Rotary Club of Regina

Club Meeting Report - February 3rd, 2025

In-person - Delta Hotel - 12:00 Noon

 

1. Meeting Chair: 

With President George enjoying his time in the Grand Cayman Islands, President Elect Russ Hart chaired today’s meeting. The meeting opened with a welcome to all and President George’s treaty recognition. “Let us acknowledge that we are all Treaty 4 people. The Indigenous Peoples of the lands we are on and we are now all here together. We do this to reaffirm our commitment and responsibility in improving relationships between nations and to improve our own understanding of local Metis and First Nations. As we do so, as Rotarians, we should apply our Four Way Test, this month asking “Is it/Has it been Fair to All Concerned? And how can we make it fairer.”

Gilda Treleaven-Graham led us in the singing of O’Canada. Russ Hart provided the blessing.

Russ thanked all those who volunteered to assist with today’s’ meeting.

 

2. Speaker Name & Presentation:

Mark Stefan very capably introduced today’s speaker John Bailey, CEO of the Regina Food Bank. John earned his MBA from the University of Regina, is a member of the Imagine Canada Standards Council and a strategic advisor to several charities in Regina and nationally. John became the CEO of the Regina Food Bank in April 2019. He is responsible for modernizing operations and leading strategic transformation of the organization. The Food Bank was named top 100 Charity in Canada for the third year in a row in 2024 and achieved Imagine Canada accreditation in 2022. In an increasingly complex operating environment, the Regina Food Bank has achieved record food and monetary donations while redefining it’s supply chain, retention launching products, developing an operations innovation pipeline and operationalizing the nations first full retail model food bank.

John started his presentation by thanking Rotary for it’s strong support to the Food Bank. The Food Bank’s mandate is to serve those with an acute need for food. The food provided follows the Canada Food Guide. John indicated there has been a significant growth in those using the food bank. They measure usage by using points of service. Users are on a 30-day cycle and each visit is a point of service. In 2019 there were some 70,000 points of service. In 2024/25 there have been to date 240,000 points of service. (Some 20,000 users accessing the bank every 30 days.) Their service has expanded 233% since 2018.

Their biggest challenge has often been where to get food. To assist in this their system has been changed to using “just in time” purchases. They have also received some significant donations. One from Sask Milk who are committed to supplying their milk needs for three years and another from Viterra who are providing lentils that can be given out as grain or in soups prepared in their kitchen.

 A significant development has been the recent development of their “Food Hub”.  This is a stand-alone facility with a store environment that allows customers to “shop”. Articles are priced and a P.O.S. system provides monitoring of products and supply. This allows the users to pick what they want and check-out just like a store which builds their confidence.  The system allows the Bank to better monitor what is on the shelves. The Hub is open Saturdays. This is due to the fact the fastest growing group of folks using the Bank are those who work and cannot make ends meet. Being open Saturdays accommodates these folks. The Hub has a play structure and basket ball court as it develops into being a community connection. The Hub is forecast to be fully operational by the end of March at which time it should be servicing 25% of their users.

With their changing clientele the Bank is looking at a warehouse facility. Clients will order and then pickup prepared hampers.

How can we help? Donations are welcome! Every dollar donated equates to three meals!

 

3. Birthday and Anniversaries:

Birthdays: Brian Hardy on February 2nd, and Stewart Graham on February 6th.

Anniversaries: There are no anniversaries this month.

 

4. Reports and Announcements:

Community Service:

Soul’s Harbour:  An excellent opportunity for “Service Above Self”.

We continue to serve meals the third Thursday of every month at Souls’ Harbour, 1632 Angus Street. Meals are served between 4 and 6:00 pm each day. 

Upcoming dates: February 20th, March 20th and April 17th.

Please let President-Elect Russ know if you can assist. russellhart11@gmail.com

These folks need our help. Try it - you will like it!

Globe Theatre:

Need two volunteers each evening Wednesday to Sunday and Sunday matinee that there is a production February 5th to 13th. Your task is to monitor the fire panel during the performances.

Let Russ know if you are available. 

Stamp Show:  Ian Yeates advised his Stamp Club is holding a Show & Sale. Saturday and Sunday February 15th and 16th. Seniors Centre at 2134 Winnipeg Street.

 

5. Other Newsworthy Items:

Membership:

 We are on the lookout for more new members. Who can YOU invite to join Rotary.

Social Events:

Plans are being formulated for a visit to the “vault” at the McKenzie Art Gallery followed by lunch or dinner. Keep tuned.

Other suggestions:

What would you like to do for a social event? What have you heard about that is a lot of fun. Let President George know.

 

50/50: Todays’ draw master was Gilda Treleaven-Graham. The new pot was $16.00. No winner.

 

Four Way Test

The meeting closed with Mark Stefan leading us in the Four-Way Test.

 

6. Attendance: Regina Club - 9; Eastview Club - 5; Visitors - 1 - our Guest Speaker John Bailey. Our apologies to those trying to join us by Zoom. Have been advised you could not sign on. 

 

7. Next Meetings:

February 27th - Eastview Club - in person - 12:00 noon at the Delta.

March 3rd - Regina Club - in-person - 12:00 Noon at the Delta.

 

Meeting Report’s Name and Email: Stewart Graham: scg@myaccess.ca