WELCOME!!
to this week's meeting of
The Rotary E-Club of Canada One
For the week beginning November 11, 2024
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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 November 11, 2024
Scroll down to enjoy the content!
Complete the form for a make-up!
Rotary International President – Stephanie Urchik
And for our clubs -
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Greeter this week
Rotarian Judy
Rotarian Judy
Rotary's Theme for the month of November - The Rotary Foundation
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Inspirational moment
A note from an alumnus of MYO!
I am Lizinho Palais. I was part of MYO from Grade 4 to Grade 8 (from 2008 to 2012) Looking back at how fast time has flown by, I can say with a full heart that my gratitude goes to MYO. To have had at least one person look at my young self and see potential to be great, triggered a catalyst reaction to create the great visionary person I am today.
I finished High School at Namib High and continued to do Microbiology for a few years at University of Namibia (UNAM). I’ve always had plans to study in Cape Town. Despite having been accepted in the University of Cape Town to pursue my medical degree, there was always something holding me back. Some time into my Microbiology degree, I applied to UNAM School of Medicine and I made it. This is where my whole life changed, and I saw how hard work and dedication, coupled with the teachings and principles I have gained from my life experiences (majority of it from MYO), could lead me to my dreams coming true. I am currently still at UNAM completing my Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree, enroute to becoming a phenomenal Cardiothoracic Surgeon.
I am Lizinho Palais. I was part of MYO from Grade 4 to Grade 8 (from 2008 to 2012) Looking back at how fast time has flown by, I can say with a full heart that my gratitude goes to MYO. To have had at least one person look at my young self and see potential to be great, triggered a catalyst reaction to create the great visionary person I am today.
I finished High School at Namib High and continued to do Microbiology for a few years at University of Namibia (UNAM). I’ve always had plans to study in Cape Town. Despite having been accepted in the University of Cape Town to pursue my medical degree, there was always something holding me back. Some time into my Microbiology degree, I applied to UNAM School of Medicine and I made it. This is where my whole life changed, and I saw how hard work and dedication, coupled with the teachings and principles I have gained from my life experiences (majority of it from MYO), could lead me to my dreams coming true. I am currently still at UNAM completing my Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree, enroute to becoming a phenomenal Cardiothoracic Surgeon.
To all students at MYO, don’t take this opportunity for granted. Time flies by so fast and before you know it, you will graduate from the program and what you take from it is what will help you build your life. Make sure to learn something new every day. Show up every single day with a lot of gratitude, no matter how tired you are. You are extremely privileged to be at MYO. Make sure you use this opportunity to grow and become better, so that you too can help your classmates back at school, empowering one another, just as you have been empowered.
To all the staff, your input in every learner is transformational, shaping the young Namibian child and empowering them. You have so much influence. I have an extremely great amount of gratitude towards each and every teacher I have had during my course at MYO. Even though so much time has passed, I still hold the teachings I have gotten from my teachers. Thank you. Thank you for standing up and helping the Namibian child see life from a more educated view. Thank you for being impactful in everything you do for the Namibian child. Continue to show up, because by showing up you make another child believe that they are worth it. That everything they dream of can be achieved and that they have someone who sees the potential they carry.
And lastly, to each and every sponsor. Your contributions have been immensely transformationa. What may seem like a small contribution to you, helps people like me see life from a view pint with endless possibilities. Thank you. May you continue to transform lives, empowering your peers to contribute in making life better for one another. Together, we can make this world one we can be proud of. Thank you for seeing the potential in MYO.
I am still learning, and I am still growing. I have a long road ahead of me, but if there is one thing I know it is that nothing is impossible. I am journeying onto being a cardiothoracic surgeon. My dreams are now becoming true, and I have a huge thank you to give to MYO. Thank you!
With love,
Lizinho Pallais
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Canadiana
TOTEM POLES OF HAIDA GUAII
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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?
Literacy is the answer. I really enjoyed the thank you by Bill Gates re polio. It is great to be reminded. The literacy program is also very good. Everything can be solved with literacy.
-- Rick Gibson, Rotary Club of Strathcona Sunrise, District 5020
Life is an obstacle course (meeting April 22). I enjoyed the determination of a young Iranian immigrant to navigate her life.
-- Larry Reynolds, Rotary Club of Campbell River Luncheon, District 5020
September 29. The TED talk about literacy made me think about how important our club’s involvement in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library has been over the past 10 years. And how many children in the Northwest Territories are so much better equipped when they start school.
-- David Werrett, E-Club of Canada One, District 5370
September 24. Thanks for finding some more information on drone use in agriculture. It's becoming common to see drones being used in agriculture and forestry, and as a "drone pilot" I find this all very exciting.
-- Patrick Gibson, E-Club of Canada One, District 5370
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Archived Meetings
- For meetings prior to November 4, 2024, please click here.
- All meetings are archived.
- For meetings starting November 11, 2024, please scroll to the very bottom of this page.
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Announcements
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November 19 - World Toilet Day
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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!
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So you're aware -
Our Club's Ongoing Projects -
We provide ongoing support for the following projects:
And we're doing great!
Ask for more information if you'd like to be involved!
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Real-time meetings
Each 3rd Thursday 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.
The time is 9:00 a.m. (Mountain Time) in lieu of the weekly Coffee Chat except for July and August when there are no FA’s. Here is the zoom link:
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.
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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
Namibia
Namibia, a country in southwestern Africa, is known for its stunning landscapes, including the vast Namib Desert, rugged coastline, and diverse wildlife. Gaining independence from South Africa in 1990, Namibia has since established a stable political system, characterized by democratic governance.
