Bulletin - September 22, 2011

CHAIRPERSON

Beth chaired our meeting and commenced with a Positive Thought.

VISITORS

Dave McKellar joins us again from the Ottawa club.

GUESTS

Tracey Wade joins us as our guest speaker this morning.  She brought along daughters, Colleen and Hannah.

MAKE-UPS

Ken attended the Amherst club where DG Moffat was speaking.  He did a great job and informed the club that $185 million has been raised for Polio.

Charlie attended Kittery, Maine’s club.  There was no guest speaker but Charlie was pleased that the members remember him from previous visits.

BIRTHDAYS

Andy celebrates on the 25^th!

ANNIVERSARIES

None.

PIN PAL

Darren ran into former Paul Harris recipient, Amy, at the fair’s beer gardens.  She is now a member of the new Rotary Breakfast Club in Moncton.

While checking into a hotel in Maine, Charlie bumped into Bill Thompson, just past Governor of District 7850, out of Vermont.

Pat ran into Kevin Robart who is past president of the Moncton club at the Toast Masters in Moncton.  She also saw the son of Angus McClellan, James.  James’ mother was Pat’s favourite sister.

Peter didn’t meet another Rotarian but he did strike up a conversation with a Mason.

Robin entertained new to Mount Allison, Bart Vautour, for supper one evening.  He noticed her service award and told her that he was a former RYE, 1995, to Australia.  She also feels that there is good potential for him to join us.

50/50 DRAW

Brian drew Dale’s number and Dale puts $12.00 in his pocket (minus Happy Dollar, that is).

HAPPY DOLLARS

Dale contributed two happy thoughts… 50/50 win and his son defended his Master’s thesis on Monday.  Awesome!

Trish’s parents arrive today, followed by her aunt and uncle tomorrow.

Beth is happy to be selling left-over Relay for Life tickets.

NEXT

Brian = Chair     Pam B. = Introducer     Su C. – Thanker     Dale = Greeter

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Projects – Trish – Minutes of the last meeting are on their way.  Next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 28 @ 5pm, 50 Landsdowne.

Administration – Sue P. – Bridge Walk is scheduled for 4pm on Sunday, Sept. 25.  Members should meet at Cape Joureymain.  Please carpool if you can.  Supper will follow at 6pm at the Center.  If you need an alternate meal, please let her know.

PRESIDENT’S TIME

Speechless ;)

GUEST SPEAKER

Ove introduced Tracey Wade.  Tracey works for the Tantramar Planning Commission.  She was educated at the University of Guelph.  She came to Sackville 15 years ago and has been working for the Planning Commission for three years.  She has two daughters (in attendance today) and is married to Reg.  She is also a RYE Host Mom to Pernille.

Tantramar Dykeland’s Project (Atlantic Climate Adaptation Strategy)

This is a broad program across the region.  They are monitoring climate trends and have noted the following:

§  Temperature has risen 0.5 degrees celcius from 1900 – 2000.  They project an increase between 2 and four degrees calcius between 2000 – 2100.

§  Precipitation has also increased.  One in 50 extreme rainfall event from 1900 – 2000 with predictions of one in ten during 2000 – 2100.

§  Sea Levels have raised 25 cm since 1900 and we will probably see 100 more centimeters over the next hundred years.

§  Storm surges are also on the increase.  While one in one hundred during 1900 – 2000, the ratio will become more like one in ten by the year 2100.

 The challenges faced are flooding, development along the coast, coastal erosion/change, and infrastructure at risk.

For the past three years, RAC, has been working toward the goal of regions working together to reduce vulnerability.  There are 27 projects throughout Atlantic Canada with six being in New Brunswick.  There are lots of partners which include the government, private sector, and academics.

There is a 30 million dollar budget - $4 million per RAC.  Matching funding required (1/3 cash and 2/3 in-kind).

The Atlantic RAC’s objective is to incorporate climate change adaptation planning into land use planning, infrastructure design and maintenance and emergency planning at the provincial, municipal and professional level.

Their focus is to integrate adaptation into community planning; managing groundwater resources; and building the capacity of adaptation practitioners in Atlantic Canada.

New Brunswick’s six projects are in:

Ø  Greater Moncton - inland flooding and wastewater management;

Ø  Acadian Peninsula – coastal flooding, threat, and damage;

Ø  Richibucto – (Salt water intrusion) contamination of drinking water supply;

Ø  Grand Falls – erosion and risk to property damage;

Ø  Lower Saint John – river flooding and managing tidal prediction and land use;

Ø  Tantramar – dykelands – infrastructure and property risk associated with flooding or failure of dykes;

Tantramar’s project has been divided into two phases which overlap each other.  Year one starting 2010 and ending 2012.

Phase 1 – Vulnerability Assessment

·         Map the dykelands;

·         Determine future climate projections and sea-level rise (model this using digital elevation model DEM);

·         Produce flood risk maps;

·         Identify dykes, infrastructure and buildings at risk and socio-economic impacts;

Phase 2 – Policy Development

·         Assess adaptation options;

·         Recommend adaptation solutions;

·         Modify existing land use and Emergency Management planning;

·         Reassess engineering design;

Communication strategies include media coverage and formal presentations.  They will also be conducting 9 citizen-based focus groups (starting in October 2011).  This will be open to all Sackville residents except Council and Municipal members.  They will follow with a community-wide presentation.

Their group is already further along than the other six groups.  It is likely that the dykes will flood; although it is just projections now.  They will plan for the worse.  EMOs already have “safety zones” and an escape plan.

Tracey ended her presentation by putting in a plug for the upcoming Curl for Kids 4^th Annual event to be held on November 19^th.  They’re looking for teams!  Cost is $250 per team.

Sue P. thanked Tracey saying that those of us above sea-level…great!  Those of us who are not (me included)…not so great!  A book was donated in Tracey’s honour to a local library.