Alex Cabral - Ambassador Scholar for Rotary 2009

Back Home - Speech to the Sherbrooke RC

2010-05-09T14:45:00.002-03:00

Returning home after one year was literally crazy! All the work at home and at the University... Ouaou!
But I am now back up on my feet, and running...
Last March I met with the Sherbrooke RC, where I presented the same speech I had in Brazil, except that it was translated into French. I invited two members of the GCIUS (group of students from UdeS who are involved in humanitarian work. In one of the photographs below I am with Prez Gendron. In the other, Mr Gendron is sided by Michael and Élise.

Rotary Foundation Seminar and visit to Malawi, Africa

2009-11-21T15:45:00.005-02:00

In October, our neighbour district (4650) invited me as keynote speaker at a RF Seminar, at Piçarras (100 km from Florianopolis). I also participated in the discussions and at the luncheon that took place after the seminar, which gathered more than 100 participants from District 4650.

In the photograph, PDG, Alceu Eberhardt, is to my right, while present DG, Ernoe Eger (with his wife), is to my left.

Days after this meeting, I flew to Malawi, Africa, where I spent time with a group of students who were constructing a educational complex in the small and poor community of Golomoti. I have acted as president of the Orientations Committee of the GCIUS (Groupe de coopération internationale en ingénierie de l'Université de Sherbrooke) since its foundation. For those who speak French, I invite you to watch the videos of their project.

Want to see a short collection of photographs from this trip? Click here.

In 2010 I will return to Malawi, but to the community of Mzuzu.

Visit by DG Paulo Branco and Speach at the RC Floripa-Amizade

2009-11-21T15:18:00.005-02:00

Still in August, DG, Paulo Branco, visited the RC Florianopolis-Trindade. Here is a photo taken with him.

I continued to visit other RC and give my speech. On Oct 5, I was invited by the all-women RC Florianopolis-Amizade. In the photograph, President Tania Maria Surmann is on my right, while Solange Pasin holds her recently delivered Paul Harris.

About my work here

2009-08-10T12:33:00.004-03:00

I haven't written much about my academic work here. Here goes an update:

- I am teaching a graduate class that is having a nice impact. It is new stuff, and concerns interpretation of results. How to read, structure and write the interpretation of results. I proposed this course to my colleagues of the Department at UFSC and was accepted. I initiated the course in June and it should finish by mid-Sept.

- I am supervising one graduate and one undergraduate student. I already co-supervised two undergrad students in their Final Project.

- I have given a speech in Recife, invited by the Federal Univ of Pernambuco, last July.

- I initiated a collaborative effort involving 3 Brazilian institutions (possibly 4) and one (maybe two) Canadian Universities. A progress meeting is being held in Rio de Janeiro, on Friday Aug 14.

- I have participated as reviewer for two Masters thesis (one at UFSC and one at PUC-RJ).

- I was invited as key note speaker in a symposium to be held in the south of Brazil, next Oct. I don’t know yet if I can make it.

Other than that, I have adopted the same open doors attitude that I have adopted in my career, in Canada.I enjoy to keep close contact with young people's projects; even their non academic ones.

Meeting with Rotaract Club - Floripa-Trindade

2009-08-10T12:31:00.001-03:00

Wishing to get involved with young people's projects here (that is what I have been doing in the past 7 years, with the GICUS), I attended a meeting of the Rotaract Club - Florianopolis-Trindade, for the first time.

I proposed to them a project to them that has the potential to involve several Rotaracts and - eventually - the entire Rotary. More about it at a later date, depending on how things evolve.

Campo Grande - Cidade Morena RC

2009-08-09T17:24:00.005-03:00

I took the opportunity that I was living in Brazil to visit one region I always dreamed of visiting: the Pantanal, "the world’s largest freshwater wetland, a seasonally flooded plain ... almost 10 times the size of the Everglades" (from Nature Conservancy). My family and I went on vacation to this region, where we also visited Bonito, just south of the Pantanal, a fabulous place, loaded with incredible rivers, falls and caverns. Wanna see some pictures? Click here and here.

I asked my counselor back in Floripa, Joao Montardo, to put me in contact with Rotary clubs in Campo Grande, capital of the State of Mato Grosso, so that I could present my conference in the last day of vacation. Mr. Montardo new very well a past Governor there, Olimpio Ribeiro, who put me in contact with Brandao, prez of the Cidade Morena RC (Campo Grande). The speech took place on July 27 and lasted more than 45 minutes, with several question being asked.

