to this week's meeting of
The Rotary E-Club of Canada One
For the week beginning August 11, 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 August 11, 2025
Scroll down to enjoy the content!
Complete the form for a make-up!
The Rotary theme for 2025-26 -
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Greeter this week
Rotarian President Judy
Inspirational moment
Penning a Final Farewell – HeroicStories
by Richard Ewald - California, USA
Everyone he meets becomes a friend. Don is a college dean. The program he administers is considered to be the best training program of its type in the world — not one of the best, but number one. This is due almost entirely to Don's vision and personality. The word dynamic was coined, I believe, to describe Don. I met Don when my company became affiliated with his program.
I was at the college one January, and Don dropped by. I asked him how his Christmas was. "Not too good," he replied. His son had died. I asked how old his son was. "In his early twenties. It was an accident." I tried to say words that might comfort Don, but no words can help at a time like that.
Don started to talk. He and his wife had planned a public church service and a private graveside service for family only. However, after the accident, the phone kept ringing with his son's friends calling to say that their son had been their best friend.
I was at the college one January, and Don dropped by. I asked him how his Christmas was. "Not too good," he replied. His son had died. I asked how old his son was. "In his early twenties. It was an accident." I tried to say words that might comfort Don, but no words can help at a time like that.
Don started to talk. He and his wife had planned a public church service and a private graveside service for family only. However, after the accident, the phone kept ringing with his son's friends calling to say that their son had been their best friend.
After 30 calls, Don and his wife decided they must do something for all these kids who'd lost their best friend. They opened the graveside service to everyone so their son's friends would have another chance to say goodbye.
Then Don got an idea. He went to the undertaker, another lifelong friend, and asked if people at the graveside service could take a felt tip pen and write a message to his son on the outside of the casket. "Things like that just aren't done," the undertaker replied.
Don persisted. The undertaker reluctantly agreed, saying it must be a wood casket for the pen to show. "Can I try a pen on a casket in an inconspicuous place?" "No. If you mark it, you own it." So Don chose a casket he thought would take the marker's ink.
Before the service, Don wrote a goodbye on the casket. At the graveside service, the minister announced that anyone who wished could come up and write or draw a farewell as well.
At first, no one got up. Then one person did; then another. Before long, everyone present was lined up for a chance to write their goodbyes. When the last person had finished, the entire casket was covered in messages and drawings, looking not unlike a high school yearbook.
As Don walked back to the car, he turned and saw his undertaker friend pick up a pen and write a final message.
I am proud to be Don's friend. In the depths of the worst experience a father can endure, he thought not of himself, but of his son's friends, and took steps to ease their pain. I know his idea will be imitated by others and comfort many more people. That's a fitting tribute to both Don and his son.
Originally published as HeroicStories #380 on Feb 3, 2003
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Canadiana
Historical building in Canada/Ottawa
Do you know about The Canadian Museum of History located just across the river from Ottawa in Gatineau, Quebec? It’s famous for not having any right-angle corners in its main structure.
Why it's significant:
• Designed by architect Douglas Cardinal, a renowned Canadian of Métis and Blackfoot heritage, the museum is a celebrated example of organic architecture.
• The building was completed in 1989 and was formerly known as the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
• While technically not within the Ottawa city limits, it’s just across the Alexandra Bridge and directly faces Parliament Hill, making it a prominent part of Ottawa’s national capital region.
Recommended Links
• Architecture & Grounds (official museum) – A page that explores Douglas Cardinal's design philosophy, including how the museum "flows with the contours of the land" and uses irregular, curving forms. Click here.
• Civilization.ca Architectural Tour – A more detailed look at how the museum’s layout connects with the landscape and avoids traditional right angles. Click here.
• The Canadian Encyclopedia – Douglas Cardinal – Biographical piece on the architect, highlighting his commitment to organic architecture and avoidance of "boxes" in design. Click here.
And a quiz site of indigenous knowledge – very interesting – Click here.
• Wikipedia – Canadian Museum of History – Includes vivid descriptions of the structure, materials, and its sculptural, organic design inspired by glacier-era geography. Click here.
• Architecture & Grounds (official museum) – A page that explores Douglas Cardinal's design philosophy, including how the museum "flows with the contours of the land" and uses irregular, curving forms. Click here.
