WELCOME!!
to this week's meeting of
The Rotary E-Club of Canada One
For the week beginning September 11, 2023
Scroll down to enjoy the content!
Complete the form for a make-up!
Please leave a donation to assist our club to do Rotary's good works!
to this week's meeting of
The Rotary E-Club of Canada One
For the week beginning September 11, 2023
Scroll down to enjoy the content!
Complete the form for a make-up!
Please leave a donation to assist our club to do Rotary's good works!
Greeter this week
Rotarian Judy
Rotarian Judy
***
Canadiana
The very first Canadians that Queen Elizabeth ever met on a trip to Canada as our queen was a rowdy crowd of Newfoundlanders who woke her up in the middle of the night.
It was the end of 1953. Queen Elizabeth was still a brand new queen. Her coronation had been held just a few months earlier, a massive televised spectacle. Ten thousand Canadians travelled to London to be there in person, while many more would listen at home on their radios or tune in on TV. Footage of the event had been rushed across the ocean by British bombers so Canadians could watch it later that same day.
Now it was time for Elizabeth to meet some her subjects in person. Her first Royal Tour as Queen would be the biggest trip of her life, an epic six-month-long odyssey that would make her the first European monarch ever to travel all the way around the planet.
Canada wasn't on the official itinerary, but it would still play a small and vital role…
Airplanes were pretty new and nerve-racking back then; the world's first commercial jet airliner was only a year old. When the Queen took off from England, British and Canadian destroyers followed along in the ocean below. Lifeboats on the coasts were put on alert just in case. It had only been about 30 years since the first flight across the Atlantic. That was still about as far as you could go before needing to refuel. And that fact made the airport in the wee town of Gander, Newfoundland one of the most important airports in the world.
The Royal Air Force would escort the Queen's airliner halfway across the ocean, where the Canadian air force would take over and lead her the rest of the way into Newfoundland. There, her plane could refuel before carrying on to Bermuda — the Royal Tour's first official stop.
It was long after midnight when the plane descended from the dark Canadian sky to land at the Gander airport. By the time it was done fuelling up, it was a bit after 4am. Queen Elizabeth was still sleeping as the plane prepared to take off. She was about to miss out on Canada entirely.
But the crowd of rowdy Newfoundlanders who'd gathered outside the plane weren't about to let that happen. There were hundreds of them who'd showed up in the middle of the night to try to get a glimpse of their Queen. And they weren't going down without a fight.
They began to sing.
In the years since, many people have wondered whether some in that crowd might have had a drink or two before heading to the airport that night. But drunk or not, they seem to have belted out their tune at an impressive volume. The air was filled with a familiar melody. "For she's a jolly good fellow... For she's a jolly good fellow..." Three hundred people all singing their hearts out at four in the morning on a chilly November night. There were chants of "We want the Queen!" Some even called out "It's time to get up!"
And yet, it seemed they'd failed. Officials begged them to leave, to go back home to their beds. And as the ramp was rolled away from the plane, the crowd let out a collective sigh.
But then!
The door cracked open...
Somewhere on board that airliner, the Queen of Canada had been roused from her slumber by the sound of her subjects quite literally singing her praises. And in the few moments left before takeoff, she was going to give them what they wanted.
She appeared in the doorway of the airplane, somehow cheerful and impeccably dressed despite the late hour. Prince Philip was at her side. They smiled and waved to the rambunctious crowd as the throng was held back by scarlet-coated Mounties. Elizabeth even recognized a couple of the officers from her earlier visit to Canada, back when she was a princess. They were waved up the gangplank to say hello. "It's nice to be in Canada again," she told them, "even if only for a short stay."
And then, it was over. The hatch closed shut. The engines roared. And the Queen sailed off into the sky. But that wasn't the last time she'd visit Newfoundland…
Queen Elizabeth travelled more than a million miles over her lifetime. And she visited Canada more than any other country: 22 times during her reign. Six years after that memorable night on the tarmac, she was back in Gander once again.
This time, she had come to open the town's new airport — the one still in service today, the one that half a century later would make new headlines. This time, for welcoming American travellers on 9/11 and becoming the inspiration for the musical, Come From Away.
Now it was time for Elizabeth to meet some her subjects in person. Her first Royal Tour as Queen would be the biggest trip of her life, an epic six-month-long odyssey that would make her the first European monarch ever to travel all the way around the planet.
