point de jeunesse
TRANSCRIPT
Points Jeunesse du
Granit Rotary District 7850 project in Support of the Lac-Mégantic Disaster (July
2013)
Editorial note To the members of the Rotary e-Club of One World:
As one of your newest members, I wanted to share this project that my former District is pursuing. My connection to Lac-Mégantic is that from 1975 to 1985 we lived there on a small farm near the lake; our younger son was born there, and we still today have a small “camp” (cottage) on the beautiful lake. One of the victims of the disaster was a childhood friend of our sons.
I toured the disaster site last summer, and rebuilding has been very slow and complicated by environmental issues and much red tape. Ground zero remains uninhabitable, and many residents are still without permanent housing or means of employment.
Here is an excellent link to learn more about the disaster and its aftermath: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/quebecexplosion.html
If you wish to learn more, my email is [email protected].
Yours in Rotary service, David Wood
On July 6, 2013 an unattended 74-car freight train
carrying Bakken formation crude oil ran away and
derailed, resulting in a massive fire in the heart of
Lac-Mégantic, Québec.
Lac-Mégantic, small town of less than 6,000 people
nestled in southeastern Québec, was obviously
shaken to its core. 47 people perished, vaporized by
the blast.
Over 30 buildings in
the city’s center were
destroyed,
representing roughly
half of the downtown
core.
In a town this small,
everybody knows
somebody who lost
their life, or their home
or their workplace.
Immediate Aftermath
Immediately after the incident, the world came to
help the people of Lac-Mégantic
The Red Cross leapt into action and collected over
$14,000,000 for the people in Lac Mégantic.
Rotarians from 7790, 7850 and many other
neighboring districts offered support.
Both Provincial and Federal governments swept in
with the promise of help.
Districts 7790 & 7850
Lac Mégantic lies within 7790; in fact there used to
be a Rotary Club there. 7790 launched a task
force, headed by PDG Laflamme.
7850 also responded immediately and (then) DG
Stephen Dates asked members of the Sherbrooke
Club to set up a District Committee to offer our
support.
Sherbrooke, 110 kilometers to the west, is the
regional pole for Lac-Mégantic and there is a strong
cultural, geographical and geopolitical connection
between the cities.
District 7850 takes a step back
Not long after creating the committee, we quickly saw
the magnitude of the disaster. It would be quite a while
before any plan for rebuilding would be put in place.
All immediate needs were covered more than
adequately, so the committee felt that any input from our
district at that point would not be likely to have much
impact as a very small piece of a massive global effort.
Our committee wanted to find a way to help the people
of Lac-Mégantic that reflected the values of the
Sherbrooke Club and determined that it would not be
possible until some of the dust had settled.
• The Sherbrooke Rotary Club
has always placed a strong
emphasis on youth by
participating in stay-in-school,
literacy and other youth
programs.
• Many young people of this
generation living in small towns
like Lac-Mégantic feel
increasingly isolated
geographically from larger cities
and have a strong a desire to
leave as soon as they can.
• Our committee wanted to find a
project that marries the values of
the district, the values of the
Sherbrooke Club and would
have a long-lasting direct impact
in Lac-Mégantic.
Youth Centers YOUTH CENTERS are lively meeting places where
young people aged 12 to 17 plan and take part
in activities to become responsible citizens under
guidance of volunteering adults.
Each Youth Center is an autonomous community
organization which establishes its own policies and
programs. The Board of Directors and youth
assemblies form the basis on which decisions are
made. The users (youth) participate actively in the
decision-making process and in operating the
centers.
Points Jeunesse Du Granit
The Lac-Mégantic Youth Center has existed since
1984 and was incorporated as Points Jeunesse Du
Granit through the merger of two local
organizations. They operate under the framework
and rules set by the Regroupement Des Maisons
De Jeunes Du Québec (Regrouping/Integrating of
Youth Centers in Quebec).
The Center hosts over 150 young persons each
year with an average daily attendance of 15-20.
A New Youth Center
Last July’s disaster left the youth of Lac-Mégantic without a place to congregate under the structure and guidance of a Youth Center.
The City of Lac-Mégantic has supplied a site in the new City Center earmarked for the Youth Center. They now have a blank canvas on which to create the new Youth center in their image.
Some basic basic building blocks have been supplied and we see an opportunity for District 7850 to have a real and long lasting impact for the youth of Lac-Mégantic.
The Needs
Technology plays a vital role in the life of today’s teenagers. They need the equipment and the surroundings to keep up with current technologies and trends to build skills they can use in the future.
Many users have expressed interest in photography and dance. Music, as always, is a big part of youth and, of course, teenagers need a place to ‘chill’.
We wish to offer the young people of Lac-Mégantic the audio-visual and technological tools needed to make the center a success.
Equipment and Furnishings
Several desktop and/or laptop
computers.
Computers equipped with music
recording software and speakers
to complete a recording studio.
A digital camera, lenses, tripod,
carrying case memory cards.
At least one electric guitar.
Mirrors for the dance studio.
Sectional couch and lockable
storage units.
Home theater system with
wall-mounted flat screen.
Projector and screen.
Wiring and technological
integration.
Proper installation of
equipment and furnishings.
Project Objectives
Increase the sense of community belonging and make it THEIR Youth Center.
Involve the youth in creative arts and skill-building projects.
Promote social involvement.
Improve the image of the Youth Center in the eyes of the community.
Build meaningful relationships and strong ties among young persons to help minimize the problems faced by today’s youth.
Project Costs & Timeline
The cost of all the required equipment, accessories
and installation is estimated at $25,500 (CAD).
The users (Youth) will be involved in the decision-
making process for the equipment.
The administrators (Board) are committed to the
highest standards in financial administration and
oversight of the funds.
Our intention is to have the project up and running
by early in 2015 and completed by December 2015.
Project Sustainability
This Youth Center has been in existence for many years. It has the support of the City and the community and will remain in the community for many years to come.
A clean-sheet start gives the Center an opportunity to raise the bar for what it can offer the Youth of Lac-Mégantic.
We see an opportunity for the Clubs of District 7850 to participate in the long-term success of this project by providing physical support and mentoring to the users of the Youth Center.
Club level participation
With 850 Rotarians in District 7850, a participation
of $30 per member would cover the costs of the
entire project.
District funds for this year are not available and due
to our desire to have the project completed quickly,
we are reaching out to the individual clubs of 7850
to make a donation.
We are requesting a donation between $500 and
$2,000, (depending on the number of members in
your club). Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
Thank-you
For more information, please
contact Philippe Leblond, Isabelle
Cloutier, Faruk Seyrek, or David
Wood
The committee would like to thank
PDG Dates for initiating this project
and DG Pacht for his continued
support in the project. And
especially, all the individual
Rotarians of 7850 who have
reached out and donated
personally.