ROTARY CLUB OF SASKATOON
October 4, 2021
Hybrid Meeting – In Person with a Zoom option
Donna Gauthier - Cashier, Gary Rusu - MC, Mark Gryba - lap top and Zoom,
Elaine Zakreski - Blessing
Mark played the ‘O’ Canada tape, which included a video from the 70s. Elaine Zakreski gave another moving blessing, which included thoughts like moving from the me to we narrative and showing more compassion and humility.
Gary started us off by announcing our guest, Tim Squire, who doesn’t really feel like a guest because he has become a member. I noticed that he was holding his own with the dinner conversation.
HAPPY AND SAD DOLLARS
- $100.00 from Jack Brodsky because he is leaving for France on Thursday for $10 / 10 days.
- Mark Gryba was sad because he was at a restaurant where an unvaccinated patron was arguing with the manager but happy because he was able to have a golf game with his sons.
- $100.00 Graham Pearson is happy with the good dental procedure from Dr. Gryba and happy because they are having a family get together at the lake.
- $50.00 Wayne Palmer is happy with the road trip he had to and from Ontario.
- $50.00 Elaine Zakreski is happy with our club’s turnout at the Friendship Inn.
- $10.00 Steve Wilson is happy to be able to run with his daughter once a week.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
President Mark:
We are required to wear our masks here at the Saskatoon Club except while we are at our tables. We will also be expected to show proof that we are vaccinated.
October 10 - 16 is celebrate Community Week. Mark Gryba, Marc Cheriyan, and Steve Wilson will serve at the Blades game on October 15 and will be sorting donated non-perishable food products.
Our next meeting will be October 25th.
Marc Cheriyan mentioned that there is a theme every month and that October’s theme is vocations.
ROTARY MOMENT:
Will Arscott came forward and showed that getting in touch to see how Rotary and the Foundation works is easier than you might think. If you check my.rotary.org/rotary-direct, you can see your own contributions. To donate, you can use rotary.org.donate, which shows U.S fund calculations .
VOCATIONAL TALKS:
GRAHAM PEARSON:
Graham began by declaring a $200.00 donation to the Salvation Army.
Although born in Canada he grew up in the U.S. but ended up in Vancouver where he attended Simon Fraser. He was president of his Rotary Club in Vancouver in 1986. Graham spoke of fundraising with Casino Nights where they raised $42,000.00 for the Children’s Hospital.
He was involved with the 2001 acquisition of Ernst and Young and he is proud to say they have achieved a 50 / 50 gender balance.
Graham enjoys the camaraderie of our club, particularly on the fishing trip. He is looking forward to serving as our Club Secretary and considers it easier than doing the Rotateller.
Graham strives to live according to the 4-Way Test.
JACK BRODSKY:
Jack describes two careers, first with the family construction business and second as owner of the Saskatoon Blades. When he was younger, he worked very hard for 6 - 7 months of the year and for the rest of the year was able to travel. He learned through his work with the Blades that it was important for him to become visible; the fans wanted to know him. Instead of sitting in the press box, he went out into the main seats and mixed with the patrons. As he developed his leadership skills, he also became president of the Chamber of Commerce. It was because of his admiration of Peter Zakreski, with whom he had worked bringing major hockey events to Saskatoon, that he was drawn to Rotary. Those hockey events included the World Juniors in 2010 and the Memorial Cup in 2013. Now, in Rotary, his leadership experience makes it easier to work with the government for RAP.
Gary Rusu, in his parting shot, asked us what rhymes with Thanksgiving; answer: Cabbage Rolls
- reported by Steve Wilson
Next meeting October 25, 2021. District Governor, Dan Sutton, will be the presenter at the meeting
