Submitted by Will Arscott 10^th of July 2017

 

MEETING RECAP - Meeting at Bessborough presided by Incoming President Paul (our newly minted president Mark Gryba decided to skip away on holidays rather than run his first Rotary meeting. Past President Jack was out playing with very large toys in a very large sandbox).

 

We were a particularly small group for this meeting.

 

Program: Rotary in Your life moderated and encouraged by Dave Sundby.

 

Greeter - Heather Clysdale

Cashier - Wayne McGillivray

Set-up - Al Morton

Grace - Avis Hardy

Sergeant - Steve Wilson

Visitors and Guests - None

 

O Canada - was sung led by Wayne from the Cashier’s table at the front of the room. Even with Wayne this far away you could hear him over the rest of the choir.

 

Grace - was led by Avis Hardy and was an appropriate Rotary thank you for the blessings of the god of your choice.

 

Visitors and Guests - Adriana Van D

There were no visitors or guests at this week’s small meeting.

 

 

Incoming-President Paul acknowledged a card received from Sheri Benson, MP.

 

A thanks was made to all who had worked on the president’s dinner which was a great success.

 

An update on Polio Plus had been sent to all our members by Brenda Banbury. The situation is interesting in that there is ‘aboriginal’ polio in the world and occasionally someone contracts this naturally occurring version of the disease. Eradication remains tantalizingly close. If you did not read Brenda’s message it is well worth taking the time to do so.

 

The Rotary inter-club golf tournament will be played on August 16^th. This is the day after our centennial dinner. If you would like a spot please see Dave S or Wayne M.

 

During the luncheon a picture was circulated of 13 of the 23 women who have served as Rotary presidents in Saskatoon. It is not all that long ago that women were first admitted as members of Rotary and they have been nothing but good for our movement. We need to encourage women to move into positions of leadership within Rotary. Much has been done but there is still more to do to encourage women in Rotary. Attached is the picture and a list of women Rotary presidents in Saskatoon.

 

 

Centennial Celebration and Dinner: Will take place Tuesday August 15^th at Prairieland Park. It is time to get your tickets. They are available on Picatic or there are printed tickets available from the organizers. Vic D promises excellent entertainment and a classy meal. A video has been prepared. At noon on the 15^th there will be a dedication in Rotary Park so mark that into your schedule.

 

 

Sergeant at Arms: Steve Wilson

 

Steve started by reviewing the materials that Al Morton had posted in the archives box. He pointed out that our club had donated $35 for a float to go in the coronation parade for George VI. Our first meeting in the Bessborough took place in 1935.

 

 

H&S Wayne McG for a healthy grandson being born yesterday in the back of a truck. A mostly sad dollar for a fishing trip that featured great fellowship for a complete lack of fish.

 

H Wayne Storozuk for how well his training is progressing towards undertaking a half marathon in September.

 

S Jim Weber for no picture of Rotary men presidents. Happy for fishing trip.

 

2H Dave Sundby for the work that was done to organize the fishing trip. And happy for his son’s fishing education which has continued beyond the trip.

 

 

 

Our program this week was a do-it-yourself as Dave Sundby invited our members up to tell the club why they joined Rotary and what Rotary means to them.

 

First up was Steve Wilson who related how Rotary has been an important part of his Dad Kevin’s life both in New Zealand and later in Canada. Most of us remember Kevin’s dedication to Rotary. Once he was in legal practice he was asked by his Dad to join our club where he has remained. When he joined we were a club of about 110 members and the great majority would be at each meeting.

 

Over the years Steve has enjoyed the Fitness Challenge. He now enjoys working with the youth exchange. Our club owes Steve a debt for his steady work organizing Adventures in Technology in recent years.

 

Steve was followed by Jim Weber. Jim had been involved in groups like Toastmasters and had wanted to pursue public speaking. He had no service club experience when his neighbour Bruce Pendleton approached him about joining our club. The rest as they say is history. Over the years Jim has been a committed Rotarian in all aspects of Rotary. We identify him now most with the Becas project in Mexico. Jim feels strongly that Rotary has given him much more than he has given Rotary.

 

Next up was Gary Rusu who joined on the recommendation of Herb Stoll. When Gary joined it was normal to have seventy members at a meeting. Previously, Gary had been a founding member of the POW City Kinsmen. He found that Rotary was not as large a time commitment and liked the noon rather than evening meetings. Over the years Gary has been in and out of the club two or three times as other things such as serving his church and his kid’s involvement in kayaking have intervened. The last time it was Bruce Bays that got him back and he has always been welcomed. In terms of projects Gary fondly remembers working the food tents at Louis Riel Day. Gary briefly reminded us of some of our past high profile members such as Sid Buckwold and Emmett Hall who he got to know as friends during his early years in the club.

 

Mike LeClaire was the son of a Rotarian and always knew about Rotary. He had been approached over the years about becoming a member particularly when he was Principal at Nutana. However, noon meetings did not fit with being a school administrator. Once he was at the University and the RAP program was starting he was approached by Art Knight and Murray Scarf to become a member of our club and become involved in RAP. The highlight for Mike is the people he has met in Rotary.

 

Our last volunteer was Will Arscott, who like Gary Rusu has been in and out of the club over his association. Will had always known of Rotary: His grandfather Bill was a member of our club in the 1930s, his father Hugh was a near founding member of the Nutana club. His sister was one of the very first Rotary Exchange students about 1974. Will was brought into the club by Bill East and Bert Ayers. He most remembers chairing the Louis Riel project for several years. In part, he remembers because the of rental BBQs that never failed to malfunction. His great delight in recent years was when, following the passing of Hugh, he had John Montgomery introduce his wife Betty Ann into the Nutana club. Betty has served as club president and RAP secretary and has become a very involved Rotarian.