Welcome to "The Friendly Club" and our Web Site. How to contact the site administrator. Click on 'More...' below.

Strathcona members and Other Users, if you are unsure how to log in, click online HELP, or contact the site administrator Hans Granholm; 
phone: 780-466-5566 any time.

For more information about our club, click HERE

For full information on our upcoming Speakers, click on the speaker's name.

Members can access the Club Constitution and By-Laws from ADMIN | CLUB DOCUMENTS after login.

Jul 23; Peterson,Peg and Gordon; Anniversary
Jul 26; Come and meet Heidi and Mikko at the Reynold's during our club Bar-B-Q (see STORY and EVENTS)

Tuesday noon belongs to Rotary!

Look in "Upcoming Events" for other activities taking place in the near future.

     One often wonders what took an individual down a path to a chosen career.  In Peter's case, while in his mid-teens, he was diagnosed with GPC, an uncommon condition of the eye.  Curious, Peter started researching this diagnosis, and it was this research that piqued his interest, and got him into optometry.  And, as eyeglasses are referred to as a "pair", Peter's wife of ten years, Kim, is also an optometrist, making them a "pair" of optometrists.  The two together are a "sight for sore eyes"! (Editors note:  How can you resist that one? - take that Ivan Docker).

     While Peter grew up in Toronto (of Estonian heritage), his wife Kim came from Elk Point, thus the move to Alberta to begin their career.  Peter's sense of humor came out on more than once occasion, when he mentioned many of his new clients coming through the door, notably of Asian descent, were there seeking Dr. Lan Soo.  His power point depicting Toronto as the centre of the universe (as seen through the eyes of people from Taranta) also got a good laugh from Rotarians.

     Part of Peter's classification covered the topic "Why Rotary?", which is always interesting fodder for a rapt audience of Rotarians.  Peter stated three reasons for his decision to commit to Rotary; 1) Rotary offers Service Missions.  Peter has been on over a dozen missions, and greatly enjoys this aspect of Rotary, 2) The vocational aspect of the Rotary family is dear to Peter.  He finds the business acumen and background of fellow Rotarians a valuable aspect of membership, and 3) The sense of community that Rotary brings forth.

     Peter and Kim have two youngsters - Kira, two years old, and Jackie (did I get that right Peter?), ten months old.  As Peter's spouse is/has been a member of the Morinville Rotary Club, chances are good that we have two potential budding Rotarians coming into the fold in about 25 - 30 years. 

     The quality of the new members to our club is impressive, and Peter is but one more individual who is a wonderful fit within the Edmonton Strathcona Rotary Club.  We wish you a long and storied career in Rotary Peter!

     D/G Tyson outlined the District goals for the upcoming Rotary year.  The key goals are 1) To grow membership by 10%, 2) Start two new Rotary clubs, 3) Start two new Interact clubs, 4) Start two new Rotaract clubs, 5) Donate $300K to R/I Foundation, and 6) Increase the number of benefactors in District 5370 by sixty (one per club).

     An exciting initiative, and one that will be more formally launched at Fall Assembly in October, is the "Moon Project".  The dynamic program sets organizations in motion, creating a sustainable drive for Corporate and Individual excellence.  To find more about "Moon Project", log onto www.moonproject.ca

     Prior to the regular meeting, D/G Tyson met with your 2008-09 board to review Edmonton Strathcona's goals and objectives for the upcoming Rotary year.  And he was not disappointed, as comments, thoughts and ideas abounded.  All in all, it was a full productive day for both our new D/G, as well as for the Edmonton Strathcona Rotary Club.

     Our thanks to D/G Ross, and his charming wife Brenda for their time spent with our club.  With D/G Ross's enthusiasm, experience and initiative, there is no doubt this next Rotary year will be but another successful one, at all levels.

The 'Meet Heidi and Mikko' event is combined with our annual club Bar-B-Q which Les and Debby Reynolds are graciously hosting on Saturday July 26.

Please click on this LINK to open the event and register.

We are very excited to resume our participation in the Rotary Youth Exchange program, one of the best and most rewarding programs in Rotary.

Anna Piela is arriving on August 12 from Finland.

Anna is sponsored by District 1410 and we are sharing Anna with the Rotary Club of Edmonton South. She will be attending Strathcona High School.

Co-hosting a foreign student is a wonderful opportunity to learn about other cultures by including the student in your family and social activities.

Please contact Don Henry h: 780-444-3746; b: 780-438-4208; e: dhenry@jimplease.com for more information.

DIRECT LINK TO ANNA's SITE PAGE.

