Introduction of our visitors and guests:
Zoom Greeter – Marie Rickard introduced Christine Rendell, PDG & Rotarian from Calgary East Club & Cam Stewart, Chair of the District Indigenous Relations Committee & Rotarian from Calgary Mosaic Club. Both will be more formally introduced later.
In House Greeter – Les Morgan introduced Brad Sewall, District Indigenous Relations committee member & Rotarian from the Heritage Club as well as Anne Dale from the Chinook Club
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| Ken Montgomery introduced our Guest Speaker – Christine Rendell Christine was born and raised with her six siblings in a small town in central Newfoundland. She moved to Alberta in 1979 and started her career with ATB Financial in Jan 1980 retiring in 2006. She and her husband, Brian have two sons & two granddaughters ages 1 & 5. . Christine joined the Rotary Club of Calgary East in 1999 with a desire to give back to the community and develop business relationships. She was the Club’s President in 2006-2007 and served as District Governor 2019-2020. She was also District Youth Service Chair for 2020-21. Christine is the founding member of the District Indigenous Relations Committee, and today will provide the District vision for our approach to Indigenous relations going forward. |
Christine Rendell – District 5360 Indigenous Relations Committee
The Mandate of the Indigenous Relations committee is to provide Indigenous perspectives & advice to Rotary District 5360, its clubs, and members.
Key Responsibilities include;
Support for Indigenous training & learning opportunities for clubs & members.
Make District programs & services accessible & relevant to Indigenous individuals & communities.
Strengthen & expand relationships with Indigenous originations.
Identify opportunities for Rotary to support Indigenous related initiatives.
Actions for 2021 -2022
Identify clubs to target to move Indigenous relations forward
Develop working partnerships between the committee & club champions.
Assist those clubs with a workable action plan.
Strengthen & expand relations with Indigenous individuals, communities & organizations.
Increase awareness within Indigenous connections of Rotary (who we are, what we do & how we work)
Work to date:
Facilitate meetings with the Siksika & Tsuut’ina nations.
Present to Rotary clubs and committees
Facilitate and share learning opportunities.
Establish a District community of practice
New webpage and resources on District 5360 website
Cam Stewart provided his comments as to “why” the District is taking this initiative as many clubs and members have not been happy with Rotary’s commitments on Indigenous relations. We have issues and concerns right in our backyard. 50 thousand Indigenous people live in Calgary many of whom are refugees from their own lands. Accordingly, there are lots of opportunities to work and invest right here at home to create understanding and remove barriers.
Dan Doherty brought forward his prospective on Indigenous relations. This is a journey & our club has had a very active engagement with the Indigenous community involving them in RYLA and Homes for Hope project in Mexico. Working with youth is very important as they are some of the most disenfranchised. One of the most successful projects was our involvement & funding of NSTEP to provide a food program for the Tsuut’ina students. Brad Sewell mentioned we have good representation with the Metis peoples as well. Links for Indigenous learning:
A few questions were addressed by Christine, Cam & Brad
Mona Wasfy expressed the thanks of the club for the excellent presentation. which has given us all avenues to explore .
Marlene also expressed her appreciation & announced a donation to Shelter Box would be made in the name of the District 5360 Indigenous Relations Committee.
My Story
Chris Ritter – “A little about myself & my involvement in Rotary”
Born December 4, 1963 & grew up in Fox Creek Alberta. Loved sports (hockey, fishing & hunting)
Grew up in a Christian home & spent a lot of time at Church & Bible camp.
Went to Trinity Western University & obtained a Bachelor in Business, following which he moved to Edmonton and started a management training position with Zellers. He gave it 6 months and then went to work with Chevron in Slave Lake AB. It was there he met his bride, Elaine at an Alliance Church youth group. He moved to Calgary and they got married in 1989.
Bought an apartment in Fox Creek & finished his CGA designation in 1994.
His son was born in 1999 and his identical twin daughters in 2001.
Shortly after, he started his own O&G Company & is also involved with property management and property development.
