Rotary Weekly News - November 25, 2024 (Nov. 25, 2024)

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

President Mike Christie started the meeting promptly at 12:15 pm, and as a surprise and a celebration, we all stood and sang "O'Canada". The celebration was to honour one of our own, Kitt Brand who became a Canadian citizen this past week.

Kitt will now need to pick a hockey team to root for and perhaps get a tattoo of a Maple Leaf. (Just kidding about the tattoo!)

President Mike also reminded members that there was a Rotary Leadership event scheduled for Tuesday evening, as well as the second half of the "You Asked, We Answered" Q&A session on December 4th. Please register on the Rotary5360.org website.

Mike also reminded club Board members that there is a Board meeting on Wednesday evening.

As advertised to the Club, the updated Bylaws which have been amended to reflect comments on the original draft were presented for approval. On a motion by Club Secretary Doug Fleming, seconded by Dave Panabaker the revised bylaws were unanimously approved by the club members. Once they are filed with Service Alberta and approved, a copy will be filed under Club Documents to provide club members access to the most recent version.

Rotary Club "What-z New":

A few more meeting helpers are required to run cameras and sound during our hybrid meetings. Anyone wishing to help should contact President Mike Christie 403 878 3311.

Rotary Club Committee Membership Update:

Please continue to assist your 'team captains' (committee leads) and please also work in other areas of club activity, as you are able.
Please have a look on ClubRunner in the Committee section. You should find your name on one of the committee member lists, as per your choice(s). If not, please contact President Mike.

Rotary Club Information:

Housekeeping:
- If you have a Meeting Minute, please phone, text or email the President and it will be included in the next Newsletter.
- Board minutes can be found on ClubRunner, under Club Documents.

Rotary District 5360 and Rotary International News

RI CONVENTION 2025 IN CALGARY: 21-25 JUNE

The RI Convention was last held in Calgary in 1996. It’s going to be back in Calgary again June 21 - 25, 2025.
If you are interested in volunteering, contact Host Organizing Committee secretary, Luanne Whitmarsh (l.whitmarsh@shaw.ca)
Club Convention Champions are playing a vital role in communication (both ways) between the District 5360 Host Convention Committee and their Club. Our Convention Club Champion is PDG Sandy MacKay.
Registration for the 2025 Rotary International Convention is open - https://convention.rotary.org/en-us

SUMMARY OF FORTHCOMING CLUB PROGRAM

Monday 02 December: Online monthly Business Meeting.

Sunday 08 December: All Rotary Christmas Dinner at Desert Blume Golf Club House, starting at 5pm: $50pp. President Mike has tickets.

Monday 09 December: NO MEETING.

Thursday 12 December: Lunch at the Bistro in the Veiner Centre at noon, followed by stocking stuffing at the Centre in the afternoon.

Monday 16 December: Last meeting of 2024 at MH Lodge: The classification talks of Sharon Hayward and Kevin Walcer.

Ideas for Future Programs

The Rotary Club's Program Committee members are Jillian Koch (jkoch@jmhca.com), Margie Booyens (margiebooyens@gmail.com), Alain Guerard (aguerard@telus.net), Sharon Hayward (sharon.hayward@medicinehatymca.ca)
If you have ideas for future programs, please contact them.

Drones in the Air

The Rotary Club was delighted to welcome Jaret Giesbrecht to our meeting today. Jaret is a Defence Scientist, Autonomous and Radiological Technologies Section at the CFB Suffield. He was introduced to the meeting by his father-in-law, Rotarian Alain Guerard who knows a lot about him, but didn't share too much!

Jaret gave a brief summary of his background and then showed a few of the examples of drones that they work with at the base. He spoke about the history of unmanned or unpiloted flight, and some of the history that got us to the place we are in.

Jaret showed some Youtube video's of the current conflict in the Ukraine, where drone technology has become a significant part of the arsenal of the combatants, and definitely displayed how they can become a deadly battlefield device.

