Bulletin - August 25, 2011

CHAIRMAN

Wynn chaired our meeting this morning.  After the singing of O'Canada, a blessing, and our breakfast, Wynn started things off with  the following Positive Thought quote by Gelett Burgess "There is work that is work and there is play that is play; there is play that is work and work that is play. And in only one of these lies happiness."

VISITS

June Woodburn joins us again.  Welcome!  June, I believe, is from the Timmons, Ont. club (and also George's sister).

GUESTS

Our guest speaker, Adelia Rodger, brought her parents; Parnille and Felix join us as this year's Rotary Exchange students.  Parnille hails from Denmark and is staying with Tracey Wade, who also joined us this morning.  Felix comes from Germany and lives with the Sianchuks, who all joined us (Peter, Gayle, Anton, and Stacia).  Another guest: Cassy King, former RIE student from Australia.  Cassy is a frequent visitor to the area since exchance six years ago.

MAKE-UPS

Dianne joined the Halifax Harbour club last Friday.  The club is similar to our, having 35 members, half female, half male.  She was happy to report that she sold 3 tickets for our upcoming Ball Drop (which is also her happy dollar).  The guest speaker was their Exchange Student who spoke about the "Polio Pig".

While staying at a hotel in Salem, Kathy planned on joining their Rotary meeting but the club had changed the time from supper to lunch so she just missed it.  Chairman Wynn says (legally) it counts!

BIRTHDAYS

Beth celebrated but was not with us this morning; therefore, Cassy King, who's birthday it is, got to don "The Hat" which originated from her - very suiting.

ANNIVERSARIES

Louise and Rob.  Congrats and enjoy!!

PIN PAL

Pam B. had a sort-of pin pal story, sharing with us that the Dragon Boat race in which she participated in Miramichi was sponsored by their Rotary Club.  They were very hospitable.  She also ran into David Christie in Amherst (who is part the Amherst Club, if I'm correct).

Trish was wearing her Rotary sweatshirts when she spotted Rotarians working the street corners in North Bridge.  She thought it was a great idea!  Oh, Trish did mention that they had buckets... just not quite as interesting of a story. 

50/50

George draws Gayle ticket for a win of $14.00  Whoot!  Whoot!

HAPPY DOLLARS

Gayle:  Winning 50/50;  Dale is making his way back from Ontario;

Kathy:  Attending a wedding in Ontario;

Dianne:  Having the exchange students here!  Received email from Olf (RYE 2004/05) who is working with Merlin Entertainment - 1 of 7 or 1400 selected;  

Pam B:  Rowing in six races on the weekend - her team rowed the 200 m in 40.33 seconds which, she says, is exceptional;

Cassy:  Being here today;  wearing the hat (which was her sad dollar...can you believe?);

Pat:  Was sad that Jake passed away while she was gone on holidays;  Heard from former RYE, Fernanda, who is now in Phoenix, Arizona, starting university; 

Trish:  Having "handsome" Frank and George (who helped) greet her this morning;

Peter:  Informed of the Press Conference that was help for the new professional basketball team: The Moncton Miracles;

Wynn:  Played five days of golf this past week...and it's only Thursday!

 Ove:  Contributed by wife, Pat, for her upcoming trip to Switzerland to attend the marriage of, yet another, former RYE student, Catherine Schnider;

Pam H:  Reminded Rotarians of the Kraft celebration taking place at the Swan Pond on Friday night between 5-8pm, featuring our own Dianne on TSN between 7-8pm;

Ken:  Starting his vacation - something he didn't have last year because of a broken leg (not even his).  This year it looks like it's starting with a hurricane.  Good luck, Ken...and have fun!

NEXT WEEK DUTIES

Andy = Chair;  Louise = Introducer;  Robin = Thanker;  Barb C. = Greeter

COMMITTEE REPORTS

N/A

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Projects to meet at Trish's Aug. 31 at 7pm.

PRESIDENT'S TIME

President Ken welcomed ALL the exchange students with us this morning and informed them that we would have perpetual contact with them and that their year would be rewarding and to have an awesome one!!

GUEST SPEAKER

Leslie introduced our guest speaker, Adelia Roger, today.  Adelia is back from her exchange to Switzerland.  She is a former TRHS graduate who has worked several summers at camp for children.

 

Winterthur, Switzerland is where Adelia spent her exchange.  Winterthur is in the Northeast of the country and the sixth largest city (about the size of Moncton).  She was in the 'high' German area versus the Swiss German which are very different from each other.  Each village has its own identity.  There are several villages each housing a population of about 300.

Rotary was a BIG thing; although it is very different from here.  For starters, there were only male members in her club...ALL over the age of 50!  Other clubs in the country were just starting to allow women.  Of course, this should not be surprising as the women only got 'the vote' in the 80s.  Adelia attended only 4 or 5 meetings.

She took a language course the first month she was there and particpated in the RYE Winter Weekend where she did some sledding and skating.  She received a public transit ID card that would allow her to travel by various modes for one year.  She was able to go anywhere.  She could bike to school in 20 minutes.

Adelia described her schooling as the classmates all stay together in the same class, same people, for four years.  It is very different from her own high school experience.  There are about 20 students per class made up of half and half male to female ratio.  She was placed in the 11th grade.  The ages in the class varied between 16 and 20 years old.  She was given a map of the school and attended a language class with other RYE students from all over the world.  Her most favorite event, during school, was the week-long hiking trip which was "so much fun!"

Making friends was hard to do in the beginning.  People just weren't that interested in the exchange students (as they are at TRHS).  Having other RYE students at her school helped alot.  Mid-way through, she had lots of Swiss friends!  Adelia shared pictures of her friends as part of her slideshow presentation.  An interesting event held by graduates is called Children and Children's Super Heroes in which they get drunk, go on strike, and 'free' the students, then play games outside.

Another highlight was a professional hockey game that she attended:  Switzerland vs. Canada.

She enjoyed all of her host families but particularly her last one.  There she had three siblings who were involved in scouts and they did a lot of hiking, which she loves.

The food was delicious!  Lots of cheese, bread, potatoes, and chocolate.  Each village had its own slant to their food, dialect, and traditions.

The architecture was also unique.  All the homes were different from each other, depending on the families needs (e.g. is the woman was a sewer - lots of windows; if they had animals to care for, the outbuildings would have easy access from the house, etc.).

Adelia did things she never thought she would like: motorbiking for six hours; milking cows and collecting eggs; hiking "barefoot"; glass blowing, and sitting in a plane with skydivers.  Some of the things she saw that she thought were noteworthy were: the mountains, the Rein Falls (largest); stood at a spot where you can look at six countries all at the same time; their National Park; the oldest circus in the country; and goats in parking lots!  The animals in Switzerland are all free-range.

 Roasting chessnuts (very expensive), downhill skiing, the Parliament building, and a Hip Hops Festival were among her memories.

There was no European trip but she did manage to get to Venice, Rome, and Paris which were all "amazing and fun!"  Her third host family took her to Berlin.

Adelia ended her presentation by sharing with us what she learned from her experience.  She believes that culture really influences who you are as a person.  She now has a better understanding of cultures and just how connected we all actually are (enter a few personal stories of coincidences).  She found out that the world is a whole lot smaller than she thought it was.

Adelia presented President Ken with her Rotary banner and treated us all to Swiss chocolate.

Peter thanked Adelia for her great presentation saying that she experienced a living changing event. 

Chairman Wynn closed the meeting with the stating of the 4-Way Test. 

EXTRAS

Karen reunites with former TRHS student,  Robin poses with new students Parnille and Felix.  Below are highlights, compliments of Pam H., of the Kraft Celebration.