The Weekly Westerner October 24, 2014 The Weekly Westerner Box 4572, Station C, Calgary, Alberta T2T 5N3 Grey Eagle Hotel, 3777 Grey Eagle Drive (Corner of 37 St SW and Glenmore Drive) Fridays 12:15 - 1.30 pm President: Tony Knight President-Elect: Gail Williams Past President: Duncan Stanners Secretary: Malcolm Harrison Treasurer: Garfield Ganong Directors: Andrew Bitcon, Dan Doherty, Terry Felton, Helen King, Chris Ritter, Jim Willson October 24, 2014 Edition: 48.15 Reporter: Jim Willson Publisher: David Williams Guests, Foundation and planning were the major topics of this meeting. Revived after sometime was our own Don Axford on the keyboard, a very pleasant addition to our gathering and singing. At the head table were Terry Felton PEN, Joe Klassen PP, Bill Tapuska PP, President Tony Knight and our guest speaker, Rollin Stanley. We had more than the usual number of guests. Guests of Tim Anderson – Rae Puris, Michal Anderson, Terry Broady, Sandy Patterson, Don Mooney, Chris Zaharko, and Barb Gibson. Of Dan Doherty - Pat O’Connor and Gary Meeks. Of Bill Lawless – Ashley and Brin Lawless. Of Robyn Braley - Meg Braley. Of Arien Knight – Sarah Haturs. Claire Bildfell rejoined our club, with Ted Valentine making the reintroduction and Chris Davis providing the traditional charge. Claire was president of our club in 1980/81. His classification is Mortgage Broker. His current passion is promoting organ transplants. More to follow from Claire. Contributors to the Rotary Foundation receive pins to recognize the levels of contribution. Chuck Morrison provided examples of significant work we have collectively done through TRF. Recognition May 8-10, 2015: District Conference, Medicine Hat June 6-9, 2015: Rotary International Conference, Sao Paulo, Brazil The Weekly Westerner October 24, 2014 pins handed out – PHF to Gail Williams, Kurt Schurer, Terry Felton. PHF+1 to Don Axford. PHF+2 to Ron Brookes. Philanthropy Night: Our club is hosting an expert presentation on planned giving. The purpose is to provide general information about the value and satisfaction of planning our estates, giving effectively, and considering some of the many techniques to do so clearly and with efficient tax considerations. The speaker is Laily Pirbhai, Vice President Donor Engagement of the Calgary Foundation. She brings decades of diverse financial planning experience. She is a member of Estate Planning Council of Calgary, the Canadian Association of Gift Planners and Rotary Club of Calgary (Downtown). All members and partners and interested friends are welcome to the meeting at 7:00 pm sharp at Grey Eagle on November 18. Contact Jim Willson or Dan Doherty for more information and to RSVP. October 24 was End Polio Day, with worldwide initiatives to bring awareness to polio eradication. In Rotary, we contribute through the Rotary Foundation. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation contributes to polio eradication 2:1 for the funds we contribute. WE ARE THIS CLOSE. Consider PolioPlus in your giving. Homes of Hope organization and mobilization meeting on November 10. Contact Dan Doherty for more information. Remembrance Day Service has been arranged this year by Calgary Chinook. See separate notice. Tickets through President Tony. Marie Rickard is part of a friendship exchange to Brazil in May-June 2015. Contact her for more information. October 31 is a Hallowe’en party. Bill Tapuska promises a great show by comedian John Van Der Poel. Partners and guests welcome. Let your team captain know of any guests. Adventures in Citizenship is a three-day experience trip for a Grade 11 or 12 student in May. Contact Sa’adat Keshavjee for more information, or if you would like to suggest a student. The 50/50 draw winner was Les Morgan, who took home $43. Guest Speaker Terry Felton introduced guest speaker Rollin Stanley, General Manager of Planning for Calgary. Terry noted the extensive planning and administration experience. Our guest speaker asked, “Where are we headed?” and showed research of trends in Calgary. Evident was the more accelerated changes in the past nine years, with growth of 38,000 people in the past calendar year. While Calgary has a relatively May 8-10, 2015: District Conference, Medicine Hat June 6-9, 2015: Rotary International Conference, Sao Paulo, Brazil The Weekly Westerner October 24, 2014 young demographic profile, the aging population brings dramatic changes to city services and expectations. For example, growth in more remote areas of the city has substantially higher costs to install infrastructure. And operating costs come with infrastructure, e.g. schools, police, fire protection, social services. Major factors for residents are mobility, sprawl and affordability. Household numbers are now lower due to children moving out of established areas. At the same time many cannot afford new housing. Calgary has 24 areas that are developing and15 that are developed, ready to build. There are lots for 84,000 units in areas with services that are unused. Carrying unused services costs money. The present arrangement is developers pay for servicing within a subdivision and an offsite levy when taking out building permits. Having unused services costs money. Higher density reduces servicing and operating costs. The more dense high rises are many time more efficient than single or multifamily dwellings. As well, high rise, commercial and industrial buildings bring in more taxes. While we want low taxes, we also want services and growth. Transit is designed to serve high density areas. For residences, wood frame are permitted for up to six stories, while some jurisdictions permit 10 stories, if fire separation is provided when building. Calgary is now using a four-year planning cycle to provide more continuity and predictability. Growth in a city is a financial question, more than planning. We need growth in all sectors. And we can do better when we plan. Joe Klassen thanks Rollin Stanley with an affirmation that good planning is good for the community. President Tony closed with a quote from Winston Churchill: “He who fails to plan, plans to fail.” Coming Events 3 10 15 17 24 31 2 7 14 21 27 28 October: Vocational Service Month Ambrose College Jerilynn Daniels: RBC, Blue Water Project Fall Assembly. Wednesday Evening Meeting Meeting Cancelled Rollin Stanley, Chief Planner, City of Calgary Comedy and Magic: John van der Poel November: Rotary Foundation Month Feed the Hungry @ St Mary's Church Special Remembrance Day Programme Rotary Foundation (tentative) Luke Azevido: Commissioner, New Calgary Sound Stage Christmas Ball at Glencoe Club Stu Liard, Stampeder Wall of Famer, Grey Cup Special December: Family Month May 8-10, 2015: District Conference, Medicine Hat June 6-9, 2015: Rotary International Conference, Sao Paulo, Brazil The Weekly Westerner 5 12 14 19 26 2 9 16 23 30 October 24, 2014 TBA Special Christmas Programme: St Cecilia’s Children's Choir Rotary Family Christmas Brunch at Pinebrook G&CC Team Meeting No Meeting January No Meeting Dan Gaynor: New Year's Inspiration and Leadership Bruce Graham: Calgary Economic Development (tentative) TBA Team Meeting May 8-10, 2015: District Conference, Medicine Hat June 6-9, 2015: Rotary International Conference, Sao Paulo, Brazil