MC Steve Sharlow opened the meeting with a pitch for Facebook membership; his second pitch in as many weeks and, promised a short presentation on its use for Rotary members at the end of this meeting. First, he called on Ryan Gisler to say grace. Ryan observed that we all have much to be thankful for especially he and Janna because she gave birth to a son, Garon, barely four hours ago. (Ryan informed the meeting that Garon is a Swedish name said to be akin to the name George.) Congratulations Janna and Ryan!!
Visitors:
Today’s guests as introduced by Perry Bamji:
Our Guest Speaker Alice McLaggan; Ron Nelson, guest of Jim Force and Eileen Lavigne, guest of Steve Sharlow
Announcements:
Mary Canty advised that Renate Gibbs underwent foot surgery and will be laid up for six to eight weeks. She was outfitted with a pink cast for the duration.
Jim Force asked members to sponsor a student to lunch for our February 10th meeting.
Vicki Pitt advised that our Oak Bay Rotary Foundation will accept air mile points from the Aeroplan’s ‘Beyond Miles’ program.
Kathleen Arnason forwarded thanks from the Rotaract Club for our support of their Burger and Beer Night fund raiser last week at Maud Hunter’s Pub where they raised approximately $600.
Jim Force awarded a ‘Light Up’ pin to Ron Cooley for his work with the Merrython event.
Joan Firkins advised that Mardi Gras tickets are now available
Today’s guests as introduced by Perry Bamji:
Our Guest Speaker Alice McLaggan; Ron Nelson, guest of Jim Force and Eileen Lavigne, guest of Steve Sharlow
Announcements:
Mary Canty advised that Renate Gibbs underwent foot surgery and will be laid up for six to eight weeks. She was outfitted with a pink cast for the duration.
Jim Force asked members to sponsor a student to lunch for our February 10th meeting.
Vicki Pitt advised that our Oak Bay Rotary Foundation will accept air mile points from the Aeroplan’s ‘Beyond Miles’ program.
Kathleen Arnason forwarded thanks from the Rotaract Club for our support of their Burger and Beer Night fund raiser last week at Maud Hunter’s Pub where they raised approximately $600.
Jim Force awarded a ‘Light Up’ pin to Ron Cooley for his work with the Merrython event.
Joan Firkins advised that Mardi Gras tickets are now available
James Bond aka Jack Petrie (our Sgt–at-Arms sans a white dinner jacket)
Candid Camera has come to Oak Bay. An amusing slide show, complete with sub-titles, highlighted the antics of many members caught on camera during recent club meetings. Sadly, there were no fines levied for their appearances. However President Jim was fined twice, for taking two parking spaces at Maud Hunters and for misplacing Ryan’s name tag. Happy/sad dollars were paid by Neil Madsen for his encounter with a squirrel which came down his chimney. He tried in vain to catch it with a fishing net while Laura merely opened the door and shooed the poor creature outdoors. More dollars from Vicki Pitt who was happy to be away from the Maritimes because of the recent storms. Also $s from Bill Burns and Joan Firkins who were happy to be leaving Victoria for vacations, he to the Bahamas and she to Hawaii . Birthday congratulations were extended to Steve Sharlow.
Guest Speakers on The Eradication Of Polio
This meeting is a lead up to the END POLIO NOW light up scheduled for February 23 at the Empress Hotel. We had two speakers today, Alice McLaggan, a polio victim in 1944, and Kathleen Arnason, a nurse who worked in the polio ward at The Misericordia Hospital in Winnipeg in the 1970’s.
Joan Firkins introduced Alice who spoke about her memories of contracting polio while at boarding school in India. Alice was born in India and was educated in Calcutta, Darjeeling and Simla. She completed her education in Edinburgh and moved to Canada in 1955. She and husband Bill lived in Ottawa for 26 years, then retired to Victoria in 1998.
Joan Firkins introduced Alice who spoke about her memories of contracting polio while at boarding school in India. Alice was born in India and was educated in Calcutta, Darjeeling and Simla. She completed her education in Edinburgh and moved to Canada in 1955. She and husband Bill lived in Ottawa for 26 years, then retired to Victoria in 1998.
Alice shared her memories of contracting infantile paralysis, now known as polio, at 15 years of age. For two days she lay in bed with spinal pain. On the third day, her left side collapsed and she could not get up. She was taken by stretcher, to the hospital where the resident doctors confirmed she had contracted polio. There was no need for an iron lung which was fortunate, given that none were available, however her left side was paralyzed, from the waist down. She was eventually transported to England, no mean feat in itself given the wartime demands on shipping and she made a full recovery.
Kathleen spoke of her experience as a young student nurse in Winnipeg, where she served with five other student nurses in the iron lung ward at the hospital. Her special care was a young police officer. For the first week she was overwhelmed by the ominous presence of these six iron lung machines and the overpowering smell permeating the ward. By the end of the second week, the smell disappeared and she saw things differently as she observed her patient quietly coping with his affliction. As Kathleen put it, “polio gifted me”. For the most part, vaccines have replaced the iron lung in the treatment of polio. However Alice warned that it is not over yet so make sure that you get your shots. Alice and Kathleen were thanked by Phil Neroutsos who remarked that he had moved to Montreal in 1945 and clearly remembered the polio epidemic which raged through the city.
Kathleen spoke of her experience as a young student nurse in Winnipeg, where she served with five other student nurses in the iron lung ward at the hospital. Her special care was a young police officer. For the first week she was overwhelmed by the ominous presence of these six iron lung machines and the overpowering smell permeating the ward. By the end of the second week, the smell disappeared and she saw things differently as she observed her patient quietly coping with his affliction. As Kathleen put it, “polio gifted me”. For the most part, vaccines have replaced the iron lung in the treatment of polio. However Alice warned that it is not over yet so make sure that you get your shots. Alice and Kathleen were thanked by Phil Neroutsos who remarked that he had moved to Montreal in 1945 and clearly remembered the polio epidemic which raged through the city.
And Now - That promised Facebook Video: In closing the meeting, Steve presented a video prepared by the Nepean Kanata Rotary Club which highlighted a special fundraiser initiated during his year as President to support the Kanata Food Cupboard. Club members were urged to support the project by pledging so much per pound, that President Steve lost, during the Rotary year. The project raised approximately $14,200 due to the number of people who pledged and Steve's efforts. To read about the project and watch the video, please click HERE (Editor's note: What a great idea for raising funds and what a good sport is Steve Sharlow, who wrote the song.)
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