Submitted by Will Arscott [Editor’s note: In last week’s Rotateller your editor pointed out that John Davies had been late to meeting.   It was made very clear to this editor that John was offended by this comment.   It is not the intention of the editor to offend any member no matter what the intention may have been in making the comment.  In the future John may be late but this editor will not comment.]

 

 

This week we had our third consecutive traditional format meeting at the Bessborough. The meeting was the third meeting in a row that was very well attended.   This was especially welcome considering the poor weather on Monday.   Thank you to all our members who made the effort to attend.  The meeting was presided by President Paul Gauthier.

Greeter                          -           Peter Whitenect

Cashier                          -           John Davies

Set-up                            -           Wayne McGillivray; Al Morton

Visitors and Guests     -           John Davies

Grace                             -           Sung

Happy and Sad            -           Mike Giesbrecht

 

O Canada was led by Wayne McGillivray as per usual

 

Grace - was sung

 

Visitors and Guests  - John Davies

Wendy Cooper guest of Gary Rusu and Prospective member

Donna Gauthier - partner of our president

Earle Newton - North Club

Brenda Banbury  - North Club

Troy Cooper -our guest speaker

 

 

There will be a Board Meeting on November 14^th (Wednesday) at 7:00am at the Saskatoon Club.   It is expected that three new members will be approved.  As well the board will be going over the membership application process.

 

There will be a District Grant Seminar held November 27^th at 6:00pm at the Saskatoon Club.  There are spaces if you wish to attend but please let Mark Gryba know so the district can be told numbers.

 

Jack Brodsky reminded us again of the  AGM and dinner to celebrate the 15^th anniversary of RAP/  This dinner will be held at the Crossmount Village on November 22^nd with five club involvement.   As a part of the dinner the contributions of Clive Weighill will be recognized.   Tickets are $50 per person and are available from Jack Brodsky.  If you are planning to attend please contact Jack as soon as possible.

 

In connection with the RAP dinner there will be no regular meeting held on Monday November 19^th.

 

King George School Christmas Market This event was spoken to by Avis Hardy.  Members are asked to start putting away items for gifts.   Last year we did not have enough toys so these would be most welcome.  Items such as mitts, toques and scarves are also needed.  We will also need volunteers the day of the event and the evening before for set-up.   There is a brochure about the market and what is needed that will be sent to members by email.

 

Food cards project  This year’s program will be coordinated by Wayne Storozuk with Donna Gauthier as our order taker.    Donna was at the meeting again this week.  Please place your order with Donna.   Sobey’s/Safeway cards were available at the meeting.  We have been approved for $10,000 in Co-op cards and they should be here for the next meeting.  If you have a large order please indicate in advance so we can be sure to have a sufficient number of cards available.

 

There is going to be a five club member list printed.   The information for the members of our club is on the table.  Please check your information.

 

Remembrance Day   Traditionally the Rotary clubs of Saskatoon have laid a wreath at the civic Remembrance Day service.   In recent years this has been missed.   Our club will revive this tradition this year and pass it to other clubs in future years.   President Paul will lay a wreath on behalf of all Rotary in Saskatoon.   [the $75 expenditure for the wreath has been approved by the club.]

 

We have not had members step-up into the vice-president vacancies.   President Paul is going to do some more arm twisting and is hopeful he can get someone to step forward.   There are opportunities for Rotary service.

I)   Due to the health withdrawal of Bev Johnson we need a Vice-President 2018-2019

II) We also need a Vice-President 2019-2020

III) Rotary Foundation Director  - 2019-2021

IV) Club Service Director  - 2019-2021   - Steve Wilson is a nominee

V) Website administrator to replace Gordon Menuz this position will be taken by Avis Hardy.   Thank you,  Avis.

 

Enchanted Forest Coordinators.  Dave Sunby announced there would be an email coming asking you to assist with the nights he or Steve were in charge of the project.   Please see if you can contribute an evening or two.   The project runs from November 16^th to January 4^th with our club responsible for about half the nights.

 

Salvation Army Kettles  - Once again our club will help staff this Christmas tradition.   We will likely do our bit on December 14^th and 15^th.   Mike Giesbrecht has agreed to seek the needed volunteers.  You will likely get an email asking you to take a time.   Please help out as this is a project that benefits the local community and raises the profile of Rotary.  Mike hasn’t confirmed our times but will shortly and then will send us an email.

