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At our June 26 lunch-time meeting, we were delighted to be visited by our former Rotary Exchange student - Joao (John) Lopez and his family. John was a 16 year old exchange student from Brazil who was hosted by The Rotary Club of Brandon in 1983-84 when club president was Ed Jarvis (later District Governor). John attended Vincent Massey High School. John made many lasting friends and has carried on a very long lasting communication with Will & Jane (Harding) Lamont. In fact, their friendship is a large part of John and his family’s visit back to Brandon.
John decided to bring his family to Brandon and show them where he spent a year learning English, Canadian culture, and making life-long friends. Pam (pictured below) and Jack Stacey were one of John's host families in 1983. John told us that even after 35 years, he still gets emotional when describing his experience to his children.
.On Sunday, May 6 members from the Brandon and Minot Rotary Clubs met at the International Peace Garden for a morning of gardening at the 9/11 Memorial Site. The 9/11 Memorial Site was created in May 2002 in memory of those who lost their lives in the events of September 11, 2001. Ten pieces of steel from the wreckage of the World Trade Center form the centrepiece of the memorial.
Brandon Club members were Cheryl & Roger Winger, Bernie Chrisp, Marty & Elaine Snelling, Michelle Fortin, Bill Anderson, Pam Stacey, Jane & Norm Neil, Rick Felstead, Chuck LaRocque, Ron Adams, and daughters Hannah & Carsyn. From the Minot Club were Kevin Harman, C. J. Craven, and two others (names not recorded). Also participating were International Peace Garden staff Tim Chapman, CEO and Connie Lagerquist, Horticulturist.
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He became acquainted with Rotary, first through RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards), a four day camp which has had only highly positive feedback from the participants, leaders and even those responsible for transport to the camp. From that he went to the Exchange Student program. Only two weeks after his graduation from Vincent Massey high school, he was on the plane heading for South Africa. As much as he thought he was independent (worked, saved for his own car, fought my own battles) you’ll never be as independent from your parents and friends when you step off that plane.
The Shelterbox program is an unbelievable program to give the opportunity to an individual or a group to be able to step up and give a huge amount of help to people in need.
For example, the Shelterbox provides sustained shelter for people dealing with disaster in the Philippines.
Shelterbox already has two response teams on the ground in the Philippines who are working with the help of Rotarians to provide emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Haiyan.
The total cost of a Shelterbox is $1,500, but you can contribute a portion which can be gathered together with other donations to make up enough to purchase a Shelterbox.
Some 90 countries have received Shelterboxes. And more than 130,000 Shelterboxes have been deployed since the Rotary Club project since 2000.
For some more info, see: http://www.shelterboxcanada.org/
Join us for Lunch!
Service Above Self
Rotary Villas
Brandon, MB R7A 6Z3
Canada
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