ROTATELLER

ROTARY CLUB OF SASKATOON
 
June 9, 2025
 
Meeting at the Saskatoon Club with Zoom alternative.
 
Wendy Cooper chaired the meeting. Members sang O Canada. Gary Rusu recited grace.
 
Mark Gryba (with Fred Solomon) handled technology. Cashier was Wayne Palmer.
 
Donna Gauthier was the greeter and introduced visitors and guests. Gary Rusu introduced our guest speaker.
 
GUESTS:
 
Don Morgan, our Guest Speaker
Kathy Jo Simmie, visiting Rotarian from the North Club.
James Gillis, visiting Rotarian from the Nutana Club.
Earle Newton, visiting Rotarian from the North Club.
Mike Jaga, visiting Rotarian from a club in Nigeria.
Jill and John Shanks.
Gage Haubrich.
Rusa Sharma, attending by Zoom.
 
HAPPY AND SAD DOLLARS
  • $200H President Jack for our guest speaker and the several guests that attended.
  • $100H Jim Weber to have Earle Newton with us.
  • $100H Gary Rusu has a granddaughter graduating with distinction on June 26.
  • $20H Mark Gryba has a granddaughter who completed her first(mini) triathlon.
  • $20H Prem reported that they are developing a Rotaract Club in Nepal.
  • $10H Maureen for Earle’s help with the Uganda projects .
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
  • Membership fees are due by the end of June.
  • The President’s Dinner is on June 16.
  • The online garage sale is still on, and we can still donate.
INTRODUCTION OF GUEST SPEAKER BY Gary Rusu.
     
Don Morgan graduated from the U of S College of Law in 1978.
His private practice as a lawyer was from 1978 to 1993. He first entered the legislature 1n 1993 and held several govt. portfolios, including Minister of Justice, Labour, Advanced Education, Education, and Crown Corporations. He is now retired.
     
Don began by saying he does not speak for the government.
His talk focused on energy, which he sees as being very important to us.
 
     
Carbon emissions reduction is difficult by the large companies like BHP. Billiton and Nutrien have procedures in place to reduce those emissions.
 
A general breakdown of percentages is:
  • 10% Hydro
  • 8% Wind
  • 1% Solar
  • Natural Gas and Coal makes up the rest.
  • We have a 300-year supply of coal.
Manitoba has a surplus of power and sells to the US.
 
There are goals to get rid of the use of coal by 2029. This will not happen.
 
The problem with Hydro in the prairie provinces is that the flow of water needs to drop to generate power – the prairies are too flat.
 
The U.K. and France are focusing on nuclear energy. In Saskatchewan there is a proposed site for a nuclear reactor. It is near Estevan. There is a go, or no go required by 2029.
 
 
Next Meeting: August 11, 2025. Three new members; Mike Jaga, Wilson Okonkwo and Chioma Okpechi will give presentations.
 
     
      -   reported by Steve Wilson