President Iain called the meeting to order with the land acknowledgement and the singing of O’Canada.

Rotary Moment – President Iain said this is his first meeting as President. He shares the year of 2023-24 with RI president Gordon McInally, a fellow Scot. That coincidence is not lost on himself. President Iain visited the stores at the Charleswood Mall recently and was happy to see the number of retail stores that agreed to display a “Friend of the Forest” decal on their front window or door. The conversation involved handing them a forest brochure and how we can all support the forest. He used the Forest bag to carry the decals and brochures. We encourage all those in Winnipeg to display the decals if they are able to keep this important subject top of mind.

• The Board of Directors will meet next Tuesday the 18th. If you have a committee report to include, please forward to Iain so that it can be included in the agenda. Thank you very much to all those returning to serve the club and to those outgoing Board or committee members. 
• Invoices for member dues are being issued in the next few days. Members are reminded to please renew their membership soon to help Dave with accounting, if they haven’t done so. 
• Jim Forestall will present his report on the Lobsterfest committee at the next Board meeting 
• Iain has placed a copy of the Club Structure on each table. Let him know if anything seems amiss prior to Friday that it can be included in the Board agenda for approval.
• Members have access to Board reports, minutes, etc on Clubrunner. You need to login and look for the folder titled documents and then the folder Board of Directors 2023-2024. 
• The Board would like to remind members that you are welcome to attend Board meetings as an observer. They are held the first Tuesday of every month at 4:30 pm. Contact anyone on the Board or Iain for the Zoom link.
• We are now in Summer with some members either away or otherwise occupied. Perhaps we can reach out to the other Winnipeg Clubs to join us for a meeting. Seeing the collaboration of the Golf Tournament with Winnipeg West, Iain would be happy to send a message to the other clubs unless someone has an alternative thought?

President Iain introduced guest speakers Reg Sims, President and Brian Higgins, Vice President of the St. James Assiniboia Pioneer Association Inc. This is the association that takes care of Grant’s Mill, an important part of the history of the region.  We understand that this past Saturday was Cuthbert Grant Day, who died 160 years ago on the 8th of July.

Wheat was an important food source for the community, so Grant built a mill (Grant’s Old Mill) to grind wheat into flour. It was the first watermill west of the Great Lakes. Today, the mill is a replica of Cuthbert Grant’s original mill — which sits on Sturgeon Creek here in Winnipeg.

Grant’s Old Mill Museum is located at 2777 Portage Ave. on the banks of Sturgeon Creek. The Museum is always looking for volunteers. Visit their website for more information.

The Mill is sorely in need of a structural repair thanks to 50+ years of aging and environment wear and tear. It’s been recently assessed by a structural and log building experts to create a plan on how to properly restore the building. There is also a plan to construct a garden and performance area and a viewing area on the Mill’s sluice. Rotary could play a role by donating and advocating.

Pioneer Day – celebrated on the second Saturday in August, with interactive Metis and pioneer themed displays and tours. Visit grantsoldmill.org.

Sarge Lyle Miller – Lyle introduced guest speakers Reg Sims and Brian Higgins, Grant’s Old Mill.

Happy Bucks

• Nancy M. was happy to have had her family visit from Alaska, including the twins, who will soon be off to university.
• Jim was happy to report that the profit from Lobsterfest is approximately $15,500. With a special thanks to Dave for the sponsorships he obtained.
• Glenn was happy because the day after the changeover meeting he and Eloise left town. (They did come back.) They headed west along the Red Coat Trail, which included a gravel section for about 2 1/2 hours. They did not see another person on this section, but there were plenty of cows. Glenn and Eloise enjoyed a family reunion in Fairmont BC.
• Iain was happy to have met a family from Afghanistan. They had been fortunate enough to leave just as the Taliban took over, and now live in St. Boniface.
• Jagdish always tries to be happy, but yesterday was special because it was his wife's birthday. They started the day with breakfast at McDonald's, and finished with dinner at the Copper Chimney. Throughout the day his wife enjoyed many birthday phone calls.
• Rod is happy that he'll be doing the Great Cycle Challenge again in August, in support of childhood cancer care. He passed around a sponsor sheet, and you can also support him online.
• Len went on a trip north...to the other side of Portage Avenue. He kayaked on Sturgeon Creek and the Assiniboine River, and told us what a great gift we have to be able to enjoy this kind of a nature experience right in the city. Minutes from home!
• Lyle went even further north than Len...all the way to Thompson. He went fishing. Last time that Lyle went up there he returned and told us how he had watched the Shoppers Drug Mart burn. This time a 5th wheel sat burned out on the side of the road, AND the McMunn & Yates burned. (there was some murmuring that Lyle should stay away from Thompson)

There were no birthdays or anniversaries.

Upcoming meetings – Monday, July 17 is Youth Night. We’ll meet our scholarship recipients, and the student sponsored for the Adventure in Citizenship program.

There is no meeting on Monday, August 7 (Terry Fox Day). In light of the Club’s Golf Tournament and need for volunteers, it was suggested that the meeting on Monday, August 21 be cancelled. Those who participate in the golf tournament will be given credit for a make-up meeting (to be confirmed by the BOD).