O Canada: landscapes
Moment of Reflection
Visitor: Lech’s guest Cheryl Mackey, from the college
Guest Speakers: Audrie Jo McConkey and Dal AC Rotaract Members
Preethi Rajan - past president, 1st year in MSc Agriculture at Dalhousie University, Agricultural campus and researching wood preservation and its impact. Originally from India and currently residing in Truro.
Rebecca Gray - is in her 3rd Year Bioveterinary Science (B.Sc.) student. Planning to do a Bachelor of Education to teach elementary school rather than go to vet school. She is originally from the UK, but moved here 7yrs ago and now lives in Truro, NS.
Vera Amo Larbi - 2nd year Master's student in Plant Science. She is researching biostimulant effect on selected fruit crops. She is from Ghana, West Africa but currently residing in Bible Hill.
Hannah Sullivan - is entering her fourth year of the bio veterinary program. She is from Nova Scotia and and currently living in Hammonds Plains, NS.
Audrie Jo McConkey introduced a video “Rotary in Action: Rotaract” the club members have produced about their activities over the past year. In the video were profiles of their volunteer work at Bollywood, Christmas Index, Coldest Night of the Year, the Food Bank, and the Purple Pinkie Campaign, and their attendance at the Atlanta Rotaract Conference and the Rotary Leadership Conference. Club members also coordinate with the WUSC Club to help sponsor one international student each year in the student refugee program.
Certainly things are different with COVID but the plans for the upcoming year include:
-virtual meeting every 2 weeks
-hold events when possible
-aim to increase club numbers
-find students for leadership roles next year
-schedule annual events on a club calendar, e.g. purple pinkie campaign
-hope to continue with food bank
-plan a virtual bike fundraiser in October
-continue with WUSC student, perhaps making and selling masks to raise money
Comments from Rotarians:
-thrilled to see Rotaract off the ground
-blown away by what Rotaract is doing, thanks to Audrie for her leadership
-noted that Rebecca and Emma and their mother Janine participated in the Polio Swim
-appreciated doing things together with Rotaract, eg Bollywood and the Swim
-if Rotaract is looking for guest speakers, could consider our Rotary members
Garth thanked Audrie Jo and the Rotaract members for their wonderful video and their achievements in establishing a Rotaract club at Dal AC.
President’s Report
President Jane noted that the TLC training was last Saturday. She thanked Alana and team for excellent program. Focus on keeping people engaged in COVD-19 with discussion on how to meet in person or have a social. If you know someone who isn’t participating in zoom, are you reaching out to them to keep them connected. The next board meeting is the first Tuesday in October. Your feedback and ideas always welcome.
Rotary Cares
Alana announced there will be an interview on Global News on Thursday morning. A meeting of the committee later today. Lots happening. Getting quotes for projects.
Social Committee
Judy, Ed, Sharron and Alana are looking at September 25th for a social at the Round Barn in Old Barns, probably 5:30 to 7:00. Food must be from a commercial kitchen. Old Road BBQ can do meals ranging from $10 to $15. Minimum 20 people. Will need to pay in advance. Alana will send out invitation and assess response.
Bollywood
Bollywood is a go for October 15th from 4 to 7 pm. It will be Bollywood at home, a curbside pickup meal from the Glengarry. Tickets will be done with Event Brite, $40 each. Will need volunteers that evening, helping run meals to cars, etc. Email Alana or Anna if you can help.
New Member Proposal
Lech Krzywonos has proposed a new member for our club. Cheryl Veinot-Mackey has been interested in joining Rotary for some time now while she lived in Amherst. Having recently relocated to Truro her desire to join Rotary has continued. Cheryl connected with Lech as they are colleagues at NSCC and explored what our club has to offer. Cheryl is keen to roll up her sleeves and participate in a variety of roles in our club. During her fireside chat with Lech, her interest was drawn to some of our work with youth and international but not limited to just these areas. Cheryl is currently on a secondment from NSCC and working with IBM as a Program Manager administering a T-TECH initiative between NSCC/IBM/Department of Education and LAE. Cheryl's nomination has been reviewed and approved by both the membership committee as well as our Board of Directors. We look forward to inducting Cheryl to the club in an upcoming Monday meeting.
Caravan Theatre Community Project
Our Rotary Club has made a donation to the Caravan Theatre Community Project and we have been offered 2 complimentary tickets to the production. If you are interested contact Adam Harris
Press Release
Caravan Theatre tours the critically-acclaimed play, 4.48 Psychosis, in September and October 2020. 4.48 Psychosis, by radical and influential British playwright Sarah Kane, takes a deep dive into issues of mental health and suicide. Lyrical yet raw, grim yet humorous, the play beautifully expresses ugly truths: isolation, stigma, and the longing for self esteem and community understanding. Integrating movement into Kane’s poetic text, Artistic Director, Kathy France, leads a talented cast of notable Maritime-based performers Margaret Legere and Rebecca Wolfe.
Following each performance, audience members are invited to join the cast and community wellness partners for a post-show conversation addressing issues of mental health, identity and inclusion. This event (performance and conversation) runs 90 minutes without an intermission.
Performances take place outdoors with audience following COVID-19 protocols. Audiensce members will be seated in zones that can accommodate from 1 to 10 ticket-holders.
Performance Venues and Times:
Sep 24-27: 6:30 pm at Dartmouth Commons as part of the Halifax Fringe
Tour:
Oct 2: 6:30 pm Bible Hill Recreational Park, Truro
Oct 3: 6:30 pm Waterfront Park, Wolfville
Oct 4: 2:00 pm Lordly Park, Chester (matinee)
Oct 4: 6:30 pm Heritage Bandstand, Luenenburg
Tickets: Pay-What-You-Want (suggested $20). Available online at brownpapertickets.com or on site before showtime. (Fringe tickets at tickethalifax.com)
Happy Mug
Laurie: nice to see you Garth
Garth: a $10 happy buck, thanks to everyone for their concern earlier this summer and for buying my book. Richard Bowness called me from my driveway at the cottage at Savage Harbour, saying he wanted to see what Savage Harbour was like.
Ed: happy
Kevin: would be happy for speaker and topic ideas
Andrew: happy for Rotary Cares, will share updated info with committee shortly
Matthew B: happy, more and more momentum