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Rotateller
ROTARY CLUB OF SASKATOON
 
January 13, 2025
 
Meeting at the Saskatoon Club with Zoom alternative.
 
President Jack Brodsky chaired the meeting,
 
Members sang O Canada. Avis Hardy recited grace.
 
Paul Gauthier handled technology. Cashier was Wayne Palmer. Gary Rusu was the greeter. Presenter was Rick Block.
 
HEALTH OF THE CLUB
 
 Al Morton was in hospital with cardiac issues. We wish him a speedy recovery.
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Donna has Grocery Cards available.
 
HAPPY AND SAD DOLLARS
  • $100 Elaine Zakreski had a house full of people during the holidays and she had a fall down the stairs. She was brought back to a chair and then later passed out. Fortunately, nothing was broken.
  • $50 Gary Rusu is sad about the California fire but happy that the foundation is going in at his new house at Crossmount.
  • $200 Graham Pearson is sad to have missed the last meeting and about the California fires but happy to announce his birthday is January 14.
  • $200 Jack Brodsky is happy that his daughter is about a mile away from the fires and missed them so far.
  • $100 Kent Smith-Windsor, designating his dollars to RAP, announced a $100,000 donation from Jack and Shirley Brodsky and pointed out that, in addition, Jack made calls to bring in more donations.
Presentation
 
Gary Rusu introduced presenter Rick Block. Rick grew up near Waldheim. He has an extensive background in Agriculture which led to his involvement with the Foodgrains Bank, Rick and Jackie have two children.
 
Rick began by saying the Foodgrains Bank has a strong connection with Rotary. Both organizations are concerned with international needs as well as local needs and it is about people coming together.
 
Foodgrains main vision, as a response to hunger, is that we should have a world without hunger. We need to know that we already produce enough food in the world that everyone could have food. Standing in the way of that is conflict, waste, and problems with distribution.
 
Foodgrains Bank has the following programs:
  • Distributing emergency food when people are displaced.
  • Teaching long term food security in households.
  • Engaging Government and individual Canadians to bring meaningful change
It is estimated that $70 Million in programming per year reaches approximately 975,000 individuals.
     
Rick has spent some time in Ethiopia where there was a significant famine in 1983, A local agricultural contact there told Rick that the distribution of kernel wheat allowed his family to live for two years through the crisis.
 
In Ethiopia there are deep seated problems caused by the burning and up-rooting of trees. This cause significant erosion and loss of arable land. There is a push-back with local people trained to hand dig retention ditches which saves some of that land. There have been some 1500 tons of dirt moved in this manner.
 
In Saskatchewan we have a partnership called Grow Hope Saskatchewan. Some farmers are designating part of their land for Foodgrains Bank to raise a crop and then sell it. This has generated $350,000 which is then matched by the Federal Government.
 
When a foreign nation is assisted by Foodgrains Bank the funds are secured because they are provided through an equity fund and distributed through a partner organization. This avoids sending the money directly to the local government and any possible corruption.
 
Gary Rusu thanked Rick for his very informative presentation.
 
INSERT IN ROTATELLER - ADVENTURES IN TECHNOLOGY
 
Many of you know about this Rotary program which I have been involved in previously. It was cancelled for a few years because of Covid. I am trying to find out if we can bring it back.
 
If we can put it on, it would be the week of April 27 to May 2,2025.
 
We have traditionally looked after 20 plus students who can have the opportunity to visit businesses and organizations, in and around our city who use technology.
 
The main factor in determining whether we can put on the program is whether we can raise enough host families who would billet the students while they are visiting us. The duties of the host would be:
  • pick up the students at the airport,
  • provide a room for them,
  • provide breakfast.
  • deliver the students to the central meeting location after breakfast.
  • picking up the students after supper from a restaurant and bringing them home.
  • bringing them to the airport on the final day.
I have already canvassed three other clubs and I am asking you, the members of our club, if you would be willing to host one or two students.
 
Please contact me through my e-mail at sjwlawoffice@shaw.ca to give your name and the number of students you could billet as well as ask any questions about the program. Thank you.
    
Next Meeting is Annual General Meeting on January 27.
 
      -   reported by Steve Wilson
 
                                                     
 
 
 
 
 
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