Canada wasn't on the official itinerary, but it would still play a small and vital role…
Airplanes were pretty new and nerve-racking back then; the world's first commercial jet airliner was only a year old. When the Queen took off from England, British and Canadian destroyers followed along in the ocean below. Lifeboats on the coasts were put on alert just in case. It had only been about 30 years since the first flight across the Atlantic. That was still about as far as you could go before needing to refuel. And that fact made the airport in the wee town of Gander, Newfoundland one of the most important airports in the world.
The Royal Air Force would escort the Queen's airliner halfway across the ocean, where the Canadian air force would take over and lead her the rest of the way into Newfoundland. There, her plane could refuel before carrying on to Bermuda — the Royal Tour's first official stop.
It was long after midnight when the plane descended from the dark Canadian sky to land at the Gander airport. By the time it was done fuelling up, it was a bit after 4am. Queen Elizabeth was still sleeping as the plane prepared to take off. She was about to miss out on Canada entirely.
But the crowd of rowdy Newfoundlanders who'd gathered outside the plane weren't about to let that happen. There were hundreds of them who'd showed up in the middle of the night to try to get a glimpse of their Queen. And they weren't going down without a fight.
They began to sing.
In the years since, many people have wondered whether some in that crowd might have had a drink or two before heading to the airport that night. But drunk or not, they seem to have belted out their tune at an impressive volume. The air was filled with a familiar melody. "For she's a jolly good fellow... For she's a jolly good fellow..." Three hundred people all singing their hearts out at four in the morning on a chilly November night. There were chants of "We want the Queen!" Some even called out "It's time to get up!"
And yet, it seemed they'd failed. Officials begged them to leave, to go back home to their beds. And as the ramp was rolled away from the plane, the crowd let out a collective sigh.
But then!
The door cracked open...
Somewhere on board that airliner, the Queen of Canada had been roused from her slumber by the sound of her subjects quite literally singing her praises. And in the few moments left before takeoff, she was going to give them what they wanted.
She appeared in the doorway of the airplane, somehow cheerful and impeccably dressed despite the late hour. Prince Philip was at her side. They smiled and waved to the rambunctious crowd as the throng was held back by scarlet-coated Mounties. Elizabeth even recognized a couple of the officers from her earlier visit to Canada, back when she was a princess. They were waved up the gangplank to say hello. "It's nice to be in Canada again," she told them, "even if only for a short stay."
And then, it was over. The hatch closed shut. The engines roared. And the Queen sailed off into the sky. But that wasn't the last time she'd visit Newfoundland…
Queen Elizabeth travelled more than a million miles over her lifetime. And she visited Canada more than any other country: 22 times during her reign. Six years after that memorable night on the tarmac, she was back in Gander once again.
This time, she had come to open the town's new airport — the one still in service today, the one that half a century later would make new headlines. This time, for welcoming American travellers on 9/11 and becoming the inspiration for the musical, Come From Away.
***
Comments from our guests and members
Members and guests attending our weekly meetings are very important to us. Based on your comments we are able to produce many more educational, inspiring, and entertaining weekly meetings.
Following are some of the comments we have received. Would you please send us your comments?
August 5. Inspirational moment and Canadiana. Great little bits of information and inspiration. Still finding my way around, but it looks good.
-- Patrick Gibson, Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona, District 5370
August 5. Listened to the outgoing RI president’s 2023 convention speech (Jennifer Jones). Made me proud to be a Rotarian.
-- Neil Rogers, E-Club of Canada One, District 5370
August 5. I am impressed by RI President Gordon McInally. He is a very engaging speaker. As a result of seeing someone succumb to mental health issues, he is asking Rotarians to become active in mental health awareness.
-- David Werrett, E-Club of Canada One, District 5370
***
|
Archived Meetings
- For meetings before August 14, 2023, please click here.
- All meetings are archived. For meetings after August 14, 2023, please scroll to the very bottom of this page.
***
Announcements
This month's Rotary theme
Literacy
Rotary and Literacy
More than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. That’s 17 percent of the world’s adult population.
Rotary’s goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy. We support education for all children and literacy for children and adults.
Rotary and Rotarians take action to empower educators to inspire learning at all ages.
Material Suggestions and Greeter Messages Always Needed!
Please feel free to forward an approx. 150 - 200 word message or any material suggestions in an e-mail, or in a Word document, along with a JPeg picture or two, to E-Club Administration Chair, Kitty Bucsko.
We'd love to hear from you!
***
***
Real-time meetings
Each 3rd Tuesday of the month is our Fellowship Assembly, and we often invite interesting speakers or Rotary Leaders for this entertaining, educational fun event. Plan to join us.
