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.

Mar 4; Len Gierach, Birthday
Mar 5; Roberta & Jack Smith, Anniversary
Mar 7; Rose Marie Basaraba, Birthday

 

     Sandra Irving, Executive Director at the Centre For Family Literacy (hereafter CFFL), presented that shocking statistic at the February 17th meeting.  Even taking into consideration that the statistics would include a good number of people who have immigrated to Canada, and become Canadian citizens, that is still a number hard to comprehend. 

     The CFFL is a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to helping families grow and prosper.  Their programs, training and research help Albertans improve their education, jobs, and health.  It has been found that health has been geared to the level of literacy, with the illiterate, or those with poor literate skills, quite often those with health issues.  As a not-for-profit organization, CFFL depends on government grants, donations, and monies raised from the sale of services to sustain this much needed service to the Alberta public.

     Besides the major Adult Tutor Program, where trained volunteers work individually with adults who read or write below a grade nine level, another of the many programs offered is C.O.W, or Classroom on Wheels.  This brightly colored bus, with a picture of a cow painted on it, travels to rural and urban communities across Alberta building awareness of family literacy (and here the editor thought it was related to the dairy council - shows his lack of literacy!)

     The benefits provided from the services of CFFL are immeasurable.  Consider the comments made by participants:  "I now join in the conversations of lunch and coffee time because I can read the paper and I know what's going on" - Adult Student........"My son loves the books.  Sometimes I have to read the new ones to him on the bus home" - Parent..............and "My daughter gathered her dolls into a circle and read a book to them" - Parent.  

     A heartwarming presentation on a very vital living skill issue.  Our thanks to Sandra for an informative and interesting topic.      

Editor's note: I extend my sincere apologies to Eric Germain who submitted the pictures and the following cover story some time ago. Who says Christmas is only for December?

Some Little-Known-Facts about Canada

"Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" is scheduled for February, March and April 2009.

February 7, March 14 and April 18

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.

Typically a Member would Host one month and be a Guest for two months. All Members are encouraged to participate - even if for only one month. The visitors should expect anything from spaghetti or pizza to steaks. The most important part of this program is the fellowship and the opportunity to get to know each other better.

Click on THIS LINK to open and register the event.

Need more info on the event?... call:

Bob Sandercock at 780-469-5571.

Questions about this registration format? call 466-5566 or e-mail Hans Granholm

21 January 2009

Dear Fellow Rotarians,

This is another historic day for Rotary. Our organization was honored today to host philanthropist Bill Gates, Jr. at Rotary's International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA.

Speaking to 2009-2010 district governors-elect, Bill Gates, Jr. congratulated Rotarians on the success of the partnership between Rotary International and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to raise funds for polio. To date, Rotarians have already committed more than US$60 million toward the original US$100 million Gates challenge grant awarded in November 2007.

In recognizing Rotary's impressive fundraising success and steadfast commitment to polio eradication, Gates announced today that his foundation has decided to increase its challenge grant by US$255 million - for a total of US$355 million. By accepting the increase, Rotary also accepts the challenge to raise an additional US$100 million in matching funds by 30 June 2012 and drives the combined Rotary and Gates Foundation partnership's commitment to a total of US$555 million.

All of the resulting US$555 million will be spent in support of immunization activities carried out by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in polio-affected countries. The initiative is spearheaded by Rotary, the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and UNICEF. 

In another welcomed development today, the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID) pledged 100 million (US$150 million) and the German government is giving an additional ?100 million (US$130 million), both to the GPEI. Contributions from the U.K. and Germany are separate and will not count toward Rotary's match of the Gates Foundation challenge grant. 

The infusion of funds is crucial if the world is to finally be rid of polio, a crippling, sometimes fatal disease that poses the highest risk to children. Although the initiative has reduced the number of polio cases by 99 percent over the past two decades, the wild poliovirus still persists in four countries -- Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan -- and imported cases from these endemic countries threaten other developing nations.

Your continued participation in this effort is crucial to making it a success.  The Rotary International Board of Directors and the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation have unanimously agreed to accept this challenge grant to ensure the success of the PolioPlus program. Rotary and the Gates Foundation intend for their funding partnership to set an example for the rest of the world. We feel confident that this extraordinary partnership will serve as a catalyst for further donations from others to help us realize the dream of a polio-free world.

When Rotary entered the fight against polio in 1985, we promised every child a world free from the threat of polio. We are almost there.  This funding agreement between Rotary and the Gates Foundation is a huge step forward, bringing us even closer to our goal.  Success is our only option.  Together we can End Polio Now.  For more information, please visit www.rotary.org .

Dong-Kurn Lee               Jonathan B. Majiyagbe
President 2008-09          Chairman
Rotary International        The Rotary Foundation Trustees, RI

Bill Gates announced to attendees at the International Assembly on 21 January that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has contributed an additional US$255 million to Rotary International to help end polio worldwide. Rotary will raise another $100 million, bringing the total that the two organizations have pledged to the polio eradication effort to $555 million.

New York Times

Chicago Tribune

BBC

The International Herald Tribune  

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.

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.

The Edmonton Strathcona Rotary Club has  commenced a new fund raising project called

the Rotary Canada Flag Project.

The purpose of the project is to promote the demonstration of Patriotism for Canada by the subscribers and at the same time raise funds for charitable use and use in the community by The Rotary Club.

The project follows the precedent of similar successful flag projects by Rotary Clubs in the United States.

Under the project, Edmonton Strathcona Rotarians will visit homeowners and occupants of residences, and will obtain "Subscriptions" to the annual flag project.

The Rotary Club will provide "plantings" of a Canada Flag on the front lawn of subscribers three times per year in exchange for the subscription.  The plantings will take place on the three summer holidays weekends (Victoria Day)  (Canada Day) and (Labour Day)   After the holiday is over the Rotary Club will pick up the flag and store it for future use.

The subscription price is $50.00 per year and the subscriber is only required to show the general location of where the flag should be planted.  

Planting takes place by placing a metal stand in the ground on a spike, and is removed after the weekend is over with no damage to the lawn.  Continuing subscriptions will be sought.  Preparation of the flags, poles and spikes will be done  by Club members by way of  work parties.  

First plantings are expected for Labor Day 2008.

FLAG PROJECT 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.