Volume 31

Number 50

June 27, 2014

District No. 5360

The Rotary Club of Calgary

is an organization of

professional and community

leaders who come together

through commitment and

fellowship to create

opportunities and a better

future for generations to follow.

Calgary, Alberta ● Chartered April 1914 ● Club #949

Suite 300, 105 – 12th Avenue SE, Calgary Alberta T2G 1A1

Tel: (403) 398-9969 ● Fax: (403) 264-2393

www.rotaryclubofcalgary.org ● admin@rotaryclubofcalgary.ca

President: Eva Friesen ● Vice-President: Paul Bates

RI President: Ron D. Burton ● District Governor: Patrick Killoran

COG Staff June 27 Issue

Editor Craig Henderson

Reporting Thalia Kingsford

Photography Ralph Lundberg

Sponsorships Lorne Larson

Office Support Jo-Ann Clarke

Deborah Yedlin – Women and Corporate Canada’s Boards

George Brookman introduced Deborah Yedlin, his “go to” business columnist, and one of the country’s best known

business reporters. Bringing an experienced perspective to reporting on issues that matter to Western Canadians,

Deborah is “on top of the issues and factors that affect the ways Calgarians approach the business of energy”. She

started her career working as an investment banker with Goldman Sachs in New York, and moved to Calgary after

completing an MBA at Queen’s University. She began working in business journalism in 1996, and has contributed

extensively to the Financial Post, as well as to the Globe and Mail. Deborah has been a columnist for the Calgary

Herald since 2007, and is also a commentator on CBC radio.

Deborah spoke of her childhood in Edmonton. She was inspired by her mother, who achieved tenure in 1975 at

the University of Alberta. (Her mother was only the eighth female professor to do so.) Therefore, it was no surprise

that she brought her perspective on women in leadership positions to Eva Friesen’s last meeting as the first female

President of the Rotary Club of Calgary. Reminding us of President Dwight Eisenhower’s aphorism that leadership

is “the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it”, Deborah applauded

our club's initiatives to support education internationally, especially for girls who are desperate for schooling.

Calgary is notable for having very few female CEOs, and female representation in the oil patch’s executive ranks is

poor. The percentage of women serving on boards of FP 500 companies (16 per cent) is higher than is seen in the

energy sector (9 per cent). With 47 per cent of all graduates from Canadian business schools being women, we do

have the pool of talented women in the workforce with business skills, and “a pipeline of talent” ready to move into

senior leadership positions. Deborah noted that men are often evaluated on their potential, with women evaluated

on their achievements. As board seats are usually filled from the ranks of current CEOs, a self-perpetuating cycle

Michael Pierson welcomes new

member Bruce Finnigan

George Brookman welcomes

new member John Seigner

Don Dart thanks our speaker

is established. There are a few notable exceptions to the pattern as Suncor’s

board has solid representation from women as well as First Nations, and the

CNRL board is chaired by Catherine Best. She also highlighted the report

that was presented this week by Kellie Leitch, the federal Minister of Labour

and Minister for the Status of Women, from the government council that was

looking into the lack of women on Canadian corporate boards. The report’s

eleven recommendations are intended to support the goal of having women

fill thirty per cent of all directors’ seats within five years.

Deborah talked about leadership in the context of the government’s decision

on the Northern Gateway pipeline. With the federal government only issuing

a press release instructing Enbridge to work on the National Energy Board’s

209 conditions for approval, the lack of leadership has been disappointing. A

stronger message putting the country first should have been issued. She

offered the analogy of a symphony conductor: it takes guts to put your back

to the audience and lead.

After a lively question period Don Dart thanked Deborah for her thoughtful

presentation by acknowledging the donation to CAWST on her behalf.

The Meeting

Frank McKitrick played the piano as the head table marched in for the final

meeting of Eva Friesen’s year as president. John Boyd gave the invocation

that expressed a thankful sentiment that we passed the anniversary of the

disastrous 2013 flooding without a replay.

President Eva thanked our cast of volunteers who support our club meetings

each week: Carl, Keith, Tony, Ralph, Ken, and Bill. You make us look good.

A very special honour was given to Carl St. Laurent as he leaves the club.

He is our newest Paul Harris Award recipient and we will surely miss him.

President Eva thanked Vern Kimball of the Calgary Stampede for this week’s

COG sponsorship. We heard the news that Mona Cozart has passed away.

Mona was the wife of member Merv Cozart, and was a talented member of

many Rotary Shows.

Tim Heaton brought his reunion tour to the club to recognize her presidency

by singing an Eva-inspired rendition of My Way. As Chris Harper noted, Tim

was almost as good as Michael Bublé. Chris then went on to recognize this

week’s visitors and guests, as well as announcing birthdays, with his usual

fine humour.

Michael Pierson introduced one new member, Bruce Finnegan. Bruce is a

property appraiser who graduated from Guelph and York universities, and is

a former member of the Progress Club.

George Brookman introduced another new member, John Seigner. John has

been the President of the Banff Rotary Club, and the Chairman of the Small

Business Association of Banff. He was also the owner of the Banff Film Lab.

He is currently an ambassador at the Ability Hub, which provides services for

adults on the autism spectrum.

Joe Fras brought us up to date on the Rotary Barbecues. We still require lots

of volunteers for our annual Stampede barbecue fundraising events.

Thank-you Rotarian Vern Kimball and the Calgary Stampede

for sponsoring this week’s COG Newsletter

Roy Boettger announced the CRCF distribution to our club, which is $1,464,094 for this year. Thanks

to all who have built this foundation. He also recognized the enduring legacy of Ev and Ellen Mayhood.

Pat Killoran, District Governor, passed the home club banner to Garth Toombs to mark the start of his

one-year term as District Governor. President Eva passed over the club’s gavel to incoming president

Ron Esch. (In gratitude, a donation was made in her name to The Rotary Foundation) The members of

the club’s incoming board were welcomed to their new posts, and presented with pins.

[Thank you Thalia Kingsford for this week’s COG report! – Editor]

Membership Dues

Thanks to everyone who have paid their 2014-2015 membership dues so promptly! We are almost at

50 per cent paid.

Invoices were mailed out at the end of May for payment by June 30th. The club’s dues must be paid to

Rotary International by July 1, so your attention to this matter is appreciated and helps to keep the club

in good standing. Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to call Jo-Ann at the office.

Jo-Ann Clarke, Office Manager

403-398-9969

Calgary Rotary Clubs Foundation cheque

Incoming President Ron Esch thanks

President Eva for a great year

Highlights from the June 24th Meeting

Highlights from the June 24th Meeting

Sing it Tim. I love it! Tim with his musical tribute to Eva

District banner being passed from Pat Killoran to Garth Toombs