Volume 49 Number 18 November 10, 2005

Rotary Club of Toronto West

Rotary Grace – O Lord, we stand for every race, for 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 – November 3, 2005

Brian Hicks introduced our guest speaker Petra Norris, Sunnybrook & Women’s College Health Sciences Centre.

Petra started off by saying that generally people are reluctant to discuss sexual abuse and domestic violence (SA/DV). It is usually a conversation stopper. Not only do they want to change the topic quickly but sometimes it scares them away entirely. SA/DV is a highly emotional, triggering and complex topic to discuss. Petra decided to share some of the statistics with us.

What is SA/DV? Sexual Assault is any form of sexual activity without a person’s consent, ranging from fondling to attempted/completed rape. Domestic Violence is the gaining and maintaining power and control over another person through creating fear, isolation and entrapment.

DV doesn’t happen just when you read about it in the newspapers, by strangers. 51% over the age of 16 have experienced some form of violence. About half the women are assaulted by boyfriends, husbands or acquaintances. 16% by someone they have known less than 24 hours, and only 27% by complete strangers.

For males, 1 in 6 is sexually abused before the age 17.

If someone comes to you and says that they have been assaulted. What can you do?

Believe them, support them and refer them to Women’s College to be seen by the SA/DV nurses. The clients main concerns generally are Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s) and Pregnancy.

As nurses, we collect evidence, support the client and testify in court. Clients are encouraged to receive counseling provided at the centre, for crisis clients and community self referrals and court support.

Petra handed out leaflets, one dealing with SA/DV and the Women’s College, and the other dealt with Date Rape and Drugging..

Domestic violence does not stay behind closed doors. It shows up in bullies at school, gang members on the street etc.

Brian Hicks thanked Petra for a very interesting and enlightening talk. Brian referred to our motto Youth at Risk, and said the talk was very pertinent from our perspective.

Wine Draw:

Brian Hicks was last week’s winner, who immediately presented our guest speaker with the wine. Nice gesture and congratulations to Brian.

Visitors:

David Hahn, guest of the club. Brad Jones, guest of the club.

This Week:

A new member Borys Wrzesnewskyj, MP, will be inducted into the club.

Something New

Chris Ostrovski started the ball rolling, in giving a one minute talk with a Rotary theme. He chose as his subject “Rotary Statistics.” This will be continued on a random basis.

Hip Hip Hooray

Another Evening of Jazz at the Lula Restaurant on Wednesday November 16th at 6:00 p.m. Check with Ron Manfield for more details.

Help support the Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation.

Dues Owing

If you are one of the ones still owing money for either annual dues or the recent assessment, please let Mark Dawber have it as soon as is possible

Classifications:

1. Sign Painter.

2. Community T.V.

Birthdays & Anniversaries:

Joined Rotary – Earl LaBerge – Nov. 6th.

Joined Rotary – Willis Rudy – Nov. 6th.

Birthday – Mark Dawber – Nov.7th.

Wedding Anniv. – Bill & Allisen Belier – Nov. 8th.

Members’ News:

Bob Sexton, is having a hip replaced. Good wishes and hurry back Bob.

Next Week – November 17th.

We will be having the pleasure of listening to David Brown speak to us on blind sailing.

Spoke Joke:

A woman got on a bus holding a baby.

The bus driver said. “That’s the ugliest baby I’ve ever seen.

The woman took a seat at the rear of the bus, and the man seated next to her, sensed that she was agitated and asked her what was wrong.

“The bus driver insulted me,” she fumed.

The man said that he shouldn’t say things to insult passengers.

“You’re right.” She said, “I think I’ll go back up there and give him a piece of my mind.”

“That’s a good idea,” the man said. “Here, let me hold your monkey.”

Rotary Foundation

R.I. has designated the month of November as Rotary Foundation Month.

What would it take, to make the world a better home? A micro-enterprise loan project, to improve the quality of life in an impoverished community? A mobile clinic to give isolated villagers, access to health care?

A network of deep wells to supply destitute families with clean drinking water? A campaign to instill self-esteem in young people and educate them about the dangers of using drugs?

The Rotary Foundation of R.I. offers many ways to realize each of these dreams for a better world. These programs include Matching Grants; Helping Grants; Health, Hunger and Humanity (3-H) Grants; Discovery Grants; and Grants for Rotary Volunteers, among others. Rotary Foundation Month – November – is a good time to make our club aware of the scope of Foundation activities and the many opportunities for personal participation.

The Rotary Foundation helps Rotarians do more than they ever though possible to meet an array of human needs.

The Rotary Foundation itself began with the dream of one individual, R.I. President Arch C. Klumph, in 1917. Since then the Foundation has grown to become a strong, effective force for world understanding and peace.

Where does our club’s dream for a better world begin – and end? The Rotary Foundation can help forge that dream into reality.

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