At 35 he has a “Eureka moment”. He wants to work only part time and focus on his 5 guiding principles; faith, family, fitness, fellowship & finance. This work ethic allows him to spend a lot of time with his family, which works really well.
Chris considers himself a strategic investor. He thinks when you donate your time and money, this should be strategic as well.
Why Rotary – 10 years ago, he had an opportunity to get involved with Micro Credit and of course he ran into our own Micro Rotarian, Steve Rickard. We all know it is not easy to say no to Steve and he showed Chris why Rotary was strategic to Chris’s goals and aspirations. It wasn’t long before he was leading phase 3 of the Honduras Economic Development program.
Duncan Stanners & Steve Rickard have had a strong impact on his Rotary development.
Announcements:
Bill Fitzsimmons advised nominations are being accepted for the District 5360 Dr. Monty Audenart Inspirational Award. Dr. Audenart was an inspiring Rotarian, PDG, VP of Rotary International & RI Trustee. This award recognizes one outstanding Rotarian or Rotaractor within the District who was inspired to demonstrate outstanding achievement in Rotary and in the community both locally & internationally and through his or her actions has been an inspiration to others to do the same. Contact Bill for the nomination form. Submission deadline: 31 March.
Bill Quinney advised that April 24- April 31/22 is National Volunteer Week & we would like to offer a “buffet” of volunteer activities for our members. He has several projects in mind including involvement with Kirby Centre, Calgary Reads etc. and is requesting our input if you have any projects, you would like included. In addition, if you have a connection with the Kerby Centre or an interest in getting involved please contact him.
Natalija Reljic is leading the Youth Committee and advises there are plans for a 4 Way Test competition. A number of high school students have signed up and the top 3 will present to the Club on March 21st.
Steve Kuiack is part of the District’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) committee & representative for our Club. At our recent ¼ly meeting he was pleased to share where our club is in terms of DEI. Both the president & president elect are women, we meet at the Grey Eagle Hotel on the Tsuut’ina lands, we have land acknowledgement at our meetings, we are involved with Inclusion Alberta, our Board has adopted the Principles of Brace Space, we are part of the South Sudanese community assessment, and have several diverse new members.
Gail Williams advised the club's bylaws, which have been under revision for three years are now ready for presentation to Calgary West members and will be forwarded for your review &/or recommendations on the Member Input Form. Please forward to Gail at gailwi45@telus.net by 6:00pm, March 13th.
David Wartman is our Club’s representative on the Indigenous Relationship committee. He announced a critical part of the journey to reconciliation is related to unlearning and learning. The alliedFutures project will assist our members to better understand the importance of new learnings to support activities related to reconciliation. This is an interactive web-based resource in five phases. The first one hour phase starts March 10th at 1:00 pm and you will discover insights, stories, reflective prompts and links to external resources. Contact David for further information &/or register for the program at The alliedFutures Project
Marlene Doherty advised that, the Board of Directors has regrettably but respectfully accepted the withdrawal of Orlin McMillan as President Elect nominee due to health reasons. PE, Linda Anderson will re-convene the nominating committee to address the vacancy.
Dan Doherty – Featuring “New Blood” at the Rosebud Theatre.
New Blood is the true story of a residential school survivor told through image, movement & dance, scored by the songs of Peter Gabriel and traditional Blackfoot music. Our Show at the Opera House will be a matinee performance Saturday March 19th at 1:30. By committing to 20 participants we have received a discounted rate of $45 per person plus GST. Please go to this link to book your spot and make sure to invite family and friends.
Marlene expressed her thanks to team 3 for their assistance in today’s meeting. Also, to Barbie and Tim for an evening of fellowship with guest speaker Brain Desjardins from the Hanger Flight Museum.
Congratulations were extended to “Moomoo” (proud Mona Wasfy), on the birth of her grandson, Hunter Maverick Wasy. Congratulations were also extended to our “Calgary West Champion” team who participated in the secret 3km walk on Sunday Feb. 27/22 & to our Books & Bingo winners, Les & Patricia Morgan, Garfield Ganong and Tim Anderson.
President Marlene adjourned the meeting at 1.00 pm followed by our usual rendition of the 4 Way Test.
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