Rotateller

 

Submitted by Will Arscott 

 

THE SASKATOON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION with Carm Michelenko.

 

This was the first meeting of 2024 and was held in the Main Dining Room at the Saskatoon Club. Members were met at the door by greeter Don Lepp.  Our MC for the meeting was Past President Paul Gauthier. Graham joined on zoom. Cashier was Donna Gauthier. Mark Gryba handled technology. We were a small but enthusiastic group.

 

The meeting began with members singing ‘O’ Canada. Over the holidays some of our members seem to have regressed and sung the words for the old less-politically-correct national anthem.  The blessing was asked by Avis Hardy. Avis asked for peace in 2024. With the kind of ending we had for 2023 peace is something we desperately need throughout the world.

  

 

Don Lepp introduced our guests.  Our guest speaker Carm was fully introduced later in the meeting. We were also joined by a prospective new member Esham. We hope that he will come back so that we can get to know him over the next few weeks.

 

 

There was no report.

 

 

There will be a regular Board meeting on January 17 (Wednesday) at 4:30 at the Saskatoon Club.

 

Will Arscott asked for member help in filling out the programs for the remainder of the year. If you have an idea, please bring it to Will. There are likely interesting things happening that you know about that would be of interest to the membership.

 

Grocery cards are available. Please see Donna.

 

Paul Gauthier announced there would be an AGM for the club Foundation the afternoon of January 20^th (Saturday).  All members are welcome.  If you want to attend, contact Paul or Allan and you will receive an invitation. You will have also received an email from Paul about this event.

 

 

 

The big news in this part of the meeting was that our member and incoming president Jack Brodsky had been selected by CFQC as Saskatoon’s Citizen of the Year. This is, and has been, a very prestigious award for more than fifty years. Jack joins a very significant group that includes luminaries such as Sid Buckwold who was also a member of our club. Jack’s accomplishments are too numerous to list here. In terms of our club, his citation does mention his important work with RAP.

 

The session began with Jack himself putting in $200 happy dollars. Jack had been aware he was nominated a year ago. The confirmation of his award for this year was a bit of a surprise but very welcome.

 

Many people followed to give happy dollars for Jack.  Unfortunately, some likely got missed in this summary but thanks to all who contributed:

 

Gary Rusu put in $50 happy dollars for Jack and for the club’s participation at the Friendship Inn on Christmas Day. This Christmas dinner was very busy unlike the one a year ago when a heavy snowfall had made the roads unpassable. Several of our members gave up part of their Christmas Day to participate. In December, the Friendship Inn set a record of 34,000 meals served.    On Christmas some 1,200 meals were served. The costs were partially covered by a generous donation of $750 by President Wendy Cooper. Wendy’s gift was matched by Nutrien.

 

Elaine Zakreski also put in $200 Happy Dollars. $100 was for Jack getting his award and the other $100 was for Carm and the work she does on behalf of the Saskatoon Community Foundation.

 

There was another $50 donation for Jack from an anonymous member. Anonymous only because this scribe did not get their name down.

 

Steve Wilson gave $50 happy for Jack’s award.

 

Kent Smith-Windsor gave $25 happy for Jack’s work with the RAP program.

 

Will Arscott gave $25 ‘mea culpa’ dollars because he had to ask Jack what he had received this time.

 

Donna and Paul Gauthier also paid $50 happy dollars to recognize Jack.

 

Finally, but certainly not least, Graham Pearson put up $200 happy dollars mostly for Jack but also with some sadness for the Juniors loss in hockey. Some happy dollars for the good weather we enjoyed in Saskatoon until this week and for the good weather Graham continues to enjoy in BC.

 

 

President Wendy made a Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) Award to Denise Palmer. Denise was unable to attend our Foundation Dinner. Congratulations Denise! Wendy was happy to report that with this presentation all our members are now Paul Harris Fellows.

 

 

 

The subject of Carm’s talk was ‘Your Story is in Your Hands.’  Your story is a story in progress that you can shape going forward.

 

Carm was introduced by Will Arscott. Her biography had been distributed by email to our members so it will not be reproduced here. Carm has been CEO of the Saskatoon Community Foundation since 2015. She is also a Nutana Rotarian. Will had tried to recruit her into our club but was not successful.

 

The Saskatoon Community Foundation was established in 1970 through an act of the Legislature of Saskatchewan. They are still indebted to the vision of the founding members, which included our own member, Sid Buckwold. Carm contrasted a picture of the founders with a picture of the current executive. The contrast is remarkable. The current group is so much more diversified in every possible way. The Foundation now holds about seventy million of their own money along with money for 23 other charities. They have about 400 holders. Later in the talk she explained how you can qualify to become a ‘holder.’

 

The Saskatoon Community Foundation has a vision of a vibrant community where all belong.  The purpose is to inspire philanthropy and through philanthropy to build a community. The staff of the Foundation seek to be passionate stewards working to help every donor create an enduring legacy through charitable gifting.

 

Recently, several donors have stepped up to be ambassadors for the Foundation and show the public what they have done. Two examples are: Asit Sarkar has established ongoing funding to support diversity initiatives in Saskatoon. Many will know Sarkar as a Nutana Rotarian. Also, Marg and Don Ravis have appeared in Foundation materials showing the legacy that they have created.

 

There has been one big change in the Foundation purpose since its creation. Perhaps it is not so much a change as an evolution. The Foundation is much more engaged in social issues and inclusion issues than it was when it started. This change was brought home when the Foundation recently published a brochure on social issues in Saskatoon. The brochure was entitled ‘Saskatoon’s Vital Signs.’ The cover featured a picture of a smudge walk held during covid.   The picture features a mixed group of mostly younger people taking part in an event towards Truth and Reconciliation. Some on the Board of the Foundation worried about how this might be received by the Foundation members. They need not have worried because the response was very positive.

 

In this area, an important new initiative is Vital Focus Grants. These grants are to support initiatives in the areas of mental health, homelessness, and equity. The Foundation has recognized from the beginning that these grants must be made in partnership with the recipients.  This, again, is a departure from the past.

 

The Foundation is publishing an in-depth look at homelessness in Saskatoon. There will be a presentation on the report at a Nutana Rotary meeting in mid-February. All Rotarians are invited.  The meeting will be at the Parktown at noon on Tuesday February 20.  Notice will be sent to our members about the meeting.

 

The current Foundation funding drive is called ‘Your Story is in your Hands.’ What story do you want to tell? What is my legacy….  What is important to me….  What is my next step….?

 

Many types of giving are possible. People can give through their wills. If all Canadians would leave just 1% of their wealth to charity it would create a charitable fund of 58 billion dollars.   By contrast you can create a lifetime spending account and see your donation working in the community in your own lifetime. A donation of $10,000 makes you a holder and allows you to direct a gift in your name. A fund of $50,000 allows you to direct your gift on an annual basis.

 

If this holds any interest, you can work through your regular financial advisors or contact the Foundation directly. Carm is available at ceo@saskatooncommunityfoundation.ca

 

In honour of Carm’s talk the regular donation will be made to the Salvation Army Bethany Homes.

 

Adjournment