The Charleswood Rotary Club had another online meeting this week with a record number of members and guests signing in. The general routine is that we all arrive in the online meeting space between 5:30 and 5:45 pm for some fellowship prior to the official start of the meeting. Some interesting talk happens during this time, so don’t miss it! Bring your beverage and food of choice, then join the conversation. Not technologically intimidating at all with ZOOM. If you require a little help getting online, reach out to another club member for some assistance. Everyone would be willing to help. We had 25 Rotarians and 3 guests present when President Mandy rang the simulated bell at 5:45pm.

 

Sarge Mike Dudar opened the meeting with a few introductions. Our guests tonight were all associated with the Habitat for Humanity- Cycle of Hope. Present with us tonight were        Sandy Hopkins (H. for H.- CEO), Brett Bourne (Cycling Event Coordinator), Olenka Antymniuk        (Cycle of Hope participant).

 

President Mandy asked all present for approval to have Iain Scott take a picture of the meeting participants. This photo will be used for a Metro publication article being written about how Charleswood Rotary is continuing to meet online and maintain our support of programs in the community. All agreed…look for the article to be published shortly. President Mandy noted that during the interview for the Metro article, the reporter was shocked at what a little Rotary Club can do.

 

 

President Mandy advised all about the recent issues with security on the ZOOM platform. Do not share the meeting I.D. number on open social sites. Make sure you invite friends or family to join in via private, secure means. Our meetings will require a PASSWORD from now on. President Mandy advised that she would email the password out to club members. A pop-up box will appear after you click the meeting ID box to enter the meeting.

 

The District Conference in Kenora has been cancelled. An online version will take place on May 23, 2020. This will be a full day event with the same speakers as booked for the in-person program. Follow this link to view the program:

 https://portal.clubrunner.ca/991/Event/district-5550-conference-2020 .

 

To register for the Online District 5550 Conference: https://www.crsadmin.com/EventPortal/Registrations/PublicFill/EventPublicFill.aspx?evtid=a412a70f-38e9-4ff8-b775-9200c96721cc .

 

The registration fee is $50. A portion of this will go to the Nutrition On Weekends program. President Mandy encourages all club members to register for this conference. We should all be at home anyway!

 

Lloyd Talbot advised that work is being done to try and secure a district grant for our work supporting the community due to Covid-19 related supply shortages. Expenditures made between March 15^th and April 15^th, 2020 can be shared with a district grant. Catherine and Lloyd are completing the required forms.

 

President Mandy stated that all Rotary programs are either cancelled or delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. That includes the ‘Adventures in XXXX’, meetings, Friendship Exchange.

 

Glenn Campbell issued an email regarding the 2020 Lobster Dinner cancellation after a meeting between Iain, Jim and Glenn:

 

 

Jim Forestell suggested that Nancy Morris could reach out to Rotary International people to ask if anyone from R.I. is available to come online with us for a meeting presentation. Nancy M. advised that D.G. Fred has made himself available for online talks. May be able to book him.

 

Nancy Morris advised that the Dauphin R.C. has been unable to get the club online. Due to technology issues. 

 

Scribe Note: Lorraine Forestell has been in contact with Glenda Werbowski and Greg Fraser. They both have had surgery recently and are at home healing. Glenda keeps busy with knitting neck warmers for the children at Westgrove and Beaumont schools. Greg is going to try to get onto the meetings once he has a schedule for the Homecare lady regarding assistance with Linda. Otherwise he is fine! No word this week from Lyle.

 

Paul Brault reported on the Westgrove food and supplies support program. Contributions are welcomed through the RCCCF. It is best to send a cheque or E-Transfer to Ed Thompson at edthompson19@gmail.com  and have the funds go through the RCCCF. A monetary donation is best, but any supplies are welcomed to be dropped off at Paul and Catherine’s home.

 

A ‘thank you’ expressed to Glenn for the Facebook post on the club Facebook site. Please repost on your sites to expand the exposure of the program. Go to the lower right corner of screen for ‘SHARE’ then ‘SHARE NOW’.

 

Paul usually shops on Tuesday mornings at Costco for fresh produce, cheese etc. The Westgrove School principle, Christy, sent a photo of a family opening a hamper. It is evident that they are all excited to receive this support/hamper. Val has had excellent feedback from the families receiving these hampers. They are a group that lives in a high stress environment. This program helps to decrease the stressors in the community. The following was written by Paul and posted on our club Home page:

 

 

Our guest speakers for the evening were introduced by Nancy Morris.

