Notes from El Presidente #22 April 22, 2011
Posted by Guillermo Bustos
on Apr 22, 2011
What a story! Constable John Smith gave us a very interesting presentation of Emergency Response Teams action during the Lillooet fires of 2009. Although the town was emptied, not one spoon went missing during the evacuation period. John also deglamourised the medal “ceremony”.
Changes for Tuesday April 26: In order to accommodate the visit to the Tsawwassen Golf & Country Club redevelopment, lunch will be served at 11:30. Please adjust your schedules. We will leave the T&C around noon. This is necessary as there are no facilities to sit at the site. In order to expedite lunch and departure I suggest we will have cheques for the Ladner Rotary Club ready ($19.50). We will tour the facilities just before residents start to move into their units. The President of Talisman Homes, Ross Clauston , who is in charge of the development will give a short update/overview of the project. Sarah Toigo will also be present to answer any questions. If there are instructions about access on the site they will, follow soon. Please let people know about the time and venue changes for Tuesday.
New way to finance projects overseas: The Foundation has reached an agreement with Oikocredit International to form the first strategic partnership under the Foundation’s Future Vision Plan. Through
it, the Foundation will offer packaged grants for Rotary clubs and districts to work with microfinance institutions within the Oikocredit network. Together, these institutions and Rotarians will identify local needs, develop effective approaches, and structure training programs to improve entrepreneurs’ business skills. This allows Rotary club members to directly contribute their valuable expertise and skills without administering the loans directly. Rotary clubs have worked successfully with Oikocredit partners in the past. In 2009, clubs in Kenya and the Netherlands received Foundation funding to upgrade dairy farms and establish training farms belonging to an Oikocredit-supported milk cooperative near Nairobi. The result was an increase in the quality and quantity of milk production.
it, the Foundation will offer packaged grants for Rotary clubs and districts to work with microfinance institutions within the Oikocredit network. Together, these institutions and Rotarians will identify local needs, develop effective approaches, and structure training programs to improve entrepreneurs’ business skills. This allows Rotary club members to directly contribute their valuable expertise and skills without administering the loans directly. Rotary clubs have worked successfully with Oikocredit partners in the past. In 2009, clubs in Kenya and the Netherlands received Foundation funding to upgrade dairy farms and establish training farms belonging to an Oikocredit-supported milk cooperative near Nairobi. The result was an increase in the quality and quantity of milk production.
What CONFUCIUS DIDN'T SAY (Contributed by Denise Pretty): Man who stands on toilet is high on pot.
Jim Burnett is still collecting pledges: He is doing a bike ride for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and need you support. Please e-mail him and tell him how much.
Family of Rotary: I paid a short visit to Ron Bollen on Thursday. It was short because the Waterford had organized a special lunch for people having birthdays in April. Although he misses the meetings,he feels that he has to dedicate the time to his wife. He was very happy because his son, who lives in Christchurch, NZ, has been able to restart business.
Birthdays and anniversaries: None this week
Politics Explained: A little boy goes to his dad and asks, 'What is Politics?' Dad says, 'Well son, let me try to explain it this way: I am the head of the family, so call me The Prime Minister. Your mother is the administrator of the money, so we call her the Government. We are here to take care of your needs, so we will call you the People. The nanny, we will consider her the Working Class.And your baby brother, we will call him the Future. Now think about that and see if it makes sense.'
So the little boy goes off to bed thinking about what Dad has said. Later that night, he hears his baby brother crying, so he gets up to check on him. He finds that the baby has severely soiled his nappy. So the little boy goes to his parent's room and finds his mother asleep. Not wanting to wake her, he goes to the nanny's
room. Finding the door locked, he peeks in the keyhole and sees his father in bed with the nanny. He gives up and goes back to bed. The next morning, the little boy say's to his father, 'Dad, I think I understand the concept of politics now. ' The father says, 'Good, son, tell me in your own words what you think politics is all about.'
The little boy replies, 'The Prime Minister is screwing the Working Class while the Government is sound asleep. The People are being ignored and the Future is in deep doodoo…’
So the little boy goes off to bed thinking about what Dad has said. Later that night, he hears his baby brother crying, so he gets up to check on him. He finds that the baby has severely soiled his nappy. So the little boy goes to his parent's room and finds his mother asleep. Not wanting to wake her, he goes to the nanny's
room. Finding the door locked, he peeks in the keyhole and sees his father in bed with the nanny. He gives up and goes back to bed. The next morning, the little boy say's to his father, 'Dad, I think I understand the concept of politics now. ' The father says, 'Good, son, tell me in your own words what you think politics is all about.'
The little boy replies, 'The Prime Minister is screwing the Working Class while the Government is sound asleep. The People are being ignored and the Future is in deep doodoo…’
Our District is receiving three Ambassadorial Scholars who will be coming in the summer to study at
UBC or BCIT next year. The District is looking for club sponsors and a counselor for each student. The job
is not onerous and it doesn’t cost the club anythingThe Rotarian host counselor is an important member of the Rotary Foundation team who: provides direct assistance to ensure a smooth transition for the scholar in the study country; in some cases accepts the scholar’s first payment; provides budgeting advice and other counseling as needed during the study year; arranges visits to club meetings, district functions, and other Rotarian events and homes; assists, as may be requested, with any closing tasks at the end of the award period. The host counselor should commit for the entire award period. We will discuss our sponsorship at our next board meeting. Please let me know if you want to be a counselor.
UBC or BCIT next year. The District is looking for club sponsors and a counselor for each student. The job
is not onerous and it doesn’t cost the club anythingThe Rotarian host counselor is an important member of the Rotary Foundation team who: provides direct assistance to ensure a smooth transition for the scholar in the study country; in some cases accepts the scholar’s first payment; provides budgeting advice and other counseling as needed during the study year; arranges visits to club meetings, district functions, and other Rotarian events and homes; assists, as may be requested, with any closing tasks at the end of the award period. The host counselor should commit for the entire award period. We will discuss our sponsorship at our next board meeting. Please let me know if you want to be a counselor.
Have a Happy Easter Everybody
El Supremo
Interested in being a sponsor?
Download the website sponsorship guide
Download the website sponsorship guide