President Iain called the meeting to order with the land acknowledgement and the singing of O’Canada.

Rotary Moment – From Rotary.org’s website…

An estimated 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation facilities that hygienically separate human excreta from human contact. The schools in Guatemala and neighbouring countries can use all the help available in this area. We are told by educators, fewer students now miss school because of gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses, which are sometimes spread by poor hand washing or lack of safe water. “The objective of the project is to develop good hygiene habits in children,” Rotarian Alfredo Pérez says. “By reducing absenteeism due to diseases that are acquired due to lack of water, sanitation, and hygiene in schools, we can increase their academic development. Training teachers to help children develop good hygiene habits is key.

Sarge Mike Dudar: Larry and Marilyn Buhlar and guest speaker Kim Lucko. Jim and Lorraine Forestell were on Zoom.

Chair announcements

Board Meeting - tomorrow will be the 2nd board meeting of the year at 4:30 pm

District Governor’s visit - Sonja Susut, District Governor, informed us she is visiting Winnipeg next week. The plan was to have us all go to dinner and that it is felt will be too complex to arrange. Alternatively, some board members will meet her in a smaller group and have her report to members on Zoom.

District Newsletter - President Iain mentioned last week that the DG Newsletter should be informed of events of importance and successes. With that said, he sent last week’s update by Mandy about the Ukraine project to the District Governor, Sonja. For those of you who are able, please do the same for the Forest and Westgrove school etc.

District Conference - we received an invite to the The District Conference in Moose Jaw, SK on May 10-12, 2024. President Iain and Caroline are planning to attend and hopefully there will be a good turnout from our club. The conference kicks off with registration at 8:00 am on Friday. NOTE TIMES: Official opening will occur at 10:30 am. and the program runs through to Saturday afternoon. A farewell dinner will be at 6:00 pm with remarks from DG Sonja, DGE Peter Tonge and then entertainment. No conference activities on either Thursday or Sunday.

Rossbrook Dinner- Cathy reminds us all that we are getting really, really close to our Rossbrook event on Feb 26th. Ticket sales have improved, but we are still short on meeting our goal. We encourage anyone who has not bought a ticket to join us and to invite friends or family to support this worthwhile event in support of Rossbrook house. Here is the link: https://portal.clubrunner.ca/1000/Stories/rossbrook-house-fundraiser

Lobsterfest - Jim Forestell will host the first meeting to plan this year’s Lobsterfest on Thursday. If you have already indicated you are on the committees, expect to see a Zoom invitation from Jim shortly.

Jack Wilson - provided an update about the Forest and an upcoming meeting of the Forest Committee. He also asked if anyone has a washing machine that they're replacing. Contact him.

Bridge of Hope Ukraine - Mandy said that last Saturday's furniture drive was another success. 11 families were provided with furniture. The delivery trucks were out before noon. The project has now helped 208 Ukraine families. The next drive will be on February 24.

Westgrove School - Chuck circulated an email from Westgrove School. The school is seeking guest readers. This year, their theme is 'reading for the Stars'. Their learning blocks begin at 9 am, 11:30 am, 2:05 pm. Available dates are Feb. 20, 23, 26, 27, 28 and 29. Contact Chuck if you can be a reader and take a shift.

Before we enjoy dinner, have you ever wondered?:- What’s the difference between a poorly dressed man on a tricycle and a well-dressed man on a bicycle. Attire.

President Iain introduced Kim Lucko, Business Development Manager for Urban Mine Inc. Kim was in the automotive recycling business for 20 some years before switching to metal recycling where 9 years later she is the business development manager. One of her responsibilities is buying and selling nonferrous metals including batteries and catalytic converters. She is the Manitoba/Saskatchewan representative for the Canadian Association of Recycling Industries (CARI) and on the Woman in Recycling ISRI Council. (Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries.) The US counterpart to CARI. Urbanmine approaches metal recycling in a different way and that’s why their tag line is “Metal Recycling Redefined”.

Kim showed some playful television ads for Urban Mines. She was impressed to learn that a good number of those attending have taken metal to Urban Mines. They take any kind of metal including steel (ferrous and nonferrous), copper, brass, automobiles, catalytic converters, car batteries, consumer batteries, electronics (accepted, not paid). There is also a car flattening service, where all fluids are drained.

They have many industrial customers who use collection equipment supplied by Urban Mines. The Mint sends the leftovers from coin making. Small industrial customers also actively return leftover metals (e.g. plumbing, electrical). Residential recycling is important. Urban Mines takes almost everything.

Kim ended her presentation with another t.v. ad, showing the team at Urban Mine. She said it is a great place to work. She answered several questions.

President Iain Thanked Kim. He said that we are all better informed as to how we can find profit in unused metals and how her company and the industry at large operates.

Iain added that the Assiniboine Forest is our largest project and he encouraged Kim and Urban Mine to become involved as a supporter. He presented an Assiniboine Forest shopping bag, asking that she use it to raise awareness of our efforts to support the Forest.

Ed Thompson also thanked Kim, presenting her with a club letter.

Happy Bucks, birthdays, anniversaries

• Lloyd - he visited Urban Mines and was paid for metal. And he was paid to participate in a 'senior's' study. He's rich!
• Larry (guest) - happy to be back at a Rotary meeting
• Len - his father was feeling down. Len reminded him about running shoes for Westgrove School. It cheered him up.
• Ed - he took metal to Urban Mines and was paid $30. Ed also announced that he would pay $5 per year towards the forest equalling an impressive donation of $400.
• Lyle - President Iain had a long standing debt of $5 for the Sarge pot. Lyle was happy that he collected.
• Mike Dudar - enjoyed a cruise in the Western Caribbean.

50/50

Doug McKenzie was not able to find the blue marble.

Iain said "before we go. What do you call a magician that loses his magic? Ian. The groans did not discourage our fearless leader.

The next meeting is on Feb. 26 at the Caboto Centre in support of Rossbrook House. Tickets are $60. Visit the club website for more information (see link above).