Bill (standing in for Mary) by-passed O Canada, and called on members to reflect on how well off we are compared with so many in our world.  For his three minutes worth, he applauded the Me Too movement.  To those who ask: what if men are falsely accused ? he replied that women are very unlikely to make false accusations.  All the charges that have been made are almost certainly true.

 

 

50-50 Draw: Dianne’s number was drawn but he failed to pick the 5 of Spades, so the pot of $43 carries forward to next week.

 

 

Makeups: Pam did a make-up at the Estoi Palace International Club in Portugal . . .

 

 

. . . which meets in the Pink Palace hotel.

 

 

She was warmly welcomed and invited to speak at the club.

 

 

Perhaps we should get together and buy George a guitar.

 

Happy Dollars:  Morgan was glad her phone was working (after 7 days without).   Susan F does not like the mud, so is heading to Charlo to ski.   Dianne spoke of the passing of Frank’s brother Douglas after an 18 year struggle with Parkinson’s Disease. He lived with dignity, and made the best of it. There will be a short celebratory service on Saturday 27 January at 3 p.m. at the Jones Funeral Home.  Bill is off to Ottawa to visit the club’s best grandchild (?), his 8-month old grand-daughter.   Ove was happy to explain why his name was in the paper this week: the number drawn was a second one which he did not realize he had.

 

Next Week: 1 February 2018:  Chair – Morgan;  Greeter: Louise;  Introducer: Tammy;  Thanker: Darrell.   Immediately after breakfast we will adjourn to Salem School to tour the library and hear a talk by Librarian Glenda Thornton.  Car pooling will be necessary.

 

 

Rotaract: Susan F thanked the six Rotarians who helped serve lunch at the Rotaract Forum last Saturday.  The students’ energy is unbelievable.  They loved the lunch.  Mount A President Campbell came to give a five minute greeting and stayed for two hours. Rotaract helps with the Homework Program in Dorchester, and have 23 signed up to help with the breakfast.  Who says the next generation don’t volunteer?  

 

Paul Harris Evening:  A reminder from David that this is coming up on the evening of Thursday 22 February at Cranewood.

 

Curl for Cancer:  Dianne will head the Gold Miners team again this year (room for one more), and circulated a donations sheet.

 

 

Gold Mine Draw.  John Higham was on hand to accept from Susan F a cheque for $610 on behalf of the Sackville Community Association.

 

 

Speaker:   Susan F introduced guest speaker Peter Hardie who spoke on “What’s With The Bees” (minus PowerPoint and notes). He started as a student at Mount A and has been keeping bees for 43 years.  Proudly displaying his Paul Harris medal, he explained that it was in recognition of the four years which he and his wife spent overseas teaching beekeeping – in the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, then in Pemba, working with Community Forests International.

 

What is causing the decline in the number of bees? It must be remembered that honey bees are not native to North America.  While the use of pesticides and climate change may be partly to blame, the main culprit is the industrialization of agriculture.  The push to maximize production (cf. blueberries) is not always healthy. The frequent transportation of bees over long distances for the purpose of pollination does not help either. 

Bees like a varied landscape, as they cannot travel long distances.  Paris is the urban bee keeping capital of the world, with bee hives on rooftops (they have banned the use of pesticides).

 

Peter fielded questions on honey bees, wild bees and bumble bees, and gave an outline of the sex life of bees.  He brought two jars of honey for the club. He was thanked by Dale for a most interesting presentation. 

 

The meeting concluded with the Four-Way Test.