• Civilization.ca Architectural Tour – A more detailed look at how the museum’s layout connects with the landscape and avoids traditional right angles. Click here.
• The Canadian Encyclopedia – Douglas Cardinal – Biographical piece on the architect, highlighting his commitment to organic architecture and avoidance of "boxes" in design. Click here.
And a quiz site of indigenous knowledge – very interesting – Click here.
• Wikipedia – Canadian Museum of History – Includes vivid descriptions of the structure, materials, and its sculptural, organic design inspired by glacier-era geography. Click here.
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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?
June 30. Great content this week. Great story on Wakes - not so popular in North America but extremely so in Ireland. I had heard the story behind the word “boycott but not to such detail. Great info!
-- Patrick Gibson, 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
THE MONTH OF AUGUST
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KIVA UPDATE FROM ROTARIAN PATRICK
Annabel Marianela is 33 years old, a single mother, and has an 8-year-old child. They live in the canton of Montecristi, Ecuador, known for its rich precolonial culture and its crafts, known nationally and internationally.
She has a grocery store in her house where she sells rice, sugar, detergents, sausages, tuna, and many other groceries with which she is managing to satisfy her customers' needs and improve her earnings.
This loan is to purchase rice, sugar, detergents, sausages, tuna, and many other groceries to stock her store.
…contributed by Patrick Gibson, President Elect
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Rotarian Doug sends along a message from his blog -
Reflections - Sharing the Joy of Travel
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
Still trying to get my head around the fact that 'Take Out' can mean food, dating, or murder.
The older I get, the more I understand why roosters scream to start their day.
If only vegetables smelled as good as bacon.
I woke up this morning determined to drink less, eat right, and exercise. But that was four hours ago when I was younger and full of hope.
We live in a time where intelligent people are silenced so that stupid people won't be offended.
The biggest joke on mankind is that computers have begun asking humans to prove they aren't a robot.
When a kid says "Daddy, I want mommy" that's the kid version of "I'd like to speak to your supervisor."
It's weird being the same age as old people.
Last night the internet stopped working so I spent a few hours with my family. They seem like good people.
If Adam and Eve were Cajuns they would have eaten the snake instead of the apple and saved us all a lot of trouble.
We celebrated last night with a couple of adult beverages... Metamucil and Ensure.
Some of my friends exercise every day. Meanwhile I am watching a show I don't like because the remote fell on the floor.
For those of you that don't want Alexa or Siri listening in on your conversation, they are making a male version; it doesn't listen to anything.
There is fine line between a numerator and a denominator. Only a fraction of people will find this funny.
I have many hidden talents I just wish I could remember where I hid them.
Exercise helps you with decision-making. It's true. I went for a run this morning and decided I'm never going again!
And finally - Four out of three adults have trouble with math.
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New members' corner
Did you know?
More than 40 per cent of women around the world cannot make decisions on sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights.
As few as one in four women across low- and middle-income countries are realizing their desired fertility.
A woman dies every two minutes due to pregnancy or childbirth (and in conflict settings, the number of deaths is twice as high).
Nearly one-third of women have experienced intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both.
Just six countries have 50 per cent or more women in parliament.
More than two-thirds of the 800 million people globally who cannot read are women.
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End Polio Now
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Rotary minute
Theme: Interconnectedness, purpose, and legacy.
From the day we arrive on the planet
And, blinking, step into the sun
There's more to see than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
There's far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high
Through the sapphire sky
Keeps great and small on the endless round
It's the circle of life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
'Til we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the circle
The circle of life
It's the circle of life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
'Til we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the circle
The circle of life
🌀 Rotary Tie-In: A poetic way to explore how our projects affect generations—maternal and child health, literacy, clean water.
And, blinking, step into the sun
There's more to see than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
There's far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high
Through the sapphire sky
Keeps great and small on the endless round
It's the circle of life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
'Til we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the circle
The circle of life
It's the circle of life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
'Til we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the circle
The circle of life
🌀 Rotary Tie-In: A poetic way to explore how our projects affect generations—maternal and child health, literacy, clean water.
***
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!
The Four-way Test
To close the meeting, Rotarian Lois 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.
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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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