President Bev called our meeting to order, asking Avis to deliver a fine, thoughtful Grace. Adriana introduced our guests and visitors that included new member candidate Wayne Palmer guest of Wayne S., Laurie B. and her daughter Katie, a Rotary exchange student to Spain, John Barton, our speaker today, and our exchange student Samuli. Bev thanked Avis, Adriana, greeter Peter W. and cashier Paul for their service today.

 

Bev reminded all of the District Conference  May 12th to 14th, 2016 in Gimli, Manitoba, and of 

the upcoming Lobster Fest, on Saturday, May 28. The Meewasin Club, the organizers, are looking for help in selling tickets. The ticket price of $70 will generate a $35 donation to our club. See Bev for tickets for this event which promises to again be a great fellowship event with fantastic food.

 

Dave S. announced that billets are needed for Adventures in Technology, which starts April 24 th. Please see Steve Wilson for details.

 

Jack encouraged all to attend the Badge Shield and Star Dinner on April 21st. Please see Jack for tickets.

 

Dave S. acted as our Sergeant at Arms and was happy for both spring and the election results. He fearlessly finessed fines from and for:
-The start of golf season
- The Spanish trip for our exchange student
- Duron for his August birthday, the election completion, and candidate Jennifer's win
- Jack for his new board
- Peter Z. for having some money to donate!!
- The Basketball nationals 
- Peter V. for his birthday
- Avis for her daughter's condo purchase and her mother voting at the election
- Peter W. for Peter. Z , a mutual admiration club I guess

 

Exchange student Katie B. gave some brief comments about her upcoming trip to Seville, Spain and thanked the club for its support. A returning student from Spain, will in future travel to Saskatoon.

 

Our long term exchange student Samuli gave us an update on his activities. He has moved to a new host home, and enjoyed a recent trip to Calgary to see a Black Hawks game, his favorite team. He also gave a detailed presentation to Meewasin Club this morning. His hockey playoffs are now over, his team having lost in the second round, but he had a lot of fun.

 

Our guest speaker John Barton, a retired educator, was introduced by Bill J., who knew him as a fundraiser during his PCS days.

 

John spoke on the Literacy for Life conference being held on May 6, 2016. The program is primarily aimed at students in grades 3 to 8. Fundraising is an important part of John's job as it allows under privileged kids to go to the conference. There is also an adult component with services to recent immigrants.

 

John cited startling stats including that 42 percent of Canadians have low literacy skills, with 55 percent showing low "health" literacy skills i.e. the ability to read a pill bottle.  20 percent with the lowest skills are unemployed, but a 1 percent improvement would equate to an $18 billion impact on the economy. Only 20 percent of Canadians operate at the top level of literacy.

 

The Conference speaker lineup includes authors, educators and immigration and aboriginal specialists. 6500 people will be involved in total. Senator Jaques Demers, the former NHLer was a past key note speaker, and has now written a book on his own early struggles with literacy. Literacy specialist and author Joseph Boyden will be this year's key note speaker.

 

Thank you John for your impassioned presentation today.