President Marlene Doherty welcomed all via zoom and, as we do, launched our meeting with a land acknowledgement for Treaty 7 territory (including the many First Nations and Metis Nation Region 3). We are grateful! The National anthem (in recorded format for all to sing along) followed.
[Hats off to Dan Doherty who was the audio-visual guru, working from home in Elbow Valley as he recovered from COVID-19!]
Dan introduced our web-based visitors – Jackie Nyamao from Komkan Africana, who we will be hearing from at a later date. Dan also acknowledged, humorously, Club member Chris Davis who was attending today virtually (and doing the reporting as well)!
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| After introducing guest Charvi Shaw, Rob Rakochey introduced our guest speaker Clive Llewellyn, who he has known for at least two decades. A member of the Calgary legal bar since 1983, he practices primarily in civil and commercial litigation. Rob says that he was "lessoned by Clive". Clive was a top-tier amateur wrestler and was teed up to participate in the 1980 Olympics until the boycott. In 2003 Clive showed up at the Canadian national wrestling championships. He was recognized by an official and asked if he was competing. On a whim, he entered and was matched with the number 1 seed. Clive unexpectedly won and promptly declared that he was medically incapable of continuing! |
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Clive was asked in 1970 or 1971 to go to Ottawa for the Rotary "Adventures in Citizenship" program. He has never forgotten that initial encounter with Rotary. It has had a continuing influence on his life. He took the train from London, ON to Ottawa, where he saw our Parliament, met MP's and attended sessions. He was billeted as well and kept in touch with his billets for many years.
Clive's parents are British, but it's not that simple. He became a Canadian citizen in 1959, when he was 5. His father was born in Egypt, Clive in Kenya, his grandmother from Ireland. Over the years the typical border guard question of "where were you born" elicited a very humorous round of globalization from the Llewellyn family! His current spouse is from the Dominican Republic.
It's Clive's view that when you become a Canadian citizen your "DNA changes". Most Canadians don't understand how difficult it is to become a Canadian when you are from most places in the world. Canadians can travel to 170+ countries around the world without visas; but the case is not the same for most of their nationals. Even travelling into the United States can be a very different experience. We don't live within 2 hours of a war zone – but most of the world does.
Calgary and Alberta are, in Clive's view, the safest haven in the world. This is the place to be if there is going to be trouble in the world. We have significant geographic barriers and distances keeping us a safe distance from much of the world. Our Achille's heel may be through the United States' border.
In 2011 Clive was working with a client from Lahore, Pakistan. This client wanted to get his sons into Canada. Why? We are that safe haven. Where we often face red tape, but it's the same red tape that regulates our meat and ensures that judges aren't susceptible to bribes.
In 1970 Clive had a bad haircut and a "lousy accent", yet despite any personal quirks, he was off to Ottawa for this Rotary adventure. To go to heritage sites, museums and government. To meet other youth from across the country. This program is likely even more important today.
Programs like Adventures in Citizenship can continue to foster dialogue and improve our understanding of other Canadians. Clive also felt it was very important that he had to account for his experience by coming back and delivering a talk about his adventure.
Gord asked a question about the current polarization in Canada. Clive responded about immigration policy and suggested we need to "refine" our policies. While we want to protect our "tribe" – our culture and identity – we need to remain open to the world. He related some of his wife's experiences as an immigrant and how they were helped by former federal minister and Calgary Centre MP Kent Hehr and his office. Often delays in the immigration program can be impactful, particularly for a teenage boy or girl. Early entry can be very beneficial for youth, so that they can become "culturalized". Once we decide to let the primary family member into the country, why would we overly delay his or her family?
Pat asked what the main roadblocks that Clive might recommend to change the immigrant process and backlogs? Clive felt that the process simply shouldn't take as long as it currently does. The quota system is at fault in part. For example, a limit imposed of "X" spousal partners per year, but we have events which exceed that quota.
Clive again related his personal experience with his new partner and the distinction made between being "married" or being "common law". Clive suggested that getting a license seems to be the easy answer, but Canadian society is more liberal in its approach. However, it does open us up to potential abuses.
He described most Canadians as law abiding, with the example of our being able to self-checkout at Walmart or most other grocery stores. He mentioned the example of a lifeguard whistling all the Canadians out the swimming pool, and they get out. If it was Americans, they would ask "why"??
Mary-Jayne Assaly gave the thanks of the club to Clive and noted that a donation to ShelterBox Canada was made by our Club on his behalf.
