Meeting: October 1st, 2019

 

    The meeting was chaired by President Barney

 

     Colin gave us the Rotary minute and read some quotes from Bill Moyers who became the head of the Peace Corp.  He got an early start with a Rotary scholarship

 

Ann Northwood, CJ Dayne

   

Visiting Rotarians:

None

 

Derick!      

     Sixty might be the new forty but 9:00 pm is the new midnight.

 

          Barney introduced Gary Carleton from the Red Cross.  He is the Coordinator of Emergency Management for Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands and Northern Sunshine Coast.  He manages 180 volunteers on Vancouver Island.

 

         

     The origin of the Red Cross symbol goes back to 1857 when a Swiss business man noted that during a battle, people helping the dead and wounded were being killed.  He made an agreement with both sides so that someone wearing the Red Cross would be left alone.  Shortly thereafter he started the Red Cross international society. 

 

To improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity in Canada and around the world.

 

To accomplish this they use Humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, universality.

 

Swimming and water safety

First aid and CPR training for third-party providers

Health equipment loads

Violence, bullying and prevention

Disaster preparedness and response

 

Emergency management takes up 80% resources of their program dollars

 

Domestic Emergency Management. 

     This helps local victims of fires, floods etc.  For example, fire victims are helped out for a longer period of time so that they can rebuild their lives with some minimal money and even advocacy with local business and agencies.  (Province pays for first 72 hours and but then Red Cross funds)

 

     Preparedness, response and recovery are the services they offer as part of emergency management as well

 

     They independently monitor and assess conditions of people that have been detained for immigration reasons to make sure they are treated humanely and held in accordance with national and international standards

 

     Health emergency response unit services for patient care (surgical , general medical, nursing, inpatient, outpatient  care) for countries that have had a disaster.

 

What opportunities are there for volunteers: