Sarge Mike introduced guests Dan Sutton and Anya in person and Cabe & Erica online. Iain chaired tonight's meeting.

Rotary Moments:

For those of you who have connected with RI president Jennifer Jones on social media you will be aware of how active she is. Iain just watched her video from her world tour at the Rod Lavor arena in Melbourne where next year’s convention will be held from May 27-31st, 2023. If anyone would like the link to her posts, Iain can send it to you. RI's president is using social media and video to connect. How can we do the same?

Chair announcements:

1. President Glenn sends his regrets for tonight. He is currently on vacation with Eloise enjoying a well earned rest in Mexico
    
2. Mandy would like to remind everyone to come to the airport on Sunday December 4 at 9.45 am to welcome the Veriasov family who are arriving on Air Canada Flight AC 0259 from Toronto. The Veriasov’s journey for safe refuge in Canada began in April and is now finally here! Please wear your Ukrainian Canada Shirts if you have or bring Canada and Ukrainian Flags. All are welcome to join to be there!. Mandy is also looking for members to sponsor our Ukrainian arrivals to come to our Christmas party. We have 9 plus 2 small children all together.
   
    
3. Iain was contacted by Donna Thompson of Interlake Reserves Tribal Council (IRTC). The IRTC consists of a partnership of six (6) Manitoba Interlake communities working together to advance the collective well-being of the six communities: (Dauphin River First Nation, Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation, Lake Manitoba First Nation, Little Saskatchewan First Nation, Peguis First Nation, Pinaymootang First Nation.) Donna has kindly donated 2000 (approx) skipping ropes (featuring the Jordan Principle bear on them as well as worm farms and classroom greenhouses) with the hope they can be donated to organisations that would benefit. Westgrove school will certainly be one to receive a number and we can suggest more by emailing Iain.
    
4. On Saturday evening, Iain attended the 151st St Andrew’s Society Dinner and the organisation was in need of a flag stand along with the Manitoba and Canada Flag. They borrowed ours and sent their thanks and best wishes to our club. At dinner. Rob Tisdale of the downtown club was bestowed the honour of Grand Chieftain of the St. Andrews Society of Winnipeg.
    
5. Chuck would like us all to know that Siloam Mission is hosting its first ever Indigenous Open House. On December 10 the Siloam Mission would like to invite you to meet members of the Indigenous Employees Circle where you will enjoy Indigenous refreshments and meet some of the Indigenous artists who will be working with us on our Reconnection and Reconciliation Arts Project. The event runs from 12pm to 4 pm. To RSVP, email Shannon at shannon@siloam.ca or call 204 956 4344 mentioning the time you will be arriving at.
    
6. Hayley Edwards, Ex Director of Urban Stables would like us to know that Margaret’s Choir Benefit concert will be held in support of Urban Stables on Sunday December 4th at 2:30 pm. The location is Prairie United Church, 207 Thompson Drive, in St James. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $10 for youth under 18. Email info@urbanstable.ca for tickets.
   

We’d like to remind members that you have access to Board reports, minutes, etc on Clubrunner. You need to login, go to Member Area then My Clubrunner tab then Documents in the ribbon and look for the folder titled  Board of Directors 2022-2023.

The Board also asked 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 for the Zoom link.

Charleswood is so much a part of new member Len Van Roon's life that he made his "Life & Times" talk to the club as much about the neighbourhood and it's history as he did himself.

Len started by thanking the club for its stewardship of Assiniboine Forest. He was a student on the centenary committee when he was 17 years old when he remarked "hey I walk in that piece of forest and we should really try to save it". Out of that committee was born the Assiniboine Forest.

Len's grandfather homesteaded on 10 acres on Charleswood Rd in the 1920's and the family has been there since. Len's background in education and 10 years with the Manitoba Museum has made him a storyteller, and his story starts with memories of growing up in Charleswood as he walks down his driveway, a driveway that just does not fit in a regular suburb. They continued in the farmyard where his family raised chickens and sold eggs. And into his garden with its labyrinth of paths. He then took us back before the farmyard was there, to the rich history of the area.

He told us about the fords and ferry's over Assiniboine River and the 200 year old oaks in the yard that saw the first Red River carts come from the passage at Berkley Street and head South on their three day journey. His father talked about these oaks at city hall then went on to tell them and the developers of Ridgeway West of the 300+ year old tall grass prairie their original plans had a road going through. The developer replied "well then, I guess we should move the road" - and they did. Len told us his own story of his role just out of high school to save the Caron House from demolition.

In the future Len would like to see more collaboration between the Harte Trail, Grand Trunk trail, Fort Whyte and the Assiniboine Forest and save what is green and natural in Charleswood, and as a Rotarian he'd like to be a part of that. And he believes there may be the remnants of a bison wallow along Charleswood Rd that he'd like to see saved.

From the questions and comments it was clear everyone present learned a little bit more about what makes Charleswood and Len's story so special.

• Chocolate or Vanilla pudding cups
• Apple sauce cups
• Fruit cups
• Granola bars - chewy or dipped (none with peanuts)
• Nutri-grain bars
• Rice crispy squares in individual packages
• Goldfish crackers in individual packages
• Mott's Fruitsation snacks or Welches Fruit Snacks
• Cheese strings
• Yogurt tubes (Westgrove freezes if they have lots)
• Apple Juice 1 litre boxes
• Wow butter (no peanut butter)
• Strawberry jam or similar
• Ritz crackers or similar
• Cheeze Whiz
• Granola
• Healthy cereals - Rice Krispies, Cornflakes (Honey Nut & original), Cheerios (Honey Nut & original)

Happy Bucks

Nancy Morris is happy because her church donated 9 boxes of infant clothing going to the Ukranian Council.

Len put in a buck welcoming Erica to our meeting. And another happy buck for his dad who is turning 101 this week.

Mandy enjoyed listening to Jack Wilson on CJOB talking about the Bridge of Hope project and the airport welcome this Sunday. Here is the link to the cjob interview with Jack regarding bridge of Hope Ukraine: https://globalnews.ca/pages/audio-vault-cjob/ Click on Nov 28th 4pm, move curser to 37:10 mark to hear the interview.

Lyle has had his first anniversary of waiting for a knee replacement.

Ed Toews celebrated "49 years with the same woman".

50/50

Lyle's ticket was drawn but despite Anya telling him the secret of finding the blue marble, he didn't pull it.