At our meeting on July 8, the following received their Multiple Paul Harris recognition:

Augie Annicchiarico,  Jim Ashton, Art Baird, Bob Bentley, Peter Denooy, Ivan Docker, Bruce Flesher, Hans Granholm, Bruce Kemp, Fritz Koenig, Morley MacCalder, Ron McCullough, Gordon Peterson, Bernd Reuscher, Orville Sleen.

Say WELCOME to Patrick Gibson introduced by Hans Granholm into the club on Feb 12 2008 under the classification: 
Financial Planning.

Patrick was a Member of RC St. Albert -- Saint City and we welcome him to our club.

Patrick was introduced and welcomed into our family of Rotary by President Ted.

Please introduce yourself to Patrick at our next meeting.

Welcome Patrick!

We had 90+ members, spouses and guests attending our "Rotating Wheel" dinner at the Mayfair last Wednesday.
It was a lively affair, but outgoing president Peter handled the rowdies with his usual panache.
The Sergeant-at-Arms du jour, Jarrod Clayton raised a considerable amount amount of money from the unsuspecting.

Click on THIS LINK to open the photo album. Photos by Eric Germain.

The club offers a special thanks to  Rose Marie  for all the arrangements for this and other events and to Debbie Denooy for supporting Peter in this very busy and active Rotary year.

Jin Ashton was named "Rotarian of the Year", a very popular and well deserved recognition of Jim's dedication and involvement in so many areas of club service. (see other STORY)

The Rotary Club of Edmonton Stathcona held it's 36th Annual Golf Tournament on June 10, 2008 at the Kinsmen Pitch & Putt Golf Course. This is the second year that the event was held at this venue, with the idea that it opens up this very social event to all Rotary Club members, friends and family.

CLICK THIS LINK to open the 'Annual Fun Golf photo album.

TIP: Click on image to enlarge.

Dear friends,
 
Our trip to Canada is getting closer, being less than 2 months away. At this moment we are planning the activities with Peter (Stoye) and Les for our 3 week vacation. One thing we want to do, for sure, is to attend the Rotary meeting! And more than once is a great option too, depending on our plans of course. 

My husband Mikko and I were thinking that maybe Mikko could have an interesting subject to talk about at the meeting. So do you think you would like to have him as a speaker for one of the meetings between July 19th and August 9th? I noticed you already had a speaker for atleast one of those days. Mikko could talk about the Finnish Air Force and the NH-90 helicopter project.
 
I wasn't sure who is responsible for scheduling the speakers, but I thought through you three this idea would get forwarded... And for Mr. Stoye: add at least one Rotary meeting to our schedule in case it starts getting crowded...  ;)
 
See you all soon!
 
- Heidi & Mikko

Editor's note: Mikko is the scheduled speaker at the August 5 meeting. (see Future Speakers schedule)

Club Treasurer, Peter Stoye reminds us that the 2008-09 dues are due.

Please bring $220, cash or cheque to a luncheon and give it to Peter or mail a cheque to the address below. If you need a receipt, then please ask Peter.

Peter Stoye
10447-27th Ave. NW
Edmonton, AB
T6J 4C6

b: 780-435-8336
h: 780-435-8351
c: 780-504-8336
e: PStoye@MirkaCare.org

ClubRunner has added a new feature for Regular members to check their personal attendance record.

- After login on the club site: http://EdmontonStrathcona.rotary5370.org locate the "My ClubRunner" box in the top left corner of the ADMIN page, TIP: It's the box with a dirty yellow colour.
- Locate the last link: 'My Attendance (NEW)' and click on it. The page will show your attendance and make-up as it is recorded.

We will still, for the time being, post the complete club records in the secure section, but I may faze that out if we determine it is redundant.

Comments are welcome.

Hans Granholm
780-466-5566
hgrdane@telusplanet.net

So here goes!

This year's Recipient of the Rotarian of the Year Award joined our club a few years ago, and it became immediately obvious that this individual would contribute in a more than admirable way to the fellowship and day-to-day operations of our friendly club.

This Rotarian is also very active in other organizations in our beautiful community.

This person volunteers for all our events, immediately joined the board, bringing a tremendous amount of experience to the table and took on the directorship which such fervour, that at times nobody could find things in the cupboard; this individual made sure that speakers and their equipment were present and looked after, and he contributed also by writing great reviews of those speakers for the bulletin.

This year's recipient has been a Rotarian for many years, hits a mean golf ball and is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is with great pride and admiration that I present to you the 2008 Rotarian of the Year, Jim Ashton.

No Child Should Die Hungry and Alone.

Imagine a modern country where nearly 40 per cent of children under six die of starvation. Severe famine has hit North Korea , and its people are suffering in silence . North Korea's 23 million people need 6 million tones of food to eat well, but they have been able to produce barely half that much. People are chronically malnourished, and many die-especially the children (always the most vulnerable in any society). Without your help-immediately-an entire generation may perish. You can save three children's lives this year for about what you pay for the daily newspaper! Think about that.