 

On December 10^th in lieu of our regular meeting format the club will be volunteering at the Friendship Inn.   Peter will have sign-up sheets for times at the next meeting.

 

For those interested there will be a Husky Luncheon at the German Cultural Center this Thursday November 8th.

 

Mark Gryba announced that the drawings and approvals are finally complete for the pavilion in Rotary Park.   Now it is a matter of lining up the sub-contractors so construction can start hopefully early in the spring.

 

Finally an announcement was made by Brenda Banbury of a steak night sponsored by the North club.   This event is open to all Rotarians and family (including children) and will be held Thursday December 6^th at the Northridge Lounge which is on the upper level of the soccer center on Primrose Drive.  The North club would invite as many of our members as possible.

 

Happy and Sad Dollars - Steve Wilson

 

H   For meeting with Huey Ming Tseng at College of Nursing and all the wonderful things that are happening there.

H   Mark Gryba for music holiday in Nashville with lots of music and good food.  Sad dollar for return of winter.

H   Earle Newton for Rotary Foundation finally starting to move ahead with the grants to Joy’s Center but there is still a ways to go and it is a very slow process both in Africa and with our Foundation.           

H  Mike Giesbrecht for Husky basketball win and for he and son meeting Canadian astronaut.

H  Wayne McGillivray for getting a new roof completed Friday - just in time!

H Peter Whitenect for Jack B taking him to the Husky luncheon.

 

 

Our club is so very proud of the work Peter and Elaine are doing in Malawi.   It is an honor to be associated with their work.   The Hope For Malawi project has expanded into meeting a number of needs.   It is difficult to keep track of all the worthwhile things that are being done.  

 

Elaine did most of the presentation while Peter was left to start the picture presentation.   Elaine is feeling better and her foot is healing.   She thanked Peter for helping her through her invalid period.   Having a short period of being an invalid educates one on the commitment that is required when a spouse has an open-ended and continuing disability.

 

The Zakreskis announced that our new Lt.-Governor Tom Malloy has endorsed their project.   Tom has been their supporter from the very beginning and is now using his new position to make even more people aware of the project.   They are also thankful for the part Rotary has taken in their project.   Elaine pointed out several times that the ‘we’ in the Hope For Malawi is everyone who has contributed in money, time or talent.

 

The Zakreskis made their 10^th visit to Malawi this year and will visit again next year.   This year two families with a total of fourteen volunteers accompanied Peter and Elaine.   All the people who traveled established good working relationships with the Malawians.   Working in Africa requires patience.    Things never get done as quickly as you would like or expect in Canada.

 

This year’s trip included a priest for the first time.   The father was kept very busy meeting with his Malawian counterparts and attending to the spiritual needs of the people in the villages.   There were several long masses one of which lasted five hours and included consecrating eleven (?) New priests.   One priest from Malawi is coming to pastor in a parish in Saskatoon.

 

In Malawi two parish churches are being re-built.  Both had fallen into disrepair.   The first church is St. Mathews and construction of the new church is well underway.   The funds for the rebuild were raised in Peter and Elaine’s parish in one weekend.   The second church is called St. Peters and work is underway on it as well.   It is planned that both churches will be ready for dedication on the return visit of the Zakreskis.   Peter will be celebrating an important birthday and the dedication of the new St. Peters church in Malawi will be part of that celebration.

 

There are so many different undertakings under the Hope For Malawi project that it is mind-boggling just listing them.   In the last year three more early learning centers have been opened for a total of ten.   A bore hole and new piping has been installed bringing ground water to many more people.  An organic youth agricultural initiative is underway.  Under this project a small number of youth were sent out to learn how to use agricultural refuse (such as corn husks) as fertilizer.   They have come back and taught other youth.   The result is large plots of sustainable crops that do not require expensive chemical fertilizers.

 

One area that does not immediately come to mind with regard to these international projects is financial services, but Hope For Malawi has undertaken an initiative in this area as well.   When a person dies in Malawi it is up to their family to bury them.   This involves costs for a plot and casket.  On top of this they are expected to feed the mourners who come.   These expenses can put huge financial strain on a family that may have lost a breadwinner.   Hope For Malawi has set up an insurance plan to provide cash to families to pay these expenses.   When there are surpluses in the plan the money will be available for micro-loans.

 

In other initiatives, a new bridge was opened this year and livestock continue to be distributed.   At this time it has been decided that goats and chickens are the best for distribution as they do not require a great deal of infrastructure to manage.   Much livestock has grown from past distributions.