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October 13, 2009




QB SUNRISE


SCUTTLEBUTT

The QB Sunrise Scuttlebutt is a weekly publication that highlights the activities of the Rotary Club of Qualicum Beach Sunrise.



Last Week in Rotary








Welcome back Kim- Ken and Giovanni compete to shake Kim’s hand on he and Jill’s return from a 5 month sentence in the heat and humidity of Ibiza. Kim still not recovered from Jet Lag was at Rotary House bright and early to help set up for this mornings meeting.






Membership Director Pat spent all day Oct 9th riding the Cable Cars in San Francisco looking for potential QB Sunrise new members.






Doug, pinch hitting for Ron, announces Gala Gala at Giovanni’s on November 7th
The event will coincide with the first anniversary of Giovanni’s Restorante and will feature 2 sittings at 5:00 and 7:30. The event will include a Silent Auction. Stay posted for more details as they unfold.






Roses Chair Ken tells it like it is:The Roses Fundraiser (our most important fundraising event) won’t get underway until someone steps up to take on the Supplies Portfolio. Will someone please step up to the plate and take this on, it’s not an onerous task, just needs someone who is organized and we have a club full of people like that – don’t we?





International Director Doug Sly reports that things are well underway in their efforts to solicit funding from individual Clubs in the Mid Island in support of our efforts to raise funds for the Bukati School Project in Kenya. Doug has spoken to 4 clubs receiving 3 positive responses and one no. Charles will be speaking to the 2 Alberni Clubs as well David and Doug will be speaking with several more clubs in the coming weeks. All of the dollars that can be raised by mid island clubs will be matched by the District – providing that we can get our final request in to the District before the Matching Grant funds are depleted.






Community Service Director Allan Gannon and Coats for Kids.In cooperation with Parksville AM we will be distributing warm coats and winter outer wear to needy children in Qualicum. Collection boxes are set up at local Schools and as well Allan asked club members to bring donations to Rotary House.






Peter, pinch hitting for Mike, talked up the Oct 24th Garage Sale and invited as many members who were able to come by Rotary House on Friday Oct 23 to do so to help with pick-up and with pricing.



This Week in Rotary




October 20 Activity Roster

  1. Greeter – Doug Arbo
  2. 50-50 – Allen Ball
  3. Rotary Moment – Charles Beckingham
  4. Invocation – Giovanni Belcastro




October 13 Meeting




Birthdays and Anniversaries


Doug and Dorothy celebrated their 54th Anniversary on October 8th (poor Dorothy). Congratulations Doug and Dorothy


Guests






Allan introduces Parksville AM Rotarian John O’Brien – Welcome John This was John’s second visit in as many weeks and it was suggested that John is seeking membership in our Club.



Program






David presents our own Dr. Kevin Martin with a Certificate in support of Polio Plus


Kevin’s presentation featured information on H1N1 – the term H1N1 is a descriptor of the protein that has resulted in the mutation of the virus that allows the disease to be communicated to humans.
Kevin revealed that under normal conditions 800 Canadians die each year from influenza related disease and most of these are people who were already at risk because of pre conditions that make them more susceptible. H1N1 is 30% more aggressive than the normal strains of influenza, however, here again people suffering from pre conditions are more susceptible to die from the disease.
To date in B.C. 64 cases have been reported with one death occurring.
The H1N1 Serum is available Oct 13 in Canada and immunization is free.




Spotlight on Rotary and Rotarians



Rotary Youth Exchange – Are We Missing an Opportunity?


When our Club was formed in 1997 it was the decision of the Board of the day not to sponsor a Rotary Youth Exchange Student. Their rational was that the other Clubs in Oceanside did sponsor RYEC students and our Club focus therefore could and should be elsewhere.
Yours truly thinks it’s time to rethink that decision. Rotary is after all an International organization and I believe that by sponsoring a Rotary Exchange Student and having the student attend our meetings each week it would give all of us an added international perspective. These young people bring a dimension to the sponsoring club that is truly rewarding, not just to the student but to all members of the host club. I also believe it would be a viable way to bring younger members into our club – parents who would see the benefit to their own children of participating in the hosting experience.
Perhaps someone could take this on as either a Rotary Moment presentation or as a Program presentation to get the ball rolling. (I’d volunteer)


District 5020 Class of 2009/10 Rotary Youth Exchange Students

  1. From Norway, Signe-Marie (Bainbrdge Island)
  2. from Hungary, MarcellPoser (Bremerton)
  3. fromTaiwan, Sara Chen (Campbell Daybreak)
  4. from Chile, Francisca Saldana(Courtney)
  5. from Sweden, Gustov Hugoson (Duncan)
  6. From France, Colin Roustan (Duncan Daybreak)
  7. from Taiwan, Anita Lee( E. Jefferson)
  8. fromGermany, Laura Wayand ( Hawks Prairie)
  9. from Kyrgyzstan, Ermek Soronbaev (Lacey)
  10. from Belgium, Melody Lecocq ( Nanaimo)
  11. from France Anatole Verhaeghe (Lakewood)
  12. from Thailand, Tharit Ketprapakorn(Nanaimo)
  13. from Slovakia, Juraj Strananek(Nanaimo)
  14. from Brazil Johanna Rodrieguez ( Olympia)
  15. from Mexico, Bolio Castillo( Olympia)
  16. from Norway, Rolf Ostby( Parksville)
  17. from Italy, Alice Meir( Parksville AM)
  18. From Switzerland, Luis Neumeier ( Port Angeles)
  19. from Austria Christoph Etzlinger( Port Hardy)
  20. from Finland, Merkku Neimnen (Port Hardy)
  21. from Czech Republic, Bara Depefova ( Port Orchard)
  22. from Spain, Ruth Almedarez (Port Townsend)
  23. from Denmark, Larke Dahl Jorgenson (Port Townsend-Sunrise)
  24. from India, Juhi Pawar (Poulsbo-NK)
  25. from Croatia, Mirna Savic( Qualicum Beach)
  26. from Poland, Krzysztof Bartkowiak (So. Puget Sound)
  27. from Brazil, Naty De Souza (So. Cowichan),
  28. from Japan, Azumi Ishikawa (Tacoma 8).


