Call to Order
President Anna Harder.
12 Rotary Members attending.
Guests
Carol Breitkreuz
David Taylor
Michelle Hauser
Lucy (VSU dog)
Makeups
John attended the Royal Glenora Club
Destiny, John and Carol B attended Spring Training
Joy attended RCC
Announcements
Breakfast next week is a Eggs Benedict……I’m hoping it’s not green ♣
The Tofield Quilters Guild are hosting a Days for Girls sewing day on March 28th. Ann Fleck volunteered to attend with Carol and offer her assistance.
Days for Girls is hosting another sewing event on April 11th, 2015. Please remember that we are always looking for donations of Large Ziplock bags (without the slider), colourful washcloths (not baby ones), colourful girls panties (brief style sizes 10-14 (Fruit of the Loom brand is best), and hotel size soaps.
Next week’s speaker with be Deb Cryderman from the Camrose Library.
Food For Thought
Harry P shared a food for thought moment from the Rotarian Magazine. We all got a giggle from Harry interpretation of the article on grand parenting, stating to keep a happy family relationship grandparents should never criticize the parenting of their grandchildren by their parents or basically offer any advice on parenting or discipline.
50-50 Draw
David Taylor drew the 3 of Clubs and promises he will be back next week to share a “food for thought” moment.
Judge
Harry P quizzed us on our Daylight Savings Time knowledge. Apparently we are still feeling the effects of losing an hour of sleep as we scored a pitiful 1 for 4.
Happy Bucks
Another happy morning in the lives of RCC Daybreak members. Happy bucks were donated for the following: attending Spring Training with great people and getting to know them better X 3, leaving for New Zealand on Sunday, seeing Carol B. inducted in to our club X 2, discovering the best grand parenting is taking grandkids on a cruise, David for bringing Carol B. in to Rotary, opportunities that the performing arts centre brings to Camrose (ie: Carmina Burana concert and the Ballet), seeing three geese yesterday…even if they were flying south, Camrose Composite Days for Girls presentation, joining the Rotary family, a spring skiing trip and bonding with family, RCC’s support of granddaughters speech, the Steel Wheels concert at the Bailey, the Days for Girls sewing event scheduled for April 11th, Flag season and the Rib Tickler are getting closer, the Carmina Burana performance, a visit with 2 grandsons (and their mom) and missing next week’s Rotary breakfast to break bread with the little ones.
Guest Speaker
Lisa introduced our guest speaker this morning, Michelle Hauser the program manager for the Camrose Victim Services Unit (VSU) and Victim Services Dog Lucy.
Michelle took over the unit in 2002 and is the only paid staff. There are 18 dedicated volunteer advocates as well as a volunteer governance board and the unit is shared between the Camrose Police Services and the RCMP.
In 2014 Victim Services assisted 470 Adults and 71 children through CPS and 46 Adults and 40 children through the RCMP detachment. They also have a partnership with Red Cross to have trained advocates respond to Emergency situations such as natural disasters etc.
Lucy joined the team officially in the spring of 2013 and was supplied by an amazing organization called Dogs with Wings who trains a variety of service dogs. Lucy remains under the ownership of Dogs with Wings until her retirement but her primary handler is Michelle with Cst. Matthew Wilton as a secondary handler.
Lucy was the second trauma dog in Canada and the first in Alberta. She is also the first to be called a Victim Service Dog rather than a trauma dog, as the unit felt this more accurately described her role. Lucy works with both adults and children who are victims and attends every call with the VSU.
Lucy was one of first dog welcomed in to courtrooms and is utilized during forensic interviews as well as during court proceedings. One of Lucy’s trademarks is her painted toe nails, this was an accidental discovery of a very valuable way for some of the youngest victims to interact with Lucy. Lucy also visits the Camrose Women’s Shelter once a week, as the children staying there are not allowed to leave the premises. She is on the job 24/7 and is funded by donations.
Fundraising is an important part of keeping this unit and Lucy doing their very valuable work. One way funds are being raised are through the sale of plush Lucy dogs that sell for $10, which gets the buyer a toy and provides one for the unit to give away to child victims as needed. The major fundraiser each year is the Wine Tasting event. This year it will be held June 18th at the CRE. Please watch the local media for more information as the time gets closer. The unit is also very grateful to local vets, particularly Dr. Jaime Whiting, who donate their time for Lucy’s care.
After many questions from the floor, Lisa presented Michelle and Lucy with a Stop Polio Now certificate which represents another 10 children vaccinated.