Waneta Sunshine Rotary

Remember, when you are dead, you don’t know you are dead. It is only painful to others. The same applies when you are stupid.

Rickie Gervais

Luck is something you can’t mention in the presence of self-made men.

EB White

The meeting was held on googlemeet at 7.15 am with 6 members present

Music; Here comes the sun, Cat Stevens

• Program – Video: The tyranny of merit, Michael Sandel.
• What brought us to this polarised moment? Those who are at the top think they are there on merit and deserve it. Those who are not there are there because of their failures. In fact, it is not so. Meritocracy is toxic. It encourages winners to ignore the luck and advantages that they started with. If you don’t flourish, then it is your fault. Rethink the role of college.
• Most people don’t have a college degree. We should focus less on college attendance and more on encouraging dignified employment. All labour has dignity, and this needs to be emphasised. We need to question the meritocracy. Appreciating the role of luck in our lives gives us humility and compassion for others.
• Discussion: The role of luck, some of us have opportunities, others lack. Meritocracy sets up a competitive system that causes trauma. Not all of us have the skill set to go to university. We want pilots and doctors to be paid more and be well-trained. Many CEOs are now paid more than a thousand times the average worker’s salary. Meritocracy is based on parents investing in their children. Unless we course-correct, we are headed for disaster. It is difficult for those without resources to go to university. AI will make things more difficult.
• Business
• On April 17th, we will have an in-person meeting at 8 AM at Trail Tea and Coffee with our DG, David Keyes.
• March 28th Spring Assembly in Rossland. Plan is Erika, Gord, and perhaps Graham attend
• March 28th Food drive at Liberty Foods.
• April 10th, Nancy Milton will give the “Becoming a Peace Builder Club” presentation.
• May 15th at 7:15 AM PT, Maria Kliavkoff will give the “Healthy Conversation in Difficult Times” Presentation
• Happy and sad bucks (not collected)

Meeting adjourned at 8:10 am