Gossip Sheet # 34 - March 6, 2003
Editor: Bill McKay
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| President Earl, Ross MacDonald and Brian St. Hilaire |
Program: Rotary Friendship Exchange - Visit to South Africa - Chris & Ann Bangham
Meeting President Earl Alton introduced the head table graced by Ann Bangham, assisting the speaker, and Peggy Davidson who introduced the guests. The male complement consisted of Chris Bangham, speaker, Roger Segalin, rookie Sgt. at Arms, and Juergen Knof who was to introduce the speaker.
The blessing was delivered admirably by Eugene Gillies and despite Rick Evans obvious talent, we do miss the piano player in our rendition of O Canada.
Guests: In addition to Ann Bangham, we were pleased to welcome Heidi Knof, guest of Juergen, Debbie Klassen, Ruth DeLaat, (Lincoln Rotary), Bob Bruce (District Gov. Elect)& wife Nan from Waterdown Rotary, Tom Fletcher, guest of Dutch Erling, and the following guests of their spouses, Adrian Palmieri (Liz) , Sheila Gillies (Eugene) and Gail McAdam (Dave)
Birthdays
March 10 - Rick Merritt
March 15 - Tom Roberts (He looks younger than his picture)
Announcements
President Earl reminded members that the funeral of Edith, wife of Past President Bill Orr, was taking place at 2 PM. He gave assurance the meeting would be completed in sufficient time for members to attend.
The club will be accepting donations to be forwarded to the unfortunate victims of the flood & freeze-up in Banger, Newfoundland.
Ross MacDonald read a letter from Rotary International President Bhichai Rattakul promoting support for the Polio Eradication program. Brian St. Hilaire followed by explaining a Club Proposal which encourages members to pledge $150.00 Canadian that can be paid over 3 years. The club will match the pledges up to a maximum of $21,700.00. The Capital Grants Committee has recommended this action and the 10 day notice was published on Feb. 20, 2003. He explained that through matching grants from various levels of Rotary, $100 donated here will grow to $700 and speed Rotary to its goal of $80 million US. A motion was made by Alex Elliott, seconded by George Darte. In response to a question, Brian indicated that the countries to which the money will be directed are India, Pakistan, and Nigeria. Although there were fewer than 500 cases in 2002, there are millions of children who still need to be vaccinated. A show of hands carried the motion.
April is Rotary Awareness month in St. Catharines and John Bird is soliciting support advertising for the two page Standard feature to be published in late March. Pledge forms will be on the table at each meeting during March.
Happy Dollars
Alex Elliott was the chosen collector and delivered a driving joke, on second thought it was a joke about driving.
Ken Taylor paid $20 to announce the birth of twin grandsons.
John Kerklaan joined in with $10 for a grandson, followed by John Crossingham who paid $10 for a granddaughter and an extra $10 to bring us up to date on his children’s accomplishments during the 3 weeks that he was absent.
Mac Gollert and his family were at a Trivia night in Niagara Falls and their team won dining certificates at Casino Niagara.
Lloyd Buckley was happy that his forty-five year old daughter had married.
Dan Patterson announced the College Seafood Gala is sold out.
New member Martha Abra thanked Liz Palmieri for help on a spreadsheet problem and Liz returned the thanks for the spreadsheet job. (Did I get that straight?).
Liz was also happy to have lunch with her hubby, apparently they don’t do this often.
Howard Lackie received March Rotarian magazine before the February issue.
Eugene Gillies pointed out that applications?, entry forms?, (What is that word?) ah! Registration forms, are on the tables for the District Conference to be held on April 25, 26, &27 and he, and hopefully some volunteers, will be looking after the registration again this year for a fee paid to the club by the District.
Peter Banwell paid his birthday $10 and apologized it’s lateness, it seems he was in Florida at the time. He retold an Internet story about the squeezing ability of Revenue Canada, now called Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. How long were you gone? Peter, or how old is that story?
Brian St. Hilaire was happy that he attended a Presidents Elect seminar and fellow club members Rob Reid and Rick Merritt were two of the presenters. He also advised that a training session for Club Officers and new directors will be held at Niagara College (Hint! Hint!) $25 includes breakfast.
Two of our guests Ruth and Debbie were happy to have participated in the Rotary Friendship Exchange to South Africa.
50/50 Draw - Pot in excess of $400 - Eugene Gillies won the opportunity and drew a spade but alas! not the Queen.
Program
Rotary Friendship Exchange - Visit to
South Africa - Chris & Ann Bangham
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| Chris Bangham |
Juergen Knof advised us that he started today by having breakfast with fellow conservatives Brad Maves and Jim Flaherty. {way to go Juergen , I’m with you, (couldn’t resist)}. Juergen and wife Heidi are old hands at Rotary Friendship Exchange; South Africa being their third trip. He gave a humorous introduction and pointed out that 80% of the team were in attendance, but each time he made reference to someone they had apparently left the room. ( Hope it wasn’t the political allusion ). Juergen was gratified to have Chris along as he was an experienced wrong side of the road driver, and with no further ado, Here’s Chris!
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| Nan Bruce, Chris Bangham, Heidi Knof, Juergen Knof, Ruth DeLaat, Ann Bangham, Bob Bruce, Debbie Klassen. Absent - Adrie DeLaat, Henry Klassen |
Chris gave a powerful Power Point presentation, one of the few successful ones I have seen. He and Ann had obviously spent a lot of time preparing for this day. Ann was his assistant and kept him on track and sped him along.
The three couples who accompanied Heidi & Juergen, Ann & Chris, were Bob & Nan Bruce Waterdown, Ruth & Adrie DeLaat and Debbie & Henry Klassen, all from Lincoln . They were hosted by Rotarians for 23 nights and enjoyed superb hospitality.
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They visited a sugar plantation and a game reserve. Cameras were kept busy capturing the various examples of African wildlife including Zebras, Rhinoceros, Giraffe, Warthogs, Buffalo, Wildebeest, a Leopard and many types of Antelope , but no Lions or Elephants.
A highlight was a visit to Shakaland, a Zulu native village where they were treated to a typical war dance with Zulu warriors in their war paint and bare breasted native girls. The chief shared his beer but the consensus was that Molson Canadian had nothing to fear.
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Chris spent 3 years of his childhood (age 7) in South Africa and was able to borrow a BMW to make a side trip to his old stamping grounds, Camp Bay Beach. It looked inviting but Chris said the cold South Atlantic water came from Antarctica. The old family house was gone but the memories remain.
Chris provided a brief history lesson of this troubled nation. Discovered by Portuguese Bartholomew Diaz in 1488 followed by the Dutch and in 1795 Britain captured the Cape Colony. Boer War, Apartheid, Sharpville massacre, Soweto uprising, Mandela jailed, freed and then President of the Republic of South Africa.
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Seventy-seven % of the 43 million population are black, a democracy since 1994, it is the richest African nation but it has 40% unemployment. One in nine people are infected with AIDS.A million people live in shanty towns near Cape Town, no shopping malls but free electricity, water and sewage.
In white Suburbia, where the Rotarian hosts lived, houses appear to be much like Canada until you see the bars on the windows and doors, with dogs providing extra security.
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The group visited Rotary projects including a soccer field financed by Canadians. They were very much moved by schools for black children, orphaned by the AIDS epidemic, and said to number 3 million.
Chris briefly mentioned that he and Ann hope to return to South Africa in the fall for an extended stay of 8 to 9 months and hinted that he will be bringing forward a humanitarian project and looking for financial support from Rotary and Rotarians.
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They highly recommend Rotary Friendship Exchange as way to see other parts of the world with some trips more adventurous than others.