The Friendly Club
Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona

e-Strathconian


Monday, May 18, 2009
Club Web Site
 
Editor:   Hans Granholm
If you have any comments or questions, email the editor.

Future Speakers
May 19 2009
Ted Rose and Susan Hill
"Project Amigo"
May 26 2009
Peter Laansoo
" Eyesight Belize"
Jun 2 2009
Michelle DeCoursey
"Cystic Fibrosis"
Jun 16 2009
Jim Carter - Panel Chair - Carbon Capture
"Carbon Capture & Sequestration"
Jun 23 2009
Dr. Jason Acker
"Elkhorn Coral "
Jun 30 2009
Golf Tournament
"No Speaker"
Jul 7 2009
Rotating wheel dinner
"no speaker"
Jul 14 2009
Rotary DG Terry Drader
"Rotary update"
Jul 21 2009
Naresh Bhardwaj
"Political Scene in Alberta"
Jul 28 2009
Barbilee Hemmings
"The Terry Fox Foundation"
Aug 11 2009
Roberta Bedard
"Seniors Outreach Worker"
Aug 18 2009
Sarah Zimmerman
"Alumnae"
Sep 1 2009
Stephen Yakimets
"Alberta Railway Museum"
Sep 8 2009
Graham Hicks
"Hicks on Six"
Sep 15 2009
Arnim Joop
"Multiculturism in Edmonton"
Sep 22 2009
Nancy McCalder
"The Support Network"
Sep 29 2009
Diana Gibson
"Parkland Institute"
Oct 6 2009
Elizabeth Walker
"Herbalist"
Oct 27 2009
Janice Bell
"Volunteer Edmonton"

Upcoming Events
Big Bin
May 23 2009 - May 24 2009

News

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Welcome to the Edmonton Strathcona Website
by Hans Granholm



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


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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, including club mail address, 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.

Upcoming Events and Reminders in the next few days...
by Hans Granholm



May 19; Bernd Reuscher, Birthday
May 19; Joyce & Bruce Flesher, Anniversary
May 20 Wedding Day; Heather and Eric
May 20; Joyce & Art Baird, Anniversary
May 23; Hugh Falconar, Birthday
May 23; Jarrod Clayton, Birthday
May 23 & 24; Big Bin Event (see UPCOMING EVENTS & STORY)


 

Tuesday noon belongs to Rotary!


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

Speaker Review - May 12 - Jim Newman
by Jim Ashton


Watch Your Head!.........Since 4500 BC man has been putting forth head gear, as much about styling as head protection.  From the leather head gear developed BC, to the enclosed metal head gear used by Roman soliders (among others), to today's helmets used in all sorts of sports,  the development of head gear has been a work in progress.  Jim Newman, our speaker at Rotary this week, spoke on this very topic.

     With a degree in Mechanical Engineering, it was a bit of a stretch for Jim to get invloved with a product such as helmets.  However, his passion for head gear dates back to his days as a young boy, viewing pictures of Stirling Moss, resplendent with the car racing helmet of the day, after winning the Grand Prix.  This passion led Jim to produce various types of head gear, and consequently hold patents on many of them. 

     It was the twentieth century which really saw the advent of the huge range of helmets to the marketplace.  While world wars created the volumes, it was the growth of the sports market that created the diverse range of helmets.  Many of the earlier versions of helmets did little to separate the head from the inside of the helmet itself.  However, in 1941, the Riddell patent came up with a series of straps to keep the impact away from the head.  This patent really brought the function of helmets to the forefront, creating the protection advocates were seeking for the cranium.  Stan Mikita of the Chicago Black Hawks modified the Ridell patented helmet with great success for professional hockey.  The 1960's motorcycle helmet, with a hard-hat type of suspension, brought about a patent of a helmet filled with crushable foam.  Concussions are down 30% in recent years in the NFL alone due to the advanced construction of helmets.

     As mentioned earlier, the development of head gear is a work in progress.  As with anything that we put on our bodies today, a huge emphasis is on looks and styling.  If a product looks "dorky", for lack of a better word, it will meet resistance going to market.  Another aspect that was brought up by the speaker was the difficulty of fitting the youth with proper head gear.  However, as the emphasis on safety grows, this will sort itself out.

     All in all, a very different topic, yet one which impacts each of us and our families in our lives - safety for the head.  An interesting presentation from Jim Newman!       

             

    

Speaker Review - May 5 - Daniel Padilla
by Jim Ashton


You Swine - That's The Flu...... What's in a name?  Well, in the case of the dreaded swine flu that has been in the news incessantly these past weeks, everything.  The pork industry took exception to the debilitating effect the name association of the swine flu was having on their industry, and consequently the current strain of flu circulating world-wide has been renamed H1N1.  Sounds like right out of Star Wars.

     Daniel Padilla R.N., Program Manager of Nursing at the Allen Gray, gave a timely presentation on the H1N1 flu, and it's impact globally.  One interesting fact that came out of the presentation was that in countries such as Mexico, with large populations, limited space and lacking in government intervention, you have intermingling of animals, such as pigs and chickens.  Consequently, in this environment, pigs have picked up characteristics similar to those of the avian flu, and this is the source of the H1N1 epidemic........WASH HANDS!  

     A major concern is that not just those  individuals who have been to Mexico are contacting this strain of flu.  The three to four day delay in the incubation of the flu in humans allows time for the flu to be unwittingly passed on to others.  Another concern is  that if this flu strain starts impacting the relatively young and healthy portion of the population, those in the twenty to forty age group, there would be little hope for infants and the aged.  Now categorized at a level five (of a possible six) by the World Health Organization, government agencies and health officials are extremely concerned about H1N1.   For the information of our readers, a level five is the "transference of the flu through large clusters of humans"........WASH HANDS!

