WELCOME!!
to this week's meeting of
The Rotary E-Club of Canada One
For the week beginning May 26, 2025
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 May 26, 2025
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 Doug
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Inspirational moment
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Canadiana
The Newfoundland Tsunami That Nobody Saw Coming (1929)
On the evening of November 18, 1929, the quiet life along Newfoundland’s Burin Peninsula was shattered by a sudden, violent natural disaster—one that, at the time, no one fully understood.
It began with a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that struck approximately 250 kilometres south of Newfoundland, in the Grand Banks region of the Atlantic Ocean. While tremors were felt as far away as New York and Montreal, it was what happened next that proved truly devastating.
The quake triggered a massive underwater landslide, which dislodged thousands of cubic metres of sediment from the continental slope. This collapse rapidly displaced water, generating a tsunami—but no one on land had any inkling of what was coming. In a cruel twist of fate, the event unfolded during a typical stormy November night, so the first waves were mistaken by many for just an unusually intense storm surge.
But this was no ordinary storm.
Around 7:30 p.m., towering waves—estimated to reach up to 7 metres (23 feet) in height—smashed into the coastline. In mere minutes, entire homes were swept out to sea, boats were hurled onto land, and entire communities were left submerged or destroyed. Particularly hard-hit were small fishing villages like Port au Bras, St. Lawrence, and Lamaline.
In total, 28 people lost their lives—most of them drowned—and over 1,000 people were left homeless. Considering the sparse population of the area at the time, the death toll represented a staggering loss.
The tsunami also severed 12 transatlantic telegraph cables, one after another, as the underwater landslide progressed—a first clue to scientists that something unusual had occurred on the ocean floor.
And yet, despite the physical devastation, the true nature of the disaster remained misunderstood for years. Because there were no eyewitness accounts of a classic “receding tide” or giant wave rolling in, and no tsunami warning systems existed at the time, many assumed the destruction was solely due to a severe storm.
It wasn’t until the 1940s, more than a decade later, that scientists connected the dots. By analyzing the earthquake data, seafloor mapping, and the sequence of undersea cable failures, they reconstructed what had happened: Canada had experienced one of its deadliest tsunamis, and almost no one realized it at the time.
Legacy and Lessons Learned
Today, the 1929 Newfoundland tsunami stands as a sobering reminder that not all natural disasters come with warning signs—and that even in Canada, where tsunamis are rare, the potential for catastrophic coastal damage is real. It also spurred later efforts to improve seismic monitoring and better understand submarine landslides and their potential to cause tsunamis.
A memorial in the town of St. Lawrence commemorates those who were lost that night. And the story lives on as a testament to the resilience of the people of Newfoundland—who, in the face of unimaginable loss, rebuilt their lives with characteristic grit and determination.
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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?
March 23. Once again, great food for thought. There is hope!
-- Lois Hannam, E-Club of Canada One, District 5370
March 24. The video on bionics was amazing, the show we watched as kids starring Lee Majors is becoming reality.
-- Patrick Gibson, E-Club of Canada One, District 5370
March 23. Interesting story about of how the ozone layer got successfully reduced over 30 years. Now if we could only get the climate change deniers onside and be as successful at that.
-- David Werrett, E-Club of Canada One, District 5370
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Archived Meetings
- All meetings are archived. Click here to see a list and choose what you wish to view.
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Announcements
is the Rotary International president-elect (for 2025–2026).
He will be the fourth Brazilian to hold the office.
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June is Rotary Fellowships Month – a time to celebrate the friendships, shared interests, and global connections that make Rotary truly special.
Whether you're passionate about cycling, cooking, jazz, or service above self, Rotary Fellowships offer a meaningful way to connect with others and deepen your Rotary journey.
As we mark the final month of this Rotary year, let’s take a moment to reflect on the values that guide us. The Four-Way Test isn’t just a banner in our meeting room—it’s a compass for how we live, lead, and serve. Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? These principles help us stay grounded and forward-looking.
Let’s also remember the incredible work of The Rotary Foundation—our shared vehicle for doing good in the world. If you haven’t yet made your contribution this year, now is the perfect time. Every gift, no matter the size, helps create lasting change locally and globally. Together, let’s finish the year strong—with gratitude, generosity, and purpose.
Let’s also remember the incredible work of The Rotary Foundation—our shared vehicle for doing good in the world. If you haven’t yet made your contribution this year, now is the perfect time. Every gift, no matter the size, helps create lasting change locally and globally. Together, let’s finish the year strong—with gratitude, generosity, and purpose.
