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.

Apr 26; Shirley & John Barnes, Anniversary
Apr 29; Edmonton Capital Region Integrity Awards Dinner (see STORY and EVENTS)

 

Our speaker for our April 21 meeting was Mark Anielski who spoke to us on the subject "Measuring Quality of Life and Sustainable well being".

Unfortunately, because of the absence of our prolific Jim Ashton, we do not have a detailed review of this excellent and thought provoking presentation, but you are invited to read more about Mark's philosophy and endeavors in assisting governments worldwide on his website. CLICK HERE

     Anna hails from Turku, Finland, the fifth largest city in the country with a population of 175,000.  She comes from a family with a strong Rotary background - her father being a Rotarian, her sister Laura having gone on a Rotary exchange to Brazil five years ago, and the family hosting many students over the years.  So it is little wonder that Anna landed on our doorstep in the exchange program.

     As mentioned above, Anna has a sister, Laura.  Rounding out the family are her mother and father, both having business degrees, and her other sister Maria.  Laura and Maria are 23 and 24 years of age respectively.  Rounding out the immediate family is the canine - "Laddy" - I believe, is the name.  Staying on the personal side of Anna's presentation, she attends a combination junior/senior high school, and is a part of the English immersion program.  Some of her favorite sports/pastimes are snowboarding, tennis, and playing the piano (perhaps we should have her play something at one of our meetings?).

     Finland is a country on about the same latitude as Hay River, and is a country of two languages, Finnish and Swedish.  Having said that, some 92% speak Finnish, with the Swedish speaking population living to the south of the country.  As with Canada, Finland is made up of provinces, having six in total.  The President is the head of state, with the Prime Minister handling the day to day operation of the country, and with three main political parties vying for control.  Finland declared independence from Sweden on December 6, 1917.  One interesting piece of history was a war against Russia in 1932, which the Russian's won.  To this day, the relationship with the Soviet country is not a warm one, to put it tactfully.  And, speaking of warm, the temperature in Finland does get up to the plus 30's, but, alas, also drops to the minus 30's during the winter months, much like our country.   

     As with most countries, the population is weighted heavily to the urban centres, with some 71% residing in the cities, and 29% in the outlying, rural areas.  Only two percent of the population are immigrants, most of those being of Russian decent.  Again, as with many countries, religion is on the wane, with only 50% of the population going to church once annually.  As far as schooling goes, school is compulsory for those aged nine to sixteen.  Free lunch is part of the education program.  Sixty percent of the population have high school or university diplomas.

     The major industries in this small country of 5.3 million people are wood, metals, technology, telecommunications, and electronics.  The major fields of culture include music and architectural design, and, on the sports scene, hockey is as popular there as it is in Canada, where the Finns dearly love to beat the Swedes. 

     One "light" event that Anna mentioned in her presentation was the wife-carrying competition, where the contestants have to run a designated course carrying their spouse.  The winner receives the grand prize of his wife's weight.......in beer.  Sounds like an excuse for a good party.

     All in all, a fact filled and informative presentation from Anna.  If any Rotarians have any events, interests or trips they could share with Anna, please do give her a call and include her.  She is here as much for the cultural exchange as anything! 

This is a social program of the Edmonton Strathcona Rotary Club. It is an opportunity for club members and spouses/companions to meet other club members in an informal, social, small group setting. Dates are all Saturday nights at 7:00 PM. The most important part of this program is the fellowship and the opportunity to get to know each other better. 

A big THANK YOU  to Bob Sandercock for organizing the event this year. Bob did what many of us have tried unsuccessfully the last few years, increase the participation significantly of our members.

WELL DONE!

One of the Rotary year's 'most heart-warming events' will take place on Wednesday, April 29 at the Sutton Place Hotel, 10235 - 101 Street, Edmonton .

The Capital Region 2009 Integrity Awards Dinner recognizes non-Rotarians in the area who are quietly making a personal contribution to community or business, helping in some way to make the Region a better place in which to work, play and live.