Between the history lessons and the amazing modern technology was the "horrors" of war. Jaret spoke about his particular field of study and that was how to defeat these devices. That involved some novel use of similar technology, as well as almost science fiction examples of ray guns and other unbelievable devices. Jaret explained how reasonable easy the drones are to construct and fly, how they are quite accurate and changing the face of combat on several fronts.

Unfortunately we all learned a lot about modern warfare, and Jaret took time to answer a number of questions about the technology and other aspects of his work.

President Mike Christie presented Jaret with our traditional "thank you" coffee mug from Medalta, and expressed our appreciation for the presentation and the work Jaret performs in the interest of keeping us all safe.

Meeting News

GUESTS: Jaret Giesbrecht, our guest speaker, Johann Booyens spouse of Rotarian Margie and Janice Sich, a guest of Margie.

ATTENDANCE: It was a well attended meeting, with 23 individuals in personal attendance and a further 9 members on our ZOOM link.

CLUB DRAW: Gail Halderman won a prize from Action Parts, but we weren't sure what it was.

Please remember to contribute gifts for the weekly draw. If you are somewhere interesting, a small gift to the club is an easy fundraiser!

Makeups: None were mentioned.

Birthdays:

Dieter Brand December 10^th.
Dale Stein December 12^th.
Gail Halderman December 16^th.
Ken Zollner December 18^th.
John John December 19^th.
Reagan Weeks. December 27^th.
Kitt Brand December 28^th.

Rotary Anniversaries:

Nadia Deenen 23 years. Dec 3, 2001.
Terry Cooper 17 years. Dec 4, 2007.
Linnsie Clark 3 years. Dec 13, 2021.
Sarah Koch 9 years. Dec 14, 2015.
Brent Secondiak 4 years. Dec 14, 2020.

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY ROSE RUNNER FOR DECEMBER 2024

Terry Brekko

Minute Reminders:

BINGO UPDATE

Dave Panabaker reminded members that the next bingo will be Thursday evening, November 28th from 5 to 9:30 pm. Invitations to participate have gone out and as of the noon meeting he has a full team. If anyone is available, please let Dave know in case of any cancellations.

CHRISTMAS STOCKING EVENT

Sharon Hayward reminded members about an opportunity for the club to serve in the community doing stocking stuffing. The Veiner Center will be doing approximately 500 stockings for the vulnerable in the community and our club has agreed to both support it financially with $500.00 and to attend in the afternoon of Thursday December 12th to help prepare the stockings. There will not be a club meeting that Monday, it will transfer to the Thursday for lunch at the Bistro cafeteria in the Veiner Center, followed by some hand-on work. The Veiner Centre plans to give great exposure to Rotary via social media.

MEMBERSHIP FEE: $325.00. Treasurer Gail has sent an invoice to all members. Payment options are in the email.

ROTARIANS AT DAWALI: Milan Vujovic thanked everyone who attended the local Hindu celebration of Diwali, the Festival of Lights, Joy and Prosperity. The amazing group of Rotarians WON the 50/50 draw at the event and donated the $435.00 to the club. Many thanks, Rotarians are lucky to have you!

ALL CLUBS CHRISTMAS DINNER PARTY

The "All Clubs" in Medicine Hat Christmas Party has been scheduled for Sunday December 8th, at the Desert Blume Clubhouse. It was a great event last year and lots of fun. The cost is $50pp and payment beforehand would be appreciated, President Mike Christie has the tickets

TEAM FREEWHEEL WORK OPPORTUNITY

Terry Cooper and the Team Freewheel team are always looking for more volunteers to roll up their sleeves and help fix up bicycles, in the Knowles Electric Building on Fleming. Just on 600 bikes have already been fixed and distributed to those needing mobility to get to work, to the shops, for recreation opportunities etc.

SALVATION ARMY CHRISTMAS KETTLE SHIFTS

Anne Carrier reminded members that the shift work for our Saturday ringing the bells for the Salvation Army is Saturday December 7th. We have a total of 5 locations and 2 hour shifts from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm.

Family of Rotary

Please keep a Board Member informed about members health and/or any other changes, so that information can be provided to the club through the Weekly News.