In addition to Olimpio, past governors Antonio Elias Morais and Ivo Cezar, were also present (see picture with the three). Maria Ribeiro, a retired researcher from Embrapa (also in the picture), was also present and asked me to review a project she is about to propose to Rotary.

With past DG and Maria Ribeiro

With Prez Brandao

Introduction of new DG

2009-08-09T17:18:00.004-03:00

Last June 27th I spent the ceremony introducing the new District Governor, Paulo F. Branco, with Rotaract members from the Kobrasol and Trindade clubs.

I met with Gov. Paulo F. Branco during his visit to the RC Floripa - Trindade, last Aug. 5th (see picture below). I took the opportunity to offer him a flag from the Sherbrooke RC.

Honorary Member - RC Florianopolis - Trindade

2009-08-09T17:04:00.004-03:00

Last June 20th, I was honored by the RC Florianopolis - Trindade with the title of Honorary Member. Past DG -Marilene Souto introduced me and handed the title (See picture).

I have a particular attachment to this club for two important reasons: The first is the fact that there is a Rotaract there (who completed 10 years on the same day; see picture of Nara blowing the candles). Second, I leave in the neighbourhood (Trindade). I feel at home there and have returned a few times to meetings or "festivas".

Presentation to Fpolis - Jurerê (May 20th, 2009)

2009-08-09T16:28:00.006-03:00

It's high time I updated my Rotary blog! So much has happened...
Last May 20th, I made my presentation to the RC-Florianopolis - Jurerê. This wonderful club, whose meetings are held on the community of Jurerê (located on the northern part of the island of Sta Catarina), allowed me more time than usual and my speech lasted nearly 45 min! Of course, there were lots of questions.

Actually, I feel there is a pretty good reception to what I say; I mean, the questions that I raise to myself about the role of service in my life (present and near future) and about this intriguing thing that is goodwill. These questions are certainly not only mine!

Many thanks to Elaine Dobes, who invited me and organized the conference. I lost several pictures taken after the meeting, but was able to recuperate this one above on the club's web page.

Presentation to Fpolis Atlântico and Ingleses

2009-05-10T19:55:00.006-03:00

After nearly a month during which I was out often out of town, I restarted my presentation to local Rotary Clubs. On May 8th I was greeted by Cida Mussi (prez) and the Fpolis-Atlântico RC.
Governor Miriam Caldas was present (see photo). After this presentation, one was scheduled for May 25 at the Jurerê RC. Two other reps from two other RC were present and a presentation will be scheduled for later this year.

On May 11th, I was at the Fpolis- Ingleses RC. This poor Canadian was starving when the presentation started at nearly 9:30. Supper was served after! But it was fun.
Prez Maria de Lourdes (shown with me exchanging banners) never let her smile turn off.

Week presentations

2009-04-08T18:42:00.002-03:00

I presented my short conferences to the Florianopolis-Leste (lunch time) and Fpolis-Trindade (supper) RCs, on April 7. I had a very good reception from the Rotarians who were there. As usual, after the presentation, we exchanged flags and lots of talk about my projects. I am bringing a Rotaractian (??) for an internship in Canada. They all seem to be happy with this perspective.

On Tue evening, I wore the GCIUS-2008 T-shirt. The GCIUS is the group of engineering students I help with humanitarian work in different countries. It's worth while visiting their website. Actually, my help is still limited: I am the president of the orientation committee and I visit them wherever they go, every year.

Fpolis-Leste (with Prez Luciano) Fpolis-Trindade (with Prez Henrique)

First presentation in Florianopolis

2009-04-05T17:28:00.004-03:00

Don't event bother to think I'm inactive here. I continue to pay my visits to Rotary Club meetings and schedule my presentation. Slowly but surely, I'll be able to meet quite a lot of them.

Two weeks ago I attended the Florianopolis RC meedting and, to my surprise, they had an opening on April 2nd. So I presented for the first time here, in my host district (see some photos by clicking here). My talk was announced in the local bulletin. I was quite happy with the outcome. Service and Goodwill are at the core of my presentation and the two are the core of what Rotary stand for. So I expected to have an attentive audience and indeed I had it! Considering the fact that people are not only friendly but also sincere, the Rotarians attending the talk enjoyed it and came to me to ask questions.