Madeleine Dwyer, "Maddy",

Madeleine Dwyer, "Maddy", spoke to Parksville AM about her Rotary Student Exchange Experience in Denmark in 2008-09. This is how she feels she benefited from her year in Denmark:


  1. Eye-opening opportunity for young adults
  2. A maturing and growing experience
  3. Create connections and contacts world wide
  4. Become more globally aware
  5. Creating the Leaders of Tomorrow in International Relations
  6. Diplomats in Training
  7. Personal Learning Experience
  8. New Perspective on Globe + Self
  9. Learn New Languages - Learned to speak Danish, maintained French and Spanish through school
  10. Opens Doors for the Future (for example university, scholarships, careers, travel etc)
  11. Personal benefits= Met many amazing friends, both Danish and international
  12. Established travel, contacts in Denmark
  13. Got to see 12 countries in one year... How many people can say that??
  14. Gained knowledge on lifestyle, new environmental conscious ideas
  15. Inspired my interest in international studies and career
  16. Have become increasingly independent, confident, mature, aware, and analytical


  • By Ed Fougner at 10/18/2009 - 17:13
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What do you think about our

What do you think about our Club sponsoring a Rotary Exchange Student?


  1. How would our Club benefit?
  2. What's the downside?

  3. Would you be prepared to pay an additional $100/year RSE assessment? or,
  4. Should we use revenue from Rotary House to fund the initiative? or,
  5. Should we have a special fundraiser? or,
  6. Some combination of all three?

  7. Would you volunteer to be a host parent?
  8. Would you be interested in coordinating the program?



What's your opinion on Rotary Student Exchange? Click on "Add A Comment" and give me your feedback


  • By Ed Fougner at 10/17/2009 - 10:37
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It is a very good idea. I'm

It is a very good idea. I'm surprised it isnt happening already. The club would benefit from gaining a prespective into another culture/way of life, and be able to compare its own efforts with those undertaken in different regions. Aside from having a difficult individual( unlikely I hope) , the only down side could be the logisitical planning required to maximise the students stay. Some individuals could find this onerous, others not. I do not think that either a personal payment, or a club payment of 100 would be unfeasible. Personally I feel the club should provide the funds to keep the venture entirely in house, another fundraiser for this small amount seems unjustified
Unfortunately I live quite remotely and this i believe would impact on the enjoyment of the students visit.
I would be interested in co-ordinating this program should no one else have a strong interest. [quote]

  • By Kevin Martin at 10/18/2009 - 14:42
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Cost/Commmitment associated

Cost/Commmitment associated with Rotary Student Exchange :


If we were to take on the responsibility of sponsoring a Rotary Exchange Student here are some of the things to consider:


  1. Someone would have to take on a coordinating role.
  2. We would need a minimum of 3 host parents - (exchange student spends 3 - 4 months with each host parent)
  3. Hosts do not have to have children at home, in fact most hosts are in this situation
  4. Hosts would be required to complete a Police check to ensure they qualify.
  5. We would have to establish the procedure associated with selecting the outgoing student.
  6. Cost associated with the outgoing student is about $500
  7. Cost associated with hosting the incoming student is about $450/month
  8. Host families receive $350/month and the student receives $100/month spending money.
  9. So the costs to our Club to cover the costs of both the outgoing and incoming student would be between $5000 - $6000.



Some suggestions for how we could make this work


  1. An assesment of $100 per member per year would generate $2500 - $3000 depending on our membership numbers.
  2. The balance to be covered by Rotary House revenue, or
  3. Hold a separate fundraiser with RSE targeted, or
  4. A combination of the above

This is doable folks we just need the will to proceed.


  • By Ed Fougner at 10/15/2009 - 09:24
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More on Rotary Student

More on Rotary Student Exchange. I attended the Parksville AM meeting this morning and came away more convinced that we should find a way to get involved in the Rotary Student Exchange Program. This mornings Program was a presentation by a student who has just returned to Parksville following a years student exchange experience in Denmark. If you wanted to hear a testimonial on "why Rotary matters" and "Rotary's international perspective" you just had to listen to this young lady describing the life changing experience provided by Parksville AM and the Host Club in Denmark in her young life.
Her presentation was followed by Alice Meir who is an exchange student studying at Ballenas, Alice is from Italy. Parksville AM has their students attend their weekly meetings and report to them on the week past and in her faltering English Alice did just that. Apparantly Alice's English is improving week by week and it is obvious that the club members have adopted her and she them. There was a lot of affection shown both ways.
What an addition this would be for us to experience - We're missing the boat folks.

  • By Ed Fougner at 10/14/2009 - 09:41
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Hi All Just a little

Hi All
Just a little correction to the write up of my talk. There have been seven H1N1 deaths in BC not one. According to the M.O.H all seven had serious underlying medical conditions.

  • By Kevin Martin at 10/14/2009 - 06:50
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