 

Sandy Hopkins (CEO Habitat for Humanity-HfH, Manitoba) opened the presentation. HfH builds homes for low income families. These families are unable to secure a conventional mortgage from a bank due to their income level. The families usually earn between $30,000 and $50,000 / year. The houses that HfH build are usually valued between $250,000 and $300,000. How does HfH manage to fund these projects? Sandy states that it is “all in the terms”. The main feature of these loans is that they are interest free for 15 years.

 

Habitat for Humanity has three sources of support;

 

Out of pocket expenses for materials and Pro’s in the construction trades cost ~ $200,000 per build.

 

The land is purchased 1 – 2 – 3 years in advance of the build. The funds for land are borrowed from the bank. These loans are paid by the funds coming in from the previous builds. The cycle continues…

 

The build plan for summer 2020 was to build 24 homes. There would have been 18 in Winnipeg and 6 more outside of Winnipeg. Now, the best situation would allow for 10 homes being built. It may end up with only 3 in Winnipeg and 1 in Selkirk. This all depends on the economy and support from the business community. There have been cancelled events as well as postponed events for fundraising. It is hoped that Cycle of Hope can be completed in some form, as it is the original fundraising event of Habitat for Humanity.

 

Olenka Antymnuik (Cycle of Hope participant) has been our guest speaker a couple of times at Breezy Bend. She most recently brought along all her ride jerseys. She has taken part in all the rides except for the past two. Medical issues have stopped her from riding in the 2018 and 2019 events. In 2018 she was on crutches. While in 2019, just 3 days before the ride was to start, Olenka was advised that she had cancer.

 

The 2020 ride was to be the 3^rd leg of a ride across the USA. In order to get a ride planned and completed in 2020 the location had to be changed. The location this year will be Lake of the Woods. Kenora will be the start point each day with rides out from there. Olenka said that they are going to put the FUN into fundraising. The ride is being planned for July.

 

Lloyd Talbot advised that he and Peggy will be volunteering to help on the logistics side. Olenka thanked Lloyd for getting donations from Rotarians in past years.

 

Brett Bourne (Cycle of Hope Coordinator) stated that the usual 2-week ride in the USA will become a 5-day ride event in the Lake of the Woods district. The registration fee is going to be reduced as well as the amount that each rider must fundraise in order to qualify for registration.

 

Q/A

 

1.-Chuck Crocker asked for the actual routes that will be part of the ride. They are difficult roads in that area, narrow and no shoulders.

A.- Brett advised the start point will be Kenora each day with the destination changing each day. Minaki, Sioux Lookout, Redditt. Riders have asked if they could start with Winnipeg to Kenora, then finish with Kenora to Winnipeg.

 

2. -Nancy Morris asked why the ReStore did not take their cabinets from a recent kitchen reno job?

A.-Sandy advised that ReStore certainly does accept used cabinets for resale. A lot of people are looking for those to place in cottage builds / renos. The ReStore will take new or used items in resale condition. Items like boats / motors / palm trees. The items can be dropped off at any ReStore or call for a truck pick-up.

 

3.-Bob Antymniuk asked about material drop off now during the Covid-19 closure.

A.-Sandy replied- Drop at door, staff will bring inside. Call ahead is best.

 

4.-Lloyd Talbot asked about the layoffs at Habitat for Humanity. Are all staff laid off?

A.-Sandy advised that only the part time staff have been laid off. HfH is hoping to qualify for the 75% federal top off for wages. The nature of what they do makes it look like they make a lot of money. This makes it difficult to be approved, as the program is structured now.

 

5.-Lloyd Talbot asked what the fundraising requirements would be for the riders to qualify to register this year?

A.-Brett advised that the amounts are set at $2,500 for a single rider ($3,500 last year) and $4,000 for a couple. There were 28 riders registered from Manitoba last year. Brett is busy trying to reassure some that the Covid-19 will not be an issue for the ride. Others have indicated that they are going to ride.

     

6.-Darvin Jasper had a fun fact. He spent some time on a HfH build putting roof sheathing down with Jimmy Carter, talking about the different building codes in Canada vs. USA.  Darvin thought the build was in the 1980’s.

A.- Sandy corrected the date. Jimmy Carter was in Winnipeg for a HfH build in 1993.

 

Olenka advised that you will receive a tax receipt from a donation to the ReStore, same for a donation over $25 to the Cycle of Hope ride.

 

President Mandy asked the Sarge Mike to get some Happy Bucks.

 

 

Mandy stated that she is “kind of enjoying this change in meeting style. Jim Forestell advised that all that is missing is the broccoli!

 

No Meeting April 13^th due to Easter.