President David Soper opened the meeting with the club's land acknowledgement and the singing of O'Canada led by Dave Morris.

Chair Announcements

The Thompsons, Lloyd, Jagdish, PDG Peter, Past President Cathy and I attended the RI convention in Calgary. It was a great time including a mini rodeo, a visit to the Calgary zoo for Zone 28 & 32 members, and a dinner at Eddy’s for District 5550 members in addition to the many breakout and general sessions.

Sarge Mike announced that a grant from the Winnipeg Foundation has been approved. They will provide $55,000 towards washroom facilities and an education area in the Assiniboine Forest. Mike shared that we now have our ‘foot in the door’ and that this could lead to more and bigger grants from them.

President David presented a compilation of comments received from visitors to the Forest, and noted that some donations were also received.

There are handouts on the tables about the Green Spaces Golf Tournament and President David suggested that it would be good to ‘beat’ Warren in gaining support for the tournament, especially in recruiting golfers.

Sarge Mike introduced our guests: Dozie and his wife who are visiting from Nigeria, and Imogen Holden, our AIC student for this year.

Dave Morris reminded everyone that we are still collecting can tabs and beer cans to raise funds for Polio. Beer cans can be dropped at his office on Roblin.

President David introduced Imogen Zemlak thanked us for sponsoring her amazing Adventures in Citizenship trip to Ottawa. She noted that she was not ‘too nervous’ about going, because our club had sponsored her brother, Holden, two years ago, so she had an idea of what to expect.

Imogen met new friends almost immediately. There were participants there from all 10 provinces. They stayed at the University of Ottawa.

On Day 2 they visited the parliament buildings, and went to Quebec where they ate at The Sugar Shack. They learned how to make maple syrup.

On Day 3 they enjoyed great entertainment at the talent show.

On Day 4 they visited the Canadian Museum of History, and enjoyed more lectures, including one from a citizenship judge. They had a dinner and dance at a fancy restaurant.

On Day 5 they witnessed a citizenship ceremony.

Imogen shared that she is still in contact with her new friends with whom she had the ‘most fun ever.’

President David thanked Imogen and commented on how impressed he is with the young people that he has heard speak to Rotary.

Andrea, our newest member, gave her introductory talk.

Andrea grew up on the east side of Winnipeg, in the house where her parents still live. She now lives in Charleswood, with her partner and their turtle and two cats. She has one sibling, Wendy, who is an engineer.

Andrea studied Forestry at Lakehead University. She has been a Brownie, Girl Guide, Pathfinder, and a Brownie leader. She has also volunteered at the Winnipeg Humane Society as a dog walker, and later as a cat cuddler.

She has worked in both not-for-profit and for government. In the corporate world, she has worked for the Pine Falls, Kenora and Espanola mills. And she has had many bear and moose encounters. She has seen a lot of wildlife, and her co-workers tell her that she is ‘really quiet.’

While at Sandilands,she took home a seedling from the forest every year and planted it in her backyard, and every year her dad mowed it down with his lawn mower.

Andrea later moved to working for the Province of Manitoba Forestry Branch doing field services, a role which has taken her almost everywhere in the province that one can drive to.

She then spent 7 seasons with Manitoba Wildfire Services, and is happy not to be there in this year, the worst on record. She is now with the Forestry Branch, tracking all wood cut on Crown land. Revenue from this harvesting is now being shared with Indigenous communities.

Andrea is enjoying Rotary. The big draw for her was the Forest. She lives close and she loves trees.

There were many questions for Andrea.

Happy Bucks

• Dave M. was excited about a High River fundraiser, a flag rental business that he thinks could be a possible fundraiser for our club.
• Peter threw in $5 as he is happy to be Past District Governor (not District Governor).
• President David had two reasons to be happy. 1) that Peter was able to attend, and 2) that the technology is working. So far.
• Jagdish was happy to have attended RI convention and learned more about how the organization works.
• Ed Thompson was happy to have been at RI convention, and to have continued on to BC, still driving his motorhome.
• Chuck was at his cabin and his granddaughters came with two friends. They watched and sang along to Mama Mia. On VHS.
• Elaine visited a brother that she hasn’t seen for years and he attended Canada Day fireworks for his first time ever. And he went with them to an Aussie animal exhibit, and it was also his first time for that.
• Alan Roberts was grateful for three consecutive ¼” of rain days.
• Peter was happy to celebrate 26 years in Winnipeg.

There were no fines tonight. Elaine had the lucky 50/50 ticket, but couldn’t put her hands on the blue marble.

Next week our speaker will be Patricia Dutchak speaking about her time in Oman.

The meeting was closed with the ringing of the bell.