Gossip Sheet#17 - October 25, 2007

Guests:
Peggy Davidson introduced the many guests. These included representatives from the Lincoln and Welland Regiment; the Niagara Regional Police Department, visiting Rotarians from the South Club, and Toronto,our Youth Exchange student, Kenji Matsumoto; and numerous spouses and friends of Rotarians from our club.

Peggy Davidson

Committee in the Spotlight – World Community Service Committee

Jagdish Mehta

Jagdish Mehta outlined that the objective of the Word Community Service Committee was to provide understanding, good will and peace, often in collaboration with other clubs around the world. He listed a host of initiatives that this committee has assisted including, national disaster relief, education for early education teachers in South Africa, provision of various technology and supplies to schools, contributions to orthopedic and rehabilitation centres, mobile blood banks, dispensing of medicine in needed areas of the world, eyesight restoration, clearing of land mines, and assisting with clean water supply. In keeping with the committee’s contributions, he reminded us that “every living thing should be helpful to every other living thing.”

Birthdays –

Graham Kennedy (Oct. 23); Art Weaver (Oct. 23) and Don Fraser (Oct. 25)

Graham Kennedy, Don Fraser and Art Weaver

All three were present to receive their rose, and hear us sing happy birthday.

Announcements

President Tom announced that there would be the first Family of Rotary Committee meeting on Oct. 30, at 4:30pm at Darte Funeral Home, and a Major Grants Committee meeting held Nov. 1 at 11am at the Golf. He then asked Rick Merritt to make a special announcement.

Rick Merritt provided the club and guests with an overview of the Paul Harris Award, and highlighted the fact that it is one of Rotary’s highest achievements given to those who exemplify Rotary’s values and goals. He noted that today’s recipient was well recognized by almost any organization involved in fund raising as he has played a central role in many instances. In addition, he has sat on numerous boards in the community, and currently is chair of the Brock University Board of Directors. Past president, Rick then introduced us to David Howes, president and owner of Lincoln Fabrics and our newest Paul Harris Fellow.

Rick Merrit pins David Howes

President Tom, PHF David Howes and Past President Rick Merritt

Following the recognition of this achievement by a standing ovation, Mr. Howes thanked the club, saying that he was humbled, but doubly honoured to receive this award in the midst others who also contribute to the community.

Norma Mendulun was extremely pleased, and dare I say, relieved to announce that we had met our goal as we have now collected 1,000 items for the upcoming TV auction. She informed us that any outstanding donations could be dropped off at Walter’s Jewelers in the coming week, and also said that the real work of the auction begins now. In that vein, she drew our attention to the sign-up sheets which will be present today and at the next several meetings for people to commit to do various auction tasks at various times during the auction itself. She thanked everyone for their efforts to date.

Norma Medulun

President Tom again reminded the club of the upcoming Foundations Dinner to be held in two weeks, and he encouraged members to consider attending.

50/50 - Oraine DeRosa drew a card, but it was not an ace. The pot is now well over $1300

Program – Iraq: A New Narrative for the Middle East

Alex McKee described how he had heard His Excellency, Howar Ziad speak in Toronto last Spring, and he had been so impressed by this that he asked him to speak to our club. He said that the Iraqi Ambassador had agreed without hesitation. He described our guest speaker as having formerly been a representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government, a graduate of Baghdad College, and noted that he had also spent two years studying at Oxford in England.

Alex McKee

Ambassador Ziad told the club and guests that he was in awe of Canada, and viewed his appointment to Canada as a privilege, noting that he was the first official envoy of the first democratically elected government in Iraq’s history. He acknowledged Canada as being a cultural mosaic that exists in a context of tolerance, fairness, democracy and compromise; a country that holds many lessons for his own country. He noted that Canada is similar to Iraq in several ways. It’s population is culturally diverse. He saw Canada as responding to this diversity by creating a relatively “decentralized federation.” Thus, it allows for self governments, and regional (provincial) control over natural resources, such as oil in Alberta and Newfoundland. Yet, he indicated that Canada was still able to ensure fairness to all regions with its equalization program. He also made note of the fact that Canada was officially bilingual, and strived to have fair representation in government run organizations from all of our various communities. The ambassador felt that it was these practices that help to explain Canada’s peace, stability and prosperity.

