President David Soper opened the meeting with our Land Acknowledgement, and the singing of O Canada.

Chair Announcements

• There will be a board of directors meeting tomorrow at 4:30.
• The Lighthouse Program gave its okay for logs for the outdoor classroom at Westgrove School.
• Candidates for Rotary Peace Fellowship are being sought. Up to 170 Peace Fellowships are available, and all costs are covered.
• The invoice from RI for membership dues was received.
• There will be an orientation session on Wednesday January 21st at 7:30 EST (6:30 CST.) It is especially recommended for newer members, but everyone is welcome to attend. Here is the link.
• Jack Wilson reported that the Forest Committee met with DWA Siteworks. The City has approved the washroom development and has agreed to do maintenance. It will be seasonal, at least to begin, because of the cost of winter maintenance. They have sent a request to the manufacturer for a firm quote. Also met with the consulting firm re the east side parking lot. The city councillor has agreed to fund 50% of the washroom cost.

Past President Cathy introduced our guest speaker, Melissa Martin. Melissa is reporter/columnist for the Winnipeg Free Press. She recently returned from the Ukraine where she spent nearly three years observing and reporting on the war there. She is also Cathy’s favourite journalist.

Melissa was surprised how few people asked her about her time in Ukraine. She showed us an app on her phone which shows attacks in real time.

There is no heat and little or no electricity in Kiev. Melissa is going back in less than a month to finish up a project. She shared how she fell in love with Ukraine, and why she stayed much longer than originally planned.

Melissa is a journalist, and the Winnipeg Free Press sent her and a photographer to Poland for six weeks in early 2022. After that she went to Ukraine on her own for one year, which became two, and then almost three. She found that all the foreign journalists there had the same experience as she did. They fell in love with Ukraine.

She shared a story about a cab driver who was called to a random spot, about two km off the closest Russian position. He talked his way through checkpoints, which taxi drivers there apparently do fairly easily, and arrived at the address. It was a field with artillery everywhere. A soldier offered him approximately C$375 to drive him to his destination. Once there he asked him to stay nearby in case he wanted to return in the morning. The taxi driver stayed but the soldier did not call again. Melissa’s boyfriend told her that obviously the soldier was deserting. It seems that Ukraine is a place where if you want to desert you call a cab. And the cab actually comes.

That resilience, stubbornness, was present everywhere, and what kept her there.

She came home only because (1) she ran out of money, and (2) the Free Press was asking if she was ever going to return. As well, she had completely stopped sleeping because attacks were always at night. In spite of that, the Ukrainians continue to party. Without power, they use barbeques and generators.

Cathy thanked Melissa and many members encouraged her to come back and see us again.

Sarge Mike introduced our guest, Melissa Martin.

Happy Bucks

• Caroline had her birthday last week. She had a surprise visit from her sister who came from North Carolina.
• President David had a tip for us. When you put your car into park make sure it really is in park. David was knocked over by his own car, but thankfully both the car and David are fine.
• Alan was grateful for a day like today, in a world in which the temperature is going up fast in the rest of the world.
• Jack Wilson is off to the Dominican Republic.
• Chuck pointed out that this is the coldest he’s been all winter. He also had a birthday, but did not want us to sing.

50/50

Rod had the lucky ticket but no blue marble

Next meeting

Past President Cathy will talk about her trip to the Great Bear Rainforest.