David Mills was invited by President Marlene to introduce himself to our Club. A relatively new member, having joined in April 2021, he is a mechanical engineer and a graduate of the University of Alberta. Born in Edmonton (some cajoling was heard). In 2012 he met his partner in Edmonton. He was involved in a co-op program in 2014. While he started working in Calgary in 2015, they promptly sent him to Fox Creek until 2018.
He is currently a project manager with Chevron. He enjoys lots of outdoor opportunities – including hiking, camping, biking, and rock climbing.
David was introduced to Rotary by his sister, who was an Interactor. His partner, Sarah, was chair of Calgary Rotaract in 2016-17 in Calgary. She went to the Honduras with Steve Rickard and Bill Fitzsimmons on the micro-credit program.
Rotary has been circling around him. In 2020 COVID happened, and he knew he needed to get more engaged in his community. Steve Rickard helped introduce and sponsor him into Rotary. His objective is to learn more about what Rotary does and particularly about micro-credit and finance. He looks forward to meeting more of us in the Club!
Barbie Hames was every ready with Club social news. There is a Sock Hop on Saturday June 10th, 2022, at the Calgary Golf & Country Club. We are celebrating 55 years of Calgary West Rotary!
There are a number of important milestones as well. Bill and Maxine Lawless celebrate 51 years of marriage; Marie and Steve Rickard 47 years!
Having May birthdays are Dalbir Rattan (May 2), Gord Cox (May 8) and Evelyn Buckley (May 13). In May we also recognize long-standing members during their anniversary month: Gordon Rodrigues (43 years), Denise Penner-Collins (21 years), Gord Cox (3 years) and Vivien Jones (3 years).
Judy Cochran had a "fantastic weekend" with the RYLA program and students, further describing it as the "best ever" with a strong contingent of 9 delegates.
The "STEP" (short term exchange program) is a 3 to 4 week stay during the summer months. Ludovica Milesi is coming to our District to northeast Italy. Here today is Charvi Shaw, our outbound student. Please think about some activities for these students (you must have completed the required District screening program). Thanks to Deb McMillan (STEP councilor) and Steve Strang (youth exchange officer).
Charvi is with the U of C Rotaract Club, where she is VP-Events. She will be in northeast Italy, near the Dolomite Mountains, Adriatic Sea and the cities of Udine, Pordenone, and Trieste. She looks forward to experiencing her co-exchange student's family and culture as it's a "home-to-home" exchange. Our two exchange students will be travelling to each other's homes in August.
Rob Rakochey updated us on our current Fundraising activities.
The Great Duck Race will not occur this summer. Too many logistics and sponsorship issues that were outstanding. Stay tuned in 2023!
The Stampede Parade Breakfast is back after a two-year hiatus. July 8th – parade morning! We are in a slightly new location. Lots of volunteers needed.
Fruit sales. We are selling all sorts of seasonal BC fruit. We are not delivering but taking orders for pickup.
Dinner auction. Rob and Rod McMahon are promoting members of Calgary West to organize their own hosted dinners for fundraising and fellowship. Set your menu, your date, your maximum guest list and your price and get going! Contact Rob if you are interested in hosting a dinner event.
We are looking for a champion for a Christmas event (a little like we used to do with the Christmas wreaths). If you have a passion to help organize a Christmas fundraiser – please contact Rob.
President-elect Linda Anderson reminded us to get back to her with our completed questionnaires. She only has received 12 so far. She is still recruiting for a secretary for her board. She is making it more attractive by splitting the duties so that one person will be the "note taker" at Board meetings and the other the more administrative stuff.
She also put in more of a promo for the June 10th sock hop – men put on your Brylcreem and women your poodle skirts and get out to this event!
Clarence Buckley reminded us about the annual Highway Cleanup. It will be on Saturday May 28th, weather permitting! Bring your gloves and boots. We meet at the northeast corner of Calaway Park parking lot at 9 a.m. We drive a short distance and clean up a 3 km stretch of the north side of the TC #1 highway. We need about 14 to 18 people. We meet afterwards for hot coffee and brunch. Bill Quinney will be sending out event and registration information.
Marlene thanked Team 4 for organizing and carrying out meeting duties at today's meeting.
Congratulations to Dr. Dilpriya Mangat for her admission into the U of C MBA program. President Marlene acknowledged the passing of Nketti Johnston-Taylor's father last week.
The United Way recognized all Rotary Clubs in Calgary and we were awarded the Frances Lafaivre Award.
Next week we will be hearing from Darby Young on accessibility (the "level playing field"). We will be presenting our 4th Citizenship award to Patty Kilgallon
And we closed with our 4-way test video!
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