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President Glenn opened the meeting with a land acknowledgment. David Morris led the group in the singing of O Canada. Guests - Sarge Mike Dudar introduced guests Doug Speirs (guest speaker), Iain's wife Caroline, Judith Paul, Patty Lacie, Lloyd Talbot's wife Peggy, Chris and Janice Fraser and Clay Purves, President of the Assiniboine West Rotary Club. Rotary Moment Rotary and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are renewing their longstanding partnership to end polio, announcing a joint commitment of up to $450 million to support the global polio eradication effort. This pledge comes on the heels of Rotary's announcement at the Global Citizen Festival pledging an additional US$150 million towards polio eradication. Polio is a paralyzing and sometimes deadly disease and is on the verge of becoming the second human disease in history to be eradicated. This critical funding helps ensure that children in at-risk countries are protected from polio, and that the wild poliovirus is eliminated in the last two countries that continue to report cases. Club announcements Nancy Hansen advised that a big box of stamps put in the post today. It is a joint project of the virtual satellite Rotary of Winnipeg Charleswood and the Rotary club of Winnipeg Charleswood in support for Rotary's End Trachoma in Australia campaign. Jack Wilson talked about the long-term planning for the Assiniboine Forest based on research and community engagement. The new sign has been installed. Additional landscaping will be completed in the spring. The next phase will be new trails (including for wheelchairs) and other signs at the entrance. The Forest Committee is meeting this week. Bridge of Hope Ukraine Project - Mandy provided an overview for our guests. The family we sponsored is doing well, shopping for a vehicle and an apartment. They prepared their resumes and are job hunting. Club members are encouraged to invite the family to your home or other activity. The project's furniture drive has supported several families and the website offers 3 forms ( 1. Sponsor a family 2. Need furniture 3. Donate furniture). Mandy needs help to coordinate the forms submitted to the website. There are 80 families currently on the wait list. A challenge is finding volunteers to move furniture (and with trucks). Visit www.bridgeofhopeukraine.com. John Inglis said that he had a truck and can volunteer. Youth Committee - Cathy Skene received an application for the Adventures in Citizenship program to be held in Ottawa in May. Other applicants have until the end of January. We also had an inquiry from a west end Legion about involving cadets in Rotary projects. We've done so in the past. The downtown Rotary Club intends to sponsor a student for the Youth Exchange program, but learned that the Louis Riel School Division would charge a fee of $12,000 for the inbound exchange student. Bill Johnson - David Morris encouraged members to attend the celebration of life for Bill Johnson. It will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary Anglican Church, 3830 Roblin Blvd. Here is a link to Bill's obituary. https://passages.winnipegfreepress.com/passage-details/id-313817/JOHNSON_%20WILLIAM |
President Glenn presented Ed Thompson with his 4th Paul Harris fellowship. Ed's support of Rotary at a club and international level is a model for all of us. Congratulations Ed!
President Elect Iain Scott introduced guest Doug Speirs. Doug is an award winning and best-selling (2009) columnist and author. His column Doug in the Dog House in the Winnipeg Free Press for many years. His stories were mostly about himself, family and his dogs. Doug held almost every job at the newspaper: reporter, city editor, night editor, tour guide and hand model..png)
