Volume 53, Number 45 June 3, 2010

Rotary Club of Toronto West

Rotary Grace – O Lord we stand for every race, from every creed from every place; to give our thanks and say our grace for food, for health. May Peace embrace the world through Rotary.

Last Week – May 19, 2010

Willis Rudy introduced our guest speaker Jannalee Anderson, Opportunity International, saying that Jannalee had visited more than twenty countries in the developing world and had witnessed the need for transformational microfinance first-hand.

Opportunity International is a non-profit micro-finance organization providing small business loans, savings, insurance and training to the working poor in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.

Their mission is to provide opportunities for people in chronic poverty to transform their lives. Their strategy is to create jobs, stimulate small businesses and to strengthen communities among the poor. How do they do it? They work through their indigenous partners to provide microfinance services, training and counsel.

We first heard that a parking meter in Australia makes in an hour what some minority people make in a day. In Columbia it has the third highest number of internally displaced people in the whole world. Jannalee told us about the poverty in Columbia and how poverty looks different in different parts of the world.

Lacking credit histories and collateral, aspiring entrepreneurs in developing countries are seldom eligible for conventional bank loans. Opportunity’s Trust Group model serves as a powerful instrument of lending – especially for women – by allowing groups of of local entrepreneurs to secure credit without collateral by guaranteeing each other’s loans.

Savings, especially in rural areas, people often rely on insecure locations, such as under a mat, or in a jar, to store their money. Setting up accounts in traditional banks is not an option for most people, due to the inaccessibility and large minimum deposits.

The benefits of providing microfinance services to economically-disadvantaged villages in Columbia are numerous. For the first time, many residents will be able to access: Business loans, Savings accounts, Home improvement loans, New community partnerships like water projects and young entrepreneurs programs.

50/50 Draw

Again, Stephen Thiele had the opportunity to win the Jackpot, but it was not to be. Better luck next time Stephen.

Visitors

Art Welter, a guest of Don Foster. Jannalee Anderson and Mary Madzenqwe, guests of the club.

This Week

We are meeting at Art’s Restaurant and we are pleased to welcome Jackie Streich Hons. B.Sc., ND Candidate 2010, Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. Jackie will be talking to us on the importance of health and naturopathic medicine in the paediatric adolescent population.

Classifications

1. Probation Service.

2. Doctor.

Members News

We were all very sorry to hear that Brian Hicks is moving out to the Edmonton area, and will have to give up his membership in our club. We all thank Brian for the work that he has done for the club, and for our opportunity to have known him and his family. We wish them all success for the future, and hopefully look forward to possible visits from him in the future.

What are we going to do about keeping up with clothing styles in the future?

Charity Trust

Mark Dawber reported that at the last Board of Directors meeting, three directors were chosen to act on the Charity Trust Committee, they are Ron Manfield Bryan Pett and Mark Dawber. A committee was also formed to look at projects (such as a mega project) Dennis Good, Karen Hadjur, Susan McCoy, Gaston Bottero and Nick Galletto.

Rotary Youth Impact Awards

Stephen Thiele announced that the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient had now been selected, and had gratefully accepted the nomination, she is Ms. Kim Phuc.

Birthdays & Anniversaries

Joined Rotary – Jagjit Kohli – June 5^th.

Next Meeting June 10, 2010

Our guest speaker will be Susan Bellan. Susan will talk to us about how mediation works, and why it is preferable to litigation.

Spoke Joke

George, an 82 year old man, went to the doctor’s for a physical. A few days later the doctor saw George walking down the street with a gorgeous young lady.

The doctor said to him, “You’re doing well aren’t you?”

George replied, “Just doing what you said, Doc. You get a hot mamma and be cheerful.”

“I didn’t say that!” the doctor exclaimed, “I said, “You’ve got a heart murmur, be careful.”

Were You Told

When you first joined Rotary, were you told that Rotary is a service organization, seriously committed to projects to help the community, the country and the world. It is not just a place to get a nice hot breakfast, have a chat, and then go home to forget all about it till maybe next week, or even some unknown date in the future. The Rotary attendance doesn’t permit unlimited latitude. The rules were formulated, not for the purpose of helping people intentionally miss meetings. They were made to assist those dedicated Rotarians who have a legitimate reason for not attending on the very rare occasion.

Fellowship, is the social side of Rotary, That is, meeting, getting to know people and sharing time and activities together. One of the main reasons Rotary was formed in the first place.

Projects are the clubs means of obtaining funds to assist the needy causes we support. You cannot help or participate in these activities if you do not attend the meetings.

Make-ups is one of the finest methods ever devised for people of all races, colours or creeds, to meet on an even playing field with a ready made introduction.

Being a Member. The dictionary gives two definitions: 1. The limb of an animal with a special function, and 2. One belonging to a community, or society. If either of these is missing, they greatly limit the movement and purpose for which they were intended.