President Matt Villella welcomed a diverse crowd of new, old and even former Rotarians to a lively meeting with an important keynote speaker along with timely acknowledgements and announcements.
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:

Derrek Lennox P.Eng. MBA
Derrek is the Senior Vice President Corporate Development and CFO of the Dougall Media group of companies. Derrek has a strong background in business and organizational consulting, and is a sessional lecturer at York University Schulich School of Business. He has an honours degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Derrek's task was to skillfully condense a full presentation into 20 minutes: demonstrating his own leadership at meetings: The Team Meeting Self Assessment presents an effective means of evaluating a meeting's effectiveness by engaging all participants using a ranking system, easy to understand and complete. It identifies the strengths and weaknesses of a meeting, aiming to increase engagement, productivity, growth and accountability.
We were put to the test given 7 areas of focus, and a 1-10 rating system for each: On Track, Process Leadership. Listening, Decision Quality, Candid/Frankness, Participation and Fun/Interesting/Engagement.
The tables were in concert: almost all had minimum scores of 8.5 and many 10s for their ratings. It was a cogent exercise technique and we anticipate its use frequently going forward. The brief comments interchanged thereafter were highly relevant, with a suggestion that more time for questions or engagement be built into the meeting.
Cheque Presentation:
Waterfront Trail Rotary Community Action Team lead Warren Philp, along with member Janine Chiasson, presented a $1000 cheque to the PA Rotary Club Community Charity treasurer Chris Bailey. This outstanding group of advocates continues to strive for development of this fine addition to the Thunder Bay waterfront. Warren outlined and reinforced the values and updates of WTRCAT.

Key Announcements
- PA Rotary enhancement interaction with TB Rotaract Club: President elect Hector Dougall hosted key Rotoractors at CKPR (Veronica and Grace) and asked them "What can we do to help?" There will be strong input as our clubs integrate more fully going forward, something PE Hector feels is so relevant to our joint impact in the community.
- Period Promise: Please bring in an item or make a donation.
(from President Matt): Our Friends at the United Way are participating in a wonderful cause. Period Promise March Collection Drive is on, I would like to have a basket to collect items for the next two meetings. We are collecting money and or Menstrual products which will go directly to the United Way Period Promise campaign. If you are out and about please pick some and bring it in to the Tuesday Meeting. More information here: uwaytbay.ca/period-promise/ - Mark in your calendars - special fellowship Lunch to celebrate Rotary Radio Day on April 15, 2025. Location to be confirmed.
- Allocation opportunity: President Matt is calling for a final round of allocation requests with respect to fund availability (max $2,500 per ask - deadline for applications April 30 with announcement at end of May.
- The (Honouring Indigenous Peoples) HIP program and (Youth to Youth) Y 2 Y upcoming conference in Nova Scotia promises many exciting and progressive outputs for reconciliation. A special meeting Wednesday March 19th from 6:30-8:30 at the Confederation College lecture theatre will be led by HIP CEO John Currie and Board member John Andras. We hope to see discussion around the viability of a T2T pilot (Teacher to Teacher pilot training program. The prospect of 10 indigenous and 10 non-indigenous teachers within Ontario accessing an intensive immersive experience modelled after Y2Y could be the beginning of something very special. A number of HIP and Y2Y founding members, representatives from various Indigenous communities, Rotarians, educators, plus leadership from the city and the college and will be present along with some students and parents. All are welcome. (Shelley Crawford)
- Dew Drop Inn report for February 27th saw 371 recipients.

Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1
Canada