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Two more Kiva loans this month
#40 and #41
Clean water storage in Kenya – Click here to read and learn more.
Submitted by Rotarian Patrick
International Services Director
Rotary Club of E-Canada One
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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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Just 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
Humour
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New members' corner
As June approaches, Rotary members can expect it to be Rotary Fellowships Month, a time to celebrate international fellowship and goodwill, promote participation in Rotary Fellowships, and recognize the importance of connecting with fellow members who share similar interests.
Here's a more detailed look at what this means for Rotary members:
• Rotary Fellowships Month:
June is designated as Rotary Fellowships Month, highlighting the importance of international fellowship and goodwill among Rotarians with similar recreational and vocational interests.
• Focus on Fellowships:
This month encourages Rotarians to explore and participate in Rotary Fellowships, which are international groups of Rotary members, spouses, and Rotaractors who share a common interest.
• Benefits of Fellowships:
Rotary Fellowships can help members make friends around the world, explore a hobby or profession, enhance their Rotary experience, further their vocational development, and explore opportunities for service.
• Finding Fellowships:
There are many Rotary Fellowships available, and information about them can be found on the Rotary International website.
• End of Rotary Year:
The Rotary year traditionally ends on June 30th, so this is also a time to reflect on the past year's activities and look ahead to the new Rotary year beginning July 1st.
• Update Membership:
Rotary Clubs are reminded to update their membership information by June 30th, as Rotary International and District billing will be calculated based on the membership details at that time.
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Rotary minute
The talent around the table –
How one club boosted membership and enthusiasm
When past District 5360 governors Mike French and Steve Rickard were looking for a strong leader for the Rotary Club of Calgary West, Alta., in challenging times, they turned to Tony Knight.
Club membership had been gradually declining, and energy was flagging. In short order, he proved their judgment had been correct. In 18 months, starting when Knight became president in 2014, the club added 25 members and was re-energized. He was recently appointed district membership director.
The Rotarian: Calgary West has seen a remarkable increase in membership, for which you are receiving praise. What did you do?
Knight: Before my term began, I called every one of our members. Those conversations were fantastic. I had people in tears, people who were angry. I also called the district governor and specifically asked about the Rotary rules. I like breaking rules that hold people back. I started a group that totally ignored Rotary rules – what we call our Calgary West satellite group.
Millennials, we have about 50 of them. A few have become club members. They like to volunteer for projects, but they don’t want to come to lunch every Friday. They’re trying to hold down jobs. They can’t disappear for two hours during the day. Rotary is steeped in tradition. Some of it is fantastic, but we need to be more adaptive to move forward with the times.
TR: What were the biggest changes you made?
Knight: I changed the location of our meetings. I told my membership during the first month we were moving to a brand new hotel on indigenous land for one month. After two meetings, people wanted to stay at the new location. We also broke the club down into four teams. Once every second month, we’d have team meetings at four different tables.
Here’s a link to Tony’s year - Click here.
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Food for thought
Middle East Geography Quizzes
Are you a Geography nut? When so much news comes from the Middle East, do you really know where these countries are?
Tryt your hand at these quizzes
Lizard Point's Middle East Countries Quiz: Another interactive quiz that allows you to click on the map to identify Middle Eastern countries, reinforcing your memory through active participation. lizardpoint.com
GeoGuessr's Middle East Map Quiz: This platform offers a map quiz game on the countries of the Middle East, making it easier to study this engaging region. GeoGuessr
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!
The Four-way Test
To close the meeting, PDG Arthur Hodge from Florida recites the Four-Way Test of the things that Rotarians think, say, or do. In 2010, we organized a matching grant of $31,000 between my Anguilla club and the Florida club, and PGD Arthur was one of three Floridians who came to Anguilla and worked hard every day for a full week - not willing to take any "down days" even while in the beautiful climate of Anguilla.
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.
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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
Complete the attendance/donation form to have your attendance recognized.
- CLICK HERE to return to our ClubRunner Home Page.
- Visiting Rotarians and guests - Click HERE.
- Members of Rotary E-Club of Canada One - Click HERE.
- e-Satellite Attendance - Click HERE.
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.
As you have not had to buy lunch or travel to attend this program, please consider a donation of a minimum of $10.00 in appreciation for the experience you have enjoyed.
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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