Submitted by Will Arscott 23rd November 2016

 

November 21st MEETING RECAP - Meeting at Bessborough with Maureen Torr and Earle Newton speaking of Joy’s Centre in Uganda (previously Joy’s Home of Hope).

 

The meeting was presided by President Jack

Greeter - Bill Johnson

Cashier - Dean Dodge

Set-up - Al Morton

Visitors and Guests - Wayne Storozuk

 

O Canada - as usual with usual wonderful leadership

 

Grace - Al Morton was caught flat-footed and had to retreat to his box at the back of the room and break out the emergency grace. It was a good grace that showed thankfulness in all the right places. Please let the other members know where the emergency grace is kept.

 

Visitors and Guests - Wayne S.

 

Rotarians

- Earle Newton North Club our co-speaker

- Melissa Ferguson North Club

Guests

- Susan Blum Guest of the Club

- Jan Asprer - past Rotarian exchange student from the Philippines

- Ryan Asprer - Jan’s husband and past-president the Rotary club of Dipolog City (Philippines).

 

 

Foundation Dinner was held last Monday at the Bessborough Battleford Room. It was a great success and twelve new Paul Harris awards were announced. Two of our members Peter Whitenect and Wayne McGillivray presented Paul Harris awards to their spouses. Maybe it is time for others to think of getting into the good books of their spouse.

 

‘Rock for RAP’ was held on Friday and it also was a great success. It raised between $25,000 and $30,000 for RAP. Several of our members worked helping out including Mike LeClaire who worked with a broken rib. The curling ice was harder than Mike had thought so we wish him a speedy recovery.

 

 

 

There is a regular Board Meeting tomorrow at the Saskatoon Club beginning at 4:30 rather than the regular 4:00 pm. Following the regular meeting will be meal time followed by the workshop on District grants. All are welcome but let President Jack know so sufficient space can be reserved.

 

Jim Weber has expanded his call for Computers for Puerto Vallarta. As well as laptops if you have Kindles, Kobos or I-Pads all would be welcome donations to the project. There will also be a Becas meeting at Jim’s house Wednesday beginning at 7:30. Refreshments will be available. Jim is hoping to attract some social media savvy people. If this is you please attend.

 

Melissa Ferguson from the North club announced their Steak Dinner to be held on Thursday December 1st. It is being held at the Sutherland Hotel beginning at 6:00 pm. Melissa would like to see as many from our club participate as possible. It should be a fun night of fellowship. The cost is only $20. For tickets call Melissa at 306.220.0858.

 

President Jack has received correspondence from DG Ken Krebs concerning openings on various district committees. If interested see Jack. He also received a reminder of the Rotary International convention in Atlanta in June.

 

Dave Sundby asked for additional help for Enchanted Forest Project. This is a very profitable project for Rotary in Saskatoon. The trained people are in place but an additional person each night makes a huge difference in the ease with which the trained people can operate. The extra person is in the background counting and organizing and providing the ability for the regular people to take a break. The project runs now through early January and the nightly shift is from 5:00pm to 10:30pm. You will work with either Dave or Peter depending on the night. Please considering giving one or maybe two nights to this important project. The sign up sheets are on the table or call Dave.

 

Grocery Cards: Though it wasn’t specifically announced at the meeting Gary Rusu will have all types available. Christmas and the extra food costs are upon us. This is an easy project. Any member of the club who does not consume groceries is exempted from participation in this project.

 

WE ARE A VERY BUSY CLUB!

 

 

It was with delight we welcomed Jan who was out student for a year 23 years ago when her name was Janette Ranillo. Jan comes from Dipolog City in the Philippines. She and her husband Ryan live their now. Ryan is a committed Rotarian and past-president.

 

She thanked our club most profusely for the opportunity to learn we provided to her in an important time in her life. She believes she is a much better person for this experience and in one year learned more than in any year since. She learned things as a Rotary exchange student that simply cannot be learned in school. As a result of her experience she has wanted to continue to travel the world. Since her year in Saskatoon she has visited some thirty countries. Thanks again, to the four host families that welcomed her: Peter and Jean Whitenect; Ron Dyck and family; Wes and Donna Jamieson; and Harold and Phyllis Baker. Jan feels a debt to all these people.