I became involved two years ago, when I was invited to lecture on "Nutrition for Health" at the Yanbian University of Science and Technology (YUST) in Yanji, China, near North Korean border. Since 2003, this university has gathered hungry children and housed and fed them-gave them a chance a future, in short. With them, I help procure food in China and made weekly delivers by trucks to those hungry children in Rajin City, North Korea-with no overhead costs!

In another border city, a once-rich potato production area is now completely isolated without food and fuel. YUST received a desperate plea to help some 10,000 starving children, who simply will not survive another harsh cold winter unless without immediate help. You can save these children with a donation of only 30 cents per child per day. That is all it takes. I am thrilled to report that to date, we have managed to raise $8,000 and $30,000 in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Thanks to all of the donnors who helped to make Feed NK Children project possible. Please know that you have been a part of something that is making a direct impact on the lives of the most vulnerable and helpless children in North Korea. Not only are they given food, keep them alive, but many of them are given a chance to recover from almost near-death malnutrition to a normal status for development as long as their bellies are filled with foods.

The Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona has adopted "Feed NK Children" as its international project. Please help by sending your cheques made payable to "Rotary Project of Feed NK Children" to the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona, 8310 Roper Rd. N.W., Edmonton, AB T6E 6E3. OR  you may send checks endorsing Jeong Sim's NK Children project to, NEAFoundation-Canada (North East Asia Foundation), 67 Scarsdale Rd, North York, Ontario M3B 2R2 (1-647-999-9160).

Canadian Blood Services needs our help at its permanent donor clinic (8249-114 Street)

All eligible donors are encouraged to take an hour or so out of their schedule to save the lives of others.
Not sure if you can donate? Why not make an appointment and find out. Call 1-888-2 DONATE (236-6283

We have set up a volunteer ride system for Leo to enable him to attend our regular Tuesday meetings.

Open this  LINK to the volunteering page. You will be prompted to log in. Simply select the day you want to drive Leo. You will be reminded about your committment at the bottom of the e-Strathconian of your task, or you can always check your Tasks and Registrations from the 'My Committments' link in the My ClubRunner box on the ADMIN page after login.
If you are unable to open the 'Volunteer' page but want to volunteer, contact me any time.

You will also receive a reminder about your committment by email on the preceding Monday.
Leo has a list of the Ride Schedule and will contact you in the event he is unable to go to a particular meeting.
If your plans change, please contact me immediately

In addition to the MAP on "Leo's Buggy Ride" event page, Jim Ashton is passing the following tips on to future 'Riders':

"Just a few notes on Leo's ride.  I hadn't opened up the map, but instead Leo gave me the logistics.

Coming into Beaumont from Edmonton on 50th street, drive through the town to the large church (on the left hand side) at the lights.  Turn left at the lights and drive to the first stop sign.  Turn right at the stop sign and go to 46th avenue.  Turn left at 46th avenue.  Leo's home is the fourth one down on the right hand side - 4213.

 
Leo really enjoys the opportunity to get out and attend the meetings.

Hans Granholm
p: 780-466-5566
e: hgrdane@telusplanet.net

>>> PLEASE LOOK AT THIS ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY <<<

With the number of members in this club either owning or operating a business, we are getting a very poor interest in this nice little generator of funds for the club.
Are the rates too steep? I don't think so, but if you do, please let us know.
If you have any bright ideas on how to promote this little initiative, please speak up.

A web site and bulletin advertising feature is available to dedicated members who wish to sponsor an ad and support the club's endeavors.

It is an opportunity to go out in the community and solicit ads from businesses, and who knows, in the process of soliciting ads you may also find prospective new Rotarians.

Be sure to visit these sponsors by clicking on their ad

The fee is for members $20.00 for one month or $50.00 for three months or $150.00 for one year.
 
For non-members $30.00 per month or $70.00 for a quarter or $250.00 for one year.


The ad can be text or a logo. Either way it becomes a link and upon clicking will take the visitor to the sponsor's website or e-mail address.

Please have a look at the complimentary ads in the right column of any site pages and in the left column of the e-Strathconian.

NOTE: You will notice a link in the bottom of the right column of a site page "Interested in being a Website Sponsor?". This link opens a page with all the information.

Feedback and comments are very much appreciated. You can post comments on the FORUMS | CLUB WEB SITE | ADVERTISING. Or you can e-mail you-know-who.

Cheers!

Lets go to a Rotary Convention......

2009                   Birmingham, England
2010                   Montreal
2011                   New Orleans