Topic: Nature Works! - Restoring The Things That Run
Our World, One in The Zone Garden at a Time. Host: Kurt Kroesen, and our Environmental Committee
Pete spent 12 years in Shetland, including a post as Assistant Warden for three years at the world famous Fair Isle Bird Observatory. His introduction to applied conservation was provided during six years working for the UK government as Nature Conservancy Council officer for Shetland, and then Hertfordshire. His doctoral work on Black Guillemots in relation to the offshore oil industry, was completed at Oxford University in 1986.
In 1990 he moved to Canada and worked until 1996 on the Great Lakes wildlife toxicology programs of the federal government’s Canadian Wildlife Service, documenting levels and impacts of toxic pollutants on wildlife at the top of aquatic foodwebs.
He joined World Wildlife Fund Canada, as Director of Canada’s Endangered Species Program in 1996 and then led WWF’s Arctic conservation work from 2000-2006, focusing heavily on shifting the industrial development paradigm to one that provides adequately for conservation of intact ecosystems, and ecological and cultural diversity, while the opportunity still remains.
Live stream is best - requires @rotarytoronto account to be set up.
The Rotary Club of Toronto Charitable Foundation met last March 26th. The Foundation approved $300,000 to be spent towards COVID-19 relief.
$100,000 of this amount has been given to The Rotary Club of Toronto Philanthropic Fund to disperse for immediate needs arising from COVID 19.
$100,000 of this amount will be dispersed by the Foundation for immediate needs arising from COVID 19.
The remaining $100,000 is for longer term needs arising from COVID-19. This $100,000 is matching funds. Donations to the Rotary Club of Toronto Charitable Foundation COVID 19 fund will be matched by the Foundation up to $100,000.
Many thanks again to Neil Phillips and Mardi Michels. This week was roasted chicken with root vegetables – or whatever you had around in your COVID cupboard. The secret was the BUTTER and GARLIC! You can never have too much of either. Half the butter went under the breast skin – the result was crispy and golden. Some had cooked it early, some had it in the oven and others cooked on Sunday for Easter Dinner. This is a great way to be with your friends on a Saturday night. Marci Berg sat there patiently with the chicken ready while the rest of us talked about our variations.
This coming Saturday features a traditional Haitian stew. Email Neil for the recipe and invite for the Zoom gathering.
Some of the great creations - Anna Koneva's son shoving lemons up the chicken's butt, Pre-cooking and end results!
Easter Bonnet Virtual Cocktail Party
On April 15th, our Fellowship and Entertainment Committee organized a second successful Virtual Cocktail party. Hosted by Pat Neuman, sporting a sun hat from the Bahamas, the group enjoyed some piano cocktail music ( New York, New York, Everything’s coming up Roses) courtesy Lorna Johnson. Lots of bonnets present, including fancy fascinators, Rotary hats, Blue Jays baseball hats, Tyrolean fedoras, Panama hats, toques and more. There were some interesting wines and mixed drinks served and a few hors d’oeuvres. Mostly people talked about things they were happy about and things they were missing. Pat Neuman said that they plan to hold another party on April 29th. Stay tuned.
Pictures to follow.
Quarantine Diary
Day 1 – I Can Do This!! Got enough food and wine to last a month!
Day 2 – Opening my 8th bottle of Wine. I fear wine supplies might not last!
Day 3 – Strawberries: Some have 210 seeds, some have 235 seeds. Who Knew??
Day 4 – 8:00pm. Removed my Day Pajamas and put on my Night Pajamas.
Day 5 – Today, I tried to make Hand Sanitizer. It came out as Jello Shots!!
Day 6 – I get to take the Garbage out. I’m so excited, I can’t decide what to wear.
Day 7 – Laughing way too much at my own jokes!!
Day 8 – Went to a new restaurant called “The Kitchen”. You have to gather all the ingredients and make your own meal. I have no clue how this place is still in business.
Day 9 – I put liquor bottles in every room. Tonight, I’m getting all dressed up and going Bar hopping.
Day 10 – Struck up a conversation with a Spider today. Seems nice. He’s a Web Designer.
Day 11 – Isolation is hard. I swear my fridge just said, “What the hell do you want now?”
Day 12 – I realized why dogs get so excited about something moving outside, going for walks or car rides. I think I just barked at a squirrel.
Day 13 – If you keep a glass of wine in each hand, you can’t accidentally touch your face.
Day 14 – Watched the birds fight over a worm. The Blue Jays lead the Cardinals 3–1.
Day 15 – Anybody else feel like they’ve cooked dinner about 395 times this month?