 

Following Jan’s talk Ryan exchanged Dipolog Rotary Banner with President Jack and the necessary picture was taken.

 

 

Sergeant at Arms: Adriana V

- Fined those not knowing that 12 Paul Harris fellows were recognized at the meeting last week.

- Fined those not know that Murray Scarf had received the ‘We are Proud of You Award’.

 

H Jan Asprer thanked us yet again for the opportunity she enjoyed.

H Mark G for the Hilltops latest Canadian championship. Has anyone thought that maybe both the Hilltops and the Roughriders play in the wrong leagues?

H Gary R for Susan Blum who was in attendance at the meeting after attending Rotary Conference and is now a potential member of our club.

2XH Wayne McG for the Red Blacks winning the east in a blinding blizzard and for a young man’s first and successful deer hunt. Dragging his deer two km was not fun.

H Paul G for RAP General Meeting and success of Rock for RAP.

H Elaine Z for the success of the Joy’s Centre project.

H Peter W for opportunity Rotary provided to get to know Jan

H Jim W for meeting with Becas University students only too willing to repay their student loans in order to provide an opportunity to further students.

S Wayne McG for the passing of Bob Mitchell who did much work on behalf of police associations.

 

 

 

Both were back from visiting this project over the summer. The project is now known as Joy’s Centre a name change from the previous name of Joy’s Home of Hope. The name change was necessary because there was a possibility the former name could restrict the project from expanding into additional areas from their initial orphan’s home.

 

The project is named in honour of Maureen’s mother Joy. After raising ten children of her own she decided to start a home for orphans in 1997. Though Joy has passed on she provided for many orphans herself and her project continues.

 

Uganda is in east Africa and has the youngest population in the world. It is a lush green country as Maureen’s pictures attest. It is also a very poor country. Joy’s Centre is a non-profit foundation that operates an orphan’s home and a school. The purpose is to aid children. The project owns 100 acres of land. It is funded through donations and sponsorships. Currently 40 children are sponsored and the hope is to increase this to 100 children by the end of the year.

 

The pictures of the children were wonderful. They appear bright and happy. Despite their circumstances they love, like all children, to sing and to play soccer.

 

The plan is to make the project as self-sustaining as possible. About 20 acres of the land are used directly to support the school. There is gardening and collecting rain water. The second building is now complete with the structure funded by our club and the roof funded by a church in California.

 

It is now receiving some government support including money to improve the road into the school. This requires ongoing negotiations with the local authorities without whose approval nothing is possible. The school now is starting to accept some regular students paid for by the government.

 

The plan is to expand the program going forward: a health centre and a better water system and the priorities for the next part of the plan. The project is run on a shoestring with as much as possible completed by volunteers. Contributors can donate directly or they can sponsor a child. The project would also be interested in people volunteering to help.

 

Water is key. This extends not just to water itself but to a ‘Water Plus’ program which includes sanitation and hygiene. Flush toilets are more sustainable and efficient but the people need to be taught to use them as they are unfamiliar. Thus there is a large education component. Hygiene is important to keep girls in school once their periods begin. Rotary has been involved in ‘Water Plus.’

 

Much work has been done to get support for a major water project. This requires unfront money to undertake seismic surveys of soil and water resources. Wells can be dug but they must be deep to be safe. Rotary International is involved but they require all preliminary work done before grants are made. They also require proper application and record-keeping. These requirements are unfamiliar to the people on the ground. It is necessary to make considerable effort to train people to keep proper records at all times.

 

The big expenses of Joy’s Centre are teacher’s salaries and food. A few times the children have not had food available and local farmers have had to fill the gap on a short-term basis to see the children were fed.

 

Maureen and Earle would like to see our members support the steak night in support of Joy’s Centre to be held this Thursday night at the Riviera. The Riviera is on north Ave B across from the Travelodge. Earle thanked our club for out past support of the project.

 

Maureen and Earle were thanked by President Jack

 

 

 

 

Monday November 28^th at King George School (721 Ave. K South) – 10:00am – 2:00pm

- The room is to be decorated by our member-volunteers before the meeting. More people would still be welcome ahead. Please confirm your attendance to Joanne F so lunch can be ordered.

 

In Two Weeks

 

Meeting on December 5^th will be held at Saskatoon Club.