     When one contemplates that in all of North America there have been but two deaths from H1N1, there is concern that the media and health officials have been over blowing the seriousness of the issue.  Countering that is the fact that twenty-one countries have cases of H1N1 (1,124 cases in total world-wide as of May 5, 2009).  The trend appears to be non-sustaining, but there are mixed comments emanating from the global health industry on this.  Some of the fallout:  many school authorities are banning travel by their students;  international travel is being discouraged; employers are urging employees to stay at home if they have any sort of a bug;  emergency rooms and doctors are getting so backed up that people are being urged to simply isolate themselves, to stay away from health care units for risk of infecting others.  The bottom line is that IF a full-blown epidemic occurred, thirty to forty percent of the population could be affected.  This is huge!.....WASH HANDS!

     So, what are the symptoms of H1N1, and what can one do to reduce the risk of contacting this dreaded flu bug?  The symptoms are much like those of an everyday flu - fever, sneezing, and sudden onset of coughing.  The two key things that one can do to reduce risk of contacting the flu are to WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN, and AVOID CONTACT WITH THOSE THAT HAVE COLD OR FLU LIKE SYMPTOMS.  As mentioned earlier, the best thing to do if you feel you have a flu is to isolate yourself from others.  Do not go to a health unit right away - you may pass it on to others.  If your situation worsens, or does not get better in a three or four day period, THEN go see a doctor.......WASH HANDS!

     If you have any questions or concerns about the H1N1 flu strain, contact Alberta Health at 1-800-LINK, or go to the website www.albertahealthservices.ca  

     Our thanks to Daniel for a very timely and informative presentation!   

    

                    

Big Bin; May 23-24 2009
by Hans Granholm



President Ted announced the club's participation in the "Big Bin Event", a program where community groups participate in the collection of refuse.

This time of year we hear enough complaints about how ugly it is as the snow disappears. Here we have an opportunity to actually do something constructive about it.

Rotary Clubs have participated in this program before and we should support our Board's decision to provide some funding and manpower to the project.

One week-end has been identified as 'Edmonton Strathcona' day. May 23 & 24. The collection spot is at 5404-59 Ave.

This LINK will open the site page on the City of Edmonton web site. Here you can read more about the program.

Sign up and VOLUNTEER AT THIS LINK

'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?'
by Hans Granholm



2009 Summary...

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!



CANADA FLAG PROJECT KICKS OFF SECOND YEAR
by Hal Quilliam



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

for the May 18, 2009 Victoria Day long weekend.

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

Hugh Falconar needs a ride!
by Hans Granholm



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

 

New Bulletin Editor in 2009-10
by Hans Granholm



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

 

2008-09 Exchange Student
by Granholm, Hans



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.

Is it in you?
by Hans Granholm



View the story on the District WebComCentre

Donate! 

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

4-Way Test
by Hans Granholm


RI link: 4-Way Test
Web Site Advertising
by Hans Granholm



>>> 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!

TIP about where
by Hans Granholm



When Stories disappear from the front page and the bulletin layout, they don't disappear completely.
You can always click on the STORIES tab in the menu bar in the top banner.

Items will remain there for a reasonable period of time (still to be determined), but even after they disappear there, they can still be retrieved by contacting your website administrator.

Hans Granholm
e-mail
Planning a Vacation?
by Graham Gilchrist


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

2009                   Birmingham, England
2010                   Montreal
2011                   New Orleans

Edmonton Strathcona Guestbook
by Hans Granholm



GUESTBOOK

Don't forget to encourage the use of our new GUESTBOOK

Do not forget we also have a FORUM where members can post their views and ideas on a variety of subjects. NOTE: You have to log in to access the private Forum.

Why not visit yourself and let's benefit from your feedback...
2007 - 2008 Annual Report
by Peter DeNooy


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.



 

Interested in Renewing Old Bonds?
by Jim Ashton


     We are currently seeking Rotarians to replace the outstanding group that has handled the Door Duty responsibilities this past Rotary year.  Unlike the military, we do not offer exciting travel, scuba diving, pay, benefits and the like, but it is an opportunity to renew those Rotary acquaintences.  You know, like "Pete, I didn't know you had a new hairpiece", or "Helen, your facelift looks great".  When you sit at the desk taking lunch monies and the like, you communicate with ALL club members.

     With six on this duty, it means only doing a shift every third week only, which is not onerus at all.  And the really exciting thing is that if you balance, the treasurer will give you a gold star.  If you would like to handle this portfolio, please advise Hans Pilz, President Elect Ken Germain, or Jim Ashton (away until June 2nd meeting).  It's not a big responsibility, but an important one in regards to the flow of our meetings.

How secure is all this data?
by Hans Granholm



No need to worry. ClubRunner secures all your private information using the latest security technologies.

Private information is secured using 128-bit encryption, and all access requires unique logins and passwords. Access to information is also restricted, for example, a member can only see a list of membership in his or her club, and his or her own personal information.

Data on the server is protected by TCP/IP filtering, firewall and anti-virus software that protect against any unauthorized intrusion. Backups of data are made daily and stored off-site.

Your information is kept private; to review ClubRunner's Privacy Policy, visit www.clubrunner.ca.
Privacy Policy
by Hans Granholm


Privacy laws were recently implemented in Canada...

The District Privacy Policy is listed on the WebComCentre, front page story or on our front page at the bottom of DOWNLOADS.