The meeting began with the singing of O'Canada and the Land Acknowledgement.

Chair Announcements

Annual Remembrance Day Dinner - Monday, November 10, 2025 at Breezy Bend Country Club, 7620 Roblin Boulevard, at 5;30 p.m. The keynote speaker will be Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Coleman. RSVP to Jim Forrestell at jimforestell1@gmail.com or at next week's meeting.

The Annual Christmas Dinner - Breezy Bend Country Club, December 15 th , 2025 at 5;30 p.m. A turkey dinner will be served. Tickets $45 per person. Please donate door prizes. RSVP to LeeAnn Mytz at Leemytz@shaw.ca or at upcoming club meetings.

World Polio Day - Oct. 24 - Last Call for Matching Donations. Visit the End Polio website at www.endpolio.org. Learn more about World Polio Day and consider a personal donation. Look for the 'donate' link (choose Polio Plus Fund' to ensure your donation is matched 2-to-1). For those who wish to donate directly to the Charleswood Rotary Club Foundation, please visit HERE. Indicate that you wish to support the Polio Plus Fund.

Paul Harris Dinner - October 30. The Paul Harris dinner recognizes and honours the significant achievements of nine community members (including 2 sponsored by the Charleswood Club). For tickets, contact Warren Thompson, warrenthompson@shaw.ca. ($60 per person).

Sarge - introduced Timothy and and Janette McCay, new members of the club.

New membership induction

Ed Thompson welcomed Timothy and Jeanette McKay, sponsored by Jack Wilson, into the Winnipeg-Charleswood Rotary family.

President David called on committee chairs to talk about their work.

Dave Morris (treasurer) shared some details of the club’s service budget for the 2025-26 year. We will spend approximately $30,000 on service projects/donations. We continue to give to Polio Plus, RI Foundation, the president’s discretionary fund, the Assiniboine Forest, Stove Team Canada, and Ripple Effect. The club is always in the black.

Jack Wilson (Assiniboine Forest Committee) - The committee is currently developing an outdoor classroom with washroom facilities. A more economical option for a washroom was discovered by Jack and Mike which helped greatly. Financing has come from a Winnipeg Foundation grant of $55,000 and a private gift of $25,000. There is also $140,000 being held by the RCCCF for the Forest. This year nine members worked at trimming populars, club volunteers spent time in the Forest chatting with visitors, we staffed two full months of the green team, fixed a washout on the Eve Werier pond, found a fundraising consultant willing to provide some guidance, met with the Federal Minister of Environment (Jack, Lloyd and Ezekiel), distributed Forest pamphlets, met with a couple considering a bequest to the Forest, put in over 600 volunteer hours this year.

David Soper reported that a group of members went to Peak of the Market to pack potatoes as a thank you for their donation of potatoes to Lobsterfest.

Glenn (Youth Committee) - The committee could use another member or two. The club sponsored a student to Adventures in Citizenship held in Ottawa. Sponsored an outbound Youth Exchange student who is spending the school year in northern France. Presented three Ed Werbowski scholarships. Supports RYLA if an eligible student is found. The District Committee also has vacancies. Contact Glenn for more information.

Chuck (Community Services) - Westgrove School: the club provides 8 garden boxes, books, boots, snowpants, mittens, runners, etc.) There has been a request for an outdoor classroom, similar to the one being created in the Assiniboine Forest. Siloam Mission: 31 people are currently living in the Charleswood residence, and they gratefully accept gifts of food such as excess from Lobsterfest. They are also in need of new socks and waterproof mitts.

Bob Eilers (International Services) - Our club supports six projects on an ongoing basis: Polio Plus, RI Foundation, Shelterbox Canada, Ripple Effect, Stove Team and Survival Gardens. Gifts can be given directly or routed through the RCCCF which will issue Canadian charitable receipts.

Jim Forestell (fundraising) - Lobsterfest nets approximately $17,000 each year, and is our biggest fundraiser. The Green Spaces Golf Tournament netted just over $9,000 for our club this year, but has been wound up due to difficulty in securing golfers. Our club desperately needs a new fundraiser if we are to maintain our current level of programming.

President Dave issued a member questionnaire seeking feedback to the following questions:

1. What is something we do that you sigh we not do?
2. What is something we do that you sigh we did more or less of?
3. What is something that we do that you think we should no longer do?
4. What is something you like to get out of your Rotary experience that you are currently not getting?

Members are asked to respond to the questions by email at David.soper@icloud.com or bring a copy to next week's meeting.

Happy Bucks

• Jim was glad that they have a PVR at home to record the ball game and warned everyone that if they are watching the score on their phone to NOT share the score. (Late update: the Blue Jays won!)
• Dave M is still collecting beer cans for Polio Plus.
• Mandy is celebrating their four year family anniversary. And Anya got chickens to care for as a school project so lots of excitement at their house. 3 eggs already!!
• Elaine - celebrating a birthday later in the week. We offered to sing Happy Birthday tonight and next week too!

Raffle - Chuck Crocker had the winning ticket, but could not draw the blue marble.

Next week's guest speaker - Sandy Kurceba (trick shot Sandy) - Career as a PGA pro.