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Rotary District 7070
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NSRC Bulletin May 12, 2021
Attendance: 15 (including 1 guest, Dorothy Evans, guest of Basil and past president of the Markham Sunrise Rotary Club), plus our guest speaker.
 
Apologies.  No screenshot this week.
 
President Elect Danny started the meeting with the clang of a large bell and a toast to The Queen, Canada and Rotary.
 
 
 
 
                       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lukas Seehausen on the Invasive Asian Hornets and Locating their Nests using Radio Telemetric and Other Technologies
 
Arthur introduced Lukas, who joined us today from Switzerland.
 
           
Lukas first clarified that his presentation concentrated on the Yellow-Legged Asian Hornet and not the Giant Asian Hornet (known as the Murder Hornet).
 
            Like the Murder Hornet, however, the Yellow-Legged Hornet is also an invasive species from the orient that was unknowingly transported to France and has quickly spread to several parts of Europe, including Switzerland. This species of hornet attacks the indigenous bee population, creating an environmental hazard by threatening natural pollination. 
 
            Lukas explained both the spread of these hornets to date, plus the areas where they would thrive if they their expansion was not curtailed, including Ontario. Lukas has used various methods of tracking the hornets back to their nests, including radio telemetric technology. In order to track the hornets, specimens are captured and subjected to cold to incapacitate them temporarily, allowing a radio tag and antenna to be attached to their bodies. When the specimen is released back into the wild, it can be tracked back to its nest. Once located, the inhabitants of the nest can be destroyed through the injection of insecticide into the nest.
 
            Lukas explained other methods of tracking the hornets, together with their pitfalls, plus he explained how difficult it can sometimes be to access the nests, even after they have been located, especially if they are situated in a high tree in a dense forest. Such locations are inaccessible to bucket trucks and are too high to be reached by telescopic rods in order to deliver the insecticide.
 
            Lukas’ full presentation is available on our YouTube channel.     https://youtu.be/5Qmcjdnm7BY
           
Gerd thanked Lukas for an intriguing presentation.
 
 
There were No Announcements
 
 
 
 
Sgt-at-Arms, Al Meredith, requested Happy Thoughts from everyone and the contributions included:
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  • -Gerd related an old German child’s tale which featured a villainous magician named Petrosilius Zewackelmann who could perform all sorts of magic, but could not peel potatoes. Since he loved potatoes, he had to abduct     people and force them to peel potatoes for him! Gerd also told a true tale of a Hope Air flight with a drunken passenger talking and singing at the top of his lungs.
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  • - Barry told about his new exercise program of taking a brisk, healthy walk... to the ice cream shop!
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  • - Courtney was pleased to be contacted by Global Medic for help through his Rising Sun food drive. He felt honoured to be of use to such a world famous organization.
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  • - Mike was surprised and impressed to receive his Amazon purchase in a few days, even though it came all the way from India.
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  • - Dave Hardy was pleased to hear his book being discussed by people on Linked-In.           
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  • - Trudy, after telling off Alan for leaving the ladies until last, told us about her positive experience attending the on-line Rotaract Conference. It was amazing and almost as good as meeting in person.
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  • - Maddy’s daughter made the Honour List and has been accepted at Western U., Maddy’s alma mater.
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  • - Danny told us about the range of reactions from people receiving their shots at the vaccination clinic where he volunteers.
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President Elect Danny then terminated the Meeting.
 
 
 
 
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