The country is rich in natural resources, including diamonds, uranium, and fish, which contribute to its economy. However, it faces significant challenges, such as income inequality and poverty, which have deep roots in its colonial history. Around 40% of its population still lives in rural areas, and while urbanization is growing, access to education and healthcare in these rural regions remains limited.
In recent years, Namibia has worked to improve the well-being of its people through policies that promote education, healthcare, and infrastructure development. Yet, the country faces high unemployment, especially among the youth, and struggles with issues like drought and water scarcity due to its arid climate.
On the global stage, Namibia plays a modest role but is increasingly involved in efforts to combat climate change, preserve its unique biodiversity, and promote sustainable tourism. While progress has been made, many Namibians still face economic and social challenges, but the country remains peaceful and is making gradual strides toward a better quality of life for its people.
Humour
A trio of old veterans were bragging and jokes about the heroic exploits of their ancestors one afternoon down at the Legion hall.
"My great grandfather, at age 13," one declared proudly, "was a drummer boy at Queenston Heights."
"Mine," boasts another, "went down with Major-General Phineas Riall at the Battle of Lundy’s Lane."
"I'm the only soldier in my family," confessed vet number three, "but if my great grandfather was living today, he'd be the most famous man in the world."
"Really? What'd he do?" his friends wanted to know.
"Nothing much... But he would be 165 years old."
"My great grandfather, at age 13," one declared proudly, "was a drummer boy at Queenston Heights."
"Mine," boasts another, "went down with Major-General Phineas Riall at the Battle of Lundy’s Lane."
"I'm the only soldier in my family," confessed vet number three, "but if my great grandfather was living today, he'd be the most famous man in the world."
"Really? What'd he do?" his friends wanted to know.
"Nothing much... But he would be 165 years old."
(Credit)
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New members' corner
Impact starts with our members — people like you who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
At club meetings in communities across the globe, our people of action come together to strengthen their connections to friends and neighbors and their commitment to improving lives.
Who can join?
We’re looking for people who want to give back to their communities.
Rotary clubs also welcome Rotaractors, Rotary Peace Fellows, and other members of the family of Rotary who qualify for membership.
How can I become a member?
Clubs accept new members by invitation. To help us find the right club for you, we’ll ask you a few questions about yourself and your interests. Then we’ll share your answers with Rotary leaders in your community who will match you with a club.
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Rotary minute
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Food for thought
…contributed by Rotarian Patrick
Facebook scrapes photos of kids from Australian user profiles to train its AI
Posted: September 12, 2024 by Pieter Arntz
Facebook has admitted that it scrapes the public photos, posts and other data from the accounts of Australian adult users to train its AI models. Unlike citizens of the European Union (EU), Australians are not offered an opt-out option to refuse consent.
At an inquiry as to whether the social media giant was hoovering up the data of all Australians in order to build its generative artificial intelligence tools, senator Tony Sheldon asked whether Meta (Facebook’s owner) had used Australian posts from as far back as 2007 to feed its AI products.
At first Meta’s global privacy director Melinda Claybaugh denied this but senator David Shoebridge challenged her claim.
“The truth of the matter is that unless you have consciously set those posts to private since 2007, Meta has just decided that you will scrape all of the photos and all of the texts from every public post on Instagram or Facebook since 2007, unless there was a conscious decision to set them on private. That’s the reality, isn’t it?”
Claybaugh said yes, but she added that accounts of people under 18 were not scraped. However, when Senator Sheldon asked Claybaugh whether public photos of his children on his own account would be scraped, Claybaugh acknowledged they would.
When asked whether the company scraped data from previous years of users who were now adults, but were under 18 when they created their accounts, the question remained unanswered. It is not new that Meta uses public Facebook and Instagram posts to train its AI, and Meta is not the only social media platform that does this. European privacy watchdogs accused X of unlawfully using personal data of 60 million+ users to train its AI Grok as well.
In June, the EU’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) reached an agreement with Meta to pause its plans to train its large language model using public content shared by adults on Facebook and Instagram across the EU. This decision followed intensive engagement between the DPC and Meta.
Australia recently revealed plans to set a minimum age limit for children to use social media, citing concerns around mental and physical health.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government would run an age verification trial before introducing age minimum laws for social media this year. The Prime Minister didn’t specify an age but said it would likely be between 14 and 16.
The reasoning behind the age limit had nothing to do with data scraping. He stated: “I want to see kids off their devices and onto the footy fields and the swimming pools and the tennis courts. … We want them to have real experiences with real people because we know that social media is causing social harm.”
But nevertheless, the scraping could be a factor when the final decision about the age limit comes around.
What to do
Wherever you are in the world, we encourage you to think carefully about sharing photos of your kids online. Of course it’s lovely to post their photos for your friends and family to see, but once something is posted online you lose control about where that image is, and who has access to it. If you really do want to share photos, lock your profile down as much as possible and keep your photos away from just anyone.
If you’re an adult and worried about image scraping, check the terms and conditions for accounts and see if you can opt-out. If there’s no option, carefully consider whether you want to post to that service at all.
Rotary Podcast
HOPE IN GRIEF
Apr 9, 2024 Rotary Voices Podcast
With suicides rising in the U.S., Rotary members who’ve lost loved ones are determined to prevent more deaths. Their first step — talking.
After her nephew’s death, Lori Crider worked with Shirley Weddle, also a loss survivor and mental health advocate, to establish the Rotary E-Club of Suicide Prevention and Brain Health.
This audio version of a story in the November 2023 issue (https://www.rotary.org/en/hope-grief) of Rotary magazine (https://www.rotary.org/en/rotary-maga...) is narrated by Linda Yu.
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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!
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How to turn the tables on food waste - Dana Gunders
The Four-way Test
To close the meeting, Rotarian Angel 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.
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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.
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Attendance Links
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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
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