ROTATELLER

ROTARY CLUB OF SASKATOON

 

December 4, 2023

 

Meeting at the Saskatoon Club with a Zoom alternative.

 

President Wendy Cooper chaired the meeting.

 

Members sang ‘O’Canada. Maureen Torr recited grace.

 

Gary Rusu handled technology. Cashier was Donna Gauthier. Greeter was Mark Gryba.

 

There were no visitors and guests.

 

 

We have been serving at the Friendship Inn on an irregular basis. Gary Rusu brought up the possibility of changing to a more regular routine. We will be volunteering on Christmas day.

 

Our Christmas Party is at our next meeting on December 18th. We will have a gift exchange and collecting cash donations for Bethany Home. E-mail Steve at sjwlawoffice@shaw.ca if you will be attending and indicate if there will be a guest as well. We want to give the Saskatoon Club a firm number so e-mail Steve by Wednesday, December 13.

 

Co-op and Sobeys cards are available - see Donna.

 

 

 

 

Gary Kerr gave us some history of his involvement with Rotary.

 

He was quite involved with the fund raising through the Badge Shield and Star Dinner.

 

He enjoyed being on a management committee for RAP along with John Davies and Will Arscott.

 

He especially enjoyed Rotary fellowship, including Rotary Exchange where he and Shirley and 3 other couples from Saskatoon, one from Regina, and one from Winnipeg went to New Zealand. In return, couples from New Zealand came here. Gary told an interesting story about how someone in New Zealand new Gary’s hometown because his wife’s cousin married someone from that area.

 

Gary also went to Scotland and New Mexico in his Rrotary travels.

 

 

 

After being presented with a Paul Harris pin by President Wendy, Don gave us a presentation about his work history.

 

He began with two years working at The Saskatoon Funeral Home. He mentioned that he learned as he worked, and he appreciated working with Bill Edwards and Morgan Edwards.

 

He then moved to Sherwood Chev in the service tower. He said that he was shy and was glad he didn’t have to deal directly with the customers.  After 8 months Sherwood Scharf called him into his office to tell him he would be working on the service lines - with customers.

 

At the time Sherwood Chev rated last - 10th of 10 - in customer satisfaction for service. Sherwood Scharf wanted to move up to at least 4th in a year. Instead, they moved up to Number One and stayed there for 38 months. Before he left Sherwood Chev Don was Service Manager.

 

Next, he went to Kia, who needed a lot of help because they were faced with a one-week audit in 90 days. With Don’s help they survived the audit. Kia was a cheap alternative to a used car. In 2008 they won the Platinum Dealer Award. They then moved to the new auto mall.

 

Shortly after there was a big downturn in the market. At one point Kia took deliver of 50 Kia Spectra when the market was down but eventually Don was able to clear them out.

 

With Kia Don had opportunities to open a dealership in Thunder Bay or PEI. He turned these down.

 

He investigated an automotive paint supply business but was turned off by the personality of the business partner he would have.

 

Don started with the Lubrication Station in March of 2020, with two locations, one on Circle Drive and one on 8th Street. He recently launched a third location on 22nd and Avenue E.

 

Don has the philosophy that he should give the customer no excuse to go anywhere else. Do they do anything that involves fluids. He doesn’t take appointments because he sees that as inefficient. Late customers would slow the flow.

 

There is a 15% discount for Rotary members.

 

Don ended by saying as far as training goes, he has graduated with great distinction from the school of hard knocks.

 

Next Meeting - December 18 which is the Christmas Luncheon.

 

 

     

-   reported by Steve Wilson