Nominees are put forth by a number of Rotary Clubs in the region and publicly recognized by a representative from the nominating Club citing how his/her deportment, character and contributions to the community or business life meet the Rotary Four Way Test.

The 2009 nominee from the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona is Master Corporal Paul Franklin.

Please open THIS LINK to read Paul's bio. 

If you enjoy a very pleasant evening in the company of good people, consider attending this wonderful event.

Tickets at a cost of $40 each are available from Rose Marie Basaraba.  Mark your calendar for April 29 and witness the recognition of Paul Franklin as our Integrity Award nominee for 2009.

Following a successful launch in the Fall of 2008, the Canada Flag Project

kicks into gear in April 2009.  One hundred and fifty new flags have been

purchased and will be available for our members to obtain subscriptions

The project showed a profit for its first year, and the first years flags are fully paid for.  The flags subscribed by the public in 2008 are committed for planting on the three holiday weekends in 2009.  The new flags will produce new revenue when subscribed in 2009.  In future years the flags will produce far greater net proceeds as the costs will have been covered in the first year of subscription.

The flags are readily accepted by the public.  Once the flags were planted in our neighborhoods last fall several of our members were approached by other neighbors requesting flags for their yards too.  Unfortunately we were "sold out".

On that basis it is expected that sales of subscriptions for 2009 will be easier now that some of the residents of neighborhoods have seen the flags flying.

It does stir the heart and the innate patriotism that Canadians have, and many want to show their love of Canada.

All members of the club can help in this program.  Work parties are going to be put together to ready the flagpoles and assemble the flags for planting.  What an excellent way for a group of Strathcona Rotarians to get together to socialize and assist the Club Flag Program with a little bit of work together for a couple of hours.

The poles need to be painted and the knobs have to be attached;  the flags need to be attached to the poles;  the stands need to be painted.  Each of these jobs is not difficult and is an opportunity to talk with your fellow member while the work is accomplished.

We are not totally pioneering here.  We are following the lead of a successful program in Texas that has run several years, with ever increasing numbers of flags being subscribed each year.   Bruce Flesher brought this concept back from Texas.  While Bruce was entertaining a Rotary guest from Texas who is involved with the program there, the guest explained their flag program to Bruce and to Hal Quilliam.   Bruce and Hal decided to approach the Strathcona Board for approval to commence the Canada Flag Program here, and it took off from there.

Bill Skelly has been very instrumental in flag subscriptions in his home district. He is of the mind that he will sell at least as many subscriptions in 2009 as he did in 2008 now that his neighbors have seen the product.   The writer of this article shares his view and expects that second years sales will be easier than the first year in his district.   Sign up for some flags and meet your neighbors in your own district!

The flags are subscribed for $50.00 annually.  A Rotarian will plant the flag in a subscriber's front yard three times during the summer season.  They will be planted just before the Victoria Day weekend commencement, before the July 1 Canada Day weekend commencement and just before the commencement of the Labor Day long weekend near the beginning of September.  After the holiday weekends are over, a Rotarian will retrieve the flags and store them until the next planting date.

Planting and retrieving is easy and quick.  The flags and mounting spikes are easily transported in a family car.  The optimum result can be obtained by selling subscriptions in your own neighborhood, as it allows for easy planting and retrieval.

In the second year of a subscription, the householder is going to be provided with a charitable donation receipt for $40.00 of his $50.00 second year subscription fee.

The charitable donation receipt will be issued by the Rotary District 5370 Foundation, and after collection of our proceeds the funds will be directed to the District Foundation.  Funds held by the District 5370 Foundation can then be disbursed to Charitable Organizations at the Strathcona Clubs direction. Offering the  charitable donation receipt will reduce the cost of the subscribers participation by 50% ( assuming he has other charitable donations in the amount of $200 annually already).  That is a likely scenario in today's world.

We need each of our Club members to join in the program,  take some flags and introduce them to your neighbors.  Clearly the easy way to do that is to have a flag flying in your own yard, and thereby show your "patriotism and love of Canada"

When your neighbors see yours, they will want one in their yard too.

