Ivan Katzman introduced our guests who were our guest speaker Chandra Clarke, Terry Jones and Ivo Namos.
 

Chandra was asked to select the ticket for this week’s 50/50 draw, which had $422.40. The lucky ticket holder was Stephen Hook. Ivan slipped the joker into the deck… the crowd held their collective breath… Steve raised is arm to extract from the pile… the joker. Ivan then presented Steve with the grand prize of $422.40. Congratulations Steve and when exactly did you say we gather at your house for the steak barbecue?

Frank Saraka was happy and proud to announce that his son “The Professor” gave his first lecture at Western.
 

- Walter Ploegman – At this year’s annual Rotary Banquet there will be local singing talent, Kevin McMillan. This should prove to be a wonderful experience and a memorable evening, since this caliber of entertainment is second to none in the world. Critics have praised his “elegant voice” and “singularly remarkable interpretative skills” in appearances with virtually every major North American orchestra. Walter would like to see every member sell six to eight tickets in order for us to regain the sales plaque award. 

- President Max - displayed the components that are presented to recipients of the Paul Harris Fellow. Since not all the items were available when Jim Steele, Audrey Chevalier and Roger McCrae were bestowed the honour, President Max wanted everyone to see exactly what is presented in the award ceremony as Roger received his. 

- Roger McCrae – Reported that there have been many changes recently in conducting bingos and there have also been ramifications due to some of these changes, some good some not so good. The bingo has been in the past our major fund raiser, but unfortunately, the profits have declined form $20,000.00 to $9,000.00.Since this is still our major source of income Roger still needs help to operate these. Here are the dates and times. PLEASE HELP OUT WHEN YOU CAN! Advise Roger when you will be there.
October     12,              Sunday              1:00 pm
October     12,              Sunday              4:00 pm
November   7,              Friday               10:00 pm
November 16,              Sunday               1:00 pm
November 16,              Sunday               4:00 pm
November 19,              Wednesday      10:00 pm      
December   2,             Tuesday             7:00 pm
December   2,             Tuesday           10:00 pm
December 21,             Sunday               9:30 pm

-The new website is partially up and is currently under construction, thanks to Brian Sadler of Brian Sadler Computer Consulting.

- There is a meeting for the Thames Trail  Project in the Red Line Room at the Thames Campus.

Jean Coulson on the 9^th of September and Ivo Namos on the 13^th of September and birthday greetings were sung by all.
 

Dave VanKesteren presented the guest speaker, Chandra Clarke who has been a resident of the area for the past 20 years; Chandra is currently working on her Master of Science in Space Studies. She is married to Terry married to husband Terry Jones and together they operate a business called Scribeni – Web writers for the world. She is the author of a science fiction book entitled, Tiamoora and drives a Hyundai. (That should cost you a dollar Dave!) 

There are only two places in the world to take this course on Space Studies Chandra said. One is in Germany and the other in North Dakota.

Included in the course of study is Cosmicology :-  

                                                                How the universe started
                                                                    Orbital mechanics (launching rockets)
                                                                  Commercial use of Space
                                                                Policies and Laws (who can do what in space)
                                                                                          History of Space.

Chandra says the reason she is taking the course because she has always been interested in space and has been an avid fan of Star Trek. Amazingly as she pointed out many products that are items of reality today were derived from science fiction ideas. She feels the main thrust of the course gives hope for humanity, space opens up a whole new ballgame and studying other planets will help us understand our own planet. It presents fascinating questions, like are we alone? If not, how would this change us spiritually?  

Space exploration has provided us with many modern day benefits many of which are incorporated in our every day use. Just think, 30 years ago the Apollo missions landed men on the moon with less powerful computers than Commodore 64s. Now every personal home computer is hundreds of times more powerful than the technology that took man to the moon. Weather and tracking satellites have saved hundreds of people by either early warning or by tracking lost individuals around the globe. Agriculture has benefited by evaluating rainfall on farms, nutrient deficient land which needs more fertilizer thus producing higher yields, spectral imagining to study and detect diseased plants. The ratio of return on the dollar is nine dollars return for every dollar spent on space.  

Chandra would like to see more serious interest by all in space research, including companies, individuals and also getting back to moon landings and a moon based outpost.  She would like to see more participatory science at citizens level such as studying migration of butterflies, by counting and tagging them, counting birds, using your home personal computers in parallel for the study of cancer research or protein folding calculations or outer space signal analyzing. Photographing the skies at various times to compare changes in any object that may indicated that it may be headed towards earth. 

Sheila Bateman thanked Chandra and on behalf of the Sunrise Rotary Club presented her with a book, which will be placed the Chatham Library as part of the ongoing Literary Angels Program.

NEXT WEEK

Linda Weece

From the Dresden Historical Society

Minutes by Steve Sadler:                                Photos by Geoff Wright

Web and Technical advisor Brian Sadler Consulting