On Tuesday at lunch we were happy to acknowledge Sandy Ketler for her outstanding service this past year, with the ``Ray Corner`` award. Sandy has proven to be, on all accounts, an essential part of our club since her induction, participating in numerous committees and kicking off the successful fundraiser the ``Fox Hunt``. Not a bad year!
We were looking not only at our future on Tuesday’s presentation, but also, the very heart of what Rotary stands for. Our speakers were Ashley Charduelow, from Spring Valley Middle School, and Natasha Miles, and Theresa Schwab from Rutland Senior Secondary. These students I suspect are learning in classrooms, laboratories, and libraries but more strikingly was that they are learning how to interact with one another, and from a Rotarian point of view that is the most important lesson. An Interact project brought these students together from different; cultural identities, ages, and schools who seem to have a similar purpose, obligation and need for service. The Interact Project was called 2C2 (consumer to consumer) and involved cleaning up the mess caused by plastic waste. The presentation showed how they were using innovative ways to come up with solutions for environmental problems. Ashely, Natasha, and Theresa also had a chance to educate us on how they are using economic insight to develop products and merchandise, adding value to the end use of their efforts. That is Interact. They are our future.
Snow, schnitzel, and schnapps, the only thing missing on Thursday night at the after 5 event was Berndt Dinner leading us in his Jagermeister toast. A small but spirited group of Rotarians braved the cold and ventured down to the Gasthaus in Peachland. An all you can eat schnitzel buffet was on the menu and a variety of German Beer showed up on request. The Jagermeister was free, the snow was extra. This is Dale Brigg`s idea of heaven. A good time was had by all accounts, and we look forward to next months after 5 event.
Rotary Now celebrated International Women’s Day on Friday by hosting an event at the Innovation Centre. Thank-you Raghwa. The presenter was Susan Boyle who was speaking on women in the wine industry. Susan has relocated to the Kelowna area from the Napa Valley and is currently the General Manager at the Quail`s Gate Winery. The over arching theme of her talk was on coming to grips with the opportunities and eliminating bias and prejudice in her industry. She seemed proud of the involvement that women have in the wine industry, but suggests women still have a long way to go. Susan humorously tells her story of confronting the types of prejudices, assumptions and inhibitions that have limited women’s opportunities in her industry. She talked about how she circumvented work places that were difficult socially and how she addressed them. In her industry she had to change assumptions about women being less able in finance, science, or less rational, marginalizing them in their aspirations. Susan addressed childcare and the need for the industry to embrace this obstacle and provide choices to women to continue their career or return to the workplace after maternity leave. These structural as well as attitudinal dimensions to moving women forward are still met with resistance and can stem from cultural, financial and ignorance according to Susan. Her inspirational style was intoxicating and so where the offerings by the Quail`s Gate Winery afterward. Good job by Peter Schultz and Rotary Now the small but mighty club.
This week’s presenter will be Mohini Singh with her topic; East meets West.
John Mulligan will give his classification talk.
And hopefully we will hear from our exchange student Chiara
See you at Rotary "the place to be on Tuesdays at noon."