One member related the story of how he had a flag in his yard and approached a neighbor for a subscription for his yard.  Initially he said " no thanks".  The next day he came to the Rotarian who had offered one and said he had changed his mind and wanted a flag for his yard.  At that time our Rotary member uprooted the flag in  his own yard and planted it in his neighbor's yard, and went and got another one for his own yard. 

A common question from our members is why we don't do a flag planting on November 11 (Remembrance Day) Sometimes the weather on Remembrance Day is not conducive to flag planting or any other outdoor activity in Edmonton. Sometimes there is snow on the ground, and the ground could be partly frozen.

While Remembrance Day would be an excellent time to show our Patriotism, we have decided that a planting that day would likely only present problems for our program, and it is better to moving forward, rather than face the possibility of having to retreat from a commitment.  We have therefore chosen the three summer long weekends for our Canada Flag plantings.

Any questions please speak to Bruce Flesher, Hal Quilliam or Bill Skelly.

Please join the program with the minimum of a flag for your own yard.

This article submitted by Hal Quilliam

Some Little Known Facts

(that you probably don't want to know)

• The phrase "rule of thumb" is derived from an old English law which stated that you couldn't beat your wife with anything wider than your thumb.
• "Stewardesses" is the longest word that is typed with only the left hand.
• A group of unicorns is called a blessing. Twelve or more cows are known as a "flink." A group of frogs is called an army. A group of rhinos is called a crash. A group of kangaroos is called a mob. A group of whales is called a pod. A group of ravens is called a murder. A group of officers is called a mess. A group of larks is called an exaltation. A group of owls is called a parliament.
• Every time you lick a stamp, you're consuming 1/10 of a calorie.
• The phrase "sleep tight" derives from the fact that early mattresses were filled with straw and held up with rope stretched across the bed frame. A tight sleep was a comfortable sleep.
• Studies show that if a cat falls off the seventh floor of a building it has about thirty percent less chance of surviving than a cat that falls off the twentieth floor. It supposedly takes about eight >floors for the cat to realize what is occurring, relax and correct itself.
• 111,111,111 x 111,111,111=12,345,678,987,654,321

Sometime in June 2009, Jarrod Clayton is moving his office into Harald Kuckertz's building in the Old Strathcona area.

This will effectively take him out of the 'Hugh Buggy Ride' pool where he and a number of other Strathconians have provide a ride for Hugh for several years now.

It would be nice if we could line up alternate drivers to take Hugh to our weekly meetings.

Hugh lives at: #220, 17203 99 Ave NW and his telephone number is: 780-487-9447

Initially I would suggest you contact me and let me try and arrange a schedule.

Cheers!

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

I am very pleased to accept Peter Denooy's move to assume the bulletin Editor responsibilities from July 2009.
New ideas and a fresh approach is always a good thing and I urge you to welcome Peter in that position by providing news and stories to him.
Peter has also indicated he wants to get more involved with the club website. He has already demonstrated a keen interest by providing the 'ClubRunner Minute' at our meetings.

In todays world, electronic and internet communication is vital. Our club has done very well with the powerful tools (ClubRunner) we have at our disposal, and we have received several awards over the years recognizing our effort.

If I am permitted, I will certainly always be available for help and consultations in any aspect of electronic communications.

I remain in my position as District 5370 Electronic Communications Chair and I have been asked by RIVP Monty Audenart to take on the role as Zone website coordinator which I have accepted.
A substantial effort is required to accommodate the zone realignment taking effect July 1 2009.

Cheers!

Hans Granholm
780-466-5566
hgrdane@telusplanet.net
Skype or ooVoo IM name: greightdane

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 arrived 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.

Anna is currently hosted by Mirka and Peter Stoye. Please include Anna in your plans.

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.

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

>>> 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

The 2007-2008 Annual Report, which includes Committee Reports and Financial Statements can be viewed by members of the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona on the Club Documents page and is accessible from the Admin page.