This coming week, I'll presenting to the Florianopolis-Leste and Florianopolis-Trindade RCs. More on that next time. Cheers for now!

Florianopolis-Trindade visited

2009-03-14T16:52:00.003-03:00

As my struggle is now really coming to an end (my boxes are scheduled to be delivered on March 18 or 19) and I am now at full blast at the University, I visited a second RC; the Florianopolis-Trindade RC. The same warm reception from people who are happy to have you here. It just makes you want to do what you have to do even better; you feel that you are part of an effort to spread out goodwill. And that is the theme of my presentations and of my personal quest during the year: the meaning of goodwill and service. I had the chance to meet a young Canadian from Ontario who had just arrived and will spend the year with a family here. We shall meet again.

I was also at a dinner party on Friday (13/03), but didn't stay for long, becasue I didn't feel well (throat ache). But the 1/2 hour or so I stayed there, I met new people, several ex-governors O(including one from Niteroi - RJ), and some people who were being honoured that day. And I met yet another Canadian grantee from Rotary; a young lady (17) from Ontario. She's been here for 7 months and speak Portuguese pretty well.

Another couple of visits to Rotary meeting next week in my agenda. And two presentations have been scheduled for early April. A third one is to be confirmed.

That's it for now.

Now I have really landed

2009-03-01T21:38:00.007-03:00

Hi Planet Rotary! I finally set up my blog! This first posting will be a long one. After that, I’ll stick to short messages.

It took a while more than I first thought it would take to set this up, but there is a reason for that: You can be prepared for change (I really was); you can have all the documents you think you might need in this and in your future lives (I had them all). But you cannot beat the Brazilian bureaucracy easily. It is extremely time consuming to get going here.

To criticize my host country does not seem like a good way to start a blog. It is not what I intend to do. But let me wash out the bad and start right away with the good things (they are so many!).

Yeah, bureaucracy is a stupid thing anywhere in the world (there seems to have a surplus of bureacracy in a lot of places...) and slows down production and lowers people’s morale. Brazil is not only my host country, but also my home country. So I can grasp people’s feelings (not only mine) very easily. And everyone hates bureaucracy. They call it burrocracy (sort of dumbocracy). Unfortunately, this beautiful country is loaded with incoherent and not-always-clear rules set up by people who profit from it. It’s been a month since I purchased a car and I still could not have the plaques changed (it is not even on my name yet!). It’s been two months since I sent four boxes by boat and I still don’t know how much it is going to cost me to get them out of the port and if the documents I have provided (tons of it!) are sufficient. One thing I recommend to people coming to Brazil with lots of luggage and who have to send it by boat: be very – VERY – careful!

That is it! I’m done with whining. Let’s go to what matter most: people.

You can find nice people and not so nice peopled anywhere. But Brazil is populated by an incredible amount of very nice people. And if you are talking about Rotarians, you hit the jackpot. The São Conrado Rotary Club (Rio de Janeiro) was expecting me (my mother belongs to this club), because we had made arrangements for a talk a few days after my arrival in Rio (Jan 21st)… I could not have asked for a better and joyful audience for my debut here. My talk is divided into two parts: one deals with my work here (research and teaching), and the second deals with my quest for the meaning of goodwill and service in my life. My firm belief is that this can become an interesting forum of discussion with Rotarians and we will all come out of it richer. And I do believe that the people at the São Conrado meeting welcomed my discussions (technical and philosophical). I was quite impressed by the quality of the questions asked and happy to spend time with such a crowd of good willing people. Click here to see the few photos taken.

Now, as far as my host district (4651 – Florianópolis), I did not know anyone. I sent a couple of e-mails when I arrived and was literally showered with welcome messages. I am still stuck with bureaucratic procedures this week, but have scheduled two meetings. Some more next week. It will be an opportunity to get to know some people and schedule my talks. Yeah, I really want to get going with the philosophical quest. Sharing these moments are crucial to the development of my “Rotarian” job here.

As for the technical/teaching part, I have already revised a Masters thesis, discussed my comments and questions with the student. She is expected to make her final presentation March 6. I have also had a few meetings with my colleagues to start seting up an agenda of common work. It's coming along fine; slowly but surely.

More in a week or so. I promise to write shorter texts.

Please make comments, suggestions, etc. It is easy!

Cheers to all!