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Speakers
Nov 26, 2020
Annual General Meeting
Dec 03, 2020
Walking, Running and Footwear
Dec 10, 2020
Oceans and Sharks
Dec 17, 2020
Christmas Comes to Town
View entire list
Stories
MEETING START UP
Sherrie Jamieson
 
You are the greeter for the meeting on Nov 19
 
 
Greeters Coming Up:
 
 
Nov 26 David Kalinovich
 
Dec 3 Wes Klassen
 
Dec10 Jen Kormendy
 
Dec 17 Jako Krushnisky
 
 
 
 
Until we finally get together for an actual breakfast the greeter is asked to deliver the invocation only..
 
If you are unable to make this assignment please arrange for a replacement and let secretary Joan know. 
 
 
 
 
Announcements
The meeting was opened with the singing of O Canada by jazz artist Nikky Yanofsky at the 2014 Grey Cup game. This was followed by Jill Moore's invocation that emphasized thoughtful fellowship and recognized the importance of equality in making the world better.
 
Visiting Rotarians:
Roberto Silva (District Governor, Chile)
Terry Miller (Sunshine Coast)
Mike Hewitt (Oregon)
Angiola Oddo (Vancouver)
Brigette Bolerson (Vancouver)
Heather Edwards (Eugene OR)
Carol Fellows (Jefferson E club)
Bob Hughes (Past Member)
Guests:
Kamiil Kanji (Calgary)
Samha Damanhoori (Speaker)
 
Special Occasions
Birthdays:
Jako Krushnisky (June 22)
Louise Jackson (June 24
And:
Summer begins (June 20)
Dad's Day (June 21)
 
Community Project report   Peter Dandyk
Peter informed that the shade project for Diefenbaker park is proceeding well. The supporting posts are now being manufactured. Once they arrive and are put into place the shading material will then be attached. Once that happens we can then look forward to a great opening ceremony!
 
Committee Meetings
Wondering how to get involved in club activities? Now is your chance to attend three committees that are in the planning stages for the upcoming Rotary year. These are all Zoomed so you don't even have to leave hearth and home.
They are:
International Committee.......    Monday June 22 7:00 PM
Speakers Committee.......         Tuesday June 23 7:00 PM
Social Committee.......              Monday June 29 6:00 PM       
 
 
Special Event
PRINCIDENT'S BALL
 
 
June 17 2020 will go down in the annals of Rotary history as the first ever virtual President's Ball with champagne, fancy dress, awards, breaking news and all types of fun that made it a memorable evening. It was made possible through the efforts and imagination of many including; Sherrie Jamieson and Leslie for organizing the event, Ian Bourhill for the studio (ie garage), Tom Smith and Rick Lewall for the pictures, Jill Moore for the flowers, Dave Hamilton and Judy LaFlamme (McLeod) for the bulletins and many more.
 
President Gail assisted by husband Mike and her two daughters handed out awards complete with comments on each:
Paul Harris
   Keith Dinwoodie (Past President)
   Linda Ding ..............committed, generous, loving
   Laureen McLeery.... thoughtful, realistic, accepting
   Paul Arcand .............amazing, progressive, supportive
 
Service Above Self
   Leslie Abramson Year after Year- Service above Self ...........................................inclusive, connected, energetic
 
   Graeme Peck Always got my Back- Service above Self .......................................loyal, honest, hard-working
 
   Mitch Romano My Hero-Service above Self ........................................................genuine, awesome,talented
 
   Roger Pryke Voice of Reason- Service above Self .................................................calm, wise, realistic
 
   Ginny Lowood  Always making me look like I'm on track- Service above Self... organized, kind, sweet
 
 
Rotarian of the Year- Bruce Tuttle Award
   John Charbonneau ....................meticulous, fastidious and hilarious 
 
 
And our sponsors The 2019-20 Social Committee ; Holly, Linda, Joan, Sherrie, Louise, Wes, Cindy, Judy and Elisabeth
 
 
 
Happy Dollars
Liz Ellis for the Zoomball and for her son-in-law completing his masters degree while holding down a full time job
 
Joan Hansen for the Ball and happy for Saturday being the longest day of the year
 
Blake Cowan for a great conference planning committee meeting , an invitation to the international guests to attend it in May 2021 and for his puppy being emasculated
 
Judy McLeod (aka LaFlamme) for the fun at the Ball and for enjoying her first restaurant meal since the lock-down
 
Leslie for the great time at the Ball and being impressed with many of the guests who dressed up for the occasion
 
Paul vanWestendorp happy that an unwanted guest, the Asian Giant Hornet, has so far not appeared in our area
 
Graeme Peck springing for a hefty $25 donation for missing the Zoomball festivities
 
Past President Keith D for being able to take his tuxedo out of mothballs to celebrate a great year for the club
 
President Gail for the countdown in terms of hours, days and minutes and an opportunity to get back to spending her time with runners and books
 
Incoming president Laureen for counting up in hours, days and minutes until it all falls on her shoulders  
 
 
Programme
From Saudi Arabia to California
A Personal Journey
 
Samah  Damanhoori 
 
Liz Ellis introduced Samah, a Saudi filmmaker who speaks about her country's male guardianship law through activism and art. She has been featured on several news specials and is currently producing an animated film to be released next year.
 
Samah began her presentation with a thank you to Heather Thomas who introduced her to our club and for giving her the opportunity to tell her story. She left Saudi Arabia entering the US on a scholarship but with the reluctant agreement of her father who granted her permission only because her married sister was also living in the area. However when the sister left, her father ordered her to return home and through the embassy managed to have her scholarship cancelled. 
 
In Saudi Arabia a woman's life is under the control of a male, usually her father or husband but even a brother or a son. In this male guardianship society all decisions require the permission granted by the male of the family. In not following the orders of her father and remaining in the US Samah was simply set adrift without any means of support. Understandably this left her vulnerable and in a state of anxiety that eventually led to panic attacks. Through the support of the university, a group of kind businessmen and several Rotarians she was able to continue her education and complete a masters degree.
 
Now Samah is a devoted advocate for women's rights in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. She does her advocacy work through public appearances and through the visual art of films. She played portions of her animated film Medina Papel that illustrates the structure of a family and the difficulty of the character trying to fit into it. She sees some improvement is women's lives such as the first Saudi female to be recently named ambassador and the fact that some women can travel and actually drive without a male guardian. But there is a much longer road to travel for full female rights to be recognized.
 
She answered a number of questions mainly about her father and the complicated relationship she has with him. She continues to work at mending the broken bridges with both her parents and her siblings seeing some slow improvement in her own situation and that of Saudi women generally. Ginny Lowood in thanking Samha commented on the bravery that it took to make the journey and the heartfelt presentation in telling us about it.
 
ATTENDANCE   48
 
 
 
GREETERS
 
 
 
 
Sept 17 Wayne Connorton
 
Sept 24 Blake Cowan
 
Oct 1 Linda Ding
 
Oct 8 Keith D
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sponsors
 
Interested in becoming a sponsor? Please email pr@rotarytsawwassen.org