This week we're taking a break on areas of service because we have a lot of member updates.
First of all, Brian Patterson has joined us as an honorary member. Some of you may remember Brian, formerly from the Napanee club, who has moved to British Columbia. He will become an active member of our club when his current Rotary duties are completed. Welcome Brian!
An update from Colin Lyle who is currently in South Africa: After such a prolonged and regrettable absence from our monthly meetings, I thought it was about time I brought you up to date with my present situation. In Africa people tend to respect the hours of daylight more than in Europe or Canada - perhaps a consequence of the quality of local television? - so the time difference seems more material than when I am in France and it really is a struggle to stay up so late - hence my no-show.
We are still enjoying the beauty and hospitality of South Africa. France is currently reporting over 30,000 new cases of Covid-19 per day and it appears not yet to have reached its peak. There is a national curfew and all non-essential shops and businesses are closed. There are approximately 400 cases of Covid per 100k of the population.
In South Africa the pandemic peaked in January/February. Since March life has more or less returned to normal, with the exception of the wearing of masks and the use of sanitizers whenever entering a public location. Bars and restaurants are open and we are making full use of their terraces! Cases of the virus are running at an average of 14 per 100k of the population, and new cases are around 700 per day, in a population of some 50 million.
So the French government have decided that South Africa is a “high-risk” country and imposed 10-day quarantine and negative Covid tests on all residents returning home.
I suppose that’s what they call French logic.
Consequently we have once more extended our stay and registered for vaccination here, which is programmed for mid-May. We are hoping to return to France by the end of May - hopefully I will be able to join you for the May meeting.
I apologise for the length of this message and for my absence. I look forward to seeing you all again, hopefully before the end of President Jacinthe’s year! I shall be grateful if you will bring any other members who might be interested up to date.
Finally we have Meet the Member,
Brian Campbell Foster: I now live on the side of a mountain in Nordegg, Alberta – a one time “Ghost Town of Alberta” with my wife Deborah. We have been together for many years and have one daughter – Meredith who lives in BC. We cleared most of the land of 80-90’ trees where our house was built, so I know my way around a chainsaw – is this a Canadian thing?
I was born in Calgary, Alberta but I am not a regionalist – I am a Canadian first - but one who fully embraces Rotary’s global outreach; a monarchist and traditionalist – respecting the customs and efforts of those who came before us, aware that without knowing ones past a person may make the same mistakes in the future. Family is important to me – likely why I have spent many years on genealogical research of my Ulster-Scot and my wife’s paternal Latvian ancestry – using both paper and DNA-based approaches.
I evaluate actions. Years at Health Canada has tempered me to know that words do not always relate. I am also pragmatic – things are black or white but with many shades of grey, and everything is personal. Few things in life are seldom simple, many are multifactorial. I have an independent nature; but I am also a good team member.
I was educated as a microbiologist (BSc) and medicinal chemist (PhD) which was why I quickly embraced EndPolioNow and other Rotary health initiatives, and hence joined Rotary. I came to Rotary late in life as I have only been a member for a bit over 3 years.
I was a Research Scientist – Senior Science Advisor in the Therapeutic Products Director, Health Canada for many years until government took a dislike to science. I oversaw many advisory panels including ones on blood safety, HIV, natural health products (NHPs), and hepatotoxicity. My research focused on how NHPs may affect the safety and efficacy of conventional drugs. A logical extension to health is our environment and this has led me into the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG) and related Rotary groups/networks – we have a hurt planet, it is the only one we have, and it needs our help.
In addition to Passport, I “visit” the Rotary clubs of West Ottawa (parent club) and Red Deer Sunrise. Nordegg is about a 2-hr drive to the nearest club, so virtual meetings are my only means of staying involved in Rotary.
Recreation – whiskey tasting, hiking, outings with either the kayaks or canoe, learning how to responsibility use a side-by-side off-road vehicle (quad), and gardening. Gardening in Nordegg is a challenge with our 1600+m elevation and short growing season; we bought a greenhouse last year to grow vegetables as well as “pollinator” friendly plants in aid of the ESRAG pollinator projects. Music – I play the bodhran and Deborah does keyboard and concertina. In Ottawa we played with several Irish/Cape Breton groups but now just do a few Zoom sessions each month. I putsy, an acreage always needs some attention. Life is seldom better than when the deer come into the yard and my wife is next to me.
