Oh Canada, Toast, 4 Way Test, Invocation

 

President Mike Taylor noted that our guest speaker is our own member Maria.

 

Hugh provided an update on the bidding process and that the auction items are now live.  If people continue to have issues registering, please have them email the email given on the site.  We have 1728 total items with a potential value to net of $170,000 for the clubs involved.  

 

PLEASE NOTE: Hugh has sent in a separate email the link to sign up to volunteer.

 

President Mike thanked Hugh and Annie for all of their work on this project.

 

Frank Adamson was recognized with a Peer Volunteer Award by the Town of Pelham at an awards ceremony on November 26th.  Frank thanked the club for putting forward his name.

 

Once again Mike will have his youth from Youth Resources Niagara set up Temperanceville in the Town square.

 

Speaker  

Our own Rotarian, Maria del Carmen Suescun Pozas presented on the "Birth of the CHANRI" August 7 - Sept 10, 2019.

 

Maria explained for us that the CHANRI initiative stands for the Changthang High Altitude Nomadic Research Institute.  This is located in the Puga Valley of Ladakhi Tibetan Plateau in India.

 

This trust is committed to supporting the fragile ecosystem and nomadic way of life of the Changpa peoples.  The Institute is composed of an International group of scholars and staff who study, preserve and work to protect and promote the way of life and ecosystems.  The hope is that the research being done can be used as a model for the rest of the world.    The group is working to support the Changpa peoples in responding to the changes that occur in the region.  

 

The Board - of which Maria is a founding member - is composed of academics, non-academics, Independent research fellows and students from the region.   Former Fonthill Rotarian, Brianna Willard, a BC nursing student was also a part of the team this past summer.  

 

CHANRI programs focus on education, history and heritage, culture, sports and health and sustainability.

 

Maria indicated that as part of the work - she will continue to work to support 90 youth in receiving hygenic hockey equipment so that they can play hockey - a sport that has been in India for over 100 years.  

 

Maria shared stories of her time in the region and her hopes for future work.

 

The club members thanked Maria for sharing her passion and vision with all of us.  

 

 

 

 

Meeting closed.