Ambassador Howar Ziad

Focusing on Iraq, Ambassador Ziad stated that his country needs to be decentralized in the same way as Canada, and that it needs to be bilingual, and inclusive of all communities. Making a case for decentralization, he contrasted this with Iraq’s past as a centralized country under Saddam Hussein. He thought that Iraq also needs to be bilingual and inclusive. He discussed the many obstacles now facing Iraq as it tries to implement a democratic federation in an atmosphere where the views of many in the bureaucracy and other political groups still hold-fast to maintaining a centralized government. Ambassador Ziad proposed that a “pluralist federation” was necessary, requiring decentralization and cooperation between regional and federal governments. He added that Iraq’s new constitution (approved by 80% of voters in 2005) includes components allowing both self-rule and shared rule.

Our speaker then discussed the many challenges posed by Iraq’s neighbours to such a federation, and he attributed this to the fact that a democratic and power sharing political structure is very threatening to those who want to maintain authoritarian rule. He talked of the terrorists who continue to deploy attacks, and said that this violence was not the result of their newfound democracy since such acts were being carried out prior to this. He criticized those who voiced opposition to the disbanding of the Iraqi army, citing numerous atrocities, for which it was responsible, in its past. He also blamed the media for “amplifying such hostile attitudes” and in effect, promoting terrorism. In addition, he saw much of the media as focusing exclusively on the negative aspects of life in Iraq, of airing the material and claims made by terrorists, and by implying that Iraq’s liberation was illegitimate. He said that others are now realizing that a failed Iraq would be a constant source of instability.

Ambassador Ziad discussed the tension between Turkey and Iraq, and thought that these issues needed to be resolved diplomatically. Although there are those who may try to sabotage such efforts, he said that there were extensive economic ties between Kurdistan and Turkey.

Ambassador Howar Ziad

In terms of the future, Ambassador Ziad noted that Iraq’s long term growth was dependent primarily on the oil sector, and that due to this, it was meeting its budget targets. He said that currency reserves were stable, and there had been an increase in other aspects of the economy. However, he also said that energy and food subsidies were still a burden to their economy. He noted that 17% of Iraq’s total budget (of 41 billion dollars US) had been transferred to the Kurdistan Regional Government as part of the constitutional direction of revenue sharing. He agreed with Freidman who wrote in the New York Times this past September that the Kurdish autonomous zone could be a model for Iraq, and that federalism could exist with Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds each running their own affairs. Ambassador Ziad said what is needed is for countries such as Canada to assist with the Middle Eastern countries that act irresponsibly. He felt that Canada’s respected position in international affairs, along with the U.N. could communicate to the Middle East that the best option is to work with the government of Iraq, rather than undermine it.

In closing, he reminded us that the Middle East was at a crucial moment, and that a failed Iraq would have dreadful consequences locally and globally. He felt confident that Canada would support Iraq, saying that we were both Iraq’s role model and friend.

Questions were then asked and answered.

Tom Arkell, Ambassador Ziad, and Alex McKee

Dan Patterson thanked Ambassador Ziad, and President Tom added his thanks with a children’s dictionary to be given to a school in need in recognition of his presentation today. In addition, President Tom likewise thanked Alex McKee for his great efforts in arranging for Ambassador Ziad to come to our club and speak.

Ambassador Howar Ziad and President Tom

Next Week – Classification Talk – Debbie Sevenpifer

From the Mailbag:
Be sure to click on the link below to go to this month’s issue of the district news: Articles this month include: Foundation Dinner is Coming; October is Vocational Service Month; Input Sought for Community Service Survey; Batavia’s Job Shadow Day; GSE Seeks Team Members for Bulgaria Exchange; Funds Sought for Earthquake Relief; Meet your AGs; Caring and Sharing – Dunnville, East Aurora, Eastern Hills, Ellicottville, Falconer
http://www.rotary7090.org/pdfs/districtnews/DN0710.pdf

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