ROTARY CLUB OF SASKATOON MEETING

SEPTEMBER 12, 2022, held at Saskatoon Club with a Zoom alternative

 

President Steve was Emcee and took notes for the Rotateller. Jenny Lawrence was Greeter and introduction of visitor’s and guests. Al Morton asked the Blessing. Donna Gauthier spoke about the Grocery Cards. Cashier was Wayne Palmer. Paul Gauthier looked after the technology.

 

After we sang ‘O’ Canada, Gary led us in singing God Save the King. Thanks Gary for handing the words out for us.

 

 

Gary R saw Marc Cheriyan last week and communicated with Shannon. Marc will possibly need long term care.

 

                                               

 PRESIDENT STEVE’s SPEECH

 

First, I want to thank those of you who voted for me .....  You know who you are.

 

Seriously, it is my time to be President. I joined Rotary in 2000 at the invitation of my father, Kevin Wilson, who had himself joined in 1993. In the year I joined, Senator Sid Buckwold and Dr. John Egnatoff were attending our club and Forrest Conklin extracted fines as Sergeant in his own creative way. I remember at the time that I was interested in the Rotary Fitness Challenge fundraiser as I had been a runner my entire adult life. I was also interested in the fact that there was Rotary Men’s Bridge and mixed Bridge as well.

 

A little personal history, Dad brought us to Canada in 1967, from Australia where I and my three younger brothers were all born, and ultimately to Saskatoon in 1971. I met my wife June at church in late 1986 and we were married in 1987. We had two children, Larissa, born in 1989, and Andrew, born in 1992. Larissa and her husband have a son, born in December 2020. His name is Cal and he is a delight. Andrew was married to Megan the same month Cal was born. Larissa and her family live in Saskatoon, Andrew in Vancouver.

 

I challenge you to think about why you joined Rotary and also why you are still here. I believe it is important to spend time with each other, not just in the formal setting such as our Monday meetings and committees, but outside of that as well. Last Tuesday I and about 30 members of all of our clubs met for a supper at Brenda Banbury’s acreage. We had no agenda, no informational speeches, we just enjoyed our time together. I am going to urge us to have more purely social events which, I believe, restores, and energizes us and brings unity into our group.

We all need to consider how we should continue to serve and participate in Rotary. Many of you prefer not to lead, such as on the board or the head of a committee but think about how you can help those who are. Sometimes we just need people to show up to serve. Please try.

 

Membership has been and continues to be a main focus of Rotary. I have some thoughts which are not new but should be pursued. First, thinking long term, we need to help and grow an Interact Club in a high school, and we need to support efforts to re-establish a Rotaract Club for our college students and young professionals. Second, we need to think of creative ways to introduce people to Rotary. We should look for opportunities in our day-to-day life to tell people about what we are doing in Rotary. It would be good, for example to be ready to give a 45 second summary about the RAP program. Third, we need to push the advantages we have by being hooked into social media, trumpeting the things we accomplish to get our name out there.

During the next year or two we have to make decisions about Rotary activities which have been interrupted by Covid -19. The decision has been made to cancel Rotary Long Term Youth Exchange for the current year. Our District Leadership Camp went ahead this year in August but there was an outbreak of Covid, and 5 students were affected. Adventures in Technology, normally held in April, did not happen the last two years so when do we do it again?  There is talk of having Rotary Friendship Exchange again. Decisions about these activities will likely be made at the district or even international level but we will also be asked for our input, and it will be clear what we should do, applying the 4-way test.

 

Next year we are going to have our District Conference in Saskatoon. It will take place on May 11 - 14, 2023. Some members of our club are on the committee. This is a great opportunity for us to be able to mix with members throughout our district but without having to travel a long distance. Please put a pin in that date - I m sure you will be glad you attended.

 

I am going to end with two quotes:

 

The first is from Paul Harris: “Rotarians are very much more favourably disposed toward action than they are toward words”.

 

The second is from Albert Einstein: “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.”   

  

  - Thank you

 

Next Meeting is Monday, September 26. Speaker is Herb Pinder Jr.