married Joanne and they had three children while living in Wildwood, Calgary.  He practiced law for 40 years with three different firms.  He was involved with the Canadian Petroleum Law Foundation for eight years, and in 1991 he joined the Calgary Opera Chorus and has been a member ever since.  He joined the board of Calgary Opera about 17 years ago.
 
Don said that his wife passed away in 2018 and he started looking for a circumstance of fellowship and service.  He self-selected Calgary West, after attending several meetings and being truly welcomed.  Don mentioned Steve Rickard, Marlene Doherty, Don Campbell and Tim Anderson, making him feel welcome at our meetings. He came to Rotary for opportunities of service and fellowship.  Fellowship was set back a bit during covid but noted that in 1.5 years since joining, there have been a number of outstanding opportunities for fellowship that he has enjoyed.  Don thanked Marlene for the chance to share his story, and he said how much he appreciates Calgary West Rotary and is looking forward to a “long-term” stay.
 
Marlene thanked Don and Natalija for sharing their stories.  Our club is truly blessed to have Natalija and Don as members and we look forward to hearing from other members in our “My Story” sessions.
 
Hot Seats:    Lots of opportunities to engage for Calgary West this past week:
  • Golf group at Trickle Creek in B.C.
  • Community Kitchen
  • Bagging cherries and peaches
  • Grace Presbyterian Satellite Food Bank
  • Highway Clean-up
  • Casino volunteers
  • New member/board ice cream Sunday celebration
Wow, what a club of “People of Action.”  Marlene reminded members to check-in with Don Edie, registering your kilometres of action, into “Move for Polio.”
 
Champions are members that step-up to organize/co-ordinate events for the club.  Marlene thanked the following champions with a Building Community Recognition Pin:
  • Bob Pearson:  Organizing the Trickle Creek Golf Outing
  • Bill Lawless:  Continued work organizing volunteers for Community Kitchen
  • Duncan Stanners:  Our cherry/peach champion
  • Clarence Buckley:  Our highway clean-up champion
  • Les Morgan and the board:  Meet and greet new members
  • Bill Quinney:  His incredible energy chairing Club Service
Thanks to Team Four, Debbie McMillan our greeter; Bill Lawless our Zoom host; and David Williams for organizing “My Story.”
 
President Marlene updated the members on our security breach.  We continue experiencing issues with PayPal, and are seeking sources of expertise for resolution.
 
Team Meeting:  Marlene announced that today is our first team meeting.  She reported on the team captains meeting where the following roles and responsibilities for 2021-22 are:
 
Expectations:  Club leaders will support team captains. Teams are valuable and team meetings will be built into club meeting frequently throughout the year.
 
Meeting Duties:  Team captains will fill member duties, encouraging all team members to participate.
 
Wellness:  Check in with team members, noticing those missing.  Phone members. Be the eyes and ears to club members, sharing concerns and celebrations with Barbie Hames and Marlene for follow-up.
 
Welcoming:  Introduce new members to the team, mentor and encourage involvement with team duties.
 
Club Input:  Small group discussions.
 
The team captains agreed that all service projects, social events, participation in club activities will be at the club level, not four mini-clubs within our club, with the exception of one pot-luck social that the Doherty’s have offered to host for each team.  Marlene encourages teams to choose a month that best suits their team.
 
Marlene announced team captains as:  Malcolm Harrison, team 1; Bill Fitzsimmons and Tim Anderson, team 2; Garfield Ganong, team 3; and Debbie McMillan, team 4.  Bob Pearson is assisting Malcolm on team 1; Robyn Braley, team 2; Drew Turnbull and now Rod McMahon, team 3; and Linda Anderson, team 4.
 
President Marlene announced that one of the clubs goals is continuity and succession.  The club recommends two years in various roles within the club.  Our current team leaders are looking for members to consider taking on this leadership role as team captains, or assistants.  Please think about this opportunity as you meet with your team members today.
 
Marlene finished the meeting with the 4-Way Test video, turning the meeting over to the team captains in the break-out rooms.  She reminded members that there will be no meeting next Monday due to the holiday, and the August 9th meeting will be with District Governor Martin Parnell.  The meeting will be a hybrid meeting, so please join in person at the Grey Eagle or via Zoom.  Watch for notification about a Wild Card social event, on August 7th.
 
Gord Cox shared a video of Don Edie, Calgary West’s tenor singing at Trickle Creek; shared photos of Duncan’s fund-raising team putting the cherries together into 5 and 10 lb bags, and the pick-up at Grace Presbyterian Church.  Photos from the highway clean-up were shared; and photos from Sunday’s new member ice cream event at the Dohertys'.
 
President Marlene adjourned the meeting at 12:40 and the team meeting breakout rooms were available until 1:15 p.m.
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