Sunrise bulletin for the week of December 18, 2013

Christmas with the West End Seniors was a great day last Sunday, as it always is. Here you see Josh Green, Gary Chomyn, Patrick Cox and others persuading the 250 seniors to eat their veggies. Former member Robert French was again our MC and everything went smoothly, as it should after the club's 27 consecutive years of hosting this event. Thanks to Matthew Lynam for organizing the day.

Today's regular breakfast meeting had a roomful of 21 members, plus visiting Rotarian Shail Mahanti from Vancouver Arbutus and 3 prospective new members: Steve McGrandle, Josh Green and Ioseph Miskolczi. Larry Belsito brought the good news that his wife Tania is home from hospital and getting around after her hip surgery. And, Cleo Perez passed her BCIT exam, so she's happy.

Election of Officers and Directors

Past President Julie Mantle, chair of the Nominating Committee, placed the following names in nomination. 

   President                               Lawrence Bicknell

   Past President                        Ann-Shirley Goodell

   President Elect                       Cleopatra Perez

   Secretary                               Milie Taing

   Treasurer                               Susan Neale

   Director, Club Administration   Larry Belsito

   Director, Service Projects        Cleopatra Perez

   Director, Membership             Jose Riga

   Director, Youth                       Abigail Turner

   Director, Foundations              John Haley

There being no further nominations from the floor, these members were elected as officers and directors of the club and the Sunrise Foundation for the 2014-2015 Rotary year which begins next July 1. 

Today's program

Luisa Godoy, our Exchange Student from Brazil, gave an excellent and informative presentation on her country and her hometown. With her YE blazer, all the pins she's collected, and her country's flag, she told us that Brazil is the 5th largest country in the world geographically, has 191 million population and 28 states. With Dilma Rousseff as its first woman president, Brazil has the 7th largest economy in the world with coffee, sugar and oranges as its principal exports. This multicultural country tends to be dry in winter and rainy in summer, the reverse of Vancouver. Rice and beans, served with meat, are the most popular meals and Starbuck's features orange juice and meat.

Luisa showed us amazing photos of the regions of Brazil, from the Amazon rainforest of the north, to the new capital city of Brasilia, to the high waterfalls of the south and, of course the famous cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro with its beaches and Carnaval celebrations. Brazil will host the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and the Summer Olympics in 2016.

Lindoia, where her family lives, is a southeastern town of 6,700 and its main industry is mineral water. Several other towns are clustered nearby, including Aguas de Lindoia where her sponsoring Rotary Club is located and where thermal springs attract many tourists. Luisa's father is a dentist and her mother operates a bakery and was a Rotary Exchange student herself, spending a year in Yakima, Washington. Luisa's grandfather and uncle were both mayors of Lindoia. Luisa lives with her parents, a sister, grandparents and her great-grandmother who is 94. Hopefully, some of us will have a chance to visit Lindoia and meet them someday.

Great job, Luisa. By the way, she will be moving on December 29 to live with Lawrence and Bev Bicknell in Port Moody.

Next meeting

The club will meet again on January 8, which will be our annual business meeting. The board will meet the prior day, Tuesday. Have a great Christmas and New Year! 

Rob