Everyone is welcome to attend and we encourage your participation.
Please click our Event Calendar for details and access Link.
For further inquiries or suggestions please contact: info@rotaryeclubcanada.ca
All our videos can be viewed on our YouTube channel.
***
How do you support our club?
- The Paypal button on our ClubRunner Home Page
- The donation button on the attendance form, or
- Make an Interac transfer to rotaryeclubcanada1@gmail.com
- Send a cheque to:
The Rotary E-Club of Canada One
10430 135 Street NW
Edmonton, AB
Canada T5N 2C6
(780) 267 4547
Environment
...contributed by Rotarian Vicki
Humour
***
New members' corner
1955 – Rotary celebrates its 50th anniversary
The 50th anniversary of Rotary International gave rise to many festivities and events around the world.
Development of public interest activities, special meetings, publication of a commemorative brochure, radio and television programs, photographic projections, giant banners, floats parading in cities, exchange of greetings with other clubs, neighbours, or more distant…
A giant anniversary dinner (Golden Dinner) was held in Chicago on February 23, 1955. It brought together 900 people.
A dedicated piece of music was recorded by RCA-Victor. Performed by the 85 musicians of the US Army Band, it was broadcast extensively on the airwaves of the USA and Canada.
150 million stamps have been issued worldwide.
In France, a temporary post office for the first-day issue of the commemorative stamp was opened at the Pavillon Dauphine, while in the same place, the Rotary Club of Paris held its statutory meeting.
The Rotary Minute is a creation of District 1700. Please send any comments or suggestions to laminute1700@gmail.com
***
Rotary minute
WHAT IS “ROTARY ON STAMPS”?
Click here to read and learn more.
Rotary on Stamps is a group of stamp collectors and dealers with an interest in the philatelic material commemorating Rotary International, its Districts, local clubs, and service projects around the world.
RoS operates in accordance with Rotary International policy, but it is not an agency of, or controlled by, Rotary International.
In one of its publications, Rotary International states “Rotarians who share common interests in worthwhile recreational or avocational activities are encouraged to associate themselves in groups for the purpose of furthering acquaintance and fellowship.”
Responding to that “encouragement,” a group of collectors of the early Rotary commemorative stamps joined together under the leadership of the American Topical Association in 1955 and organized into a study unit which they named “ROTARY ON STAMPS.”
Today its nearly 200 members are from 35 countries and it is one of the earliest and most active groups of Rotary’s Fellowships. In 2005 Rotary on Stamps celebrated its 50th anniversary when Rotary International celebrated its 100th anniversary.
Click here to read and learn more.
***
Food for thought
***
Rotary Jukebox
For a small donation, your favorite musician will be featured on one of our next e-meetings for everyone to enjoy.
Every week we'll have a draw and the lucky person will see their song featured!
THIS WEEK - The Boxer
***
Speaker Program The Four-way Test
To close the meeting, Rotarian Neil recites the Four-Way Test of the things that Rotarians think, say, or do.
Thank you for joining us. We appreciate your feedback and hope you will return and invite a guest.
Please Click HERE to leave us a comment or send a message.
Scroll down for Program Donations and Attendance links.
***
Our Facebook page. Please remember to check out our posts on the Rotary
E-Club’s Facebook page. We work hard to post something every second day, sometimes more often.
Invite friends to Like our page and enjoy our posts. Also, please take the time to Share our posts on your Facebook Page.
***
Attendance Links
Complete the attendance/donation form to have your attendance recognized.
- CLICK HERE to return to our ClubRunner Home Page.
Confirmation of your attendance will be sent to your e-mail address promptly.
Please support our club!
Donate For the Meeting You Have Attended.
Please consider making a small donation in lieu of a meal
to help us help those in need.
We thank you very much!
Program Donations
Our E-Club is a dynamic club comprised of ordinary working and retired people who acknowledge that Rotarians are people who are generous with their time and their resources.
Our club and the program you have just enjoyed, either as a member or a visitor, is funded only by donations.
We are developing ideas for fundraising with our members who are scattered across Canada, USA, Central America, and Europe, but we do need your help.
As you have not had to buy lunch or travel to attend this program, please make a donation of a minimum of $10.00, considering you're saving in time and cost in appreciation for the experience you have enjoyed.
Interested in providing Rotary Service? Unable to attend terra club meetings?
Contact our membership chair for information or
or HERE to learn about Associate Membership
No comments:
Post a Comment