George is a United Nations speaker. His background is he came to Canada 40 years ago working for CBC and was there for 14 or 15 years. He had a secret wish as journalist to change the world and educate people to think different. However, he admits he was naive and actually no management of any organization will let you change the world, and limits what you can say and talk about.
He then moved towards humanitarian work. Worked for CEDA and CARE in Ottawa before he was sent abroad to Zimbabwe and Angola working for CARE where he was picked up by the UN where he met his wife. He was thrust in the middle of a demobilization camp after only being in the UN for a couple weeks. His responsibility was to demobilize child and teen soldiers who have been fighting the Angola civil year. There were 10 camps and the UN was responsible to take weapons off young men and providing their families with the basics to get lives back in order.
If you been in the bush for half your life need a lot of socialization to be done in order to get your life back in order
He continued to work for the UN until he retired.
George learned that ordinary people are generally pretty fantastic and supporting and welcoming of foreigners coming in to assist. Even Sadam Hussein said anybody who touches a hair on the head of the foreign aid workers will have to answer to himself personally.
They could go anywhere in Iraq and receive amazing treatment. Bureaucrats, often senior ranking somewhat less hospitable.
Every time there is a peacekeeping mission there is a Status of Forces Agreement, which defines exactly what the civilians are allowed to do.
In Sudan they had an agreement of setting up a 24 hour radio. Government of Sudan agreed yet the government kept dragging its feet. It apparently wasn’t the minister but was someone behind the scenes, a faceless bureaucrat who dictated they could set up in the south but not in Sudan, as was agreed..
He learned of the banality of evil. These folks were simply uneducated, regular people who were told by a radio station constantly broadcasting hate messages.
UN is an international humanitarian organization whose budget is only about 1.5 times that of the NY police department.
If the UN doesn’t do their job of keeping the peace, the cost of war is way higher than that of maintaining the UN. The UN currently has 16 peace keeping operations around the world.
RYLA Registration is complete. Thank you to all of the clubs who sponsored students, they are in for a fantastic weekend of leadership training!
If you are interested in visiting RYLA South this year, we are having our second Rotarian/Rotaracter Visit Day on Saturday March 26th, 2016 at Camp Elphinstone on Gibsons. If you are coming from the mainland, you will be coming over on the 9:20am ferry from Horseshoe Bay and departing on the 4:30pm ferry.
Our Rotarian visit coordinator, Erin, will be in contact with you one week prior to camp with the schedule, camp information, and other important notes for your RYLA visit. The cost is $30 for Rotarians and will include lunch, a RYLA T-shirt, and a coveted RYLA pin. There is no cost for Rotaracters.
There is a lot of exciting things going on. To find out more about the PETS,Hyack Ambassador Volunteer,Raffle Tickets, and more, click Read More:
Roy Prevost : PETS was great. Learned there are only 2 cases of polio left. Had good weekend and purported that until you see 800 Rotary Presidential elects, you don’t know scope of Rotary International. Also, hello Doug and Angie!
Tony: Give him raffle money for HOM or he’ll be on you like a dog on a donut. Next Wednesday at 10am is the draw.
Kelly: Sunday March 6th is International Women’s Day, dinner tickets available.
Sandy: Noon club is inviting us to view the bursary process, please contact Sandy. Date is April 18th, around 4:30 into evening, presented by Lori Stewart.
Rick: Hyack Ambassador pageant, which is April 1st and 2nd is looking for volunteers. Also POG committee meeting after meeting today. Sponsors, donors, golfers needed.
Dennis: Congratulations on a great Heart of the Matter fundraiser. Would also like to promote a fundraiser at the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Vancouver. Free parking is available. Support Orphans in Ukraine! Get tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/orphans-in-ukraine-tickets-20897181031
Monica: Won’t be here on March 16th. Need somebody bring laptop. She has a doctor’s appointment at 8:30AM.
Kathy: Follow up on Tony’s push for raffle tickets. This is to fund the hot lunch program at school and also Burnaby gets a portion for special needs and also Monarch Place.
Greeters are the first point of contact for guests, potential new members, and our members. Making all who attend our meeting feel welcome is the responsibility of all of us as we all take turns being greeters.
1. All greeters should arrive no later than 6:40 am and be prepared to assist in setting up and preparing for the meeting. If a greeter cannot be present for their day of duties, please contact another member to fill in for you.
2. Greeter # 1 will ensure that the sandwich board at the entrance
3. Greeter # 2 will ensure that flags and banners are in place.
4. Greeters should welcome all members and guests and make them comfortable with the proceedings and surroundings, i.e., seating, coffee, schedule of meeting etc.
5. Greeter # 1 greets and sits with the speaker to gather information useful in providing a respectful and meaningful introduction of the speaker and the program.
6. Greeter # 2 thanks the speaker and presents the certificate of appreciation for their presentation. NOTE: The certificate is NOT a contribution of $20.00 in the speakers’ name. We donate $20.00 to the Rotary Foundation in recognition of their presentation at the meeting.
7. Greeter # 3 assists in taking down the flags, banners and places the sandwich board back in Kathy's office.
· Greeters may change duties amongst themselves if desired.
The Good Host program is how YOU can get involved - you are invited to help out by meeting, greeting and sharing cultural experiences with our Youth Exchange student. Franciele Henk is here and deserves to see and experience Canada to the fullest.
Good Hosts are designated each week - but also can be anyone who would like to share some time with Franciele - a phone call, lunch, dinner with family, sporting event, cultural outing. However - all who host our youth exchange student unsupervised - even for a day event - must have submitted the YE police check paperwork to Paige Freeman prior to hosting.
To get a hold of Franciele, simply call her on her Cel: 778-829-2532 or email her at francielemelaine@hotmail.com Franciele is currently staying with Laurie Stewart - 444 Glenbrook Drive, New Westminster and you can contact them @ 604-970-4908 or email Jlstewart@telus.net.
Good Hosts for:
Mar 10 - Mar 16 Nicholas Jordan, Lizz Kelly, Harvey Knotts
Mar 17 - Mar 23 Andrew Lochhead, David Lodermeier, Kelly Lum
Mar 24 - Mar 30 Kathryn MacKerricher, Robert MacKerricher, Rob McCullough
